I think I've just done something bad...

specialman

specialman

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Pat MacInnes
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I don't know if it's all the sleepless nights or the stench of nappies that's muddled my brain, but I've inadvertently accepted an offer from my brother to head over to the Alps next year and take part in some Mega Avalanche nonsense!!!

He's a mad-keen MTBer and heads out to ADH, L2A and Chamonix every year and me, thinking that being able to snowboard down a mountain qualifies me to go down an alp on a bike, has agreed that I fancy 'giving it a go' - have I made a mistake?

I think he's currently and on the quiet drawing up a brother-to-brother contract so i can't get out of it!! It might have been the bit when i said 'how hard can it be' as I looked at the pics of him sliding down Pic Blanc on his arse, closely followed by £2,000 of mountain bike.

Anyone every done this kind of thing before? He's not letting on about much, only that he broke his wrist a few years ago doing it and his mate snapped hi tib and fib last year.

I'm thinking my trusty Specialized Hardrock Pro might crumble under the pressure and the thought of full body armour and a moto-X helmet makes me think this might be a bit bonkers.

Anyway, there's a kerb outside my house that's at least six-inches tall so i'm going to do some downhill practise..... ;)
 
you tube is your friend:) i watched a program on it a few years back, Seriously hardcore, hope your health insurance is apid up, although I doubt it would cover anything that you did during the race.
 
Extremely hardcore.
They don't call downhill/freestyle mountain biking an 'extreme sport' for nothing.

I've done some very tame downhill trails on my hardtail that's designed for dirt jumps and you need:
-fantastic hand eye coordination
-extremely quick reactions
-steady bike control
-massive, massive balls

It's excellent fun, but I recommend getting some practise in at the local woods. There are always downhill trails somewhere nearby everyone.
 
Think I'll be joining him for some practise at Epping Forest near his house.
 
Wait, are you looking to go dry downhill mountain biking in the summer or snow downhill mountain biking in the winter?

If the former, you're a nutter.
If the latter, you need to be locked away! Crazy!
 
:eek:

You wouldnt find me doing that!

Good luck to you, hope you have a lotta fun :D
 
Would love to do the MEGA one year. Know a few boys who have done it. Not as technical as our own trails back here in Ireland, more fast and flowly, but still steep and rocky in places.

Just do it fella, you wont regret going by reports!

Colin
 
foodpoison said:
Extremely hardcore.
They don't call downhill/freestyle mountain biking an 'extreme sport' for nothing.

I've done some very tame downhill trails on my hardtail that's designed for dirt jumps and you need:
-fantastic hand eye coordination
-extremely quick reactions
-steady bike control
-massive, massive balls

It's excellent fun, but I recommend getting some practise in at the local woods. There are always downhill trails somewhere nearby everyone.
Click to expand...

Actually I would have thought small balls would be best, less of a target or harder to knock than the massive ones;)
 
'fraid the spesh hardrock may not be up to it......good luck though, my crazy mtb race days ended quite a few yrs ago...now I just hammer around the downs on my s-works epic trying not to fall off....
 
Wigster said:
If this is what you're talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLxGp0ukp34

That's is bloody insane :p.
Click to expand...

That's not the Mega. That's a 4X race somewhere (only 4 riders).There are easily close to 1000 mountain bikers at the Mega. If you've never done any mountain biking before i would be surprised if you made it more than a few miles without broken bones. it's a 20 mile downhill race with a 9 mile pre-race qualifier. you have to pass this before you can even enter the main event!

You can forget the Specialized Hardrock. you'll need a bike with at least 6+ inches of rear travel and good disc brakes. 20 miles is a fair way so you'll want something like a downhill bike but lighter. Unless you can borrow a bike you're looking at about £2K - £3. and a couple of hundred for a full face helmet and pads. And if you're thinking of just borrowing this lot for the event without getting practice then forget it as you'll spend more time on the floor than on the bike. It's not a beginner's race!

good luck :thumbs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IltjYy5TmaU
 
I ride big and hard stuff but the mega is well out of my league....

I have an Orange 5 Pro (2.5k) and i do not think that it would be up to the task for the mega.

On your current bike go and find a long steep cobbled road and ride down it as fast as you can in the wet, then when you get to the bottom notice the pain and arm pump in your arms and how the brakes will be VERY hot.

Then imaging doing that for 20 MILES.....!!!

Serious training will be needed.

I read an article about someone who did this one time and they started up at the glacier (only if the weather permits) and said if you touched the brakes you were off. It turned out easier to ride in massive gentle carving sweeps (like snow boarding i guess) but at over 40mph on the top of the powder.....

Go for it but be very prepared.....

Full lid and motocross armour is a must...!
 
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