2021 PRO thread

Questions about bike hire abroad and everything light bike related. No off-topic chat please

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BenSiskri
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by BenSiskri

CX shouldn't be just one type of course; I know lots of people define it by 'mud', but I think that's a mistake. A fast, dusty course is just as much CX as a muddy, snowy, hilly, etc course. A World Cup series should have courses that suit all types of riders.....that's what makes it good.

If it makes it to the Olympics, then a snowy course will be fine, and appropriate for the sport. As I said earlier, too many people are hung up about muddy field CX races.
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ms6073
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by ms6073

BenSiskri wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 3:13 pm
If it makes it to the Olympics, then a snowy course will be fine, and appropriate for the sport. As I said earlier, too many people are hung up about muddy field CX races.
Problem I see with trying to make CX an olympic sport is the timing. After the world championships there are not that many high level CX races on the calendar and by mid February, I would think many of the top tier racers have already switched training programs for road racing/spring classics.
- Michael
"People should stop expecting normal from me... seriously, we all know it's never going to happen"

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UpFromOne
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by UpFromOne

Another quote from Namur, by AJ August of the Euro Cross Academy (racing as a junior):

"The spectating scene at the race was nothing short of crazy. There was not a part of the course where there were spectators who were not shouting. The smoke from the chainsaws and cigarettes filled your lungs. It was amazing to see people who are so passionate about this sport even if they don’t compete in it themselves."

Exposing a rider to second-hand smoke is a poor lack of respect, but smoke from chainsaws? WTF?

Is CX then where that loony guy got the idea to run after Bernal with one?

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ms6073
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by ms6073

I was under the impression that the chainsaw phenominon originated at Redbull's gravity events and found it's way to other sports like cross-country skiing.
- Michael
"People should stop expecting normal from me... seriously, we all know it's never going to happen"

BenSiskri
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by BenSiskri

Chainsaws have been seen at MTB events for a while - with the chain removed.......(I did find it amusing that it left cycling commentators/journalists a bit nonplussed; they obviously pay no attention to other cycling disciplines)
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BenSiskri
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by BenSiskri

ms6073 wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 4:15 pm
BenSiskri wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 3:13 pm
If it makes it to the Olympics, then a snowy course will be fine, and appropriate for the sport. As I said earlier, too many people are hung up about muddy field CX races.
Problem I see with trying to make CX an olympic sport is the timing. After the world championships there are not that many high level CX races on the calendar and by mid February, I would think many of the top tier racers have already switched training programs for road racing/spring classics.

I think it's quite simple - do you want an Olympic Gold medal? A gold medal is worth ( or should be ) delaying any road training. And if they don't want to delay their road training, then hard luck.
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eins4eins
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by eins4eins

spectators with chain saws are a common thing in motocross for many years already, as they sound kind of similar to the two stroke bikes fans love. started in europe at the dutch and belgian tracks with their hardcore mx fan scene.
The venue at Namur also used to host one of the most famous world championship mx races with thousand of spectators. some probably also love CX.

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Karvalo
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by Karvalo

ms6073 wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 4:15 pm
BenSiskri wrote:
Mon Dec 20, 2021 3:13 pm
If it makes it to the Olympics, then a snowy course will be fine, and appropriate for the sport. As I said earlier, too many people are hung up about muddy field CX races.
Problem I see with trying to make CX an olympic sport is the timing. After the world championships there are not that many high level CX races on the calendar and by mid February, I would think many of the top tier racers have already switched training programs for road racing/spring classics.
No offense to any purists, but an Olympic medal is far bigger than the rest of the 'cross season put together. If the sport makes it to the Olympics, the calendar and the riders will adapt to fit it.

And apart from the big 3, most of the other major CX pros predominantly ride second or third tier events for second or third tier teams. Someone like Eli Iserbyt isn't going to forgo building his spring training around the Olympics because he needs to prepare for the Fleche du Sud instead.

BenSiskri
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by BenSiskri

Yes, agree. The CX specialists race until the end of February, and then take a break as the Superprestige & X20 series finish then. Everybody will just arrange their season differently every 4 years. Like the XCO riders do.
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OnTheRivet
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by OnTheRivet

eins4eins wrote:
Tue Dec 21, 2021 8:57 am
spectators with chain saws are a common thing in motocross for many years already, as they sound kind of similar to the two stroke bikes fans love. started in europe at the dutch and belgian tracks with their hardcore mx fan scene.
The venue at Namur also used to host one of the most famous world championship mx races with thousand of spectators. some probably also love CX.

Image

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Actually Chainsaws started in Downhill mountainbike racing in 2012ish. One of the most popular racers on the circuit at the time was Canadian Stevie "Chainsaw" Smith. His supporters started showing upo with actual chainsaws but that was stopped so they started bring just the 2 stroke engines. Steve passed away in 2016 but is still a popular figure in the downhill scene.

BenSiskri
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by BenSiskri

Yes, there's a film to be released about him....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WbOSQ- ... edBullBike
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by TobinHatesYou

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Kjetil
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by Kjetil

All fighter planes are grey, yes.
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robbosmans
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by robbosmans

It is pretty funny
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