First Downhill Event
Discussion
Ever since my son could ride a bike without stabilsers (achieved at 4 years of age) he has always loved his bikes and over the last couple of years through trading and bank of mum and dad has worked his way in to the position of getting a half decent bike.
He has been pretty much self-taught, spending days and days learning and practising around the Wrekin where we live and has always wanted to compete. For a couple of years he thought Enduro was his thing but has now finally settled on downhill, especially after a couple of days at One Giant Leap in Llangollen with a factory Orange rider showing him the ropes.
Another bike trade, another input from the bank of mum and dad and he became the owner of a brand new Trek Session 8 at Christmas
Sunday was his first competitive race day out at Berwyn in North Wales. On arrival it was easy to be in awe of the many people with big motorhomes, fully equipped workshops and decent amounts of sponsorship but these were outnumbered by the many people, like us, just normal people with normal budgets and a focus on competing and enjoyment rather than wins.
Great to see him just come alive and show such passion, combined with determination to learn from mistakes, ability to self-critique and also to mix with new people and build new friendships.
Several people suffered injuries with one hospitalised but son came through with just an "off" in his first run that he still managed to complete and then a much improved second run.
Lots of lessons learned, no broken bones and one relieved and proud dad - I can only see this getting more expensive
|https://thumbsnap.com/XJ49MdHG[/url]
He has been pretty much self-taught, spending days and days learning and practising around the Wrekin where we live and has always wanted to compete. For a couple of years he thought Enduro was his thing but has now finally settled on downhill, especially after a couple of days at One Giant Leap in Llangollen with a factory Orange rider showing him the ropes.
Another bike trade, another input from the bank of mum and dad and he became the owner of a brand new Trek Session 8 at Christmas
Sunday was his first competitive race day out at Berwyn in North Wales. On arrival it was easy to be in awe of the many people with big motorhomes, fully equipped workshops and decent amounts of sponsorship but these were outnumbered by the many people, like us, just normal people with normal budgets and a focus on competing and enjoyment rather than wins.
Great to see him just come alive and show such passion, combined with determination to learn from mistakes, ability to self-critique and also to mix with new people and build new friendships.
Several people suffered injuries with one hospitalised but son came through with just an "off" in his first run that he still managed to complete and then a much improved second run.
Lots of lessons learned, no broken bones and one relieved and proud dad - I can only see this getting more expensive
|https://thumbsnap.com/XJ49MdHG[/url]LankyFreak said:
Louis Balfour said:
What is the whole bare hands thing about? I see lots of MTBers do it.
Do they enjoy picking stones out their palms or something?
Always rode bare hands myself, dirt jumpers don't feel right without skin to grip contact so now nothing does.Do they enjoy picking stones out their palms or something?
When I used to ride, going sockless was the equivalent. Those who considered themselves extreme wore SPD shoes without socks. I, on the other hand, had a wide variety of socks.
LankyFreak said:
Louis Balfour said:
What is the whole bare hands thing about? I see lots of MTBers do it.
Do they enjoy picking stones out their palms or something?
Always rode bare hands myself, dirt jumpers don't feel right without skin to grip contact so now nothing does.Do they enjoy picking stones out their palms or something?
LankyFreak said:
I have never cut my hands while crashing, I simply don't put my hands out as I like having functioning wrists
Wow, you must be zen when you crash to have the mental acuity to remember not to put your hands out; I've broken my right wrist three times, left wrist once, and lost count of the number of sprains, tweaks and joint compressions.Awesome... Fantastic to see how kids develop.
Some great photos too - looks very competent.
Based on that first pic, if you haven't already, borrow or buy a shock wizz. There may be too much air in those boxxers... Given he'll have pushed into that take off.
Getting a good suspension set up is the best money you can spend in DH and Enduro... As he's young a custom damper tune may help too.
Some great photos too - looks very competent.
Based on that first pic, if you haven't already, borrow or buy a shock wizz. There may be too much air in those boxxers... Given he'll have pushed into that take off.
Getting a good suspension set up is the best money you can spend in DH and Enduro... As he's young a custom damper tune may help too.
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
Awesome... Fantastic to see how kids develop.
Some great photos too - looks very competent.
Based on that first pic, if you haven't already, borrow or buy a shock wizz. There may be too much air in those boxxers... Given he'll have pushed into that take off.
Getting a good suspension set up is the best money you can spend in DH and Enduro... As he's young a custom damper tune may help too.
Thanks, good advice - he had the bike set up for him when he bought it from Blazing Saddles including a lower rated rear shock spring, I'm sure there will be more tweaking as time progresses, his knowledge on setups is far greater than mineSome great photos too - looks very competent.
Based on that first pic, if you haven't already, borrow or buy a shock wizz. There may be too much air in those boxxers... Given he'll have pushed into that take off.
Getting a good suspension set up is the best money you can spend in DH and Enduro... As he's young a custom damper tune may help too.
trails said:
Wow, you must be zen when you crash to have the mental acuity to remember not to put your hands out; I've broken my right wrist three times, left wrist once, and lost count of the number of sprains, tweaks and joint compressions.
Learnt it from skating, tuck and roll baby, tuck and rollLankyFreak said:
trails said:
Wow, you must be zen when you crash to have the mental acuity to remember not to put your hands out; I've broken my right wrist three times, left wrist once, and lost count of the number of sprains, tweaks and joint compressions.
Learnt it from skating, tuck and roll baby, tuck and rollLankyFreak said:
trails said:
Wow, you must be zen when you crash to have the mental acuity to remember not to put your hands out; I've broken my right wrist three times, left wrist once, and lost count of the number of sprains, tweaks and joint compressions.
Learnt it from skating, tuck and roll baby, tuck and roll
Kicking a board away or ejecting from a double is a little easier as you know when it goes wrong, not so much riding fast down a hill 
Racings great and there’s a few people I still know today from meeting up at races 20 years ago.
I was crap at it, had a limited budget and lived on the south coast where you’re lucky to get a short course downhill track that lasts about 1-2minutes.
As kids I was always wheeling and dealing in bike parts so I think every race the setup was different. I raced in hardtail class on a Norco two50 ( only one in the country) with some old Manitou millennium forks and quite often just a Hope M4 on the rear. I would regularly be middle to last of the group as hardtail wasn’t age specific but I didn’t care.
One season I did the first event and close to bottom of the pack, then the next event was torrential rain, my dad drove me the 1.5hrs to the event, probably only about 20 other riders appeared and me the only hardtail so my first and only win was a load of six six one gear and extreme channel goodies. A few other events saw me doing average but if I entered all the races I’d win the championship through the points consistency.
So of course a week before the last event I went and snapped some bombers on landing a jump and tore the ligaments in my foot, so I rocked up the next week rolled down the hill with a strapped foot and called it a day. I won a kiwi stealth jump frame for my efforts
Hopefully your son has better success than me!
I was crap at it, had a limited budget and lived on the south coast where you’re lucky to get a short course downhill track that lasts about 1-2minutes.
As kids I was always wheeling and dealing in bike parts so I think every race the setup was different. I raced in hardtail class on a Norco two50 ( only one in the country) with some old Manitou millennium forks and quite often just a Hope M4 on the rear. I would regularly be middle to last of the group as hardtail wasn’t age specific but I didn’t care.
One season I did the first event and close to bottom of the pack, then the next event was torrential rain, my dad drove me the 1.5hrs to the event, probably only about 20 other riders appeared and me the only hardtail so my first and only win was a load of six six one gear and extreme channel goodies. A few other events saw me doing average but if I entered all the races I’d win the championship through the points consistency.
So of course a week before the last event I went and snapped some bombers on landing a jump and tore the ligaments in my foot, so I rocked up the next week rolled down the hill with a strapped foot and called it a day. I won a kiwi stealth jump frame for my efforts
Hopefully your son has better success than me!
LankyFreak said:
Last reply on this thread because this abt OPs son, who is probably faster than me
OP, in my rush to be an internet wally I neglected to congratulate your son and complement the photography; concentration face caught to perfection...very best of luck to your son (and your wallet) in the future
king verb.
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