So as you've gathered, the new frame got quickly (sorta) turned into a full bicycle.
He/We decided we'd run it as a mullet, he normally runs full 29 on the Session, but thoughts were threefold on the mullet
1.98% of DH pros race on mullet now
2. Most DH bikes are going mullet only
3. Reach is shortened slightly so potentially makes it less 'different' in some ways.
So it made sense to get used to the mullet, luckily i'd planned this partly in advance and picked up a new mullet wheel.
So it was just brakes, gears, forks, etc some parts swapped over, some new ones and left the old bikes on the white Session. It was properly dark by the time i finished so had a few little bits left to complete the bike in the morning but nothing too complicated. It all went smoothly enough with a bit of faffing with his gearing being the only real issue.
His practice reports were mostly "don't aske me, i'm just hanging on and hoping for the best", along with "feels the same really", but how a frame 30mm reach more can feel the same is beyond me. Funnily though a paddock mate of ours was also on a next size up Mondraker they'd never sat on before and apparently that felt the same too
The slop was real, deep, wet, slippery and rooty, even the Elite riders were not getting down without paddling their feet, plenty of riders were walking or jumping off their bikes and crashes were plentiful. So much so that his seeding run was cancelled due to over-running time and moved to Sunday, so our chilling came a little earlier.
IMG_20250615_134350 by
Steve Weeks, on Flickr
The bike was cleaned and fettled/checked and beers, food and banter ensued. Thankfully it was without the rain of Friday night that kept us awake most of the night/morning, so a fairly decent nights sleep.
Sunday brought more dry, sunny, fine weather, we were going through tear-offs most runs as even though it was dry in places now, some was still horrific. But the boy came down really really happy with his run/runs and enjoying it. He was riding mostly on his own as he does, but he chats a bit with a fair few mates he now knows.
Seeding came and went and he stuck it in P10 for seeding, which in all truth, is about right for his level, although his riding mate and rival George stuck it in P1 which was incredible !!!
Race run came a lot later in the day, which we're still getting used to really. It was still the Argotal on the front and the Kryptotal on the back of it we went for and as always you're sort of sitting there watching the riders and clock and working out where your rider needs to pop into sight to be about the right speed/time as the guy in front and happily he did. But then they disappear out of sight for a while so you're waiting to see if they get out of the slippy field and into the finish. He popped into sight and over the line happily. His time was just below the 3.00 maker and 2s quicker than his seeding run. Apparently it was a bit messy, but he'd given it a decent shot.
Obviously then the rest come down and he settled into P11 for the day.
P11 sometimes (and did yesterday too weirdly) feel like a bit of an anti-climax for all of us, he was happy he'd done his best but a little unhappy with P11, obviously at this level, being disappointed at that is a funny situation as it's a position we'd once have dreamed about. But that's the reality of being a racer i guess, always wanting more, wanting better.
George ended up P2, which is a lifetime best for him and we were properly excited for him, he was close to the win too which made it even more impressive.
Eventually it was back home for nearly 9pm and the unloading of the van, sorting of the bike/frame and getting back to reality. These weekends honestly destroy you as a parent, they're just so so hard and intense, whether it's the standing around on your feet for 8 hours, or the walking, the socialising or just the pressure of it all, it's just hard. I was getting really tired on the drive home and after a shower it was early to bed
I'd love to say we've got time off now, we have time off from racing yeah, but we're back out this weekend at Dyfi and out on Thurs night at FoD for pretend racing lol.
There was half a plan about using the white Session frame and building that as a spare bike, it was needing a set of forks and a stem buying but i think he's moved on from that idea so the lilac one is now the one and only bike it seems.
Dyfi will be a bit more intense in terms of testing this weekend with trying settings, Mino links, wheel sizes and actually trying to get used to the bike and the differences, so should be interesting. Not sure yet if we'll stay up there and make it a 2 dayer or head back after 1.
p6pb27685097 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr
