[Closed] Tweedlove Enduro

Well I am riding, not entirely sure I'll be racing 😉 Looks brilliant, I've been getting good vibes from Scott on the course for what seems like half a year now. Last year was great but it'll be good to get outside of the trail centre more I think.

Yep, looking forward to it 🙂

Not familiar with any of the stuff on the course outside the trail centre bits. Will I die? 😉

Are you riding your Hemlock Northwind? Was thinking of hardtailing it ('cos that's what's built at the moment!) but the length is making me think a bit of bounce might be a good idea.

What's the non-trail centre stuff like?

I have no idea tbh! Never been over the other side of the river.

Any tips for stage 3?

Ill be there, camping all weekend so praying for decent weather. 😀

Oh I didn't see the stage info in the email! I don't know what "the choker" is, maybe they've plugged the fireroad section between Ho chi minh and zorb? Otherwise it looks the same as last year's last stage. which was mint.

So, bit weather dependant- Ho Chi Minh can be very boggy, in the dry it's fast as **** though. Zoom or Bust is nearly-trailcentre stuff, it's not on the maps but is an official GT trail and pretty solidly built. Lovely- wiggles and some roots and such. Then there's a couple of ways they could link us to the fort, last year it was up and down a walker's path- steep up, fast down. Fort descent is sort of natural-plus stuff, starts out sheeptracky then gets into woods and gets twistier with some line choices, mostly dirt with some roots and small rocks. Again changes a lot in different conditions, was gorgeous last year in the dust but can be very slippy in the wet.

Boundary trail is a big old thing when you do it in one go, that's pretty cool.

I'll only have Saturday afternoon to practice, so I'll probably go and check out 3,4,5 as they're the bits I've never ridden before.

Meh, as with last year it clashes with the UK Enduro at Hamsterley, which is where I'll be

Yeah looks like good work from the course designers. Big stages, going to be hard work!

Yeah Stage 3 was lovely in the dry, was the final stage last year, rode it in the wet a few weeks after and it was pretty different, I had to stop and remove my bender fender as the front wheel stopped moving...

Cademuir also a mystery here, from the contours it looks well steep. Don't think I'll be putting the slant six on the back for this one.

[i]Cademuir also a mystery here, from the contours it looks well steep. Don't think I'll be putting the slant six on the back for this one. [/i]

It is steep, from all sides and if its wet, it'll be muddy and slippery.

My first ever enduro, looking forward to it(with a bit of scardeyness) ,what could possibly go wrong? 🙂

the cademuir trails are ace but completely different to GT. steep, roots and very tight in some of the trees.

riding well though, lets hope it stays dry or they'll be carnage on the day, especially after the 1st 3 stages.

Oh as for trail conditions- they've released the map 2 weeks in advance so let's just assume all the unsurfaced trails will have had the arse ripped out of them by then.

Tbh I will just be having a bit of fun,so no daft stuff.I need to save my body for the GT7. 😉

I really don't understand why they released the trail map so early 😕

I'm in. The Cademuir trails are brilliant, they've been signposted all week so it's been getting busier up there. Very different from the Glentress stages, quite steep and loose. The last section will be testing if it's wet. I live at the bottom of the hill so have been riding in there for years, it's usually very quiet in Cademuir so it will be strange to see loads of folk riding there.

Northwind - Member

Oh as for trail conditions- they've released the map 2 weeks in advance so let's just assume all the unsurfaced trails will have had the arse ripped out of them by then.

Even more of Zoom or Bust's wiggles will be eroded away. 🙁

I don't think its bad that they released the route this early, it was about a week before last year. Its going to give people that live closer more chance to know the trails better, but unless you are one of the top guns it isn't going to make any difference in terms of winning or podium places, and I imagine through word of mouth the local podium candidates would know the likely route by now anyway.

It's not so much about competitiveness, more about tyre pressure- look at what happens to the innerleithen enduro trails the day before a race there, mince baby mince is pretty well annihilated. Less notice = less practice = less damage.

ChrisL's spot on too- it being enduro, loads of people will be out to find "clever lines", or "cheating shortcuts", and since there's no tape up that'll mean lots of offpiste riding between now and then, never good. (and then on race day most of them will be taped off anyway!)

Ah well, can't be helped. Probably I'm getting oversensitive, it was nothing like as bad for the King/Queen last year as it was for the UKGE.

I'm in. First enduro. Really, really looking forward to it. Proper excited 🙂

I've not ridden at Glentress or the Tweed Valley for 3 years. I don't even think Berm Baby Berm or Electric Blue where there when I rode last.

Although it's exciting to receive the race pack with the route and special stages I always thought that the idea was to ride these sections blind. Isn't this how all enduros work? So I would have preferred the route to be announced Fri 24th.

I'm not complaining though. I intend to have a pootle round Glentress on the Friday when we get up there and maybe Cademuir on the Saturday for official practice. Although I'm not going over board in an attempt to ride all stages.

Can't wait. Proper excited. A weekend of riding new trails. What more could you want.

I'm probably gonna head down for a bimble round on monday, mainly for sections 4 and 5. I reckon a lot of people will be round this weekend. Although the biblical rain forecast for saturday will stop a few.

Depending on the weather this coming week the place could easily turn into a mud bath with so many riders practicing.

Good or bad? who knows. It is what it is. 😀

Should be a blast though. Did the Perth one a couple of weeks back and that was a good one with about 30 miles of riding and 1100m of descending / ascending.

I reckon I might head over to the Cademuir side for practice on Saturday, don't want to beast myself too much and have knackered legs for the race! Really looking forward to it, though there's a fair chunk of rain forecast so it might be a bit boggy. Boo.

I am going to be there. None of this racing stuff though. I was planning on taking a pootle around a taped out course.

KingofBiscuits - Member

Although it's exciting to receive the race pack with the route and special stages I always thought that the idea was to ride these sections blind. Isn't this how all enduros work?

Nah, most UK enduros have practice. I think it's generally seen as fairer, since there's so few trails that aren't known, it'd hand a big advantage to locals/folks with inside knowledge if there was no practice/early access. So does this, mind, but I reckon one practice run is a massive improvement over none at all, whereas the difference between 1 practice run and 5 is less. The locals will always have the advantage but it narrows it some...

I've done some of these events totally blind and it's great fun but a whole different kettle of fish- not so much about clever lines etc, but just knowing when to push and when not to. I pedalled like **** on a descent in an inners one then discovered a horrible climb at the end of it, frinstance 😆 Disaster.

Practice isn't just fairer, it's safer. Hitting trails at race pace with no idea what is around the corner is just daft. It's a big old long course, it would be madness in terms of recovery to reccie the day before, so the map coming out a couple of weeks before is a good compromise if you ask me. Most people know the first three courses. I'm off for a look at the last two next sunny day !

Practice isn't just fairer, it's safer. Hitting trails at race pace with no idea what is around the corner is just daft.

No, that's the original spirit of enduro. Being able to read the trail as you come across it, rather than memorising every single braking point and turn as in Downhill where you have days of practice.

No, that's the original spirit of enduro.

That looks like a cracking course. Big old day on the hill.

Bike choice - I'd probably go for a 4" fs race bike.

Really? I've ridden several Enduros under several different organisers over the last 5 years. All of them have allowed practice.

Practice is definitely safer, and lets organisers push the courses a bit more too- frinstance in this one, on the Fort descent there's a split where the right hand line, ridden blind, would be pretty marginal- 2 blind sections with Consequences. I think it'd be pretty hard to retain stuff like that with blind riding, it'd push up the risk of proper accidents pretty high (and track closures/delays are unfair on other riders too not just the person who stacks it)

justinbieber - Member

rather than memorising every single braking point and turn as in Downhill

Very few people will be able to do that, even if they have the time it's a lot of trail to remember much detail of (and it'll evolve over the weeks before too)

It's not a simple better/worse but practice has some pretty big advantages, and no practice would be impossible to make anything like fair on routes like this.

I'm not saying that no practice isn't safer, I just disagree with the blanket comment of "no practice is daft"

I agree that practice makes it fairer and safer, but IMO there are reasons why no practice is a good idea and I can see why some people (myself included) prefer it.

I wouldn't want to do it blind - as Northwind points out, the drops on the right fort option have consequences - I'd have crashed badly coming across them at speed, being a mere mortal.

So what you're saying is, The Fort would be a good section to practice?

If I get the chance I am practising stages 3, 4, 5 on the assumption that they are likely to be the ones that may require riding ability rather than my usual technique of closing my eyes and hanging on.

I'll see if I can get down the Thursday or Friday before the race or something.

The knobber's perspective:

TBF I think it'd be useful to ride them all if you can, just to figure out when to charge and when to take it easier- I blew up completely on stage 1 last year, it's easy riding and I know it well but I tried to go flat out all the way down and just died completely- and inevitably in a bit where pedalling would be most useful. Genius. Andy Barlow set the fastest time but says he never pedalled in berm baby berm after the first berm, interesting that I thought.

Fort descent isn't massively hard but it's the sort of thing where knowing what happens next is going to be a big boost. It's a big ol stage that. I remember last year I decided to take the chicken line at the split, just because I was blowing out my arse and it'd only take a tiny wee error to lose more time in the proper line...

Boundary... Well I always ride that as about 3 or 4 sections so doing it all at speed is going to be a balancing act I reckon. So tempting just to blast everything but I'll die.

Cheers for the advice. I didn't think about the effort needed if riding more than one "section" at once. Hmm.

If I can I will do them all. It depends on when I am doing the practice as I haven't ridden a bike in two months and I am going to be doing this on a new, heavy, 1x9 bike so I am a bit worried about destroying myself.

So what you're saying is, The Fort would be a good section to practice?

There were a couple of drop offs on one of the route options last year which I wouldn't have wanted to hit blind at speed with my lack of skills. I went the easier left route anyway in the end.

Northwind, I blew myself up at the start last year too, too much adrenaline 😆 Also I rode everything the day before last year and didn't have much left in the tank.

Aye I'd like to ride it all beforehand, but I'm only going to have the Saturday to practice and I fear 2 40k rides in two days may finish me off!

I plan on mincing down most of it anyway to be fair 😉

Rode The Boundary Trail last night, one of the best bits of GT,it has a little bit of everything. Wonder how it will stand up to the POC traffic as it already has numerous untreated breaking bumps and erosion spots.

The Fort, I actually rode the PoC section of it for the first time a couple of weeks ago (I usually go right, not left). Great bit of tight singletrack but rideable with care for anyone.

Cademuir, I've only ever rode the DH trail that cuts through the middle so I don't know if that is stage 5? Another great bit of trail if it is but not built to take the volume of riders that the POC will bring.

I'm not a very techncial or skilful rider but I manage all those off piste and Black sections so if I can ride them anyone can.

Good luck y'all

If I was racing (which I'm not - marshal wrangling) I would leave as early as allowed, do the first three as quick as possible cos I ride them all the time and know them, then stop in the town for a massive big feed involving chips, lie down somewhere for an hour, Tweedgreen perhaps, then pootle across to Cademuir for the last two stages. My strategy for those will def be more hold on and hope not to die. Not sure if closing my eyes would be advisable.

Actually Northwind when are you going to ride Cademuir ? I would like to do some tests on radios, it's a two person job....

No idea Hels but if you've got a day/time in mind let me know, think you've got my details?

That sounds like a good plan Hels, but if I lie down for too long I may never get going again!

I think there is a 5 hour time limit so lying down (except when the bike makes me do it) might not be an option at my pace!

Well the chips are the important part of the plan. Northwind I'll po you an email, have to see when I can get hold of radios first !

Is it easy to find the way between each stage ?
I hope that there are lots of signs saying 'this way for more pain' 🙂

The Tweed Valley is littered with signs that say "this way for more pain" and not all of them point to my house.

I am sure it will be well posted, the Tweedlove Crew know what they are doing..

The waymarking on the day will be spotless- they did a perfect job last year. But the taping went up at the last minute and I assume that'll be the same this year? So practice will probably need to be self navigated, or to put it differently, I am going to end up wandering around cademuir like in blair witch project.

Does anyone fancy meeting up for a pootle round Cademuir on the Saturday? I'm billy no mates for all the riding bits.

We were at cademuir today , stage 4 is steep off camber wi switfhbacks(if not used to this kinda stuff people will find it tricky ). Other stage was awfy wet n muddy today

I'm so ending the day covered in mud and bruises! Must remember to put mudguards on

A few wet roots tae , hopefully dry out a wee touch

It's wet roots on steep off camber switchbacks I really struggle with 😉

still looking for an entry.anyone not make it?

Unless something goes horribly wrong in the next few days I'll be using mine 😉

Did 3,4,5 today. All have the potential to be crackers though the weather and several hundred riders practicing over the coming week may not be kind to any of the freshly cut stuff, some of the were in pretty shady condition already.
Have to say I was not particularly enjoying the upper part of 4, best I could hope for was hang back and hope, or at points I ended up just resorting to sliding down on my arse. Others will no doubt love it but I preferred it from halfway down when you could get off the brakes. Loved 5, just hope the weather is kind to it this week!!

I hope it dries out a bit. Decided to pass on having a look at the cademuir routes based on a cheeky look at the state stage 3 was in.

Metoffice is suggesting it is dry from Tuesday to Friday with no forecast for Saturday or Sunday yet. I am hoping it stays pretty dry.

I hate mud.

Likewise did the Cademuir trails today. ZOMFG. They are brilliant but a bit of a step above what I was expecting. Loving the variety but a bit outside of my comfort zone. Should make for some really interesting racing 🙂

(you could probably plot my pace on a graph- it goes "ooh feeling a bit nervous... OK you can do this... Yeah this is great! Go faster! Woo! Oh jesus *ing christ! Look out! *! Ah I'm not dead. ooh feeling a bit nervous..." repeat forever)

Do you reckon they'll be a bit easier if they dry out a bit? Might consider some kind of more mud focussed tyre if its three mud vs two hardpack.

I have no clue tbh, they might go slimy or they might go firm. "What tyres for blue routes, tarmac and pineforest clart?" Only thing that really bothers me is if they go more rutted, I can't ride ruts worth a damn.

I'm going to use my Butchers, because I can't be arsed to change the tyres. But then I'm going to be in about 300th place so that's maybe not that useful. Prepare to fail!

I will be at the top urging you on 😀

I'm getting those wonderful feelings of terror and excitement at the same time!

I had my butchers on when there on sat , probably just keep them on , offered plenty grip on steep switchbacks

This will be my first enduro too. I've been thinking about riding sans camelbak for a wee while now, as I can carry a few gels, a water bottle, and 5 hours ain't that long. Only thing that I was bothered about was water, but according to the race instructions, there are water stations, so that seems a goer now.
I'll be riding the hardtail, as the rocket ain't going to land in nobeer towers for another month or so yet at least, not bothered about riding ht, only thing that bothers me is that I don't have a dropper on the soul, and as I'm not going down to practice, I don't know which sections I could get away with dropping the saddle at the start. I don't mind doing short sharp climbs out the saddle cos the seats down, just not big long ones. Northwind, any idea which sections will be saddle down friendly?.

Looking forward to it, should be good fun.

I have been riding round glentress with no camelbak through the winter, and was planning on not taking one for the enduro, but today we rode stages 4+5, and based on the distance of that and the glentress sections I'm taking a bag full of supplies, the length this course, for me, will be the big problem! 4+5 seat down definetly.

Ooh, I am no expert so don't take this as gospel...

Stage 4 and 5, seatpost down, no question- what pedalling there is, I'll do all out of saddle but there's not much.

Stage 1- quite straightforward trails but I'll have it down anyway for pumping/freedom of movement. Again I'll just pedal the flatter bits out of saddle.

Stage 2 and 3 have noticable climbs in but they've also got bits I'd not want to take at speed with my saddle at full height. Don't really know tbh, depends too much on your fitness and your comfort with the seat higher. I honestly have no clue how stage 2 will work tbh.

Cheers fellas, ideal. I'm riding it with my mates anyway, so not really bothered about times, as long as I beat them!. I'm over 2 hours drive from GT, and can't be arsed driving down for the Saturday to practice, plus I know I'd end up riding the whole thing and not be fresh for the Sunday.

What if you get a puncture or a wee mechanical and you you've no bag with stuff to fix it .

it's going to be such a long day my backpack'll be stuffed with spares, clothes, soft toys... The feed stations did have food and drink last year but I'll take my own in case.

Couple of ~100 - 200m long climbs on stage 2 from memory, some short ups on stage 3. Did everything with saddle down last year but will have one of those fancy droppers this year, if my bleed kit arrives in time.

shieldsmtb - Member
What if you get a puncture or a wee mechanical and you you've no bag with stuff to fix it .

POSTED 4 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

I'll have a couple of spare tubes, c02, and a multi tool in my back pockets. Worse case scenario, there are a few bike shops around!.

Well, the top of stage 4 was totally different tonight. I last rode it on Friday night and it was really nice, I went up tonight (before the torrential rain) and it was rutted and cut up. Looks like a lot of riders have been down over the weekend with their back wheels locked up, loads more exposed roots and it actually felt steeper. However, the bottom of stage 4 was as good as ever. Can't wait for Sunday.

Trust me to pick a few days off work and plan a trip to Glentress for an event to be on.

Will this have much impact on the the trails, ive seen a couple of closuals on the website from satuday morning, but impact on parking? cafe sitting, rise in bike thefts etc..? plan was to go biking thursday, trip to edinburgh friday, biking sat then travel back sunday and might do a sneaky trail on the way home.

Won't do the oh any good for confidence if trails are packed out.

There will only be trail closures on Sunday, however, Saturday is practise day so will be busier than usual. Why not try Innerleithen? It's only 5 miles down the road and it is brilliant. Your ride on Thursday should be unaffected.

Stage 4 sounds... Challenging! I'm having visions of sliding down on my arse bouncing off roots trying to hang on to my bike!

Worth mentioning there's still diversions on the climb at innerleithen due to the felling, makes it a bit less fun. GT [i]should[/i] be alright on saturday, the race notes says all trails are open as usual but yeah, parking might be busy.

I'm having visions of sliding down on my arse bouncing off roots trying to hang on to my bike!

Sorry I have first shout on that technique 🙂

With the added bonus of being a lycra XC mincer,on a hardtail ,with zero armour.

[i]What could possibly go wrong[/i] 😯