I just don't really get anything out of watching other people ride bikes on the telly.
Same goes for running around chasing balls or running around in circles. Sure, it's fun when you're doing it but watching other people? I'd rather be out riding my bike.
Shouldn't this be on the bike forum?
I chuffing love DH and watch as much as possible. Only on the insta to follow DH racers (and Gillian Anderson obvs) and get some behind the scenes gossip.
Their speed and casual skills make me weep.
DH seems to go in phases on STW, sometimes there are extensive thread and articles and sometimes, like this year, some vague threads and not a lot else.
With it coming straight after the summer break the champs have sort of passed me by. Same for last weekends F1. I'm very reliant on the YouTube algorithm to tell me all the race videos are out nowadays and it's not really got the memory to outlast a summer break, it seems... I think the DH season so far has been great fwiw
I’m a an ex XC racer, really annoys me the threads on here that try to willy wave about who is downhill, enduro etc.
My brother used to race downhill, pretty good racer, I was an ok XC racer, CX racer and a second cat roadie. It’s pretty obvious that the main issue with DH is the lack of coverage, or at the least coverage that is worth watching.
Even if I don’t ride the type of riding that the downhill guys and gals do, I can still appreciate. Its a shame that the tv coverage just isn’t good enough. I can still appreciate the DH riding even though I’m more than happy with my long distance XC style.
If there was more readily available content I’d watch it all day. I’m in awe of the skills, it’s just hard to find watchable content.
I find it boring to watch…last 30 seconds of the run might be something but generally, it is boring as it is 1 rider and some shots of bits of the track.
Same for me but then I find watching most sports boring. I like watching XC races but only watch highlights as don't want to sit through an hour of it. When it comes to sports I am more of a doer than a watcher and if there was decent DH from my door I would have a DH bike and be riding it many times a week. Still wouldn't be talking about it on this forum though.
Part of the problem watching downhill for many of us over-the-hill riders is it makes us feel useless and envious… so we turn our heads and pretend it doesn’t exist ?
Well, Pogacar is slightly quicker than me on the road but I still enjoy watching the TdF. I saw the World Cup at Fort William years ago, it was brilliant fun. Shame it's not more accessible on TV.
Part of the problem watching downhill for many of us over-the-hill riders is it makes us feel useless and envious… so we turn our heads and pretend it doesn’t exist ?
Shame politics doesn't elicit the same feelings for some. But I suppose that's easier to engage with for the under-stimulated & over-medicated.
I watch it pretty regularly, TBH STW has never been a place for DH chat, there's the occasional thread, but the posters (myself included ) are more the 'going around in a massive circle in the woods' type riders, rather than the 'repeatedly throwing yourself down a hill ' type riders. It's a demographic things...probbly
I don't think you have to ride downhill to enjoy watching it and I quite often check out via Discovery+ and enjoy watching it in the same way that I - theoretically - might enjoy F1 as an occasional car driver. Agree that it's sometimes hard to find.
Also, and this is a personal take, I found years of Rob Warner's incoherent gibbering quite hard to listen to. I know it reflects something of the downhill 'scene', 'vibe', whatever you want to call it, but it never felt like I was understanding any more about what was going on from him. I'd far rather watch Ben Cathro's Pinkbike Youtube stuff.
For me he made downhill hard to enjoy, a bit like the horrific Carlton Kirby/Sean Kelly double act on road cycling TV coverage. But anyway, I like watching downhill, but don't have much to say about it beyond wow, that's very fast.
I find it resembles circus skills.
There's no real tension to it. Tom Pidcock in the Olympic cross country had real drama after he punctured and had to fight back too win.
I am sure it requires great skill and bravery but it's a manufactured spectacle like Red Bull falling off a cliff.
It's the most essential part of mountain biking , and I don't mind watching at all tho' most of what I see is youtube rather than live
Find a niche sport, build an app that makes discovering content difficult and then charge for it.
I think I only know one other person who I ride with who watches it live, or on same day - mostly because they don't have enough interest to know when it's on, how to watch it and definitely don't want to pay for it.
It's niche stuff though isn't it? I wonder how many DH bikes are sold in the UK each year, 200? 300? 150?
martinhutchFull Member
Hart days were so good
Has anyone told Danny he’s done?
Bit harsh. Great ride and a great result yesterday. Fastest in Sector 4 and 2nd in 5 - 4th overall. Less than half a second between the top 5. He's around the top 10 this in the WC despite a new bike and less support. You get the impression that he's just loving riding his bike this year, so why wouldn't he continue?
I though yesterday's racing was really good, coverage was okay, commentary was hard work.
I though yesterday’s racing was really good, coverage was okay, commentary was hard work.
Which commentary were you listening to (assuming there was more than one)?
I thought Tracey Moseley was excellent (again, assuming it was Tracey and not someone else, definitely wasn't Tracey Hannah).
Bit harsh. Great ride and a great result yesterday
That was my lighthearted point, no-one seems to have let Danny know that he belongs to a past era.
It’s niche stuff though isn’t it? I wonder how many DH bikes are sold in the UK each year, 200? 300? 150?
Are people really this ignorant?
I can think of 4 uplifted venues within 3 hours drive and more if I want to push. Head down to Wales and it's likely the same story.
If the numbers were that small nobody would be selling them outside of niche builders.
It's no different in format to watching Ski Sunday, I'll never ski or snowboard that well, but it's interesting (to me) to see what can be done.
If the BBC could be persuaded (allowed) to put a magazine program on in the summer following all sorts of UCI disciplines, in a similar time slot I reckon there's be a lot of watchers and could drive more traffic to the paid channels...
Mrs Dubs has little interest in riding bikes but does enjoy the drama of a close DH race...
It’s no different in format to watching Ski Sunday, I’ll never ski or snowboard that well, but it’s interesting (to me) to see what can be done.
No, downhill skiing is way more interesting than dh mtb. Proper speed, no trees getting in the way of cameras.
For balance:
No, downhill skiing is way more boring and predictable than dh mtb. There's only one racing line on a piste 15 metres wide, less variety in terrain and no rock gardens, the only jumps are rollers...
There is far more similarity and overlap between DH and alpine skiing than any other sport, i's not much of a coincidence that the back to back French U17 champion, Cassandre is also one of the top alpine skiers in Europe at U18 level.
squirrelkingFree Member
I can think of 4 uplifted venues within 3 hours drive and more if I want to push. Head down to Wales and it’s likely the same story.
If the numbers were that small nobody would be selling them outside of niche builders.
Are people really this ignorant?
When I go to Inners, Farmer Johns, Antur, Danny's or wherever I'd say there are more long travel enduro bikes than DH bikes. I've just come back from (an awesome) two weeks in the Alps, definitely a lot more DH bikes there but many were hire bikes.
The DH bikes I see are rarely new, most people I know keep their DH bikes for three or four years given how much use they get and how often the design changes. My current Gambler is 2024, but it's a 2020 design.
You're calling me ignorant, so maybe you can tell me how many DH bikes you think are sold in the UK each year @squirrelking?
martinhutchFull Member
That was my lighthearted point, no-one seems to have let Danny know that he belongs to a past era.
Sorry, I read it a completely different way.
TBH OP, much as I like DH I no longer really have the time to engage with it as a fan, and not having a DHing child (I've tried) I'm not really engaged with it anymore.
Weeksy is the man living many of our middle-aged MTBist dreams at present, I'd guess he's probably busy doing the 'DH Dad' thing currently rather than typing about it on here... Hats off to him.
15-20 years ago I had a cobbled together DH bike, dabbled in local races and watched whatever coverage I could lay my eyes on... But now, without any real connection to it, a lack of talent and an aging body, there's other things for me to do of a weekend...
These days it's a younger (better funded?) persons game. And who really wants to be an avid fan of something they're not really able to participate in at some level?
^ I disapprove of this comment.
Has it not sunk in yet?
STW posters don’t like anything.
If you like.
Sold my DH bike and bought an enduro bike as I'm faster and better on it. Love riding DH just don't bother watching it or any sport really.
You’re calling me ignorant, so maybe you can tell me how many DH bikes you think are sold in the UK each year @squirrelking?
Honestly I couldn't say but your estimate seems way below the threshold that one manufacturer, never mind many sharing that market would just not bother.
As an aside you seem to be taking that personally, the ignorance thing was about knowledge as opposed to attitude. No offence was intended so apologies if it came across that way.
Oh and I wouldn't bother with a full DH bike for FJ either
Not raced any DH, but do watch it. Yeah, it's got worse on Discovery and Rob Warner/ Red Bull was better...etc , but still it's DH on tele so I will watch it. Same for xco, but I have raced xc before. Once the DH/XCO season is done then I will cancel Discovery and restart it next season.
I enjoy watching DH, though from a participation point of view it's well above my pay grade. I enjoy Cathro's track walks, and the different line choices he explores when ghosting different riders' practice runs. Was a bit fed up to find that the coverage I thought I'd recorded off Eurosport the other night turned out to be a stage of the Vuelta instead?! Ffs!
I like watching downhill, but I don’t rave about it or XC racing in my posts.
Yes, I’m more of a wheels on the ground rider in terms of jumps, especially now - but loved riding drops.
Yes, DH racers are way more skilful than I have ever been - but watching them ride is thrilling.
i kinda like it 🙂
I was in the same field as @weeksy this weekend - at a Pearce series DH race. Managed to poach a watch of the men’s elite race via @rockitman but was out on my bike when the women’s race was on and lack of phone signal put me largely in the dark for news this weekend. By the looks of the Pearce series, there are plenty of people keen on riding DH, but when you’re all in a field with no signal you can’t chat about it on the web!
squirrelkingFree Member
You’re calling me ignorant, so maybe you can tell me how many DH bikes you think are sold in the UK each year @squirrelking?Honestly I couldn’t say but your estimate seems way below the threshold that one manufacturer, never mind many sharing that market would just not bother.
Two blokes arguing about something neither has the facts on - I’ve not seen that on here before… I’d still like you to have a guess at how many bikes though - pin your colours… 🙂
I think the total downhill market for new bikes will be less than the total UK market for super sports bikes over 1,000cc - so Panigale, Fireblade, ZX10 and so on. That’s a niche/halo product whos sport gets much better coverage on the TV, much higher attendance at races from spectators. I think more of the general population would recognise it.
The total UK registrations for all super sports bikes is a three figure, not a four figure, number - and has been for some time.
I can’t think of many bike shops that have a range of sizes from one brand, let alone two, of DH bikes in stock - I’m guessing mostly they are special order in for most shops.
None of this is meant to be negative by the way - I think it’s a great sport. I’ve loved it since the 90s and while I don’t race anymore my son does - I love going to races.
Nationals, SDAs and the excellent Pearce series have about 250 competitors, and between 50 and 80% are under 19 years old - so hopefully the facilities and events now means we can retain people in the sport and hopefully it’s at the start of a resurgence.
Not really. I chuck it on if I see a stream of it but for some reason I prefer watching mass-start races like XC - holds my attention a bit better, and races like that seem more like races. Even that is a bit dull though, it's usually one person flies off the front and stays away all race.
Love riding mountain bikes, prefer watching road bikes.
Also - I love that one of the first comments on here is just a wee bit away from calling not watching DH woke, with thinly veiled jabs as "centre left" people. That's a new one.
Looking forward to the last two rounds of the WC. Catching up on the stories from all the media outside of the main broadcast is the best way to absorb it.
I watch them all on discovery and they are my favourite sporting events of the year. I have no issue paying for the privilege and think the set up they have is pretty decent. All the social media stuff pre and post race is a great addition to the event and enjoy all of it!
I love the DH, watched it on RB every year from about 2015 until they stopped. Have never managed to sort out a sub to Discovery to properly try them out (for many reasons) and just watched the highlights on Youtube instead for the last couple of years.
I liked Rob's commentary, and thought the combination of him together with another recent/current racer to provide the more detailed insights was great.
Im a fan, got disco plus. Summer weekends I'm usually doing stuff, didnt get a chance to watch until sunday night.
(got the XC to watch tonight)
Will admit to watching the top 15 women (started with Myriam, or probably would have been top 10) and 20 men. The early competitors have shorter time gaps between riders, hence a fairly rubbish coverage (start gate, few turns and jumps, finish line) but the ones with any chance of winning you get enough coverage of the run to actually get an idea of how they are riding.
I'm not sure how the BBC coverage works, do they get the same video feed as the Discovery etc? I remember last year's worlds BBC being atrocious. They had clearly earmarked certian riders as being ones to watch and decided pre-race to give them extra screen minutes to the detriment of the rider ahead or behind them... so we got some extensive views of Finn rolling down gently post crash and Greg nursing a flat tyre, and little view of whoever came after them who actually gave a competitive effort.
Two blokes arguing about something neither has the facts on – I’ve not seen that on here before…
I know right? Breaking new ground!
I’d still like you to have a guess at how many bikes though – pin your colours… 🙂
Okay fair enough. If we assume that 1/3 of that field (elite, expert, promising juniors and masters/vets with money to burn) has a new bike that's 250. Then there are folk doing uplifts/Insta with no interest in racing, that's the grey area.
I agree that sub 1000 is reasonable but I still think it's a decent bit north of what you think, bearing in mind places have hire fleets plus breakages, theft etc. We could both be wrong but unless any of the resident industry types have the figures and spot this topic it's all academic really.
Used to try and catch the races when I could (life allowing) on Red Bull TV but now it's on Disco+ I don't bother. I'm not going to pay for yet another streaming service for the times I'm actually in the house and not busy on a summer weekend afternoon.
Love it I watch a lot of the Vlog stuff on YT from Bernard and the likes and love Cathro's inputs. It's the only sport I actively seek out to watch and think it's pretty special. I will admit to watching the race on Saturday slightly behind and did FF through a lot of the more unremarkable backmarkers but I did want to get to the result.
Since it went to Discovery I haven't watched anything live as some kind of protest at the attempted monetisation of it and I can't see that changing anytime soon. If they start supporting the sport, the teams and the riders in particular I may change my mind but for now it feels like they're just trying to milk everyone's good will and enthusiasm. Most of these riders would race if they had to pay for it themselves and there was no publicity. Let's face it that is how everyone started. Disco trying to make it a TV friendly cash cow without the investment in the sport or the participants seems, well wrong.
Do I talk about it much on here? not a lot but then I don't talk about it much anywhere else.
The BBC coverage was great except for the slightly vague male presenter (who was he?) and them missing the one key bit of the race but I guess that was the feed rather than their editing. How were they to know that that at the exact moment they cut away to show the podium would be when Bruni binned it? Tracey was a great addition and spoke with actual experience of the sharp end of the sport rather than the pre-prepared script the guy seemed to have.
Would love to see more of it on the BBC. As someone above said, it would make a great Ski Sunday style magazine programme. Though we'd probably all hate it.
Another who loves it. Watched it regularly (not every race due to 'life' getting in the way) since Freecaster days. Haven't watched anything live since the end of RB coverage, mostly because I don't have the time to sit through that much TV. A nice 2-3hr broadcast on RB covering the majority of riders was a nice amount I thought.
I've attended the Ft William event almost every year. Found the most recent event this year not as good as previous - appeared to be geraed up for the TV viewer rather than the in person fan - so we're unsure we'll rush back every year, but it's still a great experence for the mini-a11ys also.
But yeah, there's definitely DH fans on STW - there's 80 STWers in the 'Keyboard Warriors' DH fantasy league on PB.
I watched probably every single hour of live DH coverage Red Bull put out over the last three or four years prior to WB taking over (seriously - I'd do most of my turbo sessions with that on).
Loved it.
But I won't pay for Discovery, not because it's £whatever a month, but because I hate what they've done to the sport.
I'm a bit of a fan, made worse due to a competing family member and we will sometimes travel to watch races even if the offspring isn't riding. This year we've been to Champery and this coming weekend we'll be in Loudenvielle.
We had a Eurosport app subscription, which has now evolved into Max/Disco. Not just for the biking, but it certainly helped tip the scales when the service changed. We got rid of Prime to even out the cost; the adverts, content and our ever decreasing volume of shopping with Amazon didn't make it worthwhile anymore.
