Rounded Rectangle: ResultsRounded Rectangle: HomeUK Enduros – May 2010

 

Brechfa Enduro

This is a classic Welsh forestry timecard enduro, often tough, usually wet. I rode it last year and crashed out when rear mousse broke down and was like riding on flat tire and lost it big time on a fast rocky uphill that bent bars, handguards etc. so really wanted to finish this year. After nice few days Sunday morning was raining and only got worse as we headed south for 2 hour drive, dust was not going to be an issue. First problem on arrival was Davy had decided to chain and lock our bikes just in case his van got broken into overnight, good idea but he forgot to bring the keys to the padlocks, we just could not believe it. So a quick run around others in paddock and within minutes Ian came up with a battery powered grinder with cutting disc and spare battery, amazing to say least, some folks really do come prepared for anything. So that made short work out of freeing up the bikes so on to the start, Davy was not pleased to have his locks cut and not really that pleased that with the weather we had no excuse not to race.

 

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I have only started riding again 2 years ago after 20 year break so ride in the over 40 (vets) clubman / B class but as Ian had not entered us early enough there was no space in that class so I had to ride in the vet A class. This meant the event would be 4 laps (each 26 miles) instead of 3 and tighter times between checks so little rest. Start was 3 riders per minute so I set off on first lap with what would turn out to be the 1st and 2nd place riders in Vet A class so they left me within the first mile on tight check. After a while got into riding in rain and mud again and was enjoying it, first lap made on time, trails were nice, not overly difficult. Special test started out on forestry road, did bit in trees then out onto a field with slippy grass then onto a MX track, was not timed first lap so you could ride it safely before timed next lap without taking chances on blind jumps etc. End of first lap refueled, clean goggles and gloves and then back out on lap 2 which had less time for checks plus the timed special test. Unfortunately riding beyond my capabilities to stay with my riding partners had a heavy crash and hurt my left thigh quite badly, could not put any weight on it so standing was out and legging was problematic so caused few more falls. At end of the lap I had dropped one minute but was in lot of pain and there was no way I could do 2 more laps so called it quits and went to wait for my friends and start recovery for my leg which took about 4 days before I could walk near normal again.

 

WOR Firbank hare and hounds

Weather was dry all week and we headed 2 hours north for this event on moorland. We suspected it would be fast and dusty but were pleasantly surprised to see a tight and technical track and with wind dust was not a big factor. This event had many classes with 4 hour ironman A and B, 4 hour 2 man team classes for expert, vets, clubman, sportsman and family and 2 hour expert, vets, clubman, sportsman, youth and beginner so I entered 2 hour vets class (A and B's combined). The start at noon had all 4 hour riders set off and we were to start our 2 hours at 2pm so we watched for a bit and could see the track cutting up a bit and a lot of rocks appearing. I had a reasonable start and first lap was bit dusty in traffic but as everyone spread out it was Ok. Second lap I had trouble getting passed a slower rider for a while then was just passing him and he pulled across my line and took out my front wheel and I went down quite hard. Not injured and bike was Ok so got going again and into a rhythm and enjoyed the track. I have carpal tunnel in both hands so for a few laps had to shake out hands so could feel levers but by 1 hour point was OK and decided to carry on without stopping for fuel and drink as was going decent and not too tired. Was quite pleased to see checkered flag after 2 hours though as my left hand had some nasty blisters, no way I could have done 4 hours. This was first race I have done where I felt I rode reasonable, I had a few crashes and came in 5th out of 15 in vets class and only 2 minutes behind 3rd which I could have probably achieved if not for the falls and finished within a lap of 1st and 2nd who are top A riders (about 11 minute lap times).

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BSEC Saints Well

Another totally different format and type of race and I had not done before. This series is called British Sprint Enduro Championship (BSEC) and each day they have course/special test of 10 to 15 minutes long and after an initial sighting/practice lap riders go off in 30s intervals for timed laps 8 to 10 times. Aim is to get British riders more used to riding flat out on special tests when riding in European and world enduros so as myself and my friend Ian never do that well on special tests we felt it would be good practice and worth giving a try at least. However one issue was that to get in as many tests as possible event is limited to top riders with classes for under 23, elite/pro and expert only so I was signed up in expert E3 class. Weather had been great all week but Friday night it stated raining and by Saturday morning as we headed south 1 hour it was real miserable. We arrived at the start to see big setups from top teams, David Knight (2 world and 2 GNCC titles along with many others) was looking to wrap up yet another British title having been fastest on every special test in previous 4 rounds, but many other hot riders wanting to be first to beat him. The track was part MX track and part on grassy fields and with the rain the many off camber sections looked real challenging, we were very pleased we had nice near new soft terrain MX tires fitted. Sighting lap started and we were correct, the cambered bits were very slick and straight away holes appeared in tape markings as folks went off. Riding sensible just before a small extreme section Knighter passed me flying, he hopped over the logs and rocks, across flat tires then stopped in front of big vertical tires. So I come along and nice and smoothly go pass Knighter as he turned around, up and over big tires and then another log and head for next corner, look back and he has just hit the big tires and jumped them to land after the next log 10 feet away then he blitzed passed me onto MX track so I figured he had just be sizing up if he could get enough speed to make a double out of the tires and log, shocking. So that was my moment of fame passing Knighter on special test (even though it was not timed).

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So then off for the first timed lap, was even slippier by now as rain continued, made it around OK without too much drama. Next lap tried bit harder and went down heavy on downhill off cambered section and twisted handguards then pushing again to make up time had couple more falls, very slow lap. So now decided it was just a matter of trying to ride smooth and not make mistakes and just finish, some bits like extreme section got tougher, other bits got rough and some nasty cambered bits got cut out (fortunately). After that started getting better, quite a lot of riders quit as it was tough and I managed to ride better in general but any mistakes were punished by big loss of time, last couple of tests were so slippy had to go back and redo 2 nasty off camber uphill corners, even saw David Knight crash once and he was not pushing hard, just riding smooth. Was pleased to finish all tests with no injuries and having learnt a bit about riding in such slick conditions, my 300 KTM was not ideal, too much power etc. but could be lugged easily through nasty bits, a 250F was probably best bike but Knighter won every test on his 530 (including one crash) so no excuse for talent, or lack of. I ended up winning Expert E3 class (only finisher) and this gave me 2nd in Expert E3 class in British Sprint Enduro Championship series, sounds much better than real result.

BSEC Saints Well Video