Megavalanche 2010...
Discussion
ccr32 said:
What is this uphill nonsense ye speak of?! You're telling me that I might actually have to pedal at some stage!? 
I'm currently riding a Spesh Stumpy FSR XC with about 4" of travel at each end. I've got some meaty wheels for it, so would obviously use those, though I think my brakes could do with an upgrade for the pounding they will no doubt take.
Is this the sort of steed which would fare well on the Mega', or is something more substantial required do you think?
Brave man!I'm currently riding a Spesh Stumpy FSR XC with about 4" of travel at each end. I've got some meaty wheels for it, so would obviously use those, though I think my brakes could do with an upgrade for the pounding they will no doubt take.
Is this the sort of steed which would fare well on the Mega', or is something more substantial required do you think?
6" is ideal I reckon, you need the slack geo more than the travel though really, how much riding have you done in France?
Really want one of these frames, with air and a triple and bash I reckon it would be perfect.
shalmaneser said:
ccr32 said:
What is this uphill nonsense ye speak of?! You're telling me that I might actually have to pedal at some stage!?
I'm currently riding a Spesh Stumpy FSR XC with about 4" of travel at each end. I've got some meaty wheels for it, so would obviously use those, though I think my brakes could do with an upgrade for the pounding they will no doubt take.
Is this the sort of steed which would fare well on the Mega', or is something more substantial required do you think?
Brave man!I'm currently riding a Spesh Stumpy FSR XC with about 4" of travel at each end. I've got some meaty wheels for it, so would obviously use those, though I think my brakes could do with an upgrade for the pounding they will no doubt take.
Is this the sort of steed which would fare well on the Mega', or is something more substantial required do you think?
6" is ideal I reckon, you need the slack geo more than the travel though really, how much riding have you done in France?
Really want one of these frames, with air and a triple and bash I reckon it would be perfect.
Though my attempts to get over for the Mega' in 2010 failed miserably, I am determined to make it there this year with Sebo (cheers for resurrecting the thread), and so we will be entering when registration opens next week.
I've still got the Stumpy, and am considering braving it and just taking that. That said, with a good 6 months before the off, no doubt I will have talked myself into getting something a bit tastier by then
Would a Lapierre Zesty be up to the job??
ccr32 said:
shalmaneser said:
ccr32 said:
What is this uphill nonsense ye speak of?! You're telling me that I might actually have to pedal at some stage!?
I'm currently riding a Spesh Stumpy FSR XC with about 4" of travel at each end. I've got some meaty wheels for it, so would obviously use those, though I think my brakes could do with an upgrade for the pounding they will no doubt take.
Is this the sort of steed which would fare well on the Mega', or is something more substantial required do you think?
Brave man!I'm currently riding a Spesh Stumpy FSR XC with about 4" of travel at each end. I've got some meaty wheels for it, so would obviously use those, though I think my brakes could do with an upgrade for the pounding they will no doubt take.
Is this the sort of steed which would fare well on the Mega', or is something more substantial required do you think?
6" is ideal I reckon, you need the slack geo more than the travel though really, how much riding have you done in France?
Really want one of these frames, with air and a triple and bash I reckon it would be perfect.
Though my attempts to get over for the Mega' in 2010 failed miserably, I am determined to make it there this year with Sebo (cheers for resurrecting the thread), and so we will be entering when registration opens next week.
I've still got the Stumpy, and am considering braving it and just taking that. That said, with a good 6 months before the off, no doubt I will have talked myself into getting something a bit tastier by then
Would a Lapierre Zesty be up to the job??
So would a stumpy, if you can cope with being at the lighter/fasterontheclimbs/slightlymorescaryonthescarybits end of the spectrum.
If you are bold and can handle a bike decently a stumpy with big brakes and strong wheels would be up for it and would be quick.
umm, a zesty would be better mind...
Some folks go down the full on DH bike route. For the main race I don't reckon thats the way to go although it would be a bit more 'cushioning' if you know what i mean.
tempted.
theboymoon said:
ccr32 said:
shalmaneser said:
ccr32 said:
What is this uphill nonsense ye speak of?! You're telling me that I might actually have to pedal at some stage!?
I'm currently riding a Spesh Stumpy FSR XC with about 4" of travel at each end. I've got some meaty wheels for it, so would obviously use those, though I think my brakes could do with an upgrade for the pounding they will no doubt take.
Is this the sort of steed which would fare well on the Mega', or is something more substantial required do you think?
Brave man!I'm currently riding a Spesh Stumpy FSR XC with about 4" of travel at each end. I've got some meaty wheels for it, so would obviously use those, though I think my brakes could do with an upgrade for the pounding they will no doubt take.
Is this the sort of steed which would fare well on the Mega', or is something more substantial required do you think?
6" is ideal I reckon, you need the slack geo more than the travel though really, how much riding have you done in France?
Really want one of these frames, with air and a triple and bash I reckon it would be perfect.
Though my attempts to get over for the Mega' in 2010 failed miserably, I am determined to make it there this year with Sebo (cheers for resurrecting the thread), and so we will be entering when registration opens next week.
I've still got the Stumpy, and am considering braving it and just taking that. That said, with a good 6 months before the off, no doubt I will have talked myself into getting something a bit tastier by then
Would a Lapierre Zesty be up to the job??
So would a stumpy, if you can cope with being at the lighter/fasterontheclimbs/slightlymorescaryonthescarybits end of the spectrum.
If you are bold and can handle a bike decently a stumpy with big brakes and strong wheels would be up for it and would be quick.
umm, a zesty would be better mind...
Some folks go down the full on DH bike route. For the main race I don't reckon thats the way to go although it would be a bit more 'cushioning' if you know what i mean.
tempted.
The Spicy really is the prefect do it all bike in the Alps if you're not climbing much - the Zesty is the better option HOWEVER, you're not supposed to be running anything more than 140mm up front on the Zesty and that limits you quite a bit unless you're pretty handy.
I've been chatting to the local shop and discussing this dilemma with them and a couple of their lads have done the Mega too. They've said the Zesty isn't great for sustained Mega type activites - quite a few have splayed their headtubes etc - so a question mark there - hence why they're running the 1.5 to 1.1/4" headtubes.
A bike pulled off the shelf with some very interesting design was a Ghost. They only had a 140mm version in, which perhaps was a little too weedy for the qualifier, but would cope with the race. However, they're releasing a 150mm version soon.
With Lapierre raising prices significantly, as have Commencal, the Ghost is a bargain at the moment and so I'll be taking a mooch around one.
Either way, fitness and ability (and luck) is the key to the Mega, not the bike. Although it helps, especially when you're stood at the side of the trail clutching a broken chain and rear mech whilst you're rear tyre is slowly deflating.
I've got a mate who works for Hotlines, hence why I went for the Zesty, however mine is the 2011 bike with the tapered headtube on it. I told him from the off I was going to be running 150mm Revelations on it, and they think that's fine now.
Apparently I should be running the 160mm BOS forks but I can't really justify the cost, when the Revs are pretty bloody good anyway
They arnt so concerned as the A2C height is nigh on identical to an older 140mm fork such as the Pike anyway.
It's certainly put up with the abuse so far anyway, most impressed. I'm not sure on wanting to do it on anything bigger, the climbs are hard enough as it is, without having to lug extra bike up them.
Fair play to people who pedal a DH bike up them, I'm no where near that sadistic.
Apparently I should be running the 160mm BOS forks but I can't really justify the cost, when the Revs are pretty bloody good anyway
They arnt so concerned as the A2C height is nigh on identical to an older 140mm fork such as the Pike anyway.
It's certainly put up with the abuse so far anyway, most impressed. I'm not sure on wanting to do it on anything bigger, the climbs are hard enough as it is, without having to lug extra bike up them.
Fair play to people who pedal a DH bike up them, I'm no where near that sadistic.
-C- said:
I've got a mate who works for Hotlines, hence why I went for the Zesty, however mine is the 2011 bike with the tapered headtube on it. I told him from the off I was going to be running 150mm Revelations on it, and they think that's fine now.
Apparently I should be running the 160mm BOS forks but I can't really justify the cost, when the Revs are pretty bloody good anyway
They arnt so concerned as the A2C height is nigh on identical to an older 140mm fork such as the Pike anyway.
It's certainly put up with the abuse so far anyway, most impressed. I'm not sure on wanting to do it on anything bigger, the climbs are hard enough as it is, without having to lug extra bike up them.
Fair play to people who pedal a DH bike up them, I'm no where near that sadistic.
15mm Revs? You've said the same things as my shop did, so I think there's a pattern there Apparently I should be running the 160mm BOS forks but I can't really justify the cost, when the Revs are pretty bloody good anyway
They arnt so concerned as the A2C height is nigh on identical to an older 140mm fork such as the Pike anyway.
It's certainly put up with the abuse so far anyway, most impressed. I'm not sure on wanting to do it on anything bigger, the climbs are hard enough as it is, without having to lug extra bike up them.
Fair play to people who pedal a DH bike up them, I'm no where near that sadistic.
I couldn't think anything worse than my experience of climbing a DH bike up those climbs in full body armour and full face. Never again.
I'm running 150mm Revs on the front of my Meta ATM and they're lovely forks, so light considering the stiffness. You HAVE to go for the bolt though axle though, the increase in stiffness is unreal.
I reckon a supreme 6 with an air can on the back and 150mm revs on the front, with a 38/28 front chainring setup with bashguard would be lovely for the Mega, but while I've done several months riding in the Alps I've never done the Mega (maybe this year...) so I don't know what the climbs are like.
I really really rate the Meta but I'd not be happy taking it on an alpine holiday doing chairlifts all day, the head angle needs to be much slacker and the front end needs to be longer so you can really get behind the forks and let them do the job.
I reckon a supreme 6 with an air can on the back and 150mm revs on the front, with a 38/28 front chainring setup with bashguard would be lovely for the Mega, but while I've done several months riding in the Alps I've never done the Mega (maybe this year...) so I don't know what the climbs are like.
I really really rate the Meta but I'd not be happy taking it on an alpine holiday doing chairlifts all day, the head angle needs to be much slacker and the front end needs to be longer so you can really get behind the forks and let them do the job.
shalmaneser said:
I'm running 150mm Revs on the front of my Meta ATM and they're lovely forks, so light considering the stiffness. You HAVE to go for the bolt though axle though, the increase in stiffness is unreal.
I reckon a supreme 6 with an air can on the back and 150mm revs on the front, with a 38/28 front chainring setup with bashguard would be lovely for the Mega, but while I've done several months riding in the Alps I've never done the Mega (maybe this year...) so I don't know what the climbs are like.
I really really rate the Meta but I'd not be happy taking it on an alpine holiday doing chairlifts all day, the head angle needs to be much slacker and the front end needs to be longer so you can really get behind the forks and let them do the job.
My Meta 5.5 was fine at the time.I reckon a supreme 6 with an air can on the back and 150mm revs on the front, with a 38/28 front chainring setup with bashguard would be lovely for the Mega, but while I've done several months riding in the Alps I've never done the Mega (maybe this year...) so I don't know what the climbs are like.
I really really rate the Meta but I'd not be happy taking it on an alpine holiday doing chairlifts all day, the head angle needs to be much slacker and the front end needs to be longer so you can really get behind the forks and let them do the job.
But it wasn't the right bike. Nor was the Supreme Mini DH (which is essentially a Supreme 6) that I also owned.
The Lapierre bikes are seriously good bits of kit. Commencal have lost it slightly with build quality, although so say improved since moving factories. Either way, I'd be looking at the Spicy over a Supreme 6 without hesitation.
Additionally, I'd drop the dual chainring, and go for a 32 or 34 chainring 10 speed setup. I've just done it on mine and it's totally the best thing I've done in ages. Much less to destroy/bash/snap/clog up in the snow and lighter. You get 95% of the gearing too.
Trust me. The climbs hurt.
So, anyone doing it this year (2011)?
Entries open on Monday 10th at www.avalanchecup.com
I did it in 09 with Neil, Moonie and a few others. I've never cacked myself so much, a lot of jostling I wasn't used to. Fitness and ability really are the key along with some good old mind over matter.
A Spicy, Alpine160 or similar would seem a good weapon of choice.
If I remember, there are 2 main uphills that really you could just walk. The rest of the uphills are all ridable if I remember correctly.
I'm off to do Switchbacks DH in Spain this year but look forward to giving the Mega another go in the future.
Entries open on Monday 10th at www.avalanchecup.com
I did it in 09 with Neil, Moonie and a few others. I've never cacked myself so much, a lot of jostling I wasn't used to. Fitness and ability really are the key along with some good old mind over matter.
A Spicy, Alpine160 or similar would seem a good weapon of choice.
If I remember, there are 2 main uphills that really you could just walk. The rest of the uphills are all ridable if I remember correctly.
I'm off to do Switchbacks DH in Spain this year but look forward to giving the Mega another go in the future.
I think I would be brave/stupid enough to take my Stumpy and see how I got on with that, but I like the idea of having a bit more cushioning rather than the 90/80mm setup that I currently have..!
I like the idea of a Spicy, though as it will be my one and only bike, it may end up being a bit on the meaty side for what I would ride the rest of the year. Will do a bit more research and see what deals I can find...
Another slightly left-field option that I may have is my old Marin Team DH bike which (comically) my dad now uses as his on-the-road runaround "because it's nice and comfy" (as you would expect with 6" of travel!) - throw a few select components at that and I think it would do the job well, if a little on the weighty side.
How much climbing is there in total on the mega? And also, apologies for the noob question, but why would one consider a different bike for the qualifier compared to the main event?
I like the idea of a Spicy, though as it will be my one and only bike, it may end up being a bit on the meaty side for what I would ride the rest of the year. Will do a bit more research and see what deals I can find...
Another slightly left-field option that I may have is my old Marin Team DH bike which (comically) my dad now uses as his on-the-road runaround "because it's nice and comfy" (as you would expect with 6" of travel!) - throw a few select components at that and I think it would do the job well, if a little on the weighty side.
How much climbing is there in total on the mega? And also, apologies for the noob question, but why would one consider a different bike for the qualifier compared to the main event?
the thing is a bike thats 'fast' for the mega probably isn't also 'fun' for a week of alpine riding.
For tooling about Morzine etc i'd want something bigger and bouncier to have a blast on, for mega if i went back i'd want the smallest bike i could get away with so the climbs are that bit less painful.
all IMVHO
oh, did Bolton mention luck? That defo plays a part!
For tooling about Morzine etc i'd want something bigger and bouncier to have a blast on, for mega if i went back i'd want the smallest bike i could get away with so the climbs are that bit less painful.
all IMVHO
oh, did Bolton mention luck? That defo plays a part!
Ok... Thanks for the advice..!
Generally speaking then, for more fun (until it comes to the climbs on the Mega), you'd want something a bit bigger and bouncier... That said, I think Sebo and I will only be there Thursday to Sunday, so the Mega is our main focus anyway.
Watching some of the on-board videos from previous years, I can see how luck plays a substantial part too..!
Generally speaking then, for more fun (until it comes to the climbs on the Mega), you'd want something a bit bigger and bouncier... That said, I think Sebo and I will only be there Thursday to Sunday, so the Mega is our main focus anyway.
Watching some of the on-board videos from previous years, I can see how luck plays a substantial part too..!
ccr32 said:
Ok... Thanks for the advice..!
Generally speaking then, for more fun (until it comes to the climbs on the Mega), you'd want something a bit bigger and bouncier... That said, I think Sebo and I will only be there Thursday to Sunday, so the Mega is our main focus anyway.
Watching some of the on-board videos from previous years, I can see how luck plays a substantial part too..!
Climbs? Enough to make you think. Probably a couple of miles, maybe, if they don't keep changing it.Generally speaking then, for more fun (until it comes to the climbs on the Mega), you'd want something a bit bigger and bouncier... That said, I think Sebo and I will only be there Thursday to Sunday, so the Mega is our main focus anyway.
Watching some of the on-board videos from previous years, I can see how luck plays a substantial part too..!
As for what you're facing DH wise: This is the first half of the qualifier from the fork view. With no one on the track. Add 200 people trying to get down it and there's your reason for a proper bike.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-X9fA5csBg
ccr32 said:
I've still got the Stumpy, and am considering braving it and just taking that. That said, with a good 6 months before the off, no doubt I will have talked myself into getting something a bit tastier by then
FWIW.The issue I had with my old Stumpy (it was an '09 base model) was the suspension bushes on 'bigger' riding. It could be the Cannock Chase sand and grit taking it's toll, but once I started to ridfe the thing a bit harder, i was having regular issues with the headset and also with the rear suspension bushings.
IMHO it's also a bit 'steep' for faster, more rugged descents.
Helga, on the other hand, loves it rough and dirty.
neil_bolton said:
ccr32 said:
Ok... Thanks for the advice..!
Generally speaking then, for more fun (until it comes to the climbs on the Mega), you'd want something a bit bigger and bouncier... That said, I think Sebo and I will only be there Thursday to Sunday, so the Mega is our main focus anyway.
Watching some of the on-board videos from previous years, I can see how luck plays a substantial part too..!
Climbs? Enough to make you think. Probably a couple of miles, maybe, if they don't keep changing it.Generally speaking then, for more fun (until it comes to the climbs on the Mega), you'd want something a bit bigger and bouncier... That said, I think Sebo and I will only be there Thursday to Sunday, so the Mega is our main focus anyway.
Watching some of the on-board videos from previous years, I can see how luck plays a substantial part too..!
As for what you're facing DH wise: This is the first half of the qualifier from the fork view. With no one on the track. Add 200 people trying to get down it and there's your reason for a proper bike.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-X9fA5csBg
The track itself looks absolutely fine, but i can imagine that with 200 odd people it's a bit more intense.
What are the dates again?
ccr32 said:
I like the idea of a Spicy, though as it will be my one and only bike, it may end up being a bit on the meaty side for what I would ride the rest of the year. Will do a bit more research and see what deals I can find...
I was in a similar situation 9 months ago. I wanted something lighter/newer than my Giant Reign, but was torn between 140mm and 160mm travel. If it's your sole MTB then a Zesty makes far more sense than a Spicy for the majority of UK riding. I decided on a Spicy as I use a hardtail for most of my riding, with my full-susser doubling up for light DH use. I bought the base model Spicy 216 at a bargain price but replaced the worst parts with the best from my Reign, ending up with 66SL forks (150-170mm), Hope wheels, Thomson bits, etc. Whole bike inc flat pedals and double/bash/chain device now weighs in at 33.6lbs which I can cope with for UK trail riding, just about...Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff