Olympics MTB Course Video

[bigdawg]

it is totally artificial - there are a few natural features (roots, natural drop ins) but they chose this over putting it in amongst the trees. One of the earliest things about this course was that it would not be under the cover of trees, and I seem to recall that being argues about beofre hadleigh was decided on. More to do with the cameras andcoverage again.

The course does vary in width, some parts of it feel as wide as a motorway whilst others youll have trouble getting a couple of bikes down - I got the feeling that on the immediate run ups to parts with more than one line they were kept deliberately narrow poss asa safety feature.

One thing I will saythough is theres no let up here, there arent any places to rest up youre either busting your lungs or youll be concentrating on what your doing...

I was planning to try and get onto it again this weekend, but:

a) I promised my littlun we'd go riding and I dont think anyone would be impressed to see the course being ridden by an old (kinda!!) guy on a 95 zaskar with a kid sitting up front.. (courtesy of LOCT - http://www.loct.co.uk/)

b) theyve now got the place under 24hr, 7 day a week security..

 

[Russell]

I think the rose tinted glasses might be kicking in a bit.

BITD I raced at plenty of places with a four-times-round-the-field-up-to-the-trig-point-and-back type format.

 

[SeeingisBelievingGTMuseum]

What a shame.

I thought the Olympics was all about sports men and women from all corners of the globe coming together for one big sporting carnival to see who is the best of the best.

Turns out I'm wrong, it's actually all about entertaining the masses. Odd, as that's what i thought Hollywood did. Oh well, guess I shall stick with individual sport's world events. And to think yesterday the News were talking about a European 'Olympics' - no thanks!

Oh, Seb and Co(e), you can stick your Olympics up yer 'arris.

Follow the money. Billions in ads are sold for TV to cover the cost of the Olympics and billions in most host countries taxpayers dollars are also spent to host the games to cover venue facilities, rooms for athletes and highway and traffic infrastructure.

 

[skinnyboy]

This my local course, the one they used for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Now we bag the shit out of this course.....

http://youtu.be/PvEIqguvJ8I

http://youtu.be/4cnWKhBnbpA

Plus we have rabid kangaroos running about the place as extra incentive to keep your eyes open!

 

[WD Pro]

Good or bad - I have applied for tickets ... The more you winge and dont want to go, the higher the chance I have of getting them

Carry on now ...

WD

They have taken my money ...

I want to know what tickets I have - NOW !!!

WD

 

[markoc]

My initial thoughts from the video are that it doesn't look overly challenging to me, so your average top level MTBer should make mincemeat of those 6 "features". Such a shame given all the amazing natural riding in the UK that they have taken the choice to make an artificial landscape. A real opportunity missed.

If this was their choice, why not have just made an artificial MTB arena in Wembley stadium and had done with. I don't doubt a lot of thought has gone into it, and some pretty big names involved - but I just don't think it's right.

I remember an MBUK years ago when MTB hit the Olympics in Oz, and their course looked amazing. Natural trails with technical areas such as raised planking etc. This just looks like a pootle round a park.

I've also heard that it won't be staying as a legacy item, and will be quickly returned to it's pre-track state. If this is the case then it is a real shame - while I understand the trail-centre haters, they have their place and it looks like a great location to go for a quick blast.

 

[bigdawg]

the video flattens the course - your average mtb'er would not be able to even get up some of those hills let alone ride them hard for a couple of hours. The video also is not showing all ofthe course - theyve begun putting signs up for the test race they are including a lot of the natural surroundings as well, and if its going where I think it is its not easy...

Whereever it was going to be held was always going to find detractors... Personally I woudl have held it at queen elizabeth park, but am happy that somewhere thats often been overlooked is getting something (hopefully) where there wasnt anything before.

 

[merckx]

epic fail london.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Really shameful. We are trying to promote the UK as a world class location for outdoor events, mountain biking being one of the most prominent. Here was a chance to let our current wealth of great venues shine.

Everyone from one end of the land to the other paid for these Olympics, why on earth should we not share the rewards?

 

[FluffyChicken]

I think the biggest problem for what they've shown is the fact it's 'open land' and looks like a pootle around your local park.
Of course racing against other of a standard is the hard part, no matter if it flat you still have to win it
But if the Olympic organisers can get anything like the Olympic quality Dalby course
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cycling/13462550.stm mere mortal rides it and some info

Race Report/Video
http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/mtb/ar ... ale-Now--0
then it should still be good but without the scenery.
The race will show.

I don't know what thinking goes into the layout, like passing places. The dalby one doesn't seem to give a lot of passing or room for error and passing.
Might have to go ride it (albeit slowly) sometime when it's opened up again.