Posts
244
Joined
6/27/2018
Location
Almost Canada™, WA
US
Edited Date/Time
7/9/2024 3:07pm
Watching all of the extra content from the weekend and man.... I dont want to be that guy but what does a chainsaw bring to a race other this an earache? I'd so much rather hear the crowd or the cowbells or the vuvuzelas. Downhill needs to stay wild but I guess I draw the line a gasoline powered noise making.
Lots of history to the chainsaw. He's part of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WbOSQ-YP0U
Curious, have you been to a race? I've been to more than I probably should admit to and always loved the noise making machines of any kind, especially as a racer. Its fun.
"...but if everyone brought a chainsaw..." Yeah, I know, they won't.
As the above posted alluded to there is culture to it, and frankly you, me or anyone doesn't get to "decide the culture". Plus, IMO its a bit lame to try and halt something thats been around for well over a decade just because you don't like it. Its a collective thing, and I like the weirdness of mtb racing, right on down to the cowbells, chainsaws (with bar removed), and the hoots and hollers in the woods. There is a little bit of freedom Hunter S Thompson vibe in it all, and I'm here for it.
Btw, its a mtb race...you can walk like 100 yards any direction and barely hear the thing (or just mute your computer audio).
Live and let live. Just sayin'
Downhill races have always been loud, there was a patch here about 10-15 years ago where the races were DEAD silent the whole way down the track and it was awful! I personally wouldn't be standing near a chainsaw but most of them time those people congregate in one particular part so I would just move somewhere else
As long as people aren't leaning in to the track and getting in the way, you would be amazed at how little the riders register the noise! They hear it but its not distracting
I’ve always kind of wondered this too. It made more sense when Stevie was racing imo. I don’t have a problem with it, but it does seem a little odd to me.
I'm going to sound super liberal (I'm not) but it's seems like there are better environmentally friendly noise makers.
electric chainsaws?
ok i'll show myself out.
Yeah, started with Norba races back in the day, so I have been in the game for a while ;p. I totally agree with you that DH needs to stay weird and it's not like a stadium where your stuck next to the person. That said they just drown everything else out. From a rider perspective I don't mind it as much. It does feel cool coming into a wall of sound when you are riding.
I've always wanted to modify a bar and gear on a chainsaw to accept a bike chain. Dangerous fun.
I've tried this, with a husky 550XP aka a pretty powerful pro-level saw, and they just don't really work. They are designed to be run flat out, all the time at high rpm with very little torque. You're better off using an electric impact. Or a pit bike, those are fun too.
What this thread needs is more cowbell!
drunk young men are necessary for all this to work. that’s just the way it is—the alternatives are all worse.
I've wondered why no one uses leaf blowers rather than chainless chain saws at the races. Every bit as loud but with the benefit of providing some refreshing breezes for other spectators and riders on hot days.
dude that’s a good point…strap a window AC unit to your back and chill
box fan brigade for the ft bill midges
blenders
way more beneficial noisemakers out there, maybe it is time
strap an electric horn to one of these large camping batteries, even louder
but srsly, i was on the infamous heckler‘s rock 2010, no need of any chainsaws to get loud and rowdy
not to give anyone annoying ideas, but google up images for "wooden pipe organ flute" and attach that to your leaf blower.
Ahh well.... F*ckit, anythings better than hearing vuvuzelas!!
Post a reply to: Chainsaws :(