Downieville Classic 2008

[mottmcfly]

I know there have been a few threads discussing this but have never found exactly what I was looking for.

I'm planning on doing the 17 mile DH and was wondering what it's like from the perspective of someone who has done it.

My only real DH experience even coming close was the Nationals at Mammoth. Other than that I have only done DH runs competitively that were between 2 and 10 minutes long. I realize there is some climbing involved and I'm ready for that but this is new territory for me and I'd like to be prepared.

Thanks in advance to any advice on where and how to train for this.

Mott

[1080P]

Mechmann, I think the SuperShuttle Freeride, with it's 7" up front and 6.5" in the rear, with a 33 pound weight in a medium, like Kanga raced at Keyesville in all 3 events, would be a good compromise, the next time you demo a Bionicon.

I don't think Bionicon is sponsoring Downieville this year, so they won't be there with their demo booth this time.

What would be your preference for Downieville for a fast rolling, light, aggressive tread tire? I will most likely being going up to ride, not to race.

[allison]

What kind of bike(s) do you have available for the race?

I haven't done the race (you'll probably have search MTBR for that), but I have ridden some of the trails. They are definitely AM-ish.

Do you know what the course is?

[kanga]

I raced the expert all-mountain last year and took a 13th place. I was a last-minute substitute for one of the team riders who had a car accident and couldn't make it. I had two days notice!

The DH course is demanding. At a non-stop race pace, with one crash and a minor mechanical (chain suck) on my Edison I did it right around an hour. I also had the worst cramps I've ever had in my life and had to stop twice to stretch those out. The DH was the day after the XC, which includes al the DH course except Pauley Creek section, about 2 miles of baby head rocks. It is a very, very demanding course. Pro times were in the 40 minute range, but Jason Moeschler lives and trains there.

While there are a lot of rocky sections, for pleasure the advice has been good... slightly fatter tires and better rolling. I rode 2.4 mutanoraptors, the same tires I did the Keyesville race on, and light for the size.

I'd also highly suggest tubeless. The number of flats on the trail was staggering during the race, and all the top finishers were tubeless.

The XC course you do the majority of the climb up a long, very steep fire road cruise over the top and then hammer down the fire road a short way, hit Pauley Creek baby head section, then the remainder of the DH course.

It was an eye opener for me, and since I had no prep time, I was very happy to finish. It really opened my eyes to watching electrolytes, which I rarely pay close attention to on my normal long rides. The non stop effort is a different animal to train for. It's also at elevation, so prepare for that as well.

This year, if I go, I won't do a six-hour ride on the Friday before the event as well....

[mottmcfly]

Originally Posted by allison

What kind of bike(s) do you have available for the race?

I haven't done the race (you'll probably have search MTBR for that), but I have ridden some of the trails. They are definitely AM-ish.

Do you know what the course is?

I'll be using an RFX. 6.5 travel and a little over 30lbs.

[allison]

Originally Posted by mottmcfly

I'll be using an RFX. 6.5 travel and a little over 30lbs.

I think you'll be very happy with that!

[mottmcfly]

Thanks to everyone who responded. Your answers were exactly what I was looking for.

[1080P]

I've spent 2 weeks on the MutanoRaptor on the rear of my bike. You can check the stats on Motion Based with my Mount Wilson Ride being the first time on a new set of rims and the Mutanos, about 110 miles and 8 rides worth. They are light, I think 580 grams for a 2.35 or 2.4. Volume is good, they are tall. I'd run Slime in my tubes for that race. They roll fast, very fast, even my insensitive legs can feel them. They have a ridge in the center that is good and fast rolling on fireroads and pavement. They climb pretty good, but they have a certain skittishnish on loose over hardpack in the rear on the downhill. They work great and are predictable on hard pack when at the limit on turns. I can live with that. I would think they are a high silica compound, low rolling resistance tire, which means that if it's wet in the creek bottoms, they are super slippery on the rocks until the tread dries out. They do not grip anywhere as well as my Fat Alberts down in the creek at El Prieto. They do not have sidewall puncture protection, so that is something to keep in mind.

I like my Mutano Raptor on the rear for fire road climbs and medium nasty singletrack, but if it gets rocky, or you ride on or around the sharp edged rocks, I'd go with a tire with a little more protection in the sidewalls. If it is rainy or wet on or before race day... I'd run with something else. They grab much better if you air them down, but then you risk a pinch flat on them. Maybe ghetto tubeless with Stans on race day? There is no way I'd run them on Middle Merril, you risk slicing the sidewalls too much.

BTW, these were on sale at Performance in Pasadena for the 26 x 2.35 for $21.99 recently. I'd try a pair, see how you like them, maybe run one in the rear for a bit to see how it feels both locally and also at practice for the race, then save the tire for race days. That's what Kanga does.

Training hard at up at Chilao, while kind of a drive from Pasadena, will give you what it takes to ride at the elevation of Downieville. 2 weeks of that acclimating right before the race should help. Or if you have the time, train for a week up at 8000 ft up at Mammoth Mtn the week before the race, to acclimate.

[1080P]

Originally Posted by mechmann

depends. if you are rolling 26" or 29"

on the 'Box i would roll the WBT Stout. better all around than a 29er Nevegal or it's close cousin the Rampage.

for 26" bikes, i would probably roll Nevegals, but would also consider the WTB Wierwolfs or something along those lines. for just playing and not racing, i would roll big fat meats (2.5") but for racing it would probably be best to minimize the weight and roll (2.35 or even 2.1")

i will admit, i am not such an expert on all the 26" tires as i am with 29ers...

I'm a Kanga Klone.... Bionicon Edison, he rides a Small at 125 #s and 2% body fat, I ride an XL 25.4" top tubed Edison at currently 215#'s, down from 255, dunno what my body fat level is, probably 12-15% and going down. The only time I've ever passed Kanga riding was when he bonked, or was stopped with a mechanical or a flat. (uber rare for that to happen to him) At my weight, I stress tires and brakes probably beyond or close to their design limits. It's going to be tough breaking out of Clydesdale status when you measure 6' 5".