The Official 2011 Megavalanche Thread
Discussion
Read about this event last year, and received and email about registration opening up on Monday and with my new take on life I'm thinking of going for it 
, just want to get some info from a few hardened vets 
.
What’s the skill level of this sort of thing? I’ve just started getting back in to MTB and done a few DH now this was nothing as extreme as megavalanche, so if I'm going up a bunch of pros then I’ll give it a pass although going by the video I saw of the start of the 2009 race I saw more people walking or on there backsides than riding, so I might be alright after all haha, I do intend to get some more DH under my belt this year and certainly between now and July.
Also am I right in thinking that there are 3 races? Or are they all qualifiers for the also one? If they are just individual races do you have to do them all or can you just sign up for individual ones?
I do have more but feel I'm waffling on at the moment
, just want to get some info from a few hardened vets .What’s the skill level of this sort of thing? I’ve just started getting back in to MTB and done a few DH now this was nothing as extreme as megavalanche, so if I'm going up a bunch of pros then I’ll give it a pass although going by the video I saw of the start of the 2009 race I saw more people walking or on there backsides than riding, so I might be alright after all haha
, I do intend to get some more DH under my belt this year and certainly between now and July.Also am I right in thinking that there are 3 races? Or are they all qualifiers for the also one? If they are just individual races do you have to do them all or can you just sign up for individual ones?
I do have more but feel I'm waffling on at the moment
Neil has helpfully already answered some of the questions in the old Mega' 2010 thread 
http://mobile.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=...
(apologies for the mobile link)
http://mobile.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=...
(apologies for the mobile link)
neil_bolton said:
It's all one race, but it's split to allow the waves enough space on the course.
So, the top 400 qualify for the Megavlanche on Saturday
The next 400 for the MegaPromo 1 (on Sat)
The next 400 for the MegaPromo 2 (on Sun)
The next 400 for the MegaAffinity 1 (on Sat)
The final races for the MegaAffinity 2. (on Sun)
The Megavalanche and MegaPromo are 'races' with a standing start, the MegaAffinity is timed, with racers able to go off at any time. The Affinity is useful if you all want to ride together for instance.
The basic packs just give you the race itself and the lift pass for 4 days. The next packs give you a 7 day pass, and the top pack gives you the Sprint Oz race - an event well worth doing if you enjoy World Cup DH courses...
I think thats right, feel free to correct me if I've got it wrong at all, but thats the jist of it.
I'll be going this year, though need to do the registration form - on the to do list for today!So, the top 400 qualify for the Megavlanche on Saturday
The next 400 for the MegaPromo 1 (on Sat)
The next 400 for the MegaPromo 2 (on Sun)
The next 400 for the MegaAffinity 1 (on Sat)
The final races for the MegaAffinity 2. (on Sun)
The Megavalanche and MegaPromo are 'races' with a standing start, the MegaAffinity is timed, with racers able to go off at any time. The Affinity is useful if you all want to ride together for instance.
The basic packs just give you the race itself and the lift pass for 4 days. The next packs give you a 7 day pass, and the top pack gives you the Sprint Oz race - an event well worth doing if you enjoy World Cup DH courses...
I think thats right, feel free to correct me if I've got it wrong at all, but thats the jist of it.
Edited by ccr32 on Wednesday 12th January 08:37
So now I've entered, I've been sent a mail about accommodation that you can book through the event organiser...
Apartment with balcony, kitchen, etc, based on 4 sharing, EUR 13 pp/pn.
Any good? Or would any hardened Mega veterans care to share their accommodation-based pearls of wisdom?!
Apartment with balcony, kitchen, etc, based on 4 sharing, EUR 13 pp/pn.
Any good? Or would any hardened Mega veterans care to share their accommodation-based pearls of wisdom?!
ccr32 said:
So now I've entered, I've been sent a mail about accommodation that you can book through the event organiser...
Apartment with balcony, kitchen, etc, based on 4 sharing, EUR 13 pp/pn.
Any good? Or would any hardened Mega veterans care to share their accommodation-based pearls of wisdom?!
Get a decent accom. Don't scrimp, you'll regret it.Apartment with balcony, kitchen, etc, based on 4 sharing, EUR 13 pp/pn.
Any good? Or would any hardened Mega veterans care to share their accommodation-based pearls of wisdom?!
I would say budget 100-150 euro pp for the week, as a tiny apartment with a bunch of smelly kit and blokes is not fun for a week.
Hello folks.
Myself and a couple of mates have entered. Seen many vids so feeling fairly daunted at the moment. Biggest worry is kit.
My mates have £1600 hardtails, but pretty sure my £600 HT would crumble to dust, so any suggestions? Anyone know good sites/places to pick up up decent used MA quality bikes?
Myself and a couple of mates have entered. Seen many vids so feeling fairly daunted at the moment. Biggest worry is kit.
My mates have £1600 hardtails, but pretty sure my £600 HT would crumble to dust, so any suggestions? Anyone know good sites/places to pick up up decent used MA quality bikes?
Serious response here, just in case you think I'm joking.
Do NOT do it on hardtails. You will die, and not be competitive. It's an event to be savoured, not endured (even though you do generally).
As you said, buy an AM bike, preferably a Lapierre Spicy or something if you can find one. It's the official Megavalance event bike...
Do NOT do it on hardtails. You will die, and not be competitive. It's an event to be savoured, not endured (even though you do generally).
As you said, buy an AM bike, preferably a Lapierre Spicy or something if you can find one. It's the official Megavalance event bike...
neil_bolton said:
Serious response here, just in case you think I'm joking.
Do NOT do it on hardtails. You will die, and not be competitive. It's an event to be savoured, not endured (even though you do generally).
As you said, buy an AM bike, preferably a Lapierre Spicy or something if you can find one. It's the official Megavalance event bike...
yerp.Do NOT do it on hardtails. You will die, and not be competitive. It's an event to be savoured, not endured (even though you do generally).
As you said, buy an AM bike, preferably a Lapierre Spicy or something if you can find one. It's the official Megavalance event bike...
in the nicest possible way, an HT would not be fun. at all.
Before the same Spicy vs. Zesty vs. Other bike debate starts again on here, there was some good advice and comparisons dished out on page 3 of the Mega' 2010 thread which is well worth a read:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I tried out an Orange 5 with Talas RLC's at the weekend which I thought would be the perfect bike for the job, but sadly it was just too small for me (which in itself would probably have been fine for the mega, but not much good for the rest of the time that I ride it) - if anyone is interested in it, Just1 on PH is your man... PH classifieds link
I'm now thinking about one of these...
At under 12.5kg, it should be fine for the up's and the riding I do the rest of the year. But with the slacker geo's and 150/145mm fork/shock, should be burly enough for the Mega too... Thoughts??
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I tried out an Orange 5 with Talas RLC's at the weekend which I thought would be the perfect bike for the job, but sadly it was just too small for me (which in itself would probably have been fine for the mega, but not much good for the rest of the time that I ride it) - if anyone is interested in it, Just1 on PH is your man... PH classifieds link
I'm now thinking about one of these...
At under 12.5kg, it should be fine for the up's and the riding I do the rest of the year. But with the slacker geo's and 150/145mm fork/shock, should be burly enough for the Mega too... Thoughts??
neil_bolton said:
Serious response here, just in case you think I'm joking.
Do NOT do it on hardtails. You will die, and not be competitive. It's an event to be savoured, not endured (even though you do generally).
As you said, buy an AM bike, preferably a Lapierre Spicy or something if you can find one. It's the official Megavalance event bike...
Don't let you put this off!Do NOT do it on hardtails. You will die, and not be competitive. It's an event to be savoured, not endured (even though you do generally).
As you said, buy an AM bike, preferably a Lapierre Spicy or something if you can find one. It's the official Megavalance event bike...
I've known several people race the whole show on hardtails after breaking dh bikes or just sheer bloody mindedness. You need to be decent on a bike and fit but it's perfectly possible to be competitive. Just looked at some old results and a friend of mine did a 1:25 in the main event on a hardtail.
Sadly I won't be there. The course has changed so much over the years and every time its moved more towards an xc race. I last raced in 09 and was pretty dissapointed
doesn't mean it's not still a superb event it just doesn't suit me any more.threesixty said:
neil_bolton said:
Serious response here, just in case you think I'm joking.
Do NOT do it on hardtails. You will die, and not be competitive. It's an event to be savoured, not endured (even though you do generally).
As you said, buy an AM bike, preferably a Lapierre Spicy or something if you can find one. It's the official Megavalance event bike...
Don't let you put this off!Do NOT do it on hardtails. You will die, and not be competitive. It's an event to be savoured, not endured (even though you do generally).
As you said, buy an AM bike, preferably a Lapierre Spicy or something if you can find one. It's the official Megavalance event bike...
I've known several people race the whole show on hardtails after breaking dh bikes or just sheer bloody mindedness. You need to be decent on a bike and fit but it's perfectly possible to be competitive. Just looked at some old results and a friend of mine did a 1:25 in the main event on a hardtail.
Sadly I won't be there. The course has changed so much over the years and every time its moved more towards an xc race. I last raced in 09 and was pretty dissapointed
doesn't mean it's not still a superb event it just doesn't suit me any more.Otherwise you'll find the bike will expire.
Additonally the course may well have a few more hills now, but the tougher parts have become severely worn due to the sheer amount of riders riding the course now.
Be careful not to fool people into thinking its all so easy and not as bad as you think. I've been riding 20 years and there isn't an event I know that takes such a toll on body and bike over the week. It's not just a couple of hours race - you've a weeks riding to get through.
neil_bolton said:
Otherwise you'll find the bike will expire.
Additonally the course may well have a few more hills now, but the tougher parts have become severely worn due to the sheer amount of riders riding the course now.
Be careful not to fool people into thinking its all so easy and not as bad as you think. I've been riding 20 years and there isn't an event I know that takes such a toll on body and bike over the week. It's not just a couple of hours race - you've a weeks riding to get through.
Yes some stuff is worn away and a little trickier but overall I think the mega peaked a long time ago in terms of technical difficulty. The digger work that went on before the race in 09 on the qualifier was a real shame.
I've done the mega 6 or 7 times since 2001, its really changed a hell of a lot.
I can't comment on how its changed over the last 10 years, but seeing as Dirt mag and others still call it the hardest MTB race in the world, and seasoned DH and enduro veterans rate it as THE race to win to prove that you're the best all round rider, I think it still has its crown.
Yes, you can do it on a HT, and if you're a decent rider the bike will probably be ok, but having been out a couple of times, I've seen Orange 224s, Commencals, Lapierres, Giant Glory DH's and other tough machinery broken into many parts.
There's a lot of bull in mountain biking about bikes and parts, but theres also a lot of bull about the riding. The Mega IS hard, it may have changed, but that doesnt mean to say its gotten easier.
Without being argumentative, what was your place in '09 threesixty, if you found it to be too easy?
My overall advice would be, dont get too hung up on it, it IS intimidating for a newbie, but its also amazing fun. Read up as much as you can, watch some videos, but nothing can prepare you for the first time you line up on the starting grid
Yes, you can do it on a HT, and if you're a decent rider the bike will probably be ok, but having been out a couple of times, I've seen Orange 224s, Commencals, Lapierres, Giant Glory DH's and other tough machinery broken into many parts.
There's a lot of bull in mountain biking about bikes and parts, but theres also a lot of bull about the riding. The Mega IS hard, it may have changed, but that doesnt mean to say its gotten easier.
Without being argumentative, what was your place in '09 threesixty, if you found it to be too easy?
My overall advice would be, dont get too hung up on it, it IS intimidating for a newbie, but its also amazing fun. Read up as much as you can, watch some videos, but nothing can prepare you for the first time you line up on the starting grid
Lets angle this silly argument another way so 360 can feel like he's billy big balls today:
If you don't go into the Mega eye wide open, and equip yourself and your bike appropriately, or accept that if not, you're at the whim of the mountain, then you have to expect as a newbie to have a tough time and you'll not enjoy yourself which is the point.
Therefore, take some advice from those who have done it, and aren't such amazingly gifted riders as 360 whom obviously are mixing it with Remy and Fabien that they need not worry about their bike choice, nor the appropriate kit choices required.
Jesus. We're just trying to help the newbies, not patronise them.
If you don't go into the Mega eye wide open, and equip yourself and your bike appropriately, or accept that if not, you're at the whim of the mountain, then you have to expect as a newbie to have a tough time and you'll not enjoy yourself which is the point.
Therefore, take some advice from those who have done it, and aren't such amazingly gifted riders as 360 whom obviously are mixing it with Remy and Fabien that they need not worry about their bike choice, nor the appropriate kit choices required.
Jesus. We're just trying to help the newbies, not patronise them.
Cheers folks, some great points to consider there. Im definately not doing it on a HT though. I'll just have to dip into the rainy day fund.
Someone once wrote on here: "get fit, then get fitter..." but what can people recommend for training ideas (other than loads of riding). Whats the best way to get your forearms strong enough to deal with the pounding they'll inevitably get?
Someone once wrote on here: "get fit, then get fitter..." but what can people recommend for training ideas (other than loads of riding). Whats the best way to get your forearms strong enough to deal with the pounding they'll inevitably get?
Coanehead said:
Cheers folks, some great points to consider there. Im definately not doing it on a HT though. I'll just have to dip into the rainy day fund.
Someone once wrote on here: "get fit, then get fitter..." but what can people recommend for training ideas (other than loads of riding). Whats the best way to get your forearms strong enough to deal with the pounding they'll inevitably get?
Seriously? Indoor bouldering. It's a great way to get used to arm pump.Someone once wrote on here: "get fit, then get fitter..." but what can people recommend for training ideas (other than loads of riding). Whats the best way to get your forearms strong enough to deal with the pounding they'll inevitably get?
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