Gravity Enduro 2019

jvan wrote: »

So now that I've got Ballinastoe out of the way, I'm thinking about the next one I'll get to. Won't make Killaloe but I'm thinking of giving the Slade Valley one a go.
Will probably try and get over in the next couple of weekends but have never ever been so any pointers about finding trials, parking etc. Just want to get a rough of idea of what the place is like, cheers for any advice.

Contact the guys in one of the clubs in the area and see if you can tag along to a spin.

Anyone down in Killaloe this weekend, how are the conditions and trails?

iwillhtfu wrote: »

A club mate is down there said the place is class but the climbing is rough and the down hills are severe enough he got into a bit of bother on one of the runs had a big off.

Few clips I saw on Instagram look a bit more technical than anything from round 1.

iwillhtfu wrote: »

He was saying everything is manageable but you carry a lot of speed through the trails. He reckons if it rains it'll be interesting

More nice clips on their Instagram page today. Looked like varying surface types and more importantly dry conditions.

jvan wrote: »

https://youtu.be/5lwvDOjoBnc

Here's a video I found of stage 1, looks like lovely trails.

He actually has more if you search on his channel.

Subscribed a few months ago when I was thinking of hitting Ticknock for the first time - he has a heap of footage of stages from previous events all over the country :cool:

steamsey wrote: »

That's me! Trying to keep track of the Enduro stages over the years. Usually stick up practice day vids for anyone who can't make it but didn't make the practice day myself last weekend. Was interesting not doing the practice - was a lot of fun not knowing where to go - decent crash on 2, which I got away with by bailing off the bike, and managed to crash AFTER the finish line on 2 aswell.

Savage trails - would defo go back down.

No way, thank you, could loose a lot of time going through your channel.
I wondered watching stage 2 was it your first attempt and were you hitting it blind. Funny how one incident can then lead you making silly mistakes further down the trail. Its hard to clear the head and not to spend the next 3-4 corners rethinking what went wrong only for you come a cropper again.
And thank you again for taking the time to upload your videos.

I ride in Slade a lot. It's a great spot, but it's a small hill and the runs are all quite short. At the moment there are 6 'enduro' trails up there that IMBRC use in their own enduro league. They all involve a decent amount of climbing mixed in as well. Not sure how they well they compare to the longer stages in the likes of Carrick.

Having said that we did see some new lines being developed at the weekend, and old ones opening back up again, so maybe the plan is to have a greater number of short stages - 7 or 8 maybe? Either way it should be a fun race, and very interesting if it rains!

sparrowcar wrote: »

Hi Bogmanfan, what watch do you wear when riding.. asking for a friend

Patek obviously










But really I just use a Garmin

Round 5 Carrick, on this weekend, good luck to all doing it. Weather looks decent for a change. Seem to have knocked a stage off, 5 compared to last years 6 but seemingly a couple of stages starting higher up. Doesn't seem that long ago that it was coming up to round 1 in Ballinastoe!

I was anticipating over 30km so don't mind its only 23.

I'd have to agree, while I went quicker than I have before, I was disappointed with my result. It was not a surprise as I knew I lost a lot of time from small mistakes, playing it too safe and not knowing where I was going particularly on 3. 4 seemed to go the best out of the lot. 1 and 5 I had practiced but was not in the zone for 1 and I was a bit tired at end of 5.. No crashes though so that's something and the bike was perfect. As someone mentioned on the day the stage that you felt went best is not necessarily your best. I was sure I had done a good job on 2 but turned out 4 was relatively the quickest.. I did enjoy 4 I did well on the top section and was fairly consistent lower down as well. Hoping to get back to carrick next weekend to see if I can do some bits better while its fresh in my head. Savage weekend out on the bike all the same.. amazing trails. Didn't hear any complaints about the pedally bits either!

Had a long post typed out but lost it.
Much like yourselves, once entered in a race i want to do well or at least do myself justice, despite claims to the contrary. I'm used to finishing a bit further up in xc even when I had much less fitness than I do now. I'm trying to take the positives. I knew even at the time where a lot of the time was lost, mostly it was from taking bad lines but usually on less techy bits, missing a berm or rut, that ruins your momentum. Lesson there is to look further ahead. Happy with how I did the steep and rocky bits, on the roots I could have carried more speed. Cornering hasn't fully clicked for me on this bike, that will take time. Dont feel that I'm really pushing it there but thats what practice is for. Again trying to take the positives I felt for the most part that the bike was not ahead of me, I was able to put it where I wanted, which is important in Carrick with a lot of deep ruts and chutes. I'm hoping to get back to Carrick this Sunday actually while its still fresh in my mind
For next year I'll target races in locations that I know reasonably well and ride frequently. Onwards and upwards!

I'd agree.. it was fast.. all about carrying speed through those faster sections. And at higher speeds its easier to miss the line. Yeah, similar target as that.