[Closed] Any Downhillers in here?

Sitting in the uplift minibus is a great place for meeting other riders. You'd be surprised how much respect if given to those doing the DH tracks on fragile XC bikes.

Makes us on long travel full bouncers look like a bunch of wimps!

Last time I was at Cwmcarn, some bloke was uplifting all day - on a rigid P7, with tiny SPD pedals, high seat and narrow bars.

greeble - i'm not sure what the eye to eye length of the shock is. but this is the standard shock that came with the frame from Haro so i would hazard a guess that it is the correct length.
i do have a set of 26" rims for the bike but they are on the hardtail at the moment but i like the way the 24's accelerate and they seem to be able to withstand more abuse.
Legend - point taken on the geometry issue but i prefer the steep head angle at the moment as i use the bike for all day rides and need it to be able to handle like a regular bike and not a full on dh bike....hence why it is set up the way it is...
having said that the missus did say i can get a new AM bike so at some point i will get the fork travel increased to 170mm and will alter the geometry so it can become the full on gravity sled it was intended to be...

greeble - thats a sweet ride you've got there!! 😀

What would be a good, cheap, second hand first downhill bike?

I believe that Sir is needing a Giant Glory in his life. Bomb proof, good suspension, loads around so cracking value, job's a good un

xiphon - Member

You'd be surprised how much respect if given to those doing the DH tracks on fragile XC bikes.

I got some funny looks rolling my rigid-forked Carrera onto the innerleithen cattletruck... Even more funny looks bouncing down on it like a pissed ball in a broken pinball machine

^^^safe to assume that was your reason for taking it on the uplift so job done. 8)

I ride a tr450 btw. ride and race anywhere in scotland but this year hasn't seen as much dh action as I'd like. Need to do something about that!

legend - Member

What would be a good, cheap, second hand first downhill bike?

I believe that Sir is needing a Giant Glory in his life. Bomb proof, good suspension, loads around so cracking value, job's a good un

Yup, I gotta second that. There are lighter bikes out there, but for something that can cope with a battering and that is good-for-the-money you can't go wrong with a Glory with a decent set of forks up front. I still love mine (2006 frame with 2010 componentry), even though I know I probably need to upgrade at some point, she's doing the job atm.

I'm hijacking the Glory advice.

Looking at this....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Giant-glory-FR-/170938760601?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item27ccbe7d99

starts searching for Giant Glory, thanks all

There dont seem to be many downhill bikes in large size for sale, is the sizing different than for trail bikes? I'm ~ 6 foot, any advice on whether a medium or large is right?

I'm hijacking the Glory advice.
Looking at this....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Giant-glory-FR-/170938760601?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item27ccbe7d99

No, make sure it was a Glory DH, not the FR. They were short, steep & horrible. They couldn't give them away when they were new.

Glory is a fairly safe second hand buy, as would be a 224 (Evo, so it doesn't crack), Iron Horse Sunday, etc.

Thanks Hob Nob. No one on here looking to offload then?

I'm a downhiller, I ride my Blindside far more than my 805. Ride at FOD, Aston, UKBP and the Alps when I can.

Never raced, but hoping that will change next year, can't be many 30+ females entering their first DH races about.. 😆

My Blindside..

[img] [/img]

No one on here looking to offload then?

eightyeight - My Supreme DH V3 is for sale, see page 2 of this thread for a pic. My email is in my profile if you are interested. 🙂

Never raced, but hoping that will change next year, can't be many 30+ females entering their first DH races about..

You couldn't be further from the truth!!

So many ladies in their 30's (and well beyond) have started off racing in the last few years, myself and several friends included. My first 'proper' race was at 34 years old this year....and I guess my first 'proper' season will be next year when I'll be 35 and counting.

The popularity is increasing rapidly, with support from the decent race organisers. Two years ago it was rare to see more than a handful of ladies at races. But out of the 6 races I have entered this year, 4 have had 10 or more ladies. The mini DH round on the 2nd of December has just added another load of places for the ladies as the original ones sold out quickly. 😀

seems to be plenty of lady riders on the uplift days I have done. All way faster than me as well.

I'm loving this thread by the way! beats the usual rubbish about tyre choice and gear ratios

No, make sure it was a Glory DH, not the FR. They were short, steep & horrible. They couldn't give them away when they were new.
Glory is a fairly safe second hand buy, as would be a 224 (Evo, so it doesn't crack), Iron Horse Sunday, etc.

Agreed, my Anthem was slacker than a Glory FR!

IronHorses are a good bet too, but all the mounting/pivot hardware is much much better on a Glory (Mrs Legend has a Sunday, I had a Glory)

Thanks pocket. *Think* it might be a bit out of my price range!

I've got a boardman FS pro to be running on with so should be ok for the stuff I'm doing atm. Am heading to the FoD this Sunday for a whizz around, might see some of you there.

[s]What tyres for DH?[/s] Sorry, couldn't resist!

@ 88 my riding buddy has had to strip his bike down and sell off parts, he has his 224 frame for sale with some mint 888's he may have some other stuff too..all good stuff from a nice chap...
his mail is charlesworthdan AT hotmail DOT com.

You couldn't be further from the truth!!

So many ladies in their 30's (and well beyond) have started off racing in the last few years, myself and several friends included. My first 'proper' race was at 34 years old this year....and I guess my first 'proper' season will be next year when I'll be 35 and counting.

The popularity is increasing rapidly, with support from the decent race organisers. Two years ago it was rare to see more than a handful of ladies at races. But out of the 6 races I have entered this year, 4 have had 10 or more ladies. The mini DH round on the 2nd of December has just added another load of places for the ladies as the original ones sold out quickly.

I did read about the Diva Decent race a month or two ago, if I'd known about it earlier I may well have gone along for the experience.

It's nice to hear I'm not the only one. I don't see many ladies out riding, all the uplift days I have done I have been the only girl, and I ride with male friends, can't seem to talk female friends into riding!

I think I'll give myself the winter to 'hone' my skills, then think about it next year. Good starter race suggestions welcome!

What would be a good, cheap, second hand first downhill bike?

Doubt mine is getting ridden again in a hurry! Hardly ridden. Pop round for a brew and make me an offer!

hey gravity slave, hope things are good with the family?

I will drop you a mail, cheers, officially I am on a bike buying ban at the moment though so I have to tread carefully

Thanks Hob Nob. No one on here looking to offload then?

karen805 - Member

It's nice to hear I'm not the only one. I don't see many ladies out riding, all the uplift days I have done I have been the only girl, and I ride with male friends, can't seem to talk female friends into riding!

FWIW the womens' class at the SDA Glencoe red round was one of the most subscribed- really nice to see.

Cheap is a very relative term when it comes to DH bikes.

Many consider £1k to be 'cheap'

My 222 probably cost around £500-600 in total, after buying/selling upgrades along the way.

Don't be scared of older stuff either - my brakes are from 2003/4 era...

Thanks Scottfitz, but you be a looooong way from Manchester 🙁
Like nosedive, my bike buying is being closely monitored - so can just nip down the M6 for a 8 hour round trip!

eightyeight... I'm up near Preston, so sort-of close to Manc (depending on which side you live!)

If you get the chance, Farmer Johns (Marple area) is a fun day out. It's a small compact bike-park.

Free storage - we're on the way to Wharncliffe! Or can provide a cover story! 🙂

xiphon - Thanks! I'll give that a go. I'll live slap bang in the middle of town, but usually have access to transport.

Is night riding an option there, or is that plain silly?

There dont seem to be many downhill bikes in large size for sale, is the sizing different than for trail bikes? I'm ~ 6 foot, any advice on whether a medium or large is right?

Try some if you know someone with a newish dh bike or the kind of bike you want to buy. You can check the sizing chart on the producers website, but it's very subjective. I'm 6ft exactly and ride a medium because I like quite compact frames. Each to their own 🙂

thanks gravity slave, if you have a red bike mrs nosedive might not even notice that it isn't an enduro, as long as they aren't seen in the same place.....

If anyone is interested: I am down near Bristol next weekend and have the Friday off for riding (23rd Nov): I fancy doing Triscombe, but the uplift only runs on weekends OR during the week if they get 8-10 people interested.

Is this something people would be interested in? Otherwise, I'm going to head over to the FOD.

Long-shot, but I thought I'd ask.

Another newbie Downhiller here, got myself a burly AM bike at the start of the year and started doing a few runs in preparation for the Passportes, been hooked ever since, and now ride most weekends up at Stile Cop

Did my first race (timed practice) a few weeks back and really enjoyed it, hoping to do the next one this Saturday.

Proper DH bike in the new year I think, but in the mean time my filing cabinet is more capable than I am...
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8154/7490076186_474dfd9847.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8154/7490076186_474dfd9847.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/karl33to/7490076186/ ]DSC_0032[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/karl33to/ ]Karl33to[/url], on Flickr

I'm in the process of building up a nukeproof mega frame. Should be fun when its done.

Yet [i]another[/i] Scalp owner here. Love the bike! Only ridden around Aston Hill as it's about 15 minutes pedalling from my house but plan to take it to France next year for the mega (with a dropper post).

Here's a pic of me at the recent "Root Canal" race at Aston Hill. My first race.

[img] [/img]

What a wonderfully positive thread!

As for 2nd hand bikes, I've ridden several Kona Stinkys and always found them to be a joy. Not everyone's cup of tea true, but they suit me.

Another downhiller here. Ride all sorts but enjoy some downhill. No racing other than Enduro since a big crash in 2010. This is pre accident
[url= http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1306/4682233695_ce9416220d.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1306/4682233695_ce9416220d.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/43957750@N02/4682233695/ ]BPsa (46)[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/43957750@N02/ ]eddie.jenkinson[/url], on Flickr

Good starter race suggestions welcome!

Otherwise there is the Gravity Project series coming up which looks set to be a goodie, and the races they do at UKBP which is great for beginners and also look out for races at Aston hill because again they are great fun and there is a good variety of tracks to ride. Theoretically a beginner could enter any race and have fun, there is no snobbishness about "you aren't good enough to have entered this race" anywhere. Just be careful you check what track the race is actually happening on because you don't want to do your first race somewhere very difficult.

it's about 15 minutes pedalling from my house

eightyeight - if you want a downhill specific place to ride try Lee Quarry...its not that far from you

Thanks - I'll give that a watch at lunch.

I do go the quarry quite a bit, i did the Hope XC series for some fitness. I guess it's knowing the lines that are more 'DH'.

Might try and get a night ride in tonight.

/error

/error

Lee Quarry DH? ha ha ha!

All the 661 series are brilliant, as are the British Downhill Races run by si paton - the atmosphere is always very friendly, but they are always packed out with the best riders in the UK because they have UCI points on offer for European races etc. So it's very competitive at the top, but still friendly.

Otherwise there is the Gravity Project series coming up which looks set to be a goodie, and the races they do at UKBP which is great for beginners and also look out for races at Aston hill because again they are great fun and there is a good variety of tracks to ride. Theoretically a beginner could enter any race and have fun, there is no snobbishness about "you aren't good enough to have entered this race" anywhere. Just be careful you check what track the race is actually happening on because you don't want to do your first race somewhere very difficult.

Thank you, that's very helpful.

Both the Forest of Dean and the UKBP are within 90 minutes of me, so both of those sound excellent. I have heard of the 661 series, I know there is one coming up soon, so I might pop over and take a look around on the day and see what it's all about.

The Gravity Project series sounds good, I'll see if I can find any more info about it.

I'd like to give myself the winter to work on my confidence on drops and jumps and see where I am in the spring. As you said, I wouldn't like to enter and find myself out of depth.