Olympics MTB Course Video

[bigdawg]

the future of the course in its current guise is uncertain as its really not suitable (ie quite dangerous) to let all and sundry ride it. However we have been promised there will be a 'legacy' of some sort.

A local race organizer I konw wanted to try and and get it included in his series, but was told a flat no.

 

[Tallpaul]

It's one of the main reasons why London bid for the event.

I was referring to the 'show a bit of imagination' part. My point being that, for this event, the use of imagination isn't realistic to the extent that many seem to have expected. Therefore it is the expectation that needs to be realigned not the course design.

For me, the course is comparable to those at the three previous games. From this I infer that the IOC requirements are the constraint on designers 'imaginations'.

I've read that the course from Sydney is now a trail centre but it gets luke-warm reviews from those who've ridden it. Can any Australian members comment?

If people are petitioning for the IOC to change their requirements for the course then great, but all I read are complaints that London hasn't delivered. I think it has.

 

[Drencrom]

the future of the course in its current guise is uncertain as its really not suitable (ie quite dangerous) to let all and sundry ride it. However we have been promised there will be a 'legacy' of some sort.

Key facts

Sport: Mountain Bike
Location: Hadleigh Farm is to the east of London, in Essex.
New or existing: New
Permanent or temporary: Temporary

Whatever happens to the course after the Olympics is not going to be as part of it's legacy, I think that's fair to assume. It might be a case of someone else taking it on, but that's not what I'd expect if it was local to me. I'd want something permanent.

 

[Drencrom]

I was referring to the 'show a bit of imagination' part. My point being that, for this event, the use of imagination isn't realistic to the extent that many seem to have expected. Therefore it is the expectation that needs to be realigned not the course design.

Yep, guilty. I thought the London Olympics might show a bit of imagination.

That'll be why I'm not interested in watching them - it's just the same old same old...

 

[The Ken]

Just curious why is it "quite dangerous" for all and sundry to ride? they let all and sundry ride the world cup courses and other trail centres in this country without much modification - if any, and anyone can ride in the wilds which can be much worse.

 

[bigdawg]

some of the drops and 'chutes' are quite severe, that video doesnt do them any justice at all... It would take quite a level of skill to ride parts ofhte course. If the 'red' routes were blocked / fenced whatever it would be quite a different story.

We had quite a 'legendary' mtb playground at Danbury (was used quite a lot in the early editions of the d/hill magazine Ride in the 90's), some of the biggest drops, drop-ins and severe bombholes you could find, it only took one person (who quite frankly didnt have the skill or experience to ride there) in 8 years to injure themsleves and the council all but flattened it.

 

[highlandsflyer]

The synthetic trail-centre terrain of modern mountain biking taken to new extremes.

Truly awful stuff.

I'm inclined to agree with this (never having even set eyes on a trail centre, mind - we don't have or need any here) but presumably it's designed for easy media coverage and plenty of spectator viewing which, I suppose, is basically what the Olympics is all about.
3 laps of a "real" 12 mile loop in forests and mountains might be nicer to ride but far harder to have decent TV coverage etc. It'd be like trying to give decent coverage to a fell race compared to something like the 10,000 metres.

Having said all that, I know which I'd prefer to watch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnU65DjaEk4&feature=player_embedded

Fort William seems to have few problems attracting spectators...

It is frankly ridiculous building a course like this when we have so many suitable venues.

Again, ALL the tax payers of the UK paid for this.

 

[highlandsflyer]

There arent mountains in essex but then there probably arent mountains in prob 99% of the UK

Well with factoids like that it is no surprise you are winning the argument for using a totally uninspiring venue for one of our national sports.

Total ba's.

 

[totti]

Truly awful course.
Given the number of existing venues, this is a real poor decision by the Olympics committee.

A bland trailcentre track with token "obstacles" every now and then, hardly taxing.
Looks like gold will be going to some roadie.

Oh well, at least there is the women's beach volley ball to look forward to...

 

[Tallpaul]

Some very positive comments from riders and spectators at the test event. Even more pissed off I didn't get tickets

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/t ... test-event