The latest issue of Dirt has an article I wrote about Adrian ‘Carbon Wasp’ Smith. The piece explains that Smith has been building his own bikes for years and that’s he’s been spending an unhealthy amount of time in his self inflicted carbon dungeon. Smith makes his own DIY full carbon full suss machines which ride much more beautifully than they look. In the latest iteration of ‘the carbon wasp’ he has embraced a new technique, he has Printed a bike. Literally. He’s used rapid prototyping technology, also known as 3D printing, and a printer he bought online for 400 quid. This enabled him to produce a new bike, specifically for the interview, in only 2 weeks (while working full time and going on holiday). The printed core is assembled then he wraps with carbon fibre to give it rigidity and strength, but as the article explains, it’s not as high tech as it sounds but works amazingly well.

Rapid prototyping has been maturing over the past 30 years to the point where you can now buy your own printer for hundreds rather than 10s of thousands of pounds. The technology is dripping down in to consumer products and even making its way in to the bike industry. It’s used extensively in the design and development process by bike, part and accessory manufactures to visualise the CAD data that is inevitably created.

However, like Smith, the process is finding it ways in to the manufacturing of components. The complete flexibility of process (other than material constraints) means that geometries or shapes previously unmanufacturable can become reality. Charge bikes have used a laser sintering process to produce titanium dropouts on their Ti Freezer frame.

Raceware industries have been manufacturing mounts for Garmins over the last year. Normally plastic components such as these would require very expensive tooling for each model in their range. However, with direct manufacture, they can just make to demand, the only limitation being the time it takes.

In other industries, Nike are now manufacturing the sole plate of their latest football boot using a laser sintering process of Nylon. The shape of the sole plate means that it could not be made with traditional manufacturing techniques. It has been completely optimised for performance without being limited by how it will be made.

Another implication for this type of manufacture is customisation. As each part is made individually of thousands of layers it can be changed to suit the user or purpose. The only limitation is the creation of the data that drive the machine, the CAD. A different but much more visually appealing application of this is this custom dress for Ditta Von Teese manufactured by Shapeways.

These machines and the software to run them have been finding their way in to schools and universities for years. Now that you can buy one to use at home for £400 quid the possibilities are endless. Their application and technologies will continue to find pervade our lives, the futures bright, the futures printed.

Update: 

Here’s some of Adrian’s own production shots, it’ll give you an idea of the size of the constituent parts and how they jig-sawed together before being wrapped. Get adrian at carbonwasp@gmail.com

Words and Photos: Ace Woodley

The CORE show in the UK is the sign that winters ending and new stuff is filtering into the shops,  and some hints of new things lurking in the shadows for 2014 and beyond.  As usual the CORE is industry only and laid on in a posh golf club venue next door to Silver-stone GP race track,  bike shop staffers and press only.

After looking at the weather i went on Sunday, later looked worse so 5am Sunday start it was,  after making the car swim out to the motorway, things improved,  no snow, and it stopped raining,  and the car had dried out and stopped making funny noises,  needed some new underwear after hitting a large volume of floodwater.  While recounting the tale of swimming cars with the www.sueme.com staffers they decided i should test out there Eco friendly underwear,  nice sense of humour there,  nearly write off the car, get new skids (bad joke there) they even throw in a pack of Beech tree seeds,  so when i go for a dump in the woods while out on the bike (come-on hands up, we all do it) i can plant a tree,  trees are good, they hold up race tape,  not so good when you wrap yourself round one,  but i got a couple of trees to plant as well.

Don’t think Billy thought i was going to start with pants,  best add some shiny stuff.  It was busier than expected, i reckon most had checked the weather as well and as we came from all corners of the UK,  today was best.  As ever could do with more time,  so much got missed, so much to see,  but hard to see and talk to everyone.  Got some chat time with the Banshee crew,  good to see the name back here,  it never really left but legal issues forced a rename to “Mythic” for several years.  Dirt mag have had a Rune in for a while to test out,  and the Legend DH frame with Ti pivot bolt and rear axle kinda caught my eye.

Can’t skip hard-tails,  Banshee always had some heavy hitters,  nice little dirt jumper from them as well.

What next,  Thomson,  David came over from the states again,  due to things beyond his control the dropper seatpost wasn’t there on Sunday,  they hoped it would be there later in the day, or first thing Monday,  so i had to rob a file photo from LH Thomson’s website for you.  Expected release date is April 1st (yes really) for the 30.9 and i think it was 31.6 sizes,  a stealth routing cable version is to follow fairly soon for those with interrupted seat tube bikes,  and in June a smaller 27.2 version should be ready.  With 2 posts over here all-ready being winter tested and DIN testing complete and as many wacky variation’s of what they think punters might subject the post to,  they are just sorting packaging and ready to go (didn’t find out how much mind).   The handlebar range is doing well, carbon in photo,  last year was all pre-production test samples, this year was finished gear,  talk of another riser bar coming,  sure David said Ti as well,  i could be wrong,  bit hectic in there,  but some bars and seat-post changes to come,  and a new post format for them as well coming.  As always this is the neat part of getting to these trade shows,  you get to meet the people that make the gear we ride.

Carbon is everywhere,  Halo had a set of unmarked carbon rimmed wheels (semi hiding) they have been 4x race testing, super light super strong,   my camera had issues with the surface finish and they wouldn’t let me walk off outside with it to get a better photo in daylight,  so maybe another report on them later or in the mag.  Another hardtail,  the AKA with 650b shoehorned in,  few 650b lurking about this year.

The Mogul has been refined from last years Halo BDS race season,  angles slacked off,  which we all expected anyway,  so an even more privateer friendly race rig.  New stem and Kamon pedal from Gusset as well,  and new Vapour wheel-sets and hub updates too,  the Vapour rims in black on the AKA but some brighter choices as well.

Found this on the Hope Team DH racer,  neat little racing cassette,  no price, no promises,  but very likely very soon,  or maybe not….. they did get asked about this lots,  so if demand is there ? 

Evil had the best display stand,  loved it,  needed some goth girls handing out stickers for a full 10 out of 10,  even had a little dry icer puffing out mist for extra effect.

New forks from Formula,  just arrived in time for the show,  haven’t had a chance to read up on them yet.

And another new player in the fork world,  and an absolute stunner to kick off with from DVO with the Emerald USD,  still a prototype,  so no price, expected target weight is 2900grams,  air main spring with coil negative,  and a quick flick through the catalogue…..”Twin tube open bath cartridge,  hi-lo speed compression and hi-lo speed rebound adjusters”  and the lower shields are carbon fibre,  and the arch is designed to add torsional stiffness by 50% at the wheel.  Expected late summer 2013.  Doubt i will ever get a go on a set,  but they do look good,  like these a lot.

Bit more on the DVO,  flicking through the stuff i picked up at the show,  travel is 203mm with both 26″ and 27.5″ (650b) wheels,  looks made to fit a Hope team bike that does.

Found a race face,  Steve Larkin,  ex student and Wide-open mags hard-tail animal and 4x racer,  now working for Hot-lines and very keen to show me the new Ragley Blue Pig.  OK we have history as we have raced together,  and i fancied a go on a Ragley Bagger288,  turns out the 288 is no more, so lost the chance there,  and the Blue Pig has been tweaked angle wise for a more burly fork,  the head tube gussets have been reworked and it’s taking the role of the 288.  Loved the new jewel like head tube badges,  some neat little trick finishing touches here and there.  Picking the bike up was a pleasant surprise too,  just the thing for doing the No-Fuss events Downhill enduro at Fort William.  Yes i would race that, would batter it senseless but looks a lot of fun.   Wonder if Hot-lines do loaners.

Must be running out of blog space,  too much to cram in.   Caught up with Damian from Upgrade bikes and DMR,  again it’s whats on the bubble thats not on show,  talk of another new DH fork in prototype stage (not at show) and i quizzed him about the DMR Omen project DH hardtail frame,  again not on show,  2 where raced last season,  and another 2 tweeked frames are ready for this season,  longer and slacker and lower,  no production plans…yet,  but they will be cropping up at races this season,  always my complaint,  the bikes i race on could do with being a touch longer up front,  so something else i would like to have a go on.  (along with a BTR Belter)

Been out of the loop for a few months so not up to date with armour stuff,  this caught my eye from Dainese,  didn’t spot a price tag,  only information i have to hand is it’s called a Hybrid neck brace,  and it’s carbon fiber, and some google-fu tells me a RRP of £349

Going to sign off on weird stuff,  granted i am Surly rider so like them,  with all the crap weather and snow then maybe this will float your boat,  or just float you over the snow, the Blue one is a Karate Monkey in 29″ (got one, normal rims) the yellow is the Pugsley running 3.8″x26 tyres 80mm rims,  no moon-lander this year,  that’s the real fat one, 100mm rims and 4.7″ tyres,  OK Pugs and Lander are specialist bikes,  but the new spangly green Krampus 29+ appeared,  so that’s 29″ rims and 3″ tyres on 50mm rims,  which might work if i rigid raid Glencoe mountain again this year as i am crap at riding in snow.

Ed is floating about on Monday and Tuesday so expect more, maybe to come.

Good day out,  bit manic,  but get to catch up with people from all over the country (and world) nice way to start the biking new year.

Ace.

Final Dirt Cover #130

Jono has served as Artistic Director (a self appointed title) of Dirt Magazine since April 2007, Issue #63, and has been at it longer than anyone before him. It was Jon’s job to work with Editor Mike Rose and Deputy Editor Steve Jones to come up with and execute an Editorial plan, bringing together all the photos and writing in to a sum greater than its parts. Those beautified leaves of glossiness we love to leaf through. Jon sorted through hundreds of photos submitted each month by the world’s best photographers with the unenviable task of picking out the best to work with the planned spread. Taking inspiration from the writers words; Negotiating the number of pages; highlighting the important stories or underdogs from races; keeping regular features fresh; fitting in product and bike tests; constructing the size, scale and variety of the layout. It’s all a matter of taste and as Dirt is one of the best looking mags out there, Jon has very good taste. Something he also attributes to Mike Rose.

Seb Kemps Whistler Diaries – Dirt #70

With a month to bring everything together before print deadline, the regular features were the first to tackle. Things start coming together with about 3 weeks to go with Mike the only one really having a good idea of what is going on. With 2 weeks to go the pressure is on, with photos and words coming in from contributors. But naturally it was in the last week when most of the work got done and contributors supplied their goods.  The last few days before deadline will not be something Jon will miss.

Jill Kintners Sketch Book Dirt #68

Greggers’ first job after graduating from Camberwell college, was with Onboard magazine out in Chamonix, putting together marketing emails and generally living the life. Riding loads in the summers with the Mag crew around le Petit Balcon Nord and Sud , Les houches and Brevent. Learning how to jump properly on 20” thanks to the dirt shaped by local kids but with funds from the council. After leaving the delights of the snowboarding world he headed back to the UK for a job at Bike (motorbike) magazine, however living in Peterborough was a bit too much of a comedown and he was soon drawn to the big smog; London. Here Jon picked up a job which would be the perfect preparation for Dirt, cutting out Dildos. That is, photoshoping rampant rabbits to put inside the sealed pages of a ‘ Cliterature’ insert for Scarlet ladies mag. Here he also prepared himself for interpreting Seb Kemps Whistler Diaries through illustration by providing erotic drawings to go alongside salacious words. After 6 months of this Jono was off to Business Traveller, a magazine for business class flights with some long distance travel perks. This kept him interested for a while and he enjoyed the London life but soon he was freelancing and spotted the a job at Dirt. A very keen rider, Jon was reading the mag already and when he didn’t hear anything back from his application  for over three months he got on the blower and spoke to Mike directly. Thankfully he did; he got the job.

First Dirt Cover #63

Issue #63 had an amazing Victor Lucas photo of Brendog riding for Honda on the cover with the tag line, “From Zero to Hero”. Remember this was 2007. Jon wanted the job because it represented more creative freedom and chance to break away from the more prescriptive jobs he’d had. The lads an artist, he needed to express himself. In those early days Mike was a great guide and imparted on Jon the way he sees the sport and how he feels it should be seen. Jon credits Mike with an amazing eye for a photograph and great natural sense of style. If you’ve ever seen Mike in his bass hat this may come as a surprise. Combining this style with Steve Jones’ and Mike’s historical knowledge and love for the sport allowed Jon to shape the Mag in to what it has become. Jon’s talent and direction of the magazine lead him to be awarded the much coveted Press Gazette Magazine Designer of the Year Award in 2008 beating the likes of Elle to the top spot. Not bad for a colour blind lefty.

Blissdale – Contents Dirt #95

After 6 months working in London at Factory’s head office Jon spotted an opportunity to move out to the wilds of the Monmouth HQ, to immerse himself in Dirt. The following couple of years were spent working, riding and digging with the boys and experiencing the ‘drop in’ culture of the office. With so many industry folk calling by for a brew it was always a lively place  – sometimes too lively. The progression of the Mag has been led by the sport it documents. As Downhill racing has become more professional, so has Dirt. The intensity of Jon’s early work was unsustainable and as he matured, so did the magazine. He admits some of his early work was horrendous but he was learning and trying things out, some of which didn’t work but most did, Brilliantly! Jon has an amazing eye for typography and personally I love it when he gets his crayons out. After a couple of years in the Shire Jon decided to move back down to London, he was a young man and missed the bright lights and late nights, which is where he stayed until his departure.

Sam Hill on the 1:04 – Dirt #70

Dirt is a UK based magazine with international contributors trying to keep close to grass roots, a difficult balance. What makes this possible are the amazing people involved; those who put the magazine together and all the writers and photographers who contribute to it. For example, a world cup may have finished hours before but, if needed, the photos are delivered ready to go in the mag (just) before deadline. It’s those amazing people that Jon got to work with that he will be missing. The other things he fondly remembers are some of the amazing trips he got to go on. Like heading out to the 2009 Masters Worlds champs in Pra Loup in the Dirt Van which ‘Tog Grant Robinson managed to bring back to life with cable ties from a gear linkage failure. This is where Jon first met Rodney ‘Tofu Puke’ Fountain Jr, South East correspondent, which was somewhat a life changer. From there he met the rest of the SE Bummers and had a whole new crew to ride with. Another memorable trip was last years road trip with the Dirt crew and Wye Valley Warrior Johnny Everett taking in Mavic at Annecy and racing through sloppy mud around the hills of Les Gets and Morzine competing in the Alpine Battle. His racing may or may not have improved by the wise words of Fabian Barel who recommended he just ‘relax and have fun’.

The Battle – Dirt #114

So what next for the talented Mr Gregory? Well another life changer. Having seen out his notice period and beyond, Jon has taken over ‘Hands on Coffee’ with his lady, a roasting company in Wadebridge, Cornwall. He talks about coffee like aficionados muse about wine, using his hands to complete sentence and adjectives that should be reserved for sex. However, I’ve tasted the goods and he really does know what he’s doing. Importing beans from around the world, including his fiancés fathers farm in Brazil. They roast and blend in small batches keeping the coffee fresh and tasty. It was a very hard decision to make and even harder to realize but local surf breaks, great trails and a new pace of life are already making it much easier. The boys are all still in the office making Dirt happen and new lad Chris Jones has a great pedigree coming from Surf Europe and Surfers Path magazines. He’s got some big shoes to fill and Greggers is still waiting for his life time subscription to keep an eye on things.

Rage DH Test – Dirt #84

Here’s what the others boys on the Dirt Team had to say about the passing of their good Friend Jono.

Ed Haythornthwaite

“Never met anyone who’s so good at what they do, yet so dopey (and grumpy) at the same time. Luckily the coffee seems to have sorted him out a bit”

He should have “when the hell are you going to send me those words/photos?…I’ve already sent them to you ages ago Jon…no you bloody didn’t…oh hang on…oh yeah there they are” put on his gravestone cos that conversation was like groundhog day with him.

Mike Rose

“He was a fucking nightmare!”

Steve Jones

“How’s about Wanker?… well funny you should say that. One of his constants was fffound. Hmm yes we all needed some antidote for Jon. I took him drinking one night, we had two, then four, then I got him to eight and he realised the size of the task and well you can guess. For years he insisted on taking his fourcross bike trail riding, managing his mood was entertaining, i think he scares Mike in that respect but then Mike can be a moody bastard as well. But i don think of that i think of a skilled racer, great company, and id like to have witnessed the lines he was spinning at the masters worlds”

Billy Thackray

“Joan will be sorely missed by all.

I’ll miss <insert name> loads, <insert name> was hard working, diligent but yet retained a sense of fun and was much liked by his/her colleagues. I wish <insert name> good luck in his/her future job of <insert job>.”

Grant Robinson

Grant is a good mate of Jono and they like to battle like an old married couple. Here’s some of Grants photographic memories of the Greggers some taken from our PL40 trip to Norway.

A thoughtful Jon in 2009 – Photo: Grant Robinson

Jon favourite past time 2009 – Photo: Grant Robinson

Greggers in Hafjell during PL40 – Photo: Grant Robinson

Greggers Taking flight in Hafjell – Photo: Grant Robinson

Jon railing in Hafjell – Photo: Grant Robinson

This is a little Revenge for Jono’s Parting shot in #130. Paybacks a bitch! – Photo:Grant Robinson

RIP Greggers! Roast in Peace

Why

The first one I organised was inspired by spending a weekend away with a bunch of mates at an Enduro race and loving the camaraderie, competition and banter then ensued. We rode together all day, sectioned tricky bits and then took each other apart beer by beer throughout the evening. The next day of racing was almost incidental, we did what did but it was the results that counted. But not our overall standing, just how we compared to our mates and who had the bragging rights. On returning to Sheffield I wanted that to continue but I didn’t want to have to travel all over the country to do it. So we had the Blacka Bashup on a misty Saturday in November, 10 of us turned up and we’ve been hooked every since.

A sunny evening for a Mini DH. Photo Duncan Philpott

What

What started out as DH racing soon became dual racing and then the flood gates opened. If you’ve ever perused the pages of ThisISheffield you’ll have seen some of the ideas that were dreamt up over a cold pint. MegaDeath Mass start DH, XC Crits, hill climbs, time trials, pump track laps, Enduros, Triathlons, Olympics. Basically anything you can put a clock on, you can race. The key we’ve always found though it making it fun. Even a gruelling XC race can be fun if you make everyone dress in the most ridiculous lycra they own.

Winter Dual Racing is the Future. Photo Duncan Philpott

How

There’s only two things you really need, a stop watch and a voice. The stop watch is obvious and a bit of paper is also essential but your voice is the most important. Be brave and stick your head up above others, tell them you’re organising a race and on the day, shout louder than everyone else to tell them what it is they’re supposed to be doing. It’s like herding cats and there will always a raft of stupid questions but your patience will be rewarded with big grins and hopefully a pat on the back. The other critical thing is mates, and not just to race, they’re great to help you setup and to time if you want to have a go too.

Le Mans start to Lycrafest, an hour long Crit. Photo: Duncan Philpott

Where

This can be a tricky one. As a mates race, you’re unlikely to have insurance, permissions or a dedicated race track. But that’s really the point; I often use the jumpers for goal posts analogy, it’s like a kick about in the park. You’re not profiting from the event, you’re not advertising it, and you’re just having a laugh with some mates and a stop watch. But you’ve got to be sensible, realistic and accountable. They’re your mates so they’re not going to sue you if they hurt themselves… are they?

Not racing but still competing, Edging off! Photo: Duncan Philpott

Who

The answer is you. You should race. You should organise a race. It in no way detracts from riding your bike and having fun, in fact it adds to it. Even if you’ve never done it before you should have a go. If you’ve done it lots of times before you should think of a new way to do it.

You need mates to race against and help you set up and time. Photo: Richard Baybutt

The mates races I have organised have brought me a lot of joy and I hope to many others. It has also brought me many new friends and opportunities. I really can’t recommend it enough.

So part 2,  race time, 6 hours to try and hit 15 laps on a world cup track,  a heady mix of newbies, hardtails and world cup level riders duke it out, some want the win,  most want to survive.The view behind me on the start grid free for all melee. I just stuck my camera up in the air and grabbed a shot. Random story from racing, the fella with the glasses on, left front, bright top, a few runs in he rattled a lenses out of his glasses and was therefore having trouble seeing. He tried a few runs with no glasses then opted that one good eye was better. An indication of the right stuff for this event.Dear Dirt mag, please make some stickers so i can hand them out at races everyone loves stickers.And the view in front of me,midges are in feeding frenzy this year, as we await the countdown and GOoooo run a 1/4 mile for your bike, no ones kicked it over, grab bike jump on, spin off, rear end the slower rider in front and stall….get going again, does this pro-pedal work ? sit and spin in full armour lovely, pass a fair few, spin not sprint, the leaders are gone. I am unsure to the length of ride uphill 2 miles ? i am now overheating and riding with the chap who loses a lenses from his glasses, so far so good, getting really hot so walk, i burnt myself out last year to the point of nearly being sick, take it easy this time, a few others spin past, but mid pack.
Drop the saddle on the move, adjust helmet, goggles ready, reach the wall-ride, goggles on, drop in follow the rider in front down to the gondola.The start is designed to thin out the pack, after the first run you don’t have a queue for the gondola, rack the bikes sit down for a rest, drink,eat and ready yourself for racing. Some bikes have issues already.

Run 1) 8.19.6 top section is fast down to the boardwalks, i am not used to the bike at all, off the boardwalks, first rock garden, steep left turn into the top rocks, i get pinged off line, and lose my line, stall….left or right, get it wrong and crash, left then right over the off camber ramp, into the switch backs, wooooohay scary fast and skimming my way down to the deer fence, lots of heavy braking needed to stay on track, haven’t ridden a suss-er for ages so not used to the lack of feedback. Fighting the bikes speed, it just picks up speed with no input from me, i mean really picks up speed, i am having trouble adjusting to this. Woods to motorway…..fuuuuuck slow down, stop speeding up like that bike, half ass-ed chop at the first new motorway jump, flat land it again not nice, rest is alright, bit boring, tissot jump, skirt round it don’t want the extra boost, the off beat wall, heavy braking, hit the crest spot the line brakes off hang on, slight kick up from the rear ride it out, into the finish, go again. Bit more neck ache.

Run 2) 7.59.6 overcook the first jump really rail it through the berms and remember why i never used the tyres, big gap between centre and side knobs, so slip and grip mid berm, go nuts down to where the off camber ramp is, yellow flags, slow right down, little Roslyn is trying to wrestle her bike off the ramp and rocks, get round go again, fine to the deer fence, scare myself silly down to the woods, really overcook the top of the motorway and fight to scrub speed and stay on the track, get over the first new jump and try another line down the wall.Run 3) 7.53.9 we spot Jesse and the rigid raider coming down below the deer fence crossing, he is a run in front at this point. I am getting the hang of the SX Trail, lack of trail feedback, it just picks up speed, it’s not a DH bike but nothing is slowing it down, i can feel the rear flex and the fork twang but it holds it’s line and goes where i point it, the tyres are sketchy in the fast top berms but no problems further down. We have on-off showers and wearing full length waterproof trousers paid off, the integrated zocchi mudguard is doing a Stella job too. On the way up i saw some track-side fixing flats, i pass others walking down flats or broken wheels, several are now chainless (thats normal) rear brake is not as sharp as it was and neck aches more.Run 4) 8.34.5 see jesse again trying to pass others through the rocks ha ha ha, you have not seen anything like this, nuts truly nuts. More walkers with broken rides. I am starting to have problems with speed as the rear brake is losing power and the bike just wants to go faster (sort of glad i didn’t have a faster DH bike now) muscle it down, pit stop, deep freeze my neck, check the rear brake pads, lever pull is alright i wonder if i have gone through the pads already or if it’s over heating as power drops further into the run i get.By this point i think 8+ have dropped out with medical or mechanical issues. By the entry list numbers 118 entered only 103 are listed in results.The mark of the Enduro’ist, bit early to lose finger skin, bleeding hands by double figure laps is common, spare gloves and plasters are handy….oh you thought this was an easy race did you !
Run 5) 8.55.9 So far i am getting fairly clean runs, i see large groups coming down the top section in trains, little available overtaking, i pass broken people resting at the deer fence crossing and further up. The track is narrow up top, with no run out, you go off the edge of the track you crash simple as that, no where to go. The rear brake lever is now pulling in, and where is my magic carpet ride ? it’s smoother yes, but it’s harder work, i thought 8″ rotors would be awesome and i could sit down more, i stop for a rest in the pit, re check pads, lever pull seems fine. A few are milling about fixing flats having a little rest etc etc.Mike Sunter from Leyburn bikes, flat tyre wheel swap stock up go again (ta very much for the coffee i scrounged off you pre-race) I re spray with deep freeze and go again when it kicks in.Rachel Walker from Hope tech, my 6th, her 7th about halfway timewise, along with walkers with flats i see Jesse hitting up the motorway jumps….Rachel sees Rob Jarman (Hope as well) shouts out the gondola vent at him, he heard he was looking about, won’t be surprised if he claims a near crash moment because of it
Run 6) 8.51.7 neck muscles give out when i exit the boardwalk into the rocks, so really try to slow down so i don’t get any jolts, Ste on the Hitman hardtail catches me up, i try to get out of the way and he rear ends me, both stay upright i let him pass and follow him down. To eek out performance from the rear brake i try lots of heavy front braking to keep speed in check. I have a fibrax semi pad rear and a RWD sintered pad up front, front brake is working well, but induces brake dive as the old 07 zocchi 66RV is basic on the damping front, i do my best to roll the first motorway jump, don’t want the slam of a flat land and just make it through the off beat wall. 6 down, about 2.45 hours left, in theory time to make at least 10 maybe 12 runs, i have another break. I try to take some photos of race action but instead watch a rider bin it big time on the off beat wall, he is spread over the landing zone, Marshall is up with yellow flag, i jog up drag the bike clear and the rider sort of moves over a bit, riders are being slowed and warned to stay left. After a few minutes rider can move on his own, we where going to red flag it, but he is only winded, i carry the bike over the red fence (this is near the finish) grab the grip thats been ripped off in the crash, the rider makes his own way to the finish, i don’t know what number or if he retired at this point.
I skulk about in the pits and decide to have another run, then Ste rolls in the zocchi 55′s are semi locked, he reckons the cartridge has let go, i wash the fork and spray it in juice lube, it may not have much effect but might help, on seeing the fork juice lube Ste’s mate ask’s for a squirt so i drown his boxxers and shock in it, they both zip off for another go.

Run 7) 9.29.8 i jump on the bike and pedal to the gondola, gears skip so hit the shifter, nothing, hit it again, nothing, punch it up and down nothing. I assume the crash with Ste has taken out my mech, turns out it severed the cable, on post race checking nothing else appears damaged, hanger seems straight, i thought the mech was broken but from checking the paperwork the b-tension adjust is ment to flap about and not sprung like a shimano mech. You don’t need gears or a chain so it can be removed for the rest of race if needed.
This run is a nightmare. I am not even a passenger in places, neck and shoulder muscles are giving up, i try to stay seated and roll down but the bike picks up so much speed, which finishes off the rear brake, lever pulls to the bar now so rely on the front brake, i get out of the way of other riders coming down, twice i nearly lose grip on the bars, not a passenger but barely holding on, i hit the off beat wall and the pain in my neck as you ride through the transition is enough to make me shout. Still about 2 hours left. I could try and rebleed the brake, some others offer me painkillers i decide thats a bad idea and will end in a big off…maybe a race stopper.

I don’t retire as such, i play the press card ” going to take some photos” ahem may have another run in a bit if i fancy it, and spray up with deep freeze again. By now from 118 on list starters there are maybe 41 off track unable to continue. From looking at the results which only list 103 as finished thats 26 out, Ben Cathro a contender for the win (who i beat in 08) is also out on lap 7 with a time of 15.03 so the bike must have let go as Ben appears to have logged the fastest time of a 5.14.2 thats 10 seconds faster than the winners best lap time, i beat him before as the bike let go, so my 7 runs aren’t too shabby when you look at it that way, would a full on world cup factory bike last the distance ? doing 15 back to back 5.30 runtimes ?A crash on the finish line, couldn’t work out what happened, he rolled in then was on the floor, marshalls started shouting, dragged the bike clear and the medic dashed across. We saw Owain Jones at the end it was him. He lost it on the off camber ramp up top and whacked/twisted his knee, he managed to make it down but couldn’t stand up by then. Straight down the hospital, one x-ray later no obvious damage, nothing broken but a very swelling knee to take back to Wales, Owain binned it on lap 5, speedy healing as thats going to hurt a lot for a while.I love this photo, i was lucky to get it and Jesse styled it up a bit too, on the final jumps to the finish line on the rigid raider, pure quality riding and 40th overall, fastest lap 8.43.5The last 4 races i got a second wind, others get this too, not this year, by now James Shirly is heading up for his 15th run the race is over at that point, i have time to suit up and go up for an 8th lap before James get down, i decide thats a run too far and call it, maybe washing the bike before the queue begins is a good plan. Go for my bike WHICH IS NOT WHERE I LEFT IT ! fucking hell my bikes been nicked….i rush about looking and it’s been moved….don’t know who ? or why, thats too much excitement for one day now, i go find 50p and hose the bike off as i am sharing my little camper-car with it, get semi clean, changed and order food and await the final awards.The seniors and over all winner James Shirley, in 2nd on the left Rob Jarman, in 3rd on the right Ash Mullane. In overall standings 1st James, 2nd Rob, 3rd Alastair Maclennan, in 4th Ash and in 5th place Tom Gooch, also the only 5 riders to hit 15 laps.That should make sense, i took a snap of Frazers winners list, we have laps in the circle and time elapsed so James did 15laps in 5hours53mins52secs. Another nice touch was the Hardtail trophy, still not an official entry class, you let Frazer know your mental on arrival and they run a “specials” award which after the first race in 08 after me and Steve Larkin scared everyone they decided that was for us. You have to be special to have a go anyway as the whole concept is a bit out there, whats seen as the harshest world cup out there, which gets harder every year, quite different to any other DH race in the UK, can you do this on other world cup tracks ? Hardtailers (mentalists) 1st Jesse Wigman 13 laps on a rigid raider ! on the left and 2nd Joe Krejbich, on the right and 3rd James Simpson.
Chipps from Singletrack survived intact….and by what he said in the bar is planning next years attack.
I reckon i got another go at hardtail before it beats me up too much. It wasn’t as comfy/easy as i expected on the SX, but the bike held up fine, and it looks like when i change brake pads i then have to re-bleed it, i did try to borrow some other brakes as i wasn’t that confident in them from the start so something to sort out there.
What got me was the manner in which the SX gains speed, only 170mm rear travel and 160mm up front, how much faster is a full on DH bike ? some of my problems i think are down to basic front damper, dive in berms and heavy braking, loads of grip, maybe more track time and i could ride within it’s limits better, add some air preload, maybe heavier oil. Still i wanted a soft ride, i got that, the bike only got lairy in the fast turns. Is the old SX really old suspension wise or just from a marketing point. Anyway it will be going back in storage for a bit, find some newer bits(brakes) and give it another go, the days of hardtail aren’t over just yet but i may have the odd day off in the future

Big thanks to no fuss events for doing mad races,  long may they continue.

Ace.

Words and photos: Ace Woodley

The www.nofussevents.co.uk Hope Downhill Enduro race happened last weekend,  year 5,  and being older,weaker,battered i had a late entry wild stab at eventing on that squishy bike i bought years ago…..

After doing the no-fuss Mac-avalanche down Glencoe on a rigid SS 29er (with v-brakes)  there where rumours about what i would actually turn up on for Fort William (i did try out the 29er from the big wall-ride to motorway),   i had already planned not to go HT this year due to being a bit battered and i was curious about what riding a squish-er down the fort would be like.  In my head….a magic carpet ride where i stay seated and just blat down the mountain laughing my face off at how easy it is.    I even got as far as trying it on with Orange for a loaner,  that got as far as them asking what i would like,   i replied “whatever you feel is best for the track”   would have been happy with a coil Alpine or 322,  that’s as far as things went, my contact Vaughan went off sick(broken collar bone) and the new PR man hadn’t started yet,  sort of fizzled out (turns out no bikes where free/available that weekend).   This may have been a good thing,  as i would have had a bike i couldn’t afford to buy anyway,  or pay for after i cartwheeled it through a rock garden.  Plan B,  in a box somewhere is most of a 2007 SX trail.The bulk of a bike was found, even had the original chunder tyres, at 1.4kgs each they should be fairly rock proof. I put out some feelers for some bits, Uncle Sam came up trumps and Thomson sent an aid package of a nice seat-post and a 50mm 4x stem, (gravity post is in proto stages, bars should be ready for public in September) somewhere out there is Gwins back up chain-device from Gamut, it hasn’t arrived yet so the old faith-full P30 was doing another tour of the fort (4th time now). The large SX frame was stripped down cleaned up, spring rate seemed about right, shock knobs worked, nothing had seized up, slack shuttle in place 66.5o HA, i found the original 11-34 cassette which will be handy for the ride uphill at the start. I have been using the brakes on a HT, i fit new rear pads, doing this cause’s the cylinder top cap to burp fluid(plastic caps)With raiding the HT and some mix and matching a race-able SX is ready 2 days before the race….if the gwinner arrives by 10am Friday it will be fitted. It dosen’t, pack the car and drive up Friday, sleep over in the Nevis range car-park and start the day with a fry up (caff opens at 9am) It rained most of the night and is on-off showers for the day. Build the bike up and go for a practice roll down to check out what rocks have been added and moved about since last year. Also, the track has seen action from lots of weekend warriors, a Halo BDS, an SDA and a World-cup, so as normal we get the rough end of the season’s use. Only some minor changes up top, slight change after the boardwalks, i am in auto pilot and hit the HT lines i am used to, there is a drop off with an off camber ramp to it’s right, i roll over that, and slide off it, bit greasy, the switchbacks are unchanged down to the deer fence crossing. From here to the woods seems rougher looser than before, the wall-ride to the big hip is unchanged. The new motorway, the first jump claims a few during the race, i have a loose stab at it and don’t like it, flat land, you have to carry some serious speed to clear it. The tables are fine, the off-beat wall had been tweaked early season, seemed to kick the back wheel up a touch, finish line is the same. Bike seems fine,brakes are fine, two minor scares from rear rebound, neck ache already. I save myself and go check out the rumour on FB that another HT’er is racing a Rigid Raider ! and bump into some interesting things around the car-park.Mark Amer and his home made bike, no IGH just single speed, we raced the dragons together back in 07, nice to see old faces. This is MK2 frame (Mk1 is here on dirt already, homemade bikes article a while back) he has been here a few days and already had a practice day. We get onto home-building, BTR racing and i make sure he chats to Ste from HT as he is about to make his own frame as well. Have to be confident in your welding to race here, Mark was.Ste Tomlinson, Orange Hit-man, first timer as well like Mark, and has also been about for a day or two to check out the track.Here we have Joe Krejbich, Dialled Alpine, seasoned enduro’ist now, next to him is first timer Gareth Chilton on a Ragley Bagger.James Simpson, Cotic Bfe and another i think first timer. Still one more hardtailer to find, i of course am getting lots of abuse and general piss taking for turning up on the squisher however the cosmic karmic balance is being held in check by Jesse Wigman and his bike……yes really….i reckon i could do 3 maybe 5 tops on it, but i wouldn’t want to race it here.My SX is classed as old being a 07, i started racing an 04 P3 with no canti tabs, Jesse’s is pre-04, he thinks he might manage 10 runs, he will see how it goes. The joke is the last few races Jesse’s old Manitou Sherman’s seize up mid race and he is running rigid anyway. Deffo a one off, he didn’t have a fork available in time to race, so just whopped a rigid on…nuts !Alastair Maclennan junior, all prepped for the uphill sprint start with the non-fox-spesh-approved shock lockout mod, this was in full force again this year, get a good start, sprint a DH bike uphill.I did look at the SX, not really an easy way to lock it out so i had to rely on the pro-pedal knob working.Think that’s Roslyn Newman another first timer looking for a pit area spot to bag, i meet her again mid run in part 2.Pit box, everything you want must be in the pit area, so spare wheels booted to roll, i don’t have any spare 8″ brake rotors as i normally use a 6″rear 7″front Hope monoM4 system, but that won’t fit the 66fork. Track pump, spare tubes, tool box, while riding i have a small camel-back with a multi tool/mini pump/tube/lever, and the faith-full cans of Deep heat for the fingers and Deep Freeze for my neck, spare gloves and water and munchies for the next 6 hours. Spare parts choice is hit and miss, i have a spare saddle in case i crash and break mine, bit hard to hang the bike to a gondola with no saddle and of course try and ride back down, gears and chain are not really needed after the start, and it’s quite common for riders to lose bits during the race.
A riders brief is called and the change of format is given out. 6 hours of racing, or until a rider hits 15 runs, those on the way up as the leader crosses the line get another lap in, those on track are on there final lap.
Chipps the editor of Singletrack mag who somehow managed to borrow a 322 and also another first timer.I might be over thinking things, i ended up between Chipps and a 322 and Vaughan from Orange on a 322, next to the bikes i tried to score a loan of, i also got the 13 race plate, got a lot of piss taking over that as well, things were not looking so favourable. I do have a pair of full length waterproof trouser on my bars, i whip these off in the impending queue for the first gondola ride and put them on for the first lap. We have on-off showers and 2 years back i flayed all the skin off my sack and crack because waterproof shorts didn’t stop the fine granite sand working it’s way where the sun don’t shine, and it was a lot wetter that year, not taking any chances this time. Bike set standing up, in a easy to spin off gear and the pro pedal knob dialled in, Chipps is excited because he’s just found out how much seat post he has to play with and sets it up xc style, which is a good move, i wonder if the suspension is set for his weight and his own staffers are unsure if he will survive intact. As long as i don’t get a rebound spike when jumping something i will be happy with mine.
We await the start of 6 hours of hell…fun…racing !

Part 2 to follow, the (death)race itself

Ace.

Words and Photos: Ace Woodley

I have some 2007 Juicy 3 brakes, was never impressed with them from the off, and they needed a bleed from new, then they went into storage.

Due to swapping forks around to race I needed to re-use the old Avids. Front brake seemed fine, rear brake wasn’t, needs a bleed. So a quick google search for an Avid bleed kit (£20 last time I looked years ago) they are now £39.99 or on CRC £34.99 which is beyond a bit steep in price.

Another search turned up these chaps an all in kit with instructions posted to you in the UK for £12.99 bargain and worth a punt for the budding home mechanic.

What’s in the kit then, the official Avid kits come with pad spacers and sometimes with barbs, the epic kits come with, a “how to” sheet, a T-10 torx bit for the bleed grub screws, a pair of gloves, 100ml of dot5.1 fluid, an elastic band (third hand, holds the lever down) and two syringes with fittings and hose locks…£12.99

Never bled a brake myself until now.    Sit down, cup of tea, read the info sheet, then crack on. I did the back brake last week and used it over the weekend down at Woodland Riders, first practice run, lever pulls to the bar and the top cap is leaking. I believe I didn’t have the lever wound out enough when I bled the brake, causing problems, an easy fix in the car park, after that the brake was fine working well, just have to dial in the lever reach again. So time for the front brake to get done.

I won’t go into full detail, but just skim through the process, more information and tips are over on Epics website. As I am now a master of bleeding having only done it once before, I was brave and left the pads in the caliper. Prime a syringe with fluid and screw into the caliper, then attach the other empty syringe to the lever/cylinder. Then just push through around 15ml of fluid.

Skanky fluid gets pushed out the top, clean fluid in the connecting hose, that’s the easy bit done, you then faff about locking the red clamps and sucking the air out of the caliper, then the lever/cylinder. Took me about 45mins the first time with the rear, now I know what I am doing, I did the front in 30 mins, but no rush, take your time do it right.

Skanky old fluid on the left compared to the nice clean fluid on the right, not sure if it shows clearly in the picture but the old fluid is cloudy with bits floating about.

When your done, find an old bottle to dump the waste oil in, that’s my old fork oil in there as well, when it’s full I get to take it down the recycle centre and dump the lot in the waste oil tank.

The whole package is compact and tucks away nicely in the toolbox so will now be going racing with me,  the website is full of tips and information and they do a range of kits for other brand brakes as well  www.epicbleedsolutions.com.

I like things like this, cheap no nonsense that just does its job,  which is why the chaps at Epic started because they didn’t like the price of official kits either, well worth a look, easy to follow instructions, just make sure you check the lever blade adjustment, trying to bleed with the levers wound in will cause problems, apart from my error, fairly easy to do.

Ace.

Words and Photos: Ace Woodley

Start with Fort William,  due to things at the MacAvalanche not going to plan and fixing my bike in the Nevis range car park I couldn’t get up to the deer fence crossing as I had hoped.  I bumped into 3 skiers walking down at the wall-ride.  Now knowing i am the last person up here I followed them back down.  I asked about the top section of track,  only minor changes up top,  what and where you will find out at the race.As the skiers set off I got the camera out.I don’t know about final course taping, this is the world cup jump on the right and the 3 steps on the left, the top of the woods, not much has changed here.The wall ride The woods below the wall-ride has had a minor face-lift and makeover, still littered with pedal smashing toe breaking rocks, this leads down into the small wall-ride and the top of the motorway. From the new drop line in from last year the track has been patched up and is smooth down to the hip jump, and immense fun on the Karate Monkey, I am used to this part of track being potholed and loose, damn it looks good right now.The motorway double, this could well be still a work in progress, and may change from now to the race.The motorway table jump, also maybe still a work in progress and may change by race day.I believe some call this the Tissot jump ? it’s been rebuilt and leads to the “off beat wall” the finish area is now in sight from here.To me this is the “off beat wall” the steps have been shored up, as you look at the photo I tend to go left and hit the rocks as the right line is a bit of a wheel rut and not nice on the hard-tail, slams you a bit, from here small jump onto the 4x track then the two finish jumps.
Can’t say what has changed up top didn’t get that far, but the lower is running smooth and fast, the trail pixies have been busy grooming the track ready for season start.  If you can’t race but fancy a day out www.nevisrange.co.uk for Gondola uplift prices and opening hours as the track fully opens in the next week or so.

And also Glencoe due soon for the BDS and the Down hill track will also soon be fully open for uplift. The photos are from the chair lift and from practice in the MacAvalanche where we used the top section which was rough loose and fast.Top section berms and jumps, rocky lairy fun.That last picture is the final section, it’s been groomed and dosen’t appear overly different to last year, I didn’t pay to much attention to the lower slopes here as I was trying to remember MacAvalanche lines further up.There you go a quick update on track conditions from the 28/29th April at Glen Coe and Fort William. For more info on chair lift days go to www.glencoemountain.co.uk  for race info go to www.halobritishdownhillseries.com

Ace.

Words and photos: Ace Woodley.

There is a term used down south a lot, “weapon”  you ride like a weapon, you are a weapon,  loose translation is you’re messed up,  I have transcended this to a being reclassified as a f##ked up Doomsday Device,  Dr Strange-love would approve.  It’s Sunday, it’s race day, time to Slay a mountain.

I had a good nights sleep curled up in the car with two sleeping bags, I was up about 7-ish and time to build up the rigid raider. As I pulled it from the car the bars didn’t swing free and smack me in the face like normal, they just stayed in position. Not good, I did some damage and the headset has seized, crack it free, spin the bars for a few minutes to get them moving freely then check everything else. The brakes are reset and cable pull adjusted, the pads are a rizla paper clear of the rims, levers fully out, sorted. The freewheel is still working, I blew out the grease with finish line chain lube, I only hope the cold dosen’t affect it today as I have two spare freewheels now but no 1/8″ chains, so stuck with what I have. Bike ready, fuel up time.

Race food.

After having this fry up last year, now when I go up to Scotland I drop in to Glen Coe just for the breakfast, £6.80, kept me going until after my race, and I eat early because the climb up to the start is hard work. Bit nervous, chairlift opens, track opens from second chairlift only, I go up for a roll down.

The pools of water between the chairlifts are frozen over, it’s nice and sunny, blue skies, gentle breeze but still very cold.

The second chairlift is balance the bike on your lap, light weight bikes are nice for this. I have a roll down from what was the start of seeding, ground is frozen and rutted, it’s harsher now than yesterday. The bog is chopped up, line choice is now so random, what worked yesterday won’t support me today, I hit a hidden water hole, straight up to the front axle on a 29″ wheel stops the bike dead.

I am not expecting this and not loose, I tweak both wrists and end up in the water as I sail over the bars. A few riders lost shoes in the bog and had to stop and fish them out, many things to slow you down other than ripped mechs and burst tyres, the mountain is fighting dirty.

I clear the top of the downhill track, pull over for a rest and take some photos of others. The rest of the track is a bit wetter, looser and some big rocks have moved about. I roll down and stop practice. I am wet I want to dry out before heading to the start as it’s going to be much colder up there. I wash the bike, check the brakes, and leave it in the sun so the freewheel stays warm.

Others prep bikes ready for race run, uplift closes 11.30, pre race brief 12.30, group C is called out. The event is broken down this year to three main groups that will race separately.

Group C is mostly stragglers and those that DNF’ed in seeding, group A is mostly worldcuppers and try hards. However C get chucked down first so we get first crack at the snow and chop it up nicely for the fast boys. The plan is for C go up together, others will be held down at the second chairlift, this is to cut down the time hanging around up in the snow and speeds things up. We start the trek upwards and get our first look at what we are about to ride. I also start to worry about the chance of my rims and pads icing over as well as the freewheel.

Rich Thomas comments on this in his film of his run, we are both from sea level, being in the car-park is high up for us.  Getting up the mountain is really hard going and I have a lighter bike this year.

It’s strange the air is so dry, and the glare off the snow sends your vision off, last year we were up there longer and I could only see in black and white, the glare got me. We await the last of group C to make it up, riders are called to grid and line up, we have a 5 minute warning.

Mad Dog Ace Woodley and the Surly.

Thanks to Jonathan Sunter for taking my photo up there, we swap cameras and snap away.

Race Run.

5mins, 3mins,2,1…10 secs, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 GO! 

I don’t know how to ride in snow, there is a knack to it, we scoot, pedal off, bodies everywhere, I go down, bike hits me, go again get a roll on crash in the first corner with the orange netting (this crops up in another film you see me get up and try to ride down) I am now second from last, the track is well chopped up, the key is to run wide over fresh snow, it’s really grippy then you hit a soft spot with a hole under it and over the bars again or get cross rutted and high sided.

I catch a few riders then lose them, then catch them, snow sky snow sky, the track levels out and I’m off and run again, jump on and firm ground. By now I am knackered and out of breath, dry mouth burning lungs, get a roll on and pedal, we come to the chairlift where the others are being held, they go wild when they see me coming sat down trying to pedal the monkey through rocks…yeahhhhh.

We now join the seeding track and know whats coming, I start to make up some time, and pull away, then hit a bog hole, the time it takes to extract yourself then pull your bike free then fall over again then try and get going I am caught up. I duke it out through the bogs with a couple other riders, they go down, I pull away, then hit the DH track at chairlift one.

I use the first berm for a brake test, clear the mud and water then nail it, hitting the smoother lines, trying to keep wheels on the ground, the wagon wheels skim over the fixed rocks quite well, direct steering, ride it like a big BMX, exit right to the jeep track and pedal away. Never look back…never! I can’t hear anything behind me and have other riders in sight, if I nail the jeep track I can make up time.

We drop back into the heather and bogs, I can hit some ace high camber lines and ride round some of the drops and holes and straight line from gate to gate, gaining ground on those in front, then we hit the track again. I can’t risk the shortcuts so stay on the track, feet bouncing off the pedals, brakes grinding and a warm rubber smell, this final section is scary, fast big rocks, hole shot the gaps, launch over some of it, but barely in control and hardly hanging on, chasing down the rider in front, I can’t catch him but he’s not pulling away either, then the last turn drop off the embankment and finish and I’m not last in Group C! 

I still don’t know my time or overall placing, haven’t looked yet.
Have a little rest, then go to clean up quickly and catch group A.

Jonathan Sunter hosing down, bagged 3rd in group C and my rigid raider Karate Monkey.

The headset went, the brake pads had metal poking through before I finished the run, broken pedal before I raced (smashed that at the DH enduro) broke my bell as well, it don’t ting anymore. The wheels are still true and no pinch flats. The wheels are 700c road/track double fixed set, the deep aero section makes them strong, I did expect to smash them.

Pat Campbell Jenner is doing the Mega on Schwalbe Hans Dampf tyres as well but he is going tubeless, I can’t afford a tubeless 29er wheel-set so made do with what I had. Front tyre was 25psi rear was 35psi, I reckon I could have gone lower psi, that would have been faster but trade off was higher risk of bashing the rims.

I used Schwalbe light weight inner tubes, this is the catch with 29er’s there is not much choice in super-duty rubber, the Hans had a bit more meat than Conti Rubber Queens and more than the WTB Bronsons, a wider rim would have helped things as well.

The v-brakes worked well, shocking pad and rim wear and constant checking and adjusting, for those that only know disc brakes, you don’t know how good you have it Cantis were shocking, Vs are better but nothing beats a disc!

Other issue was seat post needs chopping down a bit, about an inch would have been perfect and much nicer in the snow, if I took this seriously and added a suspension fork and disc wheels and gears I would have been in B group, don’t think we will see a 29er do a world cup DH but there is something in the madness, and I hear Box won a Gravity Enduro on a pimped 29er.

Anyway, clean up, pack up and back up the track for group A to come down.

Mac winner Joe Barnes.

Up top is Group A top 4, Rich Thomas, then Fergus Lamb, then Greg, then Joe Barnes with this years race winning bike and the times of all groups.

With the awards done, Pete scullion from Hotlines iXS shoved a bag in my hand and the race to  leave and head for England began. Again the weather has been unbelievable up there, sun-burnt again, it was a different story over Sunday night as the mountain was hit by more snow, see Glen Coe ski resorts Facebook page for that.

Why do it on what I did ? Why not, I was curious as to what a 29er is like, I am also doing another Klunker race this year, that’s a few miles DH so this would be good practice, and because it would be fun (it was) I will most likely be taking to sussers later this year so the chance to do something mental while I can could not be passed, good chance I might do it again with better brakes,wheels etc etc.

Some of the riders over the weekend are Mega curious, the Macca is not as long, not as big, not as many riders, not as mental…but it’s a great taster and some of the Mega curious lot are now off to do that next. Great mix of riders and racers, locals have a massive advantage and able to ride in snow, will Joe and Hannah Barnes make it 3rd time winners next year ? Rich was close, couple of crashes blew it, next year should be an interesting scrap.

Big thanks to all the marshals and Ski patrol and No fuss team and Glen Coe resort.

www.nofussevents.co.uk   www.glencoemountain.co.uk

Freebies from IXS,  bottle of German beer,  drinking that next,  lanyard for keys and things, nice one too, stickers to cover up the damage to the monkeys paint,  and a weird little angel devil fella that’s getting zip-tied to the head-tube later.

Ace.

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Words and photos: Ace Woodley

Took so many photos and not enough space to do them all,  some are crap anyway,  but found some more good ones. Hannah Barnes and one of the pink Oranges, loads of Orange5′s there this year. And then we have group C gathering to head up to the start line, this is at chairlift 2.Random shot from the chairlift on the top of the DH track.Joe Barnes and his Orange5, the winning bike, and a light weight build, Stan’s rims, continental tyres, looks like some XTR dive-train, fixed seat-post….this is a matter of debate, are gravity dropper seat-posts for everyone ? rumour was in the ladies final one jammed fully extended, many had them fitted from several brands from looking around at mud marks they all used them, handy yes, maybe the Mac-Avalanche isn’t long enough to worry about them. Joe ran fixed post, it’s a case here of finding the sweet spot of not so high you can do the steep start, but not so low you can still spin seated, mine was a tad high for the snow, but I can’t ride in snow anyway but was just right when I needed to spin.This group of 3 is from Group A race run, the chap in green has just crashed, got up and tried to get going again, by know other riders are in shot and his big lead is slashed, Chap in green goes down again, his lead is gone, two pass him and while he tries to get going again more come into shot carrying more speed and pass, from a large gap to mid-pack in seconds, it’s a real lottery as to where you will finish.Another Orange5 got loads of them.The only hardtail, he made group B final, think he was called Luke.Not so many full on DH bikes, most ran single crown forks, lots of burly coil sprung freeride builds as well as the lighter air sprung shorter travel bikes, YT Noton and check the hope 6pots on the Norco Jonathan Sunter and Rich Thomas on Nuke proofs, few scalps in play and several megas, you can see Jon has used his dropper seat-post and bagged 3rd in group C.Bright green Intense Uzzi on the DH track.

Now a change of bike, Billy wanted a clear photo of the rigid raider, I only had muddy ones and the loverly snow photo, so what not to take to a mountain race.2011 Surly Karate Monkey, 4130 double butted frame and fork, the 2012 versions no longer have canti/V brake studs. Single speed 34×18 gear, which worked out quite well, few more gears would have been better. Lightweight Gamut bash ring and 34t ring, only took a small hit, the dmr V12 was already broken and not race damage. It was surprisingly comfy, go faster and the wagon wheels start skimming other stuff, I assume this is why some claim a rigid 29er is like having a short travel bike, wouldn’t say that myself, it’s still rigid and you have to ride it as such and pick your lines carefully. As it’s a skinny tube set on the frame you get this “steel is real” vibe going on, the frame may not stand much abuse at this level but was quite comfy, my other steel hard-tails all have beefed up tube-sets to deal with higher speeds and bigger hits and stress that forks and modern riding dish out, they are different to alloy frames, more comfort but not like the Monkey, trade off is my 853 Superfly Styler will take much more abuse and last longer but less “feel” to it.After a good clean up and check out, had to check the head tube area as I burst the lower headset bearing, the frame has come through ok. The V-brakes…joke is the Gore brake cable set cost more than the brakes, and now after changing the brake pads over to cartridge pads, yeah a massive change in braking much improved over the softer DC pads, but scored rims. Impressed with the V’s, they did work, single finger braking but scary fast pad wear and a faff to keep checking them. I have some ideas on how to improve my Ghetto 29er for the Klunker challenge now.
One thing I will point out on 29ers is the frame size and front centre, if you run SPDs not really an issue as your foot position is fixed, but running flats you can buzz your foot with the front tyre when doing tight turns, I haven’t ridden a dual suspension 29er so am curious if the longer travel ones suffer this trait, a longer front centre/top tube will get round this and one of the reasons why 29ers work better for tall people.
I wouldn’t recommend doing this yourselves, i did it to try it out, I expected the wheels to collapse and brakes to fail, I had a 40mm stem and riser bars and just treated it like a big BMX bike, stacks of fun, would have been better in the bogs if I didn’t have the back wheel so far out, this was super stable on the DH track and Jeep track but not so good for lifting the front wheel in the snow and bogs, what came out as well was riding in snow, Joe Barnes went really wide and rode round the chopped up snow, hit untouched snow, ready to pull the front wheel up when you hit a soft spot and away you go, seemed to work out alright for him

check out www.nofussevents.co.uk for other races and info and www.glencoemountain.co.uk for uplift info

Ace

P.s.

I really am looking at sussers,  might be on one before the year is out