Epic Blast

studiorat

Anyone doing this? Done it before?

davey101

Yeah ive done it before and all i can say is DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!. This years event is a two day set up and will be even better than before. Its a crazy mix between downhill and XC but rideable by all.

zil

I did it last year. It's great fun, complete madness but great fun. I'm planning to do it again this year, hopefully with a bit more success (last year I did quite well in the heats but on the main event my shorts ripped in half at the start line, wrapped themselves around my seatpost while still attached to my waist and I ended up going over most of the jumps unable to stand on the pedals which made for some spectacular crashes).

Supposedly this year Gee Atherton is going to be be doing it and there's also a special "fox hunt" event with the plebs getting a head start and Gee having to try and catch up and pass as many people as possible before the finish line.

studiorat

zil wrote: »

I did it last year. It's great fun, complete madness but great fun. I'm planning to do it again this year, hopefully with a bit more success (last year I did quite well in the heats but on the main event my shorts ripped in half at the start line, wrapped themselves around my seatpost while still attached to my waist and I ended up going over most of the jumps unable to stand on the pedals which made for some spectacular crashes).
.

Very Father Ted. Gonna give it a whirl, was wondering about roping in a beginner to come along. I reckon they'll be OK???

zil

studiorat wrote: »

Very Father Ted. Gonna give it a whirl, was wondering about roping in a beginner to come along. I reckon they'll be OK???

If they've never been on a mountain bike before I wouldn't recommend it, but if they've been out a couple of times and have a bit of confidence they should be fine, all the jumps have chicken runs and none of the single track is that technical.

studiorat

Ah no they're not a complete noob, they've been in Ballinastoe before
It'll be their first time in a large group though.

No gaps then? Makes me happy too!

So what's the story? Just rock up and sign in on the day?

zil

Ah they should be fine then. I brought a guy along who'd only been out on the bike a few times last year, he just counted to ten after everyone started so he wouldn't get stuck with all the fast lads and took his time.

The course changes each year so I couldn't say for sure what would be on it but I'd be very very surprised if there'd be any any gap jumps and if there were they'd definitely have a chicken line around them.

More info will be coming closer to the date but from what I understand there will be online registration but pay on the day, fyi the blast is a two day event this year aswell.

Tenzor07

zil wrote: »

If they've never been on a mountain bike before I wouldn't recommend it, but if they've been out a couple of times and have a bit of confidence they should be fine, all the jumps have chicken runs and none of the single track is that technical.

It's defo not for anyone who hasn't been on a mountain bike before, better just go and watch the event, it's a real expierience for sure!

The Single-track will be fast and flowing, the jumps will be amazing, chicken runs will loose you a heap of time...

Tenzor07

zil wrote: »

fyi the blast is a two day event this year aswell.

Yeap, 2 day event with camping in Roundwood: http://www.madmtb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7457

C3PO

studiorat wrote: »

So what's the story? Just rock up and sign in on the day?

Definately not ...... Online sign-on but pay on the day! As far as I know it will be first 300 only! It's going to be even more special than usual this year!

http://www.theepicblast.com/

Sr. Assumpta

OhMyGod! Watch the video on the link above ^^^^^^ MAYHEM!!!!!!!!

Air_Bass

Anyone know the price of entry for the Epic Blast ?
Would love to have a go, just not sure if I'd be able to make it out to Wicklow on both days though.

pointer28

Hi Guys,

What's this like as a spectator event? Can you see any action or just the finish line?

I'd love to take part sometime in the future but don't have an MTB at the moment so spectating will have to do for now if it's worthwhile.

easygoing39

pointer28 wrote: »

Hi Guys,

What's this like as a spectator event? Can you see any action or just the finish line?

Its great,and bring a camera or camcorder and stick it up on the web.

Tenzor07

pointer28 wrote: »

What's this like as a spectator event? Can you see any action or just the finish line?

This will be Ireland's number one bike spectator sport event, 300 guys on bikes barrelling downhill as fast as they can through singletrack, fireroad, over rocks, tree stumps, berms and jumps!

Tenzor07

Sign on now!

http://www.theepicblast.com/sign-on.html

Ciaran500

Starts tomorrow.

So who's in? Get to see the track?

studiorat

Ciaran500 wrote: »

Starts tomorrow.

So who's in? Get to see the track?

Yes.

Me. No.

davey101

I'm in.
And i've resisted temptation on getting a sneaky spin in so i'm saving the track as a surprise :eek:
That way i will either have to jump it, drop it, roll it, fall it or look for a chicken run

Ciaran500

studiorat wrote: »

Yes.

Me. No.

Walked down it the other day, its gonna be fun. The rain has turned it into a swamp most of the way down.

zil

Ciaran500 wrote: »

Walked down it the other day, its gonna be fun. The rain has turned it into a swamp most of the way down.

I've heard vicious rumours that the finish line has been moved from the carpark to a field a little further up and the last 100m are lung buster of a climb, any truth to them?

Ciaran500

zil wrote: »

I've heard vicious rumours that the finish line has been moved from the carpark to a field a little further up and the last 100m are lung buster of a climb, any truth to them?

****...

Nothing setup for the finish that I could see, but I wasn't looking at the bottom. Just assumed it was in the usual place.

fenris

Don't forget the Mini Blast for the kiddies tomorrow afternoon, 13:00 sign-on and 14:00 race - they even get an uplift!

studiorat

Ciaran500 wrote: »

Walked down it the other day, its gonna be fun. The rain has turned it into a swamp most of the way down.

Well that was a waste of a new front tyre...

Ciaran500

studiorat wrote: »

Well that was a waste of a new front tyre...

Just putting my brand new swamp thing on my front, really hope it will give me some grip. Wish the first time I'm on it wasn't in anger though

fenris

There was a couple of lads that made it down without any tyres - kids these days!

Ciaran500

One run down, 3 more to go. Don't think it can get any muddier at least.

Slideshowbob

what time is it on?

Is there one event or a few?

any timetable?

thanks

C3PO

I would get up to Ballinastoe from lunch time onwards - it will really be worth a look! Three different events on the day culminating in the Epic Blast proper!

zil

http://www.theepicblast.com/the-event.html

zil

Ciaran500 wrote: »

One run down, 3 more to go. Don't think it can get any muddier at least.

Not going to do the foxhunt? It's 4 runs if you include that, dunno what my plan is, might skip the heats and do the blast and the foxhunt - don't think I could mange 4 runs at race pace. Ideally I'd do the heats at an easy pace and be fresh for the blast but once the competitive juices start flowing I doubt I'd be able to hold back :P

Bluefoam

zil wrote: »

Ciaran500 wrote: »

One run down, 3 more to go. Don't think it can get any muddier at least.

Not going to do the foxhunt? It's 4 runs if you include that, dunno what my plan is, might skip the heats and do the blast and the foxhunt - don't think I could mange 4 runs at race pace. Ideally I'd do the heats at an easy pace and be fresh for the blast but once the competitive juices start flowing I doubt I'd be able to hold back :P

I thought the foxhunt was on today...

easygoing39

zil wrote: »

Not going to do the foxhunt? It's 4 runs if you include that, dunno what my plan is, might skip the heats and do the blast and the foxhunt - don't think I could mange 4 runs at race pace. Ideally I'd do the heats at an easy pace and be fresh for the blast but once the competitive juices start flowing I doubt I'd be able to hold back :P

Dear God,you must be very unfit if you cant manage 4 runs!!Its about 8 mins long per run and downhill!!!:eek:

Tenzor07

** Blast is Sunday....

Most will be lucky to make it down in under 20mins... Top guys in and around 11 or 12mins...

zil

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Foxhunt was today, Blast is Sunday....

G-time was today - foxhunt is tomorrow after the blast.

easygoing39 wrote:

Dear God,you must be very unfit if you cant manage 4 runs!!Its about 8 mins long per run and downhill!!!

Have you ridden the course? There's more than a few uphill parts most of which are covered in inch deep muck, I suppose if your dandying around you could do the course a million times but at race pace with 100% effort it's a different story.

Ciaran500

easygoing39 wrote: »

Dear God,you must be very unfit if you cant manage 4 runs!!Its about 8 mins long per run and downhill!!!:eek:

Its 15min if you're keeping a decent pace and offroad dowhill is very taxing on your whole body if you're trying to go fast. Then the uphill sprints wear your legs out and set your lungs on fire.

davey101

Lads lads lads..... What a fricken day it was today, Superb job done by epic mtb, best event ever!
It truly was Awesome. did well in my first heat (2nd) dont know where i came in the second heat, i heard the timer say 6 then 7 then 14 so i dont know if he was even talking to me, i finished in an acceptable position in the main blast (first 70 riders) not that it really matters i was Never going to win :eek: But makes it a bit more satisfying knowing.

easygoing39

Best mtb event ever held in Ireland,Epic really put on a professional show.Even as a spectater it was fun.This shows that even in gloomy cash starved Ireland,Irish people can get world market leaders (Redbull) and a World Champion (Gee) to get involved in a project that captures the spirit and fun that every person wants to experience on a barren windswept hill.Well done to Richie Byrne and Epic,and to the many people who whether they were members of Epic or not,just threw in their help and support.Epic as a club have shown themselves to be a caliber above the rest.

Tenzor07

Sure was an amazing event, anyone with even a vague interest in the sport would have come away from the Blast hooked! Mud, Sweat n'gears!

I don't think any sporting event in Ireland could be topped by what Epic have achieved for a small cycling club in Ireland, Helicopter film crew's, two World Champions, major sponsor, great atmosphere...

Ballinastoe woods was turned into a film set and party area for 2 wet and windy days in September!

Great to see Robin Seymour beating World-Class pro's to be crowned "Ireland's deadliest mountainbiker!"

silvo

Yep, have to agree, I had an amazing two days. The feeling of standing on the top of a mountain with 300+ other bikers with a helicopter following us down the heather wont be forgotten for a long time. I cant wait to see the footage! Some of the photos are amazing. I nabbed this one of a friends facebook:

studiorat

Truly Epic,
Spent most of the weekend rolling around in the mud like a dog.

Learnt, I need to be fitter, need to ride faster.

Ciaran500

Owwwww

Battered, bruised and exhausted today. Job done.

studiorat

was just sent this :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OaQgaYBko8

8 yr old make a show of us all...

fenris

He is an absolute flyer!
If he is not pedaling he is running the bike, they were only overtaken a couple of times on the video.

Just to rub it in some more, the mini blast - for the under 12s, the youngest kids on the day were 5, starts from approx. the 7 minute mark in the video.

Have a look then get out on your bike!

Ciaran500

Finally got my video up onto youtube. My G-time run from saturday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITnJ3XFF2qQ

Ciaran500

Official video is up now

http://www.redbull.ie/cs/Satellite/en_IE/Video/Foxhunts-Epic-Blast-off-in-Wicklow-021243084181536

Tenzor07

Wow what a film, a World Class event!!

Tenzor07

Hi guys, sorry for re-hashing an older thread....

There is a support page for the Epic Blast over on the Facebook, would be nice to get up to and over 1000 "Likes" to show your support for a great event and Mountain biking in Ireland generally...


www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Support-the-Epic-Blast/155771234523757