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Maybe go for a 161 as you prefer the longer travel Slayer.
Nope, i’m thinking of both bikes
Erm... I'm calling the NBD alert I posted on your other thread 😂😂😂
Either way...nice bikes 😁
@Weeksy, just pulled the trigger on 38's for mine. Was toying with holding fore for the '23 model. Decided against it, just going to sink some money into this.
but also it’d be cool for both me and the lad to race on the same bike
My son would rather give up racing than me be on the same bike as him. Did you actually ask your son what he thought????
My son would rather give up racing than me be on the same bike as him. Did you actually ask your son what he thought????
Yes. It would appear some kids are not the same as others. But anyway, it's doesn't matter vasci didn't buy it.
It wouldn't make any difference at our house. It's usually first up best dressed and I usually get the hand me downs from the previous years race bike.
We did at one point have the same colour frame, not by choice, as I wrote mine off in the Alps and it was replaced with a crash replacement new frame at a discount and I couldn't chose the colour.
I'm pretty happy with the forks on the Slayer... Looking at my race times, even compared to other 50+s i'm still a tonne off the pace and new forks isn't going to fix that for me. I'm not sure in truth if anything can fix it, if it can, it's more coaching/time, but i don't truthfully know if that gap can be fixed by coaching lol.
It may be time to sit and chat with Katy about a potential plan and what we can do about it.
I went 38's for two reasons, I've got some horrifc damage on one stantion and my riding has progressed where I'm noticing the flex, especially in corners.
As for coaching, im a massive advocate I have on average 2/3 1-2-1 days a year with a local coach. My riding has improved considerably as a result, I am realistic about my ceiling though, there'll be no backflips or EWS top 100 finishes from me! 🤣🤣🤣
Yeah i think in simple terms i've not had/done 'enough' over the years and even though i'm a better rider than a few years ago, i'm still fairly garbage.
But i'll keep plugging away and getting on with it.
@weeksy - I reckon with some work on cornering you could make up a huge amount of time. Katy and / or Sam could probably get that going loads better just in one 121 session
Yeah i'm not aruging that matey... I've pinged Katy a mail to see if we can arrange something over Easter Holidays..
@weeksy check your insta messages, something that might tickle your fancy in there
I'd be very surprised if there was buddy, but I'll sure go looky. Beware I'm rubbish at insta 🤣
Go it. Thank you. But I'm happy.
Threw the 50mm stem on the bike the other day, but not tested in anger yet. Sat likely for testing. Unless I race it on Sunday and plough it into an inglorious last place
I'll let him know that you will be up by Friday to buy it
I was tempted to race at FoD last Sunday but i decided to leave the bike at home and i think it was the right decision. I'm having a bit of a 'race crisis' in terms of where/how i'm finishing and the struggles to get anywhere near what i see as 'respectable' and in some way i just need to come to terms with the fact, i'm not particularly good 😀
The Slayer is ready for BPW Enduro race tomorrow with the stages being
Wibbly Wobbly (red)
Hot Stepper (Red)
Pandoras Rocks (Red)
and the long one which is Melted Welly, Groot, Surfin Bird, BlueBelle, Norkle. Full top to bottom, mix of blue/red.
I know most of the stages reasonably well... but that doesn't mean i'm expecting miracles, it just means i know them 🙂
My One-up dropper still gets a little sluggish on the way up at times, which slightly irritates, it seems if i throw a little Juicy Lubes at it, it gets better, but I don't have to do that nearly as much on my lads bike as i do on mine... so a little bit weird. It'll likely get stripped down and serviced soon.
I've set the suspension flip-chip to full slack mode for tomorrow... see if that gets me down things with a modicum of safety.
Sadly i've still not found an 'enduro' style FF helmet that fits me, despite having now tried a TLD Stage, Bell Super3R, Endura MT500 etc etc... I think it's only the IXS i've not bought and sent back. So i've got a minor debate as to whether i go for full DH FF helmet tomorrow or a standard XC type helmet.
Probably wear what you normally wear at BPW or it will feel odd/different.
I think it’s only the IXS
MET Parachute MCR?? Good luck on Wednesday 👍
My One-up dropper still gets a little sluggish on the way up at times
Have you checked the air pressure? Both of mine seems to decline over time despite being sealed cartridges.
My One-up dropper still gets a little sluggish on the way up at times, which slightly irritates, it seems if i throw a little Juicy Lubes at it, it gets better, but I don’t have to do that nearly as much on my lads bike as i do on mine… so a little bit weird. It’ll likely get stripped down and serviced soon.
seat post clamp too tight maybe?
Don't think so ... But i could try loosening it a bit yeah.
Have you checked the air pressure?
Not yet.... didn't want to mess too much a day/two before needing it.. If something went wrong i'd be slightly stuffed..
Well, that or using his Enduro bike 😀
Kali Protectives Invader 2.0?
Love mine, well made, good fit (has dial adjuster), light & hugely well ventilated
Air pressure on the One-Up is on the top isn't it? Just need to remove the saddle.
Yup, under the saddle. Needs to be in the 250-300psi range
My One-up dropper still gets a little sluggish on the way up at times, which slightly irritates, it seems if i throw a little Juicy Lubes at it, it gets better, but I don’t have to do that nearly as much on my lads bike as i do on mine… so a little bit weird. It’ll likely get stripped down and serviced soon.
If the air pressure doesn't sort it, unscrew the collar and slide it up. Pop the bushing off, give it a clean and put some suspension grease on it. Also add a little grease under the collar and put it back together.
A good stop gap before doing a full service that works for me when I've not got time for a full service and takes about 10mins.
Sadly i’ve still not found an ‘enduro’ style FF helmet that fits me, despite having now tried a TLD Stage, Bell Super3R, Endura MT500 etc etc… I think it’s only the IXS i’ve not bought and sent back.
Snap. Never had an issue with DH or open faces, but can't seem to find an enduro full face I like. I prefer to wear trail lid, it's what I wear on 99% of my riding so why should racing be different?
I don't know BPW well enough to comment on the trails you mention but I'm pretty sure I went for open face even on the uplift last time I was there.
didn’t want to mess too much a day/two before needing it.
Checking air pressure - come on team mechanic. It's not something technical like a tyre swap...
Well i've just whipped off the saddle and thrown the pump on... when attached it reads 150... As we know it can drop when attaching, but i'd argue unlikely to drop 100psi. So i've thrown some air in there and we'll see.
I don’t know BPW well enough to comment on the trails you mention but I’m pretty sure I went for open face even on the uplift last time I was there.
Like all trails, they're fine right up until they're not 😀
But argubly no worse than other trails i'd ride on a fairly regular basis with a standard helmet on...
i'll bear wearing my usual non FF helmet.
I and a number of mates have the IXS Trigger FF and find the fit, weight and ventilation brilliant. Couldn't get on with the Troy Lee Stage or Fox Proframe
Yeah they're on my maybe list... which is now actually a list of 1.. lol.
No chance of getting before tomorrow morning though.
For me, the consequences of a crash probably dictate my helmet choice. Eg Rogate = DH FF for me, but lots of folk are happy in open face there. I also don't have a middle ground of an enduro FF, but I can see how that would easily be a good choice for racing where you are going to push a bit harder than usual. And there's something more 'focussed' about wearing a FF. Less noise, tighter vision - go faster.
How about taking both? It's a mash-up so if you find you are too hot on the pedal up, then easy to swap back at the carpark for the next run.
How about taking both? It’s a mash-up so if you find you are too hot on the pedal up, then easy to swap back at the carpark for the next run.
I wasn't really planning on carrying a bag to carry it on. I was just going to run a bum-bag. I can easily take both and do car-park swap of course though.
It may be a mash up, but i'll be happy if i can manage to get all stages done once !!! It's
1 full run to top/bottom for the long stage.
then 4 1/2 runs.... which is a fair bit of climbing at my level.
I have a bell super DH convertible helmet,it has the removable chinstrap like the super 3r, but is certified to DH standards. Superficially it looks like a bell super 3r, but I find it a much more comfortable fit than the 3r.
Like all trails, they’re fine right up until they’re not
Absolutely. You can crash anywhere but the nature of the trail dictates risk. Flat out, big jumps, 100% I wear full face as any crash is bound to be a big one. Techy trails with a pedal up I'd rather wear a helmet that allows me to be comfortable on the climb, which I think overall reduces my chance of crashing.
Tweedlove who are now mandating FF for enduros, and I'm yet to see any evidence that suggests that head injuries that would have been prevented by FF are an issue at enduros.
I ride higher risk trails on a standard Sunday ride and wouldn't consider wearing anything other than opn face, so why do I need to buy a fancy new helmet specifically for their event.
I run an IXS Trigger FF - I really like it. Wore it a couple of weekends ago on a 30km / 1450m of climbing day at Cwmcarn / Risca. Didn’t take it off except for lunch - almost don’t notice it’s there tbh vs a half shell.
Helmets also have to be less than 3 years old at BPW too
Absolutely. You can crash anywhere but the nature of the trail dictates risk . . . so why do I need to buy a fancy new helmet specifically for their event.
Because people tend to push on harder when racing. You're racing a bike more capable the DH bikes of not long ago, often down similar trails (and with naff-all marshalls/medical coverage in comparison). Full facers make sense to me.
I tried an IXS Trigger too, sizing didn't work but I would've bought it otherwise. Ended up with a TLD (which I appreciate doesn't work for you) and find that it's cool enough to keep on for a whole ride without issue . . . other than trying to get a bottle to my mouth
Helmets also have to be less than 3 years old at BPW too
Say what now... I didn't know that... not even slightly.
I've never ever known that to be checked. Both my standard ones would be fine... my FF, not so sure as it was old stock.
They are reaching a bit with that rule. Even if a helmet isn't old stock it can still easily be a year old before it gets onto someone's head. Sometimes the stickers fall off or get faded too, which could be handy
The 3yr rule for helmets is also pretty common if being guided or coached (Katy?!?!), think it's a stipulation of the guides/coaches liability insurance.
Possibly an insurance thing ? never been to BPW so no idea if they check.
So you're doing an enduro race at BPW, paying £gawdknowshowmuch - you get to ride up instead of take the bus? And you know you'll come nowhere in the rankings. What a bizarre thing this racing is! I'm glad I got old enough to know better 😛
So you’re doing an enduro race at BPW, paying £gawdknowshowmuch – you get to ride up instead of take the bus? And you know you’ll come nowhere in the rankings
That's correct. It would potentially make an interesting thread. If we're doing it in here, then the Why is... Because i like to try, to push myself, test myself and mostly, i really do enjoy it. Sometimes that's questionable because i'm my own very worst critic and find it hard to accept my place in the world of MTB and mostly racing... But with the racing the lad is doing at the moment and the fact so many of his races are out of my skillset, i have to pick and choose other events if i want to play too. Sure i could have booked an uplift day without any of the pressure, the fear, the need to 'perform' etc... but it's just not the same. You can't quite replace the feeling of 'oh heck, what am i doing here' and you don't get that outside of a race scenario in my book.
If you're riding BPW just as a ride, you can stop, go around features, wait, rest... in a race, you give what you can, to the best of your abilty...
Helmets also have to be less than 3 years old at BPW too
Unintended consequence of this could be people choosing to using an open face helmet rather than a full face - going by the view that BPW is a lot of peoples only experience of uplifted downhill riding - and therefore an occasional use full face would be an expensive purchase that someone may forgo?
That said I bet its a load of tosh and just arse covering so they can stop the person showing up with the 90's styrofoam cap from killing themselves.
Yeah, I'm only joshing weeksy! 😀 I know from "when I was your age" trying a couple of enduro races and it was pretty exciting.
But they were at places you had to ride up anyway. And I had a bike that was good for riding up hills (and a body!) back then.
Hope you enjoy it - it'll be excellent for pushing that Slayer to the limit too 🙂