[Closed] Enduro 1 @ Aston Hill: Roll call

I'll be there and can't wait.

Looking forward to gettting timings and rules etc today. Will be interesting to see if they just use the DH tracks and whether they still want you to carry loads of kit or not.

yup, swamp things or not?

yup, swamp things or not?

Looking forward to gettting timings and rules etc today. Will be interesting to see if they just use the DH tracks

and whether they still want you to carry loads of kit or not.

Me thinks my general do it all combo of Fat Albert front and Nevegal rear, and like Scott, bring a swampy front if its muddy. I did really want to try xking front and ralph rear as they are very fast and black chilli front is very grippy, but not got so much volume and bit risky for an unknown (great at QE enduro though!)

Right then, whistle, 1st aid, tools, jacket, glasses... all over again for them not to check again 🙄 I will go minimal this time!

Right then, whistle, 1st aid, tools, jacket, glasses... all over again for them not to check again I will go minimal this time!

not riding, but might head over this sunday to see what all the fuss is about.

I may also pop over, I'd be interested to see how they run it as an enduro event rather than simply a series of mini-downhill races.

No S2A? They'll want to show case that track, I'd be surprised if at least some of it didn't feature.

Darn, full up... Missed this one 😥

I thought S2A would be used. Didn't I read somewhere that they are going to allow some practice for this round and therefore I assumed they'd be sending down the DH runs and perhaps 1 or 2 new runs.

How they get us back to the top will be interesting.

Was hoping to ride without a pack this time but guess that won't be poss if we have to carry all the usual gear.

I thought S2A would be used. Didn't I read somewhere that they are going to allow some practice for this round and therefore I assumed they'd be sending down the DH runs and perhaps 1 or 2 new runs.

This'll be a slimemare, it's rained everyday since sunday...

slimefest for sure!

the enduro1 websites down tho

the enduro1 websites down tho

slimefest for sure!

its the climb up thats got me concerned!

its the climb up thats got me concerned!

"There is a section which is the official push up that you must not ride your bike on past the rider dismount signs. If we catch you peddling you will be disqualified. I have ridden up it as far as I could which is the steps and then pushed up at a good pace."

"During the Transitions stages on the designated push up you will be on a public rights of way so dismount from your bike as warned. If we catch you on it you will be disqualified."

Push up route matches the 1.1km distance too (ish) http://app.strava.com/segments/2668946

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE aston hill.. but shirly racing down some downhill tracks and then pushing back to the top isn't exactly an enduro race?

this is being called a 'sprint enduro'
carlos was pretty specific saying that this was a different format

Im considering taking my fr/dh bike but hes pointed out that the transition/push up times will be tight so im not so sure

I think the mandatory push up section will be pretty short, I imagine you'll be allowed to ride most of the way up.

In any case they'll have to use different routes up otherwise it'll be mayhem.

paul123 - Member
I think the mandatory push up section will be pretty short, I imagine you'll be allowed to ride most of the way up.

its a footpath and aston hill can only use it on condition that the footpath isnt ridden

Understood, but I thought that the footpath only ran for about 50m of the push up as this sectioned is also used by the golfers.

Either way I'll be glad of the rest.

By the sounds of it probably going to be baptism by fire as it's my first ever race 😕
Not looking forward to racing in the wet with my 60a high rollers.

Super nervous right now.

Understood, but I thought that the footpath only ran for about 50m of the push up as this sectioned is also used by the golfers.

06awjudd - No need to be nervous ride at you own pace and have fun.

06awjudd - No need to be nervous ride at you own pace and have fun.

Have you ridden at Aston in the wet Scott?

I'd be pretty nervous tbh.

🙂

Have you ridden at Aston in the wet Scott?

I'd be pretty nervous tbh.

Surely wont be running S2A as a stage in this will they? Not a typical enduro stage, personally crap myself with a couple of those drops so bloody hope not! My guess of 3 stages are:
- Red run/end of XC route
- DH3
- Something quite scary/possibly out of my league in the wet!
Now thinking about it, would probably prefer S2A than black run, I struggled to walk down that in the wet, let alone ride it!

@ lbjones - S2A isn't exactly what I'd think of when you say "enduro". Other than the drops, practically no technicality, and I'd imagine that big drop could be lethal in the wet with tired riders, so I hope not too.

From what I've seen of the other venues, if they go ahead and use either it'll be much more hardcore than any of the other races.

Not looking forward to picking my way down the black in the wet either 😕

I've read that Carlos said S2A was definitely being used, so who knows?
I'd imagine they might use the chicken runs round the bigger drops / only use a part of it though.

Really excited now anyway!

last time I raced there after lots of rain I couldn't complete my 2nd run as the bike had clogged with mud, I was racing hardtail and that event was on the xc downhill. I would take thinish mud tyres, anything a bit fat in the frame will just fill with mud, the chalky mud gets really stupidly sticky.

The other runs arn't too bad for mud but tyre choice and pressure will mean the difference between getting down ok or ending up on your arse.
Not tried high rollers there in the wet but can't imagine it will end well.

If starting at the bombhole end, beware the dip before the firetrail you cross to get the bombhole if you get miss-judge that, it will all go wrong and end in a crash in the bombhole.

Not tried high rollers there in the wet but can't imagine it will end well.

Anyone think it'll be bad enough to need a full face??

They I'll allow use of the chicken runs on S2A which are very easy to tackle. The black isn't too bad in the wet, it's root canal you should be worried about, that is a run that is very very slidey in the wet. Approach it with caution, better to get down steadily than end up sliding down on your arse....

I'd opt for full face too.

I'm hoping the transition times will take into account the bad conditions, especially considering Carlos isnt giving any mechanical leeway! Dont want ruin race and get penalties because you cant make transition quick enough.

Guess it can't be any worse than UK Bikepark? Rode the chalky DH there in the wet a few months ago and (mostly) stayed upright! I'm suddenly a massive fan of chicken runs.

Anyone think it'll be bad enough to need a full face??

I'd wear one, it's not like there's going to be much pedalling mileage and Aston Hill has quite a reputation for being hard in the wet... I look forward to hearing how it went - good luck!

well that was an xc race in a full face helmet

there were some ok technical sections but the tight transition times spoilt the riding with you mates bit and it seems a shame to have gone to aston hill and not ridden any of the DH tracks?
well a bit of dh4 but not much else 🙁

Really?! I'm shocked. I thought they would have included most, if not all of the DH runs. Sounds pretty rubbish.

They included the XC, DH4, and some of the 4X, and that was pretty much it. Very XC orientated, even the DH stages had really annoying off camber pedally bits.
Stage 4 was just a big climb too 😯
Didn't speak to many competitors other than the ones around my number, but from what I've heard there were loads of DNFs as people finishing RD1 simply couldn't be bothered to do it again!

Stage 4 was all uphill Wtf?! Real shame, I was expecting so much more. Tbh, an xc bike would have been much more suitable, the time you'd lose on dh, would be more than gained on the 8min uphill!
It didnt suit our team, but i suppose some would have liked it.

Stage 4 was all uphill Wtf?

It's always easy to be critical of events and I guess enduro events are the even more so because they are new. I thought the stages were a nice mix of challenge and speed, I did think it might be a bit more extreme but I think longer faster flowing stages with the odd tech section worked well.

But.... IMO the uphill stage was the worst idea ever. all the time that a technical rider could gain could be evaporated in one stage.... I pretty sure on one enters an gravity enduro to do a timed hill climb.

I thought the tight transition times were ok, the only one I missed was the last one by one minute but at my quite average pace it meant you really couldn't talk to anyone and finding ime to take your jacket off was tricky. I think another 3 mins on all of them would have still been challenging but a bit more fun. I know the guy in front of me retired because he was just getting later and later every stage and he wasn't enjoying it

Because of this I think the event had a very Xc race type atmosphere probably not helped by the event layout ( which I guess couldn't have been helped) I know this is very grassroots racing but a pa would have really helped generate a bit of atmosphere.

I also thought and I guess this could be me that round 1 stage 1 and round 2 stage 1 would be the same the last bit stunned me so much I stopped and had to double check it was right. I accept that this could be me not "expecting the unexpected"

All in all though it's great that there is a southern enduro series so well done to the organisers, I sure it can become a great series.

It did make it more than a fair playing field for the two or three guys I saw on 100-120mm hardtails.
Maybe they new something everyone else didn't 😉

I know I'm out of condition, but I was expecting some decent downhill sections to at least help balance out the climbs.
Bit of a shame at such a venue, as it felt more like a xc event with a few tricky bits and tasters of what could have been ridden.
Transitions seemed crazy tight (well for me) and no chance to wait for mates, chat to riders, or fix anything (one of the attractions of gravity enduros).
Stage 4 was hell! 👿
I was so glad to just finish.

How random- the last thing I expected to read about the AH race was that there was too much uphill and it was too xc orientated!!

weird as they billed this event as a 'showcase' race with no sport class, why did they do that if it wasn't going to be super technical?

Couple of guys I ride with went & did it, don't think they had anything positive to say about it either.

Glad I sacked this one off.

I Liked stage 1 and 3 apart from the danger death corner.
Not keen on 2 it didn't have any flow.
I think we run 4 the wrong way.
Real shame we didn't do any of Black run, root canal or S2A.

Weather was good and didn't fall off so I happy with that.

P.S Downhill tyre were a bad idea.

danger death corner.

Stage 2 was difficult to maintain momentum on I thought.

I had a funny feeling that Aston wouldn't be a good place for a gravity enduro, I've raced DH there in the past and its a great venue but Its not a particularly big place for a enduro. Wonder where the next round will be.

P.S Downhill tyre were a bad idea.

I hear you on that one!

Always nice to be out on the bike for a day but can't say i 'enjoyed' it. Don't really understand the format change - riding stages untimed was a bit weird and can't really pass off as practice/sighting as we've done more extreme stuff blind in other rounds. Uphill stage was unnecessary and stopping for an hour in the middle of the session grated. I've had a ball at other rounds so maybe this just wasn't the one for me. My mate loved it (but he's a bit of a climbing perv'). Got round fairly cleanly except first run of S3 when some tape was moved so i missed a turn, lost time and missed my R1 finish time.

Overall is was deffo the most physically demanding Enduro1 i've done by quite some margin. Shattered now.

P.S Downhill tyre were a bad idea.

+2, my high rollers were bloody dangerous on the bottom section of stage 3, not too good climbing in the mud either.

I think Aston is a great venue for Gravity enduro. We only rode 50% of the trail today.

...it's not like there's going to be much pedalling mileage...

How wrong was I?! Just saw your Strava Rich - weird course... Think BC should be better, even if it's more a mini-DH without uplift! 😉

took a couple of pics, tag yourself if I got you. http://www.rootsandrain.com/race1749/2013-sep-15-x-fusion-enduro-1-3-aston-hill/photos/

I can see most of the points above more or less but there is nothing wrong with Aston hill as a venue, just needs refining a bit. Slightly longer transitions, maybe less of climb on stage 2 maybe another proper stage. Nothing that can't be fixed.

I kind of agree with you Scott, think it could have been a great venue, just a really weird event. Too many climbs in stages, some of them not reall neccessary IMO, and what was stage 4 about? If I wanted to be climbed up a climb I'd ride an XC race, surely missing the poing of a gravity enduro here. Shame because Ive really loved some of these events but this one just felt odd. Bit of an adjustement to some of the stages, add a couple more stages in and do one loop, loosen the trasistion times and you'd have a kick ass event I reckon.

Organisation was tops as always, stages well signed etc so some good points too, just hope the next one is a bit more like the previous races.

Nothing against AH. Would happily have traded half the climbing for some more of the DH there.

in other , better news

from facebook

The UKGE 2014 dates will be announced later today, including a British Enduro Champs.

I cant do both (enduro1 and ukge) series next year and a southern series would be my preferred option but the UKGE is just so much better (even though its more expensive, takes me away from family more and has a heftier petrol bill)

a southern series would be my preferred option

I actually enjoyed Aston Hill yesterday - definitely the most tiring round! Not the hardest though - that goes to Round 1, which was my first Enduro race.

I did feel that yesterday's transition times were very tight! But we knew this before the event. And as an Enduro, which I think is supposed to be 'how we ride most of the time', I don't mind the XC/uphill parts during a timed stage. Just wish I had grippier tyres for all all those damp roots! Would come across them, slip, lose all traction and have to get off and push - whoops!

Think I missed my eventual finish time by about 6 mins - double whoops! But I finished, with no crashes (clearly not trying hard enough!) so I'm happy with that. Legs are feeling it today though - more fitness training required!

#47

I actually enjoyed Aston Hill yesterday

Great pictures Scottfitz. Does anyone know who else was taking photos? The ones on roots and rain have have a gap between about 11:30 and 12:00 and I know there was definitely a photographer when I did Stage 1 Rd 1 at 11:56.

Many thanks

I love this one, when I shouted style it up for the camera I didn't expect him to get off and break dance!! http://www.rootsandrain.com/photos/537759

Thanks Carlos for organising another race when few find the time or can be bothered to do something for others. If conditions were dry It would have felt like a very different race with much higher speeds and therefore fun. There was some good little additions which extended some of the downs.

The transitions were tough but they were always going to be just because of the fact Aston is on the side of quite a steep hill and covers such a small area.

Having said that I thought stage 4 was a bit odd and it would have been good to know that stage 1 of round 2 was going to be so different to round 1. I got onto the new section, doubted myself, turned around, realised I had got it right first time and turned around again, so a chunk a time gone there.

Thanks again Carlos for putting on a good event.

Paul thank goodness it wasn't just me that did that on round 2 stage1! I must admit my head went down slightly after that!

Thanks again Carlos for putting on a good event.

Thanks again Carlos for putting on a good event.

Struggled with motivation a bit too Simon tbh after my brain fade but kept telling myself that as long as I made all the transfer times it wouldn't be too bad. I'm sure when the results are out I'll be annoyed again.

Big props to all the marshals for sitting in the rain while we were all "enjoying" ourselves. Especially the dude at the start of stage 2 - PEDAL! As someone who is reasonably fit, I found the transitions tough, but OK. Biggest problem was excess of ambition on the wet roots near the top of stage 1. Fell off 3x on round 1, twice on stage 2. Could barely walk into maccy d's in the service station on the way home.
Thanks to Carlos for putting it on. However, was very disappointed not to ride S2A, came to Aston in June and has a blast on it. If this was supposed to be a showcase for Enduro, then slightly scary downhill should be part of it as well as pedaling. It would also have held up in the wet. I don't think the weather helped the atmosphere. We'd all have been hanging around by the burger van if it was sunny at lunch. Rather than huddled in our cars...
Anyone got any news on a round 4?

Anyone got any news on a round 4?

This was pinched for another forum:
[i]"I was speaking to Carlos after the event and he confirmed round 4 will be at UKBP but will use none of the existing DH runs and all stages will have to be freshly cut."[/i]

I spoke to Carlos at the end too and he said UKBP on 20th Oct, which rules me out, I will be doing this one: https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/99203/Gravity-Project-Autumn-Race-1#entry

Sounds like that could be interesting, with only fresh cut tracks 🙂

Scottfitz - don't suppose you know if there are any photos about, other than the ones on Roots and Rain, I'm trying to hunt mine down. #117.

Not sure, I know these guys some times take pics at Enduro1's but I don't think they where there: http://visualise.morephotos.com/mp_client/pictures.asp

I only saw that one guy (apart from me).

Might be worth emailing him: http://www.rootsandrain.com/photos/dan-harmer/

Cheers, I'll look into it, Carlos might link some up on the race report.

I guess the debate will flow about stage four but, to my mind as a newbie to all this expecting the unexpected and having to deal with it is all part of the Enduro ethos.

That said I wish I hadn't put a set of DH mud tyres on! But that's all part of it right, you have to take a punt on set-up etc and sometimes it'll pay off and sometimes it won't.

Whatever the thoughts on the course can we say three cheers to all the marshals and organisers though - course marking and organisation seemed top notch and though it's easy to moan there were a lot of people gave up their time to sit in the rain and let us race.

Hip-hip hooray, etc...

Dan

Warning: Contains lots of swearing and shouting.

Comedy video of a mate cramping on Stage 4.

Enjoy.

Comedy video of a mate cramping on Stage 4.

Haha, I'm not a doctor but I think he might have been suffering from a touch of cramp there.

Surprised they didn't use a couple of the DH runs as stages, they'd have been spot on for an enduro I reckon - especially DH3 if it stuill exists.

Did the organisers say why?

They did use DH3 in the end, but they added in an annoying uphill bit before the fire road.

I think the XC descent is also supposed to be the red DH, which they used as well.