squawker

Update on the pedal strike. There is a small pothole in that corner. I think that’s what caused him to break traction

Yeah, used to ride with those guys. I was into inline DH, was one of the few US riders who didn’t use a heel brake. I would throw slides going into the turn. In-line grips more, skateboards have higher top speed and look cooler. Those guys were great to skate with. When I stopped doing inline DH, I got heavy into road biking, and that was my road. I’d see Louis, James, and the gang up there on Sundays and would race them down.

@Snowytrail: Might have happened. We didn’t have anything on this side of the hill. I’m one ridge over off old T

Louis Pilloni and James Kelly. That’s a classic. They also did a cool vid on mt baldy, “about dem purps” or something

@jaame: the video doesn’t start at the top of Tuna, so hard to be exact. It’s a fast run because they’re both great defenders and both have a lot of power, but Pidcock’s line isn’t perfect. Sara’s is, and there is easily 5 seconds just in the line, and they also complained of thick air, uphill flow. That’s another 10+ seconds. An offshore flow day makes a huge difference in time. Also, the air pressure/temp/moisture combo really changes your tires. I thought the pedal strike was more like a quick slid/grip. Having ridden that turn 100s of times, the road surface needs to be optimal too, and can make a 5s difference between mediocre grip and max grip. Some days on that road are magical, some suck. It’s at its worst grip-wise when the fog layer kicks in. As you pop into the fog, all of a sudden you’re on ice. The pavement is weird too. The asphalt chunks are pretty big and there is a fair amount of void. When it’s really hot, the oils pool up and it gets greasy.

The cool thing about DH skateboarding is how they can shape the deceleration. They can use the turn to slow down. In-line DH can do the same thing. Street luge can’t but buttboard can. Gravity bike can’t. This totally changes the line choice, where to begin braking, where to turn in. Notice how wide he is at 2:37. I used to ride my road bike down that with those guys, and the road bike advantage is take a late braking inside line, get around the corner quick to get back on the pedals. Vs. a skateboarder, road biker can pick up 3+ seconds right there. 23s and 100 psi front, 110 rear doesn’t drift but they do brake well if you keep the rear near-ish the ground