Slowbee Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 yes.. hubby wants to get me a full faced helmet and bubble wrap. No sadly I have lost a lot of confidence.. but it's coming back slowly.. Peach skills clinic helped a lot.. and I have been practicing what he said I must.. I am still just scared of drop offs and jumps cause I gave myself concussion in Dec with a stupid jump that I didn't land. I just want to keep both tires on the ground for now No I really want to get protection, just here in the platteland no one seems to fall, cause no one sells it.. And would have to get the right fit, so a bit bang to order online, for in case I get the wrong size. I am however heading to CT tomorrow.. so will go find a LBS and get some padding As a total hijack - have you ever thought of riding with elbow and knee guards. Bought some for my wife and she loves them. According to her they are light and comfortable, once you get going you hardly know they are there. But she said it gave her a little more confidence to ride over stones and things that she would normally be nervous to do on case she fell. I''ll get a few pics loaded. As my little 5 zim cents. A fit rider will always finish an event and not need any technical ability. Technical ability brings a bit more enjoyment to the ride - but fitness means you can finish any event.
Slowbee Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Oh boy. A LOOOOONG seven days for some. as this seems to be a random thing, why are some people afraid of being on their bikes for long periods of time ?
rudi-h Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 I guess it all boils down to what the Epic is and what it represents which is a question that only Kevin Vermaak can answer. If the Epic is indeed the "ultimate" mtb event (as I like to think it can and should become) then it needs to be both hard and technically challenging, pushing riders to the limits on all levels and on any type of terrain. In this case the riders shown in the video are not suitably prepared and don't fit the profile. (not saying I would either) If the intention is to create an elitist mass participation event hosted for the sake of bragging rights, then it's a different story altogether. In that case bring on the dirt roads and remove all the rocks and roots from the trails!
Slowbee Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 I guess it all boils down to what the Epic is and what it represents which is a question that only Kevin Vermaak can answer. If the Epic is indeed the "ultimate" mtb event (as I like to think it can and should become) then it needs to be both hard and technically challenging, pushing riders to the limits on all levels and on any type of terrain. In this case the riders shown in the video are not suitably prepared and don't fit the profile. (not saying I would either) If the intention is to create an elitist mass participation event hosted for the sake of bragging rights, then it's a different story altogether. In that case bring on the dirt roads and remove all the rocks and roots from the trails!the point remains though - as a fit person you can still finish the event, albeit somewhere near the back.
Headshot Posted March 17, 2015 Author Posted March 17, 2015 + 10000 So I should take the Dropper post of my Road bike? BF - what ya smokin?. Your advice may be relevant to someone starting out but most people don't have the option of doing XCO, training like mofo's and then doing XCM's unless they are professionals. In fact, thats exactly what some of the pro's do. I watched Shurter go over the bars when he was exhausted at the Worlds. He would have had a far better chance of not had he been further back and lower, thanks to a lower seat. Yes you can ride XCO obstacles with a high seat but its all wrong. Doing so is not a sign of intelligence or skill but rather the custom and demands of the sport to date. Some of the XCO races I have done had serious drop offs and tech sections where the high seat racing set up of a bike was a serious hindrance. And yes, maybe a dropper you'll hardly use is a waste of time on the Epic because the course hardly demands it, but the basic knowledge is vital. How many of the crashers we see on the video drop their seats manually before a longish descent while out riding, not racing? Very few I recon. Mountainbiking is all about weight shifting and body positioning to negotiate the terrain but we see people riding their glorified road bikes looking all stiff with seats up their bums and falling over the bars at the drop of a hat.
Bobbo_SA Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 BF - what ya smokin?. Your advice may be relevant to someone starting out but most people don't have the option of doing XCO, training like mofo's and then doing XCM's unless they are professionals. In fact, thats exactly what some of the pro's do. I watched Shurter go over the bars when he was exhausted at the Worlds. He would have had a far better chance of not had he been further back and lower, thanks to a lower seat. Yes you can ride XCO obstacles with a high seat but its all wrong. Doing so is not a sign of intelligence or skill but rather the custom and demands of the sport to date. Some of the XCO races I have done had serious drop offs and tech sections where the high seat racing set up of a bike was a serious hindrance. And yes, maybe a dropper you'll hardly use is a waste of time on the Epic because the course hardly demands it, but the basic knowledge is vital. How many of the crashers we see on the video drop their seats manually before a longish descent while out riding, not racing? Very few I recon. Mountainbiking is all about weight shifting and body positioning to negotiate the terrain but we see people riding their glorified road bikes looking all stiff with seats up their bums and falling over the bars at the drop of a hat. Someone dropped a bag of pennies about half way and all the riders were just looking to collect a few.
Headshot Posted March 17, 2015 Author Posted March 17, 2015 I guess it all boils down to what the Epic is and what it represents which is a question that only Kevin Vermaak can answer. If the Epic is indeed the "ultimate" mtb event (as I like to think it can and should become) then it needs to be both hard and technically challenging, pushing riders to the limits on all levels and on any type of terrain. In this case the riders shown in the video are not suitably prepared and don't fit the profile. (not saying I would either) If the intention is to create an elitist mass participation event hosted for the sake of bragging rights, then it's a different story altogether. In that case bring on the dirt roads and remove all the rocks and roots from the trails!It will never become that. It is a MTB multiday marathon event and it is possibly the ultimate MTB marathon. If thats your definition of MTB then perhaps it is the ultimate. Whether its fun is another matter entirely. I have entered this event - Its smaller, costs less and I guarantee it will be more fun than the Epic (for me) http://trans-savoie.com/
Samurai Pizza Cat Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 the point remains though - as a fit person you can still finish the event, albeit somewhere near the back.Sure you can be super fit, but if you break a collarbone in the first stage (because of bad luck or lack of preparation), that fitness means nothing. The top riders, be it road or mtb, spend a lot of time working on their bike handling skills. They know that you make your own luck, and you have to work on all aspects of your game. Interesting that so many amateurs seems to think that cycling is only about fitness.
Blackbeard Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 It will never become that. It is a MTB multiday marathon event and it is possibly the ultimate MTB marathon. If thats your definition of MTB then perhaps it is the ultimate. Whether its fun is another matter entirely. I have entered this event - Its smaller, costs less and I guarantee it will be more fun than the Epic (for me) http://trans-savoie.com/Well you have fun now Dear.
Samurai Pizza Cat Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 It will never become that. It is a MTB multiday marathon event and it is possibly the ultimate MTB marathon. If thats your definition of MTB then perhaps it is the ultimate. Whether its fun is another matter entirely. I have entered this event - Its smaller, costs less and I guarantee it will be more fun than the Epic (for me) http://trans-savoie.com/WOW! That is such a great race. Pity you'll only know on 26 December if you got in.
Headshot Posted March 17, 2015 Author Posted March 17, 2015 WOW! That is such a great race. Pity you'll only know on 26 December if you got in. Nope, in already, doing the 2015 event this August...
Andrew Steer Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Roadie alert... PS: Somebody should let Jose know about this dropper post malarkey...He'd had overtaken those Olympic XC champions a whole lot quicker then
Surv0MTB Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Ended up watching from about 10am at the new bridge they built. Crazy to see how many people couldnt manage it, had to get off and walk it, which actually looked harder.
Hairy Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Roadie alert... PS: Somebody should let Jose know about this dropper post malarkey...He'd had overtaken those Olympic XC champions a whole lot quicker then just look how smoothly he flows on the trail and how well he pumps through the trail with his legs and body ....... lovely to watch. The other chaps looked so rigid as if they were standing on attention on the parade ground.
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