Just arrived in reeth to ride tomorrow. Bit rainy. 😬
the bottom of stage 7 was interesting in the wet😁 i got down it ok with only dangleing a foot of just incase but spoke to someone who stood there for a while and he reckoned 50% of riders hit the floor
Did the test track this afternoon, that was enough to convince me I need burlier tyres, semi sick rear not going to cut it. 8:50 start tomorrow, I imagine it's going to be.... Sketchy!
Did the test track this afternoon, that was enough to convince me I need burlier tyres, semi sick rear not going to cut it. 8:50 start tomorrow, I imagine it’s going to be…. Sketchy!
Balls. That’s me getting up early to switch rear tyres!
Have never fitted so many tyres in such a short space of time, 2 days of constant tyre swaps has done me! 😂 My hands are ruined... I had had thoughts of getting an entry for the sport on Sunday, my hands as they are right now though, don't think I could hold onto the bars for very long!
Did the test track this afternoon, that was enough to convince me I need burlier tyres, semi sick rear not going to cut it. 8:50 start tomorrow, I imagine it’s going to be…. Sketchy!
A wise choice... Should pay off well for tomorrow! 👍🏻
Destroyed my mech in practice and rear tyre in the race. Was a vigilante tough, I went off line to make a pass on stage 3.
Was ruined anyway as I only had a zee mech spare, so limited working gears.
Are non contestants not allowed in the event village?was going to head up tomorrow to watch some of the racing but would have liked a look round the stalls etc.
@neverbeentomoab mate went yesterday and said he could just walk straight in. I'm heading over, got a demo ride sorted with Deviate.
At bottom of stage 2 I don’t think tyre choice mattered that much 😂
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Well I'll say the weather has actually been pretty reasonable....!
My group headed out at 0830 this am, and were back at about 1300..
Only had VERY light drizzle at one point. Went around in a short sleeve top the whole time. No coat..nuffin...
We puked back into camp, chilled under our shelter, then it rained for about 2 hours...
We just missed it.
Otherwise, it's been warm and mostly dry.
Also... the ground here dries out SOOO well!
Was a great race..
Overall (out of EVERYONE who rode today) I'm 163/850 ish... so happy with top 20%!!!
no crashes or issues... Brill!
DrP
Cheers Jordan I might just risk heading over it’s only an hour away.
@DrP that’s a phenomenal result - well done! In the end after very little bike time I was just happy to get round the Sprint course!
Made it round without spannering myself which was my main aim! Stage one and two were pretty hairy and the drag out of stage two was pretty horrible (that stretch of single-track is usually fun but today there was just a long line of riders slipping and sliding and trudging along looking forward to some open road!) Lost my chain on stage 6, got wedged on the rear tyre, made a horrendous noise, but thankfully no damage. Stage 7 was almost bone dry by the time I reached it. The wind was hard, but good for drying out the trails for sure!
Oh yeah, I said to one photographer "you're in a really bad place" which probably came across like I'm a complete arse, but what I meant was he was capturing just how inept I am. If he's reading this, I didn't mean to be a dick, I was just trying not to die!! 🤣
Stage 7 was unrideable when I hit it, a torrential shower hit just as I started riding and made super slippy. Then my mech snapped off!
My mates who were a stage behind said by the time they hit it, it was bone dry and super fast! It's nuts how much it dries there.
Ace weekend though, superb route, all other stages where absolutely amazing deffo recommend it. Tyre choice is important though - a DHF on the rear was not the ideal choice!
I think Ard Rock is jinxed for us we had car problems*, work problems but made it on Friday. Then a close contact tested positive for Covid and we received mandatory isolation texts after practice. Obviously gutted I was going to do Sprint with my son then Sport with daughter (who has been on the podium before) we're all fine though and already planning 2022.
* we had 2 cars break down on the way there in 2018, sold them both and bought 1 newer more reliable car, that broke down last week!
First time at the event this year. Really enjoyed it.
Did the Sport on Sunday, seems we got pretty lucky with the weather, Stage 1 and 2 was a bit greasy but that added to the fun to be on edge a bit. After that the stages were grippy and dry for us, we set off pretty early though.
For tyres I went 2.6 Mary snakeskin front and near bald 2.35 Mary Super Gravity on the rear. I'd say that was a pretty perfect combo, in the dry a Super Gravity Rock Razer would be good I reckon.
Only minor complaint really would be it would of been nice for Sport riders to maybe to be able to practice stages 1 and 2 on the Saturday afternoon after the Enduro riders had gone through.
Think that is a good idea about being able to practice stage 1 and 2.
PS - anyone know the difference between the Epic and Sport?
Epic was one timed loop. the sport is still times stages (ish)
I did the sprint. It seemed that my rear tyre was made out of melted down wheelie bins. I couldnt get my head into stage 2 so on race day spent my time standing at the side making sure i didnt get in anyones way. result is a 13 min stage time that took me 4 mins the last time.
Still a good giggle. about half the people there as normal i think.
Do the stages change much year on year? I did the enduro in 2016 but haven't managed to get tickets since, I don't know if it's worth the hassle trying again!?
I did sign up to Ard Moors a few years ago as tickets were easier to get but it was a washout so I didn't even race which has dampened my enthusiasm slightly.
Oooo, the epic might be more my thing. Well, I will have a look at the times people got round in and then decide!"
Well my choice of rear tyre (due to COVID shortages and my own lack of planning) was a DD aggressor worn to the point of being semi-slick, or a Exo Minion.
Went with the minion, 2 stages ruined with punctures.
Sidewall tear on 1, and a combo tread tear and bead tear on 4.
What DH casing tyre with a vaguely practical compound (that won’t disintegrate after 2 days riding) can I get for next year, plus morzine, bike parks etc?
Practice for stage 1 and 2 for the Sport on Saturday afternoon wouldn't work as that's when the Sprint happens.
It was my first time there and I really enjoyed doing the Sprint after what felt like a slightly uninspiring practice. Managed a 4th in the Sprint masters so was pleased with that despite washing out twice on Stage 2. The rain on Saturday definitely made some of the stages entertaining!
The stages don't usually change that much from year to year
The main difference compared to 2016 is that it is now 7 stages, whereas it was 5 (I think) back then - the two new stages are both fairly similar to each other and were slotted in after stage 4
What DH casing tyre with a vaguely practical compound (that won’t disintegrate after 2 days riding) can I get for next year, plus morzine, bike parks etc?
Maxxis seems to have a million differnt Sku's, but missing a double down, 3c maxx terra compound.
Exo+ is a bit better than Exo, on the rear I run a 25mm rim, if you anything above a 30mm, I find that the tyre sidewall is more prone to damage. 25mm also rolls a bit better
Ended up marshalling by the red lion Friday, then at the gate, top of fremington edge climb Sunday. Marshalling was amazing! Really enjoyed just hanging out on the hill chatting to people. Raced the Saturday enduro, got a 34th out of 200 something in my age group so very pleased with that. Blind racing and a crash didn’t help! All the talk at the top was of sketchy bottom sections!
All in all an amazing weekend
Properly enjoyable day out again, was proper anxious over my tyre choice as I’m hard on tyres at the best of times. Ran assegai max Terra Exo front and Dissector exo rear, I ran an insert in the rear and probably around 30psi (albeit I cocked up on stage 1 as I had pumped them up to 40psi the night before and forgot to dip it) I had loads of grip everywhere and no issue with tyres at all….other than the dog shit transition before the pub.
We have tried for years to get in the main event, but had to settle on the sport. It’s a big old day and cramp got the better of me due to limited bike time this year. But I completed it. I dropped my chain just before the pedalling section of stage 1(?) thinking I would be better to run with the bike, before deciding that was stupid and refitting the chain. Must of lost an age in time. Really struggled with traffic throughout the event. With people walking down stuff on the race line or just not wanting to be over taken and making themselves “wide”. But frankly I don’t care, I just love the stages and the result is irrelevant to me. Got some banging pictures which makes it all worthwhile. stages 5&6 were mind blowing my brilliant. Just flat out fun!
I’m not a fan of the expo area and ‘hipster’ beardy vibe with some of the event. I wish there were actually some shops to buy some gear….oh and the food stalls had enough stock to last them at least until dinner time. But small gripe really, fantastic weekend was had and nice catching up with people I haven’t seen for years!
With people walking down stuff on the race line or just not wanting to be over taken and making themselves “wide”.
I had totally the opposite experience in the sport - I passed a few people on 1 and 2, everyone was polite and nice, guy passed me in the woods of 1 (I rode it all, but slowly, the walkers seemed to be off the main line) with a nice helpful rider call and I got out the way, dont think I slowed him up at all.
I finished 4 and realised there was a guy right on me, think he had only just caught me, if he did shout I honestly didnt hear him. 3179 (I think) on a grey and green specialized - sorry again if you read this. I'd looked behind on the previous open bit, nobody was there.
Ooh..speaking of tyre inserts..i'm now a HUGE fanboi of Rimpact (pros..)..
I popped a tyre almost near the top of stage 3, and rode down basically on the casing and the insert..
I could clearly feelt hte tyre was down, but still rode it all without so much as a bang or clatter of rim against rock!
It felt a bit squiggly round the corners, but it was life saver!
DrP
4am Sunday, wide awake to the onslaught of rain, scheduled for 1045 on sport, got the number and set off 1015,
stage one dry, the hecklers were in song, silly slip on corner before zigzags
Stage 2 a bit wet but not stupid, went past about seven walking down , decided it best to show it was rideable, with a cautious foot out
Assegai 22psi rimpact original / dhr exo 24psi with rimpact pro
Grip wasn’t too bad, even overtook riders into and through the wood
The finish line of stage 2 was moved on Sunday to before the last corner (of death)
Stage 3 looked really wet but grip was really good, a bloke blocking the steep chute with twisted bars stood in the way and refusing to move so had to roll down the rockier bit
Stage 4 tyre shredder although somehow survived
Stage 5 and 6 so fast and fun
Stage 7 very very windy at start and first stone platform jump,
Lower fields dry enough to get down well, although had been drizzling for 20mins before we hit it, 10 mins later riders slipping a bit
Great day out 5 of us finished no mechanicals or crashes .. all had rimpact in with regular tyres.
Came In 220s out of 800 I’m happy
The friday epic 60km xc loop, was actually the 40km enduro 7 stages, chatted to a few riders very very happy, and marshals were saying 1/2 riders where walking the tougher downhill bits
Did the Saturday Enduro, bloody great event, Stages 1 & 2 where so much fun! Happy with how I rode, no crashes or mechanicals for a just above half way finish. Also happy that the weather held apart from some horrible heavy drizzle around stage 5.
Also did the Intro on Sunday with the Mrs, did a little better in that even though my legs where spent by the end!
I’m not a fan of the expo area and ‘hipster’ beardy vibe with some of the event. I wish there were actually some shops to buy some gear….oh and the food stalls had enough stock to last them at least until dinner time. But small gripe really, fantastic weekend was had and nice catching up with people I haven’t seen for years!
Says the man with the Hipster Beard?!?! 😂😉
The lack of shops is annoying for all of us. From a manufacturers point of view, if we sold direct even for a single event, it would cause an uproar within the trade! So we don't... And I'm sure the other manufacturers and many distributors feel the same too... Some of these events have prohibitive costs for many shops (it's easier for a manufacturer or a distributor to absorb an EXPO cost than most shops from personal experience), and then you have the lack of stock across the board right now in pretty much everything... Put it this way, certain brands that were exhibiting, even if they'd wanted to they wouldn't have been able to sell you anything because of lack of stock!
We took a more pragmatic approach, offering neutral tyre service, but at the same time we had a distributor there who was happy to sell tyres to those who needed them at least... Between the 2 of us on the stand, we fitted well over 100 tyres over the weekend (probably 50-60 on Friday alone), most of them Super Gravity casing, many of them with Cushcore/Rimpact inserts in etc... My hands were absolutely broken! It was well worth it though, we kept many people going who would otherwise have had to pull out because of a holed tyre or unsuitable tyre selection.
With you on the gripe over the food stalls though... And the time taken to get served at all! I know many of us working had to travel off site (Richmond is a good 20 odd mins drive away too!) to get food on Saturday night at all...
Seemed like a great event though... Bit different for me than most as I probably worked the best part of 40hrs over 3 days so didn't get to relax at all but all the competitors I spoke to seemed to have had a great time! 👍🏻
Hipster beard 😂😂 mines long stubble, no twirly moustache and flannel shirts here dude!
I’m not having a gripe at you manufacturers or importers. It’s great to see new products, but in my opinion it needs to have somewhere that could actually stock spares, sell kit etc. There was a couple of years ago, but this year it just felt flat. I get the lack of stock, but even being able to buy a bloody hoody would be decent enough. Hope had it spot on in my opinion…they stock umbrellas, socks, gloves and jackets. All branded and all excellent value. Saved my bacon in fact with the excellent brolly.
I managed to score a veggie burrito in the end, was starting to struggle as someone who doesn’t eat red meat. The chicken stand was great for a sandwich when we got there. But by 6pm it was that and burrito left, with a mad queue. Forget the bar! Again it’s constructive criticism! I’m not into the big moshing, freebie jumping crowds. Rather have a beer and take the piss outta my mates.
it’s a great event, done very well and hugely successful. Just a couple of things that don’t tick my boxes. But you can’t please everyone, every time. It’s genuinely a shining beacon for how successful our sport is!
@mboy... I'm guessing you're one of the guys on the schwalbe tyre fitting stand then? If so, you fitted me with a couple of tyres late on Saturday pm. Really saved the day there, I scared myself on the test track, having a better set up defo boosted my confidence for the full ride on Sunday. I was still pretty cautious in places but I stayed upright and made it round in one piece!
Hope your hands recover sharpish 🤛
Fyi for next time, the halloumi gyros was 👌
Hipster beard 😂😂 mines long stubble, no twirly moustache and flannel shirts here dude!
I'm just jealous mate... Don't worry. My stepdaughter's 15yo Boyfriend can grow significantly more face fuzz than me, and I'm 41! 😂
It’s great to see new products, but in my opinion it needs to have somewhere that could actually stock spares, sell kit etc.
I don't disagree... Problem is twofold, as said above... These events are costly to put on, so they charge a lot to EXPO too... MUCH easier for a large manufacturer to absorb that cost than a small bike shop. 2 years ago the bike trade was in the duldrums too, everyone had stock they were willing to shift at discounted prices. The opposite is true right now as we know!
I get the lack of stock, but even being able to buy a bloody hoody would be decent enough. Hope had it spot on in my opinion…they stock umbrellas, socks, gloves and jackets.
Fair point... I had some clothing with me to give away... Problem is, all I had left was XS/S or XL sized ladies T shirts and jerseys! 🤦🏻
I’m guessing you’re one of the guys on the schwalbe tyre fitting stand then? If so, you fitted me with a couple of tyres late on Saturday pm. Really saved the day there
Glad to have helped... It's one of the few opportunities we, as a manufacturer, get to properly interact and really add value for the buying public (most of the year we're chatting to shop owners and distributors) and it was thoroughly rewarding keeping so many people rubber side down over the weekend. My hands have mostly recovered now, will find out how they feel tomorrow afternoon as off out for a ride myself.
Hoping I might be able to enter in some capacity next year, even just the intro on Sunday would have been good, as it looked a lot of fun from the videos I've seen... 👍🏻
Just being having a quick look through the results, congrats to the 3rd placed STW hardtail category rider.
How’s the knees?
I really wanted to ride my hardtail bottled it!
Has anyone ever ridden the loop twice?
Has anyone ever ridden the loop twice?
I was wondering what's stopping people from having a cheeky second run down stage 5 or 6? They'd be pretty easy to loop back round to.
Rode along the top of the edge yesterday on way to Gunnerside Gill. I was a good boy though and stayed off the stages!
Bit ambitious of me though, I was worn out on the way back along the swale trail. Wind was absolutely brutal again.
I'm also confused about this:
PS – anyone know the difference between the Epic and Sport?
Epic was one timed loop. the sport is still times stages (ish)
The friday epic 60km xc loop, was actually the 40km enduro 7 stages,
The website states for the Epic:
"In 2021 the Epic will take place on Friday and on the Enduro route, with it’s infamously flat out and technical descents, 2000m of elevation and over 40km overall length. The downhill sections will be timed"
and for Sport/Enduro:
"A SPECIAL 45KM LOOP - covering around 2500 meters of combined climbing and descending"
So from the website it's hard to work out what the difference is? If you look at Roots and Rain for the Epic then it shows only stage times, not total loop time?
I was wondering the same. The Sportident results page for the Epic does show the total time as well as the individual stages.
https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/ArdRock/2021/ArdRockFriday/
So it's the same course as the Enduro and Sport, just you are riding when the Enduro riders get the practice.
the sport is ridden on the sunday based on saturdays enduro course (ie 7 stages)
although adjustments are sometimes made, for example the last corner of stage2 was cut out by moving the finish line 15 metres this year.
the intro was stages 1/2/3 on saturday and intro sunday was stages 4/5/6/7
These 'Intro' are also known as 'Sprint'
"the epic" (named the "ard rock MTB marathon" in 2019, the epic 60km route around yorkshire dales ard rock ardrock territory with over 3000m of combined climbing descending)
is meant to be a 60km loop
that route went through reeth upto great Pinseat / melbeck / gunnerside / swaledale valley and then up apedale and back via the old haibike demo loop
this year they scrapped the mtb marathon and decided to let those riders take on the full 7 stage enduro (probably as much to bed it in). hence the mamils on scott sparks werent overly happy, we chatted to a few people who were over the moon that it was on the stages..
we had a ride over to stage 3 on friday and mountain rescue said many riders out of there depth and walking down
my mate who rode it friday got times for the 7 stages and a 'journey time' that he completed in 364:14.70 mins
this year they scrapped the mtb marathon and decided to let those riders take on the full 7 stage enduro (probably as much to bed it in). hence the mamils on scott sparks werent overly happy, we chatted to a few people who were over the moon that it was on the stages..
A bit understandable, if marathon is what you are into, and signed up for, at the very least you'd be looking at £100 of tyres plus some kneepads to "do it right" so to speak.
Based on sunday's weather, the woods at the bottom of 1 and 2 would be a challenge on an xc bike, not to mention the pointy rocks of the private stages possibly being a bit much for xc tyres.
we had a ride over to stage 3 on friday and mountain rescue said many riders out of there depth and walking down
Amazing how different people are, I would have rated the stages 2,1,4,7,3,6,5 from most to least difficult.
The results for the epic still appear to use the total stage times to dictate standings rather than journey time.
Can't see any difference between that and the normal enduro.
I rode the epic on friday and am one of those who is glad it was on the enduro course. This is only for this year though, and im guessing that next year it will back to Saturday and on the 60km xc loop. So , for this year , there was no difference between the epic and sport, but it was a one off.
I felt so sorry for some of the riders on the epic who were way out of their depth. One guy said he only normally rides on bridleways on his 100mm hardtail with no dropper.
If you select ‘display details’ you get the total journey time.
Ranking is done on the total stage times though.
This is only for this year though, and im guessing that next year it will back to Saturday and on the 60km xc loop.
Makes sense, but that's a shame. A point to point race including the full enduro stages would be SO good!
