george formby
23rd November 2019, 16:32
Thought it might be appropriate to give a big thank you to the organisers and helpers of the Vintage Enduro held at The Farm (https://www.thefarm.co.nz/) last Sunday.
I have never "raced" before and had no idea what to expect. To prove this I rode into an electric fence 20mtrs from the start line, that's when I figured out what the wee arrows were for.:pinch: It also validated what they say about #13, my race number and starting minute...
The event was 4 x 21km loops and 4 time trials, shortened to 3 loops.
I DNF'ed due to the XR fork leg, which followed me into the electric fence, causing my left leg to give up after a couple of hours. A 160kg, 50kmh charlie horse. Pretty sure the rider thought I had a stutter as I asked him to get my bike off me so I could get off his bike. To clear that up, it was just the fence doing it's job.
Their were 2 loops (both should have been ridden twice but only the first loop had that pleasure) and they offered tight woods, clay tracks, steep hills, steep off camber sections, stream crossings, lots of roots and boggy bits. Something for everyone!
The courses and time trials were well marked, I just need to go to spec savers.
You could enter silver or gold depending on ability, I was disappointed they didn't offer a lead level. I rode some of the gold bits by accident.
I would guess their were 40+ riders on an amazing array of bikes, from a CR 500 to a Malcolm Smith lookalike on suitably vintage Suzuki twin shocker. He levitated everywhere.
Apparently the oldest rider was 72 and I guess the youngest to be about 12.
Other than the vintage classes they had a modern trail class. Man, those KTM 300's fly!
The whole event had a really friendly, helpful, fun vibe about it. I stopped to assist another rider a couple of times and everyone who came past asked if we were ok. My riding buddy (#13A) ended up stuck in a gold section. He needs glasses, too. Another rider stopped to help him extricate his PE400 from mangrove mud, the guy claimed he would have won otherwise. :first: Poor buggers were still there when the sweep came through.
All in all, for a casual trail rider of my ripeness it was a fantastic day and hugely fun experience. It took me right out of my comfort zone but without trying to kill me or my bike. I learned a truck load and hopefully have some new contacts to ride with. (Helpful Duncan from Whangas..)
Best day I've had for years.
If this is of interest, check out the rest of the Vintage Enduro rounds on Silver bullet (http://www.silverbullet.co.nz/events.php).
I have never "raced" before and had no idea what to expect. To prove this I rode into an electric fence 20mtrs from the start line, that's when I figured out what the wee arrows were for.:pinch: It also validated what they say about #13, my race number and starting minute...
The event was 4 x 21km loops and 4 time trials, shortened to 3 loops.
I DNF'ed due to the XR fork leg, which followed me into the electric fence, causing my left leg to give up after a couple of hours. A 160kg, 50kmh charlie horse. Pretty sure the rider thought I had a stutter as I asked him to get my bike off me so I could get off his bike. To clear that up, it was just the fence doing it's job.
Their were 2 loops (both should have been ridden twice but only the first loop had that pleasure) and they offered tight woods, clay tracks, steep hills, steep off camber sections, stream crossings, lots of roots and boggy bits. Something for everyone!
The courses and time trials were well marked, I just need to go to spec savers.
You could enter silver or gold depending on ability, I was disappointed they didn't offer a lead level. I rode some of the gold bits by accident.
I would guess their were 40+ riders on an amazing array of bikes, from a CR 500 to a Malcolm Smith lookalike on suitably vintage Suzuki twin shocker. He levitated everywhere.
Apparently the oldest rider was 72 and I guess the youngest to be about 12.
Other than the vintage classes they had a modern trail class. Man, those KTM 300's fly!
The whole event had a really friendly, helpful, fun vibe about it. I stopped to assist another rider a couple of times and everyone who came past asked if we were ok. My riding buddy (#13A) ended up stuck in a gold section. He needs glasses, too. Another rider stopped to help him extricate his PE400 from mangrove mud, the guy claimed he would have won otherwise. :first: Poor buggers were still there when the sweep came through.
All in all, for a casual trail rider of my ripeness it was a fantastic day and hugely fun experience. It took me right out of my comfort zone but without trying to kill me or my bike. I learned a truck load and hopefully have some new contacts to ride with. (Helpful Duncan from Whangas..)
Best day I've had for years.
If this is of interest, check out the rest of the Vintage Enduro rounds on Silver bullet (http://www.silverbullet.co.nz/events.php).