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Thanks guys. I mostly don't comment on this sort of side of things any more, but yes he's happy, we're happy, Katy is happy, it's all good.
He's flying at the moment and it's hard to put into words how far he's come in 12 months, it's just massive.
But we know for sure as you get closer, the margins are harder and harder to close and riders like Felix and Nathan are just incredible riders. But we'll keep plugging away and doing what we do.
We've a few weeks off racing now as this weekend is a rest and he's then heading to Champery with teammate early to get a day of practice before they close track on the Mon morning. It'll be very weird having him out there before we head down.
It's then into The Euro Champs and seeing what he can or can't do there, but obviously our target is more to get down than anything else, it's a crazy track I believe and just racing at that level when we set out less than 2.5 years ago, well it wasn't even a dream back then.
We still are trying to keep it as fun as possible and just enjoying the ride. So we'll take that ethos with us and just go nuts.
2 years or so of racing, we either need to retire or get more wardrobe space
Yeah he had all his Nationals in another location, but he's moved them for some weird reason. I'm just leaving him to it, his room his rules 🙂
It's all a bit quiet now, we were both at FoD on the uplift this weekend having fun, but this week is mostly bike prep. I'm just sorting and truing the wheels, along with a pair of bearings in one of the rears, it wasn't bad but i want the bike as close to perfect as possible as it'll be a long 2 weeks coming up. I'm heading out on Thurs to the woods to get my suspension setup by RSR Bikeworks with data aquisition, no reason really other than i like to learn, to 'know' and to get more clued up on bikes. I don't think for a second mine is bad, but as always i'm sure it could be better. So a few hours work with the tech nerd should see me happy.
Tech docs, programme/ schedule etc all here.
Also live timing link
https://my.raceresult.com/299976/
https://www.uec.ch/en/event/220/2024-uec-mtb-downhill-european-championships
We have big pin boards in the garage and still ran out of space.
When she came home a few weeks ago she was working in the garage with her dad setting up his bike for our Alps trip and they were reminiscing about the races from the number boards. Every one has a memory.
So the boy is over in Champery with team mate.
'I actually love it to be honest. We have only done one run. Steepest hardest thing I have ever ridden but it is sick. I just keep smiling and laughing and i can't not like the track. '
Pretty pleased with that for a first report.
He'll be lapping the track all-day today and then it's closed until practice.
"almost had the biggest crash of my life but managed to save it"
Happily he's got it on GoPro ??
They've called it a day at Champery and heading back to Morzine now for some Pleny laps.
They boy tells me this was a nearly career changing crash
the Champery DH track is sick. Although its full on, so riding it at race pace must be a fine line between pure adrenaline and crapping your pants!
Good on him!
I was planning/hoping to try some of it but after watching his video and chatting to him, i'm not convinced i'll even bother now. The Champery red looks and seems OK, so on the afternoon when he's finished practice/seeding i'll hopefully get a run on the Status on there, but the DH the week after, nah i don't think so.
Morzine riding is taking a bit of a toll on the bikes already.
We've been having multiple discussions via Whatsapp video calls.
The boy had 0 pads in the rear, despite me sending him with pretty decent condition Galfer Green pads, they're now totally dead. Of course when they fitted new pads they couldn't get the wheel in as the pads were too close. So we discussed that and sorted. He's now got new pads in which will hopefully last him till i get there and i can sort fully
Katies bike had a flappy chain which seems to have been the B screw loosening.
The lad had a crash yesterday and has a few bike scuffs on the fork leg, but nothing major by the sounds of it, but i think we'll be needing a new invisiframe kit for the Boxxer lowers when he's back from Morzine/Alps. He's OK though, no injuries or anything.
Other than that, they're golden and ready to play.
Those green Galfers just aren't durable enough for my budget! The black ones however can't be faulted for price and quality.
Mademoiselle is doing the track walk on Thursday with her buddies and then we're going nuclear weapons testing in Morgins 😀 , so if you're in the paddock I'll drop by.
Yeah mate, we'll be in paddock for about 3pm onwards i guess. We'll be setting up pits and i'll be giving his bike a once over and fitting new pads, tyres, etc along with checking everything else possible.
We'll have a beer in the cold box with your name on it
He's got some black Galfers as spares but we'll likely be running the greens for the next couple of days... unless he's doing a set per day and runs out lol.
Happily my mate who's coming has 8 sets of spare Race Matrix uberbikes and we've got 4-5 sets of various compounds, so i may end up saving the Green for race day... Not sure yet as it's really tricky being at home while he's there as i can't get full information or see pad wear etc.. I'm finding it properly strange being pit crew from 600 miles away and on WhatsApp.
LOL the fun and games continue, he's been posting a bit on Insta and is apparently having the holiday of a lifetime.
Today was
"oh, my headset is a bit tight and creaky" we've gone through loosening off the triple clamp and loosening the headset bolt just 1/8th of a turn which has helped. For some reason on the Sessions the triples seem really bad at getting creaky once you get a bit of dust and dirt anywhere near them. Just needs a quick strip and clean and it'll be golden. I'll also be checking the headset bearings tomorrow as potentially one could be on the poorly side. Happily he's taken 3 headset upper and lowers already 🙂
"oh yeah, i've got a couple of loose spokes", That wasn't too much of a problem as he spent 4 days last year at Privateer/Hunt rebuilding and building wheels, so it was just a quick tweak on a couple of spokes.
I'm hoping there's still a bike left by the time i get there... I think next year if he goes early i'll be going with him 😀
It then transpires that Katie had lost her chain tensioner the other day, which is why the chain was loose.... How in gods name they never noticed that at the time is anyones guess 😀 😀 but they've fitted a replacement tensioner now 😀
Glad he is having a good time. Its all about the fun.
Might be a good idea to get him some work experience with a local bike shop. Abigale did a couple of stints in different ones and its paid off big time for when her dad wasn't about
We have tried every make of pad and compound out there with her racing including Galfer Green and she still prefers the Race Matrix. I suppose its all down to preferred choice, bit like tyres. When she went back to NZ she took all our Saint ones back with her so should see her through to when she returns.
Yeah I absolutely hear you on that, I've been a bit slack with teaching as I do a lot of things when he's not around. But this time we'll specifically make sure we do the headset together as he's working out that bikes need a fair bit of upkeep when hammering them day in day out. Only small things, but you have to keep on top of it all as we know.
Pads on the back are still good, so they're staying until Thurs evening when he's walking the track.
She is doing all her spannering out in NZ apart from forks, shock and post servicing as the prices to use the bike shops are very high. Bit different to having it fettled for her when she was at home.
Wont be long before he can drive and disappear to the Alps for the summer with his mates
Wont be long before he can drive and disappear to the Alps for the summer with his mates
He's already got a plan for next year in his head where i take the Transit to Morzine in summer, i then fly back from Geneva and he lives in the van for the summer weeks. Although how that will work in terms of racing etc i don't really know yet. There's a lot of potential plans for 2025 which different people are trying to put in place, but at the moment we really don't know how many of them will come off..
I'd certainly expect that plan above though or a similar plan will end up happening for 2-3 weeks though, him in the main car-park in Morzine with a lift pass
Bigger van please
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53908414121_c8ebce935a_4k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53908414121_c8ebce935a_4k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2q8GHnT ]IMG_20240807_131220[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]steveweeks59[/url], on Flickr
You need to use the height better with shelving/racking
Makes it harder then when we have 3-4 bikes in for uplift. Unless it were removable etc.
It's not perfect, but it's all in with 4 bikes, 6 chairs, 2 gazebos, 5 sets of riding kit, 4 water butts, etc etc.
But yeah if we were to do this more often we'd want a better plan
Euroooooooo practice 1 done and happy.
Got here last night after being raped for £80 by Swiss Customs for bringing meat in. The ridiculous part is, we're staying in France not Switzerland, we only came here to collect child.
But anyway.
Looks like the guys on the boarders are getting a bit more strict on what they used to just wave through.
We got stopped at the tunnel on the way back in July. First for the drugs smear which we have had before and secondly for a big inspection of which the looked in everywhere inside and outside the camper. Every drawer and cupboard was gone through. They checked the garage from both sides and from inside by lifting the bed. One wanted the garage fully empty but his mate stopped him whilst we were unlocking the bikes.
It looked like they were pulling most UK reg vans with the queues that were building up.
Enjoy the hills
Seeding/qualifying day.
Morning practice 8-9.15 first. Bike ready, sent him up.
Good look. Enjoy
Yes, good luck, it all looks fantastic.
Up and out before the dust clouds, best of luck to the boy for the seeding run later.
We were about yesterday, walked up to the wonky scaffolding, didn't count the stairs, don't think I want to. I was going to drop in to say hi near the end of the day, but I think you'd already left if I was looking in the right place.
We're coming spectating tomorrow, so I'll stalk you then. Your easy up is the blue one marked Coventry Trek, right?
Yes sir that's us.
Been an interesting morning here, his practice finished 30 mins ago and he's not down.
Eventually he messages Katie and says "helicopter isn't for me, we're at top"
Not messaged his parent lol just his mate. Another red half way down so waiting again. This time he did message me though.
Is this race in Champery?
Was planning to take the boys over there fir a run, but won't if the track is closed for punters..
PS good luck
Send the lad my best wishes. I’ve scrabbled and minced down the WC course in Morzine and held on for dear life on the 10%r line, so have an idea how brutal, steep and looooong these courses on proper hills can be.
Going at a race speed isnt even in my contemplation.
Should be a great experience for Jnr, fingers crossed he keeps it rubber side down. ? Edit, <should be a fingers crossed emoji.
Practice complete and now waiting for seeding run.
He's still not done a top to bottom without stopping. Partly due to learning the track and red flags.
He's due out 12.43uk roughly.
Thanks all. Really appreciate it
Time to get the legs spinning on the turbo soon, full pro mode engaged.
@thegeneralist yes, most tracks here are closed. My mate wasn't allowed to ride the red yesterday and had to road it down on his way to watch.
Go mini-Weeksy! Enjoy and keep it rubber side down.
Hopefully we'll see you out in Morzine next week.
Down safe and qualified with 3.47
Fastest is 3.12 which is faster than most Elites this morning
Great news. Always good to be down safe
P48/100