Does anyone know the route the Mega Enduro will take? Is it the same as last year, and if so anyone know what the special stages were last year?

Cheers
M.

AVALANCHE ENDURO AE FOREST – SPECIAL STAGES
The AE FOREST enduro tracks will be kept secret until May 08th, training day.
Special stage, down hill section which will be timed will be closed to the public on May 08th and 09th , though link sections will be opened so we aks you to follow the signs and to be careful.

Very Important Info:
Rider will have a chip and marshals will swap rider at the end of each stage. For that reason it will have chicanes to slow down riders.
Please think that you make your race on a track and not at the finish.

We can tell you some info about each Special Stage:

Seeding Run: It will on the Special Stage 1 but you will start higher in order to make more the difference. Time will be about 4 minutes for the top rider.
The Seeding Run has got a free ride section in the middle, some flat parts where you need to pedal, speed turns. It is in a middle of the Forest.

– SS1: You will know SS1 as you ride on it on Saturday. The start will be on a flat forest road as you will start 2 by 2. We will leave some turns open in order to pass the rider in front if it is necessary.

– SS2: A bit more than 2 min. for the top rider, short special stage where it almost go down, no section where you need to pedal.

– SS3: It might have been a link section but we prefered take it as special stage. Very Very quick one 1min45 for the best riders, you can forget to breath and give the best of yourself on that one very easy.

– SS4: The hardest one in about 7 minutes. Long special stage, with down hill and up hills, some flat sections. You can suffer in that if you forget to breath ! There won't have a lot space to pass the rider with you only at the begining of the stage.

– SS5: It is a very fast special stage but there will have some chicanes. It goes down but if you want to make a good time you can pedal a bit … best time 2 min 25

– SS6: last one is a soft down hill. At the end of the stage some different lines will be open as well you could pass the rider with you. About 3 min for the top riders.

starting in pairs down the Shredder will be…fun lol

I bet this will be ace – wish I could do it this year. Would love to race on the Shredder track.

Anyone got any thoughts on the "racing as pairs" format they've adopted this year. Could be interesting although I fear there'll be elbows out and 4x tak out's resulting in finish line fights!

Thats crap! Entry for this event was f*&%$ing expensive and now if the guy your paired with goes down and blocks the track your race is stuffed. Im not exactly fast but enjoy racing at my own pace, not impressed about having to keep out of the way of someone else (for their or my benefit). I dont remember entering a dual slalom race.

Where does it say about starting in pairs?

On the press release, tho it mentions it in passing in the rider e-mail (what RHSno2 posted above).

you will start 2 by 2

8.30 am Start 2 by 2 every 30 sec.
eg: n°1 & 2, 30 secondes later n°3 & 4 and so on

SS1 First start: 9 am n°1 & 2
SS2 First start: 9.45 am n°1 & 2
SS3 First start: 10.20 am n°1 & 2
SS4 First start: 10.40 am n°1 & 2
SS5 First start: 11.30 am n°1 & 2
SS6 First start: 12.07 pm n°1 & 2

During the race on Sunday you will be 2 by 2 so please respect the competitors who is against you. It is a fun week end not a fight week end !
You will be swaped at the end of each Special Stage, chicanes will make the end but don't forget that marshals won't run after you you have to stop where they are.

Agreed with Stato.

Not sure if I'm fully entered or not as got the latest email but on the registration website it doesnt look like i've paid and I cant find anything on my card statement. Anyways the whole system is pretty pants.

If I did in fact pay then I'll be asking for a refund as didnt enter a 4x race! Its a real shame as I've done all the other uk based avalanches and done the mega twice and thought all the events were brilliant.

The reason given for the 2 by 2 is so that the weather conditions are the same for everyone, clearly boshank as its to make money, I've obviously got no problem with people making money and thats all fair enough but they should have just made the day longer instead of fundamentally changing the race.

If I am paid up then I'll be asking for a refund
[ends rant]

Dunno, sounds like it could be fun

Oh shhhsss. and MTFU. Jesus. What wingers you lot are.

This is standard Enduro practice. You will sprint and get ahead….or not. This will happen 6 times. This is an Enduro race. This will add to the buzz not take away.

I agree with RHSno2. Surely the dual will make it more exciting and push you more, depending on who you're up against of course. Quite looking fwd to the Shredder now…

M.

Well, it should be someone that is of the same standard as you being it is decided by the prologue. Everone is in the same boat.

In my experience people let you pass or get out of the way if you are faster.

Mega = starting alongside 199 others = brilliant.
Ae = starting alongside 1 other who might muck up my race = I want a refund.

???

I think it'll be a right buzz.

Haha, best make sure i dont mess the seeding up!

You could do a go-slow in the seeding run so you can get away from your partner a bit easier.

Haha, best make sure i dont mess the seeding up!

Or you'll find yourself having to overtake 2-3 folk stu, this calls for some inventive line choices! 🙂

sure it will be a laugh, some thinking to be done about how to tackle the prologue,just dont want to get with a super fast starter like a 4x or bmx'er who is fast off the start but no stamina and then holds me up.
then again dont wont hounding down by some pro who had a mechanical in the prologue!!
like I said bound to be a laugh :O)

Where can u see the entry list? Paid up in the second wave and want to check I'm on there

Will be interesting that's for sure

the seeding run is counted as part of your overall time, if you dont do it you get a 5 minute penalty added to the slowest time put on your total.

Its a seeding run BUT also counts to overall. So do your best and keep going.

Entry list online here
http://www.avalanchecup.com/enduro-avalanche-ae-forest-uk-liste-des-inscrits-2010.html

Anyone excited?

How come they missed the pun of AE-valanche Enduro? There's just no imagination or poor humour in mountain biking these days.

Not that excited with all the faff of entering and extra bits of paper before getting separated from the mates I was intending to ride with, to a schedule and what sounds like a compromised setup to boost entry numbers.

Think I'll stick with the Mash-ups in future.

what are people doing regarding the doctors note/insurance stipulation?

stick with mash ups! thats has to be the worse race for organisation that i have ever had the pleasure of entering!

excited about this race, getting fired up!

just dont want to get with a super fast starter like a 4x or bmx'er who is fast off the start but no stamina and then holds me up.

Err, yeah, ok. You ridden with many decent BMX or 4x riders? They tend to be fairly frickin fast. The prologue will shake out the field. Looking forward to it.

Thats just funny. Its only a 4 minute frickin' sprint/hard pedal. If your slow out of start your be slow over the lot.

Hope the Ash cloud doesn't stop my flight though…

Err, yeah, ok. You ridden with many decent BMX or 4x riders? They tend to be fairly frickin fast. The prologue will shake out the field. Looking forward to it.

yes mate nearly ever weekend!
turning up with one who was 3rd in the world many moons ago.
So I know what I'm talking about, a little.

Any idea if any camping has been sorted out at the event?

Stages as per last year with minor adjustments… You aint seen me right 😉

Suspected it might be, are they working with anyone over here this year clive?

Not that I'm aware, they have got a few "helpers" but no one having any input re planning etc. I'm just looking forward to hanging out with you all and riding my bike this time.

Everything clicking into place at last, excitement reinstated.

Any idea if any camping has been sorted out at the event?

What? r'you thinking of racing in gold hot pants and benders?

was trying to keep the outfit under wraps till the big day but never mind!

Can anyone tell me what the course was last year?

If it's the same as the Kielder one they don't sort out any camping for you – should do really for the ticket price.