malthebear

Mustapha dance, absolute banger!

Got two Spaniel trail doggo's, couple of things I found helpful (well with number 1, number 2 just learnt from copying number 1), get them to understand and follow a good 'heel' command when walking off the lead (ie: walking on your heel and not cutting in front of you - although a gentle prod with the boot reminds them why they shouldn't cut in front and gets them back in line). Once you've both got the hang of this try transferring it onto two wheels. The 2nd, and it sounds worse than it actually is, had a couple of incidents with both when they were learning where they cut in front on a descent and ended up with tire buzz to the backside, soon gets the message across, now they just track the back wheel on the downs. Group rides are interesting, as both of them find the fastest rider and just stick with them, so much for loyalty. Probably worth mentioning that both of mine are girls so slightly less 'strong willed' than boys are. Hope it helps.

@iaiaiano: Haha class! I had resigned myself to calling it a day and walking back to the finish, never been so happy to find someone else's cast offs.

To the person who left their chain at the finish on stage 4....cheers! Snapped my mech and canibalised my chain in the rear wheel just before the finish, found a perfect replacement to bodge it into singlespeed at the finish line in amongst the loam. On a side note, awesome event that keeps getting better every year!

You missed Pace!

Nice looking design from a safe european home.

@Mtmw: That’s the other side of the river mate, steel and chemical works on the south side, nuclear power station and oil refineries on the north. Nice contrast to North Yorkshire Moors national park on the doorstep but it’s home, good to see the our Danny keeping it real though, good to see him mentioning the local scene as well, now if he could stop setting ridiculous KOM’s on my local trails that would be great!

First race! Talk about a babtism of fire, however saying that I'm a local lad so kind of use to similar mud/gloop, most fun I've had falling off my bike in a long time, especially the bottom half of stage 5. Felt sorry for the marshalls on the Saturday, it wasn't their fault you were running a semi-slick on the rear. Like others have said, it's grim up north and rarely dry, everyone had to ride the same tracks so suck it up, man up and get amongst it! Ps. Thank you to guy who saved my life at the start of stage 2, (was doing the sprint so this was the final stage for me), asked jokingly if he had any spare hope pads, got the reply sintered or organic, absolute legend/life saver. Two days of riding in that mud completey destroyed my brake pads.