Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
Let me add it's the rider doing the tire and wheel swaps too!
Interesting how “back in the day”, blown wheels were so common in SX/MX. Now flats and DNF’s are so rare, especially indoors.
Riders used to have to ride so as to save rims, now it takes a pretty big incident.
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
So that includes rolling your bike in, setting it up on the stand. Removing the front wheel, setting it down, then putting it back on and bolting it up safely as quick as possible. ML512 can we get a Vital tire changing competition going?
Here is the key, you have to think like a mechanic and have all of your tools that you could possibly need to disassemble/fix the bike in your back pack (not just the tools you need for the front tire) and also spare goggles and other things that the rider may need.
I'm sure it was painful
A 2 minute front tire change is quick...for a single person. For a professional racing team it's laboriously slow. Jason may finish 5th or better next week, making the fiasco a moot point. However, if an accident or another mechanical loses the title by a handful of points, that time in the SLC pits will signal how SX is truly a team sport.
Here's the silver-lining: he rode AMAZINGLY AWESOME after he got back out there...
In CRAZY traffic...
Using "partially available" lines and even had some creative jumping rhythm out of "Eli's Turn"...this was pointed out by Matt Goerke...a huge El Hombré fan outta Florida that does a little racing of his own.
What could be done to speed this up? These are race bikes after all. And anything that speeds the process up would also help with convenience for flat repair.
Tool-less quick release axle
Captive spacers
Some way to spread the calipers quickly
Really not that hard, already solved for dh bikes right?
F1 tire changes are so fast because the car is built to support the process. Built in jacks, and a single bolt for each wheel.
Pit Row
What I saw seemed to be lots of confusion on how to put the wheel on it seemed. If the spare wheel used different spacers or anything else, that would for sure be a problem with the mechanic or team for not being ready.
It's hard to tell in my GIF (same as the HD broadcast) but it does look like he's slapping at it when Anderson rides away.
They bring spare wheels for this reason. But the tools were a scramble. So if you are going to take the time to bring a extra set of wheels, why not have the tools ready. If your going to use hand tools or power tools, have them always with the wheel set or wheel cart. I can see digging in a bag for a rare special tool or item.
But I couldn't imagine the thoughts in their head while trying to focus on the job.
So to keep the pads spread, is there a wedge available with a streamer so they dont forget to pull it? Or maybe a piece of composite, like a dense sacrificial Styrofoam wedge that can be inserted, then the rotor pushes it out during wheel install? been a while since I been involved in wrenching on bikes.
with 2 minutes plus 1 lap left did Ralph ask Jeff if it were possible for Anderson to catch Musquin by chance? because i think he had about the same chance to catch Marv as Eli did.
Post a reply to: Slowest wheel change ever?