Video: Raw Trackside Footage from British National Downhill at Hamsterley Forest by wideopenmag

29 Comments

23 0

commental (Jul 11, 2021 at 2:47)

For those who think the track is unnecessarily dangerous, remember the riders potentially have to get into an uplift truck driven by Danny's old man.

fatduke FL (Jul 11, 2021 at 8:30)

You mean when they actually bother having enough drivers?

13 4

matty-hatty (Jul 11, 2021 at 2:05)

I hope the organisers take constructive criticism - I think its fair to say a couple of those tree trunks should have been padded up...properly?
Buy some stuff designed for the job and follow UCI safety protocol, the sport is dangerous enough as it is.
having said that enjoyed the footage regardless.

5 28

kingdick FL (Jul 11, 2021 at 2:45) (Below Threshold)

Pussy !!!

7 18

betsie (Jul 11, 2021 at 3:56) (Below Threshold)

maybe you should volunteer to organise a race, tape a tack or look at all the dangers, buy the extra padding that warriors on PB ask for and go put it up on track, take it down afterwards too before your long drive home, you might want to race the race too just so you know every root and stump on track....

valleytroll (Jul 11, 2021 at 4:38)

@betsie: Gravity Events are a volunteer outfit?

10 2

dogboy1066 (Jul 11, 2021 at 5:25)

@kingdick: username checks out

betsie (Jul 11, 2021 at 7:51)

@valleytroll: is king-willy gravity events?

I volunteered for a while with the SDA, taped tracks, had the battle with the BC chief com over which lines we had to remove due to being potentially unsafe. I only stopped due to personal circumstances.

valleytroll (Jul 11, 2021 at 12:21)

@betsie: respect for that mate - anyone volunteering time into our sport, particularly to get races happening

THEATB (Jul 11, 2021 at 13:40)

The same UCI protocols that enabled a rider's bike (and rider RW sliding down the hill) to enter a crowded spectator area at the last World Cup? Do me a favor, they still use wooden stakes (those awful blue triangles that PFP took in the face), and stakes with metal spikes that are designed for electrified cattle fences.

betsie (Jul 11, 2021 at 14:15)

@THEATB: those electricity poles were banned in the UK a long time ago. New poles, like used in football were purchased.

TomasK (Jul 11, 2021 at 14:24)

@betsie: could you clarify what £90 entry fee covers then?

markcorrigan FL (Jul 11, 2021 at 23:08)

@TomasK: £90?! You’re kidding.

betsie (Jul 12, 2021 at 0:45)

@TomasK: as a start...
Tape
Poles (they get broken)
Marshall's
Skips
Portaloos, remember they are cleaned throughout the weekend too
Prize money
Maintenance of equipment
For a non SDA, timing equipment hire
Uplift
Medics
Hill hire

From memory, BC coms don't come out of the organisers pot.

You would be surprised how close some events get to making a loss, some make a loss and are covered by other events.

betsie (Jul 12, 2021 at 0:47)

BDS prises come from BC. The volunteers who race might get their entry back but it's a Friday and Sunday night job for them sometimes with long drives home. 7 hour drive home and finishing at around 1900 the other weekend then work on Monday morning! 2021... Understanding and empathy..

happychappy79 (Jul 12, 2021 at 2:19)

I think Malcolm the organiser done a great job putting on the event. With the support of BC. It seemed to work well.
Even the uplifts were efficient as they had drivers helping with the loading of the bike’s.

jamesrmilner (Jul 11, 2021 at 8:34)

The tracks at hamsterley are great but they are short, way too short to be running a National downhill race! Come on British Cycling, get it together man!

johnnyboy11000 (Jul 12, 2021 at 2:50)

Riding Hammers in the wet is a great reminder of you how shit you actually are on a bike, it's like a root farm

markbe (Jul 11, 2021 at 3:58)

getting the feeling its greaseyon that track???

RichieWa (Jul 11, 2021 at 11:03)

I got concussion just looking at that he'd vs tree crash

Jrtf (Jul 11, 2021 at 12:17)

So was 29 a fade or 27.5

trkymoore (Jul 13, 2021 at 1:26)

Gravity Events again? Nuff said - useless!

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