The Official PH Megavalance 2008 thread!
The Official PH Megavalance 2008 thread!
Author
Discussion

neil_bolton

Original Poster:

17,113 posts

287 months

Tuesday 6th May 2008
quotequote all
Right then chaps:

Who's going? biggrin

ETA: Meeeeeeeeeee hehe

Edited by neil_bolton on Tuesday 6th May 17:03

Rico

7,917 posts

278 months

Tuesday 6th May 2008
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wavey

Just need to sort me a bike.... scratchchin

atom111

1,038 posts

248 months

Tuesday 6th May 2008
quotequote all
I am not, and probably wouldn't, but sure am looking forward to seeing any footage and pictures of it, it looks awesome.

Very best of luck to Neil and everyone else whom is doing it and stay safe.

neil_bolton

Original Poster:

17,113 posts

287 months

Tuesday 6th May 2008
quotequote all
atom111 said:
I am not, and probably wouldn't, but sure am looking forward to seeing any footage and pictures of it, it looks awesome.

Very best of luck to Neil and everyone else whom is doing it and stay safe.
Well this is the start of my race last year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k41s690k2dcbiggrin

And here's a fresian cow helmet cam biggrinhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L51D8oI_1mE - I'm at the back sliding down on my arse... hehe
This cow (guy) actually won his class, and was in the wave ahead of me on the start line.

Nutter.

atom111

1,038 posts

248 months

Tuesday 6th May 2008
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Thanks for linking those that looks mad absolute madness in the nicest possible way smile

pastrana72

1,740 posts

231 months

Tuesday 6th May 2008
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Been talking about doing it on my Hardtail, watched the video's and it looks an absolute experience,

My wife said no way are you doing that, she right, not this year, but linking it to my friends to see who else might be up for it in future.

My mangled elbow started to ache just watching it, and I hate riding in Snow.

Good luck Neil.

Pulse

10,922 posts

241 months

Wednesday 7th May 2008
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Never heard of this before. What is it?

Not that I'll be going, but I will be very interested in the pics. Maybe I'll be at the '09 one, if I keep riding for the next year.

Moose.

5,345 posts

264 months

Wednesday 7th May 2008
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It's a topic my mates bring up from time to time, but not sure we're (I'm) ready just yet! Must be done at some point though. Never ridden on snow though, so the beginning would be an experience biggrin

Good luck to all PHers taking part smile

neil_bolton

Original Poster:

17,113 posts

287 months

Wednesday 7th May 2008
quotequote all
Pulse said:
Never heard of this before. What is it?

Not that I'll be going, but I will be very interested in the pics. Maybe I'll be at the '09 one, if I keep riding for the next year.
Essentially a race with 1600 riders (they increased from 1400 initially) where you set off in a large group of (IIRC) 400 riders.

Essentially you have to fight/survive your way down the glacier, and then onto the biggest, longest, and most mental DH of your life; all 22 miles of it, and 2000m (vertical) of descending!!!

Not for the faint hearted!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megavalanche

Pulse

10,922 posts

241 months

Wednesday 7th May 2008
quotequote all
neil_bolton said:
Pulse said:
Never heard of this before. What is it?

Not that I'll be going, but I will be very interested in the pics. Maybe I'll be at the '09 one, if I keep riding for the next year.
Essentially a race with 1600 riders (they increased from 1400 initially) where you set off in a large group of (IIRC) 400 riders.

Essentially you have to fight/survive your way down the glacier, and then onto the biggest, longest, and most mental DH of your life; all 22 miles of it, and 2000m (vertical) of descending!!!

Not for the faint hearted!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megavalanche
Christ alive! I will NEVER be doing that then smile

OilyRagMan

3,848 posts

272 months

Thursday 8th May 2008
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a couple of guys from work are doing it this year i was going to join them but i need to finish the westfield this year... maybe next yearbiggrin

JPJ

421 posts

272 months

Friday 9th May 2008
quotequote all
Yep I'm in after doing it last year very slowly.

In terms of the others thinking about it, the main event isn't as bad as people make out. The figures are big, but after the initial snow and rock fields the rest of the ride is classic alpine XC, that is heading down more than up. However, there are climbs in it, so a big downhill rig isn't an ideal bike.

The qualifying event is harder though. The rock field is bigger and more technical, and it throws a lot more at you in a shorted period of time.

Amazing event though, and as an MTB'er it's worth making the trip at least once - a bit like Le Mans to us as drivers.

neil_bolton

Original Poster:

17,113 posts

287 months

Friday 9th May 2008
quotequote all
JPJ said:
Yep I'm in after doing it last year very slowly.

In terms of the others thinking about it, the main event isn't as bad as people make out. The figures are big, but after the initial snow and rock fields the rest of the ride is classic alpine XC, that is heading down more than up. However, there are climbs in it, so a big downhill rig isn't an ideal bike.

The qualifying event is harder though. The rock field is bigger and more technical, and it throws a lot more at you in a shorted period of time.

Amazing event though, and as an MTB'er it's worth making the trip at least once - a bit like Le Mans to us as drivers.
Exactly right.

As a result, thats why I'm riding my Commencal Supreme for the qualifier, and my Commencal Meta for the actual race.

Whilst the race isn't exactly uber hard technically, there are still 'fuuuuuuuck me' moments to be had, especially when dealing with bottlenecks and 20 other like minded riders trying to launch off 5 foot rocky drop offs.

Anyone else doing the Oz race on the Wednesday? Now that IS stting me up - that course is crazy rediculous (World Cup course I think)!

anniesdad

14,589 posts

261 months

Friday 9th May 2008
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Fookin nutters! hehe

threesixty

2,068 posts

226 months

Tuesday 13th May 2008
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Im going!

5th time for me.

Bit of a disaster last year as I dropped out of the qualifier. Doing a bit of training this year, I really want to crack the hour!

newbe

26 posts

260 months

Friday 16th May 2008
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Wave as i pass you on the uphills, i'll wave as you kick my ass on the downhill.

I normally ride what most people call XC, but i like to call it jeycore. The more technical the better, keeps the speed down & gives me a chance!

Anyone recommend any practice uplift or beginner DH races as preperation (near to Bristol/Glos area)???

Rico

7,917 posts

278 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
newbe said:
Anyone recommend any practice uplift or beginner DH races as preperation (near to Bristol/Glos area)???
www.cwmdown.co.uk is a very professional setup at CwmCarn. Well under an hour from Bristol in sunny Wales smile Ace XC loop for fitness, and good solid DH course for skills.

threesixty

2,068 posts

226 months

Tuesday 20th May 2008
quotequote all
newbe said:
Wave as i pass you on the uphills, i'll wave as you kick my ass on the downhill.

I normally ride what most people call XC, but i like to call it jeycore. The more technical the better, keeps the speed down & gives me a chance!

Anyone recommend any practice uplift or beginner DH races as preperation (near to Bristol/Glos area)???
get a week in morzine before you go.

Alot of people find the course tricky (the amount of people walking on descents is just insane).

Cwmcarn is ok and worth doing, but it doesn't present any challenge at all, unlike the mega.

Gingerbread Man

9,173 posts

236 months

Thursday 22nd May 2008
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threesixty said:
Cwmcarn is ok and worth doing, but it doesn't present any challenge at all, unlike the mega.
And there's an uplift so no need to walk/ push/ climb! Wooo

neil_bolton

Original Poster:

17,113 posts

287 months

Friday 23rd May 2008
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Gingerbread Man said:
threesixty said:
Cwmcarn is ok and worth doing, but it doesn't present any challenge at all, unlike the mega.
And there's an uplift so no need to walk/ push/ climb! Wooo
You need to book up in advance for this service tho - and its not cheap - £27 for the day.

For the XC loop, you just ride.

As it is, the XC loop is pretty interesting enough smile