Ahhhh, Cairns. We return to you with trepidation. Not without good reason. Last time we visited you, we lost many a piece of camera gear to your monsoonal rains. We were scared to death of everything that lurked in the thick vegetation of your jungles. Even the plants themselves. The Wait Awhile Vines and Stinging Trees had us thoroughly inspecting every step we took, every possible hand hold as we slid our way down the track.
This time around, Cairns has been playing nice. The skies have been clear for the most part, and the temps have been warm. Well, hot and humid. Given this, we expect to see more of Australia's deadly wildlife this time around. We may have taken the first couple days cautiously looking for it. So far, we haven't had any luck in that department. Be we have laid eyes and feet on the track, and that's what we are here to tell you about.
It would seem that the big difference this year is the lack of wet. That difference is huge. It made this track a rather tough bugger two years ago. Riders were fighting to keep upright in the thick mud. The rocks were almost like ice. Without that element, the track seems perhaps a bit tame compared to last time. Sure there are a couple full blown gnarly sections on the track, but precision will be what takes this race.
I see (sometimes literally) sh*t on the trail and while I'm not going to clean up after someone's dog I will pick up a discarded powerbar wrapper and pack it out.
I know my local riding spot always has bottles and sh*t left lying around because someone probably got back to the car and forgot to pick up their rubbish and most of the time they couldn't be bothered to go back down and pick it up.
I guess what I what to say is Everyone should be making sure they take their junk home with them no matter what it is or how far they need to go to get it and the UCI being the 'govening body of the mountain bike community' needs to be seen to take the lead in this.
Nuff said.
Thanks for the lol on this one www.pinkbike.com/photo/13190964
I guess you're selective about when it's OK to leave litter in nature haha.
www.pinkbike.com/news/the-bakery-are-trolls-eroding-our-culture-2016.html
It's sad that a preview piece for a WC that people worked extremely hard on gets slammed in the comments about a piece of trash on the ground. Seriously????? Is that how desperate the keyboard warriors are to "call someone out" today? Despite their love of their own trash filled tree back home.... because yeah thats ok haha.
as a team everyone at these events should play thier part and keep the places tidy and not just leave the mess for the UCI and everyone else. We (the crowds) would be the first to loose out if there werent the races or any facilities to ride at.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=amY7JLRgYwg
can't believe it hasn't been posted yet.
hammered, flops, whoops, stolen bike, aussie tough
Do they even have jeeps down there?
Can we get that Claudio/Troy course preview please?
ask and you shall receive!
Cheers,
Dark stuff agent torero,dark stuff indeed.
I don't buy the competition being stronger etc either...... Women vs women and men vs men, it's as fair and equal as it gets.
Sat and Sun Australia time, but Live our time is the night before.
I was wrong and owl-x had it right - from redbull.tv site:
Downhill Finals
Friday, April 22nd – 9:30PM PDT
I Wouldn't risk any injury...
www.pinkbike.com/news/ridiculous-spectator-takes-world-cup-bike-and-crashes-hard.html
Gwin is still the man to beat.