[Closed] Hadleigh Olympic guided rides

£45!? With several races there next year why wouldn't you just wait for those?

It was only £20 to watch the world's top riders race round it!

It's a guided and coached ride for the day.

The races they run there next year won't be using the whole of the course and they are due to change lots of the features and tone it down a bit. Gives people the opportunity to experience the full on world standard track before the changes happen and receive some skills training at the same time.

Cheers

The cost is irrelevant you get the ride the Olympic course the way it was designed to be, not the way the ECC want it to be, which it will be soon.
I have attended one of these session and it is full of great coaching tips through out the whole ride, making it possible to have fun and learn to ride how the Olympians do it, not as easy as it looks on the tv.

Sounds damn good value to me and a fantastic opportunity - only wish I was nearer.

Will you be doing other dates?

I thought someone from Essex council came on here a few months back and publicly stated that nothing would be removed, just extra lines added on the more difficult sections?

What qualifications to the ride coaches have?

I'm going home to safffffend next weekend.
Can I NOT ride on the trail at Hadleigh?

What qualifications to the ride coaches have?

[url= http://www.tomdowie.com/ ]looks better than me![/url]

I'm a ctc skills instructor and John is a level 3 bc coach.

The other dates will be up beginning of the week but we'll be running sessions most weekend until the new year and just after.

Again there are no plans on the course as of yet but due to the risks some of the dangerous features could come out. We'll have to see what ecc and the course builders come up with.

Either way it's a rad track. Challenging and I race 4x, I should be used to rocks but these are quite substantial.
We've had a few battered bikes in the last couple of sessions.

If it's coached and that it's fair enough, thought it was £45 to pedal round! Agree with Matt that I thought they were just providing alternative lines, rather than removing bits.

Again the local guys are working hard to keep all the current features. I hope they do as it'll be an amazing facility once finished.

Yep you get 4 hours on track with coaching help on the way round.

maybe im missing something but why would anyone need a guide ??

And why would you pay £45 to ride a (trail centre)

Keep up, it's coached!

Because it isn't a trail centre (yet) and won't be open till late 2013 so we're giving you the chance to have a go early.

You need the guide because it is currently closed to the public and is barriered off. The guide is there to provide first aid assistance, take the barriers out, sort out the paperwork and offer help with skills or riding the course where needed.

The course is more challenging that people think. Pretty much all of the riders who have currently ridden it on the rides have felt it has been challenging and have needed little bits of help. It's Olympic standard at the end of the day, not the kind of stuff you'll find at your average trail centre.

Easy way to receive some cheap coaching too 😉

£45 for 4 hours of coaching is a bargain and a chance to ride what looks like a brilliant course.
Really hope it stays as it is for the British round next August!

Never mind the naysayers Tom, they're all big hucking gnarly dudes, if i was 350 miles closer i'd be happy to pay £45 to ride the course and get some coaching, If you work with or see Ian Warby say hi to him fae Kenny (blue soulcraft/7stanes team @ mountain mayhem 2007)

cheers guys. Luckily the council are also using the feedback they get from the sessions to decided what they are going to do with the course. Everyones loving it at the moment and we're really pushing for it to be kept the same 🙂

I hope it does stay as it is, convince them to provide chicken runs round the techy bits to satisfy the health and safety aspects and perhaps introduce a short uber technical skills loop at the start of the course with a disclaimer stating "if you cannot ride this skills loop comfortably then do not ride the Black graded sections of the trail", I dunno if that would satisfy the councils safety bods though?. Despite staying up in Galloway i want to make it down at some point just to ride the entire course and claim a chocolate gold medal for myself.

yer everyones pushing for it. Its just getting the council h&s to agree with everything. Fingers crossed. H&S ruins everything :(.

I'll be seeing Warby soon so I'll tell him you said hi 🙂

Cheers Tom, I raced wi Ian on our 4man team (Myself, Julie Cartner, Ian Warby. Luke Webber) that year and constantly had to stop him trying to tamper with the angle i run my levers at - he was on a crusade to tilt them up but i prefer them down, T'was a good mayhem indeed. 😛

Sounds like a great oppertunnity

Its much better to find a solution to people riding the track than have it shut while the paper shufflers err shuffle paper...

ampthill - Member
Sounds like a great oppertunnity

Its much better to find a solution to people riding the track than have it shut while the paper shufflers err shuffle paper...

Exactly. We had an awesome group today. Some pure bred Xc guys, I couldn't keep up with them and some more trail, all mountain riders. It was awesome as both groups were feeding off each other.

Bring on next weekend. Payment buttons will be up on the legacy site tomorrow.

This sounds great, I'll keep an eye out on the website.

Awesome day today, really enjoyed the track, brought a new perspective to how challenging it looked on TV. Off to re-watch some footage and shout "I did that!" Cheers Tom!

Nice to meet you today Simon! You all rode awesome! Hopefully see you again soon. We'll have the 2 hour sessions for people that have been before up soon

Did this a couple of weekends ago and I cannot recommend it enough. Proper good hoot, worth every penny and its on my doorstep 🙂

Tom, or anyone else who's been - as a self-confessed weekend warrior, who's been on the bike very little in the last couple of months so even more unfit than usual - am I going to be getting in anyone's way if I sign up for a go? I'm happy enough with the 'black trail centre' skills requirement but my fitness is frankly pants at the moment. I don't want to turn up and find I'm upsetting a load of lycra-boys as I wheeze round to enjoy the techy bits!

As one of the "more trail, all mountain riders" from today's session can I echo what simonbea said above. It was great opportunity to ride round a truly awesome track with a couple of great coaches and a good mix of people.

Some of those obstacles would challenge most riders and the track doesn't let up, it's either up or down most of the way with little chance to catch your breath. How they get round several laps in sub-12min times on bikes with seatposts high and little travel I'm amazed, it's given me serious respect for those athletes.

It was nice to talk to Matt from the Essex Cycling Development Team about their plans for the site. He is really behind plans to maintain it as far as possible. However, even on these coached sessions there have been a few mishaps, one guy today will be heading to hospital, so don't let the camera fool you.

At the end we were interviewed by Stephen Chittenden (not sure of the spelling) from Radio 5Live for a programme they're doing on the Olympic Legacy. Have a listen out on the 30th November!

timmys, can't see that'd be a problem as the first half of the day was spent tackling each obstacle one at a time. The most tiring thing was pushing back up for another go. We only did one full lap at the end by which time I was knackered.

Good to meet you today Roger!

It was amazing how much more confident you all were after lunch!

Also just seen some pretty negative chat about the hadleigh track on essex herts mtb forum. If any of the guys that have been could put them on track it would be much appreciated. Again we just want to give you guys the opportunity to ride it before little bits of it change and also in a concentrated group as we know its going to be mobbed when its opened!

Great to meet you all today and I look forward to following weeks with hopefully some more of you guys off here!

When are the changes expected to begin kicking in? Any more £45 sessions around the corner? Will try and get a pass if I can keep up my good behaviour 🙂

You need the guide because it is currently closed to the public and is barriered off. The guide is there to provide first aid assistance, take the barriers out, sort out the paperwork and offer help with skills or riding the course where needed.

The course is more challenging that people think. Pretty much all of the riders who have currently ridden it on the rides have felt it has been challenging and have needed little bits of help. It's Olympic standard at the end of the day, not the kind of stuff you'll find at your average trail centre.

Easy way to receive some cheap coaching too

The next dates will be up tomorrow but we are putting up the dates saturdays and sundays until mid december.
The changes now are likely to be due to start around april 🙂

Is there any news on the extra dates. The website only shows yesterday. A group of us are really keen to give ta go before it is changed.

pmc00per - Member
Is there any news on the extra dates. The website only shows yesterday. A group of us are really keen to give ta go before it is changed.

I've just sent the updated dates button to the ecc web person so hopefully they should be up this evening for everyone. We're taking bookings for every weekend up to the 15th December so far. More will be added as time goes on.

cheers

 

The new dates are up!

having been on the original (test?!) course with Tom and the other guys who's name Ive embarrassingly forgotten, I cannot recommend this enough, and will be doing a few more - I tried to ride it on a hardtail xc bike with 100mm of travel and in all honestly failed..! How a slight girl / woman rode this with a broken collarbone is so far out of my comprehension.

This is a chance to ride the course as it was, as the olympians rode it, we don't know what changes are planned (minimal I hope) but it may be that whatever changes are planned take some of it away - we don't know yet, this is just a chance as I said to ride it as it was on telly.

Can't wait to get back over there....

I don't wanna poo poo anyone but tbh it didn't look that technically challenging IMO
Don't get me wrong I would be ****ed after a lap and maybe that's where the challange lies.

SOAP - Member

I don't wanna poo poo anyone but tbh it didn't look that technically challenging IMO
Don't get me wrong I would be ****ed after a lap and maybe that's where the challange lies.

Wondered how long it would take. 😆

Amazed it went this far! But hey, SOAP must be right, it looked easy on TV, so clearly a more valid opinion than anyone who's ridden it. 🙄

don't wanna poo poo anyone but tbh it didn't look that technically challenging IMO
Don't get me wrong I would be ****ed after a lap and maybe that's where the challange lies.

Ive raced in europe the us and GB and never has a course actaully scared me before, there is not one 'feature' that is easy to ride, it's also specifically designed (and very well done) to mess with your head..

Think I've opened a can of Lycra worms here.;)
I realise that it a fantastically Chalanging XC "RACE" circuit.
The fact that its in Essex and there are no black run trail centres to learn the required skills,I also appreciate that if people feel the need to be coached then they will pay ££
Fair enough but I'm talking about pootling round and hitting the "tech" sections for FUN.
Think I'm just narked that I cannot A ride it and B have to pay to learn something I probably can do already.
After all bike riding is free .
Peace out !

I'll post a video up of one of our guided rides soon. Just waiting for it to upload.

Also we've already booked 80 people. Spaces for tomorrow and one for sunday. Most other weeks until December 16th are sold out.

[url=

Olympic Xc guided ride[/url]

Im signed up on the 2nd and can't wait.

pmc00per - Member
Im signed up on the 2nd and can't wait.

Awesome, see you then!

Great vid Tom!

Any chance you can make it available to view on mobile devices too?

Onzadog - Member
Any chance you can make it available to view on mobile devices too?

I'll try and sort something.

great day today although a little wet. New dates will be up on the legacy site tomorrow. We have one place for next saturday available and we've also added the 8th to it too.

cheers

I've managed to get to the laptop to view it thanks. Looks like we should have some fun on the 15th. Just hope we get some good weather.

Tom: May I suggest that you sign SOAP up to your coaching team?

Obviously he has skills well beyond that of us normal mortals. Personally I reckon showing up with 6" plus of full suspension would simplify the descents somewhat, but then that would properly mess you up on the climbing, (of which there is ample for those that don't know it). Alternatively a nicely light and balanced hardtail with 100mm or less of travel would make the climbing easier, but frankly would scare the crap out of me descending wise, so to come across someone who seems to have both things so fully and well covered surely is an opportunity not to be missed.

Go for it.

(Thats assuming he not a complete prat or a troll... obviously)

im disapointed the 1 handed endo on deans didnt make the video...!

Berm Bandit - Member
Tom: May I suggest that you sign SOAP up to your coaching team?

Obviously he has skills well beyond that of us normal mortals. Personally I reckon showing up with 6" plus of full suspension would simplify the descents somewhat, but then that would properly mess you up on the climbing, (of which there is ample for those that don't know it). Alternatively a nicely light and balanced hardtail with 100mm or less of travel would make the climbing easier, but frankly would scare the crap out of me descending wise, so to come across someone who seems to have both things so fully and well covered surely is an opportunity not to be missed.

Go for it.

(Thats assuming he not a complete prat or a troll... obviously)

SOAP could assist on some sessions if we are short of coaches but we've already sorted that all out. The assisting coaches have to be qualified either with bc or ctc qualifications or to an equal standard and have valid sports first aid as well as private public liability insurance. Again if SOAP has these contact me and I can let you know if we need an assistant coach on some dates.

Also the 6inches of travel is cheating 😉 It was designed for xc bikes, defeats the object by just clattering down on a massive bike thats going to do all the work for you and take away the technical skills. I ride it on a cromo salsa xc bike with 100mm up front and its perfect.

bigdawg - Member
im disapointed the 1 handed endo on deans didnt make the video...!

That was a highlight! we're still telling people about that! Fairplay for saving that 😉

I thought the course was going to stay the same (as it was in the Olympics) with more chicken runs added - is that not the case (again)?

Hope to get down for one of these days anyway - how long will they run for - not until the weather gets better I fear?

singletracksurfer - Member
I thought the course was going to stay the same (as it was in the Olympics) with more chicken runs added - is that not the case (again)?

Hope to get down for one of these days anyway - how long will they run for - not until the weather gets better I fear?

Features will change but to what extent nobody knows at the moment. 😕

We are hoping to run them till at least april time

New dates for the Hadleigh rides are up on essex legacy. Jans dates to come later this week

Weather was great yesterday 🙂

Much more fun/challenging than I thought it would be

So you think I should take the 140 HT rather than the 160 FS?

I'm taking the CX bike [i](joke)[/i]

160 would be cheating. Short travel full sus at the most (so the hardtail).

Do we get to put in our own fastest lap at the end to see how we would fare against the big boys?

CX, not co.ordered that. If you die, no one expected any different, if you survive, you're a riding god. It's win win! 😆

I marshalled at a race on the course in October and as I was right over the other side of the course I took my cx bike, any mad ideas I had of riding the course to where I was stationed were soon forgotten - about the only bit I did manage to ride wasthe zig zag hill up to triple trouble, then I erm.. changed my mind! I took the fireroad path after that..

Just a thought, is the course SS-able?

I am coming on the 15th and I will be riding my FS (on account of a) my HT is old and only has 80mm of travel, b) I think I will find it challenging enough as it is). That's ok, you can call me a mincer if you like 🙂

I am looking forward to it!

Full susser didn't stop this guy winning the men's race:

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7776536118_9f48ecd94e.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7776536118_9f48ecd94e.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/7776536118/ ]Jaroslav KULHAVY, Gold Medal, Men's Olympic Mountain Bike Race 2012 Hadleigh Farm[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/brf/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

Geometry and position will make more difference than travel IMO.

[img] [/img]

You need a stem like his to get the full xc jeyboy experience 🙂

Anyone got any idea how much travel hes got on that thing? It looks a lot like two fifths of sod all in the pic, but obviously that can be v. deceptive

PS: Pic 2 = Awesome IMHO

It is a great shot but, unlike footflaps, I didn't take it.

5 live now.....

PS: Pic 2 = Awesome IMHO

IIRC that was a press pass only spot to get that shot.

We have had one person drop out of tomorrows course so there is one space available if anyone is interested. Email me if so.
cheers

Calling ac282......

When/What show was the bit on 5 Live? I was hoping to catch it on iplayer

Any consessions for Hadleigh Farm Gamesmakers?

When/What show was the bit on 5 Live? I was hoping to catch it on iplayer

There was a short segment that happened to be on as I was reading the thread. Probably not worth hunting for it really.

According to Yaroslav's mechanic he had the forks dropped to 80mm to speed up the front end, the rear had whatever an epic normally has, 100mm?

ac282 - Member
When/What show was the bit on 5 Live? I was hoping to catch it on iplayer
There was a short segment that happened to be on as I was reading the thread. Probably not worth hunting for it really.

But "if" I was sad enough to search was it on the drivetime show, and if so what day? I and a few others were interviewed for it so I wouldn't mind a listen! 😀

We'll have some 2 hour sessions available after christmas, should have the dates live on monday. cheers

Thanks for a great day yesterday. Im not sure that I would have made it down some of the routes without your advice.

I definitely have a new found respect for the athletes who did 7 laps of the course. Anybody who thinks it is too easy clearly hasn't ridden it.

pmc00per - Member
Thanks for a great day yesterday. Im not sure that I would have made it down some of the routes without your advice.

I definitely have a new found respect for the athletes who did 7 laps of the course. Anybody who thinks it is too easy clearly hasn't ridden it.

No worries, glad to have helped you out bud!

We have all the January dates up so if everyone could spread the word around that would be great!

cheers