Racing Classes?
05-26-07, 06:26 PM
#1
Why not?
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Racing Classes?
Can anyone who is active in the race scene explain the standard classifications for downhill racing? I will be getting a Giant STP 2 fairly soon and I'd like to know which class(es) I could be competitive in a year or two down the road. I love downhill, but I won't be getting an FS bike for it. If there's no way I could be competitive in downhill on a hardtail, can someone recommend a racing type for me?
Thanks and sorry about the beginner questions.
Ethan
Thanks and sorry about the beginner questions.
Ethan
05-27-07, 04:26 PM
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mountain-cross (4-cross) and duel slolom are better suited to a hardtail... but it is possible to race DH on one just don't expect to be super competative.
Classes are beginner, sport, expert, semi-pro, pro. You can jump into sport without any results, but after that you need to have a race resume to prove you deserve the upgrade.
Classes are beginner, sport, expert, semi-pro, pro. You can jump into sport without any results, but after that you need to have a race resume to prove you deserve the upgrade.
05-27-07, 04:58 PM
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Thanks for the answer. What mods will I want to make the bike race-ready, or is it pretty well ready to go stock?
05-29-07, 11:02 AM
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Originally Posted by CrankshaftYQX
Can anyone who is active in the race scene explain the standard classifications for downhill racing? I will be getting a Giant STP 2 fairly soon and I'd like to know which class(es) I could be competitive in a year or two down the road. I love downhill, but I won't be getting an FS bike for it. If there's no way I could be competitive in downhill on a hardtail, can someone recommend a racing type for me?
Thanks and sorry about the beginner questions.
Ethan
Thanks and sorry about the beginner questions.
Ethan
Ethan, with any luck you will be racing where there is a hardtail class (we have them at our DH races here). The drawback to the HT class, though, is that it is usually not age-/experience-specific; in other words, you may be up against Expert racers who chose to run the HT class.
For Beginner through Sport DH racing your STP will do you fine - -especially if the courses have good flow and/or are particularly jump-infested.
As far as being race-ready, I'd recommend some 2.5 tires. They won't roll quite as fast as 2.35s but they'll give your hardtail just a little more 'suspension' to take some of the edge off the harshness and be a little more forgiving.
Have fun and lets know how it goes.
__________________
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Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
05-29-07, 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by dminor
To paraphrase: There's no such thing as a beginner question; only amateurish answers."
Ethan, with any luck you will be racing where there is a hardtail class (we have them at our DH races here). The drawback to the HT class, though, is that it is usually not age-/experience-specific; in other words, you may be up against Expert racers who chose to run the HT class.
For Beginner through Sport DH racing your STP will do you fine - -especially if the courses have good flow and/or are particularly jump-infested.
As far as being race-ready, I'd recommend some 2.5 tires. They won't roll quite as fast as 2.35s but they'll give your hardtail just a little more 'suspension' to take some of the edge off the harshness and be a little more forgiving.
Have fun and lets know how it goes.
Ethan, with any luck you will be racing where there is a hardtail class (we have them at our DH races here). The drawback to the HT class, though, is that it is usually not age-/experience-specific; in other words, you may be up against Expert racers who chose to run the HT class.
For Beginner through Sport DH racing your STP will do you fine - -especially if the courses have good flow and/or are particularly jump-infested.
As far as being race-ready, I'd recommend some 2.5 tires. They won't roll quite as fast as 2.35s but they'll give your hardtail just a little more 'suspension' to take some of the edge off the harshness and be a little more forgiving.
Have fun and lets know how it goes.
05-29-07, 01:52 PM
#7
Moar cowbell
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Originally Posted by CrankshaftYQX
Thanks for the answer. My first race will most likely be June 30th on a Motocross course, and I'd say I'd have to run stock there. What issues would I have with my disc brakes from the 2.5 tires?
__________________
RST Suspension | Canfield Bikes | 7iDP Protection | Maxxis | Renthal | Hayes | VonZipper Optics | GoPro
Originally Posted by Mark Twain
"Don't argue with stupid people; they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience."
