Post by James on May 26, 2016 21:17:16 GMT
Last week saw the now annual Tweedlove May Enduro. The last two years the enduro has been part of the Enduro World Series but this year the EWS skipped the Tweed Valley. Tweedlove still decided to host an Enduro of similar length and technical ability as the EWS years. The race was over two days with three stages on the Saturday and four on the Sunday. Unfortunately I couldn't get up north until Friday so only had chance to practice three of the seven stages and would have to ride the rest blind (which is a really good way of racing, I believe that's how the French races are).
Saturday was late'ish start (12:00), with good weather, warm and dry, and saw us tackling the three stages in Glentress. First off was 50 minute climb to just below the mast in GT before tackling Stage 1. Stage 1 came as shock after the non techie climb up there with a full on pedal fest for the around 7 minutes, it was leg breaker. Stage 2 started with a short sprint before diving into woods with nice tight corners and roots everywhere before a nice 40ish meter up hill sprint mid section then back into the forest for some sweeping corners, another short sprint, more roots and over the finish well and truly knackered. Luckily the transition to stage 3 was short. Stage 3 was pretty much straight down with little pedal needed, this also meant it was steep, tight and rooty but great fun especially in the lower section where the crowds had turned out toheckle support the riders. The forecast for Sunday was looking great, but it was May in Scotland and anything can happen with the weather there.
Luckily a bit of wind overnight pushed the rain through and I awoke to warm sunny morning. The forecast was heavy rain around midday which would clear leaving sunshine. Sunday was big at 53km and the first two stage start at the top of the Golfie which is very exposed. I decided to trust the forecast and chance not taking a coat with me and figured we would be OK if we could clear the first two stage before the rain comes as Inners is quite sheltered. Luck was with me, Stage 1 of the day (Stage 4 of the race) was basked in brilliant sunshine. The track has been in the making for the last 6 months and was an absolute peach and one of the best I have ridden. The guys who built, mostly local teenagers had done amazing job, with berm after berm following. Personally I didn't have a great stage with a few stupid mistakes (over running corners) costing me.
It was long transition to stage 2 (as stage 1 was top of the mountain to the bottom and this was all the way back up again). Again my luck was in and just as we were about to start the rain/hail/wind kicked in but we were soon out of the way into the cover of the forest and the second hardest track of the day. Very steep, roots everywhere and rocks the size of the paving stones that shift around as you ride them. A few off later the finish line was in sight and I was glad to be down in one piece. My friend I was riding with was not so lucky but escaped any really physical damage. He did OTB landing on his head, snapping his go pro off and as it turned out after we had finished the race, denting his helmet. A nice marshal collected his go pro and he got it back yesterday, I haven't seen the footage yet.
Stage 3 was a mud bath and the most technical of the weekend. Super steep, tight corners, mud, roots and race pace makes for a very interesting stage, its one you need to ride to appreciate. The locals made it look easy but there was loads of off's by most people I suspect.
Stage 4 (for those who know Inners) was a combination of the cresta run starting from the timing hut and just flat out. The rain earlier had turned the bottom section quite greasy and the mud was flying. Feeling quite relaxed for the last stage of the day and weekend I forgot to put my camera on and put my goggles on before dropping in, far to much banter with the start Marshall.
And then.... it was all over, around 80km and 2000+ meters of climbing later we arrived at the Peebles green to sunshine and were handed a beer as we crossed the line.
A cracking weekend riding with friends and stretching my abilities.
A small edit from the weekend.
Saturday was late'ish start (12:00), with good weather, warm and dry, and saw us tackling the three stages in Glentress. First off was 50 minute climb to just below the mast in GT before tackling Stage 1. Stage 1 came as shock after the non techie climb up there with a full on pedal fest for the around 7 minutes, it was leg breaker. Stage 2 started with a short sprint before diving into woods with nice tight corners and roots everywhere before a nice 40ish meter up hill sprint mid section then back into the forest for some sweeping corners, another short sprint, more roots and over the finish well and truly knackered. Luckily the transition to stage 3 was short. Stage 3 was pretty much straight down with little pedal needed, this also meant it was steep, tight and rooty but great fun especially in the lower section where the crowds had turned out to
Luckily a bit of wind overnight pushed the rain through and I awoke to warm sunny morning. The forecast was heavy rain around midday which would clear leaving sunshine. Sunday was big at 53km and the first two stage start at the top of the Golfie which is very exposed. I decided to trust the forecast and chance not taking a coat with me and figured we would be OK if we could clear the first two stage before the rain comes as Inners is quite sheltered. Luck was with me, Stage 1 of the day (Stage 4 of the race) was basked in brilliant sunshine. The track has been in the making for the last 6 months and was an absolute peach and one of the best I have ridden. The guys who built, mostly local teenagers had done amazing job, with berm after berm following. Personally I didn't have a great stage with a few stupid mistakes (over running corners) costing me.
It was long transition to stage 2 (as stage 1 was top of the mountain to the bottom and this was all the way back up again). Again my luck was in and just as we were about to start the rain/hail/wind kicked in but we were soon out of the way into the cover of the forest and the second hardest track of the day. Very steep, roots everywhere and rocks the size of the paving stones that shift around as you ride them. A few off later the finish line was in sight and I was glad to be down in one piece. My friend I was riding with was not so lucky but escaped any really physical damage. He did OTB landing on his head, snapping his go pro off and as it turned out after we had finished the race, denting his helmet. A nice marshal collected his go pro and he got it back yesterday, I haven't seen the footage yet.
Stage 3 was a mud bath and the most technical of the weekend. Super steep, tight corners, mud, roots and race pace makes for a very interesting stage, its one you need to ride to appreciate. The locals made it look easy but there was loads of off's by most people I suspect.
Stage 4 (for those who know Inners) was a combination of the cresta run starting from the timing hut and just flat out. The rain earlier had turned the bottom section quite greasy and the mud was flying. Feeling quite relaxed for the last stage of the day and weekend I forgot to put my camera on and put my goggles on before dropping in, far to much banter with the start Marshall.
And then.... it was all over, around 80km and 2000+ meters of climbing later we arrived at the Peebles green to sunshine and were handed a beer as we crossed the line.
A cracking weekend riding with friends and stretching my abilities.
A small edit from the weekend.