Woodside whispers

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

Regs are now out for Shiplaw enduro

http://www.scottishenduros.co.uk/99/Downloads2008/ELREGSShiplaw%202008.doc

Anyone on here ever ridden it? It's a new one for me....sounds dirty Smile

stucinabog · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 70

I rode it in 2004 - jeese was it that long ago!?? I was late on a few laps and I was riding sportsman! From what I remember it was fairly slippy in places and a few tight woods with lots of exposed roots. Apart from that it was great! The test was really good although I fluffed it a couple of times. There was a drop into a stream followed by a slippy climb, if you didn't get over the stream OK the climb became a bit tricky.

If you look at the results there is a pic of Allyn Scotland and a certain despondent rider looking down at his bike in the background....
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If it aint broke keep trying.

gasser100 · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 62

If it's wet it will be hard. A man's enduro Wink

But good fun all the same

Nick · Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Posts: 16

think I'll sit that one out...

when the next easier one Rolling Eyes

without bogs!

gasser100 · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 62

Selkirk.A great days riding and a lot drier because of the summer sun.

stucinabog · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 70

So did anyone here ride the Shiplaw event? How did it go?
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If it aint broke keep trying.

Elginboxer · Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:41 am Post subject:

Dax · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 37

I rode it. It was a pretty tough event at my level (Clubman B). The course had a few wet sections, many of which were in the special test, and as the day wore on these cut up and turned into stoppers. The marshalling was superb though, quick to react and cut out the worst bits to keep everyone moving. Lots of forest sections with the odd root to catch the unwary. Some nice climbs and descents, one particular climb was sharp and rocky which you could blast up getting plenty grip, great fun though I think that particular section was responsible for obliterating the new rear S12 I fitted for the event.

They had a couple of additional expert-only loops which looked a bit mental.

Great fun though, and the weather held up all day which certainly takes a lot of the pain away Smile

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

Yes, a really tough course that could have been a complete nightmare if there had been heavy rain. As Dax said the marshalling was superb and it certainly wasn't an easy day out in the woods for the ELRAT marshalls.

We arrived at about 5pm on Saturday to walk the test and while it looked OK we could see that there were a few bits that were going to cut up badly. With 4 laps to ride and just under 6 hours allowance to do it I was hoping that the times were generous. The times were fine and with 10-15 minutes to spare at the end of each lap it was nice to be able to re-charge a bit.
The course was varied and had a bit of everything from rocky climbs, dark wooded tunnels, dry fast going and some really soft boggy bits. As the laps passed the course changed...for the most part the tunnels held up well but there were a few sections with exposed roots that got trickier as more and more soil was spun off. A few of the damp sections appeared to dry up as the top layers of dirt and grass were lost. Some of the turns bermed up nicely to but there were a few sections that turned very boggy. The marshalls quickly re-routed riders before things got really nasty. The test was one area with very little scope for course changes and the marshalls worked very hard at keeping things moving but in the end the test was cut from the last lap which came as a great relief to me.

The guys that set the course did a great job making a really tough but rideable course that turned into a really good enduro. I've heard people argue the case that events shouldn't be won or lost on test times and that times across all classes should generally be tighter. Most people ride enduros for fun and making times too tight in my view takes a lot of the fun out of it. I found this event hard enough without being under a lot of time pressure. Certainly for clubman B, I thought the times were spot on.

Thanks to all at ELRAT for a great days riding and particular thanks to the efforts of the marshalls on the day. I will wear my "I SURVIVED SHIPLAW 2008" T-shirt with pride. Wink

This was my first finish in the new clubman B class after struggling to 2 DNF's at Pathhead but I am still more than a little dissapointed at my riding. I spend way too much time picking the bike up due to numerous minor spills. I'll give Newton Stewart a miss....I can think of a hundred reasons not to go (though I'm sure it will be a great event for the more capable). Top of the list is more time practicing at Woodside.

Wink

stucinabog · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 70

Well done on finishing your first ClubB event OG. Once you get into the swing of things and find a pace that works for you then the wee mistakes will be fewer!!

From the look of the test times it must have gotten really nasty nearer the end. I can smell the boggy mud as I type this...
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If it aint broke keep trying.

Elginboxer · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 11:46 am Post subject:

Good to hear you got your finish Old Git Icon_143

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GMCC

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

Cheers, but I must try and stay on the bike more.....the old bones can't take this amount of abuse indefinitely Rolling Eyes