[Closed] Dyfi Enduro - route profile??? And impressions.

yes, you are missing something....how can you have downhill without climbs? I thought it was a fantastic course..and the descents were challenging and exciting....how could you ride down that ridge line and not end up with a huge grin on your face?!?!
1500m of climbing according to my Garmin.

My GPS measured 1792m Mach to Mach, loved it, despite having to take it easy after breaking a Crossmax spoke in my rear wheel on World Cup, thought Rocky Horror was right good fun.

Phone gps says 2300m up and down.

Third (maybe forth- I forget) time I've done the Dyfi. I used to think it was great, and recommended it to loads of people, but today I found it a bit dull :-/
Yes; the weather was fantastic, the scenery beautiful and the organisation good, but it just felt like it was almost all on fire road. Had the route changed much since I last did it?
I found the descents ok, but not that inspiring. Not steep enough to be properly challenging, but too steep to let fly- well for me anyway!
Hardly any interesting climbing or singletrack.
Maybe I've got old and grumpy? Don't think I'll be back next year.

[Puts flame suit on]

1790 m climbing on my GPS, measured by Barometric Altimeter so should be accurate.

I didn't think the descents were all that either, but then again the course needed to be designed for 750 riders and all weather. On the plus side after the intial road section it was all offroad, not many other enduro events in the UK that can boast that.

The other thing is that many of the descents are steeper than the ones you normally get in similar events, meaning you lose a lot of height quickly. It also means that you have to regain that height, which is mainly on fire road so takes a while to regain.

Just be thankful that the trails were so dry and riding fast, it would of been a different storey if it had rained all week I can tell you!

'Marshall at the beginning of the Big Dipper'

Personally I love the descents on the Dyfi, fairly steep, silly fast and rocky! I like that the climbing is on fireroads, it means that you can just spin away on them and not have to think about what you're doing!

I always find it shocking the number of people who are rapid uphill but have to get off and walk down descents.

I had a great time, hard work but fun. From the very start in Mac to the end my phone GPS recorded 2413m.

Sure there was a lot of fire road climbing but the descents were ace.

Big respect to anyone who did it on a SS!!

Quote of the day for me was "slow down guys, there's bodies everywhere" he hee

[URL= http://runkeeper.com/user/steveb77/activity/33795292 ]This is my log & route profile[/URL]

I really enjoyed it & have never known it so dry - But I'm never doing it on a rigid Inbred 29er SS with 32:18 gearing again,ever !Gears,h/tail & lightness for me next time..... 😀

The route once loaded into Mapyx Quo says 7412ft of climbing... I thought it was harder this year.

Some nice singletrack would be welcome, but the descents are entertaining and the banter while winching back up the fireroads is always good. Enjoyed it.

The other positive about fire road climbing is that you can sit and spin with your mates/fellow riders and have a chat - can't do that on technical singletrack.

steve_b77 ,I got in at 3:10(4hrs10) so must have been just behind you..

1776m on garmin 705, but put that into sporttracks and it comes up with 1500m climbing.. Enough anyhow...

I 'missed' the cheerleaders this year, but as my teammate said, maybe they've all just grown up! As ever the band and banjo player were appreciated! To me the dyfi is all about 'constant' hard climbs with rewarding slate-y shoots inbetween...

Hard but I enjoyed it. We crossed the finish at 4:13h so must have been along the same time as you other guys too!

My 6th Dyfi and my first on a rigid, 29er SS Gary Fisher ferrous.... fantastic day, beautiful weather, great trails and good finish..

32x20 was perfect gearing for the Dyfi 🙂

[url] http://connect.garmin.com/activity/82800592 [/url]

My first and last Dyfi, just way too much fireroad for me to enjoy myself. Each to their own but didn't think the few short sharp offroad descents were worth the never ending climbing to get to them. Too much downhill fireroad to lose all the height you've just slogged up.

Great weather and scenery though and very well organised. Just not for me. I got in around 3pm as well (didn't do the extra loop though, no idea where i came overall - when are the results posted?).

My 9th Dyfi.

Another great even with top organisation and a chilled out vibe.

Those slatey descents are just so much fun. Some people seem to forget that you've got get up to get down. 😉

Finished in around 3 hours 40ish on a rigid singlespeed.

Took a fair bit of footage with my GoPro too. i'll have a look at it later and see if a caught any trailmincing.

I do wonder about people who enter an enduro then complain about the amount of climbing! I couldn't ride it this year due to injury, so watched it from the bottom of the world cup instead. Interesting seeing it from the other side, but not as much fun.

Also given the Dyfi's reputation as a tyre-shredder it was surprising seeing the number of people who didn't have any/enough tubes.

Top event again. Yes maybe a touch more fireroad than normal after the moorland descent but that new super steep slate chute made up for that 🙂

My stats using Android phone and Google My Tracks were (from Machynlleth and back):

Total Distance: 61.99 km (38.5 mi)
Elevation Gain: 1276 m (4187 ft)

*Waves at dreednya*

Dunno if you remember me I was the big guy on an SC Heckler. We had a little chat, first I asked if the Big Dipper was the start of the WC run... We then had a chat about the reason for the change of descents after the moorland.

Great event as hard as ever. I rode most of the way round with Chipps and he was great company.My garmin gave 1900m of ascent and his garmin gave 1990m so by any account a decent day out in the hills. Loved the bar at the bottom of the last descent, couldnt believe people actually carried on and refused beer!!

Great event,I'd forgotten just how big those hills are!(Last did it in 2006).Loved the descents-dodging the walkers just made it a bit more fun,and though there wasn't much singletrack you have to remember you need to get 750 very tired riders around it.All in all a great day-much helped by the weather-so thanks to all who helped make it happen.

Dave

PS If any of you who are moaning would like to organise a 40 mile singletrack filled event I'm sure you'd get loads of entries

My 8th Dyfi, and I've always loved it for the mental descents and the whole laid-back feel of it. But that was a lot of fire road, even by Dyfi standards. *sticks bottom lip out*

Do they not use the descents from the ClimachX trail then? That seems a shame, cos they are fantastic imo, especially the last one. I wonder why....

Maybe because it's not steep/ slatey enough. 😉

Probably due to the carnage the last descent of the ClimachX would cause. Something that long, with no passing places and 750 riders = trouble.

Plus it would get trashed.

Obviously those complaining were taking the event far too seriously and didn't stop for the free beer just short of the finish line 😉

Probably due to the carnage the last descent of the ClimachX would cause. Something that long, with no passing places and 750 riders = trouble.

This is why they should have an Enduro like the Avalanche series or the UK Gravity Enduro races there instead 😉 - would be a great location for it imo.

Yeah, I didn't see the free beer, dammit.

This is why they should have an Enduro like the Avalanche series or the UK Gravity Enduro races there

They have real enduros there. If you want to get dressed up in body armour why not try one of those. 😉

Yeah, I didn't see the free beer, dammit.

I can't believe you of all people missed the beer.

My ninth event and I really enjoyed it. It's probably the least hungover I've been at the start, which really helped. I was riding around on my own, so it was good to ride round with Steviep and chat our way up the climbs. I think if you want the distance off road (in England/Wales at least) then there'll always be inevitable fire road.

The mincer cam caught a few on the first descent. 😉

3rd year in a row and loved it, huge climbs followed by fun descents, the perfect excuse to dress up as a sheep 😉

Not enough walking in that footage Stu 😉

Not enough walking in that footage Stu

I know. I need to ride round at tollahs speed to catch the real mincers towards the back of the pack. 😉

You were lucky, there was a stationary queue by the time we got there.

You were lucky, there was a stationary queue by the time we got there.

You should have just waited and heckled, there were no queues at the back :0)

Cool tunes on that vid Who is it?
I did quite a lot of "on yer right"ing yesterday too-then promptly got re-passed on the climbs...more fitness needed!

Dave

I bl00dy loved it. Done all of them since the first (except 3rd and 4th cos I was in NZ) and I reckon this was the best yet.
Yes, a tad more fire-road this year, but the descents get better and better. Possibly seemed a bit less descending this year as it was all so much drier and faster it was over with sooner.

Do they not use the descents from the ClimachX trail then?

I started at the back and finished pretty much at the back and viewed the whole thing this year as a social ride. Was great as there was barely any traffic on the descents. 🙂

The mincer cam caught a few on the first descent.

Can't believe you did all that overtaking without a care for the other riders, some people are so selfish 😀

Stu,you've lost the basket,again 😆

Oh I have to add thanks to the people who asked if I was OK when I pulled up with cramp, couple mins of stretching and I was OK again, thank you for asking and it makes it stand out even more as a great memorable event.

If im honest i fell asleep half way through...Thinking surley ive taken a wrong turn (up another fire road) It was only the ocasional decent from hell that kept me awake ;0) I cant believe amongst all that beautiful scenery there was not more off road climbing available. Maybe the Great Fire Road Enduro would be a better name. Other than that some great moments, great atmosphere and a dam good challenge on the legs, not sure i would do it again though, think im more suited to miles of singletrack.

Oh, and I forgot to mention the beer stop. It was SOO welcome - and it was shocking to see the number of people who didn't stop. It wasn't that disguised either - and had a DJ and some dancing cross dressers when I was there. There was even someone changing a puncture within 25 yards of it who didn't head back for a pint.

Did anyone catch the Saturday night band? Or were we too left-field/non chart hits for everyone?

😆 at votchy.

Keef.

I had to take the basket off as it was blocking the view of the mincer cam.

look i know i'm biased but see the ride description from the event web site as follows,Welcome to the howies Dyfi Enduro. This year the event will be held on Sunday May 1st. The event, now in its tenth year is a simple big loop, starting in Machynlleth town centre, which heads out of town for a tour of the Dyfi forests best hidden trails. It has long unrelenting fire road climbs, and long rough technical descents, it finishes deep in the forest, riders then spin back into town on lanes to event HQ for (hopefully) a prize and a coveted finisher’s mug. Total distance will be around 60km, subject to final route tweaking in the weeks before the event.....you can't get 750 riders safely into Dyfi on singletrack climbs.Huge thanks to all for coming and having a go,but as in all things you can't please everyone.

Fraz.

There may be a few moaners on here but i bet the next Dyfi Enduro will be full in a matter of hours again. 8)

I think constructive criticism can be taken the wrong way and after all, is this not a forum and is the title of this thread not "Dyfi Enduro - route profile??? And impressions" the problem with the general public is we never voice what we really mean. If i myself sounded a little harsh that was not my intention. I would probably attend the event again just for the atmosphere and people i met along the way. I would just prefer a few more technical climbs and without loosing so much height on a fire road...Thats me though! Maybe i am being short sighted in the grad scheme of safety etc, as i have never organised an event. Great work to all those involved im sure each year just keeps getting better and better. Dont stop because of the criticism that would just be petty. And no you cant please all the people all of the time, but i bet you pleased at least 99% ;0) Worth the journey and the mug.... Thanks

The amount of people who struggle on the one technical climb, its probably a good job there aren't more.

(I cleaned it, as usaul 🙂 )

Keep it up Fraz! See you next year!

A bit disappointed by the fancy dress turnout 🙁
My girlfriend had the impression that it was only the singlespeeders who dressed up. Gears = boring?

(Mr Bumble Bee)

I enjoyed it. Pretty much what I expected. I spent the first 2/3rds overtaking and the last 1/3rd being overtaken. 😆

The campsite was a bit windy. Tents tumbling past rather than tumbleweed was a nice touch.

best event in the world as allways the better half rode this year so i was on bairn watch and its worth saying that even this is cool at the dyfi, mellow vibe, cinema tent etc. nice one see you next year.

oh yeah - enjoyed the free beer and bangin' tunes 🙂

Nonk, I reckon we were riding somewhere in the general vicinity of your significant other, on the last third of the ride. Or so my riding partner, tells me. If he is correct she is a strong climber for sure.

Mmm. Free beer. Was most welcome!

Banjo was a great touch too.

really enjoyed it again, great overall vibe and loved the beer tent/dj and the fast rocky descents 😀 got a timbuk2 bag for the fancy dress (i was the spaceman). first time for claire as well she loved it especially the world cup dh 😀 cheers to fraz n the crew again, keep up the good work n see you next year!!!

Bangin' tunes at Dicko's bar? WTF it was Jonny Halliday singing 'Hey Jo' Hendrix cover 'en Francais' when I passed through!!!

Really enjoyed it as usual, a little gutted to get a puncture half way down the WC DH but hey ho.

Banjo was a great touch too.

I was on my own as i rode past that guy and i swear he was thinking 'there's good eatin on dat dare morsel', made me attack the climb anyway 😆

SSStu - good trailmincing vid, i followed you down that line on the first singletrack downhill, cheers for making a hole with that fat wheel of yours! 8)

Could of done with a signpost saying free beer this way or pain that way... I would of made an informed choice then 😀

Enjoyed it this year as a challenge but yes there was too much fireroad both up and down. Great laugh and a good crowd though. Thanks to all that helped with my 3 punctures with your acts of charity.. I was the guy with a trophy sellotaped to my lid.

I thought it was great. For the people who thought the descents were not as exciting as billed, bear in mind that this is the driest I have ever seen the course (I think I've done 8 years). Try those same descents when all the rock is wet and/or covered in slime and you'll be filling your pants. I know there wasn't much singletrack, but if I want to ride the same twisty singletrack that I have at home, I might as well not drive all the way to Wales.

Big pat on the back to all the organisers and volunteers, the Dyfi is a unique event and (along with SSUK) the only race that I enter every year without hesitation.

Bangin' tunes at Dicko's bar?

Mustn't forget the sausage rolls at the feed station. There's only so much sugar a body can take. Genius.

Mustn't forget the sausage rolls at the feed station. There's only so much sugar a body can take. Genius

Couldnt agree more, after 2 litres of energy drink and a cuple of sickly energy gels, the sausage rolls were an absolute winner.

Gutted that's the second in a row I've missed now (2010 was wedding planning, this year I'm living in Oz). I'll definitely give it another go if I'm back in the UK at the right time - I need another mug!

It was The Jam when I was there...

And The Buzzcocks. 😀

gazc - I didn't envy you in that suit...

It was, as always, one of the best organised events with great touches - the band, the beer, the dj, the banjo player, the sew-on patch.

Plus the descents which are just fab. Even better in the dry dusty conditions at the weekend. My only minor comment would be theat there appeared to be a a fireroad descent in the middle. I suspect it couldn't be helped, and really didn't matter, but would have loved to have been losing that height on some more techy, rocky loose stuff.... 🙂

Love to all who rode and smiled!

3rd Dyfi for me and enjoyed it as always! My only gripe was, although the new Rocky Horror descent was awesome, that long fire road descent after was a crime. Unless there was a reason not to, I would've thought at least we could've been directed onto the second half of the slate descent, which the last two years comes after the short flat fire road section, after the first descent off the moorland?

Oh and actually, also I don't think the singletrack descent after the initial long fireroad climb (just after passing the band playing at the top) was a wise idea as people hadn't spread out enough by then which led to a stationary traffic jam when we got there for a good couple of minutes.

Like I said though, good event as always (and that free beer was SOO needed at the end!).

I believe that there was a reason for the long fireroad descent. They couldn't use the usual descent due to factors beyond their control from what I've been told, so I guess that they didn't have a lot of choice on that one.

After being a spectator the last few years this was my first time riding and loved it! Once those tricky loosey singletrack sections at the begining were over with (where everyone was bunched up) I got into it and held on for dear life down the world cup section which was definitely my achievement of the day. The big dipper was cool too!

For those of you pro riders I can see the endless fireroads being a pain, I found them a welcome route to the top of the downhill sections to be honest, miles and miles of technical climbs as well would have done me in!!

Amazing tunes and free beer at the end of last descent was a real treat!! 🙂 Thank you Fraz, Jonny and everyone else who organised it, brilliant!! x

It appears i was enjoying it 😀

[img] http://www.sleepmonsters.com/photosystem/rightplacerighttime/digital_photosales_image.php?path=9194_8814&file=110502175050 [/img]

You can see it even more clearly in the version without the big "C" in the corner.

You can see it even more clearly in the version without the big "C" in the corner.

's ok - content aware fill will sort that out 😉

You can see it even more clearly in the version without the big "C" in the corner

I know, I'll be buying it later. Cool pic, thanks 🙂

Thank you.

Sausage Rolls, Brown Sauce, Free Beer and a Banjo.

What's not to like.

My 5th Dyfi & as always a great event made even better by the great weather this year.For those who didn't like it,then don't bother doing it next year.Don't worry,it'll still sell out,it always does !

Thanks to the organisers for putting on another great event. Dyfi Enduro is unique.

I left the Kenda small block 8 rear tyre on, should have known better as I got three flats and had to blag a tube on the last one, won't chance it next time.

Roll on more trailside surrealness next event please. The Banjo Man should be an annual fixture, maybe we can have him duelling with another player next year.
...and bring back the cheerleaders.

Think I rode back to town with mince-cam man, drafted his front tyre for a few km.

It appears I was enjoying it

That is a sweet photo. And your flickr stuff from Snowdon & Berwyns is making me green.

photo purchased. Will be printed when there isn't a 2-year old sleeping next to the printer 🙂

Had another fantastic time this year! Free beer was unbelievably welcome at that point. Savoury food at the feed stop is an inspired plan, the sausage rolls almost tempted me away from vegi-dom! The fireroad descent was a shame, but one of the things I really like about the Dyfi is the course is different every year (or has been the three years I've done it), and I'm sure sometimes that's going to involve these sections.

I left the Kenda small block 8 rear tyre on, should have known better as I got three flats and had to blag a tube on the last one, won't chance it next time.

Thinks it just luck,or rather unluck of the draw - me & my mate both had Small Block 8's on the back & neither of us had a puncture.The Bonty ACX I had on the front flatted on me & popped off the rim once 🙁

Pimpmaster Jazz - Member
gazc - I didn't envy you in that suit...

yeah i was boiling alive under that and the helmet had no vents at all which doesn't really help! the kids in mach seemed to be a fan as we rode out anyway!
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