Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 well said, Cap - and probably bang on the money. It is indeed a game of inches. One thing that struck me is that in the rock garden sections and that first g-out section into the berm, he was visibly looser than I think I've ever seen him before. As if he knew that section SO well that he just went balls to the wall.
Capricorn Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 well said, Cap - and probably bang on the money. It is indeed a game of inches. One thing that struck me is that in the rock garden sections and that first g-out section into the berm, he was visibly looser than I think I've ever seen him before. As if he knew that section SO well that he just went balls to the wall. yeah, he was pretty loose,but if you look at the practice vid, he was equally wild down that section. The vids really dont do that track's gnarlyness any justice. I'll bet those holes hidden under that dust would swallow an elephant. Only good speed or total avoidance would save you from them.
Capricorn Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 if his suspension is hard, i'll bet it has nothing to do with his tyre or fork/shock air pressure. My money's on his compression setup. higher air pressure's do provide more support, but its a crap ride. More compression provides the suspension support necessary in the key area of mid stroke, without sacrificing bump compliance which a higher air pressure tends to affect.
BrandonF_ Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 And for that the imaginary person in the sky smiles apon him. But what about Sunday race days? The fairy tale suggests that on the seventh day he parked it cheesy and gave thanks to the big bang........ai.
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 if his suspension is hard, i'll bet it has nothing to do with his tyre or fork/shock air pressure. My money's on his compression setup. higher air pressure's do provide more support, but its a crap ride. More compression provides the suspension support necessary in the key area of mid stroke, without sacrificing bump compliance which a higher air pressure tends to affect.yeah, my thinking too. That and / or running some volume spacer / shim stack majick that makes it so much more progressive than the rest.
Baracuda Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 Watching him over that top section of rocks last night and then over the bottom section of rocks reminded me of a shift in windsurfing racing philosophy a few years ago. In the old days, it was assumed that you would be faster if you had total control, were smooth and kept your board flat and well trimmed. Then about 4-5 years ago, some nutters found that you were faster if you were not always in total control. Rather go out with a sail two or three sizes too big and just hang on and try handle the chaos. If you manage to do it and somehow transfer that power, you will be faster even though you not in total control. Watching Greg vs Aaron last night over those rocks, Greg was in full control, carefully placing the bike and riding the rocks, super legend Minaar smooth. Whereas Gwen looked like a mad man whose brakes had failed and who had come into it way too fast and was just hanging on for his life. Dust and stones flying everywhere, not it total control, as graceful as a war-rig in Mad Max, but at the end of the day, faster.
milky4130 Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 I would imagine Gwin rode that course more times in the lead up than anyone i.e. home advantage, no? Also from last nights final runs he chose the faster lines.
arendoog Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 Taking the straight faster line at the top kept his momentum and speed for the first half where he made up his time .If he can can handle chaos with courage and hold on he wins or he crashes if he cannot
DIPSLICK Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 Great rider who had a great day and a brilliant run it happens,
SwissVan Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 Great rider who had a great day and a brilliant run it happens, Exactly, fortune favours someone...usually the chap who has the most ducks in a row at the same time
Stretch Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 Taking the straight faster line at the top kept his momentum and speed for the first half where he made up his time .If he can can handle chaos with courage and hold on he wins or he crashes if he cannotAlthough he lives on the other side of the country so i don't think he gets to ride it anymore than the other guys
MarcBurger Posted August 9, 2015 Posted August 9, 2015 He runs high-risk/high-reward. There were at least 3 lines that he took at the start which just seemed completely mental, even to the Claudio. Other than being a great rider, he is evidently incredible at holding on for dear life and coming out the other side in one piece. Most riders would be so disorientated and exhausted after a start like that. That said. Minaar was a beast! A calm, collected and fit where it counted at the end beast. So sad (yet awesome) what happened to Bruni, but that lucky misfortune was too much to ask for twice.
nigelhicks Posted August 10, 2015 Posted August 10, 2015 Gwin has his days. Look at MSA he had a terrible race. So he just put it all together on a track he knows he can do well on. He had "home" support which really does lift you up. Although his suspension is harder than everyone else this is more a riding style than anything else as if it were faster everyone would have done it by now. Gwin just has a great racer mindset and can put himself in the race moment and make it work. I think its a number of factors that makes him that fast but its not something you can put your finger on and say ... its this ... He has had a good season but is similar to hill when he was blowing the field apart in 2007 ... sometimes he can pull it out and othertimes not
IH8MUD Posted August 10, 2015 Posted August 10, 2015 Naaaa . . . it's because he rides with the same handle bar is I do . .
Capricorn Posted August 10, 2015 Posted August 10, 2015 He has had a good season but is similar to hill when he was blowing the field apart in 2007 ... sometimes he can pull it out and othertimes not Just realized this morning that the last time i saw someone ride like that was Sam Hill at the 2007 Val Di Sole world champs, and to think he charges that hard on flats.
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