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Month or two ago. He got https://www.blazingbikes.co.uk/index.php/trek-session-9-xo1-2023-team-white.html much to my sadness
Blimey, you could get an eBike for that!
Almost!
Practice run 1.
Sunday morning
https://flic.kr/p/2p6oJ6Q
After practice run 3 he was ready for race run. The day had gone OK, the bike was working, he was fed and watered, but as always "everyone is faster than me" echoed out.
Run 1 it was muddy, messy and yukky. He came down in P22/55 and had what was mostly clean run and OK...
2mins 29.8
Drew came down in a 2.24.8
After that the rain REALLY started and didn't let up all day...
But he got sent up and back down... Run 2 he stuck in a
2.25.2
Drew put in a 2.27
Drew ended up 20th and the lad went 23rd overall. Pretty happy with that and happy to find more speed in worse conditions
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53227227395_d098e91781_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53227227395_d098e91781_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2p6vsia ]IMG-20231001-WA0004[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
We then had the trauma of getting packed up in the rain, sorting everything and eventually driving home
Kit is trashed, bike is trashed, i'm trashed.
It's all in the joy of racing 😉
Sounds like you both had a good weekend and that's what it's all about 👍🇮🇹
So that is essentially speaking 2023 racing over for me and the lad. It's been an absolutely bizarre year and thinking back at some of the highlights and low-times has been pretty interesting for me. Yesterday as a low-time we had a bit of a meltdown for the lad. He never/rarely shows any emotions, but yesterday we had a full on breakdown, he had a crash in practice and just fell apart. It was tough to take, but he bounced back quickly and got himself together.
But the highlights massively outweigh that. From the National DH at Fort William though being the top highlight for the year. Seeing him hitting the motorway jumps, well that was absolutely astounding.
Next years plans are already in place and along with the mighty Session we will once again be ploughing our way through a season of DH racing. It'll be tough/messy/fun/crazy... but hey, that's where we are and where we're setting out on the journey again.
The real hard work now starts for him and we've had in the last 72 hours some very deep conversations with him (and other people) about what the future holds, what the future will/may bring and most importantly what the next 4-5 months will need to push him on further. He's now closer than he's every been to the fast lads, he's stronger, fitter and faster... but still, of course, he's a chunk away from the best. So that's the top, the task and the goals for 2024.
We've made some good decisions this year, we've made some bad ones too... we've made some mistakes and we've had some adventures.. Long may it continue 🙂
Well done for giving it a go. I enjoy reading the updates on here each weekend
Hooray.
Keep it going. 🙂
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53231126413_acd6eafd5a_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53231126413_acd6eafd5a_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2p6RrkB ]image0[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
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about what the future holds, what the future will/may bring and most importantly what the next 4-5 months will need to push him on further. He’s now closer than he’s every been to the fast lads, he’s stronger, fitter and faster… but still, of course, he’s a chunk away from the best. So that’s the top, the task and the goals for 2024.
sarcasm
You work remotely don't you? 5 months in rotorua?
/sarcasm
especially now the race calendar is empty, don't forget to have fun on the bike. I know we've spent 30 pages of this thread saying he needs to push himself and ride the courses he struggles on rather than targeting ones he does well at like 417... but now is the time to do things he enjoys.
A lot of winter is already planned out by Katy/him/us.
It's a tricky line to decide on where and what etc for sure
This does bring about a question though of When/Where/How ?
Now that it's winter we still have a task in criteria of "ride tricky stuff"..
It's slightly more in depth than that as far as plans go of course, but still a trailcenter or 2 per month is one of the targets, not FoD, 417, but your Antur/Dyfi/BPW etc...
Some of these can be replaced with Barrys, Hopton etc..
The problem we have is who to ride with. I can't ride Blacks at Dyfi... i just simply cannot do them. Even if i could get down them, it's not exactly helping the boy having me getting down 5 minute slower than him. Same with BPW, i can't ride the trails he needs and I can't ride them at his pace either.
So we really need to find 'other' riders to play with. Katy is awesome and does everything she can, but has to earn a living too. Drew isn't always about so he can't play... So how do we find other riders ? We can't just rock up at Dyfi and hope someone is there..
I've lobbed a few Inst messages to parents/mates we know from racing, but other than that, i'm struggling for ideas. There's only 1 of his riding mates locally who can get down this sort of stuff, the rest are not really up for it...
Is he on tiktok? Yes I know old people like us think it’s the devils work but that’s where he’ll meet other riders.
my eldest is a year younger than your lad and we’re lucky to live in a village where all the boys ride and are all pretty decent so he has friends to ride with but everything is organised on TikTok, there’s huge message groups on there of friends/ acquaintances who just let the others know where/ when they’re riding and then people just turn up. If I take him and a couple of mates to fod for example there will always be at least 3 or 4 others that turn up, often loads more. Same when we’ve been to Dyfi or anywhere else. Also if we do something last minute, because there’s so many kids chatting, there’s always someone he knows wherever we go.
my sons good and has no hesitation doing pro lines but there’s a lot of lads way better than him so that sounds what James needs. He’s possibly missed out on this because of all the racing he’s doing? These groups don’t seem to race that much but seem to just mess around riding bikes all weekend.
I’ve no idea how TikTok works but all these lads seem to have mtb in their usernames somewhere, tell him to interact with a few of them posting clips of their riding and he’ll soon get invited along.
instagram is how my 2 boys found riding groups and like squealer says lots of kids in these groups don’t race but spend the days digging and sending things as big as they can, luckily I live in Calderdale and with all the digging and new steep tech lines going on it’s giving them lots of choice plus riding with some really talented riders - think the new name for a lot of the riding is actually death tech due to the steepness of the lines it’s gone a bit nuts in certain parts of Calderdale
No criticism intended as I enjoy this sprawling racing saga but have you considered moving?
From what I recall you’re not a million miles away from where I grew up, and it’s a truly woeful place to live for mountain biking. It’s ok(ish) if you like pottering along the Ridgeway but for actual serious riding it’s dire. Even places like FoD/ Rogate (good though they are) won’t cut it long term at the level he’s riding at and aspires to be.
Further along the M4 into Wales would give you a lot more options, BPW, Barry Sidings etc and likely a lot more people to ride with at his level (and much better, which is what he clearly needs).
There are a lot of good riders around Cwmcarn / Risca - although the ones really caning the off piste are on e-bikes as the climb back up is properly brutal if you do it more than 3 times in a ride.
There’s a Cwmcarn Facebook page you could try?
I don’t mind showing you around but wouldn’t be pushing his speed on obvs
No criticism intended as I enjoy this sprawling racing saga but have you considered moving?
Not till he finishes school in summer next year. But yes we'll potentially move then.
Even places like FoD/ Rogate (good though they are) won’t cut it long term at the level he’s riding at and aspires to be.
I think quite a few people who are/were fairly well known as being decent World Cup racers may dispute that point, including the current World Champion…..
I think quite a few people who are/were fairly well known as being decent World Cup racers may dispute that point, including the current World Champion….
Granted but it's still a pretty valid point. People who get good are generally able to ride in the right places more often i'd say, not always, not 100%, but it's pretty common. The boy has missed out a bit, but not massively in this context, it's just meant more driving for me really. But he still gets to these places, sadly just not quite as often as would be nice. But personally i think places like FoD whilst they don't always give the flat out speed or insane fear tech, are absolutely brilliant for learning stuff and have a massive variation of terrain to help the riders hone their skills. However his coach is an ex-world champ and WC Racer of course and does very much want him riding in harder places, so that when he gets to a track his first 3/4 of a day isn't him going "woooah that's big".... it's more that it's normal to him. So he can then concentrate on getting up to speed quicker.
I'll be the first to admit that me and him would both love to move... but there's not just us two to consider in this. Along with that there's of course the expense of it.. and lastly there's the "what happens in 2 years when he goes off to college/uni/work." The odds are very much against him 'making it' to anything other than an also-ran who gets 0 TV time. But we know this, we've accepted this and his goal in life in a racing context isn't really "be world champ" but more "get to a Junior WCDH event and attempt to qualify"... But the reality is, even that is bloody tough and he's not there yet in terms of speed. So is the right answer for me to just accept the compexities of the world, the distance, the time, the driving and keep the house we all love... Maybe, possibly, i don't really know.
I don't think we can be accused of not putting in 100% effort here, i wouldn't like to have regrets.... So... maybe.
Welcome back 🙂
I think you already know the answer to this. Its not a pop or dig at you in anyway.
Unless he is a natural at it - then having a talent for it, they need to eat sleep breathe it to the detriment of everything else.
Having other friends - parents - who have supported their children into sporting prowess (motorsport and showjumping) - they went ALL in 100% to ensure they lived it - if this meant sacrifices had to be made elsewhere. They did it.
There was a risk it wouldnt pan out as expected (it didnt in the motorsport one), but when it does (The showjumper is on the cusp of international selection) its fantastic
Granted but it’s still a pretty valid point. People who get good are generally able to ride in the right places more often i’d say, not always, not 100%, but it’s pretty common.
I don’t disagree with that at all, you only have to look at the likes of Jackson Goldstone & Finn Iles to see that being a product of the environment you grow up in (Whistler, in that case) can brew a winning formula.
But for every one of those, there is a Kerr, Fairclough, etc who grew up only riding a DH bike at races or the odd uplift day, and spending all their time on DJ bikes, or trail bikes, razzing around the Surrey Hills.
And maybe more relevant in age, Jordan Williams only a few years ago, spent most of his time riding at Okeford Hill in Dorset, or Triscombe…
Well i must admit today has a little bit of a tinge of sadness with it.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53254992230_3808136d66_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53254992230_3808136d66_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2p8XKPd ]IMG_20231013_073614[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Due to sizing and the boy testing it last week when getting out of van, i decided the Fury was gone... So i threw it on Pinkbike yesterday afternoon and this morning it's sold. Long discussion with the buyer and he should be sending me a deposit shortly.
I'm slightly sad because it was the bike the boy did his first Nationals on, the bike he raced Fort William on and was honestly a brilliant bike for him. But the reality is, it wasn't going to get used again and even if the Session were to break, it's likely he'd not want to ride the Fury anyway due to sizing and being so used to the Trek now.
It's done him proud and it's a superb thing.
However this does add £2000+ into the race fund again which can only be a good things and brings openings in options for an extra week or two in Morzine next year potentially which again, would be pretty damn epic. Even if we just add on 4-5 days that would only be a superb thing.
Still waiting for his new DMR Sect to arrive, the wheels of the MTB industry do work and turn slowly i have to say. But it'll be ace to have a few more options in terms of skills and riding over winter.
Off to Pontypool tomorrow to his the Gnarly (sic) stuff and have some fun with his mates, should be 4 of them playing so will be as much about laughs and playing as it will be about seriousness.
Appreciate you look after your bikes and have new parts on it very regularly, but £2k for the fury coming into winter, that is some impressive selling, especially given some of the other downhill bikes on PB at the moment at lower prices.
Yeah, I think it was right time, right bike. Although the spec was good and the history fairly well documented etc. I felt as it was mullet and came with nice spare bits, the money was about right for it.
Still waiting on the new DJ bike which is a little frustrating as we really want it for half term week if possible.
I'm now sitting outside the gym waiting to collect him, he's deffo putting in the winter efforts.
Well that escalated....
"my bike is making a clunk noise"
Teeniest tinyest bit of play could be felt... but, as we know, it has to be 100% so the stripdown began.
We then found this
3803 LLB-W
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53265871271_9c4a133c23_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53265871271_9c4a133c23_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2p9VvLT ]IMG-20231017-WA0002[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Seized and stuck.... sadly, it's insanely expensive at £20 a pop !!! needs 2 obviously....
Then put it all back-together and still the same play lol.
Maybe it was the shock bushings, so removed the shock and replaced both bushings... Nah, not that either.
It seems it the main rocker pivot then.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53265872011_9a13868620_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53265872011_9a13868620_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2p9VvZD ]IMG-20231017-WA0004[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
You can feel a little bit of play once you remove the covers. But that's a VERY weird setup. The spacer/shaft in the middle has a flange on it, which is bigger than the bearing, so to get it out you have to use a bit of 'gentle persuasion' on it, but as you're doing that, you're pushing out one of the bearings...
Getting new bearings in there, well that's entertaining as when you try and press in bearing 2, it won't go because as you push it in, you're pushing out the other side. So ended up cutting down a spacer for both sides, which means you can then press it in. It's not a lovely solution and i need to get some spacers that are exact/correct for the job.. but i'll work on that.
For now, the job is done and i'm a lot poorer in the bank balance with the bearings being £20 a pop !!!
NBD....
After a long-ongoing debate with sponsor we've ordered this.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53267546458_118eb1a881_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53267546458_118eb1a881_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pa56Kq ]dmrCYAN[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
One of the aims/goals for winter is for the boy to work on skills in terms of jumping, pumping, cornering, tabling (look it up :P) , basically skills/technique training over winter. So with that in mind, things like the local pump track, skate park, then places like Adrenaline Alley (indoor skate/jump park) will give us the chance to get both a good bit of a workout as well as working on the skills side of things when the trails are a mud-slop-mess.
https://youtu.be/r8hD28dBQfk?si=a9caHo1j4IGa9Ca0
Where’s that pump track - looks pretty cool / particularly long?
And what bike are you buying to use there……must be room for another bike in the stable?
That's in Reading, 2 mins from my office, so i'll go into work a couple of times next week and he can spend an hour or two down there. Don't know on length etc yet, it's 2 mins, but 2 mins 'past' the office, so not been that way in years. I come in from the other side.
I think we'll be hitting your way as you've got loads of tracks there... but we're also talking about a place in Cardiff called Ramp World and Adrenaline Alley for some trips out.
LOL i think you assume i'm a sodding multi millionaire. Admittedly there's budget if i need it from the sale of the GT, but that's in the 2024 race budget so not really up for a DJ bike for me.. plus.. i'm rubbish.
I will though jump on his a few times while he's resting between sessions etc. You never know, i may even like it.
You should pickup a secondhand calibre Astronut or something like that - there’s one for sale in Brighton on Facebook for £275 at the moment - pocket change for a man of your means 😜
If you come to Bristol to use a pump track let me know and I’ll see if I could join. My favourite one so far is at stockwood - it has a fairly tight pump bowl but also a load of big tarmac jumps snaking their way down the hill next to it. Hartcliffe looks good but an exceedingly rough area. There’s a BMX track that’s meant to be good at Stoke Bishop - Ian PV has said that’s decent but I’ve not made it there yet.
That Cardiff place is indoors I think - meant to be decent.
Looks sweet @colournoise
I'm not sure yet when we'll get there, but we will do. Still got quite a lot going on, Bringewood this weekend for Pearce day, then a couple of days off and Dyfi. I'm then hoping for a dry spell so we can do a bit of Afan as well as some park stuff for him.
Cheers, looks really good. There's quite a few nearby that I wasn't aware of so I need to start visiting them all.
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[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53269782470_f5d36c3273_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53269782470_f5d36c3273_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pagyrm ]IMG-20231019-WA0004[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53269602393_a3e65074f1_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53269602393_a3e65074f1_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pafCUz ]IMG-20231019-WA0001[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
How to turn a horrific job into an absolutely effortless job.
I'm not sure exactly where this piece of alu came from but it's the absolutely perfect diameter for the job. So trimmed 2 lengths
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53269744906_a53e5e8fca_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53269744906_a53e5e8fca_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pagngG ]IMG_20231019_152317[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
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[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53270029858_03beaf83af_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53270029858_03beaf83af_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2pahPYE ]IMG_20231019_151123[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr
Presses both sides in at the same time, really smoothly and nice..
The bearings in there were the cheaper Blue Seal type rather than the Enduro bearings which have now gone in there. But they'll get stripped and re-packed and kept as spares for now. I'm sure Trek make a tool for this job, but i can't see how it'll be any better at the job than my home-made version.
Looks nice. Are you taking the front brake off.
Can't wait for a photo of you flipping it 😉
I have absolutely no idea what we're doing with this, I'm not even sure it's a bicycle! Tried it outside earlier and it's a bit, well, interesting. It ain't a bike for 50+ year olds who've never tried it 😜😜😜😜
Abigale has left her Dartmoor here for me to use whist she is travelling. Its not moved since she left 🤣🤣🤣
She's ended up buying another DJ bike whilst out in NZ as she was missing hers and got a bit fed up with borrowing one.
Sneak to the pump track while he’s at school/playing Minecraft/watching porn/trading Pokémon cards or whatever teenagers do nowadays. Your skills and anaerobic fitness will thank you. Also it’s fun. Then treat yourself to one as well.
and I second the bit about front brakes. Dead handy (although the only reason my bike has one is because I can’t be arsed to remove the push on grip to take it off