Chicksands Bike Park Winter 4x Series

Nov 21, 2012
by Claire Pollard  
It’s only 5 days to go until the first round of the Chicksands Bike Park and Old Skull Race Team Winter 4x series. The 4x track at Chicksands hasn’t seen any racing action since the final round of the British 4x Series in 2010, and that round was placed firmly in people's memories as having some great racing action in the steep wide berms.

The Chicksands Bike Park managers and the Old Skull Race Team wanted to start a grass roots series for beginners who would like to try 4x for the first time right through to seasoned pros looking to keep their snap in top condition over the winter period. There is nothing like it currently in the UK and usually 4x goes into hibernation at the end of the British 4x series and isn't seen again until spring. We were all bored of this and wanted to race, so here we are!

With the recent damp weather, it’s given the sandy track a nice tacky surface and the Chicksands Bike Park team, Old Skull Team and locals have been out tweaking and perfecting the track making sure everything is in tip top condition for the Winter Series opener.

The view from the gate. Riders ready

The first corners in the track are now wider and more open, and have had the steps/logs removed from the inside line into the second corner. So many more possibilities for some close elbow to elbow racing!

The track has been changed in a few places the last couple months. One notable change is to the Triple. It was one of the original features of the track, and a lot of people’s favourite jump. But this has now been overhauled and become a large double gap on the right hand half and a rollable/jumpable quad on the left hand side.

The new quad double jump on the track.

The last two corners on the track provide more opportunities for overtakes. Get complacent here and you could lose your moto!

About a third of entries have already been booked. This event will be limited to 150 riders, so pre-enter using the link below if you would like to secure your place. But don’t say we didn’t warn you if you can’t get a spot! Entry is £20 if you use the entry link below before 11.59pm on Saturday, but it’ll cost £25 on the day. Enter using the link below.

Eventbrite Winter 4x Series pre-entry.

For more information check out Chicksands Bike Park or Old Skull Race Team.

The series is being sponsored by:

photo

Dartmoor Bikes, Rubena Tyres, Identiti Bikes, Halo wheels, Gusset components, ODI grips and TSG protection.

4x is dead. LONG LIVE 4x!

Author Info:
tuftii avatar

Member since Apr 13, 2008
1 articles

43 Comments
  • 20 0
 i really fancy getting into 4x and this sounds sweet but chicksands is a bit of mission for me
  • 2 1
 Same here, 200 miles away for me
  • 6 0
 well over 200 for me Frown
need some up north events! theres no dirt or 4x events up north
  • 2 0
 hamsterley have run 4x races... there just isnt any 4x tracks up north really apart from hammers
  • 1 0
 There was a Help For Heroes 4x race there a couple of months ago. It would be nice to host something up north though. Smile I'm not sure if Harthill counts as north enough (Chester ish).
  • 2 0
 Harthill is guff
  • 1 0
 hamsterly decided to cross there dates with dirt wars though so i couldnt go! Razz

should do a big race day at bowlhills or whatever its called in spring
  • 5 1
 I live 2 miles from Chicksands and it's brilliant
  • 4 0
 theres forts 4x track
  • 3 1
 oi all you whiners about living far away, we do too, we're just carpooling! Get some mates, fill up your car (or even overfill!), get a rack and split the fuel 3/4/5 ways! Easy!
  • 1 0
 I think time is also what gets them
  • 1 0
 We do tht 1nce a month
  • 2 0
 Gmanpl0x hit the nail on the head... With 3 kids, a mrs and a full time +call out job, fitting in a day out with the lads needs to be planned in advance!
  • 2 0
 I would love to do some 4x racing as well, however Chicksands is a bit of a trek for me.
  • 4 0
 I wish sick events and places like this were only 200 miles away from me! Here in southern Michigan (mountain bikers worst nightmare), I have to drive like a minimum of 400 miles to anywhere sweet....
  • 4 1
 Don't be afraid of the weather, Chicksands is the best place to ride in the wet. I have entered and the only thing I'm afraid of is how to balance on that bloody gate, best start some practice on my radiator
  • 2 0
 Come down to Chicksands on Saturday and we should have the gates up and running!
  • 4 0
 good an easy way to learn is to just put the front wheel against a wall or a tree, if you can find a slight incline even better. Put most of your wieght on your front foot then use your knees to shift wieght left an right, practise both standing and sitting.
it will become very natural very quickly Smile
  • 2 0
 Nice write up. Tho have realised that this will be only the 2nd 4x race I've entered... And look how the first one ended!! Bring it on Big Grin
  • 3 0
 Looking 4ward to it Sunday
  • 1 0
 Im sure that's me on the homepage image!!! Does anybody have a link to the full size image?

Also will be there as long as my cold goes away!!
  • 1 0
 www.pinkbike.com/photo/8925088 is the link to the full size photo Smile
  • 1 0
 Haha, that's me! Does this count as making it onto the Pinkbike home page Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Are you the one pulling off the aerial maneuvers?
  • 1 0
 No I'm the 3rd rider in the shot! hidden behind the guy in the green and yellow jersey!
  • 1 0
 That's me laying down some OTB!
  • 2 1
 Shame its on the same Day of the PORC race or i would have had a go at this one, Maybe round 2.
  • 2 0
 whens round 2? need to get my nukeproof built up asap
  • 1 0
 It'll be sometime in the new year. The organisers are going to nail down some dates soon.
  • 1 0
 +1 for next rounds
  • 3 0
 We need 4x in the u.s.
  • 2 0
 Correction: bring back 4X to the U.S.!!!!
or at least more dual slalom...
  • 2 0
 yea like start a race series like the Britain pro tour but on the east coast or out west
  • 1 0
 I'll be there, cant wait to get back to chicky again. Superb venue for some fun bike riding Smile
  • 1 0
 i'm afraid about the weather
  • 1 0
 Forcast is giving dry at the moment. Chicksands only gets grippier in the wet anyway Smile
  • 1 0
 we rode Chicky in the rain a few weeks ago an its still a very fast tacky surface,untill the point of water actualy flowing down the course then it did get a bit too much Smile
been missing 4X at ChickSands for a loong time

any body know if theres gonna be a full suss/DH bike class?
  • 1 0
 Classes are on the websites, we're only having classes by age. It's all against all!
  • 1 0
 I came here to see the photo in the thumbnail! WHERE IS IT!?
  • 1 0
 Thanks!
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