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Not this time unfortunately - we're away that weekend, AND I'm on a stag do over the day and night enduro!!! Ah well, plenty more opportunities to come - I'd really like to do pippingford again, that was a lot of fun 🙂
Aww that's a shame. Not sure what the plan for Pippingford is yet. I would love to do it but meed to work out the family plans first.
FYI Pippingford: We are doing a duel slalom (Not free, probably £15), free camping and a bar(Also not free) on Saturday night. Not announced that yet but feel free to tell people. Bit of a mini bike festival...
Also working hard to do a Ladies Do DH and Kids Do DH race on the Saturday. Working with Amanda from Ladies Do DH on that bit of it.
If anyone else want to team up on anything that weekend let me know.
Sounds good @ScottFitz.
Pippingford last year was my first ever Enduro, really enjoyed it, great stages, great fun. I just need to try and remember that last sharp left on stage 4, instead of crashing through the tape this year...
I'm entered in a few events this year:
Tweedlove Series
BEMBA series
Boltby Bash
Ard Rock
Ard Moors
Les Orres EWS
Seems like a lot of races when you list them out.
Had a bash at Foel Gasnach today - fantastic venue for the first WES. Really glad I rode it before the race next weekend it’s a gnarly, steep, rooty and rutted place! Full on DH tracks - definitely make time to practice if you haven’t been before....
Oh bu**er! 😳 will have to make sure I get there early then!!
@snapperdan how wet was it when you rode it? The other year it was incredibly greasy for the race which made it a touch more interesting than I was comfortable with!
It was fairly dry apart from track two, which was pretty wet. I think there’s a brook near the track, so a bit of rain affects it more than the other tracks.
Mud was a bit claggy added a air bit of weight to my DHRs for the climb up the fire road!
If it stays dry then the tracks will be running better for sure, but they’re not running badly at the moment.
Track one is hard enough in the dry, I imagine it’s pretty lethal in the wet...
Does anyone want an entry into the Graythwaite round of the PMBA Enduro series? I just don't think I'll enjoy as my fitness is so far off the mark.
@snapperdan - trying to decide between a Shorty and Minion DHF (both WT) on the front for Foel Gasnach next weekend. Any thoughts?
Hi qtip I would have liked a shorty up front at the weekend, just because it could've shredded some of the craggy mud/loam better, but if it stays dry I'll stick with my WT Minion DHRII's front and back.
Some of the tracks are extremely steep, particularly stage 3, and the DHR's are superb under braking they also shed enough mud to make things manageable if it does get wet.
Running 3C Maxx Terra compounds front and back and they were grippy enough - I'm just to good enough to find the grip on tracks like this!
Off to Farmer John's this afternoon need to practice more very steep rooty tracks....
Cheers @snapperdan. Forecast is looking good for the rest of the week so I think I'll leave the DHF on and sling the Shorty in the car just in case.
Right I’m running Magic Mary and Hans D for tomorrow. Tyre pressures are checked, kit is all sorted. Just need to sort out food, drink and some bravery in the morning!
Hoe dud everyone get on at foel today? I thoroughly enjoyed it, but the tracks dud feel very short compared to other races.
Not signed up for much so far, was misdiagnosed with liver problems at the end of the year followed by throat surgery. Healed now so celebrated with a new frame.
Fitness is slowly coming back although I might have to drop a chainring size.
Just the Southern Enduro Champs and Swinduro so far. I do have a Pedalhounds entry that they have kindly allowed me to move.
Had a poor race at Foel today, but a thoroughly enjoyable day nonetheless. Just wasn’t having a good day on the bike and to be honest was a bit out of my comfort zone.
Had a couple of big crashes, including a huge OTB when I was knackered on the final stage. But I survived, I finished the race and I didn't come last!!
Soberingly how slow I am compared to everyone else, but at least I'm out there pushing myself on hard tracks and trying to get better.
It was my first race and looking at the results has made me a bit down on my riding TBH, but I suppose just finishing that race is an achievement and I've only just started riding natural DH tracks like this.
Lots to work on for me, but I'm determined to improve and despite being one of slowest on the hill I had a fantastic day. Joined the club and will be going back soon.
Bring on Dyfi...
Ahem... was very slow with lots of crashes but was really pleased when I started the final stage - right up to the point where I went sideways off a steep corner 200m from the end! Gutted is an understatement, but medics were great and have diagnosed some kind of ligament damage. Just on way home now after missus drove all the way from Hudds to pick me up, and off to a&e in morning as couldn’t face it on sat night.
Also gutted I will prob miss round 2☹️
It turns out I got my best result yet at a Welsh enduro. 10th in masters and 29th overall so I'm pretty pleased with that.
Wow that’s a great result well done 👍 I was just happy to get down (til I didn’t!)
Very impressive result blackmountains rider!
Sorry to hear about your injury Timbog - hope you have a speedy recovery.
Congratulations @blackmountainsrider and hope you heal soon @timbog160 . @snapperdan - your thoughts pretty much echo mine. Not my first Enduro but definitely the one I’ve found hardest. Being down the bottom of the results table is somewhat disheartening but I’m trying to ignore that and take something from the fact that I didn’t quit and rode well (for me) in places even if I struggled to put in any solid runs. I think Dyfi is going to be another tough one for me as (like Foel) it’s completely different to the type of tracks that I normally ride. I’ve also signed up for FDHR membership, so if you ever fancy a practice there with a fellow bottom of the table dweller then give me a shout.
I missed your post timbog, hope you haven't done any serious damage. Thanks, it seems like the hard work is paying off for me. They are hard tracks to race on, at foel, no easy sections at all really today. Racing's all about taking part and doing your personal best I think.
@qtip I'd be up for that - planning to head down there one weekend before Dyfi for sure. I had a chat wit the organiser today and he said Dyfi is a lot less of a handful than Foel G!
@blackmountainsrider totally agree with you about racing - reckon I did as best as I could've under the circumstances and I'm pleased I finished it. To be honest it's great to have a whole new world of mtb riding opened up to me. It's pretty awe inspiring to see how people can ride tracks that hard at such speed - what's your secret??!! Apart from bloody hard work and practice!!
To be honest, I think it's what you said, lots of practice! I ride alot of steep trails, so that helps me when I then race on them. I've improved a lot in the last 3 years since being able to ride in South Wales regularly.
The very quick riders are just on another level though. The second fastest time of the day was a rider in the vets category, he was over a minute quicker than me, and about 50 seconds quicker than the masters category winner.
Photos are up on rootsandrain - quite pleased with a couple of them in spite of my dnf. Assuming knee has calmed down by then I might offer to do a bit of marshalling at the Dyfi round - as the day is already booked...!
Another weekend and another race! Down in Hampshire for the weekend which can only mean it’s Southern Enduro time. Always look forward to the QECP has it feels like the guys always out that little extra work in on there home spot. I guess a lack of 2 plus hour drive helps. Weather has been wet. It looks dry now for the weekend so should be plenty of grip. Bring it on!
Main park was alright yesterday, bit greasy here and there with a few puddles.
Breezy but sunny today so it will dry out more. Should be good for tomorrow which is nice as there have been a few very wet ones!
Oh thats good to hear. Last year was still good fun despite the weather but it will be noice to hit the course at full speed rather than sideways at minus miles an hour!
I'll be there at the Southern Enduro tomorrow, making up the numbers in the Vets category. Kit packed, bike prepped. Looking forward to it, never ridden there before, should be a cracker!
Well that was a good giggle! Round 1 of Southern Enduro @ QECP was a belter with some great stages and cracking weather. Bagged a provisional 15th in Masters which I am dead chuffed with (waiting on Roots and Rain to update).
Stage 1 and 2 where the longest I have ridden at nearly 4 mins with a lot of peddling. 3 and 4 where shorter with a mix of berms, drops, off camber sections and rooty twisty turny stuff.
Bring on the Southern Champs!
Cracking day at the Southern Enduro Series. Great weather, crowd and trails. Stage 4 was a belter, shame I had a little off on the top section. Solid mid-table performance but heading in the right direction!
First race of the year at the Southern Enduro for me. Not ideal prep in the fact that I was pretty ill on the Friday night & Saturday before, without 3 hours sleep before race day.
Managed to hang on to 3rd though, which was good, yet frustrating, because I could/should have won it.
Bit of a break to Southern Champs now.
Enjoyed Southern Enduro yesterday 9th in the fun category all stages were great fun and the weather held to be pretty good.
WGES + BNES first rounds are coming up this weekend at Afan.
Who's doing one one, the other or both?!
I'm booked on to the BNES at afan this weekend, then dyfi a couple of weeks later, looking forward to it.
Yes Andy, doing the BNES Afan , Im bricking it tbh, first race in ages and Im well out of shape!
WGES + BNES first rounds are coming up this weekend at Afan.
Who’s doing one one, the other or both?!
I will be doing both and can't wait 🙂 might even take the new bike for a spin!!
Ah good stuff @kimbers! Don't think it's a massive loop so you'll be alright I'm sure!
What's your strategy @scottfitz...hammer one race and go more relaxed on the other, or all out for both?!? Or, just cruise both?! 😁
I'm doing the two races...think my legs might regret it for BNES!
My plan is:
Saturday to Practice the mash up stages in the morning then race the mash up then practice the 2 remaining BNES stages.
Sunday: try and survive after riding to much on Saturday.
I'm there for fun (and market research) rather than the result.
Don’t think it’s a massive loop so you’ll be alright I’m sure!
According to Charlie one of the BNES stages is a long way from the others. I Might just race that blind.
Saturday to Practice the mash up stages in the morning then race the mash up then practice the 2 remaining BNES stages.
Sunday: try and survive after riding to much on Saturday.
Ha, no doubt I'll be similar!
If the stagevthats further away is the same one that was raced ar the ukge last year its a good one! Probably. Worth practising as there were a few tricky bits on it.
I'm mainly hoping the weather improves before saturday as its a bit wet atm in Bristol and S Wales
Andy & Kimbers are you there on your own? Feel free to join the Southern Enduro Team for a pedal about.
Cheers Scott. I'm there with a mate but will look out for you folks (and you Kimbers) and tag along if we see ya 👍🙂