Whilst I am re-habilitating a dislocated shoulder and not riding and nowhere near racing...I have just watched the DIRT Tv feature: Gravity Enduro, the bikes, the riders on the 661/singletrack uk gravity enduro series site - and am interested to hear what are you riding, what have you modified/made different and why?
and how you found Ae?
all the best
Great insight isn't it. I am not doing the Gravity Enduro but do others.
Ride a Spesh Enduro, Fox 36 RC2's, 720mm bars, 50mm stem, Crossmax sx's, Command Post, Tubeless WTB (Spikes/Swampthings if it rains) 1 x 10, singlering, LG1+ 36 x 36x12, Bottle cage so no need for Camelbak and carry spare tube, C02, inflator.
I'm not doing any of these type of races, but my bike's set up as though I am! 😀
Orange 5, coil u-turn Lyriks, Gravity Dropper, 9 speed with a Gamut device, Bonty Big Earl tyres.
Perfect for razzing round the woods which is all these enduros are really, but with a stopwatch.
I had to miss Ae but planning to do Innerleithen and Kielder
(and also the Innerleithen MTB Racing Classic Enduro in 2 weeks- spam mode on here but I've a feeling this event will knock spots off the Gravity races. Cheaper, more timed riding for your 2 days, simpler format, and far more interesting trails than Ae had. The Gravity events look great but the last innerleithen mtb racing enduro was just stunningly good and this is the same only more so. If you possibly can do it- DO IT)
And as it happens my Hemlock is what everyone says an enduro bike should be- 160mm forks, gravity dropper, slacked off, light but strong, pedals up and razzes down. So that's nice. It's unfortunate that I'm a bit slow and crap.
Did Ae and i'm signed up for the next one.
Marin wolf ridge, pikes, joplin with remote, tubeless high roller dp 2.35 ft and larsen tt on the rear (had single ply tubeless at ae and split sidewall), 710 bars, kreiga pack. 36 and 24 dual chain ring with lower chain guide.
really enjoyed the event, the downhill course pushed my abilities to stay on and go fast, really looking forward to keilder,
...light but strong, pedals up and razzes down. So that's nice. It's unfortunate that I'm a bit slow and crap. - awesome! 😀
good to hear peoples setups and having a go at going fast...putting a stopwatch to razzing. Is anyone using an on bike timing device such as DRC's x monitor/other any feedback? + pictures of your setup?
Lessons learnt:
Single ply minion running tubeless on rear = BANG!
Rubber grips become unstuck after a whole weekend in a monsoon
Pulls up chair.
Must admit I'm really starting to think I wouldn't mind a go at this type of racing.
Bike would be as it is now but probably a set of 5.1 rims with either HR or Swampies depending on how muddy it is. Plus of course a reverb post.
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5101/5681423232_5aede20852_b.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/17059060@N00/5681423232/ ]P1030649[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/17059060@N00/ ]eastham_david[/url], on Flickr
does seem good fun, I must admit
Also did the last Inners Enduro, and also booked up for the next one next weekend. Swithering over the gravity enduro, at £60 for a one day event versus £45 for the two day event next weekend seems a bit much. Also can't see how they could improve on it to be honest.
First was truly excellent, can't wait for the next round.
Currently using a Marin Wolf ridge, Fox 36 Van, Hope hoops with flow rims, SLX double and bash but no uppy downy seatpost yet, although I can really see how much difference it would make.
The thing I really liked about the first one was the variety of bikes present, ranging from 80mm race hardtails to 7"+ of travel, and everyone having a great laugh.
I hope to take my hardtail to the Inners one . Not sure why i'm 'racing' as it wont be anything nearing that description - kinda just taking part. Just hope I don't get in anyone's way
Some good feedback for the Innerleithen mtb racing enduro, an event that I had not been aware of until now...looking forward to attending when I'm repaired!
The biggest thing imo is tyre choice. Going as fast rolling as you dare.
Flats or clips thoughts?
In my head I imagine a car park full of weekend warriors pileing on daineese over 661, with leat braces, troy lees, 5.10's and pj-suits as it's more of a DH race.
With the DH'ers in the opposite corner in SS jerseys, XC lids and disco slippers as it's just an XC race to them.
'as it's more of a DH race.'
nah. Its not.
Its the guys/girls in the middle.
It's the baggies, short or long sleeved jersey with maybe some knee pads and a Camelbak crew. Oh yeah, just like people that go for a ride at the weekend.
'just like people that go for a ride at the weekend.' I love how people seem to want sneer at people who want to race.
I'm doing the series on my Meta 6 with Hope pro 2's on 5.1 rims, 2x9 set up, with bash guard and chain device. Gravity dropper post, fox 36 talas, Nobby Nic tyres. Weighs in @ 32lb.
At Ae after practice I put Continental Rain Kings on, (now called Barons), which worked great on stages 1 and 5 but where a major slog on the 3 other pedally stages due to their rolling resistance. That taught me a lesson as I lost more time on those 3 stages than what I gained on the other 2, so a fast rolling 'do it all' tyre is Def the way to go.
Slight thread hijack, but we will be offering single day passes for the Vattenfall Classic Innerleithen Enduro 28th 29th May, details on the website very soon.
(an End or an Uro pass I guess)
'just like people that go for a ride at the weekend.' I love how people seem to want sneer at people who want to race.
No sneering intended - I very much enjoy racing, not that I ever finish above half way down the entry list. I just happen to wear the same gear whether I'm on a ride with buddies, racing at a miniDH event or doing a 24 hour solo race. I'll just swap for a full face helmet doing the DH but that's about it really.
EDIT - newish nippers mean my racing 'career' has been put on hold for a couple of years.
Cotic Hemlock (long travel rocker), air lyrics, light wheels, fast tyres, clip-in pedals.
this is more travel than i normally like, and i usually save the spd's for the road bike, but it seemed to work.
i struggled a [s]bit[/s] lot in the mud at Ae, i'd like to blame the tyres and pedals, but i can't - i'm just rubbish.
i don't think it's fair to describe the Gravity enduros as a 1-day event, seeing as how the riding and racing is spread over 2 days... ?
(if anything, there's more riding on the 1st day - 1 practise lap with a bit of sessioning + qualifier)
'At Ae after practice I put Continental Rain Kings on, (now called Barons), which worked great on stages 1 and 5 but where a major slog on the 3 other pedally stages due to their rolling resistance. That taught me a lesson as I lost more time on those 3 stages than what I gained on the other 2, so a fast rolling 'do it all' tyre is Def the way to go. '
Ae is a bit funky though (as other Trail Centres would be). Hard pack and fast rolling and then loamy/muddy. Difficult to gauge what to go with.
Hels - More info please. I can only do one day and would love to head over. Which day is it going to be sunny? 
lol
661 weekend is 3 days riding if you take the Friday off as the course is marked for the Friday and you can camp Friday and Sat. We rode all Friday as well as the sat and sun and had a great laugh.
I'm entering the Eastridge round, as it's the only date I can make. Will be taking my 06 Spesh Enduro, Marzocchi 55s (145-165mm), flat pedals. Maybe some wheels.
And is I can find a decent deal on an upp-downy post, then one of them as well.
mr plow - Member661 weekend is 3 days riding if you take the Friday off as the course is marked for the Friday and you can camp Friday and Sat. We rode all Friday as well as the sat and sun and had a great laugh.
The actual event's a small amount of riding on one day and a decent amount on the next- but it's only because of the seeding that it's a 2 day event, there's not 2 day's worth of racing. Sure you can do more riding around that, but then that's true of almost every race, we did a pre-ride of the 10 under the ben route last year- doesn't make it anything else but a 1 day event.
Not wanting to criticise too much but I think it was a big mistake to not have the option of single day entries, taking away the need to spend the whole weekend. Just have an unseeded section who'll obviously be disadvantaged, but at least able to take part, as it is it's a big commitment of time. I'd have been at Ae if that'd been an option, personally.
Not to make too many unkind comparisons, but the innerleithen enduro earlier in the year had just as much racing (a little more under the clock) but all in an inclusive one-day package. You could pre-ride if you wanted, or not, but you weren't committed to being there for 2 days.
How long are the timed sections - distance and time?
How long are the linking sections - distance and time again, how much climbing compared to a trail centre climb?
Is there much of a rush between the stages?
THV3 - The Gravity Enduro races are 2 day events, not 1 day, if your keen, like some are, then its 3 🙂
Northwind - I too am coming to Inners to race end of May, look forward to meeting you and hearing how you form these opinions without actually being at Ae for the Gravity Enduro
THV3 - The Gravity Enduro races are 2 day events, not 1 day, if your keen, like some are, then its 3
Sorry, my misunderstanding, I thought it was a qualifier only followed by a days racing.
Unfortunately the Ae and Kielder dates have clashed, but the Inners round suits so will probably be there.
Parr - MemberNorthwind - I too am coming to Inners to race end of May, look forward to meeting you and hearing how you form these opinions without actually being at Ae for the Gravity Enduro
What parts would you take issue with? Seem like simple statements of fact to me, not opinions. I'm open to being corrected if I'm wrong.
Getting back to the original topic (though i hear the Inners round of the Gravity Enduro will be the most DH oriented...)
This year I'm riding a new 140mm Mondraker Foxy RR frame, 160mm Fox 36s, 3x9 (soon to become 2x9, then maybe 1x9/10 if i get fitter) standard seatpost (while i get around to replacing my second CrankBros Joplin with something more RockShoxy) and a set of lightweight Minions for fast rolling and good open grip.
[url= http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5650247884_97f9582ef5.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/space-scape/5650247884/ ]Mondraker Foxy RR[/url]
Enjoyed Ae, despite the weather - glad i decided not to camp. Started on SPDs but switched to Flats after practice for the seeding run and race day. As you've seen in the videos, it was a wee bit slippy and off camber, and spent half my practice run trying to get clipped back in.
I was reminded how useful a dropper seatpost is - in stages 2, 3 and 4 there was an equal split of mostly flat traverse and steeper bits.
looking forward to Kielder and the last two rounds - can't make inners, unfortunatekly
It's ALWAYS sunny in Innerleithen !
We are running 3 tracks each day, so the event splits nicely into 2 halves, if you want a day ticket there is more on www.innerleithenmtbracing.com
nickhead - how does the Foxy go with a 36 on the front?
(sorry for thread hijack)
I would be interested to hear about the foxy too...It is one that I would like to ride when healed
I got a secondhand Foxy last weekend. Had three decent rides on it so far, inlcuding 5 hrs in Surrey Hills today.
It's long and low (BB), you sit quite a way into the sag and so combioned with the low BB you really feel "inside" the bike. The cornering blew me away at first.
Suspension seems very supple but also doesn't really bob.
The handling seems quite intuitve - definitely a "have a go at it" bike, if you know what I mean.
Long chainstays make it very stable downhill and in the air, but a bit tricky to manual (getting the hang of it a bit now).
I'm always a medium usually but went up to the large as I wanted the longer TT. Medium size has a longer TT for 2011 though.
Foxy/36 combo seems to work well for me - it's a Talas so i mostly ride at 130mm locally or whack it down to 110 for climbing.
It feels massively capable - like most trail centre red grade downhills would barely test it. The parts mostly came from my old, cracked Intense 5.5. By comparison the Foxy is low and long - confidence inspiring, encourages you to get over the bars in the corners and give it some, especially having gone back to using flat pedals. The slack head angle makes you want to lean it over plenty, but I'm still catching my pedals on stuff - not used to the lower BB
Also got some wider (720mm) bars on which all aids the above.
Took it downhilling at Cannock Racers Guild on Saturday - felt very competent there too, for a 140mm bike
Mr Barel would use the Foxy for such events (only the bigger stuff does he use the Dune)
What's it like with the 36 at 160mm? too wandery?
I'll probably stick mine on to try myself at some point anyway, but got a 150mm maxle Rev going on this week for normal use.
And to get back on topic, yes, I do intend to do one of these 661 races on it - hopefully the eastridge one.
I'm getting a lot of chainslap, are you using a chain device and/or shorter-cage mech nick?
yeah 160 is a bit chopperish on the flat with the slack headangle but makes a lot of sense when the going gets steeper and more technical and the sadle goes down. For my local riding around Cannock it's well balanced with 130 on the front, except for a couple of sections where i'll dial out the fork and have a bit more fun on the drop and jumps.
Get a bit of chainslap, though i may stick it in top cog on the front to take up the slack (just standard 22/32/42 shimano setup at the mo) Currently using SRAM X7 shifters and medium/short cage mech. Plan is to go to two on the front; possibly 26/36 with bashguard... unsure on two ring chain device - my experience from years back is of limited benefit vs. hassle.
The pro's preferred Gravity Enduro setup seems to be single ring and lightweight chain device up front, increasingly with 10 on the back.
26/36 up front and 10spd 11-36 with chain device is what I run...find 26-36 low gear much more usefull than anything lower I.e. it is low enough and is a gear you can get on and pedal rather than a gear that is too low and going nowhere fast...
am going to be doing a bunch of road/canal miles while I rehab and will go 1x10 when back on the mtb
will see how it goes as whilst it makes sense when racing I live somewhere with many steep valley sides and would have to be really strong (I think) to not want the 26t...guess I'll find out!
How will your setups vary at say the Afan round?
Unless they use some trails off the main centre that I don't know about, I'd be looking to turn up on a 27-28lb 120mm bike, maybe a light 140mm build, try to minimise any loss on the Black Run (assuming they use it) and make it all back up everywhere else given Afan is very pedaly and a bit flat. Quickest I've ever been round some of those trails was on an ST4.
Just wondering if Afan fits what people have experienced at Ae and whether going 'light' might be a good tactic at Afan?
I'm assuming something not to dissimilar to the Mash Up course mind...
Would a 120 really be an advantage...that is a big variance in setup for most...would mean a new/different bike (assuming the majority of folk have one 140ish bike) + weight difference won't be that great although pedal performance might?
My setup was:
SC Heckler
160mm Bombers
Dual Ply rear Minion (MISTAKE)
Front Single Ply Minion
Swamp Things For Qualifying - Should have used Spikes
Uppy Downy Post
Wide Bars!
5.10 Minaars - Clipped but with some flat ability
2x9 (36-22) needed the 22 to avoid getting to the starts too quick! Had to walk some of the way to go slow enough to not be sat round for ages.
Worked well, for info most of the videos concentrated on Stage 5 which was nothing like the rest of the trail.
For Kielder expecting more normal trail but waiting to see what the natural(rooty forest again? or chance of something a bit more moorland and open??) stage will be.
Looking at the inners track list would be tempted with my DH bike!
mikewsmith - MemberLooking at the inners track list would be tempted with my DH bike!
Aye, interesting choices... Think innerleithen has better to offer to be honest but it's good they've not shied away from the dh trails. It'd be cool if they can use some wee diversions, like Jane's Lane instead of the top of caddon bank frinstance. But I'm going anyway so what the heck
Not to open an old debate but I got a DH bike to race DH on with uplift!! was joking when I said that! It did ride quite well on the mega though
but it's good they've not shied away from the dh trails
Brothers wedding inners weekend so not too bothered really
Inners video teaser is now up on website and Facebook, the DH bike would be awesome at Inners, but you'd have to push it up the hill a fair few times and it would not be as quick on a couple of the stages.
Were open to ideas at Afan, we are doing a reccie ride this weekend, 25th 26th June there, meeting at Bryn Betws 4x track about 1030-11 Saturday. we have got some idea of route, but this is not set in concrete
Northwind - Is Janes lane the natural bit by the wind sock, if it is, thats in 🙂