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Vets and vets + works well, but Gorrick are free to do what they want. Maybe the same at regional level, especially if the open and under may get condensed into one race?
Regional races are BC, so can't do what they want.
That's the current situation. It was more of a suggestion for the future and whether the slower vets need/or could get a different race.
The other way to look at it is that I should really do some proper training and get out of open and into vets.
Found the BC regulations, race times are on page 126:
It states the leader of Vets should finish between 1:15 and 1:45. Looking at results, this is the case at Southern XC.
So yes, maybe we just have to train harder and ride faster! Can't help thinking that it's a bit sad having vets drop back to Open though.
One thing confuses me, I hardly ever hear a mountain biker saying good things about BC. It seems BC doesn't show many signs of caring much about mountain biking. So it's a pity that their regulations must be followed, though I understand why they are. I hope they don't kill the sport! Dreaming of a time when there could be a separate authority for the off road disciplines...
I don't think anything is going to kill the sport, nor do i think anything is going to be a miracle save for it either.
In simple terms we've got about 15 different 'wants' in this thread now, from cat changes, to increases, to drops, to course changes to suit some, more techy to suit others.
There's not a single fit for anyone and as we can see here, the only thing that will make it better for many, is more riders... But i don't think we're a lot closer to finding the way to get more riders in there.
It's got to be tough for organisers to come up with ways to attract riders that's for sure.
I did see a sign over at Swinley for the recent Enduro events on Sat.. Can't say i've ever seen one for Gorrick.... maybe some strategically placed signs around Swinley / QECP etc would be a plan ?
Final thought, a possible way to help with the Vets situation while staying BC compliant.
[u]Not[/u] Vets and Vets Plus - that doesn't work with BC regulations.
Instead, Vets (licensed) - same as now but for BC license holders only, plus a new category Unlicensed Vets - a four lap, non BC race for half the current Open category and some of the non-superhumans currently getting their butt kicked in Vets. 🙂
I'd be up for that.
thanks nick
No worries, quite honestly at 4w/kg you'll likely be up there at the front. As long as your handling skills are better than most testers 😉
There's just too many cats. Personally I don't care whether I'm at the front of a slow race or back of a fast one. As long as I'm not alone all race or have a gobby a*hole following me and giving "advice" how I could go faster (in his opinion).
I'm entering or giving it a miss based on 2 criteria only: can I get home in time to do something else useful with my Sunday; and will the race try to kill me (Wasing!)
haha yeah that's what I'm bothered about - presumably the circuits are more Yogurt Pots/3 Amigos than Northern Monkey?
Bit of both, and I've not done a Gorrick XC race for years, but broadly speaking yes, toward the less technical end of the spectrum.
Anyone else playing Sunday at Gorrick.?
Yup - providing I'm not ill.
Mrs Kilo has entered it but not sure if she's going to race yet
Wasn't sure where to put this, but here seems as good as anywhere.
Well that was as you'd expect, an interesting morning out.
My boy lined up first, he would be finishing his course just as i started, so i didn't get the report until i finished my race. Happily, when I came over the line he was there, so i at least knew he'd survived. What i didn't know was that some spanner had altered the course while he was out there. Meaning half the field went one way, half went completely another... Grrrrr. So it ended up that his race was null and void. Happily he did seem to enjoy himself though. Sadly, he did crash it hahahaa. twice. Once on a narrow rut and once on a root. No harm done though, it was quite a step up in difficulty from the XC Rampage, with tonnes of roots and pretty steep sections he had to walk... It's all part of the learning curve though and he seems happy enough with his world.
Me, i lined up with about 20 riders and got a flyer, coming into the first downhill bit in about 4th... but that didn't last long as you get to the first little climb, then a left by the gate and up again.... a good chunk came past me there... It was as i recall, horrifically hard in a context of HR and speed, i overtook a few, a few more took me... i had a rider in sight for the whole of lap 1 and half of the 2nd lap, but couldn't make any ground on him, despite being just in sight of him as i was mid-corkscrew and he was exiting it....
I completed the course with a massive slide that i almost highsided LOL just in front of the wife and boy I was done in... it was as hard as i recall.
I think i was closer to the riders around me than previously, it wasn't quite such a lonely race and i had someone not a million miles from my wheel for a decent chunk of the race meaning i couldn't let up on the pace at any stage. This was something i'd clearly hoped for based upon my other posts in here, i'm not sure if i was going quicker or there were some slow fellas around today, i have to say though, FUN did seem more of a 'general' rider catagory than a lycra clad race whippet... can't argue with that 🙂
All in all, a fun day out for both of us
https://www.strava.com/activities/767528538
I was happy i got to meet the famous STWer Kryton 🙂 we were just walking back to the car and i was destroyed 🙂 He was just off out on his warm up lap...
Well done chap. Nice morning for it.
Conditions were great and the track was brilliant. Tight, twisty, rooty, trees, ups, downs and everything in between, it's what riding a bike is all about.
The rider needs to keep losing weight and gaining speed though thats for sure.
I've also just done the gorrick race, vet + for me. Really enjoyed myself, it's been a little while and I wasn't expecting much, but ended up running 10th . Until halfway round the last lap when I was beset by a very odd mechanical - I snapped my chainring in half! Arse, end of my race. Disappointed, not had a mechanical for many years, but nothing wrong with xc racing in my mind! (Except for the tape issue for the kids, that was bad - I collected up 2 lost and upset kids on my warm up lap).
Well done again gorrick - racing is great ..
If one was on a blue Islabike and quite small I thank you lots.
Possibly he was yes, no problem! It was a real shame, but he did well.
Good to meet Weeksy and see Adsh this morning. Lovely trails and a good race. A C race for me, concentrating more on the strength and weakness indicators from my recent training than places. Started well going into the single track in the top group about 8th. Had a good ding dong at the end with the post race conversation providing good feedback as to where I was strong / being caught. Ended up 15th Vet which is pleasing, especially considering I'm not tired and have no aches and pains so obviously didn't make enough of an effort.
I'm probably parroting other people but I raced during the 'good old days' (Malvern Hills Challenge / Classic....bar ends for goalposts....). We took the racing pretty seriously. I was 100% mountain biker but I'd still ride road, did loads of Club 10's for training etc. I think my crowning achievement was dropping Fred Salmon on a climb LOL etc.... But these weekends were still very much a social occasion with beer tents and much drunkenness. The stars at the time (TIm Gould, Tim Davies, Sally Hibberd for example) all seemed like normal people. I remember Gould riding from Sheffield to Shrewsbury for our club's social night, drank loads of beer and then rode home the next morning.
Back then, Cyclocross was the dreary serious off-road cycling sport for very serious people. I can only speak for British Columbia but it seems like XC racing and CX have swapped places. People who go to CX races always seem to have a laugh.
Mrs Kilo did and said it was another great Gorrick event. She mentioned on the way home that towards the end of the second lap a male rider behind her called "on your left" or words to that effect. Mrs K held her line so he could pass and as he went past he removed his hand from the bar and shoved her on the shoulder. Seems a bit of a dick manoeuvre, she wasn't going off line or interfering. Unfortunately she was so shocked she didn't get a good look at them or tell them where to go.
I had the lead youth rider come up behind me.
Early shout of "lead rider behind" and waited 10s,
"Pass on the right mate" at a gap, so he did with a thank you.
Both Mrs Kilo and I are well versed in the ettiquette of being overtaken 😳
Never any excuse for that. We've all made bad or ill-judged passes, but no reason to ever do that. Clearly a ****.
kilo - Member
Both Mrs Kilo and I are well versed in the ettiquette of being overtaken
Didn't mean it to sound like I was telling you how it should be done etc, just pointing out my one was fine
Weeksy, never even crossed my mind
Mrs Kilo did and said it was another great Gorrick event. She mentioned on the way home that towards the end of the second lap a male rider behind her called "on your left" or words to that effect. Mrs K held her line so he could pass and as he went past he removed his hand from the bar and shoved her on the shoulder. Seems a bit of a dick manoeuvre, she wasn't going off line or interfering. Unfortunately she was so shocked she didn't get a good look at them or tell them where to go.
That needs reporting to the organisers and the commissaires regardless of whether the rider can be identified
People like that should not be part of the sport and both BC and the organisers need to make public statements reinforcing this I would also expect a "robust" race briefing at the next race
17th out of 36! By eck that's far from terrible.
In Fun though 😉
Well yes. But that's my level. I thought I'd come in the last 3-4 to be honest.
Nice one weeksy. Gutted about the kids races though.
Yeah, still a bit confused by what happened and who went were. For my lad it was all just about experience again. We're going back again Saturday to do a fair few of the sections as its good skills training for him, and me !
Good day out - somewhat more serious than Checkendon. 9th GV, intervals starting to pay off and the Epic was sublime.
Not sure if this is known....
But apparently the reason why the kids race was null & void yesterday was because part of the course was dismantled & altered by a family who were walking their dog in the area at the time....Gorrick marshals did intervene but by then some riders had lost their way, according to Gorricks FB feed anyway..
That's a very low thing to do......
👿
mrlebowski - MemberNot sure if this is known....
But apparently the reason why the kids race was null & void yesterday was because part of the course was dismantled & altered by a family who were walking their dog in the area at the time....according to Gorricks FB feed anyway.
It was especially bad IMO as it was kids that were affected. FFS, my son was only 8 in July, he was out alone in the woods with no-one around him and no clue where to go.... Luckily he seems to have some common sense, along with clued-up marshalls. But seriously, doing that when small children can end up lost in the woods on a 4deg winters day deserves a sodding kicking.
But seriously, doing that when small children can end up lost in the woods on a 4deg winters day deserves a sodding kicking.
Selfish self-entitlement weeksy unfortunately....
Thumbs up your kid was switched on & the marshals on the ball.
There were marshalls?
I really like the Gorricks but any major medical incident would have to rely on rider first aid. It's not a series to have a Fabrice Muamba at.
Yeah about 6-8 from what i could tell as well as the Ambulance at the top of the left-hander.
Yeah, I was around various bits of the course to take pics and found a big lost group, including my lad. I know others found lost ones and twos as well. Anyway - course interference is just not on - whether malicious or ignorant. Good job there were plenty of folk about - riders, marshalls, parents.
My lad was really disappointed at the end. He knew he had one off-course incident but thought he'd ridden well and in a good position. Had to explain that it all counted for nowt. Gutted.
Got to feel for Gorrick too - Crowthorne is really good venue with a great course. But it just takes a few idiots to ruin it.
Marshals on a kids races should be sight-to-sight IMO. Each marshal should be able to see the next, and there be no opportunity for a kid to go of course.
bensales - MemberMarshals on a kids races should be sight-to-sight IMO. Each marshal should be able to see the next, and there be no opportunity for a kid to go of course.
Agree with the logic... but that would need about 200 marshalls
kilo - MemberMrs Kilo did and said it was another great Gorrick event. She mentioned on the way home that towards the end of the second lap a male rider behind her called "on your left" or words to that effect. Mrs K held her line so he could pass and as he went past he removed his hand from the bar and shoved her on the shoulder. Seems a bit of a dick manoeuvre,
That's bloody outrageous, shame she couldn't ID him, that ought to be a flat out DQ. (the year I did 10 Under the Ben some prick barged someone off a boardwalk section into the water, he ended up with a mob chasing him screaming for his head- I think some lap times were quite a bit faster that lap...)