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Anyone else in?
After getting my arse handed to me at Naughty Northumbrian I'm a bit nervous
Done the Ews there before, but I was younger & fitter
4 days of practice, race, practice, race will be tough!
I'll be marshalling /helping out on Thursday/Friday.
I’m in for the 100. Curious to see what tracks they use. The map looks like it’ll be a combination of Golfie and Inners
Spectator zone at Walkerburn - Feed the Pony?
The boy is doing EWS80.
Edit
Spectator zone at Walkerburn – Feed the Pony?
Boner has had some work done on it recently.
Spectator zone at Walkerburn – Feed the Pony?
Good chance, there's been some work on it lately. I suspect though that it'll be Waterworld or Big Baw then a roll down the fireroad and through the fields to walkerburn
The work they've done on Feed the Pony fixed the 'soft' hole, did it yesterday - running well.
I might spectate. Eldest_oab is in it, and keen to do well...
Feed the Pony would be too easy for an EWS stage, wouldn't it?
Dunno, they've used other "easy" trails before and it is very long and physical. But I think it's probably unlikely. There has been chat about something new being built that links into 3G.
Really looking forward to it anyway. I'm not racing but my pal is and my other half is marshalling. So it'll mostly be stoatin' aboot shouting at people and drinking beer for me!
I'm guessing it'll be 3 on the golfie side and 2 on inners. On the golfie, it'll be one of the wolf trails. Would love it to be Dances With Wolves but I have been told that's definitely not in by the builder, which probably means it is!
The new one they've built called Stinky Pinky is bizarre. It doesn't link into anything afterwards without a roll down the fireroad to Walk or Burn or a sprint up to the corner to 2nd Base etc. It feels like an awful lot of work done to build it for a 1 minute section of trail that doesn't go anywhere without a big uphill fire road sprint, which is classic EWS stuff!
I reckon we'll see Waterworld or Big Baw as the other.
Inners will be a mishmash of DH stuff as usual. I reckon they might throw in Angry Bird. The closure has been a bit timely. There were folk working on Janes Lane on Monday so I could see Angry Bird then a fire road sprint into Janes Lane and then lower Caddon Bank.
There's still some entries for the E-EWS, half tempted to do that one for a giggle.
Weighing up the big drive and high probability of the weather being an absolute sh*t show 🙂
The new one they’ve built called Stinky Pinky is bizarre.
Rode that yesterday avo for the first time.
Don't think i'll bother again and can't see them putting something so easy in an EWS stage.
Stinky Pinky is bizarre. It doesn’t link into anything afterwards without a roll down the fireroad to Walk or Burn or a sprint up to the corner to 2nd Base
Stinky Pinky then up the fireroad into 2nd Base struck me as a potential ews stage last time up there although, as already stated, Stinky Pinky isn't really EWS grade stuff. Another one that I thought possible was Big Baw into Aussie Rules then up the fireroad to finish on Walk or Burn. I've not been down Aussie Rules for a long time and don't have any idea what state its in these days so just guessing
Hints galore...
Excellent work. I think I've got them all, or close to it. This is fun.
My observations
We're not going to the top for any of the wolf trails, NYNY, Boner or Waterworld (from the higher starts)
No Repeat Offender or 3G
Big Baw is very likely
Pony is a definite
There's a fresh cut track off the top of Old Skool DH that could lead us into Hangover
Inners side doesn't go as high as the top push up.
I already know what the typical DH stage is. I reckon the other will be Angry Bird with a big fireroad sprint into Janes Lane into Lower Caddon Bank
New trail above hangover called Pre-drinks, new section and exit on Liver damage and new exit on Pony…
Also EWS-E will have more stages than EWS, so hard to call anything. Maps out Friday night
They are building some berms and jumps in the field at the bottom of feed the pony so I think that’s a cert
Is the EWS village going to be in Walkerburn .? Also as Ill probably head down for both days what would be the likell prologue stage. ? Anyhoo really looking forward to it.
I live in Milton keynes and Ive been to tweed a few times, but I dont really remember the trails!
race village etc
Is the EWS village going to be in Walkerburn
No, it's next to Traquair House in Innerleithen according to the EWS podcast. Basically next to the inners car park. The Queen Stage will apparently finish in the field.
That map is amazing, I feel like I know less than I knew before I looked at it The spectator area as shown is basically the entire 7 stanes car park, AND the overflow field between it and the river, and also a good chunk on the other side of the road- everything between the big corner in the river and the oxbow bit at the end of the car park, so that's probably not accurate. But the event village stuff and the big arch is in the field uphill of the road, where they held the dual slalom years ago?
I'm guessing they made that graphic a while ago as RC said on the EWS podcast that they had to change the original plan and move everything across the road
Pony is a definite
Cant help but be a little sad/selfish about that. That trail has lasted amazing well over the years as very few people did it more than once a trip. Hopefully it survives the race ok
Course is up. Looks great
So what's not in the 80?
The inners stage
Stage 2 - pre drinks - off camber slammer - NASTY climb - greg jolliffes? Interesting!
pre drinks – off camber slammer – NASTY climb – greg jolliffes? Interesting
Rode it this morning. Absolutely fantastic stage. Bone dry. Biblical rain on Tuesday will make it interesting come the weekend
They've built a link directly from off camber slammer into Joliffes. No horrible climb. A mild traverse is the worst bit
The E race looks utterly insane
Boner
Liver Damage
Pro Spacker
Oh and for a laugh one of the stages is UP Alastair Lees😂
Have a look at the transition from 7 to 8 in the ebike route..
Have a look at the transition from 7 to 8 in the ebike route..
Is that up NY,NY?
Is that up NY,NY?
Apparently not, but just as steep. Old harvester track
Rode a lot of that this week and it’s all running really well at the moment. From a selfish point of view I’m glad they are cutting across to Greg’s rather then going down right side Clyde as that’s in such good condition at the moment for mere mortals
Riding there today and Sam Hill on an ebike riding down the fire road climb. What’s doing on In the world????!!!!
Riding there today and Sam Hill on an ebike riding down the fire road climb. What’s doing on In the world????!!!!
He's racing the E race this week. Not sure if that's instead of the full race or as well as. He's not been in good shape this year ☹️
Ermmm
I didn't realise it was going to be all rampagey
I didn’t realise it was going to be all rampagey
There's a huge step up being built at the bottom of Pony. I'm really hoping there are chicken lines😂
Eldest_oab is keen to ride that it seems...
I'm gonna make it!
Well the weather has arrived
EWSE riders all caked head to to in crap
Saw Warner strop out because his battery died so he quit early
Had the FOMO. Saw the weather and spoke to some racing today and doing track walks for the weekend, breathed a sigh of relief.
Looks disgusting.
Was a big day out for them thats for sure.
Some totally broken people came past my marshal point on the last stage.
14 stages and almost 3500 meters of climbing.
When the sun did come out it was lovely
Take yer wellies for the race village!
It's the worst combo of wet but warm. Saturday does look a bit cooler so shouldn't be a sweat fest
50+ yrs of winning @ World level on the mens podium there today...
Sam Hill didn't look best pleased to come in 3rd to be honest, especially not when a bloke nearly 10yrs older than him won overall! 😂
TBF he looks to have lost it all on the power stage which, knowing that track, is hard enough going downhill but going uphill might actually make me want to chuck biking for good 😀
speedstar
Full MemberTBF he looks to have lost it all on the power stage which, knowing that track, is hard enough going downhill but going uphill might actually make me want to chuck biking for good 😀
The footage of the climb from ditch to bombhole does not making mountain biking (or e-biking at least) look good...
Everyone enjoying practice? I'm actually staggered at how much grip there is despite the rain and mud. It feels grippier than it's been all summer
Yeah it all rode really well today, but that pushup to stage 5 was a killer
Forecast not too bad for tomorrow ow either 😁
Marshalling again today on stage 6.
Trail looked well grippy apart from a few rooty bits.
Saw you come through kimbers, your dreads gave you away.😀
Was thinking of coming up on Sunday to give Abigale a bit of a boost. What's the condition of the race village like taking into account she is still in a non load bearing pot and on crutches.
What’s the condition of the race village like taking into account she is still in a non load bearing pot and on crutches.
A mudbath
Thanks, that's what we thought, just need to convince her it's not a good idea
I've decided not to spectate tomorrow - I am done with mud...
Thinking of going up on Sunday, only about 10-15 miles up the road. See how slow I am compared to the pros, will expect a mud bath
Thanks, that’s what we thought, just need to convince her it’s not a good idea
This was the event village yesterday and it's even worse now.
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Thanks, she's now having second thoughts.
That was this afternoon, I think they were putting some mattimg down as we left, but more rain tomorrow won't help
Its a shame there's a lot of good stalls there but it's also set up a bit weird
What's the parking situation like? I'm supposed to be going tomorrow but don't really want to get the van stuck. I *think* I paid for the parking, is it in a field?
Mini-greaser is keen to go and is in the kids race but is choked with the cold. TBH I hope he calls off tomorrow.
Parking not too bad, they've moved to a different entrance, had no problem getting the zafira in and out
The kids stuff looks pretty good!
This rain, eh? 😆
One of the best days I’ve ever had on the Golfie was 0 degrees and torrential rain, to the point of rivers running down the trails…………….. wasn’t having to race though!
Richie Rude disqualified for missing gates at the bottom of the Pro stage.
Shame was looking forwards to seeing Jack beat him overall and at the last race.
Still the best man will win overall any way.😁
Hopefully the Insta link works but I agree with many of the comments - it's a harsh penalty as the course marking is shite. You always go to the tape, and they are doing! Usually when there are poles/flags, there is no tape (or it's so far away not to cause this issue).
Madness. I’ve seen the videos and he’s clearly tried to pull a fast one, they wouldn’t have put gates there if they didn’t have to go round them.
Full disqualification a bit harsh though maybe?
Shame really though as I was looking forward to seeing him and Moir battle it out.
Eldest had an off on Big Baw, bike headed off down hill 5m+ without him, so lost around 40seconds compared to his mate who he was a few seconds ahead of on every other stage.
Overall 23rd in U21's, he's gutted as without the off he would likely have snuck into 9th or 10th...
Hopefully the Insta link works but I agree with many of the comments – it’s a harsh penalty as the course marking is shite.
Course marking this fine, the gates aren’t there to make the field look pretty. Only 2 out of ?? riders seemed to not understand this
Eldest had an off on Big Baw, bike headed off down hill 5m+ without him, so lost around 40seconds compared to his mate who he was a few seconds ahead of on every other stage.
Overall 23rd in U21’s, he’s gutted as without the off he would likely have snuck into 9th or 10th…
Awwww. Does he get to ride again tomorrow ?
Hope he is OK, the field is that tight on times that a crash or mechanical makes it very difficult to pull any time and places back.
He's fine - it was more that the bike headed so far down the steep, it took ages to get it back up..
Bikes fine too . 😉
That was a hard day!
Started shaky, my mates tyre valve let go on the start ramp, so we has to rush back ti the car, replace it then pedal like mad up to stage 1, which was really good, 2 I got caught in the mud at the top then had an otb further down, 3 went OK, 4 was fun, by 5 I was destroyed and half way down I was shagged, flopped over the step up at the end.
Great day out but the weather was punishing, tracks rode really well considering the weather!
As for Rude, he's paid to race so should know the rules, it was a lot gripper away from the boggy main line
Just got home after doing the 80 , started cramping in practice yesterday so i knew it would be a hard day . I made it extra hard by going to stage 3 before stage 2 , i didn't practice stage 3 yesterday and for some reason had it in my head that new york new york was stage 2 so my leisurely spin up to the top turned into a mad dash back down and up to stage 2 ..doh . After that i really wasn't sure i would make it all the way round but am chuffed i made it to the end . New York and big baw were riding brilliantly but by the time i got to feed the pony about half 4 it was looking pretty worse for wear compared to Friday .
As for Richie Rude its a shame as I'm sure Jack Moir wouldn't of wanted to wrap up the overall this way and its certainly removed the drama from tomorrow but that flag is pretty obvious , i suppose a time penalty might of sufficed but rules are rules .
Great result for Galloway boy Josh Hurley..
I guess the tape was actually to keep the spectators back and not the course tape, the flags marked the course. The fact they were close to each other might have made it a bit confusing but most enduro stages aren't fully taped anyway so claiming you were just following the tape probably doesn't hold up