Once again Lewis, Cub and myself were on our way up to the Bill! This time though for the National series. Lewis after having some bad luck and not getting entered into Dunkeld was racing after having a month off with his last race also being Fort Bill. Cub had his fingers crossed hoping that he wouldn't puncture in his race run after Dunkeld and I was full of confidence ready to get going again after taking first in senior.
The course taped out was the one which was used in the World Cup at the start of the month. Off the start its pretty easy going, couple of berms few jumps and two big lengths of board walk. After the second one you came to the real start. Rock after rock, berm after berm and all at such a ridiculous speed! The consequence of grabbing your brakes and slowing down was everything would get even more rough and you get the worst arm pump ever. You literally have to peel your hands off the bars at the bottom! So only one plan of action...floor it!
Cross the deer fence and ping out of the left hander and start to head toward the woods (only after you have endured another fair share of rock gardens). These woods had so much line choice it was impossible to decide which way was noticeable the fastest so il just describe the way I took. Up high at the start drop down the right hander, take off the north shore bridge in between two trees then stick the bike into a rut to really fling it around to the second part of the woods. Stick it out to the left till you come to the end of the right hander-rut then pull it over and take the high line all the way to the road.
From here on it was the usual lower section through the flat but extremely fast wood section then of the north shore kicker onto the motorway. Motorway to end.
I'm sure even MoffatSubZero would even be proud of us this weekend! I'm sure I pedaled nearly all the way down more than what you could manage!
Anyways, for the Ae Bike Shop/Solway Insulation Services team the weekend ended like this.
In junior Callum 'Cub' McCubbing 23/49 - 5.35.102
In senior Lewis Cochrane 23/42 - 5.46.746
In senior Ryan Chambers 5/42 - 5.26.295
A great weekend all round! As always I think Fort Bill makes an unbelievable event or maybe its just because we all just love the place.
Next on the calender is one of the biggest weekends for the amateur racer with both the Scottish Champs at Glencoe on the 11/12 July and National Champs at Innerleithen the weekend after. Either one of these events is always a big one and made bigger by all those who turn up. Its always a great atmosphere and I hope everyone who can, will go to them.
Until next time, keep her slammed!
Tuesday 30 June 2009
Thursday 25 June 2009
World Cup Series So Far
MINNAAR Greg 914
PEAT Steve 835
HILL Samuel 789
ATHERTON Gee 776
HANNAH Michael 723
LEOV Justin 551
FAIRCLOUGH Brendan 482
BLENKINSOP Samuel 476
SMITH Steve 411
NEETHLING Andrew 398
5 out of 8 rounds complete. Santa Cruz Syndicate taking four wins, 2 for Greg and 2 for Peaty. The latest wins goes to Fabien Barrel a man who isn't even in the top ten! Although as everyone knows he is an exceptional rider. The astounding Sam Hill still looking for a win?? and Sam Blenkinsop aka Blinky breaking the world record for the biggest stem shag in the world http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/3593155/ seriously check it out! A total of 750 points maximum still left to take, its going to be an interesting fight for the last 3 of the season between the top 5. Even though sick mick may be 191 points behind the leader let me give you something to think about. Steve Peat punctured in his race run at Maribor round 5. As well as that Gee Atherton crashed, so just remember...what if?
The last three rounds are to be held at Mount-Saint-Anne - 26/07/09 Bromont - 02/08/09 and Schladming - 20/09/09. Sam Hill has won at each of these venues.
PEAT Steve 835
HILL Samuel 789
ATHERTON Gee 776
HANNAH Michael 723
LEOV Justin 551
FAIRCLOUGH Brendan 482
BLENKINSOP Samuel 476
SMITH Steve 411
NEETHLING Andrew 398
5 out of 8 rounds complete. Santa Cruz Syndicate taking four wins, 2 for Greg and 2 for Peaty. The latest wins goes to Fabien Barrel a man who isn't even in the top ten! Although as everyone knows he is an exceptional rider. The astounding Sam Hill still looking for a win?? and Sam Blenkinsop aka Blinky breaking the world record for the biggest stem shag in the world http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/3593155/ seriously check it out! A total of 750 points maximum still left to take, its going to be an interesting fight for the last 3 of the season between the top 5. Even though sick mick may be 191 points behind the leader let me give you something to think about. Steve Peat punctured in his race run at Maribor round 5. As well as that Gee Atherton crashed, so just remember...what if?
The last three rounds are to be held at Mount-Saint-Anne - 26/07/09 Bromont - 02/08/09 and Schladming - 20/09/09. Sam Hill has won at each of these venues.
Wednesday 24 June 2009
Dunkeld SDA Round 3
The SDA have used Dunkeld now for more than 5years. Despite this though it still makes, year after year, a great race. Some might complain but the majority still love coming here and racing whatever course is taped.
The start (for all but juveniles they started at the first road) was the usual steep rocky section which you can carry a lot more speed on than what you would expect because despite it being worn and rocky and steep there is in fact a nice flow throughout it all.
After the first road the track flattens out but all the roots and rocks you could want await. After coming around the rooty left hander and missing the boulder at the end you could either take it up high and drop into a rut or go around the outside and gain alot more speed and if you want put a pedal in. Go high on some roots to set you up for the almost sandy right hander then go out wide and bring it in tight to miss the roots and get up onto the boulder on the 180 left hander. Next you've got two small rocky chutes one after another lines galore here but your rewarded after this with a wide open flat straight to get all your speed for the final part of the middle section which was just one long rock garden with some mammoth roots thrown in there to keep you on your toes. Get through this clean and cross the road and your onto the final section.
Navigate your way through some rocks onto a rooty right hander, drop off a boulder onto a straight then came my favorite part. Pretty much a berm boulder that swung you out left onto some roots and rocks then a right hander, down a small chute drift out the back to get you around the next flat left over some rocks then onto the biggest boulder of the day that you had to turn on then drop to either side of a tree stump. After this there was a nice little straight then you drop down left into another rocky straight then a couple more corners with more rocks and line choice than you could shake a stick at. Jump the final boulder or simply roll of it then sprint to the finish.
With Lewis missing this weekend due to internet problems when trying to enter, racing for the Ae Bike shop and Cafe/ Solway Insulation Services team was Myself, Callum and his youngest brother Frazer.
In Senior Ryan Chambers 1/80 - 2.24.412
In Junior Callum McCubbing 17/46 - 2.52.171 (with a puncture)
In Juvenile Frazer McCubbing 6/15 - 1.57.844
Think everyone was happy with the results especially Fraser as it was his first ever race, Callum because he still got top twenty even with a puncture! and myself because after three years waiting i finally got a win! It was an excellent weekend and i hope the run of good form follows us into Fort William this weekend for the third round of the National series.
Keep 'er pinned!
The start (for all but juveniles they started at the first road) was the usual steep rocky section which you can carry a lot more speed on than what you would expect because despite it being worn and rocky and steep there is in fact a nice flow throughout it all.
After the first road the track flattens out but all the roots and rocks you could want await. After coming around the rooty left hander and missing the boulder at the end you could either take it up high and drop into a rut or go around the outside and gain alot more speed and if you want put a pedal in. Go high on some roots to set you up for the almost sandy right hander then go out wide and bring it in tight to miss the roots and get up onto the boulder on the 180 left hander. Next you've got two small rocky chutes one after another lines galore here but your rewarded after this with a wide open flat straight to get all your speed for the final part of the middle section which was just one long rock garden with some mammoth roots thrown in there to keep you on your toes. Get through this clean and cross the road and your onto the final section.
Navigate your way through some rocks onto a rooty right hander, drop off a boulder onto a straight then came my favorite part. Pretty much a berm boulder that swung you out left onto some roots and rocks then a right hander, down a small chute drift out the back to get you around the next flat left over some rocks then onto the biggest boulder of the day that you had to turn on then drop to either side of a tree stump. After this there was a nice little straight then you drop down left into another rocky straight then a couple more corners with more rocks and line choice than you could shake a stick at. Jump the final boulder or simply roll of it then sprint to the finish.
With Lewis missing this weekend due to internet problems when trying to enter, racing for the Ae Bike shop and Cafe/ Solway Insulation Services team was Myself, Callum and his youngest brother Frazer.
In Senior Ryan Chambers 1/80 - 2.24.412
In Junior Callum McCubbing 17/46 - 2.52.171 (with a puncture)
In Juvenile Frazer McCubbing 6/15 - 1.57.844
Think everyone was happy with the results especially Fraser as it was his first ever race, Callum because he still got top twenty even with a puncture! and myself because after three years waiting i finally got a win! It was an excellent weekend and i hope the run of good form follows us into Fort William this weekend for the third round of the National series.
Keep 'er pinned!
Monday 15 June 2009
Llangollen NPS Round 2
After reading all the rumours about this place I thought surely it cant be as mental as they say, but as men are always in an arguement with a women, I was wrong.
From the top you got a nice flat straight into a right putting you into a false sense of securtiy for what you came to next! The steepest set of corners you could imagine. Take the next steep chute to catch corner to chute (a rumour was Adam Bryton hucked it all!) and hit the next corners that take you into a straight section into a left then right and onto the first briddleway.
Drop down to your left for the short middle section and the surface changes as it becomes slightly less steep with lose rocks. Come through the next switch backs and a small straight and onto the briddle way to the bottom section.
As with the majority of the course this section was just full of steep corners and a couple of chutes and straights. Come down to the roughest chute and hit the catch that takes you onto a really quick off camber section. Now comes the proper fun part. Really long corners, super lose surface, absoulte pinned! and to end on the perfect note you get out the last corner, out oo the trees and into the feild with a flat out straight and a hip jump then sprint to the finish.
I have to say I learned alot from this race. That attacking a course isnt always the best way to race it or at least knowing when to put on the anchors and let off. I can ride steep stuff with a hell of alot more confidence and as always with each race comes more experience anyways.
It was only myself racing down in Wales for the Ae Bike Shop and Solway Insulation Services team and heres how I done:
Ryan Chambers in Senior - 3:41:459 31/52
Fact is it is my worst result of the year, but it was a hell of a race and probably the one iv learned most from so to me it was a great results especially since I decided to fight with a tree in my race run!
Hing it oot!
From the top you got a nice flat straight into a right putting you into a false sense of securtiy for what you came to next! The steepest set of corners you could imagine. Take the next steep chute to catch corner to chute (a rumour was Adam Bryton hucked it all!) and hit the next corners that take you into a straight section into a left then right and onto the first briddleway.
Drop down to your left for the short middle section and the surface changes as it becomes slightly less steep with lose rocks. Come through the next switch backs and a small straight and onto the briddle way to the bottom section.
As with the majority of the course this section was just full of steep corners and a couple of chutes and straights. Come down to the roughest chute and hit the catch that takes you onto a really quick off camber section. Now comes the proper fun part. Really long corners, super lose surface, absoulte pinned! and to end on the perfect note you get out the last corner, out oo the trees and into the feild with a flat out straight and a hip jump then sprint to the finish.
I have to say I learned alot from this race. That attacking a course isnt always the best way to race it or at least knowing when to put on the anchors and let off. I can ride steep stuff with a hell of alot more confidence and as always with each race comes more experience anyways.
It was only myself racing down in Wales for the Ae Bike Shop and Solway Insulation Services team and heres how I done:
Ryan Chambers in Senior - 3:41:459 31/52
Fact is it is my worst result of the year, but it was a hell of a race and probably the one iv learned most from so to me it was a great results especially since I decided to fight with a tree in my race run!
Hing it oot!
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