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Any of the STW Crew heading to Boltby this year?
Need some motivation to go...
I'm certainly planning on being there...
I'm going, never done it before.
As usual my promise to myself to get fit for these things is in tatters due to committing to loads of social (drinking) events in the run up. Should be a good laugh though!
Aieee
Yep! First time
Yep - first time. Fitness is poop and I’m nursing a shoulder injury in the run up to it.
Should be fun!
As usual my promise to myself to get fit for these things is in tatters due to committing to loads of social (drinking) events in the run up. Should be a good laugh though!
Isn't drinking practice precisely what "getting fit for these things" is? Can't have your race run ruined by a hangover!
Not this year sadly its a brilliant event!
Don’t post on here much but read loads. I’m going did it last year was at the sharp end of my skill but still enjoyed it. Can’t wait to be honest. On a yellow BFE max
Yeah 8 of us heading up from west yorks, all with poor fitness but never had a bad Boltby weekend. My plan is to practice stages 3 and 5 on the Sat and have a pedal to the pub, save the legs for the Sunday.
I'll be there👋
I'll be riding. Years since I've done an enduro so looking forward to it.
Skills are a bit rusty to put it mildly. Anticipating a full practice sesh on the Sat to try and get the eye in (it's meant to be at the easier end of enduros is it not?)
Missing this year but rode it last year for the first time (after having had about 6 months barely touching the bike and a few too many beers the Saturday night!). Absolutely brilliant event. Full loop practice on Saturday taking it steady followed by a drop down to Felixkirk for a pint and some food on the way back to the camp site.
How much climbing is there? Can't see anything on the Website
Last years race loop had +2700ft of climb. Don't remember any of the rideable climbs being that tough technically, just a bit of a slog in places. The climb up from the event village to stage 1 is a steady away mostly road/double track climb. Stage 1 > Stage 2 has a fairly tough road climb to start with and then a really nice long flowy descent to stage 2. Stage 2 > Stage 3 another steady(ish) farm track climb. Stage 3 > Stage 4 has a push and a flat pedal along the edge of the hill. Stage 4 > Stage 5 has a fkr of a ride/push out to meet the trail between 3 and 4 before another flat spin to the top of 5.
*assume the stages are similar to last years.
Stage 1 > Stage 2 has a fairly tough road climb to start wit
Not done the race before but if that's the one I think (sneck yate bank) it's a lovely climb...
They used to do motorbike hill climb races up there many years ago.
My stats from last year are 949m of climbing and 27.9km distance.
great event and sad to have sold my ticket for it this year.
I wish I was, but missed out on tickets. Did it a few years back and it was a cracking event! More inclined to do it again than another Ardrock I think
Not done the race before but if that’s the one I think (sneck yate bank) it’s a lovely climb…
No such thing 😉
First climb does the lower part of Sneck Yate Bank but then veers off toward High Paradise Farm. Glad it was the first climb and not toward the end!
Yep, doing it this year. First time (and first ever Enduro) last year, great event, right at the top of my skill level, but I rode it all (with 1 dab, on stage 2), albeit slowly (bottom 10%) Coming up from Leeds with 5/6 others.
Anyone know how it holds up in the wet? Not much sign of a break from this crappy showery weather over the next couple of weeks, so likely to be wetter than last year's dusty trails.
Depending how much rain we get it may be riding better than last year with a bit of slightly damp hero dirt rather the last year's dust.
I binned it at one point in the dust last year front wheel slide out. A bit more grip would have been welcome at points.
It's v. Similar terrain to a certain other woodland I know you were riding at over the weekend @hardtailonly
Current weather will be fine but, as was said on another thread a couple of weeks back, trusting a weather forecast more than two minutes ahead is a bit like believing in astrology. Three weeks away? In may? Could as easily be floods, mad max levels of drought or both by then.
Yep, The only enduro I bother with now TBH I like its easy going vibe. It was properly wet the other year was veeeery slick! Fingers crossed for a dry one..
I'm going.
First Enduro. Only bought the bike at the end of last year. Hopefully I'll get a few more rides in before I go now the DR is out of the way. Not worried about the ups and transitions as I'm normally an XC whippet.
Any tips from those who've been before? Doesn't look too hard. Will set my expectations when I've done the practice day. Limited experience of this type of riding - really only Thrunton and the off piste at Hamsterley.
Another first timer here on a bike I've had about two weeks. Trying my best to get some training in round the Chase but we need some bigger hills!
Got an entry but have only ridden once since the start of December due to medical nonsense so am having to bin it off.
The only motivation you need for Boltby is it’s bloody brilliant, the year I did it I absolutely loved it! The tracks were mint. Challenging and a real test of skill, the whole atmosphere was great and I’m sure it’s only got better.
Plenty of climbing but it’s for the descending so it’s all good. I fell off on the loamiest corner I’ve ever hit too and brother careered into the back of me, such a laugh! 😂
Enjoy everyone, I'm jealous. First one I've missed for a while.
@jonba - you'll be fine. Make sure you practice on Saturday - theres not much you couldnt ride blind, but there are a few key sections that might make you wince a little if you dont! If you see everyone off their bikes crowding round watching, thats a good indicator!
Play to your strengths too, and if your XC fit you can really make up some good times by being safe and solid on the techy bits, but putting the hammer down where you can pedal and make speed, a couple of the stages have sections where you wil be able to really go for it. Hit all the wooden kickers they throw in, they are super fun, but make sure to check the lines first - sometimes straight off the ramp doesnt exactly point you in the direction you want to be going when you land!
ETa - the Carpenters Arms down the hill in Felixkirk has great food, make sure you book. I'm only telling you this as I'm not going!
Top tip if you spot a photographer pay attention to the trail....
What snotrag says about the ramps is true, especially if they have the one into the "arena" at the end of stage 3 again. Someone hit that last year square on without the confidence needed which resulted in the air ambulance I think. And the fitness thing - stage 1 apart from a few BIG roll ins is really, really pedally and you could make up a load of time there vs some of the other slower more techy trails. Top of stage 3 is the same.
Gutted I'm missing it now reminiscing about last year - they're exactly the types of trails I love riding...
Can't wait. That ramp thing on stage 3 was great. I went a really really long way and landed on a pheasant.
and landed on a pheasant.
At this time of year it's difficult not too, so so many of the bloody things and all with suicidal tendencies that would make the Jonestown cult blanche.
How much do people generally ride on practice day? One and done? Session tricky bits? Two or three laps per stage? Only done smaller funduro sort of stuff before.
2 or 3 laps per stage would be a massive day out! We generally just ride all the stages you can (some aren't open for practice) and maybe stop to have a look at anything that looks tricky.
Probably get a range of preferences there @serkuss - I've not ridden enduro for a few years so just want to get round comfy. So I'll do a full practice lap and 100% be session-ing any feature that I find difficult, because I don't want to be hitting anything that's 50/50 in my mind on the Sunday. If a stage is technically no bother then once is enough for me, as I'm not arsed about the fastest lines or anything like that.
Also depends on your fitness - if the distance and elevation sounds like a big deal then doubling it up Sat and Sun will be tiring. If it's next to nowt for you then you can practice as much as you want.
Stages 2-5 all close, stage 1 somewhat out of the way.
Last year on practice day we just did each stage once, though did stop to observe/session tricky bits.
Trickiest bits was probably stage 2 (rooty bit near the top). Lines to ride around it easily, but technically the hardest bit on the course to ride quickly I reckon
Then stages 1,3,4,5 all had sections where time could definitely be won (or more likely lost!)
Given 2-3 days practice and looking at lines I reckon there is a lot of time to be found for most people. Bit difficult to do in 1 day though without spannering yourself for the actual race!
What sort of ground is it at Boltby? Guessing it won't suit a baldy minion up front - took the trance out at the weekend and that's what I have, any recommendations for what to replace it with?
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
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.
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.