Gravity Lab DH / DS series.

[dave t]

I dropped in to GL yesterday to talk to Jason about the Buck Hill series and he is in the planning stages. He is talking to Buck Hill management about the possibilities for running the DH on other parts of the hill for a race with less XC and more DH but shorter times. We tossed around some ideas that could be really cool and he knows a line that could have nice floaty air and maybe even some drops.
If you have ideas of what the GL races should be, let him know what you would like to see.
I'm sure he could use some help with ideas and layout. Give him a shout and tell him what the course needs.

The series is most likely going to happen but without input and maybe some help, it might just be on the same courses as before.

[Buck]

Please PM me, I'd love to walk said area or heck might be better if a local does it, get a hold of Pete Kosk, I bet he'd like to help!
L8R
Buck

[minnesota_freerider]

I'm not too familiar with the hill, but i'm sure that they can find a new place to hold the dh race because that course was somewhat lame for a dh race. I'll definately come up and help if I can get off work.

[JBergland]

I dropped in to GL yesterday to talk to Jason about the Buck Hill series and he is in the planning stages. He is talking to Buck Hill management about the possibilities for running the DH on other parts of the hill for a race with less XC and more DH but shorter times. We tossed around some ideas that could be really cool and he knows a line that could have nice floaty air and maybe even some drops.
If you have ideas of what the GL races should be, let him know what you would like to see.
I'm sure he could use some help with ideas and layout. Give him a shout and tell him what the course needs.

The series is most likely going to happen but without input and maybe some help, it might just be on the same courses as before.


I'm sure Jason/GL would really appreciate two things:

* Some help in the planning/course design and hands-on help the day of the event.
* Word of mouth about the event. This series needs MORE participants in order to continue... 30-35 isn't going to cut it!!:( Let Jason/GL know that you'd like the series to happen and that you plan to race... plus you'll bring 5 buddies with you!!:)

JBergland

[manual63]

I would be into helping with course design. I also think getting Pete Kosk involved would be a good idea.......he seems to really want to get involved in helping, so let's get him involved.

I would be curious to hear what Buck will allow. Those silly wooden jumps that I had modified last fall to have a trasition on them won't cut it.

[dave t]

I plan to stop in again today to see if he has any news from Buck Hill.

I will do what I can to help the series happen. Jason was thinking July so there is enough time. I don't want to say what we thought of until he gets the go ahead from BH but I think everyone will be pretty stoked if it works out.

[Buck]

I'm sure Jason/GL would really appreciate two things:

* Some help in the planning/course design and hands-on help the day of the event.
* Word of mouth about the event. This series needs MORE participants in order to continue... 30-35 isn't going to cut it!!:( Let Jason/GL know that you'd like the series to happen and that you plan to race... plus you'll bring 5 buddies with you!!:)

JBergland

Get connected with FR/DH community, I run a E-mail list that numbers around 50...if GL wants to use it, they should contact me with the info to send out.

L8R
Buck

[dave t]

I talked to Jason again today and we are going out there next week if it drys out a bit. I will post a heads up when I find out exactly when.

They want to see the planned route before giving the go ahead. They have erosion issues out there too. Seems the grass is the only thing holding that big sand pile up.

Shad, since you have been to the trail school and have the jump building skills and worked on the trail at Steeple, I know you would be a big help.

[McConket]

I am up for helping out. Let me know when and I will try to be there.

About the wedges that were used at the MORC party last fall. They weren't made by Gravity Labs. They were Buck Hill's and they said we could use them. The last day of the race we pulled them on to the hill to add at least a little something. They may not be smooth but it was fun to have on the grass DS we had. We put them back to back and the fastest way to take them was to hope over the first one and land on down side of the second one. We didn't have time to modify them so we did what we could. We spent more time trying to clean up the DH part. Well as much DH as we had last year. That and we had to bring Jed to the ER after the road gap!!!!!!

[dave t]

Hey Tracy

I will let you know as soon as I can. Right now is just routing. Jason wants to set a course and then keep it mowed so the race doesn't end up running through a bunch of fresh straw. He has a route in mind and I was throwing ideas in but it all depends on where it all falls on the slope.

[Beau]

[QUOTE=JBergland* Word of mouth about the event. This series needs MORE participants in order to continue... 30-35 isn't going to cut it!!
JBergland[/QUOTE]

Well you see, a lot of people know about it. Problem is, just because you go downhill, doesn't make it a DH course. If I can complete the course faster on my hardtail, or BMX cruiser, then it's not DH IMO (and most of the people I know). Mankato had something similar, and a cross country dude with his seat skyhigh won.

If they make the course more technical, and not on existing XC trails. I'd ride it. But as of now, it's more for the off-roadies to play with.

[dave t]

If they make the course more technical, and not on existing XC trails. I'd ride it. But as of now, it's more for the off-roadies to play with.

That the idea!! The plan is to re route the course down the south end with some possible drops, maybe a few other surprises and to keep any up hill required to connect sections limited to short stretches that don't take a bunch of pedaling.

It is still Buck Hill so don't expect a 2 minute, no pedaling run, but we want to take away the handicap for the 40lb bikes.

[Beau]

Cool :cool:

Just so you know, last years White Knuckle race was an average of about a minute twenty, with the fastest guy stopping the clock at a minute eight, and that was a VERY fun course and was really technical. There was still a small section to pedal, but it was through tight singletrack and still went slightly downward.

I think with enough motivation, Minnesota could have a cool little mini DH series with all these locations popping up.

[Stupordave]

That the idea!! The plan is to re route the course down the south end with some possible drops, maybe a few other surprises and to keep any up hill required to connect sections limited to short stretches that don't take a bunch of pedaling.

It is still Buck Hill so don't expect a 2 minute, no pedaling run, but we want to take away the handicap for the 40lb bikes.

Totally agree. It's not worth dragging out my 42lb bike and racing a course that is best suited to an xc rig. I image it's not that exciting to watch either. It needs to have a few sections that suck the boys into your gut (or butterflies for you ladies) and give the rider an advantage for cleaning the section. Here's a shot from a friend of mine of the Massanutten race in VA this last weekend. Beginners, sport, Expert and Pro all race the same course. About million baby head rocks all the way down. I know the terrain is not the same but I'm sure there's something on the hill that would work. I'm willing to help plan/build and of course race.

http://home.comcast.net/~daivan/Rob_at_Massunutten.jpg

[pitts]

I would bevery interested in helping out, would there be a newbie course for people like me that cant afford/have a full on DH bike(i have a warp :banana: ) s, could you be able to use a trail bike on there? livning in MN theres no need for me to have a DH bike being 14 year old and poor thus, my warp...yeah, i huck that frame, and it still works. but neverthe less i want to help out with the DH run

[dave t]

It's good that there are riders who want to pitch in. One way that would be a big help is to give Gravity Lab a call and let them know you are interested in the race. Even if you only want to ride because if they see interest from us, there will be more interest from them. Better yet stop in, tell them you want the race to happen. They have some pretty nice bikes in there to check out too.

The race is at Buck Hill so I can't imagine we will find anything to limit what type of bike you ride. We want to drop some of the longer pedaling sections to help out the big bikes a bit.

[Beau]

I would bevery interested in helping out, would there be a newbie course for people like me that cant afford/have a full on DH bike(i have a warp :banana: ) s, could you be able to use a trail bike on there? livning in MN theres no need for me to have a DH bike being 14 year old and poor thus, my warp...yeah, i huck that frame, and it still works. but neverthe less i want to help out with the DH run

Like the post before yours says, everyone rides the same course. You dont NEED a DH bike to race, but it sure helps on courses with rough stuff. If there's a beginner class, then you will probably be up against people of the same ability (unless there are sandbagger's racing :eyeroll: ) You have to start out somewhere. If you can rock a course on a Warp, imagine how good you would be on a nicer bike.
Oh and...........

.......IT'S NOT THE BIKE, IT'S THE RIDER THAT COUNTS.....

.....I have seen plenty of riders with all the gear and a $10,000+ bike get waxed by some little punk kid on a $500 beater hardtail. It's the same as any wheeled sport, the rider/driver counts more than your bike/horspower.

[Beau]

How 'bout we just bring this to them. I'll e-mail a link to them.

[manual63]

.......IT'S NOT THE BIKE, IT'S THE RIDER THAT COUNTS.....



Hmmm....somebody around here finially figured that out?

:):p

[pitts]

trust me i know that, i rode technical DH at vail last summer on my schwiinn from target with -3 inches of travel.....hurts......

[Stupordave]

Like the post before yours says, everyone rides the same course. You dont NEED a DH bike to race, but it sure helps on courses with rough stuff. If there's a beginner class, then you will probably be up against people of the same ability (unless there are sandbagger's racing :eyeroll: ) You have to start out somewhere. If you can rock a course on a Warp, imagine how good you would be on a nicer bike.
Oh and...........

.......IT'S NOT THE BIKE, IT'S THE RIDER THAT COUNTS.....

.....I have seen plenty of riders with all the gear and a $10,000+ bike get waxed by some little punk kid on a $500 beater hardtail. It's the same as any wheeled sport, the rider/driver counts more than your bike/horspower.


Agreed...again. It's not the bike that counts. A good rider is good on anything. I've been smoked by several guys on steel hardtails and single crowns running a 24" on the rear. BUT. If you call it a dhill race, it should somewhat resemble a dhill race course. If it's an xc race on a hill, call it such. Not complaining. Just itching to pull out the big bike and blast down a fun techy course. I hope it works out. A mini dh series would be perfect around here with all of the ski hills in the area.

[Kosk]

minus 3 inches of travel..wow that's pretty bitch'n!!

Dave T, I got your email. I'd be down with helping dig stuff, time permitting. Weather is sucking this week and I'll be in Utah over memorial weekend. I've also got my hands pretty dirty with Adam helping out building the trail at Spirit for the Greenman, so I feel a personal commitment to make sure that trail turns out buff (it's gonna be kick-a!!). But I'll help out as much as I can, just holla.

[Buck]

Agreed...again. It's not the bike that counts. A good rider is good on anything. I've been smoked by several guys on steel hardtails and single crowns running a 24" on the rear. BUT. If you call it a dhill race, it should somewhat resemble a dhill race course. If it's an xc race on a hill, call it such. Not complaining. Just itching to pull out the big bike and blast down a fun techy course. I hope it works out. A mini dh series would be perfect around here with all of the ski hills in the area.
Make all the input a reality and start diggin'. ;) :cool:
L8R
Buck

[Buck]

minus 3 inches of travel..wow that's pretty bitch'n!!

Dave T, I got your email. I'd be down with helping dig stuff, time permitting. Weather is sucking this week and I'll be in Utah over memorial weekend. I've also got my hands pretty dirty with Adam helping out building the trail at Spirit for the Greenman, so I feel a personal commitment to make sure that trail turns out buff (it's gonna be kick-a!!). But I'll help out as much as I can, just holla.
what do you mean pretty dirty, you have helped to design and build an entire section and have made it to all trail days at Spirit. Now that is an amazing feet in its own right!!!
Thanks for all the help it is more then appreciated, I wish more people would step it up, lots of good things are happening for FR/DHers all over the state!!!
L8R
Buck

[pitts]

minus 3 inches of travel..wow that's pretty bitch'n!!
It was well worth it, vail is by far the GREATEST place ive biked so far.....moab on my schwwin was fun too, just them drops HURT!!!

[JSkater127]

I think i'm gonna give GL a call today to see what's really up. if they need help, I am available every saturday and sunday and every weekday after 2pm. anyone in the Twin Cities wanna help me give me a ring. I don't drive and i am not sure if there is a bus that goes out there. I'd be willing to start right now, so long as GL thinks its a good idea. if you wanna hook and build some shish. sent me a private message and i'll give you my number.

peace
james.

[dave t]

RIght now the plan is to lay out a planned course to have Buck hill approve. There wouldn't really be any work to do until Buck give the OK for the route.

Calling GL is a good idea though because the more interest they see, the more motivation they will have to keep moving on the series and the work involved to move from last years course.