They'll likely go 45 min down the road to eureka or 2 hrs to nebo (and have to build a new coherent line) for that one...
They'll likely go 45 min down the road to eureka or 2 hrs to nebo (and have to build a new coherent line) for that one. Not ideal in my mind for a national level event but hell of a lot better then Bville for gravity.
Otherwise the event will suck but we will be given the best internet makes fun of Bentonville material yet. I'm all about the hilarity, but not at the expense of a student racers experience.
I would imagine this will also be a test run for moving USAC nationals to Bentonville.
Agreed that they can't possibly hold the DH in Bentonville. Nebo would be the best option, but it's about 2.5 hours from Bentonville at the least. Leatherwood would be second-best option, and most likely choice since it's only an hour away.
I'm stretching my brain trying to think of an appropriate track in or around Bentonville proper. Flight Training at Kessler might be one of the better ones. Chunky at Centennial has some line choice at least. Rock Solid? Schroen Train? I don't know. They're all sub 1:00 trails.
Afaik, USAC moved collegiate nats to Bentonville without actually asking anyone on staff at Rock Creek if they could host on the new date.
Things are just fine at the venue now and Henderson County in general is open for bussiness and could really, really use the tourist dollars.
The DH race will be at Coler Preserve. Even the 1999 Helen, GA collegiate dh track is more in line with DH racing in 2025 than anything in Coler.
USAC is on the ropes pretty hard right now trying to please “varsity” collegiate programs, which are mostly made of of small private schools and “club” collegiate programs that are made up of some kickass, gigantic powerhouse state schools where kids run things. The championships are segregated between “varsity” and “club” and it makes no sense, from a sport perspective…
It’s a rough generalization- but most “club” programs are filled with undergrad engineering gravity nerds, and all but a few varsity programs are predominantly endurance oriented…
The “varsity” coaches complain… a lot. So i would not be surprised to see less and less emphasis on decent gravity tracks for collegiate nats going forward…
They'll likely go 45 min down the road to eureka or 2 hrs to nebo (and have to build a new coherent line) for that one...
They'll likely go 45 min down the road to eureka or 2 hrs to nebo (and have to build a new coherent line) for that one. Not ideal in my mind for a national level event but hell of a lot better then Bville for gravity.
Otherwise the event will suck but we will be given the best internet makes fun of Bentonville material yet. I'm all about the hilarity, but not at the expense of a student racers experience.
The DH system at Ponca is a bit closer, rowdier, with some longer trails; they also have a shuttle system.
They'll likely go 45 min down the road to eureka or 2 hrs to nebo (and have to build a new coherent line) for that one...
They'll likely go 45 min down the road to eureka or 2 hrs to nebo (and have to build a new coherent line) for that one. Not ideal in my mind for a national level event but hell of a lot better then Bville for gravity.
Otherwise the event will suck but we will be given the best internet makes fun of Bentonville material yet. I'm all about the hilarity, but not at the expense of a student racers experience.
The DH system at Ponca is a bit closer, rowdier, with some longer trails; they also have a shuttle system.
Ponca is too interrupted with a climb out the bottom. The boys and I were talking this weekend, I think Nebo and a fresh loamer track top to bottom is highly likely. Just hope they don't use the lower flow trail down. Pits at top with frequent shuttles out of the bottom parking lot.
Looks like there's 180 feet of elevation to work with there? Yikes.
180 feet of hyper machine worked flow.
I expect most people will race XC bikes or slalom bikes for the DH.
I just slapped some fresh Rekons onto 29” carbon trail wheels for the collegiate gravity racer i’ve been supplying bikes to all season.
The DS bike and tire combo he has been on all season will be dope for the Coler DS, but, unsurprisingly, the kid doesn’t actually own any tires for his enduro bike that are appropriate for racing on neighborhood flow trails.
180 feet of hyper machine worked flow.I expect most people will race XC bikes or slalom bikes for the DH. I just slapped some fresh Rekons...
180 feet of hyper machine worked flow.
I expect most people will race XC bikes or slalom bikes for the DH.
I just slapped some fresh Rekons onto 29” carbon trail wheels for the collegiate gravity racer i’ve been supplying bikes to all season.
The DS bike and tire combo he has been on all season will be dope for the Coler DS, but, unsurprisingly, the kid doesn’t actually own any tires for his enduro bike that are appropriate for racing on neighborhood flow trails.
Yep. It's going to be on Fireline from what I've heard. Crazy.
That's Anderson (@bentondrones). He's a sick FPV pilot. He did most of this year's Stark Week drone work and he's also been doing a bunch of awesome stuff with Mark Metthews lately that's been featured on his socials.
wtf. that makes my local state park look like val di sol.
OMG, that looks like a longer Bootcamp at Duthie, with a few tables added. It's the trail we deliberately designed for beginners and kids. USAC makes me angry.
Well, if anyone needs to borrow a DH race bike for Collegiate Nats, I’ve got an early 2010’s Fit Aitken available. It’s already set up brakeless, so you should be good to go. Has anybody heard if they may put in temporary features for it?
Well, if anyone needs to borrow a DH race bike for Collegiate Nats, I’ve got an early 2010’s Fit Aitken available. It’s already set up brakeless...
Well, if anyone needs to borrow a DH race bike for Collegiate Nats, I’ve got an early 2010’s Fit Aitken available. It’s already set up brakeless, so you should be good to go. Has anybody heard if they may put in temporary features for it?
I was just thinking about my Kink Rob Tibbs frame sitting in my garage thinking it MIGHT be doable...
Sprinting at max speed on a trail with jumps intended for half that speed is optimal DH.
Fortunately the jumps don't look too lippy but I'll go out on a limb and say there will be injuries from people losing strength and front flipping themselves off the jumps to flat. Doesn't seem safe at all.
a 20 would be so rad but (if anyone is actually serious), verify the rules don't specify wheels have to be 26" or larger - @mickey...
a 20 would be so rad but (if anyone is actually serious), verify the rules don't specify wheels have to be 26" or larger - @mickey ???
A commisaire will likely just make up a rule on site.
The ole NORBA 24” plus, 2 brakes, 3 gears rule is long gone. I looked in the .pdf of the 2024 usac rulebook, they don’t have technical rules listed for slalom or dh at all, just procedural stuff.
Afaik, USAC moved collegiate nats to Bentonville without actually asking anyone on staff at Rock Creek if they could host on the new date.Things are just...
Afaik, USAC moved collegiate nats to Bentonville without actually asking anyone on staff at Rock Creek if they could host on the new date.
Things are just fine at the venue now and Henderson County in general is open for bussiness and could really, really use the tourist dollars.
The DH race will be at Coler Preserve. Even the 1999 Helen, GA collegiate dh track is more in line with DH racing in 2025 than anything in Coler.
USAC is on the ropes pretty hard right now trying to please “varsity” collegiate programs, which are mostly made of of small private schools and “club” collegiate programs that are made up of some kickass, gigantic powerhouse state schools where kids run things. The championships are segregated between “varsity” and “club” and it makes no sense, from a sport perspective…
It’s a rough generalization- but most “club” programs are filled with undergrad engineering gravity nerds, and all but a few varsity programs are predominantly endurance oriented…
The “varsity” coaches complain… a lot. So i would not be surprised to see less and less emphasis on decent gravity tracks for collegiate nats going forward…
Sure, we're open for business. But WATER is a precious resource and Green River (5 minutes from the park) has been wiped off the map. Hotels, motels, churches, youth centers, parking lots, fields, backyards...loaded down with every manner of out of town utility worker imaginable. Our hotels are hosting displaced families, day laborers, you name it.
But we ARE NOT a travel destination in the slightest. Sinkhole opened up last night down the road from me that will swallow an RV. We have IDIOTS by the thousands wandering around using their GPS or just generally shoving their STUPID faces where they don't belong. We got YOUTUBERS going full steam posting dramatic coverage of them driving around acting like they're doing something incredible in their vans. Poaching closed areas on dirt bikes & UTVs.
Just STAY THE FOKK OUT! We need BIG BOYS WITH BIG MACHINES to rebuild this entire 3rd of the state.
Last night, fire department spent almost 3 hours in the rain getting some jack hole out of Gerton who drove around barriers with a 40 ft trailer.
Yeah...you typed one sentence trying to shit on USA Cycling. But everyone and their precious MTB getaway, sightseeing, backing up vital corridors and bringing in a "do gooder" excuse...go home. Send money or supplies to Samaritans Purse. It's EARTH MOVING time. It is not looky loo, bike race time.
We're fine with locals going for a ride at their local, going home and not clogging arteries or Detour routes that VALUABLE UTILITY workers need. But lines 10 minutes long of out of state tags backing up badly needed help so you can go race is some bull we don't need.
Fortunately the jumps don't look too lippy but I'll go out on a limb and say there will be injuries from people losing strength and front...
Fortunately the jumps don't look too lippy but I'll go out on a limb and say there will be injuries from people losing strength and front flipping themselves off the jumps to flat. Doesn't seem safe at all.
I live here I can tell you none of the jumps are so big (besides maybe a couple at the bottom that can be scrubbed) a strong rider cant just huck to flat. The riders will end up hiking bikes up too. There is no good way to shuttle this.
Primarily this is such BS for the riders. I hate it. This is why the US isn't commonly competitive in DH on the WC level, its like none of these bodies care. Its freaking insulting to the riders. I'd consider just skipping if I was a real dh athlete. Probably not worth the travel effort and expense.
There are even two other trails that although not ideal still are more DH'ish then that.
Fortunately the jumps don't look too lippy but I'll go out on a limb and say there will be injuries from people losing strength and front...
Fortunately the jumps don't look too lippy but I'll go out on a limb and say there will be injuries from people losing strength and front flipping themselves off the jumps to flat. Doesn't seem safe at all.
I live here I can tell you none of the jumps are so big (besides maybe a couple at the bottom that can be scrubbed) a...
I live here I can tell you none of the jumps are so big (besides maybe a couple at the bottom that can be scrubbed) a strong rider cant just huck to flat. The riders will end up hiking bikes up too. There is no good way to shuttle this.
Primarily this is such BS for the riders. I hate it. This is why the US isn't commonly competitive in DH on the WC level, its like none of these bodies care. Its freaking insulting to the riders. I'd consider just skipping if I was a real dh athlete. Probably not worth the travel effort and expense.
There are even two other trails that although not ideal still are more DH'ish then that.
shuttle 100 vertical feet? maybe yall can rent some lime scooters if they cant just coast back to the start 😅
Fortunately the jumps don't look too lippy but I'll go out on a limb and say there will be injuries from people losing strength and front...
Fortunately the jumps don't look too lippy but I'll go out on a limb and say there will be injuries from people losing strength and front flipping themselves off the jumps to flat. Doesn't seem safe at all.
I live here I can tell you none of the jumps are so big (besides maybe a couple at the bottom that can be scrubbed) a...
I live here I can tell you none of the jumps are so big (besides maybe a couple at the bottom that can be scrubbed) a strong rider cant just huck to flat. The riders will end up hiking bikes up too. There is no good way to shuttle this.
Primarily this is such BS for the riders. I hate it. This is why the US isn't commonly competitive in DH on the WC level, its like none of these bodies care. Its freaking insulting to the riders. I'd consider just skipping if I was a real dh athlete. Probably not worth the travel effort and expense.
There are even two other trails that although not ideal still are more DH'ish then that.
shuttle 100 vertical feet? maybe yall can rent some lime scooters if they cant just coast back to the start 😅
I mean there are so many people who own e bikes here maybe they can just organize a fleet of tow up eebs to drag them up the paved climb trail 😆 You may be on to something.
It sounds like the Collegiate DH track will actually be Rock Solid instead of Fireline (judging from the suggested spectator map).
Video of trail below (it's actually a pretty good trail with some jankier sections, but it has some pretty tough flat/uphill sections as well and still isn't a "real" DH race track by any means)
It sounds like the Collegiate DH track will actually be Rock Solid instead of Fireline (judging from the suggested spectator map).Video of trail below (it's actually...
It sounds like the Collegiate DH track will actually be Rock Solid instead of Fireline (judging from the suggested spectator map).
Video of trail below (it's actually a pretty good trail with some jankier sections, but it has some pretty tough flat/uphill sections as well and still isn't a "real" DH race track by any means)
Not sure we can say "pretty good one" with regard to a dh track that has uphill and flat parts.
Maybe if this was some grassroots races or something...but this is for college national champs.
I would imagine this will also be a test run for moving USAC nationals to Bentonville.
Agreed that they can't possibly hold the DH in Bentonville. Nebo would be the best option, but it's about 2.5 hours from Bentonville at the least. Leatherwood would be second-best option, and most likely choice since it's only an hour away.
I'm stretching my brain trying to think of an appropriate track in or around Bentonville proper. Flight Training at Kessler might be one of the better ones. Chunky at Centennial has some line choice at least. Rock Solid? Schroen Train? I don't know. They're all sub 1:00 trails.
Afaik, USAC moved collegiate nats to Bentonville without actually asking anyone on staff at Rock Creek if they could host on the new date.
Things are just fine at the venue now and Henderson County in general is open for bussiness and could really, really use the tourist dollars.
The DH race will be at Coler Preserve. Even the 1999 Helen, GA collegiate dh track is more in line with DH racing in 2025 than anything in Coler.
USAC is on the ropes pretty hard right now trying to please “varsity” collegiate programs, which are mostly made of of small private schools and “club” collegiate programs that are made up of some kickass, gigantic powerhouse state schools where kids run things. The championships are segregated between “varsity” and “club” and it makes no sense, from a sport perspective…
It’s a rough generalization- but most “club” programs are filled with undergrad engineering gravity nerds, and all but a few varsity programs are predominantly endurance oriented…
The “varsity” coaches complain… a lot. So i would not be surprised to see less and less emphasis on decent gravity tracks for collegiate nats going forward…
Just passing this along: Article on Canadian MTB about Jackson Goldstone racing (and winning) at the OneUp DH SORCA race in Squamish on Oct. 27.
Looking forward to seeing him at full health for the 2025 WC season.
https://cyclingmagazine.ca/mtb/jackson-goldstone-is-back/
The DH system at Ponca is a bit closer, rowdier, with some longer trails; they also have a shuttle system.
Ponca is too interrupted with a climb out the bottom. The boys and I were talking this weekend, I think Nebo and a fresh loamer track top to bottom is highly likely. Just hope they don't use the lower flow trail down. Pits at top with frequent shuttles out of the bottom parking lot.
Go to the website folks, the Collegiate dh race is in Coler.
USAC really, really doesn’t care about gravity racing, in case you haven’t noticed.
Looks like there's 180 feet of elevation to work with there? Yikes.
180 feet of hyper machine worked flow.
I expect most people will race XC bikes or slalom bikes for the DH.
I just slapped some fresh Rekons onto 29” carbon trail wheels for the collegiate gravity racer i’ve been supplying bikes to all season.
The DS bike and tire combo he has been on all season will be dope for the Coler DS, but, unsurprisingly, the kid doesn’t actually own any tires for his enduro bike that are appropriate for racing on neighborhood flow trails.
Yep. It's going to be on Fireline from what I've heard. Crazy.
fireline trail in bentonville for those who don't know (pretty sick drone followcam with anneke though!)
That's Anderson (@bentondrones). He's a sick FPV pilot. He did most of this year's Stark Week drone work and he's also been doing a bunch of awesome stuff with Mark Metthews lately that's been featured on his socials.
wtf. that makes my local state park look like val di sol.
OMG, that looks like a longer Bootcamp at Duthie, with a few tables added. It's the trail we deliberately designed for beginners and kids. USAC makes me angry.
Well, if anyone needs to borrow a DH race bike for Collegiate Nats, I’ve got an early 2010’s Fit Aitken available. It’s already set up brakeless, so you should be good to go.
Has anybody heard if they may put in temporary features for it?
I was just thinking about my Kink Rob Tibbs frame sitting in my garage thinking it MIGHT be doable...
a 20 would be so rad but (if anyone is actually serious), verify the rules don't specify wheels have to be 26" or larger - @mickey ???
That sprint section from :25 to 2:22 will be key to winning Collegiate Nationals.
Sprinting at max speed on a trail with jumps intended for half that speed is optimal DH.
Fortunately the jumps don't look too lippy but I'll go out on a limb and say there will be injuries from people losing strength and front flipping themselves off the jumps to flat. Doesn't seem safe at all.
A commisaire will likely just make up a rule on site.
The ole NORBA 24” plus, 2 brakes, 3 gears rule is long gone. I looked in the .pdf of the 2024 usac rulebook, they don’t have technical rules listed for slalom or dh at all, just procedural stuff.
Sure, we're open for business. But WATER is a precious resource and Green River (5 minutes from the park) has been wiped off the map.
Hotels, motels, churches, youth centers, parking lots, fields, backyards...loaded down with every manner of out of town utility worker imaginable.
Our hotels are hosting displaced families, day laborers, you name it.
But we ARE NOT a travel destination in the slightest. Sinkhole opened up last night down the road from me that will swallow an RV.
We have IDIOTS by the thousands wandering around using their GPS or just generally shoving their STUPID faces where they don't belong.
We got YOUTUBERS going full steam posting dramatic coverage of them driving around acting like they're doing something incredible in their vans.
Poaching closed areas on dirt bikes & UTVs.
Just STAY THE FOKK OUT! We need BIG BOYS WITH BIG MACHINES to rebuild this entire 3rd of the state.
Last night, fire department spent almost 3 hours in the rain getting some jack hole out of Gerton who drove around barriers with a 40 ft trailer.
Yeah...you typed one sentence trying to shit on USA Cycling. But everyone and their precious MTB getaway, sightseeing, backing up vital corridors and bringing in a "do gooder" excuse...go home. Send money or supplies to Samaritans Purse. It's EARTH MOVING time. It is not looky loo, bike race time.
We're fine with locals going for a ride at their local, going home and not clogging arteries or Detour routes that VALUABLE UTILITY workers need.
But lines 10 minutes long of out of state tags backing up badly needed help so you can go race is some bull we don't need.
I live here I can tell you none of the jumps are so big (besides maybe a couple at the bottom that can be scrubbed) a strong rider cant just huck to flat. The riders will end up hiking bikes up too. There is no good way to shuttle this.
Primarily this is such BS for the riders. I hate it. This is why the US isn't commonly competitive in DH on the WC level, its like none of these bodies care. Its freaking insulting to the riders. I'd consider just skipping if I was a real dh athlete. Probably not worth the travel effort and expense.
There are even two other trails that although not ideal still are more DH'ish then that.
shuttle 100 vertical feet? maybe yall can rent some lime scooters if they cant just coast back to the start 😅
I mean there are so many people who own e bikes here maybe they can just organize a fleet of tow up eebs to drag them up the paved climb trail 😆 You may be on to something.
Do we know how usac made this decision?
Who or what body decides where the event is held?
My guess is unofficial financial incentive.
Hush your mouth. No sports governing body on earth would ever dream of accepting such a thing. 🤫
After seeing that 'DH' track, it makes the Sea Otter track seem proper. It's like holding the Air DH down B-Line
It sounds like the Collegiate DH track will actually be Rock Solid instead of Fireline (judging from the suggested spectator map).
Video of trail below (it's actually a pretty good trail with some jankier sections, but it has some pretty tough flat/uphill sections as well and still isn't a "real" DH race track by any means)
Not sure we can say "pretty good one" with regard to a dh track that has uphill and flat parts.
Maybe if this was some grassroots races or something...but this is for college national champs.
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