FBK
I was round the corner from you in the car park, well done for the finish on the borrowed bike.
Not to hit it too hard but an event like this needs wide support, I did OK, would have done better without the DH!!
I was mainly disappointed/annoyed by the way it was laid out on the web then after an update on facebook suddenly included the DH etc.
I'll go with the horses for courses argument, just know a few who wont be back if it chucks a few stages like 5 in again which is a shame as they really enjoyed 1-4. I fully accept that there needs to be more challenge for some - I'll take mine that there was 30-40s to find on S1-S4, not too bothered about S5 as my aim was not to hurt myself.
Most DH races would have run Chicken Runs round the hard obstacles anyway, gives you a time penalty but can still compete.
Would have liked to see some marshals up there as I have raced DH tracks like that (Pearce Rd 1 was similar!) which would have been mandatory Full Face and 10 marshals on the course.
All in all event was good for me but not for the people I came with who had hoped it was the middle ground that they would enjoy. Neither would have entered had they known what was coming, details were a bit late in coming out as to the track choice. Will see how Kielder goes.
Don't want to spend my days arguing my point but there are always 2 sides in these things those aspiring to move up and those who are looking to do well. Events when they start need to cover both and establish themselves before excluding people. This sort of event is still fairly new over here (2 Kona F Ups and 2/3 Avalanche Events?) maybe we need to let lots in and see where it goes rather than deciding where it needs to be from the start. I'd rather see 250 riders from all fields (XC all the way to DH) entered than 150.
Entries for Kielder 110 so far so need a few more to come would be a shame to turn people away because they are not good enough(there were more masters than that at Ae!!)