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these guys will do anything to reach the end ..92 - 94 hardtail downhilling
hilarious, i don't think it's much to do with the bikes, the riders are terrible!
i know! check out the lycra aswell ..fantastic
My eyes! Didn't they have mirrors back in the 90's?
the best bit of vid i have seen in ages. they took some hard knocks..
i like it how the crowd run for there lives when a rider is coming down the first section ....then they just laugh when a rider comes off ...classic
Some pretty heavy crashes. I like it.
The next person who says bike geometry/tyres/brakes/fashion were better in the 90s...can we force them to sit and watch that!
The next person who says bike geometry/tyres/brakes/fashion were better in the 90s...can we force them to sit and watch that!
Genius. What a Brilliant vid. Not laughed as much in ages!
Those of us that were really there remember how shit we looked. My particular favourite of the time was denim-print lycra shorts matched to a baggy t-shirt. Clashed nicely with my Orange Clockwork.
Man, that brings back some memories 🙂 The fluro somehow looked right back then ... to a 12 year old kid who couldn't afford any of it anyway.
What on earth were they all falling off on??!
Made me laugh very hard 😀
Everybody seemed to struggle with that fast straight.
didnt they even think to drop the seatpost a tad
What on earth were they all falling off on??!
Well, aside from a basic lack of skills in some, these are the days of doing everything on XC bikes, with the seatpost right up, rubbish brakes, 16" wide bars, foot long stems, 1.5" tyres pumped up to 60psi to stop them pinching, on rigid bikes (or if you had a lot of cash, short travel super flexy suspension forks that were worse than pogo sticks) ... and a healthy overdose of overeagerness when racing 🙂
Those of us that were really there remember how shit we looked.
Bula hats for slalom markers, isn't it? Wasn't it?
A great laugh and those riders were tough as nails
Amazing! 😀
The ease of which some of those wheels folded was shocking.
Also loved the guy at about 2:30 who got up from a crash to find his handlebars a touch wonkey. 😆
Brilliant!
Some of those crashes seemed physically impossible, the bikes flew for miles in some instances!
And how hardcore are some of those riders, those were some hefty, high speed hits they were taking and most just jumped up and wobbled away again.
Loved the guy who wrestled his way out of the tape only to then notice the tacoed front wheel.
My fave is the guy at 4:50, who seems to have snapped his handlebars. Possibly when the bike fell on his head, either the first or the second time... He still got up and tried to ride away! Mental.
Seems only like yesterday 🙁
Brilliant!
Some good Euro techno, quality outfits, first class strops, remorseless crowd, mega crashes.
My personal favourite is the turquoise bloke at 1:05 who is hanging on all the way down the straight - only ever one outcome...
Thanks for posting this.
Christ, just how crap were the tyres back then?
I can't help but harbour a sneaking suspicion that if you put the vast majority of stw's on equivalent machinery today the results would't be overly dissimilar,I'm not saying that modern tecnology hides the fact that skill levels hav'nt changed mu.......oh yeah,I am saying that 😉
And thay wore less armour back then!
Rorschach +1
Hahaha too true, 8 inches of bounce and I've still seen people come off worse, on lesser terrain.
8)
The guy who got lost at the bottom of the hill, lmao.
Ace. I used to have an entire video of stuff like this, bought for me as a birthday present in 1994 or '95, I think. It was highly entertaining back then too. Might have to see if I can dig it out of the loft at my parents...
0.46 the guy over runs the course then throws his bike and a tantrum while the crowd laugh and his purple lycra's are quite a site 🙂
now that was funny! 🙂
Excellent vid.
Remember n00bs most of those bikes have less travel than a modern hardtail.
Those guys made what we ride today possible and put trail centre stormtroopers to shame.
SHAME ON YOU
Some pretty fast, on the edge riding there!
laugh! I nearly gave myself a hernia, I'm actually lost for words 😆
Just goes to show how effective sussers really are, coupled with hydros.
It looked like most of them were fully ridgid with cantis.most of those bikes have less travel than a modern hardtail.
Total respect.
Brilliant......love the fact it's a downhill yet half the riders still have bar ends on.
Harsh comments on the skill of the riders. Yeah some were mince, but there were some mentalists in there hammering it with zero travel and the stopping power of a cross channel ferry. I'm sure they would piss all over a lot of us on here with modern day kit.
love the fact it's a downhill yet half the riders still have bar ends on
Yes, and the saddle way up! My favourite is the guy who crashes through the tape and continues, trailling the tape like he's been attacked by a red and white snake. Closely followed by a guy going at warp speed on a bike with a disc wheel. A disc wheel!! Why!!??
That is truly a great video! Laughed so hard that a little bit of wee came out.
Some mincing but also some very very comitted riding, particularly the guy in the yellow fluro coming down the first steep / rutted section who was clearly waaaaaay faster than anyone else, only to overshoot the corner through the tape. He was really giving it death when you consider what those bikes were like to ride!
Also some of those slam downs on the set of steps were HARD
A disc wheel!! Why!!??
Here's why: [url= http://www.bikemagic.com/davids-blog/tomac-reunited/7904.html ]http://www.bikemagic.com/davids-blog/tomac-reunited/7904.html[/url]
Made me feel better about my lack of riding skill. And my dress sense.
The best video on here all year.
it's been said, but just dropping the seat by 6 inches would have done them the world of good
some of those guys had more balls that all of us put together. the guy at 4.20 is a freaking nutter, awesome vid
10/10
That was like me and my mates when we were 16-18! Same sort of crashes and everything. This was what we watched the hardcore of the time do
What a laugh!
I just rebuilt my 90s rigid and went for a ride round the block on it. I have absolutely no idea how I survived riding that thing off road, it's unbelievably awful. Yet still kind of brilliant...
People argue about who invented the mountain bike and when... As far as I can tell it still hadn't been invented in 1992.
my sides hurt, v funny indeed.
Zose krazy Chermans.
oh if i knew then what i know now. . . ... . .. . oh hang on i say that about girls too
I watched it and I didn't find it funny at all. As someone who has always preferred the gravity assisted part of riding I can assure you those guys were mainly pretty skilled. You really have to ride the bikes that were available then to realise that. I think that hill is a lot steeper than it looks, look at how the riders who crash can't help running down the slope as it's pretty steep.
Remember, there werent any downhill, slalom or jump bikes. No disc, v or even Magura hydraulic rim brakes. Toughest rim were mavic 281 (IIRC) which were just wider XC rims. Or you could use touring rims. Tyres were generally 1.95 in width. I used Ritchey Z Max tyres when they came out in a 2.1 size. Spesh did a 2.5" Ground Control Extreme tyre but they were pretty rare and they wouldn't fit in the chainstays of most bikes anyway. Quill stems,'single stem bolts, 25.4mm seatposts, 28/38/48 and 12-28 7sp cassettes. Brakes were the worst, I saved up for some black XT2 cantilevers and some Scott Matthauser blocks, which took 2 hours to set up with impossibly low straddle cables and close to the rim blocks.
Suspension? Forget it. Bikes were generally made stiff stiff stiff! Even wen suspension came out it was terrible. I had some UK made Shocktech forks with 50mm of elastomer travel. Elastomers crumbled into dust, no damping. I did the dual slalom at the Malverns Fat Tyre Festival on a fully rigid bike with flat BMX pedals and Vans Old School trainers on. I don't remember anyone else using anything other than SPD's!!
Also remember the downhill courses still had a lot of pedalling in them, so you needed your seat up.
It was genuinely very very scary. I dont get as scared nowadays, it's all so much easier I suppose. I can guarantee that pretty much anyone who has taken the mick out of that video has no idea what it was like and probably wouldn't even be close to some of those guys if on a similar bike.
I'm laughing & I've been there & raced DH on those bikes. I was the last guy at the local races still on a rigid bike, though I pulled the barends off & raised the stem to the limit line. Didn't help much, but I was never DFL.
Smart.
Fair play to the riders - some of those stacks hurt.
Plus ,the straight was steep.
I don't think they pre rode the course either.bonkers.
Ta for the vid.
This one gets me.
I think the video makes the terrain look easier than it is - that straight descent is probably quite heavily rutted, which is pretty scary at speed on a rigid.
As for the clothing, don't forget that in '92 people were wearing cycle shorts as casual clothing 😯
Fantastic!
Watching that I've realised that my riding technique is still firmly set in 1992 🙂
I have belly laughed in the office and now my boss is not happy with me....but showed him the vid and he said he would fire me if I wore stuff like this today!!
Awesum vid......absolutely insanse reminds me of long summer days on my Raleigh Apex fluro green onza barends and saddle all the way up.....and a Girven Flex stem for suspension....I thought I was the nuts!!
Loved every second - hilarious!
Also reminds me that I too wore purple lycra and did a few downhills on a steel Hard Tail with "big travel" forks (about 50mm) and the latest "V" brakes.
(I fell off too.)
I watched it and I didn't find it funny at all. As someone who has always preferred the gravity assisted part of riding I can assure you those guys were mainly pretty skilled. You really have to ride the bikes that were available then to realise that. I think that hill is a lot steeper than it looks, look at how the riders who crash can't help running down the slope as it's pretty steep.Remember, there werent any downhill, slalom or jump bikes. No disc, v or even Magura hydraulic rim brakes. Toughest rim were mavic 281 (IIRC) which were just wider XC rims. Or you could use touring rims. Tyres were generally 1.95 in width. I used Ritchey Z Max tyres when they came out in a 2.1 size. Spesh did a 2.5" Ground Control Extreme tyre but they were pretty rare and they wouldn't fit in the chainstays of most bikes anyway. Quill stems,'single stem bolts, 25.4mm seatposts, 28/38/48 and 12-28 7sp cassettes. Brakes were the worst, I saved up for some black XT2 cantilevers and some Scott Matthauser blocks, which took 2 hours to set up with impossibly low straddle cables and close to the rim blocks.
Suspension? Forget it. Bikes were generally made stiff stiff stiff! Even wen suspension came out it was terrible. I had some UK made Shocktech forks with 50mm of elastomer travel. Elastomers crumbled into dust, no damping. I did the dual slalom at the Malverns Fat Tyre Festival on a fully rigid bike with flat BMX pedals and Vans Old School trainers on. I don't remember anyone else using anything other than SPD's!!Also remember the downhill courses still had a lot of pedalling in them, so you needed your seat up.
It was genuinely very very scary. I dont get as scared nowadays, it's all so much easier I suppose. I can guarantee that pretty much anyone who has taken the mick out of that video has no idea what it was like and probably wouldn't even be close to some of those guys if on a similar bike.
And here Rob in 1993.... 😈
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/4832989081_3578a5ca8a_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter_atkin/4832989081/ ]GT3[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/peter_atkin/ ]PeterPoddy[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/4832989359_49fb7aea96_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter_atkin/4832989359/ ]GT4[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/peter_atkin/ ]PeterPoddy[/url], on Flickr
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/4833597140_f2c1792576_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter_atkin/4833597140/ ]GT2[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/peter_atkin/ ]PeterPoddy[/url], on Flickr
Are those my Kona Equilibrium & Propulsion tyres you've nicked there?? 😉
This one gets me.
haha, that one's good. So many faceplants.
GT2 by PeterPoddy, on FlickrAre those my Kona Equilibrium & Propulsion tyres you've nicked there??
How is that last one not a pinch flat!?
Hob Nob - MemberThis one gets me.
Looks like they're having a right laugh 😆
I am so glad I wasn't into riding then. It's like someone tipped a cyclocross race onto a hefty angle.
Great stuff. I think that is pretty steep just by the way people are walking/jogging down in that tiny step way you do when its steep. Good to see some white onza porcupines!
I guess a lot of people here have never ridden a rigid bike, never mind a rigid bike with 19" bars, 15cm stem, high saddle and canti brakes. What year did Steve Peat win the downhill on a rigid Kona, must be 93 or 94?
robdob- don't forget the Panaracer Dart SC 2.2 - one of the first big tires. It was damn good too, well, better than a Smoke.
God I'm old.
How is that last one not a pinch flat!?
Very tough (And heavy) tyres those old Kona ones. Blackwall too, when everyone else had skinwall. I was using Spesh Ground Controls at the time becasue they were lighter. Campag rims, too!
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/4833596644_4e01ebaf9a.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter_atkin/4833596644/ ]Kona4[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/peter_atkin/ ]PeterPoddy[/url], on Flickr
My bike...
[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/4832985861_ff1b559593_z.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter_atkin/4832985861/ ]Kona1[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/peter_atkin/ ]PeterPoddy[/url], on Flickr
🙂
no pedals either in those days PP - you woz nailz.
lol, goes to show some people clearly have no idea what bikes were like back then! That long straight though heavily rutted downhill is a lot steeper than you think - BIG respect to all the riders for having the balls to ride it at speed - the brakes back then were shocking! BIG respect also for bouncing off stuff and jumping up and getting back on the bike only to find a bit of bike bent - those impacts were big!
seriously, riding steep angled frames, 130+mm stems, 20" bars with bar ends (because that was the way) with seats up (because that also was the way, and even DH races had flatish pedally bits), 1.9" tyres pumped up HARD, 'suspension' being at best 30-40mm of rubber bungs and only really at the front... with even the best brakes at the time giving you arm pump just from one corner is not easy!
[b]Those riders have WAY more skills than most of todays 5" fulls sus riding wanna-be's. [/b]
Amazing video, thanks for posting, LOL quite hard. 😛
needed cheering up this morning - thanks for posting the video. 😀
I would find it highly amusing to put a 'typical' modern day mtber, who has only ever ridden with suspension and disc brakes, on groomed trail centre trails, on an early 90's bike, and see how they get on.
What I find quite worrying is that I seem to ride like these people with suspension, disk brakes and a short stem 🙁
I have to say I don't think the riders were any better than today's, possibly a bit harder, you just got on with the bikes as they were the best available at the time and you knew no different.
5min 18secs in there's someone riding a flouro green and black marin...my first 'proper' mountain bike, being abused in much the same way mine was (fashion and riding wise)
...with much the same outcome 😀
Fab vid!
Hilarious on all counts; couture, crashes and some of the riders' hissy fits 😀
Minds are willing - bike technology isn't 😉 Never seen so many buckled wheels!
I watched it and I didn't find it funny at all.
Chill out ... nobody is saying that they dont have skills, just that its funny ( in a morbid way ). Whats wrong with looking back and having a laugh about how it used to be. Its pretty clear that the ground itself is extremely loose dust and dirt ... I dont think modern bikes would fare much better in those conditions to be honest.
Fair play to the riders that jumped back up. They were good spills at speed.
such a great vid! love it, minimal padding, maximum balls out style!
lovin the lycra colours too!!
That takes me back!!
My first DH race I had suspension.....a 130mm(long) flex stem!!!
I think i still have it somewhere..if anyone would like to recreate the event I could organise a hill, strictly retro bikes??
Bangin on
I think i still have it somewhere..if anyone would like to recreate the event I could organise a hill, strictly retro bikes??
If you do that......surely clothing must be pre 1995...maybe updated helmets!
I will record it and retire on the winnings of my multiple entries sent to You Been Framed???? 😆
I still have spotted orange shirts and shorts of the period too. What say we set a date?
I could lay my hands on a courier comp, an Orange Prestige and very early P7 so this could be a goer
I think I still have my 1992 Limar helmet, with fluoro mint sauce stickers somewhere. Ironically, with pisspots back in, it probably doesn't look as bad as it did. Still got my 'moab sunrise' Giro Hammerhead SC somewhere too!
Anyone got Tomac style drop bars and Tioga disc going on still?!
I have a 1992 Kona Cindercone 🙂
hahah what a cracking video, were bikes really that shite back in the 90's? admittedly i woudlnt want to fly down there on a fully rigid bike at speed, but if these guys were pro's in the day surely they should have been better riders 😆 again it may just be a fun event, but some of them look too serious to be just doing it for fun...