- Welcome back you beautiful people.
I'm out here in Sea Otter
and I've got my one bike, my Nukeproof Scout.
It's a Hardtail and I'm going to
put myself to a challenge to two races.
The downhill and the cross country,
ahhh can't wait.
(upbeat music)
(vortex closing)
Right, my first event that I'm going to be taking part in
is the downhill race, the Hardtail category.
This is my Hardtail, this is my Nukeproof Scout.
I'm running plus size tires on this bike.
It's definitely going to help me on those rough sections
because there's a lot of traffic on this track.
Now apparently it's quite short.
It's just a few jumps at the top
and then it gets a little bit rough down the bottom
but there's a lot of pedalling so the Hardtail is
definitely going to come into its element for sure.
Now I am clipped in.
When I like to race the Hardtail,
I found that being clipped into a bike
is definitely going to help me because it's rough
and I don't want my feet to bounce off.
Now the front end of my bike,
I'm running super plush because that's the only suspension
I've got apart from this nice 2.6 Der Baron tire on the rim.
So I'm clipped in, I'm running a full face,
I've got my number board up the front,
apart from that I slam the saddle super far down.
That's it and I'm clipped in.
That's my whole set up for downhill.
The cross country's a lot different though.
(upbeat music)
Oh this is first day of practice
on my Hardtail doing the downhill.
It's windy and I know there's some jumps in it
so I'm going take it easy.
This is my first run in so I'm just going to take a look.
I'll see you in a bit.
(upbeat music)
Oh, gate.
I don't like the gate.
Just brings nerves.
First run, chill.
(upbeat music)
Literally just cruising, just to see what it's like.
Scoot!
Whoa.
Oh that's a bit rough through there hey.
Rough, rough.
Pedalling to the finish
which the Hardtail is going to be at, amazing.
Day one of practice went really well.
Was all about trying to find the fastest line on the trail.
Basically just finding my line for the race.
Now I'm not going to lie, it was super rough
but very, very fast.
Now it's time to head back to the hotel,
get an early night because tomorrow is another big day.
(moans)
All right after 24 hours and laying in my hotel bed,
might as well be called hospital bed
with food poisoning, I'm all right a little bit.
It's Saturday, it's race day
and it's time for downhill on my Hardtail.
I'm excited and I've only done one run on it
but I've come super early.
Came through on the mist over Sea Otter.
It looks beautiful, it's warm,
there's no wind today which is perfect.
I'm going to set up my rig, going to set up a few things
and go up to the start and do some practice runs
'cause I need a little bit more practice
and my tummy is,
it's all right, it's all right.
(upbeat music)
(car hoots) Done.
10 minutes, let's go.
Not going to lie,
I probably won't even get practice by 10:23.
Look at the line, it goes all the way down to there
and the start is right at the top.
Like I'm going to be sat in that queue for, like till start.
There's no practice.
Cool.
(upbeat music)
Feels awkward now with a camera in my face
and everyone around me.
(upbeat music)
Nearly at the top.
We still got like,
probably a hundred more riders in front of us
and by this rate, I think we're only going to do one run
and then lift up and then I got wait ages.
So I might go and get a coffee or something
and a cake, yeah.
(upbeat music)
(bike rides on dirt trail)
I need to put more tire pressure in here.
My rear's too soft.
Whoa.
(bike skids on tar) (chuckles)
Oh my goodness me, one and done.
Practice over but I jumped all the jumps apart from
three.
There was a step down which I forgot was there
but I know where it is so I'm going to jump that,
then there's fast flat out bit,
then there's another, I got it.
I did say on camera when I was riding,
I need to put more pressure in this rear tire
'cause it came into a turn and it just went whoop
and I was like ooh don't burp
because that'll definitely ruin your race run.
Now, quick bite to eat.
I need to be up the top for two pm.
That's when my race run starts.
I'm actually really excited about it 'cause it's super fun.
The jumps at the top are sick and then the rest is,
pretty flat out and I like it.
There's one section, then there's another one that's like,
little rollers.
They can catch you out.
I think I can just gap the whole lot really.
All right.
Few bits, put pressure in,
get ready, have something to eat,
race run. - Ow!
(chuckles) - Sorry Jack.
(upbeat music)
Right I'm on time.
Actually they're running a little bit late.
I just went up there to speak to them
and they're running half an hour late
so I want to go down to the jumps
but I haven't seen any Hardtail riders anywhere.
We're a dying breed man.
Hopefully I got someone to race against.
I'm going to go entertain myself with some jumps.
(upbeat music)
I'll see you at the bottom.
We got daily MTB Josh in front of me.
- What's up dudes. (chuckles)
(timer goes off) - Two, one, go!
Hi Blake. - Hello.
- Count you down? - Yeah.
- Three, two, one, go! (timer goes off)
(upbeat music)
(audience cheer in background)
Oh, that's horrible.
(bike rides on dirt trail)
- Is you senior? - Yeah.
Nice one. - Good one.
- Good job. - Good job.
Whoa.
Hardtail, done.
Now it's time for cross country.
No.
So just finished downhill.
Now I'm going to have to set up my bike for cross country
but I need to put these tokens in my forks
but I don't have the tool to put these tokens in.
So I'm going to wander around the pits
and these guys definitely will have something for me
to help me put in these tokens
'cause we're all here to have fun
and everyone's here to help.
Aw, that's a nice Jeep.
That is a freaking nice Jeep.
First of, let me get a picture of this Jeep.
Look at that Porsche.
Nice.
No Jeep though.
Those guys might have, they might have.
All right, look at this. (chuckles)
Got tools.
(air releases)
So, what I'm doing is I'm taking this off
so I can place these in there
and what these do,
it gives you more progression that's for sure.
Look at that, I've only got two in there.
Now, this fork can take five so I've got four here.
Now, that's definitely giving me more progression
plus I can run a little harder front end
for the cross country because I don't want this
to be bobbing when I'm climbing.
So that is my first little tech bit
that I'm going to change about my bike.
The next will be my wheels and my tires.
Now we're talking wheels here.
So I'm changing up my wheels from
basically my everyday wheel and what I use for the downhill.
Now I'm moving over to these ones.
These are the FSA SLK Full Carbon wheel.
Now I haven't got my discs on yet
but the weight difference is insane.
Here's the numbers on the screen, are pretty crazy.
Look at that.
I'm definitely going to feel a difference between
the weight difference between these carbon ones
and these pretty aggressive build wheel.
Do you know what,
this is my first ever race at a cross country race
and it's an international one.
Does that mean I'm going to be
racing cross country more often.
Well let us know in the comments down below
if you want to see more cross country.
Nice.
It's light, lighter than it was
but it's still not full blown cross country bike
but I have transformed it into something
that is going to be little bit easier
to pedal around that huge course.
That is all ready for tomorrow.
Now to go home and have a good rest.
(upbeat instrumental music)
Oh, ready as I can be.
The start line is underneath us,
on the track
and then we go up into the hills
and I know everyone else, Neil, Doddy, Steve,
GMBN and EMBN crew all on track to shout at me.
Give me advice and stuff.
(wind hits mouth)
(chuckles)
So this is the warm up lap.
(chuckles)
This
is the warm up area
and
yeah.
Just going to get ready to warm up.
I drop in about 10 minutes time.
There's one thing that's quite prominent here.
Lycra, Lycra,
ooh free ride.
But there's Lycra, Lycra, Lycra, Lycra, Lycra, Lycra.
I'm just keeping it free ride man.
Baggies all the way.
Back to my roots.
I should of brought Lycra, maybe next time.
(upbeat music)
- Go!
- [Steve] Go Blake, come on
- [Steve] Push it, push it, push it, Go on.
How you feeling, nice or super nice?
- Nice, already. (chuckles)
(upbeat music)
- [Steve] Yeah Blake, let's go!
- [Neil] Let's go Blake.
(upbeat music)
(Blake panting)
Ahhh
nice,
nice.
I thought it was supposed to be 14 miles.
I've done here like 18 miles.
That was so, so good.
I thought I was going to cramp up.
- I saw you, that was amazing. - So so good.
The trail is amazing. - Yeah I know.
- Ah there you go.
Doesn't matter what bike you have,
Hardtail for the win.
Even though I didn't win. (chuckles)
So there you go.
A Hardtail can do anything.
Just with a few tweaks for two different disciplines,
I got to race downhill and cross country.
What should I do next on the Scout.
Maybe the longest downhill race in the world.
The Megavalanche, can it actually do it?
Don't know, let us know
in the comments down below if I should try.
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CX Bike versus XC Bike.
Give us a thumbs up like
and I'll see you at the next one, see ya.