2 of us doing sport enduro Sunday – can’t wait, it’s our first time. Weather doesn’t look too clever! 2 of our group have wimped out but did it after the name change cut off
So far just light drizzle, seems likes standard Ard Rock weather. Drop the pressures a bit and try to relax.
@relapsed_mandalorian things like that are a real shame but unfortunately inevitable that that’ll happen to a few people every time.
Hope you get another chance to enter!
I'm heading up tomorrow afternoon for the sport on Sunday, pretty excited.
This year I've switched to SPDs and generally loving it but am thinking of going back to flats for this weekend after seeing some of the videos! Will bring them and make a decision on Saturday I think.
If you’re confident on SPDs you’ll be fine. It’s not nadgery Lakes tech, it’s flat out rolling/pedalling. You want to be fastened in!!
I'm out I think.
Mrs Noise tested positive Tuesday and has been ill all week. I'm today pretty much showing the milder symptoms (fatigue, dizzy spells) she had on Monday. Not sure I want to risk the drive up only to not be able to ride and just drive home again (not to mention the expense). I'll see how I am tomorrow morning but I'm not hopeful - if it was today I wouldn't have ridden to be honest.
Feels like a no win - if I drive up I'll doubtless get worse and bail, if I stay at home odds on I'll feel fine...
When you are at the event remember the roads are open and busy at times. There have been a couple of close calls by riders old enough to know better. There are those in our area who don't like the Ardrock being here, so a bit of road sense and being polite to those not on bikes really helps.
Have a good time and if you must hurt yourself, do it racing the stages and not with a car.
Pretty wet first thing today but the weather cleared nicely. Was up on stage 1. Loads of images taken.
You can check them out here https://www.rootsandrain.com/event10500/2022-jul-29-ard-rock-ard-rock-enduro-swaledale/photos/filters/photogs2589/
I’m also posting some bits and bobs to Instagram. My Instagram name is @unsponsoreduk
Quick bit of agreement with @mt, I love Ard Rock being here but I also need to get to work and stuff, so if folk could avoid standing in the road that would be good or riding along it in the dark. Ta!
Quick bit of agreement with @mt, I love Ard Rock being here but I also need to get to work and stuff, so if folk could avoid standing in the road that would be good or riding along it in the dark. Ta!
Noted, rule 1 I guess
Quick Question, why are the churchbells 2mins late?
@jamesoz its just the way it is in Swaledale. There is no rush.
I’ll ask the winder but I suspect is because he wears a knackered Garmin.
Completely forgot this was on and I’m booked in at the Orchard Campsite. I’ll wander down tomorrow, I’ll be with my border pup, no iPad.
Done a few practice loops before the rain kicked in. They were running fine, guess it's hecklers wood and the bottom of stage two which are the hairiest bits! There'll have been a lot of tires gone through there by the time I get there tomorrow!
So many e-bikes!! The Cotic's a lovely thing ... But I'm a little bit envious.
I wandered up to hecklers wood today and it's changed even from riding it yesterday. There's also a rocky bit in the woods towards the end of stage 7 that requires careful line choice. Not ideal as I was completely knackered by that point.
Lot's of people on ebikes seemed to be suffering on Friday. The push ups will be worse and battery life would be a concern. I demoed a couple today and it was nice being able to effortlessly ride up the first climb.
Had a wander along early evening. What an absolute cracking setup, great to see so many people enjoying themselves. Rather remarkably not one person I knew.
Finished the enduro today. Well out of my comfort zone but great to get round.
Went all day without major incident until I had a massive OTB in that rock garden at the end of stage 7 @gribs.
Practiced it yesterday without incident but guess just tiredness and complacency caught me out today.
I was completely knackered by that point so stopped and walked round it rather than crashing. Looking at it today it looked straight forward but I'm comfortable I made the right choice. I went down hard on stage 3 after relaxing and a guy in front of me on the last corner of stage 5 went down and probably cracked his collar bone.
It was an interesting introduction to enduro racing. My aim was to complete the course which was achieved, but I felt no urge to ride as fast as I possibly could. I had no issues with overtaking or being overtaken though, everyone was reasonable. Watching the sprint today I was surprised by the level of ****ish and sometimes dangerous overtaking.
Just got back to my B&B in Reeth, Epic day, riding in the Enduro, Loved every stage finished 68th in 40-49.
Don't think it stopped raining all night! Should be interesting out there today 😬
Finished the intro in a predictably slow time but happy I got round! Stage 4 was rerouted after a crash and was a bit carnage with lots of folk setting off all at once, 5 and 6 were awesome, swoopy and fast even for me and 7 was a slippy off camber horror show 😂 Kudos if you rode it all, I sure didn’t and didn’t see many who did!
Thoughts from today, lots of friendly people (it’s daunting riding on your own even for a local) Ebikes are annoying when you’re being overtaken up hill, and I really should upgrade from a hardtail one day!
If I chatted to you (yellow helmet, Orange Orange crush, tired) thanks for an ace day!
and 7 was a slippy off camber horror show
Stage 2 obviously wasn't in the intro then? Did the sport so all stages and personally thought 7 was by far the best stage of the lot but it had dried up a lot by the time we got there. The off camber part coming into the bottom of stg 2 and the first part of the transition to the ford was absolutely grim
Good vibes after the Sport today.
Stage 1 - hope the gang of casualties in the middle were all Ok (one guy really wasn’t looking well when we went by; medics/mountain rescue had him)
Stage 2 - ridiculous after the rain. I’ve never seen mud like it; and I thought Perth last year was muddy. Transition up to 3 was an absolute monster.
Stages 3, 4, 5, 6 were absolutely magic - loved all of those. By the grace of God 7 was dry when we came down; made an arse of one of the off-camber bits and ended up way off line. Chuffed at hitting the booster between the trees - easily the biggest drop/jump I’ll have tackled.
Great event; seemed really well organised and the vibe was super friendly throughout.
MUST get more training in before tacking it again.
Back home with a beer and bag of giant wotsits!
10:55 start this morning, but turns out at that sort of time you can start in whatever wave you want! Went just after 10.
Felt a bit anxious about the first couple of stages after all the rain, got up to the first one to find a huuuge queue and the stage closed. Saw the injured rider on the way down once it opened, he was sat up at least.
It was proper hairy, but made it down, a lot of sliding about and sticking a foot or two out! Just before hecklers wood, there was a guy shouting "send it!" by the small sender there so I went for it, bottomed out the shock but luckily held it! Wound some more HSC on after the stage.
Hecklers wood was great! Way more people there than I've ever seen.
Stage two was hairy as well, guy in front of me almost straight-lined right off the side of the hill, then there was another injured rider further down.
Bottom of the stage and the transition were just like last year, a bit slippy!
Rest if it was all fine. Managed to spin up a lot of the climbs no problem, but by about stage 4 I was f*cked. Looking around it seemed everyone else was the same!
Stage 7 was good, no one set off around me so kind of had it to myself. I was pretty slow through the rocky Woods, bit just glad to stay upright. Loved the ramp off the wall and the short sprint to the sender and was pleased with myself for just going for it!!
Could've done without the drive home, had two nights there last time. Only having one was a mistake!
What a day. My first time. Got to S1 queue just as it was closed for the big crash. Enjoyable though and surprised to find it just on the right side of too hairy. S2 was mad, couldn't clip my right foot for the whole of the woods and I have NEVER managed to clog candies before! Both my mates canned it after that for various reasons. S3 transfer was ****ing heinous, stage itself a welcome relief after the mud. S4 was up with my top UK trails, great building. S5 my legs hit the wall and I can barely remember it or 6. 7 super thankful it was dry, just getting down at that point. Surprised to be top 30% in my cat, makes me think I should actually train next year!
Was surprised how familiar the terrain felt. Like hard peak trails that are my current local, combined with mud identical to the nidderdale farm I grew up on, reckon that helped me out today
A tough old day the sport Sunday
Early wave 8am managed to bag 6 non traffic runs,
Powersliding the fields on stage one
Stage 2 had a few bike walkers on the cliff edge but managed to ride around them, thought **** it overtook a friend and slippy slidy mud fest on my most hated stage , final corner I held on, every other rider was sliding off
Time of the bike due to injuries showed by start of stage 4 , legs gone and shoulder knackered, the redbull gave me wings for stage6, massive queue on stage 7
and many intro riders well out of their depth,
A marshal stopped me half way down the stage due to a crash , walked the bike offpiste around the MR guys and carried on , must have overtaken 15-20 riders (walkers), caught a rider on the final run in down through the walled track, luckily he moved over so back upto speed for the ramp and the final send
Great day came in 8th/14 , end result in top 100 on day, so very happy. Legs still cramping 😆
Ps first time I rode ardrock it was a big step up , so bear with it and come back stronger,
Trips to bpw and wharncliffe and pushing boundaries over the last year has Definately made me far more comfortable
I feel for anyone riding on Sunday, that will have been a very different course to what we rode on Saturday.
I think riding wise it was probably my most enjoyable Ard Rock. Went out without practising and no expectations so just had a nice day out on the bike.
Had a fairly good ride, but stage 7 I was about 15 seconds down on those around me. Not sure how I was so slow as the run didn't feel too bad.
Overall a great weekend, but same complaints as previous years regarding insufficient showers, bars and food outlets.
@mark88 certainly one for the hardcore, and those who just get on with it, (i'm not giving up without a serious injury or mechanical for that kind of ticket money)
if you've not done cold wet winter riding in slop of the pennines, peaks et al, then being caked in mud and a bike that you cant tell what colour or model/make it is, then you were going to struggle. It was warm, rode muddied and wet in a tshirt, far too hot personally for a jacket.
met a few sprint riders who were heading back to base before they got to a stage,
on the transition after two, we rode the majority of it, except the steeper longer climbs as no grip whatsoever.
you just have to ride for the conditions, the podium finishers were crazy times 24 mins for 7 stages, very few sprint riders got as good times on 4 :0)
Sunday Sport
Just outside of the top half in my age category.
Had a shocking stage 1 and 2, at least in part due to tyre choice, but mainly due to my ineptitude.
Stage 1. Top section, fine if a little tentative with the wind. First time I tried to brake on the grass in the mid section I slid sideways. Passed at least 3 people being treated for injuries. Having to run a couple of the flat/uphills. Had a refusal at the muddy chute. Not holding up anyone in behind me in doing so was the only positive I could take from that.
Hecklers wood I dont seem to have a problem with, although I'm not particularly quick.
Stage 2. Absolute hell top to bottom. Foot down on one of the switchbacks, at which point I knew I was riding worse than last year. Muddy mid section with off cambers I slid out on. Entering the woods, I think I did at least 90% tripoding. Bottom mud corners, marshal was even recomending going down on your arse as the quickest technique. Stood for a few minutes afterwards, only saw 2 people make it down on their bikes. If I thought the subsequent stages were going to be the same I would have quit then (and probably sold the bike and taken up knitting).
Stage 3. First time I enjoyed myself all day. wasn't quick but probably finished with a smile rather than a shell shocked look of terror. Haribo and biscuits most welcome afterwards - than you topeak and the volunteers. Not much mud but my goggles were still spotty and hard to see through by the end.
Stage 4. Luckily the earlier course hold had cleared, thats a miserable place to wait. No queue, enjoyable stage, pretty dry under tyre, through the fun swoopy bombholey type bits, although I can never remember where and how it ends. If one and 2 were survival, 3 was enjoyment, this one might be called racing - though still slowly.
Stage 5. Headwind was whistling around my ears (you lucky Saturday riders got a tail wind blowing you down) so rolled the jumps. Thought I was approaching the finish but turned out to be a marshal/medic truck. Had to dig deep for the last bit. Rewarded with some redbull
Stage 6. So awesome. Favourite of the day. Lovely swoopy run with some pedally bits inbetween.
Stage 7. Totally blind for me bar the finish jump. The tiredness hit on the open moor section, legs were refusing to pedal how I wanted them to. Lost speed in the woods, maybe it was fatigue meaning I wasnt looking ahead but I just couldnt read the lines or figure out where to go. Rode it all but slowly. Overtaken for the first time since stage 2, and I think I had a big gap behind me. Glad I had looked at the finish jump on saturday, which was actually nice and smooth. But it is a ramp into the void when you approach it.
I rode the Sunday sport ( i ws the guy with the handlebar tash)
Met some great people on the way round. thanks for the chatting. Probably kept me going round if im honest.
I went out just to get around. tbh i didnt think i was going to make it but took it easy on the stages so got through it. Stage 2 was horrific. I didnt think it could get as bad as last year. it did!!! wheels wouldnt turn by the time i got to the bottom. I think that broke a lot of people as loads were turning back at the pub. it took me as long to do 1 and 2 as 4-7
that false summit on the way to stage 3. Thats just evil!!
weekend was good but overall went a bit pear shaped. i wont be taking the wife next year....
Hecklers wood I dont seem to have a problem with, although I’m not particularly quick
I think I saw you, looking controlled and smooth.
There were a few quick folks through there whilst we were watching, but not many.
Loads looked like they'd already done all 7 stages.
When I woke up at 3, 4, 5,6am to pissing rain was expecting a message from you for a tyre change.
It's probably my fault it rained as it's the first time I've not packed a set of mud tyres.
Great weekend, my last Ard Rock in the Vets. Really glad I raced on Saturday.
Had a shocking stage 1 was like hitting a wall into the headwind.
Was amazed to hear 'rider' on the chutes.
Let them straight past, lost a bit of time but if I'm getting caught that early it's not my day anyway.
Had a stupid couple of offs
Stage 2, my confidence dropped further. Over cautious and off the back too much, no front end grip, too slow to carry momentum over the roots.
Stage 3 onwards, absolutely loved it, overtaking rather than being overtaken which is good for confidence.
Remembered how to ride a bike again.
Probably more relaxed as I knew stage 1+2 were a write off. Quite liberating.
27.13.
Felt like 15 minutes of it were on the first two stages.
what tyres did you opt for @ ayjaydoubleyou.
in 2018 sunny dry hot, i had a minion SS on :0)
my assegai 3c and a exo DHR2 worked pretty well, although i kept dabbing brakes, hoping to clear them on the rubbly bits on stage 2..
saw alot of punctures, and people changing inner tubes .
we all rode with Rimpact again and it makes such a difference, even if it is only placebo
i keep saying i'll have a year off, but its the tenth birthday next.
I did the Enduro Saturday and had a great day, made top half of my age category (and overall) so was really happy as I rode pretty much as well as I could.
I also did the Sport on Sunday. Stage 1 was brilliant if not a little mucky.
Stage 2 was also really good till the woods, I passed so many people on their arse or just not knowing what to do. I'm not surprised people where turning back at the pub.
I didn't make it that far as about 100m from the end of the muddy hell between 2 & 3 I ripped my mech off!
The wife did Intro yesterday and loved it, she managed 6th in her category and 135th of 337 overall, so she was well happy!
was expecting a message from you for a tyre change.
I was already late up having barely slept due to the rain/not wanting to get out of the tent, and you did spend most of saturday night complaining about that rear tyre.
Based on the weather forecast on thursday... I went for Mary/Rock razor. ;-(
My only other option* was double mary.
*Having learnt my lesson last year, I've discounted the shed full of exo and similar.
Some challenging conditions on Sunday. Helped out Mountain rescue with a rider with a broken leg on stage 4. Hence the hold and slight reroute for a period of time. Pretty wet and sloppy.
I took loads of photos and they are heading up to roots and rain now. My internet is naff so May take some time.
https://www.rootsandrain.com/event10500/2022-jul-29-ard-rock-ard-rock-enduro-swaledale/photos/filters/photogs2589/
, and you did spend most of saturday night complaining about that rear tyre
Very true 😂.
Was a bit of an anchor in the drier conditions. It didn't need the insert I think.
Don’t suppose anyone knows who the photographer on stage 6 was in the little bomb hole type feature was? Save me a few hours searching for pics 😂
Got 3rd in the OAP Sport race on Sunday 🤘🏻
Happy with that.
Did anyone track all 7 stages and can tell me the total climbing?
I ran my usual minion front ardent rear since life is too short to carry multiple tyre options. Was somewhat concerned setting off, especially after the cotic guys had a laugh at it but felt largely in control all day in the end!
@rsl1 My Garmin had the whole course inc transitions at 23 miles. 4272 feet of elevation.
Go with my Strava, sounds tougher 😜 25.8 miles, 4900ft.
Mine sounds even tougher (Garmin 830) 1,579m 🙂
What an awesome event and weekend! First time Ard Rocker and i thoroughly enjoyed myself.
I did the Enduro on saturday morning and finished 147th in Veteran class, mid-table as expected, with a total time of 26:45. Had a small victory amongst my two buddies, beat one on 2 stages and beat the other overall, which i have never done before.
Was a big day out on the bike, but not beasting myself up the hills meant i had enough in the tank to ride well (or it felt like that). A watered down Redbull was a happy boost at the end of stage 5 (or was it 6?!).
Tracks were mint. A nice mix of different terrain and styles. Really enjoyed the flow trails (5 & 6)... was mad to just brush the brakes from time to time rather than haul them on.
Had a few overtakes and was overtaken a couple of times.
Events village was well set out with plenty to see. Grabbed a couple of bargains and drooled over some nice bikes. I was in a motorhome, so was fairly self-sufficient, but food and drink didnt seem to be too overpriced.
Had a decent chat with Matt Jones and and gave Ben Deakin a 'Ahoy Ahoy'. Got sized up for an Antherton... 470 Low is the size for me, just need to find 4k now?! 😀
I look forward to the mad scramble to get tickets for next year! Although, how does the Ard Moors compare?!
oh and my Strava says 24.89 miles and 5115ft of climbing (that data is from my Garmin Edge 830)
My Garmin had the whole course inc transitions at 23 miles. 4272 feet of elevation.
I did the sport on Sunday and mine (530) came up with 24.7 miles and 6066ft of elevation. The lads I rode with all had similar distances but all just under 5000ft, I'm guessing mine was wrong
Only slight disappointment (which I do understand) was just how sparse the expo field was by the time we got back after Sunday's Sport ride. 90% of the show stands had almost or completely packed up, just the pizza van and a couple of others left in the food stall corner kinda thing.
Totally get it'll have been a long weekend for everyone showing; but it takes the shine off a bit riding back into a largely empty field.
Minor snag on what was a belting weekend - first Ardrock but hopefully not the last.
