(rock music)
(crowd chatter)
- That is the hardest
thing I've done in my life.
Welcome back, you beautiful people.
Welcome to the Megavalanche
with a hardtail.
I feel like crying.
I feel like crying so bad.
Cut, enjoy the video, enjoy.
(upbeat electronic music)
(yelling)
(laughs) What the hell?
Deaks, this is scary.
(laughing)
(brakes squealing)
(groaning)
Two years ago, I did my
first ever Megavalanche,
and I did it on a Nukeproof
Mega 29-inch bike.
Yes, first time riding a 29er,
and I absolutely loved it.
But this year I want to put myself
to a bit of a challenge, (laughs)
and I'm gonna do it on this beast.
(bright electronic music)
I'm gonna take a minute
to talk over my bike.
Yes, I am running a hardtail.
People will look at this and go,
hell no, you crazy bugger,
why are you riding a hardtail
in a such event just
like the Megavalanche?
Well, to be honest, I
like to challenge myself,
I like hardtails, and
I like this bike here.
So I did it on a Nukeproof
Mega 29er, big suspension rig.
Now this one here, I'm doing it
on a Nukeproof Scout 27.5 bike.
27.5 wheels.
There's a few changes
that I've actually done
to make it (laughs) just a
little bit more comfortable
out there on this event.
So first off, suspension.
The only suspension I've
got are these RockShox Lyrix
in nice red with black stanchions.
It's 170-mil travel.
I've got a few tokens in there
just to make it a little bit more plush
and you know, just a little bit better.
It's 10 mil more than what
it comes with, this bike.
I'm running Der Kaiser's downhill
casing tyres on this bike,
30 PSI front and rear,
and I'm running inserts front and rear.
But I did bring a spare
rear tyre, wheel and tyre,
because look at the terrain
I'm riding, it's gnarly.
I've got carbon bars just to bring down
that little bit of weight,
plus it looks cool.
Also, 99% of the time I run flat pedals.
I'm running clipped this
time, Mallet DH pedals,
and I've got some nice
Northwave Cedric Gracias.
With his name on the shoe, I
think it's going to fill me
with a lot more confidence,
hopefully, out there.
And that is my rig.
No suspension whatsoever here.
All the suspension I've got is in my body.
Now, (laughs) look how rough it is
with me riding on a hardtail.
(rocks clattering)
And I've got my Garmin up
the top here, just to map out
and get all the details that I need
of me racing the Mega,
to see how slow I did go. (laughs)
And do you know what?
I think this is going to
be the most difficult,
challenging thing that I'm
going to put myself through
and my trusty hardtail.
(sighs) Goosebumps, man, goosebumps.
It's a downhill race,
it's a marathon, really.
It starts at 3,330 metres
and drops down to 720
down Allemond Valley.
(brakes squealing)
(whooping)
Oh my...
(yelling)
This is the start of the Megavalanche,
the final from right at
the top, 3,330 metres.
I've got Mr. Ben Deakin here.
- Hi, guys.
- Veteran of the area,
that's ridden here, for sure.
Deaks, what technique-wise?
- Right, so, tech-wise,
you've got three options.
(yelling and brakes squealing)
You've got the all-singing,
all-dancing, feet on the pedals,
man up and not slide out.
- Yeah.
- You've got the tripod, or
you've got the no-legger.
I don't recommend the no-legger.
(whooping)
(laughing)
- It's manic down there.
- Or you've got the slide and hold--
(yelling)
which I think you've got a
wet bum all the way down.
I mean, this year's slightly different
because there's not as much snow,
but it's still really good fun.
And as you can see, everyone's smiling
despite big crashes, so...
(laughing)
- How to ride snow coming soon,
after I've learned how to ride the snow.
(laughing)
- Done.
- Should we carry on down there?
- Let's do it.
(upbeat electronic music)
(brakes squealing)
(laughing)
(yelling)
(laughing)
(yelling)
(laughing)
- What the hell?
I tried to unclip, man.
This section here looks like
the second hardest thing,
or the hardest.
- This will be a lot better
come race day, 'cause they piste it.
It's this next steep bit that
is gonna be the gnarl factor.
- Look at it, man.
This is even steeper.
Deaks, this is scary.
What rut do we choose, what line?
- Well, I like the look of this,
but his bike's right in the middle of it.
- Look at the left side, though.
Is that cliff, or is that
just rock face? (laughs)
It's really hard to see
how steep it is on camera.
No lie, that there,
what do you reckon, 40?
Nah, 35.
He's going straight for that guy's bike.
- Top tip, if you crash,
hold onto your bike.
You do not want to be like those guys,
walking up the mountain,
(Blake laughs)
actually clambering up to get your bike
or even your goggles.
- Well, there's goggles there.
Poor guy lost his goggles.
[Ben] I can try (mumbles)
(brakes squealing)
- [Blake] Yeah, buddy.
(laughing)
This is quite scary through here.
- So, Blake.
- (laughs) Yeah?
- This here--
- Yeah?
- --is the corner of doom.
- Oh, is this where you crashed?
This big--
- This is the crash
that it was just carnage.
You're coming absolutely
bombing down here.
People were turning but not turning,
(Blake laughs)
hitting this bank,
and I think it was Conor
Macfarlane went flying,
broke a rib, busted lung.
Two seconds later, I'm coming
charging over, see him.
Do I turn left, do I go straight on?
I went for the straight-on option
and actually got away all right.
Let's not think this way this year.
Let's actually think about
staying on the piste.
- Yeah, and did you know what,
there's loads of lines coming
from snow to rock to snow.
I don't think that's the one.
- No.
- I think just staying on the snow, man.
- I think so.
- Yeah.
It looks fluffy and nice.
Should we get down onto some roughness?
- Let's get onto some gnarl, man.
- (laughs) Yay.
(bright electronic music)
(groaning)
This is where the hardtail
comes into play, Deaks.
(brakes squealing)
(groaning)
(laughing)
This is horrible.
Here, this is the first
bit of gnarly section
you're introduced to when you
come off the snow, the piste.
And you're introduced to
all of this horribleness.
Now, I would feel a little bit at ease
when I'm with a full-suspension
bike, but I'm on a hardtail,
so I've gotta pick my line very wisely.
Gnarliness, it just looks horrible.
I'm more nervous because
I'm riding a hardtail.
I feel a little bit
out of my comfort zone.
Look at this terrain.
It's not for the
faint-hearted, that's for sure.
Oh my god.
(rock music)
So this is the biggest climb
out of the whole thing.
It's pretty brutal
because you've just come
off that mountain right behind me there,
you've traversed all the way around.
You can pick up a few positions
if you're fast and you've
got it in your legs
to climb this crazy hill
or you get help from...
Look at that.
(speaking with heavy accent)
(laughs) GMBN.
- You're a legend, bruv.
- Thank you very much.
- You're a legend.
- Thank you.
- Oh, man.
- What's your name?
- Damian.
- Damian.
- I said to the missus,
(speaking with heavy accent)
(laughing)
- It's always good bumping
into you beautiful people
on the trail.
That was Damien, fan of the show.
Well, we're climbing up this thing.
Like I said, qualifying track's there.
You got this, can make or break you.
Can gain some good positions
or you can can just--
- Hello.
- --wipe yourself out
because you're super tired.
But yeah, I quite like it.
I think the hardtail's gonna
be quite good on this climb.
No bobbing, no locking out
of suspension, super good.
(groans) The start of the lowest section
of the Megavalanche trail.
Let me break this down for you,
put you in a bit of a perspective
of what's going on behind me.
There's the huge mountain.
You've got Pic Blanc,
you've got the top there,
which is the beginning
of the qualifying run,
through some moonlike terrain
into the meadows of Alpe D'Huez.
And then the start for the
main race is way up the top,
again 3,330 metres, right through somewhat
of a glacier through the valley.
You traverse all the way
around that whole mountain,
come around that side there,
on the right hand side,
fire through the meadows and
up this nasty climb, (laughs)
because you are so out of
breath and you're tired.
And then you've got to go through here,
and then you drop into the woody section
into the next valley, which is fun
but is gnarly when there's
loads of people in front of you.
So I'm gonna go and take
a look at some lines.
(upbeat electronic music)
(rocks clattering)
(brakes squealing)
Going in this big gondola,
going up to the top of
the qualifying track,
which is at 2,800 metres.
And it's dead now, but
come qualifying tomorrow,
this is jam-packed full
of riders, 3 lines.
It's hectic, full, full, full of riders.
But we're gonna do a
qualifying run, practise run,
because it's gonna help
me kind of gauge my lines
to see where I'm gonna go on
that thing there, everyone.
Yeah.
(upbeat electronic music)
Let's remember we're not racing, Deaks.
- What were you doing?
You were taking a head start early.
- [Blake] Well, I'm clipping in.
- [Ben] Three, two, one, go.
(rocks clattering)
(groaning)
- [Blake] Deaks got the good line.
(groans) I'm guessing this
is the finish for qualies.
- [Ben] Mate, it's
gonna be tough tomorrow.
- [Blake] Yeah.
- [Ben] But it's gonna be fun, isn't it?
Let's be honest.
- Oh, it's gonna be...
Thank you so much, Deaks,
for actually showing me a few lines,
'cause last time I was here,
I didn't even go and do a
practise run on anything,
only lower qualifying track.
- Sick.
- Thank you so much.
- Mate.
- Nuked some lines.
- Some lines that we're
keeping secret.
- We'll keep it hush.
Only you guys know. (laughs)
- No, I've had a blast,
you've had a blast.
We've had an epic time.
- It's time for tomorrow, tomorrow.
- Tomorrow.
(mumbles) a cheeky beer.
- Cheeky beer and done.
Qualifying day.
(gentle electronic music)
We're going fast, sticking
to your race lines,
avoiding punctures.
Qualifying in the top
35 riders in my group
is important to race in the main event,
which I want to do, on Sunday.
A quick bolt check,
climb aboard the very busy gondola
to the top qualifying track.
See, told you.
Full.
No one do a fart, please.
(laughing)
(upbeat rock music)
(rocks clattering)
Yo.
(cheering)
What the hell?
Hardtails, man.
Whose idea was this?
It's only qualifying.
Mega's...
Bloody hell.
I need a drink.
That was some arm pump, I've
never experienced in my life.
I'm going to have forearms like Popeye.
All right, one thing is, we as a group
are the true warriors of Megavalanche,
because we're doing it on hardtails, huh?
True warriors.
It's quarter to seven.
Delayed slightly, only
because the weather's
freezing up there, so they
wouldn't let us up there.
Deaks is here.
He's in C group, which in line 3?
- Line 3, mate.
- And then I'm F, on
the hardtail over there.
But look at the queue already.
Queuing up.
We're gonna get to the top.
(upbeat electronic music)
- [Man] You still think the
hardtail is a good idea, Blake?
- (laughs) Yes, maybe.
It's gonna be fast on the climbs.
I'm just waiting for that, there you go.
I'm waiting for the
climb and the flat bit.
- [Man] What are you
worried about the most?
- The snow.
Scared that, look all these
bikes are going to be behind me.
That's not a good combination.
(bright electronic music)
- [Man] It will be a pleasure
to crash with you all, guys.
(laughing)
- [Blake] Oh, god.
- [Man] Easy.
If I lie down, jump over me.
(gentle electronic music)
- This is it, Megavalanche.
There's the lineup.
I'm in the worst position ever.
I'm on the far left, which
I actually said to myself,
I don't want to be there.
Next bit, dropping in.
(cheering)
(bright electronic music)
(rocks clattering)
(boards rumbling)
(rocks clattering)
Wow, this is quite hard going.
Arm pump of the century.
On your left.
Left, thank you.
(cheering)
[Man] Come on, mate, you got it.
Come on, dude, you got it.
Keep it going, come on, bro.
How are you feeling?
- Death.
My legs, my legs are dead.
(cheering)
(rocks clattering)
(rock music)
(crowd chatter)
Oh, man, on the snow I just ploughed.
I just went sideways,
right foot down, unclipped.
Kept my head down and just
picked my line through everyone.
Look at them, they're like, bowed out.
I couldn't even hold on.
I was going from this finger
to this finger to this finger.
I wouldn't recommend it.
(upbeat electronic music)
That is the hardest race I have ever done,
let alone on a hardtail.
Would I recommend you
doing it on a hardtail?
No, unless you want to challenge yourself
and be rattled to pieces
and probably want to go
on a two-week holiday,
which I am after this.
It's recommended.
But if you want to see some
more rad videos from GMBN,
don't forget hit that globe to subscribe,
because you're missing
out on some rad stuff.
If you want to see another
epic ride, click over here,
and if you want to see my
Pro Bike that Doddy did
about my bike for the
Mega, click just down here.
Give us a thumbs-up like
if you're watching me
suffer on a hardtail.
See ya.
