Forum menu
It's like Corfu. Sort of
Well that's my job done for the weekend. Practice over and packed away. He got 7 runs in and finished up. It's yukky and messy. But the bike has been cleaned and put away ready for tomorrow.
All his kit is trashed as you'd expect. But he's got clean race kit for tomorrow.
Going to be way tougher than some of his other races, but if he can just ride his race and get down, that'll do nicely for now
Today was a bit of a shit show. In more ways than one.
Practice went ok, but the track was horrific with crash after crash from riders. I think the boy had a small off, nothing major.
Runs started a little late, but we're used to that by now.
But then it went from bad to worse.
First rider off crashed on turn 1 and needed medics, so held up for ages.
Riders 2-3 went down but the timing equipment didn't register so needed to re-run.
Then out of 33 in youth, half (maybe more) didn't get times at all to their names with more timing issues.
We think the boy got a time but even by 3.15 we'd not seen any results. Screens were not working and no sheets up for his class.
They got called for run 2, but most didn't go up as conditions were worse and it was just too sketchy.
We were chatting to Scarlett his teammate and she crashed 6 times on run 1.
The boy got down his run without a crash, couple of days, but nothing major.
He was struggling though as felt he was slow and going to have a nightmare. With people like Hatton, Walker, Craik etc you can see why lol. But he got a run down and hopefully put a time in.
We'll see.
I'd have liked to watch people ride that.
Getting down through that is a skill
FFS, there’s really no excuse for that these days. This is also why there should be a backup system running, so that even if the times aren’t being shown live they can at least pull them together shortly after.
Re. conditions - you're racing other people, not the conditions. They're not always what you'd like but c'est la vie.
Kudos for finishing and getting a time
☺️
It’s like Corfu.
Looks a bit muddy for Corfu? 😉
Top effort finishing in that quagmire.
https://instagram.com/stories/rsrbikeworks/3072279738303803548?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
Lol don't forget, it wasn't me! It sounds like people are impressed by me 😂😂
I did wash his bike 7 times this weekend as I couldn't see the colour. The back of the van needs a few hours cleaning, the front equally.
Lucky we're not at FoD on Tues, a photo shoot on Wednesday, then Thurs at coaching. Oh, well, yeah.
This won't be the most exciting, but it'll give a bit of insight into things and what's now needed after a weekend. It may be boring for most so feel free to ignore... but for some setting out it may help.
The clean up begins.
3 x trousers
3 x jackets
2 x jerseys
5 x gloves
2 x goggles
1 x gazebo
2 x chairs
1 x power washer
2 x pair shoes
Things like the Gazebo need cleaning/drying... the chairs too. We don't want to put them all away wet and horrible.
The kit needs cleaning on the work-stand first to get the muddy mess off, then it'll get hand washed and then it'll go in the washing machine to finish it off.
The boy has cleaned his shoes, i've done most of the kit needed. The van will be this afternoon, hoover, wash floors and clean up seats etc... the seats are not too bad as we mostly had clean kit on for them, but the mud gets everyhwere as i'm sure most on here know. It'll all take a while later though that's for sure. But he's off school this week and nothing else to do today 😀
Lessons from the weekend.
1. We need more gloves, 4 pairs isn't enough
2. We need more trousers, 2 pairs isn't enough
3. We need a table, just for putting helmets, gloves, coffee, food etc on.. We have one but i forgot it and it'll be mostly too small.
4. We need a spare front 29er x 20 wheel.
5. We need a 29er full on mud tyre. We only had a Magic Mary in soft compound for the front that was remotely suited to the conditions, the other fronts were arguably not as good.. Maybe something grippier would be nice.
6. AirBNB may be more expensive but i'm pretty sure we got a better nights kip than most of the adults who camped down the road. (However, we're likely to be camping on the 15th lol)
7. Keeping goggle clean can be impossible, even with multiple tear-offs fitted.
The lad struggled a bit over the weekend with "i'm too slow, everyone is fast" and i've still not quite worked out how to get into his head with this stuff and fix him on the day. I know he's quick, but it's all relative of course, he's not as quick as the quick boys in his Cat... but he's far from rubbish lol. I wasn't convinced at one stage he was going to go out for run 1. He was feeling that grumpy with it. But he got down it and certainly didn't look rubbish to me.
One of the things I don't miss is the few days after a wet race weekend when everything needs sorting for the next one.
Royal Racing Storm trousers and jacket were what Abigale used and still does. A quick hose down and they were sorted, kept her dry in all conditions
Well i don't know if he's ecstatic or not.... but that's where we ended.
33 started the weekend... clearly a fair few didn't race due to whatever.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52790087321_1660a51468_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52790087321_1660a51468_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oqSZMk ]rheola[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Things like the Gazebo need cleaning/drying
And in case of inclement weather following clean-up, an indoors washing line!* I rigged one up in the garage for after camping trips when the weather wasn't playing ball to dry tents etc, and its since been priceless for drying caravan awnings (and wet biking kit)!
(* you may already have one of these, in which case, please ignore and carry on about your day 😂)
Roll offs not tear offs surely!
Not something we've much thought about until this weekend 🙂🙂🙂
Was this his first properly minging race on a proper track? If so, it’s just great experience to be used next time. Especially when his Dad gets a 3rd set of wheels with full spikes on 😉
Was this his first properly minging race on a proper track?
It was his first race on a national level track really. Some have had tech bits but Rheola is said to be the hardest track he'll ride (maybe fort William)
I think he's ok with it all and we had a weekend of bonding. So I'm good too
proper grim weather... goggles without a lens.
keeps helmet in place, gives some protection from side flung mud, eyes get used to blinking out the filth 🙂
maybe fort William
Ft Bill isn't technically hard, just long and rough. Are you still doing Glencoe? That's a good chunk harder
v7fmp
Full Member
proper grim weather… goggles without a lens.keeps helmet in place, gives some protection from side flung mud, eyes get used to blinking out the filth 🙂
The blister in my eye disagrees with this approach unless there really is no other option
Are you still doing Glencoe?
Yup. Unless something this weekend starts putting him off. But I think we're good
I did use to scoff at those waterproof onesies but having been subject to Morzine rain and mud, I can now see the attraction in grim conditions. It not as though the sponsor details can be seen on the gunked up kit! Maybe also consider a fuller front mudguard and something for the rear when it's really gopping.
On a DH bike. Wash your mouth out with soap 🤣🤣🤣
At the sda this weekend probably a 1/3d of the field had a proper big front mudguard on, including half the elites (essentially the half that race in british april routinely...) It's only daft til it saves a race run.
I think it is your son that needs to wash his mouth out looking at those photos!!
Put a proper RRP Proguard on the front of the bike, at least give him a fighting chance of being able to see. Those tiny little things are literally useless.
Looking back, the amount of sh*tty DH races I did when decent mudguards didn’t exist, they are proper game changers, in fact all my bikes run the bolt on ones all year round now, to the extent that bikes just look weird without them.
However, never put one on the back. Don’t be ‘that’ person 😆
Put a proper RRP Proguard
I'll get a couple of new ones. One of his sponsors can sort. 🙂
A ba decent front mud guard/fender. There are a few good DH ones out there.
One of his sponsors make mudguards. That's their main focus.
Has he got sponsors? Don't think you've mentioned that 😂
👏
quite tech he said 😀
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52792426284_d769476233_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52792426284_d769476233_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2or5Z5h ]2023-04-04_07-58-22[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52792188226_6483499c1d_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52792188226_6483499c1d_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2or4LiQ ]2023-04-04_07-58-16[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Lunchtime fun today of stripping the race GT Fury down and replacing any bearings that need doing. I usually go a little excessive and replace in pairs, even if the 2nd of a pair feels OK...
Happily on the rear linkage most were pretty good, but one of the shock mount bearings was a bit stiff so they're replaced.
Then swapped the 10sp cassette to the Hope Pro4, but i may go 7sp on both so i have the spacer and a better chain line for the 25T and set the rear mech to allow only the 7 gears.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52791946817_7664572ed3_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52791946817_7664572ed3_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2or3wxB ]2023-04-04_11-59-34[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Was spinning the bike up and checking the gears and the rear wheel was barely spinning, thought it was caliper alignment, but checked that and looked fine. Took it apart and the muddy slop seems to have killed the 6903 bearings at the weekend. One was a bit dodgy, the other is completely dead, moves about 0.1mm with fingers, just a wobble rather than the ability to rotate... so had to order a couple of those.
With those, the new pivot bearings, a new table for inside the gazebo and 2 new pair of TLD gloves, it's been a busy day on Ebay.
Always a busy day on eBay in the Weeksy household I reckon - you can’t help yourself 🤣
Are they Hope hubs? If so it’s amazing how they keep going even when they’re a right state inside. I noticed last year mine didn’t sound as clicky - opened it up and 2 pawl springs were broken and it was all gummed up. Poorly inner freehub bearing and the hub bearings had seen better days too. Nice and easy to fix unless you have a microspline freehub - the bearing inside it is a right bugger to get at with a daft circlip thing with no holes for pliers.
Nah this one is a random wheel I had, not even sure what it is without checking. The Hope is smooth and nice, but was only recently rebuilt
2 new pair of TLD gloves
"sponsoring" your kid is an exceptional business move
“sponsoring” your kid is an exceptional business move
It's swings and roundabouts. We've had tonnes of stuff, but sometimes you have to put your hand in your pocket
We don't want to be seen as asking for too much or taking the pi55 in terms of requests, so at times we buy stuff ourselves and buy things that align with various sponsors.
Today we were given more products while at FoD for a photoshoot, so we put in a bit, take out a bit. It's just how the real world works.
We had an ace day though, him with Katy and me out with another of the teams parents. The whole setup has given so much more than just free things, for both me and the lad. I've made friends from it too who give me loads at race meetings, meetups etc. He's got new riding mates as well as the coaching etc.
A couple of pairs of gloves don't even touch the sides of what we're getting from the setup
I had a day today booked with the coach. I have been finding that whilst I'm ok as a rider against 'normal' people, I'm not up to the pace of most of my Cat of racers. So wanting to improve, I got my big boys wallet out and booked the day. I had a blast, picked up lots of thoughts and techniques I now need to try to replicate in race in a few weeks time.
The boy jumped in on my session and was great to have him both showing me the correct way to do things, but also to have 1:1 time with the coach to run through ideas and skills. That's his 2nd session with Katy this week and both were laughing lots out there.
Clicked and expected seeing you in the air 😉
Lol the less people who see me ride the better.
Most of the ride I was under strict 60% or maybe a bit more. We were working on body position, techniques and drills, so to make it easier to get them into my head, I had to slow things down.
This was my stuff, but I don't want to encroach on his thread, so was going to leave mine off.