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I've just entered the hardtail catergory at Hopton Gravity Stages this weekend.
Anyone know much about how it runs from previous years?
Would it be recommended to carry water/snakcs in a Cammelback or just leave them at the bottom field where all four descents seem to end?
Most importantly, will I die without a dropper? 😉
Me too, can't wait.I've just entered the hardtail catergory at Hopton Gravity Stages this weekend.
Anyone know much about how it runs from previous years?
From the vids it looks like the runs are similar to last year bit a bit shorter.
They both will take in a bit Red XC route, DH runs, Short fire roads climbs and a bit of fireroad down too. So a bit of everything really and both about 5mins+
You also can give the stages a bit of a ride on sat or on sun morning.
Unless you are going for the win then you might as well take it with you. Good to have a multi tool, spare tube, pump, water extra. Unless you can fit most of that in your pockets and on the bike. however both stages do finish at the field.Would it be recommended to carry water/snakcs in a Cammelback or just leave them at the bottom field where all four descents seem to end?
Most importantly, will I die without a dropper?
You should be find just get of the back of the saddle for the DH bit and/or drop your saddle at the start of the stage but that might effect the climbs in the stages.
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/hopton-gravity-stages-enduro-who-in
This should be informative for you:
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Video-Whats-Enduro-Mountain-Biking2.html 🙂
I'm in too (hardtail) and I'm going to carry food, water etc... My aim is to not fall off though, so hardly going for the podium! There is 1 bit of stage 2/4 that I'd be be not at all keen doing with my saddle up but I've NEVER been comfortable descending saddle up anyway.
I'm not going to be challenging for any podium places, that's for sure! I'll be going for getting round without falling off too. I'll carry snacks and water along with spare tubes, pump and multi tool then. I've ridden quite a bit round Hopton and recognised quite a lot of the tracks in the videos on the Pearce website so some of it will be familiar.
I'll give it ago with the saddle dropped, I'd rather feel more comfortable descending than have the saddle really high.
Really looking forward to it now, it'll be good to do an event and hopefully the weather won't be too bad! There only looked to be 15 or so people in the Hardtail cat, I'll be riding a silver Genesis with Fox 36's.
Maybe try dropping it a bit but not all the way so on the bis you have to peddle its not to bad.
I will be on a green Dialled alpine with Pike's(Old one's)
like this: https://www.rootsandrain.com/photos/585062
Youve just paid somebody £40 for riding your bike.
Youve just paid somebody £40 for riding your bike.
Harsh.
You do get timed as well 😉
FTFYYouve just paid somebody £40 for riding your bike in a well organised, well marshalled race with live timing and a cracking look course. What a bargain!!
Youve just paid somebody £40 for riding your bike.
I wish my bike only cost £40! Actually no, I don't, I've sat on £40 bikes...
They should have a category for bikes costing less than £50
Just remember, have fun. I'm a mid-pack knobber but I've had more fun being a mid-pack knobber in enduro than anything else. it is mostly just riding your bike but will generally be a bit more relentless and hectic than usual, and the ground conditions can be pretty variable with hundreds of pairs of wheels riding the stages in a hurry.
As far as leaving kit in the car, if the stages all end in the same place (and you're allowed to!) then it could make sense but it'll be hard to judge what you want/need. I'd sooner carry a little more than necessary than a little less... SO maybe carry a pack but pack it a little lighter than usual?
Not having a dropper just depends on teh course really, I've done events where it was a big bonus and others where it was just extra weight (and removed it entirely for some inners races where I knew I'd not use it, but might well crash it) If they're doing it right, you'll want the seatpost down though.
(there was an innerleithen race that had a nasty climb, one of the local boys took the time to compare times and found he was faster jumping off, putting the saddle up, then riding the climb before dropping it down again, than he was trying to beast the climb- it seemed faster to leave the seat down but he made up the time in teh next section)
shieldsmtb - Member
Youve just paid somebody £40 for riding your bike.
I'd pay £40 to not have miserable people hanging round really 🙂
It's amazing all the hate for racing, I assume all racing is pointless?
If I was back over in the UK I'd be there, Pearce events are great and I really miss the atmosphere and fun from them.
Good luck - you'll love it! Keep hydrated, be sure to keep the energy levels topped up. It's amazing how much harder you find yourself trying when the clock's ticking......
Re: the misery towards Enduro - that only seems to happen on stw. I guess it's the awful thought of people having ramped up fun on bikes with lots of other riders, rather than playing "into the wild" on some whimsical solo journey to avoid the wife/kids/work/real life. Or maybe it's just the bright colours!!
at mikewsmith change your mates if there miserable !
I think you should be able to have more fun enjoyment when out on your bike without rules,stewards an the be all and end all TIMED SECTIONS {might just me me though}.
I don't see all racing as pointless - they all say they don't make money out of racing but somebody somewhere is
I'm not sure what your point is...?
IMO racing is far better 'value' than paying for a non competitive event like these Ride-It and Wiggle rides and what not.
Whole other topic though, I'll stop feeding the troll.
What a great race. Hope they do another one, I will be the first to sign up 🙂
Looks like it was fun!
shieldsmtb - Member
at mikewsmith change your mates if there miserable !
I think you should be able to have more fun enjoyment when out on your bike without rules,stewards an the be all and end all TIMED SECTIONS {might just me me though}.
Point missed, it's a great place to avoid people who rave on about how stupid it is to pay to ride your bike. I' don't know many but there seem to be enough on here.
[quote=scottfitz ]What a great race. Hope they do another one, I will be the first to sign up
I hope they do more too, I was quite ill so only managed a very slow stage 1. Think I might have got the slowest time across all categories 😆
I really like the setup there where all the stages end in the same place, despite not riding 3 of the stages I still had a good time as I was able to chat to people etc... as they finished stages.
The last time I raced I think it was a Sportage race in Dalby many years ago...
I've signed up for the Ardrock but gone for the Saturday because I wanted to see what it was like doing a full timed lap without hanging around waiting for to recover on the climbs (I like climbs, I have a high pain threshold!).
Anyone know if there are water stations on Ardrock? I want to keep my back free for use as a massive radiator!
That's a shame they were very hard stages too.I was quite ill so only managed a very slow stage 1. Think I might have got the slowest time across all categories
I paid £40 to crash my bike in to things and get in Scottfitz's way. It was ace. Looking forward to the next one, hopefully I'll get my act togethor a bit more
I paid £40 to crash my bike in to things and [b]encourage[/b] Scottfitz [b]to pedal faster[/b]. It was ace. Looking forward to the next one, hopefully I'll get my act togethor a bit more
Just signed up for the next Mini Enduro at FoD, any of the HT boy's doing this one? Stages will be a bit shorter than the Pearce one.