loveme.DH/FR

Was at SH today. Another solo session.. Capricorn, ive extended the rock garden, and made it more rough.. havent had a go cos it was my last run, and was walking up.. Couldnt find any of the tools.. all good though. then end section of SH3 where it leads into the rest of Urban Assualt, is ok.. not really worth doing considering the walk back up.. My fav section is still SH2. Alot of work still needs to be put into the trails. But im sure it will only take some time and SHDH will be really rad!

Yeah dont put it too low. A height that its out of the way, and a little hard to peddle sitting down is ok. Ive watched footage frame by frame of me doing some drops, and was really surprised by how close my Kenda blue grooves 2.5s get to the seat. about 2 inches space fully compressed!! so almost touching!

Flats all the way. I used to bmx. Actually ive got the same pedals i used when i bmxed. I find when you hit rockgardens the trick is to lean back and actually have your foot placed so that its not parallel to the floor but more angled. Hard to explain, see pic attached. http://admin.swearjar.com.au/images/newsletter/article_1258.jpg And regards to jumping.. Im not as bashless a i used to be when i rode BMX, but the principal is the same... Try and float with the bike, keep your body relaxed. You can pull the bike up a little bit with your arms and legs to float mere with it. Just really relax. Another thing is to compress your suspension just before the jump, this prevents the bike from soaking up the bump/launch as you hit it. That was a weird thing for me, as i always rode hard tail, and could really launch off of speed bumps, then i would hit the same bump, execute the same body movements and id barely feel the bump, let alone get off the ground..

Stryder, best tips for downhill, and it seem obvious ... 1)Lower your seat. To a height that lets you peddle if you need to on the flats, but as low as possible, so that its out the way. You will feel more confident when going over steep inclines, helped alot for me! As you get fitter find the lowest height possible, and get strong enough to peddle standing. Sounds easy..... gets tough on the thighs.. 2)Get you suspension dialed in. Softer i think than normal XC. But not too soft that you bottom out too much. Im still playing with mine to find the perfect balance. Im fussy... and pedantic on settings. 3)Be aware of your braking. Know when you brake, how often. This gets you dialed in to how strong and hard you need to break at certain speeds. And builds confidence. The scariest thing for me was getting used to how quickly i could stop on a downhill. At first i thought i needed to keep my brakes touching the whole way down, pretty soon I realized i could haul ass and slam the breaks 2m from the corner and stick it. 4)OTHER, Ride as smooth as possible, lean back and you will make most drops and tough sections, use your momentum and you normally make it, do small drops first, then slowly move onto the big stuff. Wear protection, knee pads help alot. @CAP, That looks sooo rad!! I cant wait!! Im sure ill be able to modify the topsection so the bashring will fit! Amped Amped Amped! These are some tips that i came up with. Im a novice DHer, But think these things i learnt so far helped alot.

OK, looks like all i need is a drill... check!

YES YES YES PLEASE!!!!! Do You know its my birthday tomo!!???? Thanks man! That will be an awesome present!! Maybe we can finally meet up on SH this weekend! Do a bit of building+riding! What will i need to fit/ modify it? Im sure ill be able to make a plan!

IM pretty sure, the only thing stopping you from doing SH. Would be yourself! Come give it a try! Start off slow, get to know the course, fix a berm or two, and have fun! I ride it on an AC with 6" front and 6.6" rear +160 rotors. Its more of an all mountain route - Depending on how hard you push it!

HAHA, sweet! White rocks! My bikes white too! Heres what ive got rigged. Suprisingly pretty quiet. And ultra rugged! But could be a little dangerous, if it got hooked, bashed and caught up on something..

Cap i would LOVE you! (in a totally non sexual and manly way) how would i get it onto my bike tho? I know the AC has a weird mount.... non standard. let me get a pic up of what i got right now... ultra ghetto..

I could kick myself!! The WHOLE time ive been riding signal hills, ive stopped at the Jeeptrack/ grassy area after SH3!!! Didnt know it linked on to the urban assault course!! Looked sketchy and vagranty so never ever rode further!! F*** me!! Thanks For the pic!! now im more amped than ever!! woop woop! As for further development on the course: Whatever works! I wasnt 100% locked down on the branch off to gap, berm and then back onto SH2 Mainline. Only reason i did the rough crearing there was because, A) needed wanted more tech and turns, B) Just happened to come across a fairly clear/ridable path into the jump/gap which seemed to work. Another idea i had was to put a log, sand+rocks diagonally across the Mainline after the rock garden, that can be launched over, but can also used as a berm into the Branch off. Just an idea! Hope to ride soon! Caught a bit of a cold recently and still recovering. On a side note, Ghetto Built my self a Chain Guide for my AC. Keen to test it out! I was losing my chain EVERY run!!!! will post pics!

Sweet guys! Think im gonna go with the Thor hero 2010, for R500 you get clear antifog AND mirrored antifog lenses! Pretty good deal i reckon!

HEres a question for the DH crew. What goggles yall use? Preferences? Style? Tinted/chromed/clear? Do you think the more you spend the better? Any tips on choosing a pair? Im looking for a set. Tired of getting blinded storming down a poopschute! These look ok for the buck: http://www.mxalliance.co.za/img//assets/productitems_big/thor_2010_enemy_goggles.jpg can get em for R300 plus postage from JHB.. And these are rad for R500 http://www.worldofaccessories.co.za//components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/Thor_Hero_Goggle_4a5f347930501.jpg Looking forward to ya feedback!

Thanks Cap! Sure ill find good use for it!!! Were you able to see the track extension i mentioned b4? Brave of you to go out today! I was keen... but **** - Not amped for the cold! Specially since id have had to ride there and back!!

Yes please ladies and gents! CWC finally has stock of FF helmets! http://www.cwcycles.co.za/sites/default/files/imagecache/product/10evonewwave_red_2.jpg this looks sooo cool! http://www.cwcycles.co.za/product/661-evolution-new-wave-helmet Hmm might just have to be my next upgrade!

Just get yourself some proper skate pads. And some nice thick leather gardening/welding gloves. Skate pads have a lot more padding and security. I know i used to race downhill(sk8). You pretty much learn that everytime you fall, just land on your knees first. The pads, esp the vert ramp style ones are so solid and padded that you dont hurt at all, and will slide down the hill. Usually into the curb, but thats ok.

SWEET! Thats awesome news about the machete! Im gonna go there tomo!! See what i can do!! As for hitting the rock garden, it needs to be bigger your right! If you hit the first rock right you can pretty much launch the whole thing!!! I looked into the rest of the section on SH2b, but didnt see an obvious line.. am i missing something? Right now im using it as a alternate route, linking back to SH2 Main line which is still cool! On a side note ive been watching Follow me! So sick! f*cking love it!

Well we could start another topic and only use it for catching up on all things downhill. But this is the only topic i actually consistently check. Its like a little blog! It would be cool of we could get the topic moved out of Photos.. i guess! Anyway.. The route ive been training on is the alternate, SH2 - SH2b linking back into SH2 above the log drop - over the rock garden - left into (proposed) SH2c over Gap/Step down round hard 180 berm and then back onto SH2. Hopefully in-time to hit the jump thats going up there. The route is pretty clear and doable. Not to hard to take the turn esp. if you do the alternate route, and come into SH2 with less speed. The only part that needs work is the section that goes through a pile of bush & trees before linking back up on to SH2. The reason ive been looking at all these alternate routes is, im really trying to up my skills in regards to cornering, berms and confidence in coming in hot before a corner. I cant get to Tokai often enough, and whats going down in Signals is great! Its pretty short at the moment SH2 and SH3 DIRECT. Cant wait for SH1!!!! I guess ill see your Schwalbe Dirty Dans tracks soon!

Next time im At Signals ill try find and gather some rocks for the garden. I actually just got back from a morning ride there today! Theres potential for a really nice offshoot from the main-line SH2 just after the rock garden. I brushed the ground to make a visible trail and put a mini rock pile there so you could see it. Basically means a swooping left corner after rockgarden, which tightens then a nice gap (have to keep speed!!) might need a berm. The Gap isnt huge but you could fit a bike in there lenghtways. After the gap cut up above a little bit into a full 180 berm (U-berm?) then back towards SH2 and relink further down... OTHERWISE Its looking good! Like the bigger drop off after the berm on SH3! Also found a nice line after the drop, over the "Hump" where its possible to get quite a bit of air! Just aim a little more to the left. Yo will see the brake-ing tracks in the grass.

I have a similar problem on my 2006 Giant AC, theress definate play when i lift my bike up by the seat. Feels almost like a loose headset in terms of movement & sound. It seems the play is coming from the bushing/pin that goes through the main suspension eye the top one. After doing some research(go0gle)I came across this: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=396483 Which is EXACTLY what i have! Yay. It seems like an easy enough fix, but heres the question. Where can i find the parts or tools to get it fixed? What do i ask for? Can a phone a couple bike shops and say "Hey you got a 2006 Giant AC bushing lying around?" Any idea on cost? One other thing, the movement is only up and down, nothing lateral. How much could this affect my riding performance through cornering/ control/ braking if atall? Or is it merely cosmetic, and an annoying sound? Thanks In Advance!)

hey cap, sorry dude! I know its a bit of a tit trying to keep those berms hard! I think winter hasnt given us much rain, Its super dusty up there! Was thinking of a way to get water down? Maybe a 50L tank in a bakkie parked on the main road, and a long hose pipe, would be easy to siphon the water down the hill.. but a bithc to carry the hose pipe back up....

Sweet! Looking forward to hitting signals again! the rain should of compressed the berms a bit! Was getting a bit sandy and dry! Any Developments on SH2b? Is the line obvious? Also,would be cool to build a step up onto that old wall/ledge some where too!

OH one other thing... I see you were also hitting your wooden jump at an angle and going off course? straight towards some thinnish trees. You planning on cutting them down and making another line?

Yeah! It seems we have totally different schedules! every time im there i can see fresh tracks, i know people(you) are riding and building there... just never see them(you)! EVER... Dont think i can make it this weekend. but maybe next or some time during the week, even if its after work? Ps, i been using your tools! cant carry anything of mine on the bike from oranjezicht(home) to SH. will make a plan soon!

HeY Cap! Went to SH2/3 on Sunday. Did a few runs! Tracks coming along! I tried your wooden jump but almost almost bailed hard into the tree below it! The new route youve been building left of the jump loks like it could possibley be a good extension to SH2. It seems to link back up before the other wooden/rocky drop off. I tried to ride it a few times, but the steep soily section into the MINI berm just wasnt working... I wasnt sure what you wee trying? Either a Moto x style back brake slide/drift into it at 90º or ... **** i dunno? Any way i presumed you were still working on it. so i added a bit to the berm. made the line into it go a little more left, so the turn has a better apex. And dug the berm deeper to make it more solid. Its still a drifty, knee almost to the ground corner, but now you can really huck it through! I find you can really rail it if your confident! I actually went over the bars there, a little to confident, i guess... It then continues towards the main line of SH2, with a little dip/hip and over a tree root into the drop off of SH2. Adds a little more dimension and i think it really works! The only problem with the extension right now is: When coming past the North shore jump, its quite difficult to get a good line, whether the drop or the roll in is used. Not sure what to do to make it faster/ funner? I quite like the off camber-ness of it, but taking a foot off just before the drop isnt great. What are your thoughts/plans Cap?

Hey Cap! I know I know... Im the invisible monster.. hehe. Im only riding a Giant AC, 160mm rotors.. will be looking for a DH rig soon tho, so the road gap bottoms me out hard! Will try get out to the trails soon, pm me for your number, ill give you an sms! I usually go during work hours tho.. sneaky missions. Why cant the route youve outlined link back up with SH2? Would be sick. And as for SH1 super steep means a nice 2 or 3 hard berms snaking down the face!!!