My same old morning regimen generally comes to a cup of horrible speedy espresso and a few doom scrolling of more than a few social media channels. Lately on the other hand I did not want the caffeine injection as a brand new video seemed on SAFA Brian’s YouTube channel in a single day of Tom Pidcock flying down the Tuna Canyon descent in Los Angeles. It is such highly spiced viewing that my espresso went untouched for worry of achieving a brand new max center price.
Pidcock is already smartly referred to as an out of this world descender, most likely the most productive within the peloton following his victory on degree 12 of the Excursion ultimate yr, all arrange by means of a wide ranging descent of the Col du Galibier. Whilst his newest downhill escapade is not underneath race stipulations this time, it is unquestionably at race tempo.
The Tuna Canyon descent is a a method street (thankfully, for protection causes) to the west of Santa Monica, CA, that, in step with the Strava phase, drops 396m in 4.33km. The typical gradient is -9.1%, however in step with the on-screen telemetry it hits -16% in puts. Windy, slim, technical, and with damaged tarmac, it is a exceptional piece of motorbike dealing with to observe.
At simply after the minute mark, a right-hander reasons Pidcock’s rear wheel to skip out, sending my center price during the roof, goodness is aware of what it did for his. The slide is instantly stuck by means of the Briton, even though, earlier than wearing on undeterred. The one response comes within the type of a shout of ‘Oil’, which is a time period gleaned from the British street racing scene, the place it’s regularly used to alert close by riders of risk or mistake.
Indulging in some Strava detective paintings (opens in new tab) lets in us to be told a bit of extra: This was once filmed in October 2022, throughout a three-week travel to California. He made two makes an attempt on the descent, and although we will’t know evidently which one we are seeing, we suspect run one was once one thing of a sighting lap, with the second one, quicker run being the flying lap, so that you could talk.
Pidcock narrowly neglected out at the KOM by means of 8 seconds, most likely hampered by means of his previous wheel slip. His max pace for the journey was once in truth at the first run, hitting 86.7km/h, while he ‘handiest’ clocked in at 84.9km/h on the second one. His reasonable pace for the phase was once 58.5km/h. This all came about within the night time too, most likely making for warmer, grippier tarmac.
What Strava does not let us know, however you’ll be able to glean from the video, is that there was once a headwind, as referenced by means of the Briton on the backside. Pidcock additionally complains that the air is in point of fact thick, like using via dust. Possibly, if the celebs aligned and gave a low-pressure day with a tailwind, you’ll be able to guess he’d have shaved the ones 8 seconds off to take the crown. By the way, the crown belongs to the person following at the back of and filming the journey. Safa Brian took the KOM in September 2020, and it is most likely extra spectacular that he stored up with “the most productive rider on the earth” – as described by means of Brian in his video description – whilst filming.
Pidcock’s succinct remaining phrases are as excellent as any to explain Brian’s effort: “It is great using with the king of downhill, innit.”
Methods to descend like Pidcock
Within the phrases of Pidcock himself, “1000s of hours of ‘messing round.”
However uncooked skill, hours of observe, and most likely a whole absence of worry apart, there are a few things you’ll be able to do that can assist you descend, issues we will be informed from Pidcock’s motorcycle setup. Having the most productive street motorcycle tyres is essential, and whilst we may not know evidently what pressures he is operating, it is most likely he was once operating the similar Continental GP5000 S TR as in keeping with his Excursion de France race motorcycle setup. We did not too long ago spot Pidcock’s coaching motorcycle in Calpe, which was once operating the GP 4 Seasons Black Version tyres as a substitute, so it will smartly be the ones too.
Having a motorbike that handles smartly additionally is helping, on this case, a Pinarello Dogma F, which we praised for its splendidly balanced journey, as does having brakes you’ll be able to agree with; Shimano Dura Ace R9200 suits the invoice in this entrance.
Pidcock responds
Within the wake of the video, which went viral simply hours after it was once uploaded, Pidcock took to Instagram Tales to reply to protection considerations.
“For the ones asking, I did recce the descent a couple of instances,” Pidcock claimed. “It was once a a method and there was once a automobile forward ensuring all transparent.
“I have been advised it is a ‘children do not do this at house’ one – especially true!” he persevered, earlier than including “however children, get out using with your friends, have amusing, ive [sic] been 1000s of hours messing round on motorcycles with my associates earlier than I had [the] talents to try this.
“Experience and be protected in the market.”
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