[Closed] Forest of Dean Enduro - start time & conditions

Yes I'm doing it. Start time of 10:30 sounds right. A mate rode the course today and said it was riding real nice, no rain forecast for days either so should be great fun, result!

10.30 start for 4 laps
10.40 for 2 laps
10.50 for 1 lap

Rode most of the course today, it's riding lovely. Ground is soft enough for the tyres to bite (so I wouldn't run semi slicks for instance) but it's not wet enough to be muddy. Really quick and grippy at the moment, kinda gutted I won't be able to make it on Sunday to do a 2 lapper!

Good luck to those doing 4 laps... It's quite a physically demanding course, you don't get much respite from the lovely technical terrain that you do on more boring courses, and some of the descents are steeper and more technical than you find on an average Enduro course.

You will enjoy it though!

Thanks all and good luck!

I'm hoping to go tomorrow to FoD for a blast around, is it quite busy, or issues with the course, i've read the updates saying that a bit of the Freeminers trail is out of bounds due to it being part of the enduro course, so is it still worth a trip?

Freeminers crosses the enduro route, but they don't really share any sections. Think some of Freeminers is out of action because it's being extended. Still worth going, you could ride the enduro loop (might be marked out already), do Verderers, bits of Freeminers, try some of the DH sections, there's tons to do, and that's without venturing further afield than the Pedalabikeaway area

Freeminers is out of bounds really, they're doing a lot of alterations to it that are not yet finished. Had a sneak peak today, looks like it should be good, but not fully rideable yet.

The Enduro course is fully marked out (just follow the yellow paint on the floor, and the occasional marker on a tree). It's a LOT more fun than mincing about on Verderers, or the Freeminers (as was) anyway, so I'd go and ride it tomorrow if I were you. Quite a few were out practicing it today anyway.

Could always do a loop out to Dowies and back to avoid the hordes also!

Whereabouts is Dowies in relation to the Enduro loop, is it easy to find and loop in?

Err no it's nowhere near the Enduro, you really need a guide to find it for the first time. Well worth it though there's loads of awesome trails in that area, and in the surrounding enclosures.

Not too muddy then? Ive just put my Trailrakers on for it.

Mind you its rained on the start line for the last two years dont see why this year will be different!!!!!

Not too muddy then? Ive just put my Trailrakers on for it.

Not been looking at the forecast then? 20 odd degrees all weekend, and no rain... Nothing like giving yourself a massive disadvantage by running a totally unsuitable tyre! Even in the depths of winter, the FoD drains pretty well, and a full mud tyre only makes sense in very few areas. The Enduro course takes in a lot of footy Singletrack, where a larger volume, sticky(er) rubber tyre makes a lot more sense than a narrow mud tyre...

Your choice though! Don't say I didn't warn you...

mboy - Bit condescending but thanks all the same! Guess ill have another think about tyres.

Anyone know if the course is the same as last year? Does it still head into that bottleneck at the top of the hill just after the start?

Yeah it does Brodie. Think they are starting it a bit further back to help thin out the field but there'll still be a bottleneck there I reckon

Apologies, was 3 (maybe 4) pints of cider down when I posted that last night! Ooops 😕

Anyway, forecast is maybe a little optimistic given it's drizzling steadily in South Wales right now, but I'd still expect it to be dry tomorrow with very little standing water or muddy patches. Mud tyres would be more hindrance than help IMO.

well I live 8 miles from the enduro course, and its dry here and quite warm.

mboy - No worries.

I might hang back a bit on the start this year, it got a bit tense in those woods last time. Lot of people pushing past or crashing through the woods off course, lots of other people getting annoyed about it.

Everyone have fun?

I did, I forgot how enjoyable the last third is after all the climbs are out the way.

The start was much better this year, I was in the second group of 2 lapers.

I was in the second group of 2 lapers as well. Did first lap in 56mins and second in 1hr 5mins. Had to get off at the top of the last steep climb, I had cramp in the top of both legs, lost about 3mins there. It was great though, its a good course.

kinda gutted I won't be able to make it on Sunday to do a 2 lapper!

i must have passed your twin then

good course, just technical enough to sort the wheat from the chaff, well sign posted and marshalled, we were in 1st place in the team comp until one of our riders, 1)got a flat 2)broke a spoke 3) broke his chain and lost 35 mins 😳

Results - are wrong as i completed all four laps and don't feature in results and someone has has been assigned my number and they only did 3!
email sent 🙁

Are you looking at the results online? as these are the 2012 results

ha ha .... oops 🙂

Just clicked on results under 2013 enduro! doh by me

I made the same mistake.

Apology email now sent....

i must have passed your twin then

Thought I saw you on the side of the course when I was finishing my 2nd lap...

And yes, managed to make it in the end! Came back from South Wales late last night (mate was doing Margam Madness yesterday) as I was desperate to do it.

The start was much better this year, I was in the second group of 2 lapers.

Yeah, start was pretty good I thought. People progressively ramped up the pace over 200-300 metres, rather than all racing each other from the line. I was in the same group brodie, burnt my legs off up the fireroad to try and get a clean run in through the first technical section and it paid off pretty well.

Don't know where I came, but do know my time. 1:46:18, first lap 53:29 and second 52:49. Quite happy with that, didn't get held up too much and certainly knew I'd put the effort in by the end.

Properly enjoyed it anyway, and to the guy (Ben I think) in the green shirt on the Trek Fuel EX 29er I spent most of a lap riding with, great stuff! Would be chuffed with that effort if I'd only been riding 6 months as he has!

EDIT: Just seen some of the quick boys lap times... Oh dear! Feel a bit inadequate now... 😕

I was 5 min late at the 4 laps start, then I got a stitch trying to catch up which lasted all the laps, then I was starving on laps 4, and yes I do want some sympathy.

This was a great course, great weather and cake (there were a few left, thanks guys).

Brilliant

Gilles - Member
I was 5 min late at the 4 laps start, then I got a stitch trying to catch up which lasted all the laps, then I was starving on laps 4, and yes I do want some sympathy.

This was a great course, great weather and cake (there were a few left, thanks guys).

Brilliant

Yeah I saw you arrive when i was waiting to go off with the two lappers.

..and whos idea making the" finish "section by the fireroad for overspill carpark ..its not a very good idea to block that part of FOD 👿

Thumbs up for those participants in the race by the way.

Yeah, I enjoyed the start this year. Had the same idea, blew my lungs out up the road then got a fairly stressfree run through the first few singletrack bits.

Didnt hang around to check my time, didnt feel too fast probably a few minutes over an hour a lap. Second lap felt faster.

quick pics from today on the gopro
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The guy who won it was flying.Mate crashed on the last lap and lost a place near the end and was eighth in the 4 lap race.Good looking course.Y2k scares the hell out of some people,just not use to trails like that.

Where was Y2k? Was it the great descent toward the end?

I love Y2K, but I do ride it a lot being local.

Yeah y2k was the last main descent, it's great fun. There's a great flat-out lead-in to it that I wish they'd include in the Enduro that makes it twice as long too. Enjoyed the race today, second lap spoilt by cramp a little but it eventually loosened off so I could carry on. Top 4 lap time was 2hrs 49, unreal...

2013 results now on the site

Cheers RD

Just downloaded the results... 16th overall and 8th in category for me!

😯

Needless to say I'm bloody ecstatic right now! 😛

VeloCake came 3rd in the team comp, if one of our team hadn't punctured and broke his chain and a spoke we'd have got 2nd

I had to scroll a little further down!

31st in the veteran 2 lap category. Could have been a bit higher if i hadnt stopped for 3mins with cramp in both legs.

..and whos idea making the" finish "section by the fireroad for overspill carpark ..its not a very good idea to block that part of FOD

is this some kind of joke?

Times have been updated apparently cos of issues where some people got artificially handicapped...