Date of ride March 20th 2011; Bike used Commencal Supreme; No. of persons Multiple; Weather Overcast; Ground conditions Dry
After leaving the rest of the crew in FoD, two of us made the journey up the A49; myself and the inimitable Mr Lewis. We were hoping for a cheeky sneak peek of the track we’d race on 3rd April in Hopton. As usual the standard of riders at these extremely well-run Pearce cycles events was very high; Pearce Cycles’ very own Owain James in particular shredding on his amazing Bos-suspended new Specialized Demo. A beautiful ride. Perhaps one that should be making it into the MTB press for a review sometime soon? Come on Dirt Mag!
The uplift was as efficient as ever with three Land Rovers crawling or smashing their way up the hill, depending on who was piloting, once one of the Landys had its alternator sorted.
Big Lewis gets onboard a Landy
At the top we quickly scouted about and decided on the possible track for two weeks time. It seemed like the one used last year, due the high numbers of Pearce Cycles riders scoping out lines, so we cracked on and got busy.
It started on the top mound with a slight straight, and I quickly learned to go round the little tabletops rather than over them as you had to be right on the gas as the track beared right and the first feature; a surprisingly long, six foot double that we had to session to make cleanly. Clearing the downside the transition spat me out into some berms and a little floating jump before another berm catapulted me into a tighter wooded section. Diving left between stumps and trees, the track bermed right and opened out, giving multiple line choices. I chose a relatively straight line, over a tree stump fashioned into a kicker and it was onwards over a tricky big stump that needs more practice on before the race, and the track opens onto a clearing.
Over some more little kickers, full on the gas, before braking hard for a right-hand berm across more multiple lines through a coppiced section before getting to a big felled tree. Up, over and steep down the other side, this tree was tricky. Not too fast or I’d have too much speed to gain a good line for the next section. Saw Richard Cunynghame from Dirt Mag, float over this onboard his Charge sled, and and proceed to an impeccable line through to the woods. Hold a line? That boy can! Sweet.
Holding a line into the woods (Photo: Emma Lenton)
And so we followed the Dirt boy down into the woods, where it seemed next week’s track took a left over the first proper rooty affair. Then it was straight over these roots and stumps to a left then sharp right berm for the next tricky feature. A gap jump over a bomb-hole, only small at around six foot long but I needed to be on the gas through the preceding right hand berm in order to clean it or the wrists were punished hard. This took a few runs to gain the bottle, but I was pleased we’d both conquered it and gonna be able to incorporate it into our race run.
There was another little tricky section with multiple line choice before the trail spat us out onto a fireroad. From there, the end was in sight. Some tight singletrack with yet more line choice before the hill dropped away, getting steeper as the trail opened up into some sweet berms, a double and then a big step-down that launched me fifteen foot down the hill onto an enormous, rutted right hand berm, spitting me across the hill with a few tight corners before the last two jumps.
Lining up for the step-down (Photo: Emma Lenton)
The first was tricky as the take-off kicked the rear of the bike up and threatened to hurl me over the bars. Sit back on that one, I thought. The last was lovely, a huge tabletop that was great to catch the downside, some more talented riders throwing in the whips to please the waiting crowd. Should be a good race, let’s hope the weather is dry like it was here. Who knows, it’ll still be a blast
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