weeksy59

No such thing as last at Rheola mate. Well done to the lad!

Loads of people managed the RHS of the rock but as more and more hit that line it got worse and worse. The weekend before it was the same track and just as wet, but that part of the rock ran OK for most.

Lol it's funny watching that after seeing them all get to the bottom and saying the track was brilliant. Well, apart from a couple of bits, like where the camera was Massive respect to all riders who braved it. See you all in FW

@trailrippers: Mark the marshall pulled up next to me at the bottom and was shaking his head "they're all bloody nutters" :D :D

@Jaib06: The root drop into the carpet covered double was in honesty a crap-shoot. Due to the entry only about 20% of riders were getting over it as you couldn't carry enough speed. Well, you could if it was dry, but clearly it wasn't. My lad was one who was able to clear it, but then it was closed as rider after rider stacked it on there. Watching in practice was a comedy as rider after rider nearly exploded their forks and shock on compression after coming off the roots and landing with an almighty explosion. But as i wasn't racing it's not really my place, i made a few points to the organisers over the weekend about the track and the organisation. The biggest issue yesterday (and last weekend) was the utter lack of communication. The tannoy was pathetic and when it did work it was some random bloke talking about Charlie Hatton, not about "there's going to be an approx 45 mins delay as we have to...... " At times the riders were up at the top for 90minutes, but could easily have been a lot less if it had been communicated better to them. But as i'm guessing you know, we've had communication problems for the last 2 years at Rheola and the organisers don't seem to resolve the situation. I understand that they're busy... but surely one of the staff is able to do it ? Yesterday we waited an hour after the Juvenile and Youth were supposed to go up for race run. I spoke to the organiser and the answer to when they're going up was "well they should be up there now"... Yes if it was running to schedule they should, but i was standing looking at 10 of the Elites who hadn't even gone up yet and they were before the Juvenile/Youths. I'm not pissed off about any of it fella... I'm more disappointed that the track wasn't IMO fully finished. I understand the reason for a lot of that was likely the weather, but if that's the case, leave them out (but leave them out nicely) you/whoever could have diverted that lower section earlier like previous years and given a better run into the left line/jump.

@smithfeeble: I'm not going to argue with any of that fella. We were there the weekend before and i pointed out several of your points (as i'm sure did others) The point about it being the highest level DH, you couldn't be more correct... it's a poor showing that these things are being done on the fly rather than proper thought/planning and testing etc The double was poor according to everyone i spoke to and again, why not have it built months ago and bedded in, or just remove the sodding thing. If 95% of your riders are not hitting it, that tells you something doesn't it ? There was a fair few medics, looking at Roots and Rain there were 110 people who DNF/DNS and that's potentially a LOT of injuries and medics (ignore mechanicals and frustrated riders who went home early)

1. It seems from paddock talk there's a fair few broken bones, broken bikes and stuff, i repaired a few bikes for people this weekend but i don't fix humans :) 2. It was hard from an organiser perspective as they have to get people off the hill, sorted out and back up with medics etc... I kinda get it. We've had some shit-shows with Gravity, but this weekend wasn't on them (sort of) 3. Part of the problem was a couple of new 'features' they'd added this year, however without being too brutal, they were a sodding disaster build, they were a complete and utter disgrace and should never have been signed off by British Cycling. At least 50% of the crashes were on newly built features... Not because they were new, but because they were poorly built/planned. 4. You're not wrong, my lad came down after being at the top for 90 mins and not getting to race, first thing he said was "well, at least i didn't have to ride it again" LOL. 5. friday would be tough as people work, school, college etc... I couldn't pull my lad out of school for example as he has his GCSEs in a couple of month.

One of my toughest weekends as a parent/spanner/support crew. It was hell for the riders In Youth there were 20 DNF/DNS

@XC-Only: I hear you but in the UK there's very little in the way of dirt bike friendly tracks anyway, they're walker/horse/bicycle only for the majority. Certainly in southern UK we're seeing more ebikes but the large majority buy them for trail centers rather than a day out in the hills, although further north in Lakes/Peaks/Tweed valley it's more for big days out. But I don't see they're affecting the balance in terms of hatred of cyclists here. Although I may be wrong. Cyclists are seen as a lower form of life compared to walkers, cars, horses, I'm not sure they can go lower in the public's eyes. That's sad but a fair assessment of things here. Either way, irrespective of what you, I or anyone on PB says, ebikes are here to stay and will only grow in terms of riders on them. 'we' are not going to change that.

@redrook: I picked one up from MTBMonster this week for exactly £3000 in Mulberry mate. It looks like they've gone up slightly again now. I've not weighed mine but it's say it's slightly heavier than my Rise H10 2022 model. But i have to admit i do like the colour. I've not ridden it yet as i was fitting a set of Codes and new rubber on it yesterday.