Weeksy08 the ongoing racing trials and tribulations of a crazy teen

That’s a cracking opportunity to ride with a current top level WC DH / Enduro (series winner) rider.

It really was mate yes, it's amazing to see and hear the things Katy is doing in the background, there's other things we've got planned this year which are pretty damn awesome too that she's organised for him. She really puts herself out to make sure she's giving him the best chances possible. We owe her a heck of a lot, but hopefully we try our best in all aspects to make it worthwhile.

It was really interesting at Llangollen as the track they were riding sort of sweeps down the hillside and from the bottom you can see a large chunk of the track and I could see where Hattie was closing the gaps and where she was losing out to him. There was lots of talk in the van about different techniques for certain sections and how to change/improve bits along with line choices and the 'why' of particular things. There was a particular drop on a turn which the boy apparently lines up for a lot better, leaning and looking through the corner really well, but then 20yards later Hattie had a better line which spat her out of the corner better. So little things for him to work on throughout the day.

Last couple of runs (including the clip) were race run simulations for him, there's little details and plans that from the outside you'd never consider as "we need to focus on XYZ" but Katy as she's been there and done all of this stuff thinks of the little tiny things that make a difference to the process of an afternoon racing.

I wasn't happy today with the shifting on the Session. It shifted OK between gears up and down but 4/5 were a little skippy, just every now and again you can feel where it's not perfect on the workstand. No matter how much i played with the indexing it was just a fraction from spot on.

This is where sometimes i think i'm a bit of a nutter, the boy hasn't mentioned it, but we all know by now, it's either perfect or it's not... there's no middle ground.

So i thought "shall i fit a new gear cable" but then moved onto "you know what i may as well throw a new mech on as well" , the old one has done 18 months or so of DH and even though it's nice enough, well, who knows if it'd be better. The pivot at the hanger is a little draggy, so i thought "why not".

New cable and shifter and it's absolutely lovely... every gear just instantly perfect, snick, snick, snick. Sweet.

Also threw on the new top guide.

https://flic.kr/p/2qJG3g1

https://flic.kr/p/2qJHktY

Don't know if you use these or if you need any. I know when Abigale was racing we were always on the lookout for discounted gear.

Still are to some extent

https://www.merlincycles.com/sram-x01-dh-type-2-rear-derailleur-10-speed-325297.html

We go with SRAM GX 7 speed, the Session is only 7 (based on 11sp setup)

We could use one of the above and limiter screws etc, but the GX is simple and reasonable money.

The one on there was the original X01. If we were ever selling this I'd put back to X01, but once he's done with it, this becomes mine or a wall ornament, so more than happy with GX.

Thanks for the thought

Looking at that Gammux I really hope they have a generous bearing sponsor. Jeepers, how many sets 🙂

Time to start getting organised for Europe in summer. The plan is still a little loose as the European Championships still isn't announced for location or date, but it's possible we'll be spending 3 weeks over in Europe, how much of that is in accomodation and how much sleeping in the van is open to debate/finances lol.

First booking is the UCI Continental race at Les Menuires on the 24th Aug, we're planning on getting there a few days before potentially to scope it out and maybe pre-ride the track. THE UCI races give the chance (maybe not a massive chance) or scoring UCI points, this could/may ultimately decide a few things for 2026 and beyond.

I think the accomodation is smaller than our garage lol. But it's got a bathroom to clean ourselves, a stove type thing for some food and sort of beds.. that'll do nicely.

So what is the dream for 2026? Junior worlds? 

The reality is pretty stark on that front in several ways. This year for that to happen he needs to be regularly top 10 in Nationals and the field is so so stacked with talent. First year in any 2 year class is always really tough. But obviously year 1 rolls into year 2 in terms of what teams or even BC are looking at in relation for year 2. 

He started strong with a win, but as we know he should have won that one anyway as it was a regional and a weak field. I'm not taking anything away from or the others, but being pragmatic here. 

As always there's so many things I can't get into in public but this year could have been very different for us if a couple of mails had worked out slightly differently, the ups and downs of emails are tougher than racing sometimes lol. But we're in a good position at the moment and a good place, there's lots going on with the coach and lots to work on with him for speed. 

I'd say Worlds is a good target/goal for 26 yeah, but getting that is going to be bloody tough, but maybe not completely unrealistic.

We'll both keep doing what we do, him going fast and me making the rest happen. 

The day was spent at Tirpentwys yesterday with 13 laps done for the boy and his mates. It's a place he knows well and a great little self uplift spot with maximum time and fun. The 2 mates haven't been there before and struggled to get up to speed, which did show us a lot about how important it is to get track knowledge at places we don't know as well as some.
The boy was trying some other tracks than his usual ones as well which were steep ones and commented how superb the Mavens are on them as a lot of the time on tracks he's not really braking much, sometimes just a drag, but there on steeper stuff and needing to scrub off speed hard, they're apparently amazing (which pleases me lots of course)

He was doing this little gap at the bottom, which looks honestly pathetic in the video but it's so so much trickier in real life as where you land is on the back of a 3' drop and you've got a tonne of speed into the wall corner, but as i say, the video doesn't really show it sadly.

https://youtube.com/shorts/L6bKDPdcVCQ?si=daBQw_-b3vTNjaZR

Llangollen today.

Been a crazy few days with Cwmcarn twice, Dyfi, Llangollen and if weather allows we'll be at Llangollen again tomorrow.

That's proper rapid 😮 

Thank you. Getting there mate, getting there.  It's 8pm and we're in hotel room, I've just been swapping frame pivot bearings and we're both ready for bed. But we'll keep going, keep working and pushing. 

Half term, jeeez that's hard work.

Sunday was Cwmcarn, Wed was again Cwmcarn, this is the location for the first National DH and a course very few will have ridden or visited, so we're heading there a bit to get in some time and learn the track. The bottom section is closed but it's jump jump fast jump, they all do that brilliantly so doesn't matter with it being closed. It's a bit pedally at the top and some 'maybe' gaps that he's been practicing and some gaps in the steeper section before the tunnel. Didn't really get to play with anyone other than his mate Isaac who we've ridden with a lot so don't always get to see the others we could practice with. A lad we know from the Sterlands team was there on Weds but the boy didn't get to the top at the same time. He was using the Mondraker all morning and then in the afternoon i used the Orbea to tow him to the top on his Session so he could get some fast laps in. Considering he thought he was flying in the morning, he went 5s quicker in the afternoon on the DH.
From there it was up to Dyfi for Thurs, beers in the evening were great but can't say it was the best nights sleep ever lol.
Dyfi was typically Welsh in terms of weather. Trails slightly wet, but OK for an hour, then it walloped down for the next 2-3 hours.
I spent that time fixing the cafe chefs brakes and sorting a guy with a Session out with a mino link and bolt he'd lost on the trail, luckily i carry spares of most Session bolts.
The boy wasn't exactly loving it, i'd been out for a run up/down Climachx trail and it was just a river of water everywhere lol. At 1pm he came down for food and bailed on the day. I was struggling to argue.
So we headed towards Wrexham Premier Inn for the night, but near there we passed a sign for Llangollen of 11 miles and it was dry(well, dry for Wales), so we went to Llangollen for a few hours and 6 runs there. The track have some proper steep bits and it's a good fast techy track (sadly you don't see this on GoPro).

This morning we got up for a lazy breakfast at 7.45 and cruised over to Llangollen for the day. unfortunately it was a complete no-no as it was 50mph wind stopping play, we walked over at the top for a look at the trail and were nearly blown over the side of the hill, so sadly we called it a day and jumped back in the van and home.

The afternoon will be spent with a washer, a washing machine, a pile of cleaning cloths and cleaning/lube stuff. We've got a tonne of stuff that needs cleaning and sorting as potentially we're heading to Cwmcarn on Sunday with the coach 😀

Well that's complicated lol

European champs is 1-3 Aug at La Molina, northern Spain near Andorra. 

Considering the UCI race is 23-24 Aug that makes life slightly tricky lol 

I suspect we'll be driving down, then back for 2 weeks, then down again lol. 

You need a fuel sponsor the way you get about. Probably worth moe than anything else 🙂

Posted by: chrismac

↑

You need a fuel sponsor the way you get about. Probably worth moe than anything else 🙂

You're not wrong on that one matey. It's a massive massive expense of ours, as well as the van mileage etc. But I don't know of any way to get one of those. 

We're incredibly lucky with the help we do get and it has saved us thousands upon thousands of pounds. So we're more than happy with that. But a fairy godmother with a magic wand would go down well for sure.

The longer this goes on, the less Mrs Weeksy understands it in some ways, but there's a long term plan and goal and if the day comes that doesn't happen, then so be it. But for now, it seems vaguely viable so we just keep going. 

7am, sun still coming up, we've been on the road since 5 to miss the incoming rain.

https://flic.kr/p/2qNhGEh

We're currently in a massive dilemma with European stuff.

If we go to the Euro Champs there's a 3 week gap from the 4th to 23rd Aug for the UCI/Conti race. That's a bit on the long side to be staying down in France really, both in terms of expense and also work-time. I'd need to WFH for some of it for sure otherwise i'd be getting sacked lol.

I thought it was all going to be really easy at the UCI/Conti race gives UCI points. Which made the decision really simple. However it transpires that the Euro Champs also gives the same UCI points. (Not that i'm convinced he'll score points in EITHER, but maybe... maybe).

There's a tonne of complexity with who's going to Morzine in regards to his mates and riding buddies. There's also a likely trip to Italy for an IXS race which is not far from Como as well as all the UK racing going on.

As a parent i want to give the boy every chance possible and do everything, but you've got to be realistic sometimes i think.

Can you WFH on the road? Just conscious that the fuel, tolls and another ferry crossing will offset a big chunk of the cost of staying out there. I guess that depends on your employer and how good a data connection you can get

Posted by: chrismac

↑

Can you WFH on the road? Just conscious that the fuel, tolls and another ferry crossing will offset a big chunk of the cost of staying out there. I guess that depends on your employer and how good a data connection you can get

The answer is yes and that seems to be potentially the plan. If we go down to Spain then as you say the Train and Fuel/Tolls will come to more expense than staying down in Spain/France until the UCI race. 

We're still working on the logistics for it, but i think as a plan it works OK. The time we spend in Morzine in the middle i'll mostly work for and a couple of days leading up to the race at Les Menuires i'll work for them too as he won't be able to ride the track as it'll be closed. 

It's a pretty convoluted plan i'll admit, but it should be a hell of an adventure. It may mean a few nights kipping in the front of the Transit though lol.

It seems i've sold a kidney and probably a lung, maybe a few other working body parts

Well, it seems we're driving to Spain for the Euro Champs for 5 days, then Les Menuires to practice for 4 days, then Morzine for family stuff for 12 days, then Les Menuires for UCI race for a week. Leaving 30th July, going back 26th Aug

https://www.ixsdownhillcup.com/en/race/ixs-edc-2-fort-william

Entry is in for the IXS race at Fort William. Obviously a place we know pretty well and we'll be there for the National DH as well as the National Champs this year.
Winning an IXS gets you a World Cup wildcard... but lets be honest, that's not the realistic goal 😀

Top 5 then? 

The Carrefour supermarket in Puigcerda is highly recommended for all your cured meat needs amongst other things.

Lol juniors has the cream of the crop in talent. There's 5+ guys every season who go into Elites and do well, the Alran boys being the latest, but he's facing George Madley, Billy Pugh, Tom Westgate and Sam Hatfield, just a few of the Brit boys who are WC racers from last year, not to mention all the Euro lads too and then of course the 10 who beat him in Nationals most of last year. 

The targets for 2025 are certainly not top 5. I may have dreams of that, but I don't honestly see it. 

The crazy lad has thrown in "can we do Pal Arinsal Andorra on the way through" which in truth isn't as daft an idea as you'd first think.

First thing we'll need in Les Menuires is a launderette as the place doesn't have a washing machine 😆😆😆

At the Euro Champs we're in the van for 4 nights. Living the dream, so they tell me. 

Hey @weeksy, I live about halfway between Andorra and Perpignan. You're welcome to swing by here on your way past. I can offer wifi, bike workshop, washing machine and decent coffee at the very least. Depending on the dates, I might have a spare room/sofabed. Drop me a line - chipps@ you know the address 🙂

Hi Chipps, that's massively kind of you fella, but Andorra is literally a one evening stop. We're in La Molina for 4 nights at the Euro Champs and then the next morning driving to Pal Arinsal so he can ride the WC track and in the late afternoon heading over to Meze as it's on the way to Les Menuires. That section of the adventure doesn't sadly leave us a lot of scope for visits etc i'm afraid.

It looks like Google takes us more over and up to Narbonne in terms of getting to Meze. But if Meze is any use to you, then we'd happily take you out to dinner, that'll be the 4th Aug evening. Obviously if you're able to get to La Molina we'll have a cold beer waiting during the course of the Euro Champs 🙂 

But i really really appreciate the offer/thought.

I've got friends staying over that weekend, so probably won't get away. That then takes us straight into the village music festival week, followed by the Canigou (bonkers) mountain race the following weekend, which other friends are coming out to do, so I'm kind of stuck in paradise that week. Well, to be honest, I can't really go anywhere in July and August as I'm busy running gites, cleaning bathrooms and ironing pillowcases... But if you're route takes you down the valley road, we're only five minutes off it. 🙂

Well the weekend was interesting as always. We hit BPW and the boy was out with Hattie Harnden again as well as a few fast juniors. He was the quickest but that was to be expected and he seemed to have a lot of fun. Part of the plan was to hit Boomslang (new track) for a lot of it, but he ended up doing what they all wanted and hit pretty much all the black trails instead but did hit Boomslang before the end.

The day went excellently apart from a slight bit of play in the back end (AGAIN !!!) which i diagnosed as a lower pivot bearing but possibly a top shock bushing... However it ended up being both !!! lol. I fitted our spare shock to test which removed the top bushing play, but highlighted there was still a pivot bearing on the lower pivot that needed sorting. Arse. Neither are particularly tricky or time consuming so about 45 mins all in and we're golden.

But he's really loving the Session still and despite a long long chat with Hattie yesterday about belt drive bikes, i see us still on the Session for 2025.

This is the part where it all goes very wrong though as due to work reasons i can't do both events in France/Spain as there's too long away and WFH in a different country isn't allowed... Bit of a bummer for him, but we'll sit and chat later today and see which event out of the 2 is his preference and how we do things from there... I'm pretty gutted about it, but i can't change it so we have to accept it and move on.

Any chance he can tag along with anyone else that's going out to race. Not ideal but at least he will be out there to compete.

It's not impossible for the Euro Champs as his mate is racing who's taking him to IXS Italy. But I don't want to impose on them.

Answer is, maybe. 

https://youtu.be/CxI7z2G3AiY?si=rZ-s0mfhJHarEbhZ

A lovely dry FoD day today

https://flic.kr/p/2qR7M89

https://flic.kr/p/2qR8QaY

Minor issue at the weekend. Another broken chainguide.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54377322343_f4ebee767e_4k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54377322343_f4ebee767e_4k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2qR8Zsp ]IMG_20250309_144236[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

From looking at it, it seems to me (and my mechanic) that it's worn through over time. I spoke to the bloke i bought them from and he's not had a single issue (i believe him too).

So it's a bit of thinking about how/why.
Looking at the mech in terms of chain length/tension we're thinking that it's got a couple of links too many in the chain, which is causing some slap/flap at the top end.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54377085746_323eb02cfe_4k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54377085746_323eb02cfe_4k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2qR7M89 ]IMG_20250310_081558[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

So we've removed one of the links and when frame is at max compression this is where we're sitting.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54377291114_3822910626_4k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54377291114_3822910626_4k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2qR8QaY ]IMG_20250310_085620[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

Which looks like it's arguably still too many links by the time we wind out the B screw to get the mech to sit about right.

I'm going to drop into Rotec with it later this week so we can give it a full check, but i think it's 1 more link out to get it right. Weirdly though the chain is (i think) the same length as it came from the factory as every time i've swapped it i've done like-for-like in terms of length.. Although i may be mistaken and maybe somewhere along the lines i've fitted one that's too long.

Went to Rotec and we talked through it and a bit of discussion. We ended up removing a 3rd full link so that's about 4" of chain we've taken now.

The mech sits a lot nicer now and the changes are crisper too. Hopefully that'll be about right 🙂

Forks are coming out tonight as they're off to TFTuned for servicing tomorrow.

I doubt it gets cut to length from the factory - easier and cheaper to just throw it on at the length it comes in at.  You could see it as a few bonus links free.  

Posted by: Speeder

↑

I doubt it gets cut to length from the factory - easier and cheaper to just throw it on at the length it comes in at.  You could see it as a few bonus links free.  

Well this isn't the first chain, i think it's chain 3-4, but when we had issues at FoD we had 2-3 different chains on even in that day just to try and resolve the issue, so it's possible i ended up fitting too long a chain, maybe... i'm usually pretty careful with things like that but it was raining, windy, cold and 20 mins before his race run 😀 

I cant believe you don't have a list of how many links each bike has just in case he loses one on the course.

Its a lot easier than having to faff about on race day.

Posted by: Tracey

↑

I cant believe you don't have a list of how many links each bike has just in case he loses one on the course.

Its a lot easier than having to faff about on race day.

Honestly never entered my mind, but certainly an option now you've mentioned it.. I guess even easier will be to trim the 2 spare chains to this length in advance so they're just straight and ready to be thrown on. It's not like we'll use them on anything else as they're 11sp rather than 12 on all the other bikes.

Thanks for the @tracey i've trimmed the one i have here (i've also got 3x12 and 1x10 but no use for this bike) and so i've ordered 2 more chains from my LBS for the season.

I'm stocking up on 'stuff' at the moment, so makes sense to get things like that bought.

When Abigale was competing we always had one ready with the right amount of links in for a quick fix

If the stages were rocky like Finale then she would have a spare with the correct amount of links fitted in her backpack 

It was suprizing how many riders had DNFs due to loosing a chain on a stage.

Slightly unrelated to him, but 
As you know i've been mulling over the 'what bike' lately and i ideally don't want more bikes for myself so i need the 'swiss army knife' of bikes.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54378510389_c328b3f18b_k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54378510389_c328b3f18b_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2qRf5BX ]FuelEX8XT[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

It's a Fuel Gen6 and yes apart from the colour, it's the same as the boys Gen6. Which is of course how i know i'll get on with it in terms of bike and sizing lol. I spent the day on his testing it and really loving it.

The plusses over the Gen5 of Crusts/mine
Slacker head angle.
Better forks and shock
better geometry
Non-knock-block
Threaded BB
Full internal frame routing
in-frame tool storage

minuses
brakes (will be swapped with the ones on Crust/mine anyway)
Weight, it's a chunk heavier
That's about it.

All round it makes a lot of sense and is arguably the more ideal bike for a decent majority of my riding without going to something too insane that i won't be able to enjoy riding locally. I've got a spare wheelset which will lighten/quicken it up locally anyway.
When i bought the boy his at Xmas that dealer couldn't do the price on C2W but this one could now at the right price and the C2W takes it down to £1300 purchase price new (RRP £4200 lol). I can flog the Gen5 fuel for £1000 which makes it not far off a £0 purchase. That's for a brand new and in warranty bike. So a win all round i reckon.

"yeah but what about Dyfi"...
Well i had his one at Dyfi before he'd even ridden it.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54273890898_ab8c27af62_4k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54273890898_ab8c27af62_4k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2qFZSTC ]IMG_20250118_110432[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

It was great and happy, although i'm not convinced the tyres worked the best there. But i've seen him on the bike and the tyres and trust me they work fine and dandy.

Just got to wait for them to put it in a box and get it here now. I'm excited.

Thought it had been a but long since you changed bikes, enjoy!!!!

I applaud your very open and obvious FOMO 

Well most of what we do is for him, there's many aspects of this that he wants to reach longer term, but of course some of it is me. When we're going to certain places i can't ride WITH him, but i can of course ride the same places and at times the same trails (this weekend is Cwmcarn black), i feel this Fuel will be just a smidgen better at them without compromising too much at the local stuff. 

Of course to an extent we've been 'here' before and always no bike is the ideal compromise for everything... but his (and now MY) Fuel is pretty darn close.

I sat and discussed it with myself and nearly bought a Status 170DH and then a Mondraker Superfoxy, but they both compromise more than the Fuel for my local riding.

Honestly never entered my mind, but certainly an option now you've mentioned it.. I guess even easier will be to trim the 2 spare chains to this length in advance so they're just straight and ready to be thrown on. It's not like we'll use them on anything else as they're 11sp rather than 12 on all the other bikes.

If you have a suitable location in the van (or in the workshop) a small hook and some tape with info at the right spacing can help with chain length, have done that in team scenarios. So you'll have a fixed point then tape with a line and "53/39-12/23-112L" and another with "53/39-12/27-114L". And so on. Last team i worked for (long time ago) had 5 or 6 different marks for cutting new chains and a load of trays for new ready to use and part used chains. And a second set of marks for worn out chains. 11xL 0,25%/0,33% and so on.

BTW, is that the Jamie Harris, brother of Nikki? Haven't seen him riding since he got ill.

Posted by: mert

↑

BTW, is that the Jamie Harris, brother of Nikki? Haven't seen him riding since he got ill.

I'd assume not mate, he's been riding/racing in the same paddocks as us for the last 3+ years and he's never mentioned being poorly nor has his did, he is about 24/25 and from Ludlow area if that helps. We only talk bikes though sorry so never asked about his family.

He seems to have bad luck with bikes and not quite EVERY race meeting, but a fair few, he'll end up at the gazebo and i'll have the spanners/tools on his bike 🙂 Even at BPW a couple of weeks ago he ended up stealing a Kryptotal tyre as he only had a 27.5 in the van and killed one of his 😀

Posted by: mert

↑

"53/39-12/23-112L" and another with "53/39-12/27-114L"

We don't run different gearing, so only 1 length is needed. It does sometimes surprise me that MTBers in a DH context don't really change gearing, but they seem to accept more than a gearing/gear may be just fractionally out. for a certain section, but i think it matters less than in road/xc/cx

he is about 24/25 and from Ludlow area if that helps.

Not that Jamie then, shame. He was a *really* talented rider, CX/DH and XC.

We don't run different gearing

Probably not worth it then, except maybe different lengths for different bikes (you've got almost as many as me as far as i can tell!)

I give up with this forum... lol... i had pics... but they just don't sodding work correctly.

Well kinda... maybe... Bike now built, new brakes installed... Just waiting for the plan for the weekend from the boy.

[img] [/img]

We went to Cwmcarn today with Hattie. I was curious to see how he got on riding up and down with someone of her fitness

He ended up doing 7 runs with 1600m elevation and 40km. But the good news was his pace and fitness was excellent all round. 

I only managed 3 top to bottom but in my defence I did 35km locally yesterday and I'm 35+ years older lol. I suspect being 35kg heavier may be a bigger factor though. 

Excellent day 

Posted by: weeksy

↑

I only managed 3 top to bottom but in my defence I did 35km locally yesterday and I'm 35+ years older lol. I suspect being 35kg heavier may be a bigger factor though. 

There's a coefficient somewhere in there that actually means that - pound for pound, year for year you coulda been a contender, i'm sure 😆