Downhill cycling

Downhill cycling (DH) is a gravity-assisted time trial mountain biking event. Riders race against the clock, starting at intervals that can vary from 20 seconds to three minutes-depending on the stage of the competition. The rider with the lowest time wins. As the name of this discipline implies, DH races are held in steep, downhill terrain, resulting in higher speed than in cross-country racing. The terrain is also often somewhat rougher than in cross-country racing.

While the riders job is to get top to bottom as fast as possible, the course designer has their work cut out challenging the rider and making the job of going fast more difficult!

Downhill courses usually feature big jumps and drops, as well as often being either rooty or rocky (occasionally both). A common feature is a "rock garden", which is a strip of moderately sized rocks.

Downhill bikes and equipment

Downhill bikes (also referred to as DH rigs or sleds) tend to weigh between 40 and 50 pounds, and usually feature a full-suspension design, and frame geometry that leans back further than other mountain bikes. As of 2006, 203mm (8-inch) is the 'norm' for suspension travel. Large-diameter 203mm (8-inch) hydraulic disc brakes modulate the riders' speed. Downhill bikes are similar to freeride bikes and there is a very fine line between them. In general, however, DH rigs tend to differ from freeride bikes primarily in frame geometry typically having very slack head tube angles, very complex suspension geometry, and a lower centre of gravity than freeride bikes. Freeride bikes start at around $2000 (US Dollars) and DH race bikes start around $3000. The price difference is partly due to the components equipped on the bikes, but mostly it is the result of technology and materials involved in the frame makings. Downhill components are chosen for durability, but many racers also try to cut down on weight. Some have certain parts such as chainguides drilled to shave off grams, or switch to exotic materials such as titanium or carbon fibres.

As technology advances, riders are able to push their bikes even further. In 2001 the OnePointFive concept was introduced to cope with the increasing punishment riders today send to their downhill and freeride bicycles. OnePointFive uses a 1.5" wide headtube (see headset) instead of the more conventional 1.125" diameter for added stiffness and strength.

DH mountain bike technology is considered the area in which most technological innovation occurs. As professional teams sometimes spend tens of thousands of dollars to save weight, increase suspension efficiency and improve handling they develop new materials and geometries that trickle through to consumer markets on consumer level downhill bikes and other bikes.

Downhill gear features body armor and motocross helmets.

Below are examples of professional downhill bikes:

Foes Racing Bikes

Giant Maestro Glory

Intense Cycles

Kona Stab Supreme

Yeti 303

Examples of downhill bike components:

Fox Racing DHX

Rock Shox Boxxer

Shimano Saint

Syncros BHW

Truvative Holzfeller

Downhill racing venues

Many ski areas are converted into biking venues in the summer. Bikers ride gondolas, trams or chair lifts to the starting point at the top of the mountains. Recent World Championships have been held in Lugano, Switzerland and Les Gets in the Rhône-Alpes region of France. The 2005 World Championships were held in Livigno, Italy. The 2005 U.S. National Championships were held in Mammoth Mountain, California the Sea Otter Classic is a major riding venue that opens the season. the 2006 World Championships will be held in Rotorua, New Zealand in August.

Canada is famous for its Downhilling, as well as other sorts of mountain biking. Within the UK most good Downhill tracks are in Scotland, or Wales, as these are more mountainous. Fort William in Scotland is Britain's only World Cup standard track. During a race event, racing fans line the course, congregating around the jumps, rock gardens or difficult sections. These raucous crowds often cheer on or heckle racers by yelling, ringing Cow bells or sounding air horns. On the 11th of September 2005 Great Britain swept the field at the final round of the World Cup in Fort William. Steve Peat ripped across the line to the roar of a home crowd in a time of 4:11.44 beating his closest competitor Greg Minnaar of South Africa by 2 seconds. The women's final was won by Tracy Moseley of Great Britain with a time of 4:59.97, just under a second ahead of the ever popular Rachel Atherton.

Governing bodies

The Union Cycliste Internationale is the global governing body for downhill mountain bike racing. In the U.S., NORBA, as part of USA Cycling, runs the National Mountain Bike Series. British Cycling control the UK's mountain biking as well as road and BMX.

Racers qualify to compete in World Cup races by earning UCI points, which are gained by being a top ten finisher in certain races, usually national.

History of downhill cycling

The first Downhill time-trial race took place at Fairfax, California at October 21, 1976. Ten riders descended 1300 feet of Repack in about 5 minutes; only one had arrived to the finish line, and subsequently he was declared a winner. Early bikes used for downhill descend were vintage 1930s "clunkers", as no fat tire bicycles were in production these days. Later two enthusiasts, Charles Kelly and Gary Fisher founded the first company that manufactured what is known today as Mountain Bike.

External Links

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Downhill cycling

Downhill bikes and equipment

Downhill racing venues

Governing bodies

History of downhill cycling

External Links