MTB Downhill World Cup... starts this weekend.

[weeksy]

I know a few have been following the boys thread on racing. This weekend starts the 2023 season with Lenzerheide.

It's free if you have SkyQ or Sky Glass and then sign up to Discovery+ racing on Sat morning and afternoon.

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/wyn-tv--d ... kwalk.html

[weeksy]

[millemille]

One thing that struck me @weeksy watching Bernard Kerr's Lenzerheide practice video, and the LOic Bruni one you posted, is just how quiet and smooth the bikes and riding are.

You watch a normal rider's videos, even James's, and every time the bike is airborne there's an "ooooff" and a thud and and obvious impact as the bike lands and when a normal rider is going over stutter bumps or roots or rocks you can hear and see every impact.

You watch the pro's and you can't tell when they're airborne or not, the landings are so smooth they can't be seen or heard and they bikes are silent on all but the very roughest sections.

When I watched Bernard Kerr's video I had to go back and watch it again because I thought his microphone was broken and somehow not picking up the bike noise, but no, they are that smooth.

Maybe something to look at for junior?

[weeksy]

I'm not sure what way we could look into it ? His suspension is setup by the same fella who does the GT Factory stuff. So it's right in the ball park. We spent 6 hours and 14 runs of a DH track getting the suspension dialled in where it was so he was noticing 1 click either direction. I doubt it's purely down to their suspension being that bit more better because say Fox 40s over my lads Boxxers. If it comes down to a suspension thing in any other context we'd be shit out of luck as their forks are nearly as much money as his bike.

So it's got to come down as much to rider as suspension in that context. Maybe technique, maybe strength... But it would be massively interesting to stick someone like that on one of the juniors bikes and see which would answer some of the questions potentially.

Watching the lad at Fort William on the motorway section, he wasn't hitting the jumps and landing any harder than your average pro... Although they were more stylish with it

They do often jump lower though and 'scrub' as much as jump, time in the air is time lost of course..

[millemille]

I'm not sure what way we could look into it ? His suspension is setup by the same fella who does the GT Factory stuff. So it's right in the ball park. We spent 6 hours and 14 runs of a DH track getting the suspension dialled in where it was so he was noticing 1 click either direction. I doubt it's purely down to their suspension being that bit more better because say Fox 40s over my lads Boxxers. If it comes down to a suspension thing in any other context we'd be shit out of luck as their forks are nearly as much money as his bike.

So it's got to come down as much to rider as suspension in that context. Maybe technique, maybe strength... But it would be massively interesting to stick someone like that on one of the juniors bikes and see which would answer some of the questions potentially.

Watching the lad at Fort William on the motorway section, he wasn't hitting the jumps and landing any harder than your average pro... Although they were more stylish with it

They do often jump lower though and 'scrub' as much as jump, time in the air is time lost of course..

If I had to guess I would say a lot of it is mental training.

You may, or may not, recall that I used to work in BSB and WSB back in the early 00's doing data logging and engine management technical support? I was very lucky to work directly with some very, very good riders -the best/most successful probably being Ben Bostrom - and also be around the periphery of riders like John Reynolds and Shane Byrne.

They all, in some way or another, described the mental state they were in when they were riding fast - at a pace that us mortals can't even begin to comprehend how it can be done, much like the riders in the DH videos - as being an out of body experience where they were above and in front of the bike.

They weren't having to think about what their physical body was having to do on the bike because they'd mentally encountered it and dealt with it before the physical body even needed to think.

I wonder if James is reacting to what he encounters - and he obviously knows how to react to it - rather than being in front of the bike, mentally, and planning and doing pre-emptively.

So maybe the pro-riders in the video are - as you say, using their strength and technique - but also their minds in a different way?

[weeksy]

I'm not sure what way we could look into it ? His suspension is setup by the same fella who does the GT Factory stuff. So it's right in the ball park. We spent 6 hours and 14 runs of a DH track getting the suspension dialled in where it was so he was noticing 1 click either direction. I doubt it's purely down to their suspension being that bit more better because say Fox 40s over my lads Boxxers. If it comes down to a suspension thing in any other context we'd be shit out of luck as their forks are nearly as much money as his bike.

So it's got to come down as much to rider as suspension in that context. Maybe technique, maybe strength... But it would be massively interesting to stick someone like that on one of the juniors bikes and see which would answer some of the questions potentially.

Watching the lad at Fort William on the motorway section, he wasn't hitting the jumps and landing any harder than your average pro... Although they were more stylish with it

They do often jump lower though and 'scrub' as much as jump, time in the air is time lost of course..

If I had to guess I would say a lot of it is mental training.

You may, or may not, recall that I used to work in BSB and WSB back in the early 00's doing data logging and engine management technical support? I was very lucky to work directly with some very, very good riders -the best/most successful probably being Ben Bostrom - and also be around the periphery of riders like John Reynolds and Shane Byrne.

They all, in some way or another, described the mental state they were in when they were riding fast - at a pace that us mortals can't even begin to comprehend how it can be done, much like the riders in the DH videos - as being an out of body experience where they were above and in front of the bike.

They weren't having to think about what their physical body was having to do on the bike because they'd mentally encountered it and dealt with it before the physical body even needed to think.

I wonder if James is reacting to what he encounters - and he obviously knows how to react to it - rather than being in front of the bike, mentally, and planning and doing pre-emptively.

So maybe the pro-riders in the video are - as you say, using their strength and technique - but also their minds in a different way?

Golly, now we're getting deep.. I suspect the answer to that with 99.9% certainty is yes... but how we/he gets past that, well that's open to guesswork at the moment really. I guess part of the next bit needs to be in the other thread, but he's working with Katy at least once if not twice a week at times currently and she's getting the boys faster and faster... but the levels needed is massive to get to the pointy end. The lad struggles at times with confidence though in his ability and riding, which is the one thing as you state above, we'd LOVE to unlock... I think that would help him push his levels as much as anything else. We're trying to work on that as is Katy... but i don't really know how to find the right key for it.

I think the reacting thing is likely correct.. You can see it at times in the ay he rides, moves etc... and you can also see a difference in when he finds his 'flow'

We don't often get to see some of his videos on here though as all his coaching is on the Privateer, which still isn't quite the same levels of comfort/happy place for him compared to the DH bike.. We've got that one properly dialled in and he 'flows' better on it... Whereas on the Privateer it's often still 'work'

[Nordboy]

The thing that stood out for me watching that video is (apart from the obvious skill) how quickly the bikes/ riders pick up and drop the speed. Phenomenal changes of pace.

All I kept saying to myself throughout was 'fuck that' lol

[weeksy]

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/practice- ... -2023.html


Some properly epic pics in there.

[tricol]

Big fan of Vital's RAW videos.

[millemille]

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/practice- ... -2023.html


Some properly epic pics in there.

You noticed how many of them are using clipless pedals?

[millemille]

. but i don't really know how to find the right key for it.

https://www.petejackson.co.uk/

[weeksy]

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/practice- ... -2023.html


Some properly epic pics in there.

You noticed how many of them are using clipless pedals?

I think there's only 1-2 who don't. Sam Hill being one who's a long time Flats rider, i think there's 1 other guy in WCs too.

That won't change the fact i'm not though

The boy has been on them for 6-7 months now and wouldn't go back. He's very pleased his Crankbrothers shoes and pedal choices were to go clipped. (i'm still not calling them clipless because it's fucking stupid)

[millemille]

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/practice- ... -2023.html


Some properly epic pics in there.

You noticed how many of them are using clipless pedals?

I think there's only 1-2 who don't. Sam Hill being one who's a long time Flats rider, i think there's 1 other guy in WCs too.

That won't change the fact i'm not though

The boy has been on them for 6-7 months now and wouldn't go back. He's very pleased his Crankbrothers shoes and pedal choices were to go clipped. (i'm still not calling them clipless because it's fucking stupid)

Apologies, I didn't realise James was already on them.

The etymology for "clipless" goes to BITD then we used to use toe clips and straps, with cleats on the bottoms of your shoes to align with edges of the pedal cage...



Lyotard cyclo-cross pedals and Sidi shoes use to be ones to have, you'd cinch the straps up so tight your toes would turn blue and you couldn't get your feet off the pedals even if you wanted to and you became adept at reaching down to loosen a strap quick-smart...

And then Shimano came along with the first SPD's and you didn't have to use clips any more, hence "clipless"

[weeksy]

I know why/how.... i just think in modern time it's completely wrong.

Yeah he'd tried them previously and went back to flats after an issue in Enduro race at Milland. But when Crankbrothers came onboard as a team sponsor he had to pick shoes and pedals. He went with Mallet DH pedals and Stamp shoes... Funny enough just this morning i was fitting new cleats to his as he's dropped the pedals once or twice... I won't tell the fussy bugger though as he doesn't like me changing stuff He's a funny creature in that context.