May 6, 2008
So for those of you who didn't read Chuck Ibis's spew "Lopes goes to Poland with a Tranny", tranny is the hardtail prototype that Brian brought to compete in the invitational "Four Cross Night Race" held in southern Poland. And with the fastest qualifying time, Lopes and the "tranny" proved to be a winning team from the get go.
The beautifully-manicured and well-lit course found in the charming town of Szczawno Zdroj, was brimming with approximately 4,000 spectators saturday night. The crowd was composed of a diverse group of serious cycling fans and some locals, both looking forward to some high-speed entertainment. And that is exactly what they got!
The first straight demonstrated to be the most challenging, as the two middle lanes appeared to be slightly faster featuring a set of doubles leading to a high-speed left-turned drop and a series of the switchbacks. Plus, did I mention it was a over 46 seconds long.
Nonetheless, Brian and the "tranny", kept their eye on the prize and tackled a field of predominately Dutch racers. This held true in the finals as well, as Brian met up with Joost Wichman, Jurg Meijer and Joey Van Veghel. Lopes got a good start, only to bump elbows with Meijer, allowing Wichman to take advantage and grab the lead. Lopes chased Wichman down 3/4 of the course, reeling him in as they both approached the finish-line. But the Brian/Tranny team ran out of track and had to settle for 2nd place at their first showing!
"Man...I could see the cross-county guy coming at me as we reached the finish line" said Joost Wichman who had driven over with a car full of fellow-Dutch over 9 hours to participate in the 4X Night Race.
FINAL RESULTS
1. WICHMAN Joost NED
2. LOPES Brian USA
3. MEIJER Jurg NED
4. VAN VEGHEL Joey NED
BIG thanks to Oakley, Marzocchi, Kenda, Ibis, Bell, Hayes, Easton, TLD, Shimano, MRP, ODI, Fizik and our Polish hosts Andrzej Skrzypczak, the mayor of Szczawno Zdroj, Team Lang!
The first straight demonstrated to be the most challenging, as the two middle lanes appeared to be slightly faster featuring a set of doubles leading to a high-speed left-turned drop and a series of the switchbacks. Plus, did I mention it was a over 46 seconds long.
Nonetheless, Brian and the "tranny", kept their eye on the prize and tackled a field of predominately Dutch racers. This held true in the finals as well, as Brian met up with Joost Wichman, Jurg Meijer and Joey Van Veghel. Lopes got a good start, only to bump elbows with Meijer, allowing Wichman to take advantage and grab the lead. Lopes chased Wichman down 3/4 of the course, reeling him in as they both approached the finish-line. But the Brian/Tranny team ran out of track and had to settle for 2nd place at their first showing!
"Man...I could see the cross-county guy coming at me as we reached the finish line" said Joost Wichman who had driven over with a car full of fellow-Dutch over 9 hours to participate in the 4X Night Race.
FINAL RESULTS
1. WICHMAN Joost NED
2. LOPES Brian USA
3. MEIJER Jurg NED
4. VAN VEGHEL Joey NED
BIG thanks to Oakley, Marzocchi, Kenda, Ibis, Bell, Hayes, Easton, TLD, Shimano, MRP, ODI, Fizik and our Polish hosts Andrzej Skrzypczak, the mayor of Szczawno Zdroj, Team Lang!
Comments
- - 14 props
dhmageedh
(May 6, 2008 at 18:17)
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Brian Lopes # 1
That was a pretty great correction.
really... are those the only f*cking pictures from the entire event?
http://pl.youtube.com/watch?v=SHx9KA8XBr0
you can find some pictures here (all by me): http://www.chr.rybnik.pl/photogallery.php?album_id=43
the competiton was great, lots of spectators, just great
the competiton was great, lots of spectators, just great
Are there any pics from the proto-Ibis?
NETHERLANDS! wichman defeted lopez!! good job man
i added some photos to my album here on pinkbike.com - [url]http://easy.pinkbike.com/album/Szczawno-Zdrj-4x-Night-race-2008/[/url]
I totally called that Lopes was going to be using the Tranny...ajustable H.A. and the fact that he's been on a hardtail for years
He said, when I asked him, that he loves rideing FS, but for track like Szczawno, which is "basicly downhill BMX" :-) hardtail is the only option...
Apart from the prototype tranny, Lopes was useing prototype Marz 44 with 15mm through axle, 2009 hayes brakes, 2009 short carbon cage XTR derailer and lots of other special parts, all bolts are titanium, carbon everyware, the bike weights 25lbs with the frame beeing overbuilt with carbon to make sure it will withstand some hard raceing - the production Tranny will be lighter...
Apart from the prototype tranny, Lopes was useing prototype Marz 44 with 15mm through axle, 2009 hayes brakes, 2009 short carbon cage XTR derailer and lots of other special parts, all bolts are titanium, carbon everyware, the bike weights 25lbs with the frame beeing overbuilt with carbon to make sure it will withstand some hard raceing - the production Tranny will be lighter...
...sorry adjustable chain stays that slacken the H.A. depending on the track
yea i had been wondering for a while whether ibis were gonna make a custom tranny and mojo frame for Lopes as the normal ones are built for xc. sounds like a good race
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