Vitus First Tracks
Enduro Cup
Rostrevor
Round 3
05th July
2015
With two rounds down
the Vitus FirstTracks enduro cup rolled into Rostrevor. Rostrevor is
known for its steep technical terrain. Glyn and his team used the
best of this to test us sometimes to our limits. This round really
did take it to the next level. 5 stages with three being natural
Downhill trails and two trail centre trails. A course that would see
us riding 17 miles with just under 4000ft of elevation gain.
Race village was set up
in the Mountain bikers car park in the Kilbroney park. Vitus Bikes
gazebos housed the Chain Reaction Cycles Mechanics and the sientries
timing system. Sign on was quick and with my time already allocated.
I was free to get the bike ready and join the rest of my riding crew
for the day the klunkers guild.
We rolled out of the
car park together with a beep from the start beacon. Heads down for
a long drag up the infamous lung buster. Many choose to walk this
and save the legs. Worse was to come when we past the Downhill
trails. We took a left up into the walking trails that zigzagged up
the steep face of slievemartin. Looking across to the red trail I
thought it may have been easier riding the long way round. The calves
took a stretching on this steep push up track. We walked up through
the tree line into a mist covered mountain side joining the red
trail. We saddled up for the short transition across the red to the
top of Stage 1.
Stage 1 Boulderdash
Black trail
After a good warm up
getting to stage 1 we started on the mild boulderdash. We had a
tough days riding ahead of us. One unlucky rider hadn't even made it
to stage 1. Crashing hard on the transition, pulling out with
suspected broken collar bone. This stage was trail centre grade
surface with off camber open rock sections. Visibility was poor with
a low hanging mist and a light drizzle of rain. I took it easy on
the first few corners to get the legs working. After a few small
rocky drops I got on the pedals. I pushed hard on a trail I knew
fairly well. I had one moment on a rocky corner going straight on
and loosing some time getting back on the track. With the first
section nearly complete, I spotted the familiar figure of Warren
McConnaughie of Industry Image photography. I give him a shout and
set up for the wee rock drop.
Stage 2 Yellow water
Downhill track
Now the fun really
began with this full on track. I hadn't ridden this in practice so
it was a case of trying to look well ahead and not make any silly
mistakes. We started rolling down the hill and across the ford on
yellow water river. There was a slight climb after the river,
continuing with a fast descent then hard on the brakes. Turning into
yellow water dh track already there was steep drops and roots at
every turn. The track isn't overly steep but one you had to be on
your game on. A big drop to the side of the track made you want to
stay on course. We had multiple line choices over drops, around tree
stumps and rocks spread throughout the tree lined trail. We skirted
the banks of the river until reaching the finish just above yellow
water picnic area. The transition to stage 3 was straight up the
steep forest road climb which ran parallel to the track of stage 2.
Another tough climb in the legs. As we reached the turn off for
stage 3 we shouted words of encouragement to other riders on there
way into the yellow water track.
Stage 3 Yellow Water
Black
This stage was a return
to trail centre grade trail. The first section was fast but tight.
No major corners but trying to keep the pace up was hard due to the
tight nature of the trees and rocks. The trail climbed slightly
before a road crossing and the legs already felt the burn. We
travelled across a rough section of rock garden slabs. Then a tight
turn joining the red trail for a flat out sprint. I tried to keep
the pace high tipping the bars on the slight kinks on the trail.
Flicking and turning the bike trying to
dodge the rocks lined along
the side. There were a few bum tightened moments when the toe
clipped but thankfully it was only a slight brushing. A long
transition followed the ulster way back towards Kilbroney. We picked
up the horse track used for the cross country race climb and rode
this back onto the lung buster. Another tight climb up to the start
of stage 4.
Stage 4 Red, NPS,
Caravan Return
We started on the red
trail centre link up. A flat trail meandering across the forest. The
tame nature of this trail soon made way to a steep technical roller
coaster ride. I made the mistake of slowing to turn in where I
thought the trail went. I then spotted the tape and realised I was
on the wrong line and rejoined. I then pushed a bit too hard into
the first steep section. Warren was on hand to capture me blasting
through this section getting crossed up and having to dab the foot
around a tight corner.
Trying to get going again the bike bounced
across roots and rocks. I was finding it hard to get the flow going
and the track was ridding me. I was out of control but trying to
keep the pace. At the fire road crossings I always tried to ease up
to save a silly crash. Not looking ahead I nearly missed the turn
back into the trail. With I tight turn I rejoined and dropped into
the steep section. Rattling through a series of smoother turns I
felt I could get a few pedal strokes in. I seen a gully in front. I
had one eye on it and one eye on the tape lined trees I thought I
would huck across. It was only on landing and falling away from the
trail, I realised the tape had been broken and the trail turned left
at that point. I scrambled back up the steep bank and hopped on the
bike. Bouncing down the next section I really was all over the
place. I heard Wayne calling out for a pound of sausages and had a
good laugh still trying to concentrate on were I was going.
I
crossed the fire road and as the trail smoothed out into trail centre
grade I got on the pedals. This section felt like a tarmac road
after the pounding I had taken above. One stage to go and one big
climb to get there passing the start of stage 4.
Stage 5 DH3
I had previously ridden
part of this so in some way knew what was to come. In racing
scenario that all went out the window. A rodeo ride lay ahead on
this tight twisty steep track. Over the back of the bike and with
only a couple of pedal strokes I was already hurtling through the
stage. Clipping the feet and pedals and dabbing the feet on many
corners. One section I was bouncing on the back wheel. Every time I
tried to get moving I hit a rock or unclipped.
I was still moving
though and despite the terrible ridding enjoying the stage. A couple
of dismounts and remounts, fire road crossings and crowd lined
sections I tried to push on the smoother bottom section. This stage
really give me a kicking but hearing the beep of the final stage
beacon I sat back and rolled to a stop on the fire road.
The series was always
advertised as getting progressively more difficult. This really was a
step up but a good step up. I didn't ride well but I enjoyed it and
that is my goal in this series. 21st in my category of
Masters B and 97th overall.
Donard Forest is the
Location for Round 4 entries are still ope: https://www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=1708
Photos By Industry
Image Photograph: http://www.industryimage.com/portfolio387688.html
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