Shimano BDS, Rhyd-Y-Felin 2016 - Practice Report

May 28, 2016 at 15:02
by Yasmeen Green  
The BDS rolled into the small town of Llangynog, home to Revolution Bike Park in Powys, Wales. A packed house of 250 riders signed in to showcase their skills on this, one of the favourite tracks on the BDS calendar.

Practice started at 09:30 with riders using the famous and most efficient Pearce Cycles uplift system of Land Rovers and trailers to shuttle them up the hill. With the uplift running until 18:00 a number of riders entered into double digits for training runs with time to spare for lunch and a few short breaks. Live timing is now in place for all rounds of the BDS throughout practice. This gives the riders live trackside data from each training run. A private track that showcases big jumps, technical dense woods, and berms. Though the morning started off with a misty veil of cloud it soon cleared up and the sun was out. Are we in for another dusty, sunny weekend of fast and loose riding?

Shimano BDS Rhyd-Y-Felin 2016

Off the uplift, the riders had a small push up to the start to witness the stunning Welsh countryside that Powys has to offer. They then rode onto a straight loose gravel section and into the first few berms.

Shimano BDS Rhyd-Y-Felin 2016

Riders were then brought into the woods where they hit the first jump. A quick peek out into the open riders were then straight back into the woods. Rutted berms and roots had the riders getting pretty sketchy.

Shimano BDS Rhyd-Y-Felin 2016
  Smile on her face. Tahnee Seagrave cruising down the track.

After another short rutted, tight wooded section, the riders were airborne with the jump section. Perfect opportunity for riders to get stylish on the bike.

Shimano BDS Rhyd-Y-Felin 2016
  Kade Edwards going big on the jumps

Shimano BDS Rhyd-Y-Felin 2016
  Off the last of the jumps and into the woods.

Back into tight woods. Ruts, roots and a slick layer of mud was a dangerous combination when riders were speeding down a tight section.

Shimano BDS Rhyd-Y-Felin 2016
  One to look out for tomorrow, Katy Curd was looking pinned on the bike all practice

Shimano BDS Rhyd-Y-Felin 2016
  Over the stump or around it? a line for the racers to think about.

Out of the woods and into the open. The stump section. This section really allowed racers to get creative with their lines. Stump gaps being a big decision for most riders. A few more berms carried the riders into the last wooded section. Most riders legs were burning by then. More loose mud had riders holding on and pushing through.

Shimano BDS Rhyd-Y-Felin 2016

Shimano BDS Rhyd-Y-Felin 2016
  The dry track had riders flying at top speed all the way down, Laurie Arthur having a bit of a slip-up.

A drop sent the riders through to the flat out grassy corners, tucking low, jumping and a sprint across the finish line. Coming to the end of practice elite riders had the track to themselves, allowing them to get a full practice run in.

with elite riders only ion track Matt Simmond going flat out for his timed practice run.
  With elite riders on the track, Matt Simmonds was going flat out for his timed practice run.

Phil Atwill had a practice time of 3:15.379 giving him the fastest practice run of the day. The legend, Steve Peat followed under a second away in second. Also under a second away from Phil, Michael Jones had the third fastest time in timed practice. Live practice times here.


MENTIONS: @BritishDownhillseries / @shimano / @TheHillsAreAlive



Author Info:
TheHillsAreAlive avatar

Member since Oct 7, 2013
26 articles

22 Comments
  • 7 0
 BDS is short for.....BaD asS!
  • 3 1
 I dont understand how that before last picture is possible, how is the guy doing ? There s nothing to block the wheels !¡¿ or he jumped and failed ? Big Grin
  • 2 0
 Crazy looking picture without a doubt
  • 3 0
 @pav4: Bubba Scrub
  • 3 2
 "bit of a slip-up" politely implies fail ...
  • 1 0
 @TheUnknownMTBR: I like to think of this picture as someone who is using trees as berms.
  • 1 0
 He landed a bit too close to that stump and was trying to get past it. He was rolling backwards down the track a second later!
  • 4 0
 No Athertons at this one? Must be busy digging Dan's bike Park.
  • 23 20
 I heard gees busy at personality camp
  • 8 6
 He s training his terminator interpersonal skills for fort bill, he will need them to beat Hart
  • 4 0
 Peaty!
  • 1 0
 Would be something to get to watch all the racing live redbull TV just isn't enough
  • 3 0
 Come on Phil you champ!
  • 1 0
 Looks like he was pitched forward after a corner maybe,good photo timing ????
  • 2 0
 Will Longden's pinned
  • 2 0
 Come on Slugger!!!
  • 2 2
 smile on her face? Looks more like an "oh poop, am I going to die ..." moment to me, lol
  • 1 1
 Definitly not a smile
  • 1 0
 @DH7Abbie go for it today superstar
  • 1 0
 Live practise is sweet!
  • 2 2
 So they're not actually racing at Revs then?
  • 2 0
 Next door,just a bit further up the valley.







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.025620
Mobile Version of Website