[Closed] EWS, who's excited ?

kimbers - Member

Anyone racing the Emerald one ?
Would love to have done but family and work get in the way

Not racing due to shoulder injury but I'm pretty sure I'm going down to watch. Might take the camera. Disappointed Jared Graves and Sam Hill won't be racing but the rest of the line up isn't too shabby.

Yeah, really excited now! I'm the other way round, last year I had to drop down from E1 as I was broken in the runup to the race, feeling in good form this year though. Not that I'll be troubling the podium mind but it's all relative. Maybe it won't feel as special as last year doing it again? But that was some of the best racing and riding I've ever done so it's a big act to live up to.

Haven't really heard much about the format but I'm assuming it's similiar. (I know E2 are doing all the stages this year so that's quiet a big change for them) It's definitely going to glentress (we've done a new stage, which I think currently lacks a name but should be called something like Well Greased Arsehole) but that's probably a given anyway.

Dropped out of Emerald though 🙁 Just got to the point it felt like a lot of money and hassle. If the 2 dates had been a month apart I'd have stll been there but I'm doing the glentress seven instead.

should be called something like Well Greased Arsehole

You were looking pretty greased at the bottom of that trail on Sunday 😉

I'm am well excited now. Hopefully the weather holds up, particularly for the golfie stuff although that new trail from the mast was slick as hell. Hopefully 600+ riders down it a few times will cut in a line. I'm staying at the wigwams at GT for the week.

[i]Well Greased Arsehole[/i]

From the mast down?

We're down for that one tomorrow night, sounds interesting...

I'm doing E2 although nearly sacked it off. I'm used to the golfy but some of the new trails springing up are outside my comfort zone!

I hope this better weather does stay, glentress off piste was a full winter mudfest yesterday. We need the wind to stay to hairdry it all out. Shorty went on the front yesterday 😈

Anyone driving back from tweed to glos/briz ish? My mate Jamie Nicol (pro NZ rider with polygon) is coming to stay but I can't make it.

Also I'm gonna try and go with my Met Parachute, I'm with Dan Atherton on this one FF should be compulsory

He does seem to spend most of his time crashing/injured so maybe it's not a bad plan for him.

Very excited, golfie was running sweet (weirdly dry) at the weekend and although I have hunches i'm interested to see what the stages actually are.

From the mast down?

We're down for that one tomorrow night, sounds interesting...

It's not too steep but it's muddy as hell and very long

hope this better weather does stay, glentress off piste was a full winter mudfest yesterday. We need the wind to stay to hairdry it all out.

Hopefully we get a window of sun! On the Sunday before the race last year I was hiding under the trees on the boundary trail from hail and snow. In practice on the Wednesday the rain turned everything to mush. By the race on Saturday everything was bone dry again!

BoardinBob - Member

You were looking pretty greased at the bottom of that trail on Sunday

Ah! This is embarassing... I didn't recognise anyone at the bottom, was that you that rode past while I was walking around? I was all over the place after the first run down so I'll use that as my excuse. I was a bit caught unawares by all the black engine grease someone's put on top of it 😆

@bigjim, I'm not sure the new digs at the golfy are connected to the race, I reckon it's just standard issue mad bastards. Someone said the new one that joins Boner (waterworld?) is for the race but that seems too short and doesn't really link up to anything else well that I can think of.

there are little bits of tweedlove tape tied around trees on various trails but it could mean nothing. Nae spleens gets a bit much for me anyway, will be interesting if it does go down there.

I think there is a photo of prospacker in the enduromag report and I notice brown trout has a nice new ending.

I'm in that space where I can't decide if I'm looking forward to it or am just petrified! I'm sure once I get there it will be fine, but not really knowing what to expect is giving me the jitters!

Tang - email in profile, I'll be travelling back Monday and have space in the van - could get him to Gloucs if that helps.

EWS should be good - you get to cycle through the biggest plantation of Eucalyptus trees in western europe - the mud smells like a tarts handbag!

Courses are looking good - would prefer the week to be sunny/windy to dry everything out but there isn't too much rain forecaast.

I'm marshaling on race day but should get to potter about the saturday until the little lad gets tired/bored (must remember to buy some sweets to keep him occupied).

Ah! This is embarassing... I didn't recognise anyone at the bottom,

Aye. You were standing at the top of the wee drop in to the fire road. To be fair I'd done the same as riding into a bunch of branches isn't pleasant! Looks like the race line will be the much bigger chute just before it though

I think there is a photo of prospacker in the enduromag report

Trail closure list on the 7 stanes website doesn't indicate any closures in that vicinity so can't see it being used. Looks as though it's just the DH stuff at inners

BoardinBob - Member

Aye. You were standing at the top of the wee drop in to the fire road. To be fair I'd done the same as riding into a bunch of branches isn't pleasant!

Ah yeah! Yep, just had a face full of tree 😆

Really looking forward to it - had a well ropey month that's meant riding precisely once, so the EWS will blow the cobwebs away and then some. Praying to the sun-Gods - if it's wet I may just give my entry away to a bloke on the street and go on the ale.

Is anyone bringing their family with them? For some reason, my kids (6 and 3) get a bit bored watching daddy race bicycles. Is there a lot going on in the valley for them to do that weekend?

Aye i am looking forward to it, got the van ready and will be living in it for the 5 days 🙂

Probably bounce between Glentress and Inners depending where the parking is less busy 🙂

Vanlife rocks 🙂

Is there a lot going on in the valley for them to do that weekend?

The event village in Peebles had stevenmenmenmen's pump track for kiddies set up and there were loads of them razzing around having a great time. they'll probably clock up more mileage than you on that!

I think there is a photo of prospacker in the enduromag report

Trail closure list on the 7 stanes website doesn't indicate any closures in that vicinity so can't see it being used. Looks as though it's just the DH stuff at inners

I'm sure some pics in that article have been swapped, as I suspect the photo bigjim was referring to is no longer there, unless I'm thinking of a totally different article featuring a photo of Mr Forrest riding something very akin to ProSpacker.

The bit trail in the photo I'm thinking of was definitely not PS, and won't be featuring in EWS anyway, as it's been deemed too technical to race.

I think that was Cycling Scotland's track. But we had sold it to them and staffed it for them. Don't know if they are there this year but we are down in Preston with the all new pumptrack.

I thought this one looked like prospacker. I've learnt my lesson about guessing trails so I'll stop now anyway!
[img] [/img]

Hmm...that could be PS, but there's a few trails with similar looking sections. Regardless, PS is not on the map.

@bigjim, I'm not sure the new digs at the golfy are connected to the race, I reckon it's just standard issue mad bastards. Someone said the new one that joins Boner (waterworld?) is for the race but that seems too short and doesn't really link up to anything else well that I can think of.

I have a place. No idea what I am doing on a bike (ridden at Golfie a grand total of once). Should be a laugh.

The new trails I have ridden (pushed down) so far are ace though.

chickenman - Member

the most astonishing trail both in its conception

A virgin birth?

that's a bit unfair on * ***** and possibly untrue. 😀

Trying hard not to say anything about Virgins and Innerleithen.

Get prepared for arm pump.... LONG stages are potentially in store!
[url= http://enduro-mtb.com/en/exclusive-ews-round-3-tweed-valley-local-knowledge/ ]http://enduro-mtb.com/en/exclusive-ews-round-3-tweed-valley-local-knowledge/[/url]

Info on the tweedlove site suggest 8 stages in total, 4 each day.

I did E2 last year so the transition's weren't much concern. Stupidly I'm in E1 this year so how do the times work. Let's say it starts like this:

10:00am - Start
10:40am - Stage 1

If you get to the start of stage 1 at 10:30am, do you have to wait until 10:40 or can you go straight away? How does everyone get organised into the right order if you have to start bang on your allocated stage time?

I may be wrong but I believe you have to start at your allocated time, not before. You'll probably find out who's before / behind you by asking about the racers hanging around. penalties apply if you're late

Looks like the photo above is the classic to me.....

Looks like the photo above is the classic to me

Oh bugger. I hate the bottom of it after the off camber traverse. I just can't get it right.

Gutted, missing EWS this year, damaged shoulder just before Christmas and still not right.. certainly not right enough to go pinballing into trees down the golfie like last year..

If you get to the start of stage 1 at 10:30am, do you have to wait until 10:40 or can you go straight away? How does everyone get organised into the right order if you have to start bang on your allocated stage time?

Yes.

Just make a mental note of who leaves before you at the start. I seem to remember last year they called the numbers out at each stage anyway.

I'm looking forward to it.

was down the golfy today, trail pixies have been busy!

E1's must start on their allocated start time.
If you're early, you wait, if you're late, you tell the start marshal who will then slot you in at the next free slot (this is so other riders aren't disadvantaged by reduced gaps between riders, because you were late)

The only variance to this is if you are directed otherwise by the start marshal.

Riders remain in the same order for both days, so you'll soon learn who you should be behind/in front of.

[i]From the mast down?

It's not too steep but it's muddy as hell and very long
[/i]

Just 1/2 mile, and currently showing a KOM of 3 mins. Very loamy, fine in the dry of last night but wouldn't fancy it on a wet day.

Just 1/2 mile, and currently showing a KOM of 3 mins

I'm considerably slower so it's long for me 😳

has it dried up a bit then? that's good, met some folks at the bottom of that last weekend with their wheels completely clogged in the frames.

I think they give you a sticker for your bike that has your stage start times etc on it. Very handy.

Instant fatbike, just add mast trail (called B Side, I think. Which makes me want to name the next section down Seaside as I think it's currently sadly nameless)

[img] ?oh=ca0ce8cf1262947da8be0ee3a4b158ab&oe=55C39237[/img]

(not me btw)

holy moly! Well there is usually a stream running down the next bit after so that might get some of the mud off.

Uh oh Megavalanche all over again, 26inch wheels, with swamp things !?

It's still being worked on so with that and the drying conditions I doubt it'll be anything like that on the day. Especially if people keep removing all the mud on their bikes, there's only a finite supply 😆

You hear that? That's the sound of Dan Atherton, Remy Absolom, Nico Vooleywooz, Mitch Gruffalo, Fablon Barstool and many others going "Ah ****, Northwind from STW is coming? We might as well stay in bed!"

Liking the presence of Team Baws Oot and Mr T Racing. I like to think that one of these french team names is the french equivalent of "Team Boaby Soap"

Kind of a pain in the cock to have to go to peebles on Friday for the briefing and picking up timing doofers though. I had an important engagement with 2 tons of biscuits and a DVD box set on Friday.

im defo planning to rest my delicate legs all day friday

that first transition is giving me the willies already

Hope you've been out learning all the pro lines on the river path. (I put a Conti Der Baron 2.5 dh tyre on the front for golfy day last year, it was like pedalling a giant pritt stick)

that first transition is giving me the willies already

Word is the transitions are relaxed this year. That seems to be pretty consistent feedback from all the riders at various events. If S1 starts as high as I think it might then it's going to be a big transition to start even without a time limit!

I'm in for E2 and am slightly apprehensive. I had a crash a few weeks ago which required stitches and while it started healing ok, it's now infected so my left knee is twice the size it should be and it doesn't look like I'll be getting on the bike until practice on Thursday.

What do we reckon for tyres - put a Maxxis Shorty on the front or just stick with a Minion DHF?

Vigilante front Hans Dampf rear regardless of conditions.

My theory is tyres are pretty irrelevant if you don't have the skills to use them properly (I don't) Even with a mud tyre I'd still be panic braking like a big girl's blouse rendering the tread pointless.

Depends on the exact stages and next week's weather tbh, I'll probably just stick with the mighty shorty/butcher team, it's not fast but it's never totally wrong, I'm not good enough to ride steep slippy stuff with low grip. Might chance a faster rear tyre for GT day, depends on the stages that.

And also because that's what's on the bike 😆

I'm going with Magic Mary on front for at least the Day 1. Not decided on rear: options are a Nobby Nic Pacestar or EDIT [s]Minion[/s] HighRoller Supertacky (ancient, I know, but in good condition!). What do you guys think?

Stuff having a super tacky on the back!

After sliding out all over the place at the almost dry Qecp night enduro in the mighty mountains of Hampshire last weekend its all about grip for me, shorty and hr2 I'll take an ardent but I really doubt it'll get used forecast is for sunshine and showers at the mo

it was certainly generally pretty wet at gt and golfy earlier this week, but some dry areas too, depending on the trail, not sure how much it will dry out especially once churned up by 600 riders. I've got a shorty on the front and vigilante rear and I can't be bothered changing it, would need to be pretty dry to make me change.

[img] ?t=1432229574[/img]

So smooth in practice...

It was really strange to see all the top enduro cyclists whizzing past me on my local trails.

I get to potter about tomorrow before being stuck in the worlds most boring marshal point.

Both Golfie trais pretty dry today. Rather than worry about tyres, worry about holding on for 6mins+ on the line from the very top right down to the bottom! A couple of sessions in the gym maybe? 🙂

Heading up tomorrow for the full week up there with my good lady. Looking forward to it, hope it's as fun as last year. E2 again for me. I certainly won't be setting any blistering times, just aiming to finish.

I'll be sticking with my trusty Magic Mary/Hans Dampf combo. I haven't done the new golfie one yet but I've heard it's a cracker! The mast trail at GT was a claggy mess when I rode it last week so here's hoping it's a little more bed in. The Inners stage I rode was a cracker (was following someone who knew it), I couldn't follow it again though without tape!

Hopefully see some of you guys over the coming week.

That's the stages up

Some great stuff in there. Course is closed from Monday onwards so you have 2 hours 33 minutes for sneaky practice

Some brutally long stages. Polar opposite of today's race!

Are start lists around yet? Or anyone know if it is same as last year with Elites off first? I think Ireland this weekend they had the Elites off last. Just trying to co-ordinate Sunday spectating!

Pretty much as expected. Not ridden waterworld but presume it's similar to boner. All good stuff though! Should be a good week.

@Doug, could be wrong but I think the start lists were waiting for the Ireland round for seeding.

I like that there's a little bit more of, well, classic inners and GT riding- the classic obvz but some GT red and that.

long stages, I hope there will be a bakery tent to stop at half way down them 🙂

I'm sure it's fastest last for E1 this year.

bigjim glad your liking the cakes, got another load heading down to Peebles for this weekend!

I'm sure it's fastest last for E1 this year.

nuts, really? I've been telling people the fastest people come through first as per last year.

Bigjim, don't quote me on that, as the meeting where I was getting told details like that, I was suffering from manflu, and only wrote down the key details I needed to know, so anything other than what day I need to be where is a hazy recollection!

Plus it doesn't help I've lost the notepad with said key details...

is it me or does the transition to stage 3 look enormous? then followed by the 'toughest, techiest stage of the race' and the forecast is wet, Im officially bricking it!

nah I reckon 45 mins for that transfer if you had to shift. The waterworld stage won't need rain to be wet!

Yeah they could have made the s3 transition shorter. Come up from the other side of the reservoir rather than all the way back round

Sorry to hijack but I wonder if someone can advise please. We are coming up to peebles and planning to ride gypsey glen on Thursday and Three Bretheren / Innerleithen Friday then some of glentress on Saturday and Sunday. Looks like the three Bretheren route has some parts of the inners xc route in it. Will we still be able to stick to our plans what with the EWS happening and the schedule for taping and practise. Cheers

Link to the trails map seems to have gone down. I can get descriptions of sections, but map is 'page not found'
🙁

New link

working fine for me>

If it is wet and muddy that is going to be one tough weekend...

Do e1 folk get to choose a start time or is it already chosen for you?