Hi
I’m looking for an event to motivate some training next year
EWS gradings indicate the naughty Northumbrian (black 3 bar) is tougher both technically and for fitness than pmba Graythwaite (red 2 bar)
If any of you have done both does this fit with your experience of the races?
Cheers
James
I haven't done Graythwaite but I've done all of the Naughty Northumbrians, stages are on the whole very technical, steep, rooty, rocky and transitions were brutal in the 30° heat last time. I've talked 3 different lads into entering and all of them bailed after the practice day saying it was too hard/technical, as I believe around 250 others did last time. I don't race much at all but if there's one race a year I'd make a point of entering its the Naughty, can't f***** wait. Theres a couple of vids on YouTube from last time, although it really doesn't do justice to how steep some of the stages actually are
Sorry can really help as not done greathwaite, but I was chatting to someone who gave me the impression they were handy on the bike and they said it was silly difficult this year, that being said, it think it was probably largely due to lots of roots and wetness…
I’ve done the naughty before, when it was epically wet, about half the field dropped out after practice, but I had a good time…
Indeed I’m going again this year but will be on my tod…
I've done 4 x Graythwaite and 3 x Naughty (including one back when it was the Kidland Enduro). I think.
IMO Graythwaite is harder but has been getting a little easier - the first (2015?) was amazeballs - it was so dry - the roots weren't as lethal as the last time I rode it (2019) when it was wet and polished.
Naughty is a bigger physical challenge - bigger transitions that need riding instead of a short and steep push to the top. Kidland was basically 2 x DH trails and 2 x Enduro trails, all steep and techy. The Naughty Northumbrian was basically 2 or 3 x steep greasy Enduro/DH trails and a couple of grassy fillers (at least was when I last rode in 2018). I understand it's been getting harder and less grassy!
TLDR; they are both hard, NN more physical, Graythwaite more enduro, don't split hairs and go ride them both.
n.b. Both are on private trails that you have to enter to ride, don't go poaching the trails and jeopardising the future of the events, thanks.
Thanks all, good information
Don’t worry, definitely looking for an event to enter not poaching off limits trails
couple of grassy fillers
No grass stages in 2019, I heard a few people saying they thought the rocky/scree/loose rubble stage was the scariest thing they'd ever tried to ride, anywhere
