Gravity Enduro 2022

steamsey

Just checked their website and the schedule is up for 2022

Djouce 11/12 June - Entries open 13 May

B-Stoe 9/10 July - Entries open 10 June

Cahir 13/14 August - Entries open 8 July

Carrick 3/4 September - Entries open 12 August

You used to be able to just enter them all in one go so will have to set reminders now for when entries open

Shame not to see Ticknock on there for so many years but delighted Djouce and Carrick are there. B-Stoe can be good but years ago it was too Coillte trail focused

Is the Grassroots format again - so one day's racing which is a bit of a shame and one initial selling point of the races was 2 days on the bike, but in any case it will be fun

prunudo

I suspect they are still reluctant to allow block booking due to covid. Things are looking up on that front but the last 2 years of cancelled and postponed events must make anyone organising something nervous to commit too far in advance.

Will probably do the 3 Wicklow ones as they are essentially on my doorstep. 5 months to get in shape now.

Gerry

Great news. Ill try do Djouce and Carrick. Hopefully having decent knowledge of djouce will help.

The format suits me as I wouldn't get to spend a whole weekend at it. Last year Carrick worked out great, was able to have 2 runs on 2 of the stages.

sparrowcar

Haven't raced for about 4 years now but might dust off the race Goggles this summer. Same as above sent haven't weekends free anymore so one day style racing suits perfect.

Now off to search Google on how to lose a dad bod in 5 months.... :)

prunudo

So entries opened this week, with a mixed format. Who's signed up. I'll be doing djouce and then Ballinastoe with a bit of luck.

fatbhoy

I'm down for Djouce and Ballinastoe, Saturdays. Hope it's dry.

Plastik

Entered also. Almost all of the dates don't suit for one reason or another. Went in for the Classic 5 stage format at Ballinastoe on the Sunday. Must head up and reacquaint myself with some of the natural trails. Didn't bother with the others. I'm over in Djouce with almost every spin I do and Carrick the slots left for Carrick just didn't suit.

fatbhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119100892#Comment_119100892

We were up in Ballinastoe last Saturday having a look. There are a few new trails being worked on, and presumably they'll be ready for the GE in July. We walked up one, and it looked well decent.

Plastik

Hopefully they don't use too many of the Coillte trails tbh.

Gerry

They won't use much of the coillte, last time it was expressway only. Ive signed up for ballinstoe and carrick, classic. bit gutted to be missing out on djouce though.

prunudo

Anyone been up around Djouce the last couple of evenings, saw signs and felling machine up near top of Dutch Gold last weekend. Hope they won't be felling around the trails until after the enduro.

fatbhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119152162#Comment_119152162

A mate was there the other day, saying they're clearing out trees around the top carpark.

Wailin

Was there for a walk today and they've felled below the middle carpark and have marked the start of river run for felling too unfortunately. Place will be in a right mess when they're done with it 🙄

prunudo

Sad to see but unfortunately they are commercial plantations. Its going to be a reality of many of the forests we use as most of them are of the age where they will be felled. Was in Hush yesterday and there is felling going on there too.

Plastik

All over. Was at Downs Hill for the first time in a while over the weekend and its seen some action too.

Wailin

My first time entering an enduro race and it was very good I have to say. I did the 3 stage mash up on the saturday and thought it was a great set up. Was nervous as hell on the first run but relaxed a bit more for the second. I probably should have went for a third run, particularly on stage 1 as I left some easy seconds there on the section after phantom. I was hoping to get into the top 20 in my class (veterans), but not to be and came in 26th out of 55 with a time of 8:55.

Overall it was a great experience and I'm looking forward to Ballinastoe. Really curious as to what they'll do for the stages there as all the natural trails are more or less gone.

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119200198#Comment_119200198

Was a good day, glad I went with the mash up version. Wasn't as quick as yourself but still happy with where I placed with lack of racing, getting older, injury and lack of confidence in the 3 years since last race. Stage 3 was my favourite and highest position but the pedally, flat corners and rooty sections of the other two aren't my strong points.

Likewise, it will be interesting to see what they do with Ballinastoe. Wouldn't take much to get stage 3 opened but starting lower down near zipper. Similarly, stage 2 is still more or less there. Not sure about 1, 4 and 5 though. Was up there on Sunday and noticed Big Vinnie is blocked off now. :(

Plastik

Anyone have a Strava for the Djouce 5 stages on Sunday? Interested to see what they used in addition to the Saturday 3.

Wailin

This is a map of the 5 stages. I watched a YouTube clip of stage 5. Looked absolutely awful, more of an xc route than enduro. Stage 4 not much better.

Stage 5 is at the start of this video.

https://youtu.be/XqjKxE4wWao

Plastik

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/preview-vitus-gravity-enduro-series-2022-ballinastoe.html

The 5 stages at Stoe next weekend.

prunudo

Nice historical nod to the area in naming the trail Junkers.

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/how-french-girl-guides-miraculously-survived-after-mountainside-plane-crash-34946585.html

Back on topic though, not mad on the idea of using so much trail centre for the enduro series, but sure we'll see how it pans out.

Joeseph Balls

Id love to do one or two of these, but I haven't done anything other than Coillte trails. I'd be fit enough but these trails look fairly rugged towards Coillte. Would it be OK for a relatively new comer to take part or is it for the more serious bikers?

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119291302#Comment_119291302

Of all of them, I would say Ballinastoe is the best one to dip your toe into enduro racing. The natural stuff there isn't too steep or technical.

prunudo

So Ballinastoe, to sum up in one word 'hot'. New trails are great particularly upper section of stage 3 and some nice work on new 4, didn't like stage 2 mind you (from an enduro point of view). I struggled for energy in the heat but enjoyed it all nonetheless. My lack of skills on big table jumps and some pedally sections let my times down but no mechanicals or injuries so won't complain.

Plastik

More or less the same as yourself. Set myself an arbitrary goal of top 50% vs the field and vs the M40's and failed on both, but not far off. Was very glad I had a slot as one of the first riders off because damn it was hot.

Was the first rider down stage 4. Came barreling around a corner about 3/4 of the way down to find some lad after ditching his bike on its side blocking the whole trail and him just sitting there on a tree stump. Tried to ride around and got stuck in a bush as he came strolling over giving out, telling me to relax, that I wasn't on a flippin' stage .. when within eyesight there was a load of stage tape all around him. No idea where he was going on how he got to where he was without having the brain power to figure out he shouldn't have been there. At least the bike was out of the way for the next rider down, but yer man was still standing in the middle of the line!

Wailin

Really enjoyed myself at stoe as well, did the mash up and it was great fun. I loved the mix of old and new trails for stage 1, very fast in parts and pedally in others. Stage 2 was all pump and pedal and not very "enduro" at all, my least favourite by a mile. Up to stage 3 and was flying until I hit a stump and otb, knocked me for six. The time was a non runner so back up for a second round of the 3 and managed a clean run on St 3 which was probably my favourite of the lot. I wanted to get another go at 3 since I only had one clean run but the bike was making weird noises when pedalling, I thought it was the freehub ready to go so called it a day. Happy enough with my time considering, came in 16th in my category out of 41, my goal was to be in top 20.

Going to head back soon to see what stages 4 and 5 were like for the classic. Nice to see an all natural stage being used (st4). Numbers were down compared to Djouce and I reckon the lack of natural had a lot to do with it.

prunudo

Well done on the placing, just shows you don't need big travel bikes to enjoy yourself and take part in races.

Wailin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119366811#Comment_119366811

Thanks, I have a bigger travel enduro bike but glad I brought the trail bike, it suited the trails there a lot better.

Will miss Cahir due to being away but will sign up for Carrick in September. Will also sign up for the GAP team enduro end of August. That should be good craic.

prunudo

Not sure if @steamsey is still around, so won't start a 2023 thread yet as its usually his baby.

But anyone signing up for any of the this seasons races, sales must be slow as they seem to be pushing them quite a bit on social media.

Ballinastoe is next month and personal undecided whether to take part, fitness is lagging this year and tbh, I wasn't a fan of the stages last year, good trails but not enduro trails imo.

Wailin

Not sure if I'll make ballinastoe myself this year as I've a minor operation due start of May. Might not be ready for the enduro a week later. But definitely going to enter the rest and the grassroots if I can get an entry. Slow uptake alright for the gravity enduros. Price hikes definitely a part to play but I reckon they will start to sell quickly as the time draws near.

steamsey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120461518#Comment_120461518

Am still around from time to time. Did the B-Stoe Mashup recently. Really enjoyed it but just wasn't fit enough to get a good time. All eyes on Djouce (doing the classic) and then the Grassroots Enduros in Hush and Bree. If anyone hasn't ridden in Hush before it's well worth a trip - as is Bree.

Wailin

Hush is one of my favourite places at the moment, and it's getting better with more trails opening up. You'd easily get 40k in and still not do all the trails there, unbelievable for such a compact area.

Never been to Bree yet but definitely will get down over the Summer.

Top Dog

Finally bit the bullet and I'm entered for the Enduro next week. Only the mash up on Saturday to see how it goes.

I have a question though in relation to gopro's or any other cameras - I've been through the rules and can't see anything about their use, though from the amount of footage on YouTube I figure it's common. What I really wanted to know though, is whether or not its OK to use a chest mount or does it have to be on the helmet? Personally prefer the POV from a chest mount, but the last thing I want to do is rock up to collect my number to be told I can't use the chest mount and not have a back up.

prunudo

First off, good luck with the race, main thing is to just enjoy it.

Don't personally use a camera but any event I've done I've often seen people wear chest mounted cameras and never noticed anyone being pulled up on it.

Wailin

What's Ballyhoura like guys? I've never been and its a good 5 hrs round trip for me. Is it all coilte trails that are used for the enduro?

Top Dog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120964747#Comment_120964747

There's so many off piste trails up there, I think they do their best to avoid the trail center stuff. Any videos I've seen of Gravity and Grassroots events there in the past have had very little coillte stuff. Though I suppose one of the new trails, Chunky Chops, could be used - but it's not the typical manicured trail.

https://youtu.be/MZ4jsUG3efc

Wailin

Dear Lord 😳. Looks like the enduro bike will be staying in the shed for this one! It's one for the trail bike by the looks of that.

Edit: Although I just had a look at some YouTube clips and the natural stuff looks class. Hopefully they'll stick to those trails with small sections of coilte stuff rather than other way around.

prunudo

Imo, the gravity series has become quite toned down. As good as Ballinastoe is now, they utilised far too much of the trail centre stuff without combining any of the older natural stuff, rather than opening it up, they've let them get over grown, for fear that people will use them, (again, just my opinion).

I did both Djouce (Gravity) and Bree (Grassroots) and have to say they even managed to tone down Djouce, Bree was a level up, not complaining, its good to get tested at an event.

Wailin

No comparison between grassroots and the gravity series. I think the numbers speak for themselves too with the grassroots selling out in 5 min, while gravity numbers are down by an average of 100 compared to last year. I did Djouce and Bree also and the difference was stark.

Top Dog

Posted on Facebook today

xxyyzz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120972735#Comment_120972735

It looked very pedally. I heard someone say it was 90% trail centre stuff. Not a great advert for the national champs.

Top Dog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121015341#Comment_121015341

That sounds pretty accurate for the mash-up anyway. It was 3 of the new, previously unopened and unridden black trails and one previously opened black trail (Chunky Chops - now renamed Free Bird 🙄). It was my first time doing a Gravity Enduro so I'd love to hear others feedback on whether it was representative of the terrain and features typically used for these events or not? I'm debating about entering Carrick at the moment

prunudo

I think its time they removed gravity from their name 🙂

Wailin

Vitus Pedally Enduro Series

Ceepo

So I bit the bullet and sign up for the GE in Cahir. (1st time doing GE) Only to see now that's it's 7 stages. Not sure my fitness level will stand up to this 🤔😂

Wailin

Best of luck Ceepo! Let us know how you get on and what you think of it compated to GR. I don't think I'll bother signing up myself.

prunudo

Not sure what the trail network is like in Cahir but I'd imagine the overall lenght will still be around 30km despite there being 7 stages. He'll be doing himself no favours if he runs 40km at short notice.

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121137979#Comment_121137979

I've done some of the trails in Cahir a few times. They're fine really. There is an older DH trail that they might use, there is a road gap on it that I certainly wouldn't be doing, not sure if would be normal for such a feature in GE. There's is also a new trail that they're supposed to be using. Not sure how that's going to stand up to a lot of bikes in it.

@prunudo I'm not sure of the overall distance as it will depend on some of the stages they use and where they finish. Some of them finish in the carpark, and it's a nice cycle back to the top form there. There is a few shorter trails as well so the cycle back up isn't as bad.

prunudo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121137737#Comment_121137737

Looks like you'll be okay, post on Instagram earlier, 24km and 900m of climbing, so not too bad.

Ceepo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121144181#Comment_121144181

Oh really. Hadn't seen that, not bad so. They must be short stages so. From memory of doing the GR last year, I think the overall winning time was around 6/6.30 mins for the 3 stages.

Ceepo

So I went over to Cahir for the practice day. First time doing a Gravity enduro, although I did a mash up before, so I can't compare to other GE events. Underwhelmed would be a fair comment. 7 trails, with approx 1200m of climbing and 25k of cycling. Didn't have my watch on so just going from what a few others were saying. Small numbers meant that there was no really atmosphere there at all I think there was less that 90 entered the classic. No food or water out on the course or at the car park at the finish area. The course lay out meant that you were only heading back to the car park at the end, while this wasn't a bad thing, if we knew there was not food or water out there, you could bring some more with you. A lot of people "mentioned" the lack of same. And I was fairly hungry finishing up. Luckily enough I had enough water with me. Only a hand full of Marshalls around. Trails themselves were similar to other years, stage one was way out to the right with a long cycle out to it and a long transition back to stage 2, stages 2.3.4.5 all in of the same trail. 6 was a new short trail, and 7 was from the open mountain back to the car park down some of the old DH trail. Grip was a bit hit and miss really, some sections were fine others had rock and roots so, lap of the gods really when you have limited skill😂. Cahir is local enough to me, which was the deciding factor in entering. I can't see myself doing GE again really, as I just don't the value in it tbh.

Tmr will be interesting if we get the weather that's forecast.