Ardrock 2022

I've had my info from them, Sport too, tried loads of times to get in, finally made it this year.

I’m off. I’ve had my (Friday) start time.

Hmmm... Well I've emailed the info address and gigantic. Hopefully get a response soon!

Click your event and type your name in here

https://ardrock.co.uk/final-event-information

EDIT you’re on at 1055 👍👍

Haha, cheers @scuttler, relieved I'm there, bit gutted it's such a late start time though! Relaxed morning, but be busy out at the stage starts by that time I reckon. The years I've started earlier have always been a bit smoother going.

More time for coffee before setting off, but I'm driving home after the ride so probably won't be back till 8:30 or so! Long day.

I’ll be there on Sunday, not riding though, just having a rummage round, seeing what shiny things there are. Might be hanging around the Bespoked stand for a bit too 😊

Second year of the epic on the Friday for me.
Few of us doing it this year so I'm not on my own this time!
Looking forward to it, hopefully the weather won't be as minging this year. It got pretty spicy at times on stages 1&2 last year

Yep I'm in on the Sunday too, start time 10.40 so just before you OP it looks like. I'll also be on a Jeht so hoping we made the right choice! Would have preferred an earlier start time too but looking forward to riding!

I start at 10:20 on saturday morning for the 'main event'.

Not done it before, so looking forward to a day out.

Hoping like Tom there will be shiny things to touch and feel.

I'm riding the Saturday. Bought a bike off a lad and he's injured so he threw the entry in with the bike. Last minute entry means I'm away in the last wave so expecting lots of traffic.

I've done it a couple of times before so don't think I'll bother with practice. Save the day of annual leave for a day riding elsewhere.

I'm in on the Sunday, had a few years off but looking forward to another good weekend.

Sunday Sport for me - ties in with the GF doing the shorter race on the same day.

What tyres....

Last year I was unprepared and had the limited choice of a well worn DD aggressor or a full tread minion EXO.
Weather led me to choose the minion. 2 punctures.

Schwable SuperGravity for me now. Twin Mary or Mary and RockRazor?

Me and a Matey will be heading up from Sussex on Thursday, and racing the main event on Sat..
Happy with the 0830ish start time... a few places behind Tracey Mosely!

DrP

EDIT - 8am start time!!!!

10.05 start time for me, my mates starting at 10.35, does anyone know if I can just start later or just pedal slowly and wait for him to catch up on the way to the 1st timed stage?

You could ride out the start gate, stop immediately and wait!

Last year I was unprepared

Me too, I had a semi slick on the back, rode the practice loop on the Saturday and shit myself! Went immediately to the schwalbe tent and got a big Betty fitted!

Had a wtb verdict on my new bike, but got a rear puncture I'm yet to successfully repair, so just put a new Hans dampf on yesterday. Trail boss on the front.

had planned to miss the year, but got a ticket, 8am start sunday morning.
going up saturday, rather than the full weekend.
carrying a dodgy shoulder, so decided no pressure, just try and enjoy the ride whilst dosing up.

be interested to see the new stage, looks to be off fremlington edge again, does that mean +1 to make it 8 stages ..

i rode an exo minion SS in 2018 (very dry) worked well and survived till i propped it up outside dales bike centre and tyre popped and gunk went everywhere ;0)

will stick to assegai/dhr again.

ps. arent start times provisional, always best to checkin 20-30 mins early and setoff :0)

Double DHR DD for me, Maxxgrip up front. I can look at an Exo+ and it craps itself!

If I’m just coming for the day, what’s parking like? When does everything start to open?

im there all weekend (riding sunday) so far out of fitness its unreal so just hoping to make it half way round.

looking forward to a few bevvies and not buying a new bike !!!

I’m doing the Sport 8.20 Sunday, first timer and just realised there is no practice for sport riders. Have done ArdMoors a couple of times and enjoyed the practice so I guess I will find out how I race blind.

Is there another stage!?

Well I was going, but all of my riding buddies have pulled out so I'm sitting with a full enduro ticket and no motivation to drive up on my own and ride on my own.

Anyone need an entry?

@tomhoward there's parking on a few fields next to the event village. I've issued there once before on the Sunday and it was fine, not sure what it would be like arriving on the Saturday.

All the opening times here

https://ardrock.co.uk/events/eventinfo/

@ RK another stage was shown on an instagram clip last week, so presumed so.

The website still says 7 stages

If I’m just coming for the day, what’s parking like? When does everything start to open?

I've not done it before so this might well be the same as in past years, but the email says its £10 to park if you haven't entered the race

Oh yeah, I’ve got a ticket 😊

Bit of a long shot but does anyone have spare tickets for the Sunday sport? I'm after 2 tickets if poss.

I have one but the transfer window has closed, unless someone knows of another way of doing it?

8:30 Sunday start for me. Fingers crossed the weather holds out as last year was a war o attrition especially stage 2

I’m doing this for the first time. Chose to enter the sport as I was originally away for work and wouldn’t have been able to make the practice on Friday, but that’s now changed.

Racing blind will be entertaining. I’m off at 7.45 on Sunday, which is heinously early to start a race 🤮

@Jordan not sure actually, are you actually at the event with a spare? If so you could sign me in and I'll get the number from you. If you're not there, suppose it's a case of taking a chance.

Not riding this year, but will be on camera duty again. Haven't decided where I'll base myself this year, but will be shooting Friday - Sunday so will probably mix it up. Ground is running nice and fast. Quite dusty even after the little bit of rain that we have had.

Here are some of my shots from last year Unsponsored Media - Ard Rock 2021

@dan30237 do you mean ride in my name? I thought you would want to see your name in the results. The rider lists and start times were published a few weeks ago hence the stop on transfers. I did read someone saying that you could do a transfer on the day for a tenner but no idea if that's true. I will be there on friday morning and spectating on the course on saturday but wasn't planning on being there sunday but I maybe could be. To be honest I am not too worried about selling it as I took out ticket protection and can claim for it as injured.

@Jordan yeah thats what I was thinking, a friend has done that before. I don't care about my name being there, I'm not quick enough for that to matter! Just keen to ride with my pals. I'll be there from the Friday anyway, so I could meet you somewhere and we could see if there's an on the day option? If not, I'm happy to ride on your name if you're comfortable with that?

message sent @dan30237

@unsponsored

Haven’t decided where I’ll base myself this year,

Was thinking about this the other day, how do all the photographer's divvy up the various spots? I was thinking some spots just be way more lucrative than others? Like the jumps through the walls etc'.

I was due to be doing it, Friday 1055, but smashed myself up this week so won't be going. Will try and get the ticket refunded, in case anyone's on the waiting list.

how do all the photographer’s divvy up the various spots?

🤣

@richardkennerley

First one to get there. Although did a see a sign put out last year that was meant to reserve a spot on stage 1. The spot was a bad one.

Another early Sunday start here (8.20am), another 'hardly ridden this year', and another Cotic (black Rocket)  !!!  We can suffer together 🙂

Rob

Edited after stupid question.

I'll be on a rocket on sunday. Apparently I can avoid my early start and ride with mates later if I come to registration 30 minutes before their time

Can't see that being a problem. You pay per person for camping, not by tent

Probably a stupid question but I can't find it on the website - are there a few water stations around the course to refill? Says water stations but no details and wondering how full to load up for the day.

Probably a stupid question but I can’t find it on the website – are there a few water stations around the course to refill? Says water stations but no details and wondering how full to load up for the day.

Yes, but i wouldn't rely on them.

There's a water tap in the village on the transition between stages 2 & 3.
I'll be carrying a 900ml bottle on my bike and a 700ml on my hip-pack

Doing the Sprint this time. 1.20pm start. Wasn't going at all (bad experience last time out 3 or 4 years ago) but then mates doing the full enduro taking about it and I got FOMO and the Sprint was all that was left. Doing the full Friday to Sunday.

Another Cotic rider too. Look out for the slow moving RocketMAX with a tractor tyre on the front...

Thanks Spawn, I'll keep space in the backpack for some extra then!

in recent years theres been a water station at the end of stage 3 and then another coffee van/redbull tent between 5 and 6.

that said, may just need to face the sky and open your mouth,

fingers crossed, the rain is intermittent over the coming days, we all remember 2019..

its been raining in west yorkshire non stop since that supposed heatwave sun-tues last week.
anyone got boots on the ground up there?

Yeah I saw a similar weather report. I suppose the benefit of riding blind is that the conditions don't change between practice and race run! Living in Buxton the rain is pretty incessant anyway!

@crankbeater, if you get chance before hand walk up stage one then along to stage 7 and down. its a nice walk out and you can see the pro's on the saturday, always good to see hecklers wood and aim for a line through it, top middle or bottom. heard some heavy rim dings last year.
or watch the youtube videos for an idea.

only a few bits on stage 1, 2 and 3 were you don't want to be behind a nervous rider.
i've seen people hurt themselfs because someones stopped on a steeper chute in front of them..

Can’t see that being a problem. You pay per person for camping, not by tent

Is the parking cost per car, or per person? Not clear from the website.

Is the parking cost per car, or per person? Not clear from the website.

Per person.

Working it again... Was a good fun event to work last year, looking forward to this weekend!

Well looks like I'm not riding Friday now. Took a tumble tonight on nothing and wrenched my thumb on my handlebars.
Currently waiting in A&E to get a scan

Aye, not going no. Van died on the way back from Hammers (injectors), earliest garage can get it in is next thursday. Might have a punt at the ticket protect, but as I haven't broken down on the way there not holding out much hope. Gutted to be fair.

First time for me...

Nobby Nic and a Rock Razor too little tyre for this one?
It's either that or I put the heavy E Thirteen LG1 race tyres back on...

Nobby Nic and a Rock Razor too little tyre for this one?
It’s either that or I put the heavy E Thirteen LG1 race tyres back on

Supergravity casing on the rear?

I've punctured Maxxis Exo and WTB tough before.
Depends how light you ride and how lucky you are I guess.
There's some sharp rocks.

Just keep the rear pumped up hard. I've had a rock razor on the rear before.

Quite how bad is it for killing tyres? I'm doing the Epic on Friday and planning a exo Assegai/Rekon (with a Vittoria insert) combo that survived a day a Antur Stiniog under me.

I am a local rider and as yet have never killed a tyre. I use WTB tyres and no inserts. 2.6 Vigilante light/grippy on the front and 2.6 Trail Boss tough/fast rolling on the back. Mate uses Maxis Minions on all of his bikes. He did try Hans Dampf last year for Ard Rock which didn't work very well. Grip was the issue. Back to Minions for this year.

The terrain is mixed inc road climbs.

I've posted some of my images from last year onto Instagram this am showing the conditions last year. Stages 1 and 2 are shown.

https://www.instagram.com/unsponsoreduk/

The trails have been fast and dusty the last few weeks. But it has started to rain on and off this week (as it did last year). Hecklers wood and the bottom of stage 2 will get a bit muddy.

I am a local rider and as yet have never killed a tyre. I use WTB tyres and no inserts. 2.6 Vigilante light/grippy on the front and 2.6 Trail Boss tough/fast rolling on the back.

If the 2.6 trail Boss tough is anything like the 2.4 27.5, it's a beefy old tyre. One of the heaviest I own.

Being local probably be helps you preserve your tyres

I'll probably be on a Mary front and Rock razor Supergravity or specialized Eliminator BLK Dmd rear.

Or if it's dry Eliminator front, Rock razor rear maybe.

I would be happy with a Minion EXO on the front but mine's warped

I'd go a fairly burly rear tyre just to be safe, I didn't see many flats when I rode it but me and a friend both got a sliced tyre within a few hundred metres of each other and we're not hard on equipment. Fortunately it was on practice day so didn't ruin the race for us.

BTW Sunday is NOT a race! Honest 😂
7:45 start for me with DD tyres.
I’ll be the 50 year old with cramp after the first stage and then hobbling in pain for the next 4 hours.

Will be on our stand - 76 Projects - come say hello 👋👋

Doing it on Sunday

Signed up in April; declared this as 'something good to train and get fit for', caught bug after bug after bug and have done jaff all mtb'ing in weeks.

Got out for a quick lap round Mabie last night and hawked up more gunge than I've seen in months.

I'm going to die.

If when you pass me, please be kind.

Camping wise, how are the facilities? Can you park by your tent?
Paid showers - coins or ticket system?
Water taps?

Camping wise, how are the facilities? Can you park by your tent?
Paid showers – coins or ticket system?
Water taps?

You can park by your motor.

Coins, take plenty of pound coins, one of those towel changing robes will come in handy and a pair of crocs.

There are water containers to top up. But I took a few of the big bottles last year.

Thanks @relapsed_mandalorian

For anyone that wants to say hi, look out for the gold coloured Ford Tourneo, big inflatable Decathlon tent and black Labradoodle!

No worries, have a blast. It's a great event, bitterly disappointed I can't get there this year, the bill for the van should add insult to injury nicely. 😭😭😭😭

@dknwhy … when you heading up… me and a buddy will set up camp on Thurs eve… Rather than sit boringly on our own, I’m happy to meet a few STWers in the flesh….

DrP

Local here, bumbling my way very very slowly on an Orange erm Orange Crush at 8:20 on Sunday for the Intro again as I found I enjoyed it much more than the Sprint. Feel free to say hello, I apologise in advance for slowing everyone down 😂

Camping wise

Follow up question, how feasible is it to end up camped next to your mate coming from other end of the country? Can we save spaces next door?

Any of the other Cotic riders here doing the CC social ride Friday/Saturday evening? Want to do one of those - probably the Saturday if I finish the Sprint in time...

If anyone wants to say a general STW 'hi', we're heading up Friday morning - look out for a black and yellow campervan near a gazebo and flag with 'Wakerley Wheelers' branding (we look vaguely pro with our camping set up but ride strictly amateur).

I've ended up with tickets for both the main Saturday Enduro and the Sunday Sport. Think I'm going to sleep well on Sunday night 😳
Looking forward to it though, it's a great event!

Follow up question, how feasible is it to end up camped next to your mate coming from other end of the country? Can we save spaces next door?

Depends what time you get there bud, it can fill up pretty quickly. I managed it last year because I went right to the end of the field a commandeered a corner and put up my event shelter to hold the space.

@DrP - we're arriving early Friday morning (I've got a hotel booked an hour away on the Thurs night). Would be good to catch up again. Haven't seen you since we did that ride with Dez and co at Rogate.

Not sure how easy it is to arrange an STW camp?
If people want, PM me your mobile and I'll set up an STW Ard Rock WhatsApp group...
We can then at least share locations and try to get stuff arranged...

Any of the other Cotic riders here doing the CC social ride Friday/Saturday evening?

I wasn't aware there was one. When/Where?

They sent an email out on their mailing list.

"We're doing two social owner's rides this year:

6pm Friday
5pm Saturday - we'll be back in time for the raffle.

The rides will be a chilled pace, around 60-90mins and all Cotic owners are welcome. The trails are classic Dales singletrack, a bit techy in places but perfectly rideable at a chilled pace on any Cotic mountain bike from a Mk1 Soul to a Gen4 RocketMAX.

Post ride beers at the stand on us.

Rides will depart from the Cotic stand at the times mentioned above, so if you're joining us please get to our stand in plenty of time, ready to ride."