Boltby Bash 2023 – who’s going?

Loam, roots and mud in the woods, grass in the fields. DHF or DHR if its dry. Shorty maybe if it’s wet.

Forecast is looking decent for next week, hopefully it stays dry for the weekend🤞

Dalby was running very well this weekend, was wet overnight but had two cracking days of weather round abouts so will have dried out a bit hopefully.
If I get chance I’ll try getting to yearsley this week and see how that’s going but all being well it’s looking promising for the weekend’s racing.

Bike issues and general lack of enthusiasm for anything right now means I won’t be heading up there.

If anyone wants my entry just shout.
Too late to change names etc

Charity donation if you feel so inclined.

Forecast looking bang on for this week and the weekend!!

Nothing we can do to enthuse you sturdy?

Tyres. About to put a new DHF Maxxgrip on the front. Do I stick with the rather worn HR2 on the rear, or pop on a nearly new Dissector?

Never did get on with the hr2 so I’d ride my rims if that was the other option 😂

@sturdylad, if it’s still available then I would love it! Will send you a pm.

Not for this year I’m afraid.
Bike is in bits and every time I rode it recently I came away having not enjoyed it.
Just sold my accommodation for the event this morning so rules out a last minute change of heart!!
Hope to get mojo back and try again another time.

What’s the score with BBQs?

FAQ says “no open fire BBQs”. What other kind are there?

Took an off the ground one last year and had no issues. Didn’t read the FAQ though.

What’s the score with BBQs?

FAQ says “no open fire BBQs”. What other kind are there?

Took an off the ground one last year and had no issues. Didn’t read the FAQ though

I think raised off the ground, ie fire pits, BBQs on legs, are fine. Certainly no issue for us last year.

Hope to get mojo back and try again another time.

Hope so, sometimes a break, even from the things you enjoy, does you the world of good.

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Those who’ve been previous years, any idea what “limited” water means? Do I really need to take loads of water (more to the point for something to put loads in) or is there a stand pipe or two on site?

They have crapper boxes and alcohol hand wash. That’s it. Bring water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and washing.

and washing.

Or, 20 minute ride away is Gomire lake, which is where we ‘washed’ after Practice on the Saturday last year!

Drat. That’s a big (and sanitary!) container I need to find then.

Yes very limited facilities on site, there are no local shops either.

Thirsk isn’t that bad a run out for proper shops to be honest.
No water though is a bit of a pita, wondering if I might be better just riding in and out!

Rather than start a new  thread, just wondering how the riding compares to the likes of Ard Rock or Ard Moors

Not as tech or as long id say but a similar style.

More woodsey and rooty than Ard Rock which is more rocky and certainly pedally on some sections. Boltby is more like Hecklers Wood repeated (and brilliant because of that!) apart from stage 1 which is more like Ard Rock (moorland pedal with a few steep bits).

I’ve done it twice now.  Kind of like “Ardrock lite” – not as ‘Ard, not as rocky, but it’s still a really cracking event.  I think it was about 17miles in total, with 2500′ elevation, compared to 24miles and 4000’ at Ardrock.

Beautiful area too, so a long weekend with some touristing was perfect!

I’ll disagree with the posts above. It’s physically much easier than Ardrock but is technically harder on average, though it could be I just find moorland riding easier. The average riding standard is higher though and it’s unusual to see people completely out of their depth unlike at Ardrock.

it’s unusual to see people completely out of their depth unlike at Ardrock.

Agree – Ardrock is usually awash with bodies on the track or people pushing down stuff when I’ve raced it… Seems like some people underestimate it massively (even though its far, far, far from being techy even vs some of the stuff that used to be on the PMBAs etc).

boltby is fairly straight forward if dry, when its really wet a few of the stages are tough, wet steep chutes,  ridden it a fair few times as its a good gage of post winter fitness and its a fun friendly weekend event, especially when the suns out.

650 metres / 24-26km, a friend did it last year and said it was mainly ebikes everywhere and tracks where worse for it.

I’m with @Gribs – Its nothing like as big a day out but I think its possibly harder than Ard’Rock  – certainly if you want to go fast. The tricky bits are generally steeper, narrower, and your closer to the trees, so although your speed is lower, theres a lot to go on.

Its brilliant, although if you’ve done it a few times its perhaps getting a bit ‘samey’ and could do with a bit of variation ,new taping or new stages.

Boltby tickets go on sale this Sun, caught me by surprise, been the last 2 years, great event, worth it just for the trails.

Tickets go live in 5 minutes.

In for ’25. Its always a great weekend on the bike!

Think this will be about my 6th Boltby, always look forward to it. Fingers crossed for a dry weekend.

Few of us all in as well including my eldest… his first race at 15 (he wanted to do it more than me but I need to go around with him due to his age). Only done it once before a couple of years back but the area is one of my locals and its a) a great race and b) a cracking area for riding… some real hidden gems.

Bit gutted I can’t make it this year but a trip to Ballater for our anniversary will make up for it.

Gaaah! Thought it’d be sold out and I missed it, nope I’m in!

hardtail Pp Shan or fully rigid Ritchey?

Giving it all a miss this year as busted my collar bone ?

I’ve entered, it’ll be my first time there.  Looks fun judging by the youtoob clips. Is that right about it being 25k and only 650m vertical? Most of my rides are that distance, but double the amount of vertical- and I’m from the south! I’m sure it’ll be fun either way, and I meet even meet some fellow forumites!

Roll on spring!

@peanutcracknell I’ve been round the course 6 times including practice and it’s around 900m of elevation and 28k ish according to my Garmin.

Yeah fathomers stats look accurate. A big chunk of the riding is getting to stage 1.