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I'm home already after racing this morning.
Trails were running fast and tacky for the most part. Hope everyone who was fussing about tyres enjoyed whatever they had fitted 😆
The weather was great for us this morning (#151 @ 8:15)
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Does anyone know the girl who nailed herself early on, on Stage 2 faired? eddie11 found her off the bike in a bad way.
The new stage (5) was a hoot. Nearly went back for another go. Nearly.
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Edit: 22:10 for me.
cracking day, was out just before you at 8. steady ride round, no queing for stages and not getting rushed into them so only caught 1 rider in the first stage. much better than the sunday last year and not just because of the weather.
stage 5 was definatly a good addition.
just beat you with a 21.41, i do need to stay of the brakes more but once the speed gets up i cant help a bit of comfort braking.
Great day. I was in the Sprint which was enough on my hardtail; stage two gave my legs a proper kicking!
Though stage three was a bit poo with the bog at the bottom of one shoot. Weather was good until I stage the climb up to stage three and got caught in a shower.
Overall, loved it and want to do it again next year.
First time at Ard Rock, finish time of 20:07, mostly racing blind as you could only practice stages 1,2 and 6 which is a bit odd! Thoroughly enjoyed it, hope the rider who went off in the air ambulance was ok, we had an hours wait at the top of stage 2 while the rerouted around a bog that caused the accident.
Though stage three was a bit poo with the bog at the bottom of one shoot.
i thought 3 was great, was also my best stage of the day. all where good stages with stage 6 the least enjoyable but still good.
i like racing the blind stages even though it does cause a few hairy moments here and there.
Was told the girl was alright when i signed out.
Couldn't relax and went home in a mood with my self yesterday after pulling out after stage 2. Should have been a cracking day but really didn't enjoy it and spent most of my time on the bike shouting at my self and riding the brakes or walking down the side of a track i should be able to ride well enough.
Feel completely beaten up this morning where i was too rigid on the bike and fighting it all the way down.
Good times guys 😀
I really like the format that you can practice some of the stages but not all f them. I can never decide whether I prefer to be able to practice and therefore go faster or if I just love racing blind.
p.s. results are up
Was supposed to be doing the Sprint and Sport. Crashed in practice at the bottom of Stage 1 and split my chin open. Spent the rest of the day in A&E waiting to have it glued back together, then went home. Could have probably raced but my confidence was a bit shaken and it's a course I want to be on my A-game for to be able to enjoy it. Plus all my mates had bailed for various reasons so I was billy-no-mates for the weekend.
First time at Ard Rock. I did the sprint.
I didn't come last either!
Another awesome Ard rock!.
23.23 secured my usual mid table mediocrity, course was the best its ever been, I couldn't pick a fave stage, though the new 5 stage 5 took everyone by surprise, looked like a pedally filler, was actually a flowing, flying piece of joy! Everyone came in grinning from ear to ear.
Canny wait for next year, I wish they'd do it twice a year.
How about one in May with uplifts?!
May would be great, no need for uplift though.
The transition after 4 was a vast improvement too btw.
Another fantastic 'Ardrock weekend! Really enjoyed all the stages this year but 5 was definitely the most fun, as said above it looked flat and pedally watching from the start but once into the stage it was fast and flowy 8)
Mid-table for me too, 24:26.93 putting me 117th in vets.
3 stages in and -1 brake lever, rear mech, and chain. Went to the bar and drunk cider.
Yep - great day today 🙂
I was hoping for a top quarter finish and just made it! Stages 1 and 5 were my favourites, and the ones I scored best on. As above - 5 was really flowy and just what everyone needed after the slog uphill. I was half tempted to ask if i could do it again...
Really good crowd too, chatted to loads of friendly people enjoying the day (including all the walkers I bumped into).
Only slightly rubbish bit was the transition out of stage 2, which was very slippy & pushy. Glad I swapped out my rock razor for a HR2 on the back.
Also a big thanks to SRAM tech support, who helped me out at short notice and seemed to be doing everything they could to get people good to ride.
First time, great event, great day out ,loved all the stages, always a little bit too apprehensive on stuff I dont really know, managed a 31st in oldies 😆 ..stage 4 must have passed about a dozen folk fixing puntures 😕
What an awesome weekend that was!
Top work by Joe and the organizing team. I decided not to race this year after not enjoying it last year (I've done 3 of the 5 ard rocks). Instead I was supporting friends, heckling, demoing and catching up with friends who I don't see very often. All in all, absolutely bloody brilliant, a top weekend with some top mates.
Can't wait to get back up there and do a Dales Bike Centre evening ride with Stu.
3rd time at the Ard Rock for me and it just keeps getting better - Stage 5 was definitely the best for me.
Ended up 115th in the Vets at 24 something - should have been a bit quicker but had a spectacular off on stage 6 right in front of the spectators! All good but had to let a few past before I could get going again
First time, great event, great day out ,loved all the stages, always a little bit too apprehensive on stuff I dont really know, managed a 31st in oldies ..stage 4 must have passed about a dozen
Sadly never caught up with you all weekend Brian, would've been good to have a beer. I reckon there were at least 20 folks at side of 3 on Saturday, and same on 4. I reckon it's folks that aren't used to riding rocky stuff and also not used to racing, backed up by the amount of folk that don't seem to understand 'rider' !
Bottom of stage 3 was carnage, mainly folks riding maxxis exo tyres, I did do a wee tyre audit... 😆
Very enjoyable, did the sport today. Transitions were brutal in some places especially the wind and cheweed up muddy bits. Unsure of how I did in relation to my class yet. Traffic was unbelievable! Felt lots of people were out of their depth. I stayed rubber side up so pleased with that cases the crap out of the small gap on stage (?) so worried about the state of my bike when I clean it! Great weekend though, wish I entered the full enduro now mind
Hats off to the organisers, what a great event. My first ard rock. Fantastic to see all abilities catered for, a really inclusive vibe.
Really pleased to complete the frankly amazing loop given recent bike issues and a KO in my last event, with a 22:50 in the enduro. Gutted for mates and everyone else who had punctures! All 6 stages had some fantastic moments, but 5 was probably the pick for me. Hurting today after rushing round in just over 4hrs on my own to make a prior engagement!
Another cracking weekend, 2 punctures for me so a bit gutted but still enjoyed it. Stage 5 a great addition, loved it.
Sorry to the riders coming down stage 1 this morning, I was the annoying bastard with the pan and wooden spoon heckling you all 🙂
First time, great event, great day out ,loved all the stages, always a little bit too apprehensive on stuff I dont really know, managed a 31st in oldies ..stage 4 must have passed about a dozen
Sadly never caught up with you all weekend Brian, would've been good to have a beer. I reckon there were at least 20 folks at side of 3 on Saturday, and same on 4. I reckon it's folks that aren't used to riding rocky stuff and also not used to racing, backed up by the amount of folk that don't seem to understand 'rider' !Bottom of stage 3 was carnage, mainly folks riding maxxis exo tyres, I did do a wee tyre audit...
I did have a wee swatch for you when I was out and about Greg, we never lasted long saturday night tbh, goosed 🙂
Minions both ends btw, nae problems 😆
about Greg, we never lasted long saturday night tbh, goosedMinions both ends btw, nae problems
Aye, we were burst on sat night too, sleeping for 11!
Had a Mary up front and slaughter grid rear, walloped it a few times but it held firm. I reckon the Mary is my fave tyre ever, it's like legalised cheating!.
the amount of folk that don't seem to understand 'rider' !
OTOH I had some riders knacker their own race run before I'd even shouted "rider" at them. Too polite for their own good!
Magic Mary and Rock Razor were spot on for me. Supergravity F&R.
Really well run this year and did the sport this morning, S5 was a total hoon, and stoked finishing 22nd in Vets !
Could have been much quicker IF some folk did move out the way when I shouted RIDER !
Roll on next year
Low points,
I badly misjudged it when I started stage 1, if I'd known the gaps weren't going to be timed for the sprint I'd have taken my time and picked a lull. Rider in front didn't seem to want to pass the lads in front of him causing a bit of a train. My fault I should have known better. Or been more aggressive but that's not really me.
High points,
Relaxing after stage 1 as I knew it'd be a rubbish result with only 2 stages left. Absolutely loved stage two, the 3 passes were painless.
Great event, great people and cracking trails, loved just letting it run, brakes off and skipping over the terrain.
Mary and Rock Razor was perfect.
34th in the vets.
Too polite for their own good!
Thats me today!
My first ever event of any description so spent all the stages looking behind me and politely letting people past as soon as they appeared.
Really enjoyed it. Not just the riding but the whole crack. We got there Thursday night, Tapped the barrel and got leathered. Rode the demo on Friday and got straight on the ale at mid day. Thought Big Red and the Grinners were hilarious. Spent Saturday walking 1 and 2 to get an idea of what I was in for. Great crack shouting encouragement to you Enduro riders and chatting to all the marshals. Despite promising ourselves that we would have a quiet one on Saturday night, that didnt happen as was awake all bloody night with the local church sounding off every 15 mins with the bells.
Anyway.... a full litany of excuses can be provided to substantiate my frankly appalling 34 mins. But you know what... I dont care because I had a brilliant weekend, made a load of new mates and completed something that I really didnt think I could.
Some pics here, got quite a few of you Saturday lot on stages 1 and 2.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dave-lowe/albums/72157684592805041
Top work by the organisers, well done all the fast lads and lasses, cheers to all the marshals and healing vibes to all the injured (of which there seemed to be a load).
See you next year... a little better prepared and a bit more sober!
Anyone know where the photos will be. Must've been 15 cameramen on course!
Roots and rain
Loads on Roots and Rain
Too slow
I usually have a tag session on there but not this time with over 14k of photos.
Edit.. Now 21 😯
Just back from doing the sport with a less windy affair than last year. Some great runs and trails today again stage 5 being a real hoot loved it,and with the group of 6 of us all getting to with in 20 yards of the finish of 6 without any problems it was almost perfect, some great guys and girls out all happy to chat pass or be passed....
All bar the two total clowns who tried to pass my mate on the last wall gap on stage six ..sending him into the poor camera man..lets be fair at that point its down and dusted no prizes for being the biggest douche on the course .. no shout to ask to pass but trying to get 3 through the gap at speed..apart from this dickish act it was brilliant. Had to be dragged away from the Whyte stall too that 170rs C 🙂
I usually have a tag session on there but not this time with over 14k of photos.
The tiny number boards don't help either! Tags normally get done pretty quickly as everyone scans through but it's far harder when you can't see the number.
Once again, work rota conspired to stop me taking part, so would someone please tell me they had a crap time and wished they had never even heard of the event.
Photos make it look just awful by the way.
😆
It was hellish.
Once again, work rota conspired to stop me taking part, so would someone please tell me they had a crap time and wished they had never even heard of the event.Photos make it look just awful by the way.
I slept rough for two days in the back of a transit, couldn't ever seem to scrape together the 3 old pound coins required for the showers.,They wouldn't take the new ones. Some git liked to start his or her generator at 6am. I had no phone signal so my other half was worried sick/really angry at once, im not sure which
I slept rough for two days in the back of a transit, couldn't ever seem to scrape together the 3 old pound coins required for the showers.,They wouldn't take the new ones. Some git liked to start his or her generator at 6am. I had no phone signal so my other half was worried sick/really angry at once, im not sure which
Feeling better already...
top of three marshal face is like a nuclear reacter from the wind and some sun did appear
had a great day up there glad the rain stayed away and no major incidents on our section .
lots of tired but happy riders
It might have been me that held someone up whilst following someone on stage 1, once they over took me I followed though. Had a theatrical off in the woods at the bottom also, did anyone notice if anyone was taking pictures there?
The transition from 1-2 was like the Somme by the time we got there and it was hike a bike for most of it due to the amount of people using the trail and one person at the front of the pack holding up 100's on the single track parts.
The showers worked with the new style pound coins!
Brill weekend.. Raced the Enduro on the Sat with 5 mates, all finished in one piece too.
No punctures this year and finished 83rd with a 23.04 , happy with that on such a great set of trails... Favourites were 4 & 5 with 6 being an absolute hoot flat out finish.. Some new drops this year too which were a nice surprise.
Great atmosphere and worth all the effort and prep.. Ard Moors next.
Trouty..was that you at the top of three? With the radio covered in chainrngs??!!
We did say hi at the top and had a bit of a disco boogie, but I image lods of people did!!
We had a great ride on the sunday - weather held out all day 🙂
Got round in 21.43 on the hardtail (all air remained in the rear tyre, running an unimaginable 34ish PSI!!) - that would have put me in (I think) 4th for hardtail on the saturday (all things being equal!)
Will really aim for the saturday for next year..but riding the trails on ANY day with your buddies, IS awesome!
DrP
couldn't ever seem to scrape together the 3 old pound coins required for the showers.,They wouldn't take the new ones.
They wouldn't take the old ones, someone told you fibs.
They were cold on Sunday anyway, you didn't miss much
They were cold on Sunday anyway, you didn't miss much
And it's not even that impressive in the warm, so you REALLY didn't miss much..
DrP
I slept rough for two days in the back of a transit, couldn't ever seem to scrape together the 3 old pound coins required for the showers.,They wouldn't take the new ones. Some git liked to start his or her generator at 6am. I had no phone signal so my other half was worried sick/really angry at once, im not sure which
Must've been in same field as me, generator guy nearly as selfish as the bellend that brings the huskies every year....
had a great weekend. Was on my own but everyone around my tent was super friendly so was all good. Never seen so many punctures before! I held back a bit on the really rocky stuff to try and avoid getting one. Slightly conservative approach, but better to loose a few secs here and there than have to fluff around fixing a flat - in my opinion anyway. Legs were cooked at the end. I prob over did it on Fri doing each stage twice. I was a little excited to be riding on such cool trails! Will def be back next yea if I can get a ticket - this time with mates! 23:05, prob could have got early 22's or late 21's if I went balls to wall but anyway I had lots of fun!
Had a cracking ride on Sunday (sport) but full of cold and having barely ridden for two months meant i barely made it round. Crumbs those transitions were tough.
Every single person to tee seemed to be having a great day.
24:58 for me, the epitome of mediocrity. Crashed on stake 5 trying a silly overtake on an off camber gravel section. Glad had my pads!.
Going to get a bit of training in for the ard moors next month.
Shouty marshall at the top of 1, cooked in the sun, but had a great time, the relaxed vibe makes marshalling a doddle and a joy. Interesting selection of bikes this year. Big increase in the hardtails which was nice to see.
I think the generator guy is The bloke who comes around to clean the toilets, the generator on his truck is bigger than you'd use for camping. I suppose they need to be done after the Saturday night but before everyone needs them again Sunday morning. I took it as an opportunity to use a freshly cleaned thunder box
Yep, toilet pump out was what woke us up at around 05.40 Sat and Sun morning
And the showers I used were a quid for 3 mins and did take new pound coins.
Yeah there was a genny nearby by but that was pretty soft and didn't run at night.
Edit: double post, sorry.
Shouty marshall at the top of 1,
Did I get a yell of "Yeah! Dialled Bikes!" from you on Sunday? Thanks - made me grin 😀
What a hoot. Ardrock Virgin no more. Hopefully be back for next years. I did the Intro and had a whale of a time, tackling stuff that was well above my skill level. Come off at the start of stage 6, nice bruise on the calf, few cuts and scrapes. Brilliant atmosphere. I hope the lad who had an OTB ad landing on top of a photographer on stage 5 was ok!
Did I get a yell of "Yeah! Dialled Bikes!" from you on Sunday? Thanks - made me grin
Yes you did!
Yes you did!
Awesome, thanks for that. All the marshalls were fantastic. Such a nice vibe from competitors too - top event 😀
I had the utterly pointless achievement of riding the whole 6-stage loop in the 29th-fastest time according to Strava (despite waiting 20 mins for a pal at the bottom of Stage 1 after he punctured), but coming about 1700th on the bits that actually matter with a woeful time of 34min. No crashes, I was just about 2 minutes off the pace of most riders on each stage as I clattered down on my hardtail.
Marshal at pedally bit start stage 5, shouting PEDAL! at some very tired legs 😆 (if looks could kill). I have some OK photos (not pro) to post up for riders. Is roots and rain the place for these, can I put them for free download on there? M
Mosh pit on Saturday was Rowdy.
If it makes you feel better finbar, i got a time of circa 22minutes for stages 1 & 2 only before i pulled out, think I'd have actually thrown my bike down the hill in a hissy fit if I'd have carried on.
Absolutely cracking weekend for us. Got up there Friday with a mate. Met up with some other folks from CMBC and got drunk on Friday night. Struggled round the Saturday with a time of 28 mins and a poorly tummy. Had a great day though. Spoke to Ian who was on his hardtail who gave us some great support up the hills (hes always smiling 🙂 ) and saw Richard fixing his punctures on a couple of the stages (poor lad on a full ridged but boy can he ride). Stage 1 was my fave. Off the bike on 2 and only held onto the bike on 3 by smacking my testicals off the stem. Stage 5 was a great addition (apart from the guy in the red top who tried to overtake my mate mid jump and whipped him out!) and it was nice to have that horrible transition from last year shortened!
Not sure what was the best bit. Getting around alive? Having one two many beers? Watching my mate (who was very tired) fall off his seat in a del boy style after a few beers?, Seeing my mate some back from the sprint on Saturday beaming after a completely shit Friday? The hecklers corner on Sunday morning with “panman” or the chap on Sunday who broke his mech on hecklers corner and threw the cage into the woods (yes you with the tear offs) who then told his SO that he wasn’t sure of he should carry on as he wasn’t going to win it now….. no mate you weren’t you absolute knobber 🙂
All in all a top top weekend. Just don’t know if I should do it again as it really was that good!
I have some OK photos (not pro) to post up for riders. Is roots and rain the place for these, can I put them for free download on there?
Roots and rain is a bit more "pro" and they charge for downloads.
I Flickr (or similar) album would probably be best.
Still not spotted any decent photos of myself yet, just nasty gurns on the pedal on 1
some random snaps (mainly of the start of sunday)
https://goo.gl/photos/tR99thdctPvLrKFj6
Wished I'd paid more attention when entering and put myself in the hardtail category - I was faster than the official hardtail sprint masters winner. Balls.
Bloody good fun and planning to try and get in again next year.
Rode on the sunday, track were awesome as always, stage 5 was a really good edition, flat out and fast. Front brake hose mount came detached on stage 6, had to stop and put a cable tie on. Pretty happy with stages 1-5 otherwise, fair bit quicker than last year, shorter travel bike felt quicker for sure.
Quite a lot of traffic on the stages, which is fine given the huge number of people, some of the taping could little wider in places to make passing safer.
Had a few near misses and close calls finding people walking sections of track with little regard for those approaching from behind.
Had a few near misses and close calls finding people walking sections of track with little regard for those approaching
Aye, I think a lot of folks are race novices and as such race etiquette is not their priority.
Sometimes rider doesn't suffice, I find a gruff Scots dialect 'oot the ****in road!' works a bit better.... 
I find a gruff Scots dialect 'oot the **** road!' works a bit betterI certainly got one of these when i got stuck in the swamp on stage 3.. was out the way sharpish as a large beard on wheels flew past me!
I thoroughly enjoyed it despite doing almost everything slightly wrong. Forgot I live on the South Coast and it's not mid teens centigrade at night in the dales. Wore everything I owned and spent the whole night awake freezing listening to the F-inch church bells all night long. (Why?)
Raced on Sunday because we could get in Sat so had to ration 4 beer so out all aftenoon and evening. Missed out on the party somewhat.
Had a 7:50am start which combined with the lack of sleep and the somewhat 'welcome to the ard-rock' vibe of stage 1 and the first transition climb left me a bit out of sorts mentally.
Finally got my eye in on 3 and loved the last 4 stages, absolutely fantastic. My time is humiliating, kept forgetting I was 'racing' and too much freewheeling and enjoying myself. 😆
Only a couple of times coming up behind people walking sections as we mixed with the sprint and intro categories. Ended up having to run up a couple of sections as riders were stood at the bottom of the obstacles. Such is life.
All in all, would do again, but the 700mile drive for one ride won't be happening again, next time I will ride AND party...
awesome trails and weekend..
Did the sport in Sunday and all was going well until some impatient idiot slammed into the side of me on stage two in a skinny bit of the trail with no obvious passing place..
Nearly snapped my.thumb off in the resulting crash and then couldn't hold on or brake properly for the rest of the stages..
There seemed to be a lot more I didn't get into Saturday and I'm fast so I'm coming through regardless type riders in the sport category this year.. It's the fun class.. Wind yer neck in a bit and be patient ay!
That said 99.9% of people either moved out of the way in a safe place or where patient and sat behind you until it was Safe to pass..
The events got and is getting more and more popular every year.. And it needs to keep its all inclusive skill levels mantra as that's what sets it apart and makes it so awesome to ride for me..
Maybe the stages could do with a few signposted wider passing areas.. Or double line choices to.make it easier and safer for people to pass each other..
Can't wait for next year!
listening to the F-inch church bells all night long. (Why?)
I have never ever come so close to lobbing a molotov into a church before.
There seemed to be a lot more I didn't get into Saturday and I'm fast so I'm coming through regardless type riders in the sport category this year.. It's the fun class.. Wind yer neck in a bit and be patient ay!
Compared to the likes of SES or PMBA, there is loads of space to get out the way on are rock, apart from Rocky chutes.
It's quite simple, if I come up behind and call rider, I expect them to move over, the problems start when folk don't shout and try to squeeze past anyway.
I had a decent ride on 1 and 2, but was pushing too hard on 3 and stupidly ploughed through that big puddle and struck a rock. Badly dinged my front rim and punctured both ends.
Chain came off on 4 (still not sure how or why, only time it's ever happened).
Was loving 5 but got a bit carried away with everyone heckling and went far too quick through the narrow heather and had a big OTB.
Great day out and loved the stages. Hopefully get an entry next year and make it round mechanical free - third time lucky.
If you think you hit traffic, imagine how many people Emyr Davies had to pass. He finished 4th overall but was out after plodders like me.
There seemed to be a lot more I didn't get into Saturday and I'm fast so I'm coming through regardless type riders in the sport category this year.. It's the fun class.. Wind yer neck in a bit and be patient ay!
Puts hands up..
However...I was happy to overtake VERY widely, often having to battle huge rocks and grass piles to steer clear of the slower ride on trail who didn't move.. I don't mind - it's part of the 'benefit' of being able to ride fast and free!!
I will say though.... I WISH there was a vetting process in order to separate the saturday 'racers' with the sunday 'enjoyers', purely because
a)I want to race competitively, have fun, and have it count
b)I DO feel a bit of a fanny 'taking it seriously' on the sunday event..However, I'm polite, make sure I make the effore to get past, rather than just barge through, and... I have also paid to enter and ride...!
DrP
I will say though.... I WISH there was a vetting process in order to separate the saturday 'racers' with the sunday 'enjoyers', purely because
Aye, works both ways though. Saw loads of groups of 4 or 5 mates starting in a group on the Saturday enduro. I get that some mates wanna ride together, but if you've trained hard for that race, and you catch 5 mates on a bit of singletrack, you will really struggle to get past.
Only a minor gripe though, on the whole the race is awesome, and organisers can't stop ****s entering...
A very steady pootle round the Intro for me, local so thought I best had! Stage 4 I thought was brilliant, was caught out by the drop off on stage 5 but clung on somehow!
First ever time racing which made me nervous!
Thankyou to the lady on stage 5 " Please could I come past?"
From a local farmer point of view... Dad met a lot of riders on the transition before Langthwaite along the river driving to feed sheep and said that without exception they were polite and friendly.
That kind of thing makes a big difference to the future of event so nice one all you polite riders
yep.. I'm not sure how the vetting process would work though.. It's a tricky one to do as for a lot of people it could be there first ever event..
Coming up behind someone quickly and shouting rider in the slower class is all well and good but they're probably riding on their ragged edge on terrain they might otherwise have got off and walked on on a normal ride.. They will be trying to let you pass on the whole.. It just might not be as obvious to them where to let you pass.. Or where they can safely slow down or stop to,let you pass..
Patience and a make sure everyone is having fun and is ok should be the mantra if you are doing the sport class..
Aye, works both ways though. Saw loads of groups of 4 or 5 mates starting in a group on the Saturday enduro. I get that some mates wanna ride together, but if you've trained hard for that race, and you catch 5 mates on a bit of singletrack, you will really struggle to get past.
that was me 🙂
I go on the principal as if your faster then you will pass. One chap passed me mid chute on stage 1. That was a little scary. Others are shouting rider and they are no where near faster. I let a few guys through and then repassed them on stages 1 and 2.
It's quite simple, if I come up behind and call rider, I expect them to move over
Not suggesting you're guilty of it but the last half of that is a part of the problem. This year's thoroughly aberrant performance aside I'm usually mid table fluff in most events so get passed and do some passing. There are a % of riders (usually the ones incapable of pedaling up a hill tbh) who seem to think shouting "rider" will make the person in front instantly get out of the way regardless, even when it's neither safe nor possible to do so, and will force less confident less able riders onto a line they're not willing to take themselves. (I saw one attempted pass mid chute, one coming over a drop and one forcing a chap, who already looked nervy, into the tape on the very edge of stage 2)*
Equally when there is room not pulling over is a stupid/inconsiderate thing to do.
Many moons ago i was told by a very handy chap doing a promo interview and photo shoot for some new tyres that, if there wasn't room for him to ride round me, there wasn't room for me to get out of the way either. He passed me on a line that I'm pretty sure to this day doesn't exist.
*thinking about it probably the same people who tried to overtake 4 cars at once on the road by warcop round a bind bend.
They definitely need to work on the marketing behind the Saturday/Sunday events. Lots of people riding the Saturday race who should really be on Sunday one, and I suspect vice versa too.
Despite the wide openness of the terrain I didn't think it was that easy to overtake as in general the speed was quite high. It is much easier to pass people on slower technical more twisty stuff..