[Closed] Are you a serp rider? morzine content.

you are teh awsumZ

You are awesome.

could this be the Mutzig talking ?

It is because you are a riding god.

..and what?

[img] [/img]

How did you do on the Champery WC DH track? Tough isnt it! So so steep. Would not like to race it! Did you do the final part after you get to the road? Theres a really nasty drop into the woods there. Must admit, I didnt make that - was end of day though 🙂

Is that two steering dampers on that Scott?

I used to take some of my clients down the serpentine, let me tell you, it's a great way for them to improve their skills, as using the berms to pump and increase your speed without the need for pedaling, I always ensure they wear full protective gear not only for the main reason of safety but also for one that is is very much over looked, 'confidence' this is the main key to building skills on the bike, and when your armoured up you feel confident...

I see the school holidays have started.

Obvious troll is etc these posts really are getting dull op.

SWOONS

i bet he posted mid air....

You lot bite too easy

You rode everything in Chatel?
What bike are you on?

So I can avoid you.

RealMan - where'd you get the pic of me on my communter?

This will probably be me next year :$

Hopefully only for a while though!

but, c'mon, serpentine is ace fun.

Did it on XC hardtails. Only 100mm up front too. Both Panoramique and Serpentine were fun.

It does piss me off why some people rag down Blue and Greens without any regard for small children, less experienced/confident yet when I potter down a Red/black they're pretty empty. Suits me but the wife gets pissed off so much that she tends to chase them down and undertake them on corners if they've been rude.
Nothing as satisfying as watching a small woman on a AM bike showing up the 'big boys'.

Serpentine is quality. Great warm up track.

OP is GW and I claim my five pounds.

Hmm- I tend to find my crashes are bigger and more painful on smoother bermy runs compared to super steep, gnarly natural ones. Reason for this is the speeds you can achieve are so much greater.

I like to ride on the edge whatever Im riding so crashes are inevitable (especially since my surname isn't Atherton) whether im doing 8mph down super techy rock garden or 20+ mph down dusty man made berms - but you're more likely to find me wearing a full face lid on the "easier" runs than the more technical ones.

On the topic of full face helmets.....
The only time iv ever been thankful of a chin guard was doing the blue run at Alpe d'Huez. The track is smooth and bermy so I was nailing it but lost it on a dusty berm - crash happened so quick my face was in the dirt before I even realized I was off the bike. Conversely crashing on gnarly technical stuff I find I always have time to put my hands up to protect my face - so don't bother with full face and often ride without pads at all.

I can't decide who's more awesome, Pussywillow or Surfmat. Pls advise.

I think it's also worth noting that these Stormtroopers may actually in fact ride other stuff as well as the Serp?

ndthornton - Member
Hmm- I tend to find my crashes are bigger and more painful on smoother bermy runs compared to super steep, gnarly natural ones. Reason for this is the speeds you can achieve are so much greater.

I like to ride on the edge whatever Im riding so crashes are inevitable (especially since my surname isn't Atherton) whether im doing 8mph down super techy rock garden or 20+ mph down dusty man made berms - but you're more likely to find me wearing a full face lid on the "easier" runs than the more technical ones.

On the topic of full face helmets.....
The only time iv ever been thankful of a chin guard was doing the blue run at Alpe d'Huez. The track is smooth and bermy so I was nailing it but lost it on a dusty berm - crash happened so quick my face was in the dirt before I even realized I was off the bike. Conversely crashing on gnarly technical stuff I find I always have time to put my hands up to protect my face - so don't bother with full face and often ride without pads at all.

Hmmm, perhaps your not riding the berms properly, also, if you have time to put your hands on your face when you fall off down steep technical terrain then I really don't think your going fast enough, many of my clients tell me I ride too fast over technical ground but in actual fact this will help you 'skim' over things much easier.
I'm thinking about doing some skills coaching soon, keep an eye out for my up coming thread where I'll give Singletrackers the chance to ride with me, thinking maybe a peaks pootle get together.

Serpentine is a nice run no matter what your skill level but you do have to respect the mixture of abilities you'll find on that sort of trail. It's not the kind of trail most people would do lots of laps of as It's quite long and the lift queues can be epic.

The way Chatel bike park is laid out gives you a lot of options for the second half of the hill, but a lot of the reds (and all of the blacks) on the top section of the park are quite challenging - if you're not on your game or you just want to preserve your arms/brakes/tyres it's not a bad idea to "poach" one of the easier trails, but respect it for what it is.

"Stormtrooper" is just a outfit - not a mindset. It's the kids in wife-beaters and neck braces you need to watch.

Northwind - Member
I can't decide who's more awesome, Pussywillow or Surfmat. Pls advise.

Definitely Pussywillow. I quite liked SurfMatt he did come across a bit full of himself but then so do [s]most[/s] all big hitters.

I use a simple theory.
If someone posts on stw, they can't ride for toffee.
And yes, me too. 😀
+1 for the pic if pussywillow. I'm out there next week and i'd like to be able to recognise pussywillow.
So i can avoid being knocked off by his awesumness...

I don't have a problem with people in armour and on big bikes riding the easier trails. It's more about the ones that are blasting down overtaking less experienced/confident people without any common decency. And don't get me started on the people who seem to wait around for ages at the start of a section and then decide to go just after the slower group starts so they can overtake them and feel all manly.
If I'm out with a less experienced group I'll often ride at the back as I'm not as easy to pass (due to size, elbows and sheer commitment to line, etc) just so they get to ride a trail in peace and progress without interference.

I've know of at least one person who gave up mountain biking and her main reason was it 'was full of macho bullshit boys acting like t##ts'.

The funniest people are the french dudes on major DH rigs, with loads of body armour and lycra shorts

The way i look at it is as long as everyone is having fun, who cares what people are riding, skill levels or excessive body armour

However, i always have a wry smile when i pass someone who is fully tooled up, yet mincing down the trail

Moreover, since playing on some of the black runs in Chatel last month in the wet - i have total respect for the boys on their big rigs with their utter commitment on some utterly insane trails 🙂

superfli - Member
How did you do on the Champery WC DH track? Tough isnt it! So so steep. Would not like to race it! Did you do the final part after you get to the road? Theres a really nasty drop into the woods there. Must admit, I didnt make that - was end of day though

POSTED 1 DAY AGO # REPORT-POST

Yeah was good man! Made it a bit harder cos it was pissing it down, certainly not the hardest thing I've rode down but was fun passing all the serps who had pushed in front of me at the top cos they were disillusioned cos I didn't have the neck brace or full face on, 😆

One of my best memories of morzine is racing mates down serpentine for a whole afternoon, skidding to cut inside on a berm only to get overtaken next corner. Proper fun. It's not all about gnar and speed.

And on the storm trooper thing, I suppose it depends on how many accidents and broken bones you've had. I don't want any more thank you

[url=

u're faster than me[/url]

Pics or STFU.

Yeah was good man! Made it a bit harder cos it was pissing it down, certainly not the hardest thing I've rode down but was fun passing all the serps who had pushed in front of me at the top cos they were disillusioned cos I didn't have the neck brace or full face on,

Think it was the toughest trail I've ever ridden, I fell off twice (same places as where Rob W said "wheres the fkg line?"!). We didnt see anyone on it as its a bit tucked away - especially the last section over the road, which the locals try to convince you isnt there.

if you have time to put your hands on your face when you fall off down steep technical terrain then I really don't think your going fast enough

Perhaps you're not going technical enough 😉

Wouldn't I be right in saying serpentine is the only route down to that double black with all the drops to berms who's name I forget..

Not sure which Black you mean, but there are 4 or 5 blacks running from the top of the Serpentine

been a while but just had to google the Serp... is that all he is going on about ffs....

I am not bothered by what people are wearing or riding and whatever I hope they are having a really good time. However there is some truth in what the OP is saying. Having returned recently from Morzine, there are a lot of people riding blue and green runs with on full on DH bikes and full armour etc... Many of them were riding very slowly - in fact much more slowly than people ride at more technical UK downhill routes. In the UK I am pretty damn slow on a proper DH course on my all mountain bike - I doubt I would be much faster on a DH bike either. In Morzine I was overtaking some of these guys and that definitely doesn't happen at home! Let me re-emphasise, this was the case and I am as far from a DH god as it gets!

Wysiwyg, the old trail down is still there, but it's shit. So Serpentine is really the only way worth going to get to that trail...... that I also can't remember the name of

Well, on 6inch trail bike, I must confess to always hitting up the blues and greens, many of them are awesome trails. The one on the opposite side of Les Gets, and you're not allowed to pedal. Its a hoot, and they tend to be less chewed up than the 'DH' runs, which are usually ****ed by the time I get there. I like that I'll sail by some guy on DH bike who's just refused the same rock garden for the fifth time. It gives a smug little, 'yeah who's gnar now' moment in my head, even though I know deep down he's hired a bike and never been on more than Dalby before. But hell he's having a go. **** it, it’s a holiday, not a dick measuring exercise.

it’s a holiday, not a dick measuring exercise.

Deleted my comment, because its already been said but betterer 😀

jamj1974 - Member

However there is some truth in what the OP is saying. Having returned recently from Morzine, there are a lot of people riding blue and green runs with on full on DH bikes and full armour etc... Many of them were riding very slowly

Yeah, but... So what? Hard to see what's to complain about, people on blues and greens that aren't very good? People who mostly ride uplifted trails so might as well wear armour and ride a big bike? People who're not very good therefore wear lots of armour because they know they might crash?

There's a different mindset, in the UK if you're a noob you generally buy a cheap hardtail and go and ride at trail centres or round a field. Uplifts are pretty much just for capable enthusiasts. But it's not like that everywhere, and why should it be? They've got it more sorted than us IMO, we'd not be struggling to justify new trails and new uplifts if we were as inclusive. And maybe we'd be getting more people on bikes too, by taking away some of the fitness barriers.

Yeah was good man! Made it a bit harder cos it was pissing it down, certainly not the hardest thing I've rode down but was fun passing all the serps who had pushed in front of me at the top cos they were disillusioned cos I didn't have the neck brace or full face on,

I find champery in the wet a piece of piss, don't know what everyone is complaining about. I rode it on a rigid with v brakes and lycra. I lost count of the storm troopers I overtook on the way down.

Might give that lad Danny Hart a few pointers next time I see him.

We should meet up for a ride, you seem like you are almost approaching my skill level.

I rode it on a rigid with v brakes and lycra.

Ahh so you where that bloke I used as kicker when I did champery on my unicycle?

And maybe we'd be getting more people on bikes too, by taking away some of the fitness barriers.

Plus of course the trails will be so busy with the new influx of part-timers that us "proper" mountainbikers won't be able to strut our funky stuff 😉 Interesting idea tho.

bang on with your other points, over here stormtroopers are perceived as gnar shredders (or atleast wannabes) elsewhere it's just prudent to pad up especially if you're a noob and as you have lifts getting all sweaty pedalling to the top isn't an issue.

Edit and oh yeah OP
OMG! you are like, [b]so[/b] manly and awesome! I wanna have your babies.

Northwind +1

All you guys that think you're awesome riding it on xc bikes and rigid seem to be missing the point, sounds like there were loads of people who didn't need a bike at all- they were able to [i]walk [/i]down the course, carrying a bike. Game set and match.

Yeah, but... So what? Hard to see what's to complain about, people on blues and greens that aren't very good? People who mostly ride uplifted trails so might as well wear armour and ride a big bike? People who're not very good therefore wear lots of armour because they know they might crash?

I am not saying I am great - just suggesting there is some truth in the OP's observation. I thought I had made it plenty clear enough that I was not 'bigging myself up'. I don't have an axe to grind and I will say it again for additional clarity the main thing for me is that people are having a great time! Please don't misunderstand.

Pics or STFU.

it’s a holiday, not a dick measuring exercise.

Yeah, but... So what?

😆

Cha Nada. That's the badger. Interesting little track.

jamj1974 - Member

I am not saying I am great - just suggesting there is some truth in the OP's observation. I thought I had made it plenty clear enough that I was not 'bigging myself up'.

Oh don't worry, you did! Sorry if it felt like I was having a go. Just saying that yes you're right, these things happen, more questioning why they're anything to write home about

D0NK - Member

Plus of course the trails will be so busy with the new influx of part-timers that us "proper" mountainbikers won't be able to strut our funky stuff

Moar audience for your awesum! Moar noobs to overtake on the green routes! What could be better?

Ahh so you where that bloke I used as kicker when I did champery on my unicycle?

Nah that was my mate dangerous Dave. I forgot to add I was wearing a blindfold and had drunk a litre of whisky.

Cha Nada was a good one, think that's the one the do the IXS races on.

The one right at the end off the big berms blue (Gueps?) was cool, wild entry into it though.

The OP won't know this though, he was obviously back flipping his way down Air Voltage.

It did surprise me the amount of protection some people were wearing ( in Chatel-Les Get ) compared to what I had, basic xc gear. The question is tho who is best prepared for the inevitable happening? I am sure all the " locals " wearing " all the gear " have good reason to wear it 💡
Being on holiday with the aim to enjoy myself without breaking myself I am sure I was riding pretty slowly/cautiously but still managed to overtake a few storm troopers here' n there 😆

I was also surprised/impressed at the number of women on big bikes dolled up in all the gear and even more impressed by the number of small kids on good looking bikes with all the gear.

Bike patrol is a cracking track too, no power rangers on it too and therefore no bloody breaking bumps!

well in the absence of the pussy that is willow I'll call him a troll, what you riding & where are you staying? Got mates out there this week who will do some spotting, by the sounds of it you did the tame blacks into Pre La Joux and f'all else

Post when you did something good 🙂

pussywillow - Member

Amazed me to see all the so called down hillers in morzine queuing up with there storm trooper outfits and neck braces only to be riding down the feminine groomed trails, one was called serpentine I think? Is this really what people think is gnarly dude? super stoked they were saying at the bottom! I've never laughed so much in my life! Instead we did some of the secret techie lines which showed you needed a lot more skill than riding down a smooth track full of been baby berms and a jay gump! hahahaha... Strange at how they seemed to look at us with our half lids thinking they'd better get down the track before we get in there ways! Hahaha how wrong they were. So are you a serp rider? And are you disillusioned by the industry telling us that
these kinds tracks are classed as downhill? Champery was a good downhill yet there was no one on it! Well, no one riding it should I say! as we over took all the troopers on there arses!

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Im going next week. Air voltage anyone

I "rode" champery DH track once, I don't think I've had as many "ohgodohgodohgod" moments in all my life. At one point I'm pretty sure I actually whimpered.

Never ever again.

jekkyl - Member

there, their and they're

I've been enjoying the random cruelty to the word "disillusioned"

Nah that was my mate dangerous Dave. I forgot to add I was wearing a blindfold and had drunk a litre of whisky.

Clever dick!

My point is that these surps were deluded into thinking they were faster than us going down these jay tracks which we only used to get from a to b, to get to the proper secret lines, but they were trying to get past us at the start of every descent thinking cos we didn't have our neck braces and full faces that we must be crap! How wrong they were! 8)
I loved pressuring them on there back wheels! 😆

wysiwyg - Member
Im going next week. Air voltage anyone

Go big lad!

My point is that these surps were deluded into thinking they were faster than us going down these jay tracks which we only used to get from a to b, to get to the proper secret lines, but they were trying to get past us at the start of every descent thinking cos we didn't have our neck braces and full faces that we must be crap! How wrong they were!  I loved pressuring them on there back wheels! 

Youre the biking equivalent of

[img] [/img]

I actually think he is more one of these

[img] [/img]

I've just got back from Morzine. I spent a day or 2 in Chattel. I took a DH rig, that's all I got. I wear knee pads, full face, neck brace, a vest and baggy shorts. I ride flats.

I did a blue trail on the right hand side from the top. I think it's called Peoples or Blues and Rock. I launched off a massive road drop and later some kind of river gap. I was glad to be on a big rig and wearing armour.

Later in the day I did a few runs of the Serpentine. I enjoyed the long flowy berms. I came across some beginners, so held back a bit. Then some guys flew past me on their hard tails wearing XC lids mumbling about me holding them up.

On a similar note to my previous post...

It seems like there's a lot of people wearing less armour lately on dh. A few of my mates only run a lid and knees and this is even after they had to carry me chopper in Chatel after a failed launch and snapped my hip(I had full armour and hip protectors).
I hate wearing all the clumsy gear and enjoy the freedom and fluidity of less armour but generally still suit up when abroad.
On a side note, what do people think of the dh over at Morgin? First time we rode it, it was signed Blue or black so we tried the blue first. ..... holy moly. That's not a blue! Favorite track of all.

Morgins is awesome! I'd say the Blue was very much a blue run, but it flows so well you can hit it at warp speed!

Isn't it sign posted Blue (left) and Red (right) off the top? The berms on the red are the best I've ever seen - actually ended up dizzy at one point 😀 The blacks were fun too, the whole place is so well planned out that they just dont seem to be able to build a bad trail (Ben Walker, the man behind the revised version of Champery, built them all with a couple of helpers)

I guess I got confused then. It's been a couple of years since I got over there. It's the berms and steep drop in that is quite prominent in my mind. It was a little daunting from the top but when you drop in and start to flow it was a buzz. Quite a steep track if I remember correctly.
Damn, in going to book a flight and get back over there

Morgin runs are great! Reminded me of Pila. Very root though, wouldnt want to race it in the wet! Thought the blacks were very manageable, tough, bit nothing like champery tough!

oliverd1981 - Member
Serpentine is a nice run no matter what your skill level but you do have to respect the mixture of abilities you'll find on that sort of trail. It's not the kind of trail most people would do lots of laps of as It's quite long and the lift queues can be epic.

The way Chatel bike park is laid out gives you a lot of options for the second half of the hill, but a lot of the reds (and all of the blacks) on the top section of the park are quite challenging - if you're not on your game or you just want to preserve your arms/brakes/tyres it's not a bad idea to "poach" one of the easier trails, but respect it for what it is.

[b]"Stormtrooper" is just a outfit - not a mindset. [/b]It's the kids in wife-beaters and neck braces you need to watch.

POSTED 2 DAYS AGO # REPORT-POST

I would have to disagree with you there, I always ensure my clients wear full protective gear to start with especially when they choose the upgraded skills course which involves ridding alpine descents, the key with mountain biking is 'confidence' once they feel confident they then have the mental tools to take a positive aproach to riding something they would normally feel is way out of there level, with a positive attitude they will then be focusing and have mental visions of successfully clearing that double or drop or even a technical section. I would say over 97% of my clients feel a massive confidence boost when wearing full protective gear,
I only ever wear a helmet, but I ride well within my capabilities 🙂
Even though I get told to slow down all the time! 😆

 

Well im setting off in an hr, for the 850 mile trip. Id welcome pussyw to show me around chatel, see if i can keep up on my 6" rig with no protection but helmet and knee pads.