[Closed] EWS Tweed valley

What's the chances of all the e2 entries coming available? I'd be in my van in a shot.

Hah, just saw the E1 seeding, I've been declared faster than Ben Cathro 😆 Think I'm well out of that!

@philfive, best thing to do would be to email Dawn at tweedlove, she's been handling the signup lists I think.

Re late entries, I had to pull out of the GT7s solo due to illness in the week leading up to the race. I contacted the guys at Tweedlove to see if my entry could be passed over to someone on the waiting list. However it was too late as all the race numbers etc had been sent off to the printers so there wasn't scope to register a new rider. And I am sure they don't approve of riding under someone else's entry.

Hob Nob - Member 
To be fair it was a similar situation at the UKGE last weekend. Stage 5 used a chunk of the IXS cup track, and there was a few steep bits, but nothing outrageous, [b]the amount of moaning was pretty impressive. I guess people just don't expect it.[/b]

That said, riding something, and racing something are very different experiences.

POSTED 1 HOUR AGO # REPORT-POST

What were they moaning at, the steepness?
It's a skill to ride technical steep sections and far too often these enduro events are based more so on fitness..
I did the gravity enduro last year and was disappointed but hearing this year was a lot better (not as pedally) I may enter the next one.
Be good to see the top boys flying down some of them steep technical sections on the ews.

[i]Re late entries, I had to pull out of the GT7s solo due to illness in the week leading up to the race. I contacted the guys at Tweedlove to see if my entry could be passed over to someone on the waiting list. However it was too late as all the race numbers etc had been sent off to the printers so there wasn't scope to register a new rider. And I am sure they don't approve of riding under someone else's entry.[/i]

It wasn't a problem at GT7, I took over someones' entry on race day and all they needed were my emergency details. Just had the wrong name on my number board.

Had a quick blast this morning rode G-Force and Jawburn ...(well slid/dabbed) some of it 😀 Wow they've not half chewed up !!!

There was a few folks scratching heads and not looking too keen on 1st entry into splash n dash ..

I'm more Xc-Jey than Dh-Gnar and I can ride it ... Lot of folks in for a treat ❓

Good luck to all those competing weather is looking sweet and trails have went from super sloppy to sticky sloppy 😀

Northwind/grey - thanks - squiggly line I've seen before. Will get hacksa out for bars later 😉 Bit steep eh, but then being a hanger on for this event can't really expect much else 🙂

Lol, apart from my oops moment and getting them mixed up.

Considering this is mean't to be a world class event, then having world class tech is a good thing imo!
There are already "easy" options for competing over some of the same stages doing less days/miles for those wanting to break themselves in gently to the sport! It's also pretty awesome that everyday jo-blogs (and his hot sister Hannah-blogs 😉 can ride the same course as the pros!
It's like turning up for the Monaco GP and getting a go after the race in your own car, and you'd be miffed if they had taken out the hairpin cause it was a bit tight............

Having a day off today after helping the team set up all week, but I'm looking forward to marshalling the next two days.
I'm on Pro-spacer on day one and Ho Chi Minh the next day so should see plenty action.
Weather looks like it's going to be good as well.
Good luck to all those riders from here, it's going to be awesome.

Over the last five or six years, with the exception of last year, running the event later probably wouldn't have made any difference to the conditions. It's Scotland not California etc, deal with it.

There is a reason there are so many good riders in the Tweed Valley. Caberston is a big reason! It's a world series event. What would be the point in seeing the elites take on a red route? Looking forward to this massively. If it's too hard then maybe you're not ready for it yet.

http://singletrackworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/is-the-tweedlove-world-enduro-series-too-hard/

the grown ups are watching

I've been quoted.
I cant respond to that as not a premier user, but as others may have said this is a world class event, expect world class descents.
I was expecting much more straight down hold on and hope, but the course has been well designed and built. The wet has obviously taken its toll, and thats the factor that has made it "difficult". If it were bone dry hardpack everywhere I dont think many people would be complaining.

Anyone hating, its not because the tracks too hard, its because your skill level is too low.

I note that neither full face nor body is a requirement for enduro. But it's held on some of the same courses as DH races which do have that requirement.

Did Steve Deas play a part in making up the stages for this event? If so, that'll be why some of them are a bit wild. 😀

I think the only other problem with trails like these is how much they can change in the course of the race day- it can be pretty different for rider 1 and rider 500. Probably just an inevitable part of this sort of racing though.

Knee pads are obligatory. Helmet choice is upto the rider. Depends on the stage. Wouldnt need a FF @ GT

Been riding over that way for a couple of years now regularly and can honestly say that it's rarely dry
So the dates wouldn't of mattered. A hard tail would cope easily with these trails but would obviously have you way off the pace.
Gutted not to have been able to get an entry or make it down to watch as it looks to be as complete a weekend ofbiking as you could ever hope for.
Good luck Bob/Gav hope you guys smashit!!!
I also hope the locals give the worlds pros a run for their money on the world class trails they have built!

Wtf do people expect? Its the enduro WORLD series. Its the premier event, it should be hard/technical.

Well practiced all the caberston stages and 1 at gt yesterday definitely technical but no more do than ukge last weekend I certainly won't be challenging peatys timed down them slopes but my 150 mm mince tank is up to the job and I'm sure I'll manage for reference I live in London get off road once a month my biggest regualr descent is going down nothing hill
So of o can manage it anyone can

However I've signed up to E1 and have serious concerns about making the transition times !

We also ran into 2 dog walkers yesterday who deliberately blocked the trail (by the golf course on way to caberston stages) think theyd bern removing way markers too then had a go at us for trashing their trails and ****ing off and they'd be complaining to the council as this was the only place they could walk their dog

We also ran into 2 dog walkers yesterday who deliberately blocked the trail (by the golf course on way to caberston stages) think theyd bern removing way markers too then had a go at us for trashing their trails and ****ing off and they'd be complaining to the council as this was the only place they could walk their dog

Make sure you report that to the race organisers.

i agree with useless hippy ! its world enduro series.
i was way out my depth on jawburn and had to push at a few bit but in comparision was not phased at all on the day 2 stages .so if enduro is about all round abilitys skill,fitness,speed,decending,endurance whats wrong with having a few ballbreaker stages .
p.s its jusy as likely to be slippy in july as it is in may imho
I ALSO THINK THE LOCALS AND COURESIGNERS HAVE PUT A GREAT COURSE TOGETHER TO TEST THE BEST RIDERS IN THE WORLD.a really varied selection of trails.the fact we are debating on here says they have done a good job . it would have been a crime holding the world enduro on the groomed glentress mincer trails IMHO

I was chatting to a couple who'd got to the top of splash and dash and were looking at the easier entry and going "that's too hard". I didn't have the heart.

I often figure with these things, I'm pretty much exactly the worst rider that should do them. Here I think I'm clearly not good enough to say that! But no doubt there'll be a bunch of people in even further over their heads.

I'd concur with the hard chute being easier than the left option due to the looseness of the left.

Is Enduro for failed DH racers the same as Sportives are for failed road racers?

Any go pro / photos of the tricky trails?

I searched YouTube for jawburn but nothing on there

Stage one, Caberston.

Looks fantastic, reminds of Aberdeenshire singletrack. Stick on a set of the new 2.4 Baron's and you are in business!

That^^ looks like it actually might get easier after another couple of hundred riders pass, as it will help to form some berms and a rut line through all the off camber stuff!

(wishing i were in Scotland riding that tbh.........)

ETA: It will be interesting to see the tyre choice the Pros are running too

Keep it hard and show what Scotland has to offer.

If you are entering a world event riding with the best enduro riders on the planet then you should have the skills. It's great that anyone can enter but that should not mean the stages should suffer. Take responsibility you should know if you are up to it or not.

^^ that, I've ridden/minced most of those trails on a normal day but didn't consider myself good enough to do it on a race day, so didn't enter.

I have entered the king of the hill enduro as I thought that would be more to my level . This is a competition for the world's best riders and the course should reflect that , I think it is brilliant that they have e2 that allows normal riders to get involved but you can't tailer the whole course for their needs
I do however think there is a balance to be struck for the races in the UK that aren't world series level , enduro is ment to be an accessible race format for all riders and if it just becomes downhill courses without uplifts you could scare people away and that would be a shame

BoardinBob - Member

Hearing a lot of people moaning about the trails. Surely they didn't enter expecting groomed trail centre stuff? I was doing the climb up to caberston s1 today alongside Hannah Barnes. She met someone riding the opposite way that she knew. He had just ridden s1 and decided to drop out as he didn't want to race on that kind of trail. Heard another guy on the phone to his girlfriend saying he was pulling out and was going to ride the red trail. Poor show all round. I know a lot of people who didn't manage to get an entry and they would have loved these trails.

WTF I ride the red and I'm almost 40, have a slightly rounded waist, not much skill and cough up a lung at the sight of a hill lol.

I can understand it if it was a mud bath and wasn't going to be that much fun riding it but if its a skill thing why did they enter in the first place.

In defence of Golfie (Caberston) it has to be said that the trails are normally dry between March and October; I have never met anyone who prefers them when they are muddy! Stage 1 trails are considered to be "easier introductions" (except that drop in!) whereas Jawbone is probably the hardest one on the hill. Other venues in the area have stuff even harder still!
I have to laugh at the notion of world wide exposure to he Art Installation as you crest the ridge on the way up the hill. What exactly did a well known local rider do to "Ur momma" back in 2002?? 🙂

I have to laugh at the notion of world wide exposure to he Art Installation as you crest the ridge on the way up the hill. What exactly did a well known local rider do to "Ur momma" back in 2002??

Translation for us stoopid people who have no idea what you are talking about?

Maybe check the graffiti on the old water reservoir perhaps?

Martin Maes of Atherton Racing:

Right, so the boulder field has been removed and the scary drop onto the fireroad on Jawbone has been avoided...I suppose they would be downright dangerous if you're riding at race speed!

Well now we know why Martin Maes is so quick - he's got a jet engine in his hydration pack. Bit tight through those trees 😯

If you take that three seconds of martin maes saying f*ck and hitting the tree and loop it for about 14 minutes, thats me riding at the golfie 🙂

and good luck and have fun to everyone on here racing tomorrow, can't wait to watch, very excited. see yous there

Right, so the boulder field has been removed and the scary drop onto the fireroad on Jawbone has been avoided...I suppose they would be downright dangerous if you're riding at race speed!

The boulder field is still there.. its a bit muddy and cut up though.. The new exit points up towards lower jawbone, which is the next part of the stage..

I see Sven Martin describing it on Pinkbike as "the most technical and difficult one yet", interesting

Just saw Cedric Gracia video on the weekend. He is a character. Looking forward to it!