Hey Mike Dart...

"Slacker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Well, what happened with your Expert début?

Don't even tell me you're wearing a cast!

--
Slacker

I didn't move up. Got 1st place by 24 seconds in Sport and actually kinda feel bad about it. The guy
I work with and share call rotation with (every other week) had back surgery and is out for a month.
Then my wife is scheduled for surgery in July for female stuff and will be out of her work for a
month. The last thing I needed was to be in a halo so I played it 'safe'. Just too much stuff going
on in my head. I know, I suck! As it was, I clipped a pedal on a fireroad section going about 40mph
and rode it out with both feet off the pedals until I slowed the bike enough to get back on.

I did feel good about my friends son Jordan, who is now racing on his Bullit. (Dad is riding April's
bike) He qualified and finished 2nd in his first Mountain Cross race. Then finished 3rd after
passing 7 racers in his DH race with a time only 10-15 seconds slower than mine. He would've beat me
if he didn't have all those riders in his way.

It rained for most of the week so I don't have many pics to post. (none of the pros) It rained for
the entire pro DH race and stopped just as the last rider crossed the line!

Mike - sandbagger ;^\

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Well, what happened with your Expert début?

Don't even tell me you're wearing a cast!

--
Slacker

I didn't move up. Got 1st place by 24 seconds in Sport and actually kinda feel bad about it.

Yeah sure, is that why you hung it right next to all your other medals!

Quoted message said:

The guy I work with and share call rotation with (every other week) had back surgery and is out
for a month. Then my wife is scheduled for surgery in July for female stuff and will be out of her
work for a month. The last thing I needed was to be in a halo so I played it 'safe'. Just too much
stuff going on in my head. I know, I suck! As it was, I clipped a pedal on a fireroad section
going about 40mph and rode it out with both feet off the pedals until I slowed the bike enough to
get back on.

No, no, no.....you've been pussified too ;^ o

Quoted message said:

I did feel good about my friends son Jordan, who is now racing on his Bullit. (Dad is riding
April's bike) He qualified and finished 2nd in his first Mountain Cross race. Then finished 3rd
after passing 7 racers in his DH race with a time only 10-15 seconds slower than mine. He would've
beat me if he didn't have all those riders in his way.

Right-on....sounds like Jordon is a real natural.

Quoted message said:

It rained for most of the week so I don't have many pics to post. (none of the pros) It rained for
the entire pro DH race and stopped just as the last rider crossed the line!

Mike - sandbagger ;^\

I heard it was pretty sloppy. Glad you made thru in one piece.

--
Slacker

"Slacker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Well, what happened with your Expert début?

Don't even tell me you're wearing a cast!

--
Slacker

I didn't move up. Got 1st place by 24 seconds in Sport and actually

kinda

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

feel bad about it.

Yeah sure, is that why you hung it right next to all your other medals!

Damn straight! ;^) Still it's my last race as 'sport' class.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The guy I work with and share call rotation with (every other week) had back surgery and is
out for a month. Then my wife is scheduled for surgery in July for female stuff and will be
out of her

work

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for a month. The last thing I needed was to be in a halo so I played it 'safe'. Just too much
stuff going on in my head. I know, I suck! As

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was, I clipped a pedal on a fireroad section going about 40mph and rode

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out with both feet off the pedals until I slowed the bike enough to get

back

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on.

No, no, no.....you've been pussified too ;^ o

Responsibility has a way of doing that. I'll be back!

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I did feel good about my friends son Jordan, who is now racing on his Bullit. (Dad is riding
April's bike) He qualified and finished 2nd in

his

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

first Mountain Cross race. Then finished 3rd after passing 7 racers in

his

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

DH race with a time only 10-15 seconds slower than mine. He would've

beat

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

me if he didn't have all those riders in his way.

Right-on....sounds like Jordon is a real natural.

Yes he is. We're very proud of him.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

It rained for most of the week so I don't have many pics to post. (none

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the pros) It rained for the entire pro DH race and stopped just as the

last

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rider crossed the line!

Mike - sandbagger ;^\

I heard it was pretty sloppy. Glad you made thru in one piece.

Very sloppy. Landing a drop on a manicured lawn or paved parking lot is one thing, landing it on a
greased rooty, rocky ski slope is entirely another! Thanks.

Mike

"Slacker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Well, what happened with your Expert début?

Don't even tell me you're wearing a cast!

--
Slacker

I didn't move up. Got 1st place by 24 seconds in Sport and actually

kinda

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

feel bad about it.

Yeah sure, is that why you hung it right next to all your other medals!

Quoted message said:

The guy I work with and share call rotation with (every other week) had back surgery and is
out for a month. Then my wife is scheduled for surgery in July for female stuff and will be
out of her

work

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

for a month. The last thing I needed was to be in a halo so I played it 'safe'. Just too much
stuff going on in my head. I know, I suck! As

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

was, I clipped a pedal on a fireroad section going about 40mph and rode

it

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out with both feet off the pedals until I slowed the bike enough to get

back

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

on.

No, no, no.....you've been pussified too ;^ o

Quoted message said:

I did feel good about my friends son Jordan, who is now racing on his Bullit. (Dad is riding
April's bike) He qualified and finished 2nd in

his

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

first Mountain Cross race. Then finished 3rd after passing 7 racers in

his

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

DH race with a time only 10-15 seconds slower than mine. He would've

beat

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

me if he didn't have all those riders in his way.

Right-on....sounds like Jordon is a real natural.

Quoted message said:

It rained for most of the week so I don't have many pics to post. (none

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the pros) It rained for the entire pro DH race and stopped just as the

last

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rider crossed the line!

Mike - sandbagger ;^\

I heard it was pretty sloppy. Glad you made thru in one piece.

--
Slacker

Here's some pics. Not much action except for Mikey Valach. I was either at practice, racing or
it was raining whenever the pros were out so I didn't get the camera out much. But check out my
new Bullit.

pbase.comsnowshoe norba 2003Open ↗

Mike

Quoted message said:

Here's some pics. Not much action except for Mikey Valach. I was either at practice, racing or
it was raining whenever the pros were out so I didn't get the camera out much. But check out my
new Bullit.

pbase.comsnowshoe norba 2003Open ↗

Mike

I just re-read that....."your Bullit" I thought it was Jordan's at first. Very sweet!!! Nice
touch with the Evil....BTW, how do like it because I'm still trying to decide what to use on my
future rig.

Do you still have the twins?
--
Slacker

"Slacker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Here's some pics. Not much action except for Mikey Valach. I was

either at

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

practice, racing or it was raining whenever the pros were out so I

didn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

get the camera out much. But check out my new Bullit.

pbase.comsnowshoe norba 2003Open ↗

Mike

I just re-read that....."your Bullit" I thought it was Jordan's at first.

Very sweet!!! Nice touch with the Evil....BTW, how do

Quoted message said:

like it because I'm still trying to decide what to use on my future rig.

Do you still have the twins?
--
Slacker

Thanks! It's an MRP LRP. I couldn't get an Evil DRS in time for my vacation week. The MRP works as
is should and doesn't call attention to itself while riding. Pretty much all you can ask for in a
chainguide. The only little problem is that it kicked the chainline out about 5mm which makes it
[censored] about being in the big-big combo on climbs but there is a 22-24 combo that works the same. The
Evil's I've seen are pretty sweet and a good design so you can't go wrong there either. The plastic
bash guard slides easily over obstacles without catching. They do crack, tough to do, but Evil will
replace them if they do.

I haven't weighed the bike (guessing 35-40lbs) but for a light DH capable bike it climbs great. The
5th Element shock cancels out all pedal bob and you can feel it work when you take a hit. You get
one oscillation of the suspension after the trail smooths out and it settles back into its
'deadband' and stiffens up for pedaling. It also reacts immediately, unlike the Epic Brain where you
feel half the first hit.

Yeah the twins are still going. But the DHi is in pieces. It all started with the rear Hayes I
loaned to Jordan for his bike after I broke his master cylinder. Then my friend needed the shock for
his DHi while his was out for rebuild. Then I let Jordan borrow the Atom Lab stem for his Bullit.
Then I cacked the rear mech on my M1. Then a expert racer from OH (a friend of Buzz's) broke his
rear swingarm at the shock tower (where they all go) so I swapped mine out so he could race. Oh and
the pedals went to the Bullit.

On that Atom Lab stem for Jordan. Using the Marz. bolt on stem there isn't enough clamp area on the
Marzocchi Super T top crown to hold the headset AND fork together with one 4mm bolt. It looks cool
(read Moto) but doesn't do the job so a real stem is needed to hold everything together. I went with
a RaceFace Diabolus on my Bullit.

Mike

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Here's some pics. Not much action except for Mikey Valach. I was

either at

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

practice, racing or it was raining whenever the pros were out so I

didn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

get the camera out much. But check out my new Bullit.

pbase.comsnowshoe norba 2003Open ↗

Mike

I just re-read that....."your Bullit" I thought it was Jordan's at first.

Very sweet!!! Nice touch with the Evil....BTW, how do

Quoted message said:

like it because I'm still trying to decide what to use on my future rig.

Do you still have the twins?
--
Slacker

Thanks! It's an MRP LRP. I couldn't get an Evil DRS in time for my vacation week. The MRP works as
is should and doesn't call attention to itself while riding. Pretty much all you can ask for in a
chainguide. The only little problem is that it kicked the chainline out about 5mm which makes it
[censored] about being in the big-big combo on climbs but there is a 22-24 combo that works the same.
The Evil's I've seen are pretty sweet and a good design so you can't go wrong there either. The
plastic bash guard slides easily over obstacles without catching. They do crack, tough to do, but
Evil will replace them if they do.

I haven't weighed the bike (guessing 35-40lbs) but for a light DH capable bike it climbs great.
The 5th Element shock cancels out all pedal bob and you can feel it work when you take a hit. You
get one oscillation of the suspension after the trail smooths out and it settles back into its
'deadband' and stiffens up for pedaling. It also reacts immediately, unlike the Epic Brain where
you feel half the first hit.

Yeah the twins are still going. But the DHi is in pieces. It all started with the rear Hayes I
loaned to Jordan for his bike after I broke his master cylinder. Then my friend needed the shock
for his DHi while his was out for rebuild. Then I let Jordan borrow the Atom Lab stem for his
Bullit. Then I cacked the rear mech on my M1. Then a expert racer from OH (a friend of Buzz's)
broke his rear swingarm at the shock tower (where they all go) so I swapped mine out so he could
race. Oh and the pedals went to the Bullit.

On that Atom Lab stem for Jordan. Using the Marz. bolt on stem there isn't enough clamp area on
the Marzocchi Super T top crown to hold the headset AND fork together with one 4mm bolt. It looks
cool (read Moto) but doesn't do the job so a real stem is needed to hold everything together. I
went with a RaceFace Diabolus on my Bullit.

Mike

Sheesh, you don't happen to have a spare DHR laying around you could send me ;^ ) I need to find a
friend like you here in Socal!

Did Intense ever supply you a replacement stay? This was the final deal breaker for what was to be
my F4, no replaceable hanger.....IMHO, there's no good reason for a $2000+ frame not to have one.
It's just lazing engineering in my opinion.

Well now you've had experience on several good DH designs; the only other one I think you should try
is the VPP. So, what are your thoughts the Horst/4-bar vs Single pivot deal?
--
Slacker

"Slacker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Here's some pics. Not much action except for Mikey Valach. I was

either at

Quoted message said:

> practice, racing or it was raining whenever the pros were out so I

didn't

Quoted message said:

> get the camera out much. But check out my new Bullit.
>
> pbase.comsnowshoe norba 2003Open ↗
>
> Mike

I just re-read that....."your Bullit" I thought it was Jordan's at

first.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Very sweet!!! Nice touch with the Evil....BTW, how do

Quoted message said:

like it because I'm still trying to decide what to use on my future

rig.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Do you still have the twins?
--
Slacker

Thanks! It's an MRP LRP. I couldn't get an Evil DRS in time for my vacation week. The MRP works
as is should and doesn't call attention to itself while riding. Pretty much all you can ask for
in a chainguide.

The

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

only little problem is that it kicked the chainline out about 5mm which makes it [censored] about
being in the big-big combo on climbs but there is a 22-24 combo that works the same. The Evil's
I've seen are pretty sweet

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

a good design so you can't go wrong there either. The plastic bash

guard

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

slides easily over obstacles without catching. They do crack, tough to

do,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

but Evil will replace them if they do.

I haven't weighed the bike (guessing 35-40lbs) but for a light DH

capable

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bike it climbs great. The 5th Element shock cancels out all pedal bob

and

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you can feel it work when you take a hit. You get one oscillation of

the

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

suspension after the trail smooths out and it settles back into its 'deadband' and stiffens up
for pedaling. It also reacts immediately,

unlike

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the Epic Brain where you feel half the first hit.

Yeah the twins are still going. But the DHi is in pieces. It all

started

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with the rear Hayes I loaned to Jordan for his bike after I broke his

master

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

cylinder. Then my friend needed the shock for his DHi while his was out

for

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

rebuild. Then I let Jordan borrow the Atom Lab stem for his Bullit.

Then I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

cacked the rear mech on my M1. Then a expert racer from OH (a friend of Buzz's) broke his rear
swingarm at the shock tower (where they all go)

so I

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

swapped mine out so he could race. Oh and the pedals went to the

Bullit.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On that Atom Lab stem for Jordan. Using the Marz. bolt on stem there

isn't

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

enough clamp area on the Marzocchi Super T top crown to hold the headset

AND

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

fork together with one 4mm bolt. It looks cool (read Moto) but doesn't

do

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the job so a real stem is needed to hold everything together. I went

with a

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

RaceFace Diabolus on my Bullit.

Mike

Sheesh, you don't happen to have a spare DHR laying around you could send

me ;^ ) I need to find a friend like you here in Socal!

Quoted message said:

Did Intense ever supply you a replacement stay? This was the final deal

breaker for what was to be my F4, no replaceable

Quoted message said:

hanger.....IMHO, there's no good reason for a $2000+ frame not to have

one. It's just lazing engineering in my opinion.

Quoted message said:

Well now you've had experience on several good DH designs; the only other

one I think you should try is the VPP. So, what are your

Quoted message said:

thoughts the Horst/4-bar vs Single pivot deal?
--
Slacker

Hehehe...no. ;^)

Yes last year. Intense has been very good about crash replacements. If you remember I bought a new
strut from Intense at Mt. Snow and sent the bent one back for a crash replacement so now I have a
spare. The '03 Intenses have replaceable hangers now. If I use up my spare I'll look into seeing if
a '03 strut will fit on a '01 bike.

Mikey Valach is riding a V10 this year and is very smooth on it. For one, it is the first bike he's
had that fits him. But the design is very good. I like four bar designs but with the new shock
technology such as the 5th element the single pivot is very rideable now. With the added benefit of
less parts to maintain.

Mike