The Downhill Thread

[Stryder]

My chain released a speed link today, THANK goodness it happened after the landing and not into the power pedal to clear the edge.

 

I think my chain maybe too slack?

[craig82]

I heard something snap and just slammed on the breaks, just a couple of scratched spokes. Tried bending the mech back to normal but no luck.

 

Who do you fancy for the win tomorrow?

[DownhillingKing]

Wow lots of parts breaking lately! anyway today my jockey wheel blew up!

[Capricorn]

ftw tomorrow at worlds?

1. Hill (if he is underplaying his shoulder injury)

2. Greg or Gee

3. Blenki or Peat

4. Gwin (bets he crashes) or Brendan.

[craig82]

No peaty in there cap?

Looking at the footage from earlier this week Greg is looking super strong.

 

Gee is still on a confidence high from last week so I thnk he has a good chance.

[Capricorn]

peaty is there, with blenki

 

If it comes to outright balls2thewalls, LookMa NoBrakes kinda riding, then it's Hill or Peaty. The rest would comprise Greg, then Gee and Blenki, then Gwin and Brendan.

 

My dark horse? Chris Kovarik. <-- the original wild man of world cup DH. If he can keep it together for the full run, I reckon he could rock the top spot. But it's gonna take massive balls to blitz this course. A few of the top guys have stated the course is downright scary if you ride it like it's begging to be ridden.

[Capricorn]

i'm curious to see how Pottie rides it. I hope the footage includes the dude. Then if he bails, i can rag him about it.. and then whip out a screen shot if he argues

[craig82]

You mean pottie potgieter is there?

 

How many riders are we alowed at worlds?

[craig82]

Good call Cap, your man has won it!

And Specialized must be over the moon with Troy Brosnan winning junior world champs, like I said before, he is amazing!

 

South Africa did well hey, we flippen awesome.

[Capricorn]

HILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeeeeeewWWW!!

 

but i have to thank telkom, for, at exactly 9pm last, just the last 20 men were about to start racing, killing the local exchange. Boom! no more interwebs.

 

Just saw the results on pinkbike. will download and watch the last twenty later today.

 

but what a smashing run by neko and Troy. 0.06sec. damn! and then third dude is 9sec back! wow. good run by local boy coming 8th in the juniors.

[Capricorn]

You mean pottie potgieter is there?

 

How many riders are we alowed at worlds?

 

yeah, pottie was supposed to be there. But the official timed practice list showed him as DNS'd. So i'm wondering what happened. HOpe it wasnt some BS caused by CSA.

Timothy Bentely was up tehre, and performed decently, taking 8th in the Juniors. So congrats!

[daneger]

Pottie did not receive his Visa in time for him to make it over, which is a huge pity as I feel he would have killed it.

[Capricorn]

oh my sack Danegar: u've got to be shitting me. it's not like worlds was suddenly decided last weekend

 

oh wait.. i hope the strike didnt have anything to do with it................ wait a min....................

[craig82]

Pottie did not receive his Visa in time for him to make it over, which is a huge pity as I feel he would have killed it.

Aaaah no! That sucks.

[Capricorn]

Aaaah no! That sucks.

 

totally.. i'd be gutted..

[Capricorn]

i'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Sam Hill didn't go faster than everyone compared to timed practice (granted, bone dry practice and race wet not the same thing), but rather that most of the top riders had slowed down due to the near_overnight change in conditions. What makes his performance masterful, is that he once again has adapted faster than everyone else. Not sure if Smith crashed in timed practice, or played mindgames, but majorprops to the Canadian Chainsaw Massacre for letting rip in that final.

 

check this:

Rider: Timed practice: Race time

Sam Hill: 4:45.15: 4:37.93

Stevie Smith: 5:00.88: 4:40.56

Greg Minnaar: 4:31.57: 4:40.93

Aaron Gwin: 4:35.37: 4:42.01

Gee Atherton: 4:34.14: 4:42.64

Marc Beaumont: 4:42.61: 4:45.52

Steve Peat: 4:40.97: 4:45.54

 

everyone in the top 10 slower, except Hill, and Stevie Smith.

 

Because hill's timed practice was way off pace, many thought he was just cruising cos of his shoulder. But in the interviews IIRC, Hill said he let rip as best he could

He really is phenomenal.