Mr Martin overtook me on the first lap there, taking the alt line.

/burns TT3D DVD/

I rode the proper line
*polishes halo*
.
.
.

.
.

(only ‘cos we were scared of the steep line)

I can’t even remember most of my laps. Riding along the river on my last lap just doesn’t even exist in my head, and I didn’t even fall off 😕

River?

PS Dave, better buck your ideas up now that Phil has got a “Works” ride. There are only so many places in the van.

Wait…

…there’s a van? 😯

The wooded valley with the river on the left of the path, with the steps up to the right at the end.

Thanks nbt, I’ve stolen the pic of TJ and his Responsible Adult for my FB page.

@TJ – (only ‘cos we were scared of the steep line) – Did I ever get a choice? I notice we only got snapped on the flat bits. We must have been a blur on any downhills…

That used to be Asylum Clough, I think.
It’s probably called the ‘On One Valley of Dreams’ now. 😉

Did Preparation H not fancy coughing up the cash to sponsor their own little bit of heaven?

it was indeed known as Asylum Clough. There are the remains of a medieval deer pale on the other side of the path too.

LOl @ slowoldgit

Lurkers!

there was a bad spate of mechanicals

TandemJeremy – Member

there was a bad spate of mechanicals

Did you all get your big girls blouses caught in the rear wheel?
🙂

Is that junkyard fiddling with his zipper (on his blouse) 😀

and the guy in the middle has broken out his camo jacket so as not to be seen lurking.

what a set of lazy buggers…………. 😆

NBT,

Some great photo’s of me shredding it to the core, so how do I get some of them off you?

Also I don’t get the waiting in the woods? is it to not do another lap? because surely that would be a great idea? The course was ACE!!!!! surely you’d want to do another lap?!

2hottie – if we had set out to do another lap it might have been dark by the time we got back.

TJ, you’d have used less energy riding another lap than you spent pushing all those BMW’s up that bloody hill. 🙂

Some great photo’s of me shredding it to the core, so how do I get some of them off you?

Glad you like them 😀

Note the images you want and drop me an email with the details – my email address is in my profile

Loads of shortcuts being taken on that bend too I notice.

ahem, sorry

I’d kind of assumed it was up to the rider, risk/reward, take the easy long way, or risk cutting the corner to make up a couple of places.

BTW what was the deal with the rock sections on the drinkwater trails? There seemed to be tape across the chicken run but it had been cut – it was cut on the first lap. Last minute decision by you or some cheeky race leaders not liking to look of the rocks?

NBT

I’ll do it today,

TJ you seemed to do ok and another lap wouldn’t have taken that long.

Also cheers for pushing the Blue 330d I was in up the hill of doom.

Again this event is why I like biking, top banter with everyone around the course, I’m still buzzing about it!

Also cheers for pushing the Blue 330d I was in up the hill of doom.

That was you was it? Next year Beemers and camper vans won’t be allowed in to the lower car park.

Did I just say next year?

BTW what was the deal with the rock sections on the drinkwater trails? There seemed to be tape across the chicken run but it had been cut – it was cut on the first lap. Last minute decision by you or some cheeky race leaders not liking to look of the rocks?

the tape was cut by someone in the race on the first lap.
there will be something more substantial there next time. cutting tapes is cheating after all 👿

^ All that would happen is those on road bikes would get off and jog over the bumps!!

DrP

😉

^ All that would happen is those on road bikes would get off and jog over the bumps!!

DrP

By which you mean ride over faster than the slow MTB riders 🙂

Probably!

DrP

That section was awesome in the 8hr race of years past. Trying to ride it all off the brakes by the end. Even more fun on a CX bike.

Good blog post.

http://www.sabotagetimes.com/travel/tired-legs-and-tyre-treads-at-the-hit-the-north-mountain-bike-race/

people took short cuts??? FFS

Kick ’em out.

I need some way of improving on 47th. Inclusion of the DNF in the results has put me in the top 16.9%, I am that sad.

That’s a really good blog.
Nice one Matthew Harding.

Personally, I admire the racers, the hardcore blokes, carved out of teak on cross bikes and with the thousand yard stares.

But I just love the ‘fat blokes on flats and mtb’s with Karrimor Jackets’:
I’m one of them and if it wasn’t for the encouragement of Jason and Andy and the rest I’d never have had the balls to enter a bike race at all.

But I’m really glad I did – five races done, lost the fear, met some great people and I’m really looking forward to the next one.

crap vid

[video]http://vimeo.com/36433947[/video]

crap vid

give over. That’s a cracker! It made me smile anyway.

Pook – good video, but MBR buff. Dear me, have some pride man.

I can’t afford a proper one :o(

I actually asked my mrs that morning; “yellow or green?”. Both MBR ones.

Cheers for the feedback on the ‘blog’ post.
Cracking day and a great bunch of people.

well, given that choice I think u went for the right one.

😉

@Pook – your vid makes it look like we were nearly last through the gate at the start!
If I enter again I think there needs to be some sharpening of elbows to make a bit more progress.

Just seen all this talk about that line on that right hander on top of the random post descent. What’s all this about? It’s a bleeding obvious fast line. I took it every lap. I assumed those going round to the left were frightened because it was a drop-in.