Australian Mountain Bike — December 01, 2017

34 -AMB

GRAVITY

CHECK

There are always periods of time that we look

back on fondly - memories that have imprinted

themselves so much into our psyche that, for bet-

ter or worse, may come to define us in our later

years. And when you look at some of the more

veteran riders out there, it’s clear to see that if

you’re a mountain biker, you never grow up.

We are only really just starting to see the begin-

ning of a generation who grew up riding bikes

down hills now follow the yellow brick road into

the Masters category. That isn’t to say that the

category hasn’t been full of old boys giving it the

berries on any given Sunday - apart from the

juniors at club level, Vets and Masters are some

of the most popular classes on offer.

The fact that the ol’ boys are still coming back

in their later years to scare the s**t out of

themselves is breathtaking. Downhill is a young

man’s game, but the renaissance of mountain

biking brought on by the popularity of the enduro

series is bringing people back to DH. As much

as I want to throw shade at the elder statesmen

of the sport, the truth is I love the fact that guys

that were involved at the very start of our sport

are coming back to the racing side of things. I have

huge respect for how tough it would have been

to ride some of the early bikes. It’s hard to truly

comprehend what was going on in the minds of the

first few guys tackling the hills on something that

wouldn’t be as safe as today’s $200 K-Mart bike.

Safety is a relative term though I guess. Future

generations will most likely look back just as

wide eyed at the current state of play as we do

when we imagine a bike that has 600mm wide

bars, three ineffective front chainrings and a

frame heavy enough, even with no suspension, to

double up as a boat anchor.

I’m unsure as to whether there would be enough

of an appetite from the racing public to hold

classic DH events, but it’s a shame that such few

opportunities exist just to get a chance to see

such kit on display, let alone in riding condition.

Historic motorsport races are as popular as

modern-day events, and the courage of previous

generations is obvious without an engine even

turning over. Simply looking at a bike or car that

could carry the pilot over 200mph without any

real protection sends shivers down your spine.

We are beginning to see some glimmers of a

classic scene emerging, though. Mammoth

Mountain in USA are holding a legends event

which spits the veterans down the famous Kami-

kaze run - where speeds back in the day reached

over 90km/h. Most do choose to run newer

equipment these days, and I get that.

Riding a steel hardtail with semi-functioning

brakes and skinny tyres down a rough fire road

at high speeds doesn’t quite have the same sex

appeal as a 1970s Porsche weaving through the

smooth set of esses at Phillip Island.

The event isn’t so much about the equipment,

though, as it is about the riders who used to race

them. And the same holds true for all those who

are racing the Vets and Masters category at any

of the DH and Enduro rounds these days. Some

may have chased the lifestyle, others the glory,

but in the end everyone is doing it for the pure

enjoyment that only racing bikes can provide.

And it only goes to prove that it’s certainly an

addictive habit, this bike racing caper.

SALUTING THE VETERANS

WORDS: CHRIS PANOZZO PHOTO: ROBERT CONROY