[Closed] PMBA Enduro Series - Gisburn

I'm there but won't be camping, there is a camping on site though.

4 stages this time round, and no climbs on the stages (although one stage is quite long apparently), should be good 😀

Never been to Gisburn what can I expect?

I'll be there for some mid table mediocrity, the last round at Gisburn was great.

Compared to the UKGE series it's obviously a lot less serious which generally means, more fun 😉

There were some nadgery bits last round but there were (slow) chicken lines round the gap jump and the bigger drops

Just entered, is there an itinerary anywhere? Or what was the format last time?

Last time:
Practice in the morning, grab a bite to eat then head out for a race lap a the appointed time.

There was a bit of the queue at the top of the stages but there was a load of banter in the line. You just get to the front of the line, wait for the marshal to tell you to go then dib in and dib out at the end of the stage.

It was really very relaxed and fun, excited to be going back, despite the fact i'll have not ridden a mtb in over 3 weeks

Weather is looking good for it.

Yep, yep it is! Camping?

Yes,I will be camping the night before and checking the course out.

As shall we, possibly even go friday, depending on my racing buddy (and lift for the weekend...)

I'm half tempted to go the night before too although its only a 45 min drive for me to get there. I'll be challenging scaled for the mid table mediocrity (and if I get mid table I'll be well pleased!). The Grizedale round was my first Enduro and I learnt a lot. Checking the lines and not just riding the easiest ones being the main thing!

Dave, I'll be happy to finish. Strech goal is to finish in a position that isn't 'last'.

(On a slightly more stalkerish note, did you used to ride around storthes hall uni dh trails, circa 10-12 years ago?)

Bloody hell, yes I did!

Looks like I won't be alone in wanting to achieve nothing short of mediocrity! One thing I learnt from Grizedale, wear bright clothes. I think it makes you faster. I'm going to put the bright blue laces for my Tevas in. Reckon they'll knock a few seconds off each stage on their own!

Well hopefully I will do better this round than at Grizedale, but that shouldn't be hard as I broke my wrist there.

According to their FB the Hope line, DH lines and homebaked will all be closed on Sunday for the enduro!

Looking at the closures, I reckon that the first half of Homebaked, the new rocky section and Circle will be run in reverse. That would be an absolutely excellent stage.

Putting it on Strava as a segment could liven things up in the future.

I think I will be spending a little time in the skills loop on Sat practising jumps.

I'm going to try and get there really early Sunday to practise, especially the drops and any jumps on the DH lines. Hope line is fine (and will be great fun!) and if they're doing Homebaked in either direction = win.

I'm in.

I did this in April but hoping for better weather this time. I can't remember which stage it was but one section was a bogfest!

It's good fun though and more relaxed than other races too, should be a good day.

They're pretty desperate for marshals apparently, so anyone you know who could help out, register their interest on the pmba Facebook page...

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Stage 3 Looks longish

Stage 3 is the same as the one that was held in April. Starts off on the official DH lines then cuts off into some off piste lines. Taking some of the dropouts out though. I reckon the secret first stage will be the circle section but backwards, so going down instead of up.

Im in too, also for mediocrity! the King & Queen at Glentress a few weeks ago was my first taste of *N-DURO* i enjoyed it muchly so entered this too. was keen to race on some more familiar tracks! looking forward to learning a few new off piste lines. not camping or owt. just gonna pitch up early doors on Sunday. the 'one day only format' was the only reason i got away with it!

Frosty: if you wanna practice jumps you'll be better off on the bottom of the Hope Line, there is a series of 4 or 5 fair size jumps and a little run back up to the start of them.

what wass it like for spectators back in April? (apart from the weather) owd wench was talking about driving over in the afternoon for a watch, bringing the kids & dog...

It was quite good for spectators - I'd suggest bringing bikes though. My mates Mrs was there, 6 months pregnant and still wanted a bike with her.

I will be on an orange EL Guapo with Marzocchi 350CR forks and Super Star rims if anyone spots me feel free to say hi. If people are interested in meeting up my email is on my profile.

fr0sty125 - what category?

I'll talk to you if you're in any other class than Vets, otherwise you'll get the game-face as you're the opposition 😉

Senior 🙂

Well that went badly... Rocked up on Saturday was ok on stages 2,3 and 4 but not fantastic. However it all went to pieces in the race.

Practice stage 1 and 2 this morning all was fine. Wasn't going to practice stage 4 as I thought I had it ok but I was by the start so decided to give it a go before focusing on practicing stage 3. It was going ok dropped into the section with the two tiny drops but instead of jumping into the berm I jumped to the apex tried to slow down the bike but it just went from underneath me.

[img] [/img]

This was my Knee, yes I was wearing pads. My elbow took a fair hit to.

After that I lost all my confidence. The only part of stage 3 that I was happy with was the steep initial sections before the first drop off.

In the race stage 1 I had no energy and screwed up bits I did fine in practice. Stage 2 was similar just not carrying the speed that I had been in practice. Stage 3 was meh but got really bad as I went into wooded section no energy. After my crash on stage 4 earlier I just cruised that one. Really not happy at all I know I ride better than I did.

Hope it went better for others

That's racing next time it will be better.

Ouch fr0sty! 😯 I messed that same corner up in practice, went in too fast and couldn't make the turn.

Stage one didn't go too well, was struggling with fitness and messed up that rocky gully near the end of it and had to let a rider pass.

Other stages didn't go too bad, I got an overall time of 11:51 but haven't seen the full results yet.

Stage 1 was a bugger wasnt it! Really enjoyed stage 3, nailed it until the second fireroad crossing, went into the woods a bit quick, ran wide, clipped my front lever on a tree, hit the deck, lost 20+ secs getting out from under the bike, set off, then realised the front brake had rotated round the bar, and couldnt reach it 🙁 had to do the rest of the stage with just the rear brake, stage ruined....

anyone know when/where the full results will be published? They arent on the sportident site yet?

Results have just been posted.

https://www.rootsandrain.com/race2454/2014-sep-14-empire-pmba-enduro-4-gisburn-forest/categories/

55/80 in the seniors, 163/314 overall. Pretty average as usual 🙂

Better than my DNS.

Was running a touch late but it was ok, Gisburn is normally 45 minutes from mine. 90 minutes later I was still on the A65 sat behind a load of classic cars bimbling along at 30mph. I'd have had about an hour to practice so I sacked it off and headed for Grizedale instead where I took minime around some of the NFT. For 4 years old riding a rigid 14" wheeled bike he did flippin well!

24/97 in the masters 107th overall.

I hit trees on stages 1 & 2 yet they were still by best results looking at the times. Stage 3 felt quick and was my nearly my worst result.

It's a shame they tamed the drops on stage 3 and cut the jumps out of the hope line, it's still the most accessible and inclusive enduro type thing that I've been to.

The new timing system was ace and thanks to the Mike the marshalls and the PMBA lot 🙂

typically rode everything sweet as in practice, except a decent little crash on the hope line (got whiplash this morning)

into the race i felt good on 1 & 2, but stage ballsed up 3 & 4.

Stage 3 my foot slipped off the pedal landing the drop and i lost control, but managed to not go OTB. needed a few seconds to compose myself again. then despite finding perfect lines twice in practice ended up down that ditch at the bottom of the woods having to pedal out.

Stage 4 I burped my back tyre. I stopped to retire but decided there was a probably enough air to roll me to the finish.

so all in all a bit disappointed really.

cant decide about entering the final round now, Lee Quarry doesnt really agree with me, and the transition between Lee and Cock Hill will be grim. I probably will, but probably just race blind on the sunday... will also switch to spuds!

43rd out of 66 in Vets, quite happy with that except the individual stage results showed that my fitness doesn't match my awesome skillzz:

Stage 1 = 52nd
Stage 2 = 40th
Stage 3 = 31st
Stage 4 = 38th

So where the stage was mostly downhill (3 and 4) I did best.

Stage 3 was my favourite.

Stage 1 was my least favourite - sorry to whinge, but IMO just reversing a climb doesn't often result in a good descent (flat corners that are too tight for speed) and after that it seemed that the word gravity from the title Gravity Enduro was going the other way...

Probably just whinging to cover up my own deficiencies 😳

Really enjoyed it overall though, except for the simultaneous quad and hamstring cramp at the bottom of the climb up to The Hope Line...

Moar fitness needed!!

They did that at Grizedale in May - did the first climb on the NFT in reverse. I was really looking forward to it but fk me it was hard work!

I was there and it was okay. Stages 2 & 3 were the pick.

I felt dreadful on the day but managed 111th overall, 26th in masters.

Not sure if I will do the Lee Quarry round next month....

76/78 in seniors 295th overall. Safe to say mediocraty is a distant pipe dream. Though I did crash. And am horrifically out of shape.

The future will be very bright for Martha Gill (Womens winner) young XC rider on a borrowed 125mm xc bike in her first enduro, finished 101st out of 315 overall. Super smooth and lightening quick.

Bit more training and practice for us then! There are some decent photos on roots and rain.

15th out of 66 in vets for me.
Stage 1 = 32nd
Stage 2 = 9th
Stage 3 = 6th
Stage 4 = 12th
Just like the grizedale event the first stage put a spanner in the works. Fitness wasn't an issue (the amount of miles I do on and off road puts paid to that) it's just seems to me I take a bit to get going 😐 Also burping my rear tyre halfway through that first stage didn't help matters, my back end was squirreling all over the place I'd lost that much air 👿

Thanks for the comments, its the 3rd time of running an enduro at Gisburn and I've also been trying to mix up the stages a little but I think stage 1 was tougher than I expected to race.

Few of you thinking about the final, so will give you a little more info. We have 1 and 2 day, 3 or 5 stage options - so something for everybody I hope.

The PMBA enduro series is a grass roots gravity series based in NW England and SW Scotland. This first year has been amazing, with over 300 riders attending most rounds. The 1-day races in the forests of Gisburn, Grizedale and Kirroughtree have been great fun, as well as highly acclaimed, and now its time for the Grand Finale!

This 2 day race based at Lee Quarry and Cock Hill is being held over the weekend of 4/5th October. Free parking and camping is available for competitors and spectators. Saturday will see the majority of riders practice the 5 timed downhill stages over the 20mile course, before Sunday's race.

The racing starts with a timed stage in Lee Quarry before heading off over the moors, passing near Facit, on the way to Cock Hill woods, nestled above Portsmouth. Stage 2 is hidden somewhere on this journey! Stages 3 and 4 are then raced in quick succession at the popular downhill trail centre. The final leg takes riders back to Lee Quarry and up to the 5th and final stage.

There are lots of prizes up for grabs,with prizes from Hope and KS for the podium places in each of 6 categories, while those on the top step each receive a £1000 Empire MX-6 Evo frame! Its not just the winners that can win big; one lucky racer will win a weeks holiday with Ride Slovenia for themselves and a friend!

You can enter here - https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=1341

For those not competing for the series overall, a 1-day, 3 stage option is also offered. With practice Sunday morning and racing Sunday afternoon the compact race format is the same as the previous 4 rounds. You will do stages 1,2 & 5 of the main event on a 10 mile lap, leaving out the 2 stages at Cockhill. Categories will depend on the take-up but we can promise as much fun as you have become accustomed too at the previous rounds in the series. This event will not give you points towards the series overall, but will qualify you for inclusion in the raffle for the weeks holiday with Ride Slovenia, as long as you have done 3 of the first 4 rounds.

We are also offering a Saturday only event if you just want to ride the 5 stages but without being timed. Please be aware you cannot ride stages 2,3&4, or some of the transitions, other than at this event, as we are using private land - this is your one chance to ride these unique stages. Our thanks goes out to Cowm Leisure, AG Aggregates, the Lord of the Manor of Bacup, Bacup Council, Lancashire County Council and Dirt Trax Limited for the kind use of the land, without which the event would not have been possible.

As always PMBA's resident photographer Nick Moor will be out and about to take your photograph, many of which will be uploaded to our Facebook page for you to tag and share free of charge!

Please can we also take the opportunity to to thank our sponsors:
Ride-On for sponsoring the final round
Empire cycles - who will be giving 6 MX-6 Evo frames to the 6 category winners
Hope Technology
Singletrack
KS Dropper Seatposts
Ride Slovenia

Kev
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