[Closed] MNPR do the Manchester Dirt Factory.

What sort of bike is best in there?

Don't know I've not been, but their website talks about riders of all levels and you can hire dirt scooters, so probably OK on anything. I'd not hire one, probably take my full susser.

I'd be tempted to hire a pump bike but take mine as well though a 29er enduro bikes not ideal

I could be interested, if you accept interlopers from over the hill.

I may take my BMX.

@Pyro, are you one of the MNPR regulars, (or irregulars like me 😁 ) sorry, I can't reconcile your user name to an actual name. I'm sure there will be a place, but let the usual suspects have first dibs. PM me with your contact details and I'll add you to the list.

I’d be tempted to hire a pump bike but take mine as well though a 29er enduro bikes not ideal

I've done a 2 hour session there on a 29er enduro bike 😀

...but was it suitable?

@tthew - not even an irregular, but happy to make up the numbers if there's still spaces after the usual suspects have joined in 🙂

I'm a regular. I ride once a year, when you come to Marple. Can I come and play out if you do to the Dirt Factory? Will there be peope to teach me how to do it properly?

I'd give it a try and give everyone a lesson in how to keep their tyres firmly glued to the dirt!

There's a few You Tube videos to see what it's like. Harry Main (the BMXer) rides it on a DH bike and it really doesn't look ideal at all.

Will put you both down.

I'm in.

Might take my daughters small framed 26" hardtail. Would that work? Or is that a stupid idea?

I'm not MNPR but the Dirt Factory is only a few minutes away from where I work so if you need someone to make up the numbers and you all promise not to laugh too much at my ancient 26"-wheeled MTB, I'd be up for that.

Binners - on the list.
crazy-legs - 2nd reserve.

is anyone out and about tonight?

It’s hard work on an enduro bike, I did have Shortys on though.
A trail bike with fast rolling tyres pumped right up should be ok.
A DJ bike would be perfect

Definitely keen to come.

I'm in for sure

I'd definitely be up for coming by the way, although understand my attendance lately could only be 'regular' in the same way as binners regularly has vegan weeks.

I make that 11, inc. Duncan, who replied on the Whatsapp with 2 and the current reserve list.
Excellent.

Put my name down Mat if their are any places left.

Barry

Can you add Nick as well please.

Me please.

That takes us to 13, with @mike rigby and Our Ed not confirmed. HtS, I'd assumed you were in from your earlier messages.

Can you let me know any favoured dates or definately out's over the next couple of months so I can try and match availability of yous lot and the factory.

Can you do a pole?

Can't do Mon 9th or 23rd Dec. 2nd is next monday which is quite short notice so need to kow sharpish if its then. That really leaves just 16th dec for me

January, not available till 20th! Stuff on already.

I'm in if not already on the list.

I assumed it would already be full but yes I'm in 🙂

Daz, I'm afraid you are now reserve list, unless you are Dunc's +1. 1 more person adds £200 to the booking fee. I suspect you'll be OK once someone has to drop out through unavailability.

I'll send everyone a PM over the weekend for contact details and stuff.

NBT - it'll not be next week, by the time I've hearded these cats, it's going to be a few weeks.

Daz you can be my plus 1

OK, I'll make that so.
Link below to the spreadsheet for availability. I'll also post it to the WhatApp group. Will still need to get e-mail addresses from you for payment, but have hidden that on the spreadsheet for security. Ta.

Dirt Factory tracker

Daz you can be my plus 1

Nice one! Sorry not been following the various threads/whatsapp stuff, I've actually been doing some work for once 🙂

Right, the Dirt Factory bloke FINALLY got back to me, so we're on, 6th Jan between 8 and 10pm.

Between WhatsApp and the PM function on here, I think everyone has the message about paying, but if I've missed someone on the spreadsheet linked up there 👆 can you please PM me for the payment link. Ta.

Thanks for a cracking evening, all, that was ace! Really glad I got my head round to doing the airbag jump as well. Big thanks to @tthew for organising.

Cheers Pyro. Organising was easy compared to the cyclocross race I did last weekend!
I'll put this out on the WhatsApp too, but what's the appetite, timewise for a reprise? Before the end of this winter, (so late Feb/early March) or wait until later in the year?

Come on guys - let's have a proper review then

Come on guys – let’s have a proper review then

nobody died.

It's a proper good laugh. I took no pics so cant add any @binneea He may have some

Brief review:
Loads of different lines and things to play on - a few main lines but with multiple variations available based on skill/balls. Everything was rollable so gapping stuff wasn't compulsory. Everyone turned up on a variety of bikes, a few of us on dirt jump bikes, most on normal MTBs (mix of old/new/rigid/hardtail/full suss), one BMX - all of them worked, pretty much.

I went in with the vague plan of finding a couple of lines I liked, one slightly easier, one slightly harder, and repping those repeatedly. Did that quite nicely, I'm not a confident or skilled dirt jumper and was on a borrowed DJ bike that I'm new to, but still came out of the session really happy with a bit of progression. The airbag jump was ace for confidence building as well, scary on the first roll-in but really good fun. The wooden pumptrack outside was phenomenally fun and a darn sight grippier than I was expecting - would have ridden it more but I popped outside halfway through the session and was already a bit knackered...

Talking of which, 2 hours was a damn good long session - I was pretty shot by the end of it. It's not a slow, steady 5hr ride, it's a series of short bursts. Pretty much everyone sessioned the main park for a bit, then a few went off to play on the airbag, then came back to the main park, then the bag etc. Nothing felt rushed, and everyone seemed to get as many laps of whatever they wanted in, with a break for food & drink if they wanted it - there's a little cafe in the venue.

TL;DR - Loved it, wouldn't hesitate to go again if there was another session booked - even worth the drive over from Leeds.

What @Pyro said ^^.
On arrival, it looks really small inside but there are a phenomenal number of lines available to ride, you kind of find different options on every single lap.

It's quite intensive - almost like sprint intervals. Great fun.

Thanks all for the riding!

Daft gif of tthew on the airbag - light wasn't the best for phone pics but panning kinda worked... 🙂