Today was a funny day of racing. As the day started, it looked like things were tipping one way, then as the day reached its climax, they went back the other way again. In the early running, series leaders Richie Rude and Cecile Ravanel both suffered mechanical woes that appeared to derail their plans. Yet, there is a difference between winners and champions and both showed why they are set to take the titles this year. Both exceeded their early misfortunes, put all their energy into the remaining stages, and won all three of them. That is what you call a champion's performance. Behind them, Jesse Melamed capitalized on a two years of promising stage results at his home race to hold onto the hot seat until he was knocked off by Rude in the race’s final moment. In third, Josh Carlson finally showed what he has hinted he was capable of when we saw him at the first ever round of the EWS in 2013. In the women's race, Isabeau Courdurier bagged her best ever result, and Casey Brown now has podiumed twice in just three EWS races. Once more, Whistler served up one of the most exciting races of the season.
Don't get me wrong, i'm sure he's still very "Lopes focused" but this might not have been an option.
Not a fanboi and not excited to be racing against him since this is my class, but reality is that Vet Pro doesn't exist. Knowing that where should an older pro race?
UCI World Cup (6 Wins)
UCI World Championship (4 wins)
I mean no disrespect to Mr. Lopes, but I'm not sure he should be racing in the same category as the rest of us average,amateur old guys. It just takes one guy to ruin the party for everyone. What's next? Are we going to see Nicolas Vouilloz and John Tomac on our start lists?!?! He's a factory sponsored PROFESSIONAL mountain biker. He won the Air DH 5 years in a row. I hope he stays in the elite category for that!
Take note, apparently riding in the bike park isn't actually even mountain biking.
At their shrediculous speeds do they often tear through casings even without pinch flatting? If so then I guess procore wouldn't help much? Or is the aversion the difficulty/time required to remove procore/add regular tube if you tear a casing?
I know you have to pedal that extra pound of rotating weight all day... but if it were flat-proof....
Getting OT now, but while we're talking procore are there any reports how it holds up if you get a thorn/goathead/etc through the tire? Does it puncture the inner chamber and leave you SOL?
Flats are a part of racing and there is going to be a high propensity when riders are blown out after racing 25-30 minute stages. Also people are obviously running their pressures too low if they are crushing carbon wheels. I also run low pressures for grip and am willing to accept the consequences which are cracked wheels sometimes. Anytime I have cracked a carbon wheel it would have absolutely crushed an aluminum rim.
But as you mentioned, you can still slice a casing & the Procore will not protect you from that (except maybe help you ride out).
And ya, the time required to remove the Procore & add a regular tube if you do get a failure might be an issue, it would be a bit of a faff.
On another note, I spy an alloy link on Blenkinsop's Norco, whats up with that i wonder?
Thanks!
...please?
An early start and these guys are tired? I think I read the race started at 11:30 am. Oh to be on the EWS!
Join Pinkbike Login