Weeksy08 the ongoing racing trials and tribulations of a crazy teen

The track’s probably steep enough to go through them at that rate!

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

IMG_20240807_131220 by 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

Best of luck for the weekend @weeksy.

Track looks brutal – watched Danny Harts POV run yesterday.

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

What a day.

There were 10+ people carted off in the helicopter today and qualifying for elites was cancelled as they ran out of time.

The boy felt his run was ok but some mistakes and some lines to pick up in the morning tomorrow. But sometimes I think he forgets the scale of things, this is the Euro Champs, the best in Europe on the hardest track around and he’s 49th, out of the best in Europe lol.

From where we came at the start of this thread, that’s, well, bloody amazing if you ask me.

Me, I’m fried. We made a mistake not booking accommodation in Champery, the drive on the roads is an absolute killer and eats your brain, especially at 5.10am when we’re having to leave. Ouch.

The intensity of waiting, watching, waiting, it gets really hard

But it’s exceptionally rewarding.

Go on lad!!!!! Who cares he is living the dream and making memories and a outlook on future life which will turn him into a good human if he comes last wins or anything in between! You are bringing up a good human and thats what’s important though a good euro track or a suicide here or there counts!

But give it hell junior weeks!!! Smash it!

@ocrider

Schedule change for tomorrow, elites out at 9-10 and then I think they’re out racing first after juniors but it’s all on the live timing link.

I think the lad is off about 3.30

Chainsaw craziness!!!

Potentially live on this channel tomorrow

That’s a superb result, he must be well chuffed as I bet you are.

(appreciate it’s only qualifying but still – amazing)

@stevet1 I’m way more chuffed than he is, he still sees it as 48 people being faster than him and that being a disappointment. But that’s the nature of the racer instinct of course.

He’s been so excited all weekend and loving it. But it’s many other things that make me more proud,, like how he’s supporting Katie his team mate, the respect he shows to people quizzing him, his attitude to riding the track, his attitude when things are not perfect.

The riding side is just a bonus.

As always, we’ve got a long long way to go in this journey, we’re only getting started here. But heck, it’s an adventure for sure.

@weeksy I saw that. It looks like they’re worried about bad weather spoiling the party, so everyone who didn’t get a timed run today races first.

Well done – you have every reason to be very proud. What a journey!

What category is your lad in Weeksy? U17?

U17 mate.

Due off in 20 mins roughly

Down safe. I don’t know how I didn’t puke waiting!!!