Woodside whispers

Dalmahoy · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 45

Had a call today - offered a sportsman entry into the Newton Stewart enduro next week.
Supposed to be tough one but looking forward to it.
No doubt it'll be a case of surviving rather than racing but the learning curve continues.

old git · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 240 Location: Aberdeenshire

Best of luck. Let us know how it goes.

Wink

Dax · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 37

Good stuff, shouldnt be a very big sportsman entry as I think they were giving preference to the other classes.

If it turns out to be a case of carrying my bike through 15 miles of bogs then its gonna be a 1 or 2 lapper for me... :p

Dalmahoy · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 45

It was mentioned there's 10 sportsmen in total.
Still struggling with the new bike - hopefully things will
start to improve from now.

stucinabog · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 70

All the best dudes! Just remember you are there to have fun....

As long as you prepare for the worst it will always be easier than you imagine.... well thats what I keep telling myself anyway.
_________________
If it aint broke keep trying.

old git · Joined: 13 Dec 2005 Posts: 240 Location: Aberdeenshire

Well, how did it go????

Wink

Dalmahoy · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 45

Superb!
Only managed one lap - came in 15 minutes over the clock but was in no state to head right back out.
After recovering - I was still so tired I was only going to cause myself a dull one.
Very difficult track - mixture of rocks and roots holding up progress, not many chances for a breather over the 15 mile lap.
Ankle is giving me problems after a fall. Couple of times my bike decided gymnastics was a better game to take up!
Bike is now cleaned up and ready for the next one.
Disappointed not to had completed the distance but still think it was a superb day.
Entry is in the post today for the Melville Hare and Hounds - the learning curve continues.

stucinabog · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 70

I heard it was fairly technical.......
_________________
If it aint broke keep trying.

Dax · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 37

Well it was certainly pretty hard. I managed 2 of the 4 laps. The course had a lot of rocks, with a sprinkling of more rocks, stumps, roots, low level branches, and (everyones favourite) bogs. It was brutal in the dry, so it would have been a bit of a non-starter for me in the wet.

The going had a few forestry road sections as breaks, but the rest was relentless, there were very few areas which you could blast along as the ground was so rocky. The worst section came right at the end of the lap right after the special for about 1mile. It was even more difficult than the rest, and was cut out after lap 1. But by then it was too late for me. I had been coping reasonable well up till then, but the last section of lap 1 killed me. I had to manhandle the bike over a tree and the ground became so rough that I could barely ride over it, I did a lot of that section in 5m jumps and starts. I got into the pits on time, but I was shot. I had a long rest and contemplated going out again. Finally decided to give another lap a crack and headed back out. Unfortunately I was still beat from that last hard section on lap 1, so I didnt really get back into the swing of it. Did ok-ish on my special on lap 2 to try and save face a bit Smile

Arrived back about 15 minutes late and called it a day as I wasnt enjoying it, and the risk of a bad tumble was going up all the time, work on Monday etc.

I've read the report on Charlies page which says that 50% attrition rate for DNFs is what they were aiming for and I know that it was published as a hard event. But for me it was too tough, and I probably wont spend the time and money if it runs again. Long way to go and a lot of cash for only 2 hours on the bike Rolling Eyes

The Hooker · Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Nairn

Went in Clubman B to guarantee an entry, wish I had just given the whole event a miss now, I was riding pretty hard on the 1st lap thinking I should make my time ok but ended up 10 mins late, went out for the 2nd lap and snapped my chain, race over! thought the track wasn't too bad just the times seemed a bit tight, I don't agree with an enduro being run which limits the amount of sportsmen entries, the event should be open to all and allowances made for the sportsmen. It was a long trip for me to retire after only 1 full lap, 3 of our group managed to complete 3 out of the 4 laps and one managed all 4 just keeping on time and no more. Midgies were a nightmare, I had forgotten how bad they were from 2 years ago plus the bus got stuck and sunk at the side of a forestry track, I'm sure Charlie got a few photos that will be on the website, cant wait till Selkirk.

gasser100 · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 62

Don't wait for selkirk go to West Linton for a nice leisurly ride Very Happy

Nice flowing track (no Bogs) Very Happy

The enduro did seem quite difficult going by the DNF'S

Dalmahoy · Joined: 21 May 2008 Posts: 45

Cleaning and getting the bike ready for this weekend.
There's chunks of metal missing all over the place on the bike, my boots have a slice missing out of them and the trousers worn are torn!
It was quite a tough single lap!
Also checking trip meter - time actually moving on the lap was 1 hour 4 minutes - only 4 minutes over clock.
Improve the fitness so I don't need to stop as often and its not too far away.

gasser100 · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 62

Get as much bike time as possible dalmahoy and you'll see an improvement