Dozer
05-10-2007, 08:19 PM
You see his name pop up every now and then around here and a lot of people know exactly who he is..............some don't! Well, you have no excuse now as I am proud to introduce Lindsay Klien!
Who are you?
Lindsay Klein (that’s what my drivers license says anyway)
What is your occupation?
Civil Engineer, graduated from uni at the end of last year. I’m now in the real world which is kinda scary. I feel as though I’m supposed to be grown up now.
You’ve been to some great places around the world riding. Tell us about some of your best experiences riding overseas.
The best experience was being able to travel week after week on the racing circuit. I’m not talking about the actual traveling, as that’s pretty damn average. It was awesome hanging around with all the riders and being able to ride new tracks every week. Everyone on the downhill circuit is super friendly. They’re all competitors but the only time that ever matters is when race run comes around. The rest of the time you spend hanging out with people from all over the world who have as much passion as you do for riding. Whether you were going for an xc ride, dirt jumping, doing downhill’s or having a few beers at the pub, you were always having a good time with some of the nicest and friendliest people I have ever met.
What would the best race weekend entail for you?
An awesome track, a few good days of practice with all my mates, a good result and a killer party to finish it all off.
How does the Aussie racing scene compare to other countries?
Pretty damn relaxed! Although I must admit it seems to be getting a bit more serious now. The state rounds in NSW and QLD are pulling big numbers and there are a lot of fast guys who want to win. Although at the end of the day we’re all there to have fun.
If you had to name the five tracks in Australia to be used in the national series, what would they be and why?
In no particular order…
Nundle: That place was awesome. Being sideways 30 meters before a corner, while doing 60, while setting up for a mega berm and throwing enormous amounts of roost is one of the best feelings ever!
Coffs Harbour: For fun flowing corners you can’t go past it. I had one of the greatest days of runs there during Saturday practice for this years state round.
Toowoomba: I helped build this one so of course I love it! It’s a super fast, loose, rocky track that drops around 350 m in 2 min 40, yeeoow!
Awaba: I flew to Newcastle for the race there this year because I heard the track was awesome. I wasn’t disappointed. It was off-camber, drifty, rocky, steep and fast. What could be better?
Kennilworth: Another Queensland track. This place is steep, rocky and pretty damn technical, plus it’s awesome to ride and Wodie keeps smoking us on it. We need a national round so some fast people can come and beat him.
You may have noticed none of these are on the national circuit. The national round tracks have been good but they either don’t stand out to me like the tracks I mentioned or something on them bugs the hell out of me. Tassie had some awesome sections and some truly hideous ones too. Buller and Beauty are actually pretty good fun and could definitely make the list above but I could only choose 5 tracks. I haven’t ridden WA and SA so I can’t comment on those. Where’s Thredbo you ask? Build a new track that doesn’t have 75 corners all with flat exits. You have the biggest hill in the country, make the most of it by building an awesome dh track.
What will be the podium for the world champs in Australia in 2009 for elite men?
Sam Hill
Greg Minnaar
Nathan Rennie
Really, I have no idea. There are so many guys who can podium (I’ve already thought of around 10!) and I think on that track Sam Hill could actually be beaten.
If you had a segment in a riding movie, what song would be playing, where would you be riding and what would make it worth watching?
Song:
Emergency Emergency from The Hot Lies new album would go really well. It has that cool Aussie punk rock whatever you want to call it sound that goes so well with bike movies.
Otherwise some old school Offspring with the song Mota. I was listening to their album Xnay on the Hombre on the way home today and had forgotten how good it was.
Location:
Any of the tracks I listed above would be sweet.
Why watch it:
My awesomness style. I know I’d want to watch it. Isn’t that all that matters?
Is fitness a big bonus for an elite DH racer?
Yeah it makes a huge difference. Once you get tired in a downhill run you just make so many little mistakes. The stronger and fitter you are the better. Plus when it comes to the race you don’t feel like an old man who’s been sitting on the couch all day ready for his afternoon nap.
Who would be the three people you would take on Australian riding road trip?
Probably the crew from the Thredbo road trips we’ve been doing every year, Scott, Jared and Pete. We somehow manage 15+ hours in my trusty non-air conditioned dual cab ute to get there year after year and we’re still friends. Somehow we always have a great time.
What music is in your library at the moment?
I’m currently running the new Go! Team album Proof of Youth and some Deftones self titled.
You know some of the founders of Farkin quite well………
Yeah I know THE founder. I basically met Scott through Jared just as he started the site. Been really good mates ever since (only because he gave me admin rights… don’t tell him that though)
Is it a necessity for all elite DH racers to hit the “A” lines on every course?
Depends if the A-line is faster. I’ve been to many downhill tracks where the A-line was noticeably slower. There are other times when they’re pretty even and we usually just argue over what we think is faster. Then we get sick of that and go have a beer instead.
You represent a great QLD based bike store that look after you very well……
Yeap, For The Riders. It’s a pretty cool deal. They’re my good mates and give me bike parts. What could be better? Plus they’re super friendly and keen to help out anyone after a new bike or just looking to upgrade their current steed. Check em out www.fortheriders.com
Clips of flats?
Flats all the way. I love drifting with a foot out.
Front brake on the right or left?
Right
Worst riding moments?
Coming off at Thredbo doing 60+ km/h. Bouncing along the ground snapping wooden stakes in half with your body is not fun. End result was a screwed helmet, 11 stitches in my head, a few broken ribs and a metacarpal broken in my hand so my pinky finger was on a funky angle.
I ended up pretty lucky in the end. Ricky Boy crashed in the same location the following year and ended up with a visit to surgery and a few additional pieces of metal holding his bones together.
How do you see the Aussie mountain bike scene changing in the future?
More Dual Slalom. I’ve heard numerous reports that tracks will popping up in a town near you!
Basically I see more people getting out there and giving mountain biking a go. This should lead to more tracks to ride and more people at races resulting in more fun for all!
What is the dumbest thing you’ve ever done?
I’d prefer not to answer that one!
What other interests do you have away from bikes?
Does having beers with you mates count as an interest?
What are three of your favorite movies or TV Shows?
No idea, I don’t watch many movies. How about TV shows?
Daria, The Young Ones and Firefly are easily my favourite shows ever.
Tell us a joke……
I’m boring and don’t know any jokes Dozer.
To finish off I’d like to add a few shout outs.
Big thanks to Hamo and Greg from Santa Cruz Bicycles, Timmy and Michael from For The Riders and Scott from this website for making my riding and racing so much more enjoyable than it ever could have been. Cheers guys!
There you go. I had the pleasure of spending the Awaba race weekend with Lindsay and I watched in amazement as he battled a small mechanical problem to come out strong and have a blast on a hard track. If you ever get the chance, make sure you say G'day to an Aussie legend.
http://www.farkin.net/images/user/TN/aee235eb08.jpg (http://www.farkin.net/showimage/aee235eb08.jpg)
http://www.farkin.net/images/user/TN/2ef6e2ff35.jpg (http://www.farkin.net/showimage/2ef6e2ff35.jpg)
http://www.farkin.net/images/user/TN/465f205688.jpg (http://www.farkin.net/showimage/465f205688.jpg)
Who are you?
Lindsay Klein (that’s what my drivers license says anyway)
What is your occupation?
Civil Engineer, graduated from uni at the end of last year. I’m now in the real world which is kinda scary. I feel as though I’m supposed to be grown up now.
You’ve been to some great places around the world riding. Tell us about some of your best experiences riding overseas.
The best experience was being able to travel week after week on the racing circuit. I’m not talking about the actual traveling, as that’s pretty damn average. It was awesome hanging around with all the riders and being able to ride new tracks every week. Everyone on the downhill circuit is super friendly. They’re all competitors but the only time that ever matters is when race run comes around. The rest of the time you spend hanging out with people from all over the world who have as much passion as you do for riding. Whether you were going for an xc ride, dirt jumping, doing downhill’s or having a few beers at the pub, you were always having a good time with some of the nicest and friendliest people I have ever met.
What would the best race weekend entail for you?
An awesome track, a few good days of practice with all my mates, a good result and a killer party to finish it all off.
How does the Aussie racing scene compare to other countries?
Pretty damn relaxed! Although I must admit it seems to be getting a bit more serious now. The state rounds in NSW and QLD are pulling big numbers and there are a lot of fast guys who want to win. Although at the end of the day we’re all there to have fun.
If you had to name the five tracks in Australia to be used in the national series, what would they be and why?
In no particular order…
Nundle: That place was awesome. Being sideways 30 meters before a corner, while doing 60, while setting up for a mega berm and throwing enormous amounts of roost is one of the best feelings ever!
Coffs Harbour: For fun flowing corners you can’t go past it. I had one of the greatest days of runs there during Saturday practice for this years state round.
Toowoomba: I helped build this one so of course I love it! It’s a super fast, loose, rocky track that drops around 350 m in 2 min 40, yeeoow!
Awaba: I flew to Newcastle for the race there this year because I heard the track was awesome. I wasn’t disappointed. It was off-camber, drifty, rocky, steep and fast. What could be better?
Kennilworth: Another Queensland track. This place is steep, rocky and pretty damn technical, plus it’s awesome to ride and Wodie keeps smoking us on it. We need a national round so some fast people can come and beat him.
You may have noticed none of these are on the national circuit. The national round tracks have been good but they either don’t stand out to me like the tracks I mentioned or something on them bugs the hell out of me. Tassie had some awesome sections and some truly hideous ones too. Buller and Beauty are actually pretty good fun and could definitely make the list above but I could only choose 5 tracks. I haven’t ridden WA and SA so I can’t comment on those. Where’s Thredbo you ask? Build a new track that doesn’t have 75 corners all with flat exits. You have the biggest hill in the country, make the most of it by building an awesome dh track.
What will be the podium for the world champs in Australia in 2009 for elite men?
Sam Hill
Greg Minnaar
Nathan Rennie
Really, I have no idea. There are so many guys who can podium (I’ve already thought of around 10!) and I think on that track Sam Hill could actually be beaten.
If you had a segment in a riding movie, what song would be playing, where would you be riding and what would make it worth watching?
Song:
Emergency Emergency from The Hot Lies new album would go really well. It has that cool Aussie punk rock whatever you want to call it sound that goes so well with bike movies.
Otherwise some old school Offspring with the song Mota. I was listening to their album Xnay on the Hombre on the way home today and had forgotten how good it was.
Location:
Any of the tracks I listed above would be sweet.
Why watch it:
My awesomness style. I know I’d want to watch it. Isn’t that all that matters?
Is fitness a big bonus for an elite DH racer?
Yeah it makes a huge difference. Once you get tired in a downhill run you just make so many little mistakes. The stronger and fitter you are the better. Plus when it comes to the race you don’t feel like an old man who’s been sitting on the couch all day ready for his afternoon nap.
Who would be the three people you would take on Australian riding road trip?
Probably the crew from the Thredbo road trips we’ve been doing every year, Scott, Jared and Pete. We somehow manage 15+ hours in my trusty non-air conditioned dual cab ute to get there year after year and we’re still friends. Somehow we always have a great time.
What music is in your library at the moment?
I’m currently running the new Go! Team album Proof of Youth and some Deftones self titled.
You know some of the founders of Farkin quite well………
Yeah I know THE founder. I basically met Scott through Jared just as he started the site. Been really good mates ever since (only because he gave me admin rights… don’t tell him that though)
Is it a necessity for all elite DH racers to hit the “A” lines on every course?
Depends if the A-line is faster. I’ve been to many downhill tracks where the A-line was noticeably slower. There are other times when they’re pretty even and we usually just argue over what we think is faster. Then we get sick of that and go have a beer instead.
You represent a great QLD based bike store that look after you very well……
Yeap, For The Riders. It’s a pretty cool deal. They’re my good mates and give me bike parts. What could be better? Plus they’re super friendly and keen to help out anyone after a new bike or just looking to upgrade their current steed. Check em out www.fortheriders.com
Clips of flats?
Flats all the way. I love drifting with a foot out.
Front brake on the right or left?
Right
Worst riding moments?
Coming off at Thredbo doing 60+ km/h. Bouncing along the ground snapping wooden stakes in half with your body is not fun. End result was a screwed helmet, 11 stitches in my head, a few broken ribs and a metacarpal broken in my hand so my pinky finger was on a funky angle.
I ended up pretty lucky in the end. Ricky Boy crashed in the same location the following year and ended up with a visit to surgery and a few additional pieces of metal holding his bones together.
How do you see the Aussie mountain bike scene changing in the future?
More Dual Slalom. I’ve heard numerous reports that tracks will popping up in a town near you!
Basically I see more people getting out there and giving mountain biking a go. This should lead to more tracks to ride and more people at races resulting in more fun for all!
What is the dumbest thing you’ve ever done?
I’d prefer not to answer that one!
What other interests do you have away from bikes?
Does having beers with you mates count as an interest?
What are three of your favorite movies or TV Shows?
No idea, I don’t watch many movies. How about TV shows?
Daria, The Young Ones and Firefly are easily my favourite shows ever.
Tell us a joke……
I’m boring and don’t know any jokes Dozer.
To finish off I’d like to add a few shout outs.
Big thanks to Hamo and Greg from Santa Cruz Bicycles, Timmy and Michael from For The Riders and Scott from this website for making my riding and racing so much more enjoyable than it ever could have been. Cheers guys!
There you go. I had the pleasure of spending the Awaba race weekend with Lindsay and I watched in amazement as he battled a small mechanical problem to come out strong and have a blast on a hard track. If you ever get the chance, make sure you say G'day to an Aussie legend.
http://www.farkin.net/images/user/TN/aee235eb08.jpg (http://www.farkin.net/showimage/aee235eb08.jpg)
http://www.farkin.net/images/user/TN/2ef6e2ff35.jpg (http://www.farkin.net/showimage/2ef6e2ff35.jpg)
http://www.farkin.net/images/user/TN/465f205688.jpg (http://www.farkin.net/showimage/465f205688.jpg)