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How I got around the Enduro (sport) with the amount of training I put in (read: none) I don't know. For my level of fitness that was brutal and I am ruined currently.
What an amazing day, definitely will be doing that again next year and I'm going to actually train for it next time. Starting just as soon as I have recovered from this year!
What an amazing day, definitely will be doing that again next year
I think that's where 90%+ of the marathon entrants came from but couldn't get tickets for the other events.
Glad you enjoyed it though - the enduro(s) are very good.
I really enjoyed the full Enduro, I wasn’t sure I’d make it having suffered with Sciatica from spring and bruised ribs a week before.
Felt a bit of a fanny taking all the chicken lines so as not to risk any jarring, codeine and stubbornness saw me limp into mid pack Vets and roughly middle overall.
In hindsight a lighter setup and lower gearing would have been sensible fatigue wise.
had a good day saturday in the main enduro, 29th in vets just over 23minutes. could of done much better in 2,4 and 6 i think. wasn't helped in 2 by catching someone in the switchbacks but thats the way it goes. got lucky with anyone else that i caught and after 3 it spread out a bit more with no queuing and bigger gaps.
3rd year I have done this now, although it was in question as a tumble 2 weeks back left me with a damaged rotor cuff and I was advised to take it easy ..which I did for the most part ..
We were 1st out of the gate this morning on the sport, not looking forward to stage 1 and 2 as the worry of more damage was a constant. It seemed like the first two stages this year were a little worse for wear compared to last year braking bumps seemed deeper rocks sketchier, took my time on these to be fair and still came close to last years time. By the time we had done the stage 3 transition there was only a few people up there and with confidence returning and shoulder holding the panic levers were loosened a little . The transition to stage 4 was helped by a pick up but the less said about that the better. 4 5 and 6 were just fun fast flowy and mojo returning with some gusto. Never been a fan of stage 7 just one of those things but returned un harmed with an ok time nothing mega just happy to get round this year.
I will say another year of people well out of their depths, a few that I saw either bailed or stopped at the worst possible place on the top of drop ins with more than a few having a trip to A+E later i guess .
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Im not sure weather I will do it again next year, prices rising and a few other things </span>
Nice one Bigfoot, I really didn’t have my overtaking head on, lost loads of momentum on the rocks after the switchbacks on stage 2 because I called too late.
On a couple of other stages I think I messed up people’s runs by calling too late as I didn’t want to put them off on a tech bit but did anyway as I misjudged closing speed. Needed to be more confident all round.
Great do! Still here on the Sunday eve! Bit disappointented with the amount of litter left behind. Just had a stroll to the skip with a bin bag and the amount of rubbish I picked up en route was unbelievable. Box full of rubbish left 10m away from the skip... anyway grumble over!
did the intro. did rubbish but really enjoyed it.
jamesoz, most people i caught in good places so gave a early shout and then it didn't really affect either of us much.
bloke in the switchbacks i didn't shout as wasn't sure where he could go but he realised i was there and pulled up high on the one with the fencing just after it, i had to quicky dive down the inside and nearly went into the fencing.
think he was struggling with it as he must of gone in 30 seconds before my mate and i was a further 10 back.
i try to remember if i as an average mid pack racer in most events i do am catching people they are probably struggling a bit and it will possibly unsettle them even more when someone flies up behind them. they're doing all they can to ride the course without then needing to look for somewhere to let someone past.
Did the marathon and the sport. As others have said the marathon was a bit of a joke. I did a lot of training for this event thinking it would be a belter - how wrong could I be. The icing on the cake was being told at the "feed" zone that you could only take one cereal bar!! Oh and the fact that the Maraton didn't even get a mention at the Prize Giving came as no surprise.
I love the Ard Rock and I've attended the last 5 but I think this one will be my last for a while. I can't make my mind up if the organisers are creating more events so more people can come and enjoy the festival, or they are maximising the amount of money they can make?
I went yesterday but only to demo a few bikes, really enjoyed the Demo loop was just enough to get a feel, the manufacture and supplier stands were good and the chap selling Yorkshire Food at Yorkshire Prices did a good sausage roll, so a nice day our for us.
Cotic bike demo ride was brilliant top guys and great to ride out with Sam @ Cotic good to natter about the bikes and tweak them on the way around, how demo rides should be.
just had a quick look at a vid of stage 2, it was the last left hander that he stopped to let me past on, not surprised i struggled to keep it out of the fencing going down the inside there. i would have been more than happy for him to have got round the corner and pulled up high to let me pass.
Bigfoot, totally agree, I just did a poor job of it.
had a great weekend marshaling at the bottom of three for a change this year .
so explain to me please the nearly 400 punctures I saw at the bottom on sat
and about 200 today .
1/ its terribly rocky
2/ folks are using shit tyres
3 running em too soft
4 sommat else
what a set of bankers the Maxxis tyre support was why werent they where they were needed
not saying owt yet why. but might not be a marshall there again
A friend marshalled there a few times, used to take a track pump and inner tubes, think he stopped as it was getting too expensive!
there was a maxxis van at the feed station at the bottom of 3 when i finished it on saturday, late morning.
i would go with all 4, sommat else being riding style. it helps being from the lakes, i'm used to rocks.
my mate recently started using a vittoria airliner and rates it. i'm trying one now as got a good deal of them on saturday for one and a couple of tyres to try.
to avoid punctures myself on saturday i ran a tough tyre (michelin wild rockR) at a high pressure (28psi) having said that the high pressure doesn't help against sharp rocks piecing the trye, just stops pinch flats.
I thought I saw them after the water stop. Don’t use Maxxis in rocky places anymore anyway.
The Coffee Van was inspired.
I remember the chap with the track pump at the bottom of 3, top guy. I didn’t have a tube off him but if I did I’d have paid him.
The more I think sbout it, the more I wonder what I paid for in the marathon. Basically I paid £50 for one cereal bar and to make up the numbers as a second class citizen. If they aren't going to put the effort in, dont put on the marathon event. Maybe they don't care as it made 450 X £50 to fund the enduro races
i'm happy to use an exo maxxis on the front, either minion or shorty but not putting one on the rear again.
Another good year to live in Fremington!
I struggled my way round the Sprint having barely riden this year but I finished, I passed someone on stage 1 and I didn’t come last hooray 😂
if you were in the group who were last down stage 3 hello, thanks for your company on the way round!
Mildly annoyed to put “happy to make it round” and then have a start time of half 1 and be pushed around the course by the sweepers was the only negative for me. That and litter and gates left open. 🤔
I had to make use of Trouties track pump at the end of 3 yesterday. I've raced the last 4 Ard Rocks and never punctured before with a few different tyres. The tyre i punctured this year was a Rock Razor super gravity set up tubeless, put a small hole right in the centre of the tread near the top of the stage. It lost pressure but the sealant did it's job.
Teenrat - don’t think the marathon needs to fund the Enduro races.
As for tearing tyres on stage 3 & 4 , it’s the dales, it’s rocky, it always has been. You makes your choices. I can’t see how this is a complaint against the event.
Loved it. Camped Thursday night and minced round the Sport today.
Great course, great people and blistering weather.
We had a 10.40 get-go. The queues on some of the stages were massive. I think we waited about 40 mins at the top of stage one. Not really bothered though as had a brilliant weekend.
Shame Big Red and the Grinners weren't on on Friday though. They were ace last year.
Nice to catch up with a lot of old mates up there too. Troutie... nice to see you mate. Hopefully you will be back next year.
I don't quite get all the complaining about maxxis tyres puncturing. I did the sprint and ran a a tubeless exo hr2 3c on the rear at 26psi with no problems. Done the same for the last year in the Alps also with no problems (the same tyre, which admittedly is a bit worn now). I'm not the fastest or smoothest rider either, so I don't think being maxxis is the problem...
(I've probably just jinxed myself for the next 10 years!)
Very much enjoyed it this year. Did the usual enduro race and I thought the new stage (peatys) broke up the transitions well (didn't think much of the stage really though). Burped my tyre on 7 but apart from that ss on the back and dhf on the front managed perfectly. Didn't have the legs due to too much beer but what a class event.
Having now slept no more Ardrock marshalling for me .
reasons
Last year I could only do sunday so marshalled all day. great crack and home ( 1.5 hours drive )
rewards £50 plus waterbottle and free Tshirt
this weekend did friday to sunday
again great crack and views ,weather
10 hours each day on the hills
rewards
£50 per day
water bottle (free) OR Tshirt for £5 Took the water bottle
I am out ( sorry Ardrock but you just broke this camels back with stingyness ) and so is my mate who was on 7 he had 11 hours on the hill sunday
That is a bit stingy Trout! Without marshall’s, these events can never happen so it’s a big thanks from me for giving up your weekend.
I did the Marathon on Saturday and the Sport yesterday. Really enjoyed both days, yesterday was quite a long one, start time was 11am so didn’t get back to arena until gone 6pm.
Already discussed with the wife on the way back home last night about going next year, will probably just do one event over the weekend.
Need to have a think about which one to go for.....
My daughter did well coming second in her Sprint category, so she was bit giddy post race and we've a smart Ard Rock trophy at home now. We knew it was going well but she thought she had messed up on stage 3 a bit having not ridden it before, turns out she was fastest there compared to the other girls.
Agree with Troutie they took the piss yesterday with the event running so late yesterday I was on 6 got back at 6.45pm hardly any thanks. They should have a cut off a lot earlier. Did it this year mainly for an entry next year and £4.50 a pint!!!!!
and to top it off the refused to pay for my cattery charges after I locked my cat in the van ! bloody thing
🙂
Well, I know it's no consolation when you feel the organisers are taking the piss but as a regular at similar events, I for one appreciate the efforts of the marshals you are out there in all weathers keeping spirits high and looking out for the riders' safety. I always try and have a chat and thank them personally where and when I can ... intentionally or not! To the guy at the bottom of stage 4 who gathered me up - big thank you! I was the guy in red and white who binned it at high speed right in front of you and was pretty winded - as advised / requested I got properly checked out at Mountain Rescue: possible cracked rib and bruising but thankfully no more signs of concussion.
Other to that, a bloody brilliant event!
I had a good time, think I could have been faster but my fitness let me down a bit. I read in an email that there was a 5 1/2 hour time limit for the enduro so we went hard and didn’t rest to be round in the time but that seemed to not matter so was a little gutted. Could have taken it easier and had more beans left for timed stages!
Good weekend over over all and a massive thanks to the marshalls! Only ever chatted to the ones at the tops of the stages though!
Is there an advanced ticket buy for next year because we entered this year or is it all released at once first come first served?
Is there an advanced ticket buy for next year because we entered this year or is it all released at once first come first served?
Unless they come up with a better way of doing it (lottery maybe?) then it'll be first come first served again.
Just went down for Saturday to demo some bikes and look around so for me it was great as lots to see and do.
The queue for the beer did look hideous but I wasn't drinking. £10 parking for the day a bit extreme as it was free last year (and only £5 to camp?!). Acceptable as I got to demo bikes for free but it does make you wonder how much they are making what with the entry fees etc...
it does make you wonder how much they are making
I don't see how that matters in the slightest so long as people are enjoying it and getting what they paid for but either way, I doubt they'll be getting rich off it anytime soon.
Events have to make money or they aren't put on again, however the marshals are having to do longer stints than previous years I'd like to see them taken better care of.
I though it was a well organised event, good atmosphere, great stages. My first time doing the sprint and will hopefully get on the full enduro next year. My only suggestions to the organisers are:
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">- Bigger/more bars as the queues were enormous all weekend. We ended up going to the pub up the road</span></span>
- More shower blocks; again massive queues and I think there were only about 10 showers for about 3000 riders!
- If marshalls are on the hill for 10+ hours, that's way too much and if that is the case, should be rewarded properly. You must be making more than enough to keep people happy
It's an expensive and large event and about a four hour journey for us, but hoping to take the whole family next year
however the marshals are having to do longer stints than previous years I’d like to see them taken better care of.
I'd agree with that certainly, but marshals and other staff being suitably remunerated and thanked comes under the getting what you paid for to me (like a water supply in a camping field, grumble grumble).
I was glad to get round pretty much mechanical free having had issues the past two years. Maybe a little bit too conservative at times but happy with 22.28.
The support from the sponsors was exceptional; Specialized support rider helped me at the end of a stage after I bent my rear mech then SRAM straightened it in the event village for a nominal charge, Shimano sorted my rear brake after Friday practice, and I picked up some bargains from various retailers.
The bar and caterers seemed very underprepared for such a large event - huge queues and they all seemed to be selling out. The cake and coffee midway round was a welcome surprise.
I feel for you marshals, it's a very long day on the hills, so it must be frustrating if you're not being suitably looked after. Your efforts are certainly appreciated by us.
My only suggestions to the organisers are:
- More food stalls as like the bar they were way too busy at peak times.
- Camping organisation. It's billed as a weekend festival not just a biking race, for many people camping and hanging out with friends is a big part of that. It's not always possible for people to arrive in convoy (coming from different places, work commitments, etc) so how about a bit of flexibility rather than the rigid jobsworth computer says no attitude we encountered on Thursday evening.
Edit: Yes properly look after the marshals. I thanked those I talked to as we do rely on them and know the compensation is little for sitting out all day in whatever the weather brings.
Really loved it, did the intro on Sunday, first time, had an absolute blast and came 54th in the Vets, I was quite happy with that as an Ard Rock virgin.
Marshals were awesome, great encouragement, and really helped to remember to pin my ears back and try a bit harder.
Loved all the stages, but the last one, with the wooden ‘bridge’ over the wall down the hill near the bottom, with all the spectators cheering and the cow bells clanging, was a favourite moment. I had a “i’m Finally racing the Ard Rock” smile and rush of endorphins at that point. (There’s been 2 previous aborted attempts)
Slight (actually, ****ing terrifying...) downer for us was our team mate who stacked it horrifically and out of the blue on Peaty’s stage. 2x MRTs, ambulance and air ambulance were amazing, now sitting with him in James Cook hosp in Middlesbrough as he waits for surgery for spiral fracture of femur, and further assessment of 3 broken vertebrae (no risk to spinal column thankfully) and knackered shoulder.
If the aneasthatist rider from LGI who stopped to help too is on these here forums, many and huge thanks from all of us to you sir.
Our mate apologises to all if you experience the hold up at stage 5 whilst they patched him back together on the trail and created a wee diversion to the route to allow his extraction from the hill 🙂
Stay safe out there folks!
Brill weekend for me as a first timer. Some of observations
High quality, locally produced canned beer is easy to obtain, stock, sell and recycle so they should have some of that rather than just relying on one bar. I'll be taking more of my own next time.... Talk to Magic Rock, Vocation etc...
Regarding long stints by marshalls (I love your work!!) it'd be easier to double up rather than having a cut off time. If there was a cut off enforced there'd be a load of trouble regarding enforced queuing on the earlier stages and obviously specific to yesterday the heat, so better to spend another 4 x <£ cost to marshall a stage> (max) for the latter stages where people are more stretched out. Obviously there must be a cut off time but that can be easily worked out looking at all the data from previous years to accommodate the vast majority of riders.
I was concerned about the whole passing/being passed thing but my experiences were only positive. I'm sure there were some tossers out there but I didn't meet any.
Saw (and picked up) only one energy gel wrapper but there were tons of banana skins out there. Take them with you dopy, pathetic, lazy, dirty, self-centered *****.
I'll be back next year.
Had another great time. This year i did the sprint. it was a LOT LOT easier than the full enduro last year. i enjoyed it. Took the wife and kid and i apologise to the people camping for her walking up crying after wetting the bed. Should have probably gone in the family camping?
the route was great. The marshals i saw were great but 10 hours is taking the mick. they should split that up imo.
Great banter (apologies for me mate talking to the guy with the carpra at the CB inn.) usually about how people with carbon bikes, e bikes, 27.5 or 29 wheels didnt even notice the hills 🙂
Only had one chat shouting at me and i pulled up and then set off again but they didnt get closer than this photo. As im not too serious should i be waiting till they pass? it seemed like miles off at times https://www.rootsandrain.com/photos/3131550
Good doo. Hopefully back with friends next year.
I can’t make my mind up if the organisers are creating more events so more people can come and enjoy the festival, or they are maximising the amount of money they can make?
Oh come on, it's a masterclass in creaming money off people!
It's a master class in creating enjoyment! The cynical can feel free to step aside.