Right then…

After deciding that we were just going to trot out the same track as the last one, but with a couple of variations, we went out this morning and completely redesigned it.

The venue is the same, but the course is about 80% different.

Gone are the…

Compulsory dismount.
Muddy decking.
Road crossing.
Tarmac section.
Descent past the pond.

In are…

2 x Evil carry/push climbs.
Long and fast woodland downhill.
Technical downhill used in HtN 1.
Flat out fast hardpack section.
New single track bits recently cleared by the council.

Staying are…

The steps.
The start/finish field.
The long climb.
“Rooley’s Chin” descent.

The new layout flows much better than the old one with much more gradient. It should hold up better in the wet. Lap length about 3 miles.

We will preview ride it in a couple of weeks to see how it copes with a bunch of riders. Details on here and at our place when we get round to tidying it up.

february…….weather should be ace

Pics & beer for me, as usual 😀

Ace. I'm in the pub 'training' right now.

we've upped the ante on the 'pain side of things' in my opinion. We had a few 'should we? Could we? Yeh, sod it, let's send them up that' moments earlier.

Tough sh1t 😉

Crossjunkie said that the last one was hard. We saw that as a challenge to make this one harder.

Arse.. I was hoping that 'rooley's chin' might be removed!! Might invest in a FF helmet. 🙂

Thought it looked tough enough last year, when I was just taking photo's.
Ah, well, might as well have a go, you've got to die of something, right?

The power has gone to your heads, you know that, don't you?

Harry points to the evil climb whilst Terra surveys his domain – taken this morning:

LOL. Is that bloke on the bottom right having a crafty "long" cigarette?

Mussolini never returned his mum's curtain tie-backs.

But he did make the trains run on time.

Jase, should we get a pair of big furry Russian hats with red stars on them?

you could have machine gun posts mounted at certain points and shoot the last 10 riders each lap??

I was thinking of a Sergeant Major type person to scream abuse/encouragement at the top of the new carry section. It is a field with a gentle climb that turns into a 1 in 3 for the last 20 metres. Nice.

Yay! hats

Hit zer North 1.5 v2:
'VE HAF VAYS OF MAKING YOU VALK!'

I want a free place for that one……

Like Terrahawk said… Tough sh1t 😉 No more Meeester Nice Guy.

Apart from the obvious "pick it up and carry it" bits this one rides so much better. Harder, yet easier if you catch my drift.

Jesus, why not go the whole hog – paintball snipers and compulsory eyewear – 5 second penalty for each hit?
🙂

We may borrow the dog from "dog sprint farm". After a cleat/head interface with somebody who will remain nameless it has been a big fan of cyclists. Ideal motivation for that extra bit of speed.

The farm just past the Jewish Cemetery?

The little white terrier thing is going to get a proper shoeing if it ever catches up with me – always, always take a slower rider as a decoy.
I'm having a few problems with the last bit……..

That's the one 😀

Brilliant, I'm in again. Loved it last year, I came 11th IIRC. Is this new course going to favor mountain bikes a bit more than the cyclo-crossers, they did do rather well for an MTB race!

Good man.

It's not a CX race or a MTB race. It's just a race.

I think it will be more about the rider than the bike. Certain sections favour CX and other are better for MTBs. I wouldn't like to do the technical bits on my CX, but on my MTB I know that I would be slower on the flat out bits and where you have to shoulder it.

Word has spread. We may have a few "Big Hitters" at this one to give the front of the field a run for their money.

I'll be there to give the back of the field a run for their money.

Yes, to be fair, I don't think my placing really reflected my true ability, as I found out a couple of months later at Lee Quarry, (and suspect I may again tomorrow).

hard my arse……..never too hard , big spoon of MTFU for brekkie on the day.. 😉

miketually – Member

I'll be there to give the back of the field a run for their money.

Will you be on your new sponsored bike?

Will you be on your new sponsored bike?

At our new sponsored event?

New sponsors?

Or is it Cooksons? – Just spent £115.00 in there this afternoon and didn't even get a discount!

No more nice posts about THEM for a while 😀

'tis a secret for now.

Judging by the average age of the competitors last time, the hard ground and all those lovely comfy cross bikes, I'm sure Preparation H might be willing to donate a few tubes.

Don't forget to warm the applicator first……

We could name the new DH with the step in it Preparation H as it will drive a few saddles up unsuspecting arses. 😯

Is it the d/hill on the right just as you go through the car park?

The one where Ms Spanner went over the bars after your confidence inspiring little talk on one of the preview rides? 😀

I like that one. Bit muddy right at the bottom though – should be a laugh.

That's the one. It should be frozen solid at the bottom with a bit of luck.

Our new sponsor.

They also make bikes.

Spangley new website from Warren
.
The North Will Rise Again

whoot, i am so there 🙂

Let's se if i can avoid a re-run of my "dying from emphysema as I ride" that I had last time.

It must be a thing about North Manchester – it takes one look at this Didsbury boy and just growls.

This time, I shall growl back.

We may have to have a special category for you south Manchester shandies. Shorter lap, indoors perhaps.

Terrahawk GPSed it yesterday.

2.8 miles. 466 ft of climbing.

We may have to have a special category for you south Manchester shandies. Shorter lap, indoors perhaps.

Can we have a dry version, for those of us from the tropical Peoples' Republic of the North east?