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Tempted! Want to try one of these Enduros, and I'm struggling to imagine what stuff they could include at Swinley that would turn it into a DH race, which I'm keen to avoid!
Lol - looks brilliant - bring a GPS or get lost! Thats my type of race....
Still contemplating it. Probably will though as it's only up the road & it's a day out.
Better practice getting my pedal on for this one.
Tempted, as I'm local. No singlespeed class 😉
I probably will if I'm free. Not keen on using GPS. The terrain might help my position as I'm not bad at pedalling but I'd rather it was hillier.
All credit to the organizers for being upfront about the venue.
Sounds like it will be fun getting lost at swinley, like every other ride I have done there 🙂
Might give it a go, depends on the weather
Surely by definition of being significantly shorter than any XC race held at Swinely it should be 'sprint XC' rather than 'enduro DH'.
Still looks fun though.
Yep I have entered!! First Enduro race, done a few xc, 24hr, dh and other things but not an enduro as yet...
So its flat... hmmm, I have a trek scratch or an evil sovereign but thats just singlespeed, hmmm what to take?!
Why does it say gps but then also say dont worry the whole course will be fully marked out so you dont need to buy one :S
It does then say the courses will be fully taped out, so I don't really get the gps comment.
It does then say the courses will be fully taped out, so I don't really get the gps comment.
Have a look at the Enduro1 site. Carlos (the organiser) has had problems in the past re walkers, etc sabotaging courses. Guess GPS is just a safeguard?
Never ridden Swinley but can recommend this as i rode the other 2 in the Enduro1 series this year. Hoping to do this one too.
It does then say the courses will be fully taped out, so I don't really get the gps comment.
From doing two of the enduro 1 races before, the timed sections will be taped and marked out but the XC bits between stages(not timed) were mark with orange arrows on trees and some bits of tape. I think it is these orange arrow they are not allowed. So GPS to help you get from stage to stage and the time stages marked out.
Surely by definition of being significantly shorter than any XC race held at Swinely it should be 'sprint XC' rather than 'enduro DH'.
'sprint XC' sounds about right on a trail that is mostly going down. Plus 2 skills stages a no dab Tecky one and a mini no dab steep hill climb.
I have a trek scratch or an evil sovereign but thats just singlespeed
I would go for bike with gears, i ride singlespeed and flat/down could be very spinny. 😕
they have enough marshals now so gps no longer required!
great, seemed a bit confusing... will take the trek will have a go at changing the little bit that changed the frame angles on the swingarm/evo link which ive never tried, try make it as xc as possible!
start times are up!
Seems strange this is the same day as the Gorrick Autumn classic series start.
Seems strange this is the same day as the Gorrick Autumn classic series start.
Very
Does that mean the carpark will be rammed?
Gorrick Autumn Classic is at Tunnel Hill, so can't see why this would have any impact on Swinley.
Carpark will still be rammed, with 180 riders, the look out gets quite busy with out an event (If its nice)
One thing that might happen at swinley is non-racers riding the stage and getting in racers way. 😐
Straightliner - Member
Gorrick Autumn Classic is at Tunnel Hill, so can't see why this would have any impact on Swinley.
It won't from a both riding in the forest perspective, but would affect number of entrants.
is it free parking at coral reef world?
no
http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/coralreefcustomernotices
And
http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/dontforgetaboutnewcarparkcharges
There are plenty of places to park in the vicinity of Swinley if you don't want to pay £4 to park there.
Just means a gentle pootle to the Look Out car park for the start.
Its only £3 for 4 hours shouldn't worry to many people.
Fun day. Well organised, well signed and marshalled, lots of wet mud and plenty of peddling 😀 +the odd dog walker who stood defiantly blocking the trail regardless of our shouts! nbber!
Well done Carlos and co for putting on a great event - some fantastic prizes for the series winners!
Yep was a good day 🙂
The soft and loose ground there really drains you quick, was great fun though and I have enough free mags to keep my toilet reading going till Christmas
Bit of a race report:
Strava of the race route: http://app.strava.com/rides/25084096#
This is how it worked 5 timed stages all about 2-4mins long with transitions in-between taking in some of the fav’s swinley trail (Labyrinth, stickler, seagull, Deer Stalker)
The stages themselves:
Stage 1: Bit XC with Tec features
Stage 2: Bit less XC with a couple of DH style bits
Stage 3: Was the tank traps
Stage 4: Team stage(All 4 team members start at ones and time is last one to cross the line)
Was DH to start, small sharp climb, DH bit to xc finish.
Stage 5: XC start, DH all the way to the jump gully (note to self don't whip in time race run).
All in all a good day, a good mix of trail for all abilities.
As for the winner the results will be released on Wednesday.
(Ryan Bevis was fast) Rob Francis was too!
The race for me got better after stage 2 for me, i was sick on transition between stage 1 and 2 felt bit better by the start of 2. must have pushed it to hard on 1 with not much warm up. Then there was a bloke with a dog on the finish line of stage two ([s]Knob[/s]) He was arguing with the marshal. Had to slow down and cross the line though a bush!
Stage 3,4&5 all went to plan 😉
Looking for to next years event's
Going to try and get a team togeather for next year to try and win some of thoughs x-fusion forks
Next up for me is Pearce Cycles Hopton Woods Charity Gravity Enduro:
http://www.pearcecycles.co.uk/hopton_woods_charity_gravity_enduro
one of the stages is 12mins long 😯
Its going to be epic! See every one sunday that is racing.
Well I had a day that wasn't worth remembering.
A combinaion of the cold playing havoc with my asthma & an amazing ability to crash at whim on various non features. I managed to write the day off (and almost myself) in the first stage.
Not what I was hoping for!
Good going Scottfitz.
We had blinking horses at Lee Quarry yesterday in the middle of the race ffs!
I;m heading down to Hopton next weekend as a complete DH and Enduro novice any tips (technique and gear) would be gratefully received.
Thanks!
Hi scott, ha i nearly puked after stage 1 too, not enough of a warm up really hurt me
couldnt hang around to say hi, see you at next years
anyway had a great day, some of the taping wasnt perfect but all in all was a great day and good laugh
sadly cant make hopton 🙁
Got lost, almost missed my timing slot, went off the track once and almost lost my friend! Overall a great day though! My busy was also almost sick after the 1st stage haha. (We got lost after the 1st stage too which didn't help.)
Got lost, almost missed my timing slot, went off the track once and almost lost my friend! Overall a great day though! My busy was also almost sick after the 1st stage haha. (We got lost after the 1st stage too which didn't help.)
They were long transition between stages, you had to really concentrate on where you were going. I didn't think the tape was that bad on this round, it is hard to follow it as you are puking though 😳
I thought it was ok but the only bit that sticks in the mind was the beginning of stage 4. All the rest would have been faster on a noodly race bike, especially stages 1 & 2, with 3 being part of the Gorrick 100 course.
I think Enduro should be a step up in gnarliness from xc, especially as everyone seemed to be on full sussers or like me, beefy hardtails.
Unfortunately venues are limited in the south and what Carlos had planned on using fell through. I think he and his team made the most of what height they had at Swinley. Also worth bearing in mind I doubt they could close all the busiest trails and upset too many people.
Why not? Gorrick do for their events.
The topography of Swinley doesn't lend itself to a more technical Enduro course, shame there aren't many other options.
This is how it worked 5 timed stages all about 2-4mins long
PMSL. Oh dear. Once again I have to agree with njee. I can't help but chuckling at an enduro Event in swinley.
I dunno, I just got the feeling that the organisers took us down the popular routes in transitions so we could experience them without hampering general riders. Gorrick do a lot for Swinley and probably have a good relationship going and therefore more leeway. Gorrick were kind enough to agree to the event I believe. You wouldnt want events being held regularly by lots of outfits and not having any time and space for general riding would you?
As superfli said swinley was a last minute back up, Carlos was let down on both longmoor and Caesar camp. So lucky swinley steped in to help. Rounds 1 & 2 were more dh based.
That's fair enough.
results are up!
Yo! we won the Team event 🙂
No write up or mention of it though? Only series winners?
I'm hoping the day racers get some recognition - I assume he hasnt had time yet 😕
quite happy with 16th in comp., but if i knew it was going to be an xc race i would of brought my hardtail 😆
Yep please with that superfli good work mate, Next year we will have a go at winning the series 😉
Well up for hopton Now!!!!!!!!
Well done mrbump some good times there, I recon I would of had you if our team wasn't held up on the team stage, not mentioning any names [s]superfli[/s] 😀
I did my bit of cyclocross on stage 4 🙂
Pretty good fun race I reckon. Wanted to heave after the the flat-out-sprint-across-the-forest-floor stage 1, so wasn't a fan of that, but the others were all great. I didn't crash, so it can't have been that tricky but it was a laugh. Being Swinley, it was never going to be that tech (hardtails in the top ten comp class!) but I reckon it was still a good course.
The transitions were awesome, taking in loads of good singletrack (way better than the Gravity Enduros in that respect).
My mate went the wrong way on two stages (I had visions of him sprinting off the wrong way across Swinley, not stopping until he ran out of puff...)!
I didn't, and managed to get a nice result, so rather happy really!
I did my bit of cyclocross on stage 4
Anyone got photos of this event? I saw a few photographers at the end.
Ta
Anyone got photos of this event? I saw a few photographers at the end.
Ta
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56900601@N08/sets/72157631794359675/show/
@ scottfitz
haha, i think you would have. hopefully ,with a bit of gravity and technical singletrack, hopton will be a different story 😉
Sounds great. hope it has some of Tec DH trails. Might use more that 20mm of my 160mm forks 😉 what bike and cat you in we say hi on Sunday.
i'll be on a white marin wolf ridge and i'm in masters.the trails are ace!
I'm on a black heckler in your cat 11:30 start. if you are close then I'll transition with you. Scott is 11:52 in seniors
I will have to find else to talk to dave 🙁
Or maybe I should just shut up for a change and save my energy/banter for the stages.