Update from Greg Minnaar: Thanks for all the questions guys, sorry I wasn't able to get to all of them. I'm off now, but I'll try to stop by again to follow up on a few more. Stay Loose
With a career closing in on two decades at the top, Greg Minnaar's name is synonymous with World Cup Downhill racing. With the three World Championships, three World Cup Series Overall championships, and 75 World Cup DH podiums over the course of his career, the 37 year old from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, is one of the winningest racers of all time. A member of the revered Santa Cruz Syndicate team, Greg's experience and attention to detail have been a valuable resource for product engineers in the development and testing process of new products, whether it's a new bike or, a signature tire.
With the start of the World Cup DH season about to kick off in Maribor shortly, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity for you to ask him your questions.
How ‘Ask Us Anything' Works: Starting at 10:00 AM PDT/6:00 PM BST on March 19, 2019 you can type your questions for Greg Minnaar into the comment box below this article and he'll have a crack at answering them. Sometimes your answer will pop up in a few seconds; others may take a few minutes while Chris works his way through questions that are popping up. Everyone who posts a question, large or small, will be taken seriously.
To make this go as smoothly as possible, try to follow these guidelines:
• Keep your questions relevant
• Stay focused and to keep your questions on one topic if possible. You can always ask about another item later
• Try to keep your questions to about 100 words
• Ask Us Anything is a service to PB readers who are seeking helpful information, not a forum to broadcast opinions or grievances. If you do have an issue that you want to ask about, no worries, just keep your complaints relevant and in the context of a question so that it can be addressed in a productive manner
• Use propping to acknowledge good (or not so good) questions and bump them up or down to where they belong
Other time zones:
• 1:00 PM EST (New York)
• 5:00 PM GMT (London)
• 6:00 PM CET (Paris)
• 7:00 PM SAST (Cape Town)
• 3:00 AM AEST (Sydney, Australia)
MENTIONS: @Maxxis /
@santacruzbicycles
What made you start to wear trousers all of a sudden?
You never seem to wear shorts anymore and your results have never quite been the same since.. maybe I'm just being superstitious!
Then it took an equal amount of time and badgering for them to make a dedicated mtb trouser (pant to the Americans) that would fit tall people.
P.s Good luck this season Greg, i'm hope you never leave the sport, you're an awesome ambassador
Cmon Greg, you can do this!
I´d be really interested to hear about this as well, without any external input.
You´ve been there long enough to see a lot of change, for better or worse. So what has been something you wanted to change in all that time and what was the biggest success/improvement?
It just had such an aura about it. A car/motorcycle manufacturer making a first time downhill bike. Non bike company suspension. The mystery of the box! I'd love to know what it was like being at the top of the program.
Thanks Greg. Have a fun 2019!
What are you interested in besides mountain biking? Is there something that worries or fascinates you? Who is Greg Minaar without a bike?
Best Regards!
What do you think about that?
Do you think the wheel size changes have had an influence on that?
Good luck this year, see you at Fort Bill !
What is your opinion on social media athletes? (YouTubers, instagramers)
Thanks,
Eric
PS. Good luck this season!
After many many years would you like to race the track in Todtnau once again?
PS: All the best for the new season
My question is why, considering the amazing locations that we have to offer, is downhill so far behind in SA? Right now it's an almost underground culture. Will PMB ever have another World Cup? Maybe another location in the Western Cape or even the Drakensberg might be ....epic!
Any tips to fight arm pump and having the right mindset for a race?
If not, which one would you like to try?
And if so, what are your honest thoughts on how it is different (better/worse) in any way to the V10 vpp layout?
I won’t tell Santa Cruz what you say don’t worry haha
If not, have you ever purposely done chainless runs to compare the suspension activity, and what we’re your thoughts?
You are on my DH Fantasy team this year and I am sure you won't disappoint me
I really like the Syndicate videos when you are working on setting up your bike to perfection. Can you really feel the difference?
Thanks,
Emma
Thanks !
Thank you
I’m 6’3 & on a trail bike with 485mm reach but don’t feel as comfortable doing whips, drifts & cutties as some of my bikes from 10 years ago with 440mm reaches. How do you decide on handlebar height? Are 35mm stems too short?
Maybe I’m just 10years older.......
Cheers,
Michael
PS: saw you win in 2012 in Leogang! That was awesome!
Greg for President!!!
Also, what was the worst injury you've had to recover from?
Are there any plans to get the Syndicate together in Bromont? We have a friendly DH series that runs Until September, it would be fun to get some pro's back and show us how it's done!
The ''Pierres-a-feu'' are missing the action, and so are we!
Not really a question just something I thought you might like to know If you have any more info on it or if you won the x4 championship that year would be really cool to know =) www.pinkbike.com/photo/9050989
so stoked to have you here! What are you expectations for the upcoming season? Do you feel strong enough to fight for the overall? I hope so and wishing you all the best!
See you in Maribor!
Cheers
Pawel
How sensitive are you to changes in tire pressure? For example could you feel a difference of 1.5psi or is that splitting hairs?
How particular are you about tire pressures?
Little nagging voice in your head?
Wishing you all the best this season Greg!
also, who parties harder, Peaty or Josh?
What do you think about the original Durango, CO World Cup being rebuilt and possibly raced again in the future?
Still cherish those days years ago getting to ride with you a bunch! Rooting for you and hoping this is your best season yet! Keep killing it and being the role model and inspiration you are to myself and everyone else
You're a great ambassador! All the best, Martin
Do you hate the bike industry for making you wait until 2018 to finally get a bike of the good size ?
YOLO BRO!
hope you well , having you being training quite a bit this year ?, or is the PMB dh race your first ride on DH bike , next to FOX testing ?
Do you see yourself racing another 5-10 years?
thanks for answering all these btw.
3
- Honda
- First 29" V10
- Something else..?
Would you be interested in competing and representing South Africa in the Winter Olympics?
If you had to choose one.
How many years do you have left in DH? DO you see yourself switching to Enduro?
Thanks and good luck this season.
Best of luck this year!!!! See you and the circus in Snowshoe.
if you could choose, pro surfer or pro mountain biker, your career or Kelly Slater‘s?
Cheers
Taking your Santa Cruz head off, which other teams bike / bikes would you like to ride on a WCDH course?
Big fan of yours, but prefer Steve Peat of course coming from England.
How did Ramsgill, Pately Bridge compare to the world cup tracks you rode later in your amazing career?
Serious question.
Do you think you would have accomplished more in life if you hadn’t had to waste so much time writing and extra N an A in your name every time?
#GOOAAT!!!
All the best for the season!!!