Burry go back to basics

[(Deon)]

I think you need to get out more, especially in the wet.

Ever slipped on a wet root because you just assumed all was fine ?

 

oh one more thing, the example I have given has nothing to do with wet. I don't argue that conditions have a lot to do with performance, but Burry can handle the wet. This is not about me.. unless MY name is Burry?

 

I am asking about the hardware, not the software.

[kosmonooit]

Even Absalon come off on Sat, front wheel in a root, bike flipped.

[(Deon)]

You're forgetting one thing - 26" and 29" wheelsizes were not built on science they're built on availability and industry norms. There's nothing to say that 27.5" is the perfect balance between strength and weight - it just happens to be halfway between two industry norms. There's no more evidence to support 27.5" being perfect than 32", 14" or 24".

 

- Sorry, are bike designers taking us for a ride?? Literally. Do you not believe they are not making decisions with our best interest in mind? I think there is a certain amount of testing they can rely on or else we will see a new format come out each year, one we will be paying for.. That is just bad business practice. WHo know how they got to these numbers.. but that's what is available now.

 

Your statement "29 is faster than 26" is also flawed. Faster on what? Technical? Flat road? Overall? Marathon? XC? No scientific data exsists - or will ever exist - the variable are not measureable.

 

- Not flawed, just not complete in its presentation. Faster on what they will ride. They walk the track and go back to the pit and choose a bike, a tyre.. you know. See Wade Simon's report on where a 29 is faster/slower in technical terrain. He put it through North Shore and gave his opinion on where it is faster over a 26. But if you want hard fact.. Logic says a bigger wheel covers more ground per revolution than a smaller wheel. Should it matter where you ride, unless you have a quiver of bikes for each course..

 

My non scientific reasons for Burry's performance are:

Confidence - he's had a rocky season (by his own HIGH standards) and confidence in XC is paramount.

Girlfriend - someone mentioned it in a rather distasteful manner but when I heard Burry had a new girlfriend I thought "uh oh". Girlfriends in pro/riding terms are a distraction. From a riding perspective anyway - if Burry is happier overall with a GF then it was the right move.

 

- Check Tim Noak's report on girlfriends before competition.. He is all for it!

 

Qrotor rings - a round ring will always shift better than a squovaloffsquared ring. In % terms who knows? 0.5% worse shifting? 2% worse shifting?

 

Mostly though - I'd say it's mental. The "must win" stress gets higher and higher the less you win.

 

That said - I've only met Burry once or twice in passing and don't know him nearly well enough to make any judgement calls. Just my own silly opinions.

 

I am a huge fan - and keen to see the man back on top again! Bring 2012 - Burry will whoop some ass - a year older - a year smarter - a year more experienced - I have no doubts!

 

- Me too. I am behind this guy.. Ned Overend is still enjoying the podium. Could be Burry in 20years! Can't stand it when the person comes under fire for a bad season, and especially when moving to a new format bike.. but the fish monger loves a good story.

 

Can anyone give any insight to strength over weight as an argument? What is more important when the course is starting to include drops, rocks, steep rooty chutes etc?

Edited September 5, 2011 by Pain or Shine

[(Deon)]

Even Absalon come off on Sat, front wheel in a root, bike flipped.

 

What was he riding.. ? That said, I know it can happen to anyone... Just not me!

[Shebeen]

my impressions from watching the race, might be repeating a bit for a few.

 

burry was on the startline front row, but against the fence.

he either stalled on the line or got squeezed into the fence.

the first time we saw the entire field, he must have been in about 20-25th spot.

 

the first time they hit a tight turn at the top of a hill, one guy couldn't make it, foot down and ALL behind had to get off and walk in the tight spot - that's where the minute gap to the top 6 came in so early.

 

he was miles back, and must have had the quickest first lap to get into 7th spot, I reckon he would have been going full tap just trying to pick through the traffic.

 

He was riding well on his own, but battling to reel in the significant lead the front 6pack had.

There were a few shots of him, one where he slipped in the mud on a tight corner. another with chain issues.

 

It sure was slippery out there, and quite feasible that he came short taking some big risks descending.

 

************

looking forward to 2012 and olympics, I think he's clearly got the legs to be up there as a contender. I think we can speculate all we want, but the fixables will be fixed. The spesh guys are just too good a squad to let weight weenie mechanical/bike issues get in the way. It's the damn czech team-mate we of his we need to worry about.

 

I also think he should NOT race Epic 2012. Just look at the top10 and you don't see the best XC guys at epic, even someone like Hermida is coming to epic for (hectic)base training. However, there is a chance that sauser doesn't crack the swiss olympic team so he would be keen to give it horns and defend their title. Is there a big enough gap between epic and olympics to peak at both?

[Wyatt Earp]

What was he riding.. ? That said, I know it can happen to anyone... Just not me!

 

Why are you asking, you give the impression that you followed it very closely.

Through the entire thread you have come across as a know it all with a great conviction of certainty in your answers and arguments.

I think you need to get out more and race under pressure, even a bit of local club pressure will do (let alone the World stage) and see how well you deal with it.

I guess Minnaar bailing on a 26 " wheel size must be equipment related.

[davetapson]

AND MAKES YOUR HAIR GROW on your BACK, how many times must I tell you

Damn - and they only tell me now...

[SwissVan]

Can anyone give any insight to strength over weight as an argument? What is more important when the course is starting to include drops, rocks, steep rooty chutes etc?

 

Really guys and girls... The only sure thing is Burry must be giggling reading this thread.

 

Its impossible to lift your wheel over all the roots at Champrey and I have a suspicion Burry broke his bars falling on a slippery bridge anyway.

 

During the mens elite race on Saturday Ralph Näf was co-commentating and when the Free caster commentator asked him the 26 vs 29er question, Ralph replied that a lot of riders where unsure about which bike to use at Champrey due to the variety of conditions (steep hills, long straights, plenty of stop start sharp turns, roots and rocks) and that as far as he was concerned it made no difference which bike, just as long as you rode a bike....

[Wyatt Earp]

 

It sure was slippery out there, and quite feasible that he came short taking some big risks descending.

 

************

The spesh guys are just too good a squad to let weight weenie mechanical/bike issues get in the way. It's the damn czech team-mate we of his we need to worry about.

 

I also think he should NOT race Epic 2012.

Ditto on the first and the second.

I agree on the third, perhaps use Epic as base, the prestige is really in being World Champ.

[TitusTi]

Really guys and girls... The only sure thing is Burry must be giggling reading this thread.

 

Its impossible to lift your wheel over all the roots at Champrey and I have a suspicion Burry broke his bars falling on a slippery bridge anyway.

 

During the mens elite race on Saturday Ralph Näf was co-commentating and when the Free caster commentator asked him the 26 vs 29er question, Ralph replied that a lot of riders where unsure about which bike to use at Champrey due to the variety of conditions (steep hills, long straights, plenty of stop start sharp turns, roots and rocks) and that as far as he was concerned it made no difference which bike, just as long as you rode a bike....

 

 

 

If that's how Näf feels, then that makes me happy.

He really looks like he's been shot out of a canon he descends so quickly, very, very skillful rider that.

[(Deon)]

Why are you asking, you give the impression that you followed it very closely.

Through the entire thread you have come across as a know it all with a great conviction of certainty in your answers and arguments.

I think you need to get out more and race under pressure, even a bit of local club pressure will do (let alone the World stage) and see how well you deal with it.

I guess Minnaar bailing on a 26 " wheel size must be equipment related.

 

 

Why would you say something like that? If it is not for a personal reasons, it seems you really have nothing to say. Why must this get personal, rude in fact! There is enough of that sh*t in the real world.

 

Ah, there is not doubt that stress, conditions, course, everything on the day has a bearing of one's performance.. But if you take the time to read what I am asking, from the first post, and I humbly repeat ...is weight not an issue when the course becomes more complex due to strength of components being a factor in choosing a line, i.e. committing to taking a drop to make up, let's say 5 seconds, do you want your first thought to be, will the bike hold?

 

See Dangle, that is a question looking for an answer, not some foolish comment in response designed to shut me up because YOU think I am a know it all... A simple question. It was presented as an argument for the teams performance somewhere in the start of the article. I don't think I ever really questioned Burry's skill. In fact I may even have complimented him.. but you did not see that right?

 

 

..and Swissvan, and when did I say manual the whole Champery track?? but I guess it is something not done before.. might see it on youtube soon..

 

PS, Dangle, what does your last line even mean?

Edited September 5, 2011 by Pain or Shine

[Wyatt Earp]

Why would you say something like that? If it is not for a personal reasons, it seems you really have nothing to say. Why must this get personal, rude in fact! There is enough of that sh*t in the real world.

 

Ah, there is not doubt that stress, conditions, course, everything on the day has a bearing of one's performance.. But if you take the time to read what I am asking, from the first post, and I humbly repeat ...is weight not an issue when the course becomes more complex due to strength of components being a factor in choosing a line, i.e. committing to taking a drop to make up, let's say 5 seconds, do you want your first thought to be, will the bike hold?

 

See Dangle, that is a question looking for an answer, not some foolish comment in response designed to shut me up because YOU think I am a know it all... A simple question. It was presented as an argument for the teams performance somewhere in the start of the article. I don't think I ever really questioned Burry's skill. In fact I may even have complimented him.. but you did not see that right?

 

 

..and Swissvan, and when did I say manual the whole Champery track?? but I guess it is something not done before.. might see it on youtube soon..

 

PS, Dangle, what does your last line even mean?

IT simply means that you don't understand the sport, let alone where it's at with top level racing (rude enough for you ?)

 

Catch a wake up, it's got nothing to do with 26'ers or 29'ers.

It's got to do with the fittest, fastest, strongest and most well composed rider on the day.

 

 

29 is faster than 26, but inherently weaker due to the diameter... 29's don't cause mechanicals but treating them like 26's will.

 

Burry was shocked when he went OTB.. his face had surprise written all over it. Watch the entry again and you'll see that he is too slow to carry momentum over the rock garden. (just as an example)

 

What does his bike weigh? 7.5KG's??

 

 

27.5 has to be the obvious winner..

It's the senseless comments such as these above that gets under my skin.

[(Deon)]

and what makes composure? You have again avoided answering the question that is playing on my mind.. oh, wait, this is not about the bike..

 

.. and yes, that is rude enough.

[Wyatt Earp]

and what makes composure? You have again avoided answering the question that is playing on my mind.. oh, wait, this is not about the bike..

 

.. and yes, that is rude enough.

Composure ? Do you have to be spoon fed everything ?

Make your question more clear and I will see if I can help.

[MANIC CYCLES]

Let's face the facts: Burry CAN handle an MTB (he is an ex- SA dowhill champion in the Junior category). However, it certainly appears that he has had a higher percentage of "unforced" crashes since riding a 29er..? I reckon it does have something to do with height (if you are shorter & lighter), riding a 29er, then it affects your inherent sense of gravity, plus important to keep that momentum going on a 29er (especially through rock gardens). Kulhavy, as well as Sauser, are both taller and/or heavier riders, think about it, when last have they crashed (especially in big races)..?

[MANIC CYCLES]

Let's face the facts: Burry CAN handle an MTB (he is an ex- SA dowhill champion in the Junior category). However, it certainly appears that he has had a higher percentage of "unforced" crashes since riding a 29er..? I reckon it does have something to do with height (if you are shorter & lighter), riding a 29er, then it affects your inherent sense of gravity, plus important to keep that momentum going on a 29er (especially through rock gardens). Kulhavy, as well as Sauser, are both taller and/or heavier riders, think about it, when last have they crashed (especially in big races)..?