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Hi,
I'm thinking of entering Rnd 2 of this at Eastridge as the natural woodsy trails look great. Entered a couple of PMBAs last year at Graythwaite and Grizedale and enjoyed those.
What do people who've ridden Eastridge and/or UK Grav events before think of the venue and organisation? Also, what's the standard like compared to PMBA?
Thanks for any thoughts,
Jon
I did the last UKGE at Eastridge great little venue. Probably not as extreme as Graythwaite/Grizedale
Easty is awesome. To call it national level is pretty much a stretch though - the exact same trails the UKGE runs will also be used for the WGE mash up which probably tells you the level - that said I crashed and broke my arm there in 2016 so I guess its not that easy!
UKGE has been great in previous years, although the last one was a bit quiet after the whole helmet/insurance thing took its toll, generally very good events though. The people have changed a bit (Steve is still there but I think Charlie is not involved) so its a little unknown from that perspective.
If you're dipping your toe into UKGE Easty is not a bad option, but don't be surprised when you get there and:
There's less people
The tracks are easier and over a much shorter loop
You're wondering what makes it the top level series compared to PMBAs
I only did one race there a few years ago. I'm going to do a couple of the UKGE races this year but won' be at Eastridge - I didn't find it a big fun day out, it feels more like a regional event than a National at say, Dyfi or Innerleithen.
I love the trails at Eastridge, flowy woods with a sprinkling of rocks and roots.
Done two UKGE events there (probably the first two years the series ran). Organisation was good enough and there's a nice finish area if the weather's decent.
Pretty tame compared to the Grizedale/Graythwaite stuff though. Nobody knows what the riding standard will be like as UKGE's had a break and the scene has changed so much. Probably similarly high to the PMBA I'd guess.
Cheers, sounds like it might suit me. 5 stages on fun trails I've not ridden before which are testing but flowy and not over-techy would be good. Don't mind if it's not too busy.
Anyone know if there are many jumps to be had?
Not really much in the way of jumps iirc,
Will be doing a few, maybe not eastridge, tho it may be worth it as I have a mate who's gone roadie considering digging out his mtb for this race so may have to.
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; color: #565a5c;">The old format was seeding Saturday which put you in position for Sundays race, usually 5 stages.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; color: #565a5c;">Problem that meant was that you had to camp, and if far away take the Friday off. Also most people were getting there last Thursday or early Friday. So getting two or 3 loops in before the race. Made it very difficult to place well at all as they knew the course so much better.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; color: #565a5c;">Eastridge seems a small venue for one of their races. I did 6 of them altogether, Grizedale twice which was a very good round, dyfi and triscombe also good, hamsterly was not so good, too short. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #565a5c; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Have done plenty of other welsh grav enduros, welsh enduro series etc and all just as good. Not as many stages though which is a shame. Wish they did 5 blind stages but also I do like the mash up format. </span></p>
No real jumps to speak of at eastridge, I'm quite local and ride there often.
Trails are fun, but in need of some TLC, particularly the drainage needs looking at. Much much much better in the dry!