I'm back.

I returned to the saddle in a downhill race for the first time since last October after having joined the Army over the winter. I came home a couple of weeks back to a great surprise. A brand new shiny Rose Beefcake DH8 all ready to go. I knew it was coming but my folks hadn’t told me it had arrived. Getting back in the saddle was great and I felt right at home straight away. The buttery smooth setup just crying out to be ridden hard and what better than a gnarly, soaking wet race to try it out on? Round three of the Scottish Downhill Series was at Pitfichie in Aberdeenshire which is pretty close to home. For the first time the SDA chose the newer of the two tracks for this race with some totally new bits thrown in to reduce home advantage.  No need on my account as I’d hardly ever ridden it, focusing the limited practice time I spend at the venue on the more popular old track.

Saturday’s practice went well enough but it was clear to see that the hill was going to change a lot as the rain, which had been falling since about a 2009, showed no sign on stopping. Pitfichie is a push up race so practice is somewhat limited anyway but I managed a couple of complete runs and sectioned the tricky bits for the rest of the day. I was feeling good on the bike but the lack of running was showing as I just didn’t feel comfortable carrying speed in the corners.

Sunday promised to be a better day according to the BBC weather people but what do they know about Aberdeenshire weather? It rained again all day! One practice run in the morning was all there was time for and the track was now really quite scary with a lot of exposed roots, huge ruts and holes that would swallow a poorly placed front. All the time topped off with a covering in white water. My first run went well enough and I arrive at the finish in a clear lead but I was running in a poorly seeded position so I tumbled to ninth as the faster riders came in. Still, I was pretty happy with a top ten even if not by the margin to my good friend Lachlan Blair in first. By the time the second set of runs started the organisers were just trying to get the day over as quickly as possible and announced that the second runs were going in no particular order with everyone just getting to the top of the hill and coming down in the order they arrived.  This was OK and I set off after leaving a good gap to the man in front but what I didn’t know was who else the mix in front contained. I passed about three people with little or no delay before I came upon a guy who played dumb and wouldn’t move over for me and was really slow. By the time I got passed I’d probably lost 10 second or so. I stayed upright (no mean feat by the way) and got to the bottom a couple of seconds quicker than my first run but not enough to improve from ninth. I wasn’t going to be challenging to a podium but I really feel I could have gained a few places had I not been held up so much. I also guess I could have asked for a rerun but I didn’t fancy the hour long push up and the track wasn’t getting any better.  All in all I think it was a pretty successful and enjoyable return to racing.

Many thanks again go out to Fin Paton and the guys at Rose Bikes UK for their continued support. I loved the Beefcake when I first saw it a couple of years ago and still love it as much today.

Full results on Roots and Rain

Euan.

A couple of weeks ago, Jonny took part in his first DH race in over 12 years.  Having ridden at the Forest of Dean regularly with mates from the Bristol area and local celebrity Jake "the teaboy" Ireland, for the last couple of years he felt that the time was right to make the comeback...


The 150mm Granite Chief was my bike of choice for the relatively tame course which started off flat with some treacherous roots and mulchy turns before dropping onto the fire road for a quick sprint.  Off the fire road the course dived over another trail and a large mound which had to be sucked up before dropping back onto "Ski Run" proper.  Through the glare of the flash guns popping everywhere riders dropped into a deep rutted gully which could be straightlined if you were brave or lucky.  Another flatish sprint across the push up hill and back into the woods and a couple of switch backs before the finish section of a small hip, the FoD table (where the mums always stand and watch) and the left/right berms.  The course here was taped wide which allowed some riders to hop the berms and miss the two berms.  Over the road gap and the last two berms before a couple hard pedals across the line.  


After two or three practice runs in the morning and a healthy bacon and egg bap for lunch it was race time.  Being old I was now in Masters so had a bit of a wait to check out some lines on the way up the hill.  Realising that I am not Minaar or Peaty I figured I wouldn't remember these and would just try to stay off the brakes all the way down.  It turned out that the start list was incomplete at the top of the course, which pushed me right to the back of the category, just one rider after me, so there was no pressure on the first run.  I turned in a 3rd after the first run and was more than happy with that, if this stood it would be my best result ever!  Unfortunately some timing bumped us all down a place as Joe Bishop came down fastest but was missed off the sheet for some reason.  Still 4th was more than I was expecting so still pleased. 

Thanks to Loz Webb - http://www.rootsandrain.com/photos/loz-webb/

Second run down and the pressure is slightly more obvious.  Now the runs are in first run position, so I had 3rd place baring down on me.  Death griping my front brake I dropped into my second run and I'm pretty sure I closed me eyes for a lot of it.  I also don't remember breathing...  The only part of the run I can really remember was landing the table at the bottom and saying in my head, "jump the berm jump the berm..." only to find myself hammering around both berms and having to get on the pedals into the small road gap.  


I was gutted I didn't take the straight line as the results showed just 0.5seconds covered 3rd 4th and 5th.  I was in 5th.  


But thats racing and you can't change it once its done.  I was more than happy to come 5th on my little bike, and the racing bug has well and truly bitten me again.  Shame the next race is the same weekend as the Fort William DH World Cup.


You can check out the Granite Chief here - www.rosebikes.co.uk
and enter the next two races for the DTV series here - http://www.deantrailvolunteers.co.uk/

WDMBA ROUND ONE, RHEOLA 29th APRIL 2012

                                                                                                               

WDMBA ROUND ONE, RHEOLA 29^th APRIL 2012

The down hill track at Rheola near Neath in South Wales has a notorious reputation. It’s long with loose rock in the top section flowed by roots and ruts in the lower sections. The boys last competed there at Round One of the BDS in April 2010. On that occasion Isaac managed a fifth place podium in Youth and Joel was 10^th in Juvenile. So we were returning with the boys two years older having both moved up a category.

We travelled up early on Saturday morning knowing that the whether forecast for Saturday night/ Sunday morning was horrendous but the boys remembered loving the track and whilst it may have put others off Isaac and Joel were relishing the opportunity to spend the weekend ragging their Beef Cakes through the mud.

Upon arrival they proceeded straight to the uplift queue saying that they could remember the track and that they didn’t need to walk it beforehand. Those turned out to be wise words because when I tried to walk the track later in the morning it became very apparent that it was easier to navigate down the course on two wheels than it was to walk up the track on foot the gloop was so bad.

Anyway, completing their first run with beaming smiles they returned to the pits to announce that ‘it’s just like a big Triscombe’. There were some new sections and the infamous Star Wars had been revamped and it was wet, very wet.

Practice went well with them knocking out six or seven runs. Cleaning and maintaining the bikes was a bit of nightmare but we were lucky to have plenty of water close at hand and we did our best to keep everything running smoothly.

Off to bed and it was a moon lit night, might the forecast be wrong? No, the forecast was right, the rain started at some stage over night and by breakfast everything was soaking. It didn’t dampen their spirits though, so after potions of hot porridge they were back in the uplift queue for a practice run.

On Saturday afternoon the track had begun to dry and had turned into the worst kind of sticky, clogging gloop imaginable but the overnight rain had washed it away to reveal a pretty fast track. We hoped therefore that the rain wouldn’t stop. We need not worried because it continued to rain all day.

Joel was first down in Youth with a disappointing time of 4.47. He had struggled with traffic on the course. A lot of the younger riders littered the course and he couldn’t over take them in the conditions. Isaac was next in Junior. Times in his category were all over the place but he made an appearance immediately behind the competitor ahead of him posting a time 3.37. First place in category and 5^th overall.

Back up the hill for their second runs and Joel improved significantly posting a time of 4.04 although he was again held up by a younger competitor. He eventually finished 8^th in category. Isaac having posted a pretty good first run decided he would go ‘hell for leather’ hoping to get as close to 3.30 as he could. He tells me all was going well until he crashed in Star Wars finishing with a time of 4.12. His first run however was enough for him to retain his lead and win Junior although his overall place slipped to Ninth.

Next, it’s Round Two of the BDS at Fort William. What awaits them there I wonder?

Many thanks to Rose Bikes, Moveo Safety, Osiris Shoes and Juice Lubes for all your continued support.

jon ashelford photography: Platzangst RAM shorts - First look.

jon ashelford photography: Platzangst RAM shorts - First look.: A box of winter riding kit arrived on my door this morning. Amongst all the knee warmers, rain jackets and socks were these Platzangst "RAM...

What a month!

It all started with my return to racing after a long break caused by the cancellation of the Fort William BDS race and the postponement of the SDA’s Glencoe race. The fourth round of the SDA series was at Innerleithen in the Scottish borders where I’d started to feel quite at home after already completing three winter series race early in the year.

We arrived late and I walked the track by torch light as dad setup home in the paddock area. The course looked very fast and flowing on the top half with the usual more technical final half. I went to bed looking forward to a good race. Only my second on my 2011 Beefcake and my first SDA race on it. We woke in the morning however to find that overnight someone had cut through the 12mm steel wire locking my bike the caravan and it was gone. Someone must have loved it as much as I did because they ignored other unlocked bikes to take my lovely Beefcake. After hanging around for the polic

e to arrive we packed up for the long drive home feeling totally gutted. Just as we were about to leave another competitor, Tom Anderson informed me he had a spare bike I could use if I wanted. I was in two minds as I really just wanted to go somewhere and cry but I accepted and we unpacked again. The bike was a 2010 Empire and it wasn’t really very well setup for me and I struggled with it being too softly sprung and having little feel or power in its brakes. I was nice to see that there are still people like Tom and his dad around who were prepared to offer such generous help.

I ended the weekend still pretty low with only a 19^th place to show for it. I know I’d have been well within the top ten and strengthened by series position had I been on my own bike.

In the week that followed the story has appeared on BBC TV News, all over the internet and on countless facebook pages. We’ve emailed every bike shop in Scotland and all the big riding centres in case someone sees it. Finlay of Rose UK came through with the very generous offer of the return of the 2010 demo bike I’d had before my 2011 one arrived.

The old bike arrived on Thursday and was rebuilt and checked over on Friday morning before we set off again to the west coast. This time it was for the rerunning of the Glencoe SDA race. Glencoe is a very steep technical course that’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I love it.

The Indian summer that the whole country appeared to be enjoying had forgotten to visit Glencoe and we arrived in very heavy rain. I’d been told that Glencoe is a gre

at track in the dry but obviously I wasn’t going to see that this weekend. I woke on Saturday morning to find the rain had slowed slightly and had been joined by think fog, great!

My practice went well for about two corners when my deraileur hanger broke leaving me no choice but to push back to the start and come back down on the chairlift. Dad set off on the two hour round trip to Fort William in search of a hanger that we could use and I continued practice chainless.

All we could get was an emergency hanger that after a lot of work was made to hold the derailleur in a strange position that wouldn’t allow it change gear but did make it work as a chain tensioner so of I went for one last practice this time in single speed mode. I like everyone was having trouble seeing and running out of tear offs fast but I was happy enough with my last run.

Sunday was more of the same weather wise but I set off for a practice to make up for not getting much running on Saturday but burst my rear tyre on the first run. I just had time for another following a rushed repair and it went OK so I went in to race run one reasonably happy that I wasn’t going to worry the top few but should be in with a decent chance. It went OK for the fast top section then my chain broke and wrapped around the cassette. When is my luck going to change? Another quick repair and I was good to go for my second race run and again it was going to have to be an all or nothing. The weather was improving as I set off and for the first time all weekend the water wasn’t running down the track like a stream. This made visibility easier and I felt the first half of my run was pretty good. I didn’t make any big mistakes on the lower half I’m told I looked tired and maybe I wasn’t pushing as hard as I could have. I crossed the line in second place but knew that there had been some fast time on the first runs and some fast guys still on course. I finished in a slightly disappointing 11^th come the end but that was just good enough for me to keep my top ten in the final series results.

Given that I never actually got to ride my 2011 bike at a SDA series race I’m pretty happy with 9^th place in the competitive youth class. I still wonder how I would have got on had I ridden the new bike all year. I did only one race on it and came second at that one.

Llangollen National Champs 2011

Katy Curd was placed 2nd onboard her Rose BeefcakeSL[PI= size=l align=c][/PI] at this years downhill National Champs, held at Llangollen in North Wales, July 23-24. Beating previous National Champ Jess Stone and coming in second to the current World Champion Tracy Moseley, who walked away with the National Champs title for 2011. A brilliant result for Katy, and after last weekend's success at winning the British 4X National Championships it demonstrates her multi-discplined talent in the sport and top class ranking in the UK.

Llangollen is known for being home to some of the steepest tracks in the UK and this weekend it certainly lived up to that. After only being at Llangollen a month ago for the National round it was time to head back there this time for the National Champs, the big one!

The track started up in the woods and from the word go it was hanging off the back of the bike steep! They even had a rope weaving down the side of the track for spectators to use to pull their way up and abseil their way back down- just so they could see the top of the track! If you made it past the top steep shoots and loose corners it soon spat you out at an unexpected uphill/flat section. It was a hard 10 seconds sprint, which meant if you didn’t have the power in the legs, you were going to struggle. From here it fired you out of the woods onto a fast open section and then rejoined the old track by sending you off a small step down jump.

We had all day Saturday to practice with qualifying and race runs both on the Sunday. From my first practice run on Saturday morning I had a big old smile on my face. I love riding steep technical tracks and this suited me down to the ground. It was a hard track to get to grips with, as the track would change so much between runs. You would come into a section not knowing if the berm or rut that you were relying on to make the corner would still be there or would be blown out. Because of this I was pretty much switching lines every run, but I knew at least that way when it came to race runs I would have a few options to choose from-depending on how beaten up the track was.

For qualifying on Sunday I had no idea what to expect; where I would place; how the track would be riding or even how hard I needed to push. My plan of action was to do a chilled top half, not to push too much on the steep stuff and then hammer the bottom half of the track. I had a fairly good run, I managed to hold it together through the steep section, stalling on a couple of turns but nothing major and then had had a fairly messy bottom section. As I was riding flats, I was trying to pedal but my feet were bouncing around on the pedals and I just felt all over the place, but managed to keep it together and hold on crossing the line in second place. I was 3 seconds behind Tracy Moseley so I was stoked with that, I was only half a second in front of Manon Carpenter so I knew it was close but I knew now that if I could get another clean run in for the final I could be in for a chance for a top three podium, which was my goal for the weekend.

For my race run I felt pretty nervous. Although knowing that downhill is not my main sport takes the pressure off a lot, but qualifying in 2nd I knew that I could do well and at the end of the day I was still there to try and take the win. For the first 10 seconds or so of my final run I was pretty stiff and couldn’t relax but I soon found my rhythm and started to piece together my run, hitting my lines and getting it to flow. I think I held back a little too much through the bottom half of the track, as I knew the guys pushed fairly hard for their qualifying runs making the track more than blown out and it was, but I think I was just that little bit too cautious. Despite this I crossed the line in 1st place with only Tracy to come down guaranteeing me 2nd place. Tracy came down and smashed everyone; she came across the line 8 seconds ahead of my time taking the win and becoming the new 2011 National Champion with ease! I was stoked for 2nd place though, I haven’t had the best of seasons so to be back up there with some of the UK’s top riders I was more than happy with, and to loose to the current world champion, I reckon I can live with that!

Llangollen National Champs 2011 on pinkbike.com

Results

Tracy Moseley; Trek; 2:37.660
Katy Curd; Rose Bikes; 2:45.617
Jess Stone; Trek Gravity Girls; 2:48.463

Thanks to http://www.girlmtnbiker.com/ for the podium shot!

Katy Curd, British National 4X Champion for the second year running!

GirlMTNbiker were on hand at the final round of the Schwalbe 4X National Series and British National Champs this weekend to see Katy Curd win for a second year in a row.  


Katy Curd, British National 4X Champion for the second year running! 

Two top podiums in one weekend! A winning combo for Katy Curd as she takes the win at the 4X British National Championships and top place at the Schwalbe British National Series.   

Saturday saw the fourth round of the Schwalbe British National Series taking place at Harthill, Cheshire. Many riders, including Katy, were treating this race as a ‘warm up’ and practice for the National Champs on the following day. Admittedly not racing to her full potential, to save herself for the following day, Rose rider Katy still walked away with the top podium spot- gaining a big confidence boost for the Champs on the following day. 

Sunday saw a dramatic change to the track conditions, with heavy, persistent rain turning the sandy track into carnage, with many riders struggling with the slushy course. However, Katy was undeterred and enjoyed putting her 4X & DH skills to use tackling the track with confidence. When asked about the rain affecting the track conditions she said, “The rain made it interesting, made the racing more fun, I wasn't feeling that brilliant yesterday on the track but when it rained today I was loving it, so much fun sliding around.”

The Final saw Katy placed against Nichola Anderson, Suzanne Lacey and Cara Murray. Nichola got the snap and pulled across from lane 3 all the way into the inside blocking Katy’s line down the first straight. Into the first corner Nichola couldn’t quite hold it tight enough to the inside and left the door wide open for Katy to take the inside line and the lead. As soon as the lead was regained Katy put the power down and pulled away from the other girls to get a good lead and crossed the line in 1st place.

Katy was pleased with the win saying, "I'm really happy with the result. The track was challenging with the conditions and I knew it would be hard racing today against the other girls because they wanted the win as much as me.” 

Beefcake DH 2011

Flow rider Euan put together this short video on his Beefcake DH.  


Not sure on the music though guys!


Euan Hird's 2011 Rose Beefcake up close from John (Bigfoot) Hird on Vimeo.

Kill the Bill 2 - Starring Euan Hird & Rose Beefcake.

On the weekend of the 2^nd and 3^rd of July the focus of the UK downhill MTB scene again became the world cup course at Nevis Range, Fort William for the 2^nd running of Kill the Bill downhill race.  The timing could have been better with Euan’s shiny new 2011 Rose Beefcake DH arriving during the week. What better place to try out a new bike that this long fast and brutal course.

Having ridden the course earlier this year at a Scottish Downhill Series event Euan decided to only walk the bottom half of the course particularly interested in how to the organisers had routed the course over the much talked about ‘big doon’ road gap. To his complete disappointment the gap wasn’t included a all.

Saturday was dry and pretty warm. Euan straightway feeling the new bike was a big improvement over the old one. It may well just have been in his mind but whatever it was, it worked with Euan both enjoying himself and clearly riding fast and well.

Race day stayed dry and not wanting to ruin an error free Saturday Euan chose to do a couple of steady practice runs just to check the track for changes but on the second run, the thrill of the speed got the better of him and he had overdid it coming in to the woods resulting in a big crash.  Confidence only slightly dented he was about to go up in plenty of time for his first run when we spotted the rear gear cable had been damaged and was holding on by only a thread. A quick shop and change saw Euan a little tight for time, arriving at the start gate as his number was called. The extra adrenaline of nearly missing his run obviously helped as Euan really pushed right from the start and reportedly looked very quick on the rocky top sections. The middle section was ‘solid enough’ according to Euan and I can confirm he took the ‘off beat wall’ and the 4X triple as fast as anyone. He crossed the line 15 second up on the previous best and took the hot seat. Not for long though as unknown to us Welsh rider Mike Jones smashed that by a further 21 seconds for the race one fastest time.

Euan went in to run two knowing he could go quicker but not at all sure he could bridge the 21 second gap for the win. Another solid run got Euan safely down to the woods and the scene of his trouble in practice in good time. Unfortunately it all came unstuck here with another big crash. No lasting harm was done to either Euan or his pride and joy new bike so when he got to the bottom he was reasonably happy to still be in a clear second place.

A podium on his first ride on the new bike and at Nevis Range too! Not a bad weekend at all.

WDMBA ROUND THREE, MOUNTAIN ASH

WDMBA ROUND THREE, MOUNTAIN ASH 10^th JULY 2011

This was the boy’s first visit to Mountain Ash, an old Dragon Downhill course that was last raced in 2007. Situated on the southern slopes of the same South Wales mountain that has Gethin on the northern slopes.

We arrived on Friday night with the idea that it would be less of a rush in the morning giving Isaac and Joel plenty of time to walk the course. We had heard that the track was lengthy and the boy’s wanted time to study their lines before the uplift started.

It rained pretty much all Friday night and we awoke to some wet conditions. Isaac and Joel headed up the mountain at about 7.30am returning at about 9.00am discussing everything they had spotted. Their main observations were that it was long, flat and pedalily. After a bit of breakfast they broke out the Beef Cakes and headed for the uplift.

I think they completed three or four runs before lunch in changeable weather conditions, some intermittent rain and mainly overcast. The best way to some up the track was greasey with running water on several sections particularly one area about a third of the way down where the track passes through a thick conifer wood. There was one spot where riders had to drop off a large wet log that was causing lots of trouble for many competitors.

After some lunch they were off again. The rain had stopped and the ground was beginning to stiffen. Suddenly, their speeds were increasing and the track was beginning to flow. Wide grins were appearing across competitors faces. With that however came the injuries, Isaac took a dive twisting his wrist back and Joel had a strange incident with his over wide handle bars aggravating a previous injury to his elbow. For Joel it was quick change to smaller bars. Isaac just had to carry on.

Sunday dawned after a clear and dry night. The track was now completely different, mainly dry and dusty but still areas of running water in the trees. We bound Isaac’s wrist up and away they went. A couple of clean practice laps each it was time to go racing.

As usual, Hardtails first, some were taking about 6 minutes to get to the bottom meaning at any one time there could be 7 or 8 riders on track. The Juvenile’s were a bit quicker and then it was the Youth’s. Unfortunately, one competitor crashed ahead of Joel and with so many riders on track at one time meant that about ten or so were red flagged and had to head back to the top for a re-run.

So it was Isaac who made a competitive entrance first coming in with a time of 3.57 putting him into 5^th place. Moss Macriner had a cracking time of 3.51 to put him into 1^st place 6 seconds ahead of George Belk in 2^nd. Isaac and I discussed how he could make up such a large gap and we agreed that he would attempt to break the 3.50 barrier in his second run.

Joel and his fellow riders were slotted in after the Senior category. Joel was last man down coming home with a time of 4.19 which put him middle order in his category. No time to discuss anything, it was straight on the uplift to start his second attempt.

The categories were re-seeded and Joel managed to improve his time with 4.13 putting him into sixteenth place. A nice result in a large category and as I tell everybody if he was 6 or 7 weeks younger he would still be a Juvenile and would have finished second. So there is still load’s of time for him to show us his full metal.

Now on to the Junior’s and the times were getting shorter with successive riders crossing the finish line and then out of the blue Isaac arrived with a cracking time of 3.48.68. Billy Matthews and Grant Boyce were unable to get below 3.55 and George Belk and Jay Williamson were unable to get below 3.48 leaving only Moss on the hill. As usual we nervously awaited his arrival which unfortunately for Isaac was quicker than anticipated. Moss posted a time of 3.47.99 putting him into first place.

So, it was close but not meant to be on this occasion but 0.69 seconds is pretty tight. We were all really delighted. Not to mention that Isaac was the only first year junior on the podium.

Absolutely no problems with the Beef Cakes, the boy’s are lovin’ them.

Again, the boys would like to thank everyone at Rose Bikes for all the continued support and are very excited about the National Champs at Llangollen in a couple of weeks, a track that is the complete opposite to Mountain Ash, steep, tight, technical and absolutely no pedalling! Watch this space.

- Duncan Anderson

Triscombe Uplifts

Juice Lubes