It's 4 weeks to Ard Moors. Who's going? Who did it last year and what would be your ideal choice of cake or biscuit to suit the terrain.
This is my first time at this or a similar event and my main aim is to finish without significant injury. I will be equipping myself with Soreen (+ salty butter) and a Caramac for emergency sugar hit.
Im doing this years. Never done it before but done ard rock 15 and 16. Trips to india and croatia mean ive not ridden in 4 weeks so need to pull my finger out!
I'm going, not sure what to expect really as it's less well reported/talked bout than its bigger brother. Any tips out there?
Did it last year and it was a good event, nice hill climb back up from S1 and again to the finish, S3 I think it wasn't marked very well and quite a few overshot the course.
Doing it again this year so expecting it to be bigger and better.
Had a great time marshaling
practice day on section 1 a grassy chute and ribs ached as well over 100 riders wiped out on my bit
and no injuries only egos dented .
hope to be there again this year
I'll be there with 2 mates. Not done either Ard Rock or this before but looks like the sort of riding I enjoy.
Really looking forward to it but hoping for some sun over that weekend.
Sun would be nice, I will settle for anything that isn't horizontal rain.
@trout - looking forward to providing some more laughs. Is practice on the Saturday mandatory or just advisable?
@joemmo if the same format as last year you could only practice 3 sections
if I get the same place again will have camera set up for the offs .
cheers - I might have to skip the practice day and arrive early on sunday then ride the whole thing blind - what could go wrong..?
Those that have ridden it before any tips please? What is the terrain like? presuming different to that of Ard Rock? is it usually muddy? probably need another what tyre thread! ha
there's plenty of go-pro footage on youtube to get a feel for the terrain. Usually muddy? - well, it's the UK so anything is possible... :/
joemmo - Member
there's plenty of go-pro footage on youtube to get a feel for the terrain. Usually muddy? - well, it's the UK so anything is possible... :/
Experience tells me that talking with people who have done an event before is much more important than making assumptions from a YouTube clip! Hence the question. Fitted some hefty tyres for ard rock off advice rather than YouTube. Glad I did as I didn't puncture whilst loss around me did.
Did Ard Moors last year and Ard Rock this year. Quite similar in places.
Ard Moors, as expected, not as rocky as Ard Rock, Stage 1 was steep muddy chutes at the start, into open rocky singletrack then into some great corners dug into the heather which ended in some fast woods, saw lots of people come off here had a tricky corner or two thrown in but was great fun.
The last stage was a belter, an old dh track apparently, nicely surfaced it ran very quickly, mellowed out before going into some more brilliant cut in corners.
Can't really remember too much of the other stages, they weren't as steep and as someone said above one stage in particular was taped pretty poorly. It was pretty dry last year for the most part but Stage 1 was a bit chewed up.
The transition from 1 back up to the start was a harsh road climb - had to do it twice in the race. There were some pretty decent transitions to be fair.
I would just use whatever tyres you've got. Think I had Minion DHF and HR2, all good.
Love to do it again if there's a ticket going, though I suspect it's too late now.
Experience tells me that talking with people who have done an event before is much more important than making assumptions from a YouTube clip! Hence the question. Fitted some hefty tyres for ard rock off advice rather than YouTube. Glad I did as I didn't puncture whilst loss around me did.
I wasn't suggesting it as a substitute for first hand experience but if someone has posted a first person video of every stage from beginning to end then it would be churlish to ignore surely?
@jonnym - yes i think it's sold out for the 4 & 5 stage events but maybe they have some cancellations?
It's a big day out often on wild and exposed moor so pack accordingly; I suggest a bigger pack than perhaps normal for an enduro. Last year the sun shone, I can imagine it would be pretty bleak in windy/rainy conditions.
Start times have been announced. 9.15 for me!
Early doors for me. I will be adding a flask of espresso to my pack
9am for my group. Glad they kept us together even though I registered us as different abilities.
09:05 start for my buddies and I. Only the sprint so no stage three for us but looking forward to it.
8:20 ha - as an ageing bugger and confessed noob I'm clearly being released early so I have time to crawl round! The sprint event gets a lunch break, which is very civilised. 3 stages available to practice on saturday
Starting the sprint at 8.10. Driving there in the morning as well. Ouch...
11 for my group of merry men on the Enduro. Thinking of racing blind and saving the legs. Adds to the fun as well.
I'll be saving the legs too.... i'll have all on bikin the 40k as it is.
So we're less than a week away, weather looks, iffy in the run up but might be ok for the weekend 😆
I might also end up racing blind thanks to work, but we'll see!
We have all sacked it off. Weather has been woeful, one lad has a broken wrist and i'm in Scotland all week with work
Shorty time !
How long would it take to go round the 3 practice stages on the Saturday , on average?
Bet the trails are pretty damn greasy. I would not be surprised if they re-routed sections of them. Going to be interesting thats for sure.
It hasn't been a particularly wet summer in the north east though and looks fairly dry after Wednesday. Fingers crossed
Five of us travelling up from the tropical sarf to do the Sprint. Knitted underpants and snorkels packed ready.
Five of us travelling up from the tropical sarf to do the Sprint. Knitted underpants and snorkels packed ready.
If you walk down to the village in the evening to go to the pub, just make sure you Keep off the Moors!!!
Can't wait!
Weather not looking great in the run up (or the weekend) but no worse than it's been here all summer.
Should be interesting 😀
I am looking forward to it! I have not really ridden my MTB in a few months so the whole event should be interesting!
I need a new rear tyre too. I have a MM upfront and have the option of a Hans Dampf or another MM. Which one to go for? I know other tyres exist but getting them in time could be an issue!
I am looking forward to it! I have not really ridden my MTB in a few months so the whole event should be interesting!I need a new rear tyre too. I have a MM upfront and have the option of a Hans Dampf or another MM. Which one to go for? I know other tyres exist but getting them in time could be an issue!
I had a ride up Lordstones/Carlton bank last week. Had the MM/ Hans Dampf combo on my bike and it seemed OK.
Wish I was back up for the ard moors but won't be about. Great riding up there.
Last nights ride was good practise if it is biblical weather. Just hope my kit will be dry for Saturday when we head down.
2 days of pizzle... could be a bit soggy but sunday still looks dry. Looking forward to it with some trepidation as I'm somewhat short of fitness... but that's what energy bars are for, right?
Anyone know what the phone receptions like at Lord Stones?
EE has seemed OK when around that area. I had reception at the Ard Rock, also on EE.
Been riding locally today and at the camp site now. It's wet, but seems like the recent wind has made the open stuff on the moors a little better than in the woods.
Anyone up there now? If so then an report would be very welcome
Mud soup
Soft Moors then?
I'm local and was out for a ride this morning. There was a serious amount of rain last night, streams flowing down trails and all that stuff.
A few showers about today to keep it moist.
I know some guys who've been up today and decided to sack it off and come home because of how soggy it is.
Seen quite a few leaving early, others are getting drunk tonight and leaving tomorrow. The trails were insanely claggy, I had multiple otbs from the front wheel refusing to spin. More rain tonight, hoping that'll make the stages more rideable. morale is low in the camp, Currently at a toby carvery giving it a boost and considering the Premier inn next door...
Couldn't make practice today but still gonna go tomorrow .
What's the worst that can happen?!
Sounds positive. Twitter seems to confirm that it's a bog...
Did practice today...top of 4 was pretty hard going...more or less unrideable...but the bottom half was cool...and 5 and 1 were really was loads of fun...lots of sideways sliding and really quite terrifying...but so much fun. I can see it wont be for everyone and the transitions were really hard work...but really looking forward to tomorrow....should be a crack.
the event isn't called the easy moors. Just sayin.
I rode practice yesterday. Stage 4 was mud soup and closed shortly after I got through. Top of stage 5 was ok, bottom was rideable but the number of riders falling and crashing meant it was basically a walk! There was so much much that both wheels stopped going round. That made pushing and riding tough!
It then peed down last night so I came home. I cannot see how they can race there today with the number of riders involved. That's not a criticism at all as the track would be brilliant in the dry but it not dry and ruined!
Stage 4 cancelled. Plenty of folk not riding today. Going to go out but doubt i'll finish.
Jaylittle- how was the weather overnight? I packed up in the dark at about 8.30 in a monsoon.
That's a real shame, enjoy your day anyway whoever is still riding.
Came back last night. I was last down S4 and it was soup.
S5 was rideable IF you could get up to speed but too many people stood on the trails, which wont be an issue today I guess.
The transition after S5 was really bad, trying to push up an off camber steep muddy hill with a bike that weighed twice as much.
Two of my mates decided to give it a go today as they couldn't get out of the field anyway.
Good luck to all.
Also binned it off last night.
Enjoyed about half of each practice stage with the top half of 1 my fav. With more rain and rider churn even those parts will be hard going.
Transition out of 5 is going to be nigh on impossible if they haven't rerouted.
Glad to be out the car park, gonna be a long night of towing.
Real shame as they would have been superb if a bit drier or totally washed out. Looking forward to the photos though 😀
Mud spikes and no mud guard to clog recommended.
Hope all the rain last night has thinned it out for those that decide to ride.
Does anyone know the name of the company who were displaying their clever little bike stands at the event.
I talked to the guy got a flyer then lost it. They attached to the BB and were about £30. They looked pretty practical.
Missed that but might be Andy stand or OdPod.
If neither of those, I'd be interested in knowing what it was.
Sounds like andystand
Ah could have got one on the cheap.
Just finished the Sprint ... so we did stages 5 then 1 and 2 , S5 was better today as there was literally a river river down it so the tyres weren't getting badly clagged up, S1 was mental and S2 was good fun.
Heading home soon, thanks to the marshals .. Its Enduro ! so you can't book the nice weather... it was great fun regardless
OdPod is in the £30 region, [url= http://www.od-designs.co.uk/products/odpod ]http://www.od-designs.co.uk/products/odpod[/url]
Good to hear Beano. How was the transition out of 5?
Thanks bud, still the same but a lot less muck on the bikes due to the amount of water running down S5 ... still cheeky tho
Weather was poor overnight, lots of heavy rain. Managed the 4 stages but pretty sure i was rock bottom, final stage nearly finished me off, the hike back to camp did finish me off!
Practiced on 5 and 1 on saturday (4 was closed). Drank beer, came home this morning.
27.5+ tyres and wattle-and-daub trail conditions do not mix.
Spent more time cleaning kit than I did actually riding....
Top of 5 was great, bottom bit too slow to clear mud from the tyres so slid all over the place. Transition was hellish- did they still use it today?
Yes still used 5. Had to stop part way to clear mud from back wheel. Transition back was awful.
Pictures....
listening to the rain hammering on the van most of the night was putting me of riding but glad i did.the rain had turned it from a sticky claggy mess to a wet sloppy one. we were on 4 on saturday when they decided to close it and there was loads of people we passed just pushing down it.
it was an entertaining fun day for me, once your wet and covered in mud you forget the conditions. climb out of 5 was tough especially as both my legs started to cramp up so had to stop for a couple of minutes.
we were finished by 12.30 and couldn't belive how many people had gone but it meant we had an easy clear run out of the field.
got round in just over 20 minutes and only slid of once so happy enough with that
cleanup when i got home wasn't fun though
Interesting but great weekend but standing all day for 2 days is incredibley tiring so slept for the last 12 hours .
A big high five for the heros who stayed and braved the swamps I saw you all twice once clean and them a tad muddy While I played some toons and a little dad dancing on the road .
all the guys who sacked it off I can understand but you missed a cracking day
99% of the guys n Gals had huge grins behing the mud face packs your skin will be so soft this morning Ha Ha .
😀
Big respect to everyone who rode on either day, looked like a real test of mettle.
I'm afraid that I looked at the reports on Sunday morning and decided it didn't look worth the drive or the use of a precious day pass so went in search of some better drained trails instead. Clearly not 'ard enough.
Wonder what the organisers will do next year, after last years dry and dusty event it looks like the course is pretty vulnerable to the rain, even if it was exceptional.
Trout - was that you at the bottom of the trail upto stages 1&2? Good effort by all the event staff.
yep that was me having an easier days marshaling after being made redundant from start of 4
Think i was enjoying your tunes trout on Sat.
Suspected broken thumb after binning it on Sat practise so sacked Sunday off, could barely hold a bacon butty. Real shame but won't put me off trying again next year.
Why did the band finish so early Sat night?
We got a full lap of the practice on Saturday before they shut S4, then completed the enduro yesterday. Agree with others, the rain overnight Saturday made things better on S1 and S5 as it diluted the claggy clay!
it was still like riding around a 30k tough mudder course though!
trout, your tunes gave me a real boost too, trying to get up the hill towards S2 as quick as possible, to get out of earshot of you playing right said fred's 'don't talk just kiss' lol!
trout - Member
Interesting but great weekend but standing all day for 2 days is incredibley tiring so slept for the last 12 hours .A big high five for the heros who stayed and braved the swamps I saw you all twice once clean and them a tad muddy While I played some toons and a little dad dancing on the road .
all the guys who sacked it off I can understand but you missed a cracking day
99% of the guys n Gals had huge grins behing the mud face packs your skin will be so soft this morning Ha Ha .
I'm sure you helped many through it. Nice idea!
We were a tad apprehensive sunday morning but what else were we going to do? Could always bail mid race if it was too horrid. Once down S1 it was all ok.
Thank **** there was a feed station as the early start meant I forgot to eat most of my breakfast. totally bonking before. That hike a bike up the stony hill to the last stage was a stuggle.
Overall a good sense of achievement and everything was rideable. And to anyone who went home. You missed out!
RootsandRain made it look quite pleasant on saturday:
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^^ Whats all the fuss about ^^
😆
just a little bit of water
[url= https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4335/37169516541_068ef5305a_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4335/37169516541_068ef5305a_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/YCxuit ]randr-photo-2431770-5472px[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/157499468@N06/ ]richard mawson[/url], on Flickr
don't talk just kiss' lol!
Ha ha Yes I did cringe when it came on
I don't think this has been linked yet, apologies if a repeat. Sums up the day beautifully. Never upright or pointing in the same direction of travel, good humored trackside banter...mud. NSFW language:
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/ard-moors-enduro-raw-carnage-video-2017.html