[Closed] Steel City DH 2012

Pook, I want image 373 please

and 146 too please

Sancho - dive in. The ones on flickr are the full resolution ones.

Feel free to nick it! Just stick a quid in the mountain rescue pot next time you see one.

wish i had gone now... 😕

I'm not usually a person to compete in an event and certainly never one that requires a full face helmet.

My wife and I entered this as a tribute to our friend Gareth who is no longer with us and to support his wife who had also entered following on from last years event.

I really enjoyed it, didn't feel confident in the practice runs as not used to trying to ride fast in gloop. I had some alone time waiting for my first timed run and got myself in a bit of a state thinking about my friend. Composed myself and went out on my run, didn't fall (bonus) but did have to put the anchors on a couple of times.

First run 2:07 (masters)

Team Hobson regrouped after the first run and took in a bite to eat, the sun came out and the tune gareth put in his [url=

Chicken DH[/url] came on the P.A. We knew he was with us (probably for the food).

2nd run had dried out I knew I'd gone faster, things seemed to go a little better, had a touch more confidence, apart from being a touch front wheel heavy on the drop to the finish line.

Second run 2:03 (masters) 34th overall (not last, phew).

It was a great day out and good to catch up with friends we hadn't seen in a while (and Nicks dog). Really friendly atmosphere, well organized. Well done to Steve Peat for being there all day and being 100% involved.

Doesn't matter how it's billed (xc/DH) it's for a good cause, brings people together and can be fun for everyone.

I was race number 94 (in Green) and my wife was 77 (red/black/gold). If you do have any photos of us I'd really appreciate if you could send them my way (jon dot burns AT mail dot com) as a memento of the day (& Facebook profile obviously).

I don't think pinhead is slagging the race off! All he's saying is its not a DH course and I for one agree it ain't!
Everyone's entitled to there own opinion, that's what makes the forum more interesting aye!
Sometimes DH can be "misleading" and maybe a fashion thing rather than practicality, never the less it was a good day and well organised xc race!

well said

I pointed out Steve Peat to mrshora and she said why not go over and say hello then?

Hmmmm I don't know him and itd be abit rude when he's chatting to somone.

XC/DH? Technically speaking yesterdays was DOWN a hill with no climbing or pedalling sections 😉 :laugh:

DHlite(tm)?

An XC style DH for the win.

ohhh i suppose there was a double though hmmmm

It definitely wasn't an XC race as it wasn't mass start.

Maybe it should have been called a Trail Time Trial.

Whatever people think it should have been called it was a great race, a great day and top fun with some good money raised for the charity. Doesn't get much better than that imo

Northern Downhill are running a similar format race at Hamsterley in May and are billing it as "Trailbike DH" which seems to fit the bill quite well, as it's a timed run downhill, but on tracks you'd normally ride your trail bike on (ie bit's of the Hamsterley Red route).

It's intended as a less daunting introduction to racing for people who feel a full on DH race is beyond them, and the 1 day format really appeals to me.

Some more non-bikers are coming with me next year... And bringing their young sons (cough converts)

Your Zach will probably be riding next year horbags....

Well he was 2 this month and already agile walking along the course

True. He was more stable than you. Mentally and physically

Jon

Is this her

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Katie spent most of the time sat on a rock at the side of the last drop

She has loads of pics but most dont have numbers showing, if you were racing and want any then let us know some info, bike, clothing or any thing that will identify you and we will send them.

Tracey, that is me! Thank you for the photo 🙂

If you find anymore, please send to Jon's email address above...

Thanks again

[img] [/img]

and I've sent this one already, but just touched it up a bit here.

[img] [/img]

I couldn't make it yesterday due to family commitments, there has been a little negativity I think but I think Steve Peat has done a great job doing this and I hope to compete in the next one, will it be later in the year? Or will I have to waiti until next year. The standard of sponsors was very good as well.

Is anyone able to ride the course? Looking at trying it out one day in the week when it's dried out a bit?

I couldn't make it yesterday due to family commitments, there has been a little negativity I think but I think Steve Peat has done a great job doing this and I hope to compete in the next one, will it be later in the year? Or will I have to waiti until next year. The standard of sponsors was very good as well.

Is anyone able to ride the course? Looking at trying it out one day in the week when it's dried out a bit?

It's open woodland SBrock - best wait til it dries out though and it's currently tipping it down.

Best also to find a local for a bit of a guide! (Though saying that, just exploring is fun)

😀

Yeh ive been going to Whatny for years parkIng in the top car Park, it's across the road from the top car park.... The Greno side and yes wouldn't dream of going now to churn it up give t a few weeks.

Some fab pics there! Lots worse than that on Rootsandrain...

Sbrock that is a noble thought but never ever works. No trail is faithful. Pook first thought the Ladybower Inn cheeky was chaste.

..Already the bogtrotters had gang-banged 'her numerous times by the coachload.

Holmbury Hill nature reserve is another that we thought was 'hidden' but had numerous different 'tags'/names given by different groups..

What a fabulous event! Mainly because I got to meet Peaty who is quite honestly one of the nicest bike 'celebrities' out there....and who does SOOOOO much for the riding community.

Well done to all involved with putting it on!

pinhead - Member

And you won't see many if any dh bikes there today either so all the 'overbiked' comments are out the window too.

well hopefully theyve learnt from last year not to bring the big bikes eh

I was on a DH bike - mainly because I don't have a different bike....other than a HT, and I'm not very good at riding that over rocks without flatting. Oh, and because I didn't read the write up before entering that said 'suitable for mid-travel bikes'...

.....and yes, I'm sure I could've been quicker on a short travel bike without spikes.....but second isn't too bad 😉

However, people up there ^ who are rattling on about it not being technical because it lacks gradient are talking nonsense. Trying to keep any kind of flow on a track like that requires so much thought on lines, pedal strokes, speed maintenance. Totally different skill-sets to just controlling speed with brakes....as I found out when I ended upside down in the gap from not being able to judge such things!

It is something different, suitable for a range of abilities, great family day out and clearly enjoyed by loads of people. Would I enter again? Maybe not, but that's because I'm too lazy for all that pedalling, not because I would say the course is 'easy' by any stretch of the imagination. If anything the lack of gradient made it hard.

what were you riding/what number were you?

littlegirlbunny - Member
stuff

Amen 🙂

To all those people saying you don't need downhill mountain bike, I was there and I saw the size of the huge jump at the start and the enormous drop in at the end! Ok it wasn't as technical as coed-y-brenin, but I sure as hell wouldn't take the risk without a full body armour on! And I still wouldn't do that jump! This has opened my eyes to what downhill really is all about! 🙂

Oh yes, did anybody else notice those hooligans half way down the course hurling abuse at the downhill racers? I was disgusted by the language they were using at each racer! 😯

ther than a HT, and I'm not very good at riding that over rocks without flatting.

hmm i must have missed the rocks thing! 🙄

pedal strokes, speed maintenance

lack of gradient made it hard.

hear hear,if you didnt pedal you would come to a stop being that it is flat.

It is something different, suitable for a range of abilities

you said it!

Totally different skill-sets to just controlling speed with brakes.

yes it is xc you know!

my 2peneth again is that mucho respect to who built organised the event and great for the charity.
but lets next year make a downhill event that would be great,

Oh yes, did anybody else notice those hooligans half way down the course hurling abuse at the downhill racers? I was disgusted by the language they were using at each racer!

(i think) i was (marshalling) right next to them.

i din't really notice any bad language, most of their shouting was along the lines of "DO A WHEELIE!"

one of them had a vuvuzela - which saved me the effort/earache of whistling for a while...

hear hear,if you didnt pedal you would come to a stop being that it is flat.

that's not completely true is it, a few guys got down quite quickly without chains...

next year make a downhill event that would be great,

maybe you're right, if you can find a friendly land-owner with a 'steep' venue, i'm sure the organisers would love to hear from you.

(there's enthusiasm for a 'series' - a good choice of venues would help make this happen)

Hecklings great

As one of the guys who organised the race this weekend, I'd like to say another thanks to those who came along on the day and for the feedback above.

The race was billed as a mini dh rather than full on dh race and this allows us to get the youngest kids in (10-12) to the race and encourages a much broader range of people to take part. The track was built for the race and to be part of the trails in the woods in the future. Most of the people who came to the race that I've seen gave us good feedback on the track despite it being a bit pedally (made worse by the mud).

While it wasn't a perfect day the issues we had were minor and overall I'm happy with the event we put on. If anyone has any more feedback please feel free to email it to us or continue to post up here as we will keep checking back.

Keep up the good work

Thanks Steveh. I enjoyed spectating. Would it be possible to move the date back a few weeks? Ensure warmer/better weather? 2012 was amazing whereas 2011 was hummm wet!

I also enjoyed meeting Dave the Alsation

Yeah next year let's make it a "proper" downhill & alienate a large chunk of entrants & spectators & change the ethos of the whole event.

Let's also call it steel city alldownhillbutyoumighthavetopedal. It's a much more accurate & catchy name.

Or we could just stop being a nob on the internet.

but podge, what would we do with all our spare time?

As a spectator it was great. Fantastic to see really talented riders mixing it up with the amateurs, and scary to see how good some of the kids were.

I've shared a few pics up there ^ but do have more. If you send a description I'll try to find you.

Great work all those involved on both the track and the event.

We could use all our free time to stroke kittens & pat dogs.

Podgey were you the Jellybaby guy?

Yeah next year let's make it a "proper" downhill & alienate a large chunk of entrants & spectators & change the ethos of the whole event.

why not do that?

Let's also call it steel city alldownhillbutyoumighthavetopedal

Or we could just stop being a nob on the internet

seriously just rename it Steel City Trail Race? for next year...
it is a forum! im just throwing a few ideas and voicing my opinion.

well done steveh etc..

 

What a FANTASTIC Day it was, loved beeing there and er trying to race. We have a GREAT MTB community in Sheffield and really celebrate having a World Champ riding amongst us.
I didnt realise POOK and Hora were there, would love to have seen who your were.

Steve, well done to you and the team, everything worked like clockwork.

I wont hesitate to Race and Sponsor the prize again next year, unless your find a more bike orientatned sponsor this time 😉

BTW, Pinhead is just a wind up(I know who you are) -Rob told me yesterday 😉 Shame its tarnished the thread a little though.

Glad I pluckup up courage to do the drop this year.

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Pinhead, opinion isn't a disclaimer for being a Pratt

I wasn't the jellybaby guy

Why pander to one person's troll, sorry opinion, when hundreds of people were happy with everything?

I don't like you, I shall now not comment on your posts, an idea that you might like to apply to this thread and the whole ssdh

SimonM, if you were at the top gap jump I was the guy sat just by the landing point. Had some close encounters with the riders (and ants).

What number were you?

simonm I'm going to bring a Duck whistle next year. There was a lad there with one and I couldn't stop laughing whenever he used it.

We sat at the top of the final descent and horajnr kept on trying to slide down as though it was a slide 😮

[img] [/img]

ahh, I saw you Hora. Duck whistle sounds great.

Pook, I would have been launching the gap so wouldnt have seen you....er OK.. In my mind I would have done that gap 😉

£5 please hora

Shurrup. You could sell my likeness to Reuters 😉