No Way In Hell Enduro (9th April 2011)

[K6K]

http://www.silverbullet.co.nz/event.php?id=7888

Anybody doing this one next week?

[EXCDirt]

Hmmmmm? Maybe?
Sounds like a hard race? Need new tyres, fit grabs straps etc.
How many people enter?

[K6K]

Hmmmmm? Maybe?
Sounds like a hard race? Need new tyres, fit grabs straps etc.
How many people enter?

There won't be much to match it difficulty wise in NZ at least for trail rides and enduro's as they all pretty much take the line of least resistance. The Scott's take any line that is marginally possible. Unlike last year I think it is forecast at this stage to be dry on Saturday so some of the nasty hills may be a little easier. New tyres will be a must though! From what I have heard and from the silver bullet event information it is planned to be on a harder base than last year so there shouldn't be any long deep grovel sections. I expect there will be drop offs into rivers, hard rock sections and an endurocross type section at the start area. No idea on what else to expect. I'm just planning to do the clubman "see how far you can get" class...

[Rupe]

yeah ment to be, not going to take it to seriously though and brake me or the bike. Always good to ride places a bit different that have limited access

[Rupe]

New tyres will be a must though! .

mmm mine are pretty shit, I was goin to use this to finish them off. You reckon I will need to put new rear on?

[K6K]

mmm mine are pretty shit, I was goin to use this to finish them off. You reckon I will need to put new rear on?

Oh yes, it doesn't matter how dry it is there will be some big hills and downhills where you will be fighting for grip, you would want as much as possible. Finish the tyre off the tyre somewhere like the farm!

[Rupe]

whos still going, or not?

[K6K]

whos still going, or not?

just finished putting on new tyre, oil change and generally sorting everything out. Early start tomorrow, race starts at 9am....sign in 0800 to 0830.

[honda_power]

wish i could go this year, got unfinished business as broke my hand over a tree last year, unfortunately bent lots of shit and snapped my exhaust off last weekend so postponed till next year for me. good luck to all who give it a go

[GPS MAN]

I have got to get myself a off road bike...that looks like fun...well a challenge anyway...

[takitimu]

I believe the plan is the track get's progressively harder, in other words they'll open up more bits every time the leaders come through.

[Keithf]

I hope you young bucks have a heap of fun

[Rupe]

that was very hard, hardest ride I've ever done, and way harder than wires/gutbuster. managed one whole lap only, which aparently was hardest as it it got cut up so bad. Had some good crashes and real sore today, but great experience.

[K6K]

I agree, hardest ride Ive ever done by a long way. That said I have to say even the hard bits were fun, some of the downhills were f*%king nuts though good to get down to the bottom in the end. I think I had the skill to make my way though most of it (with difficulty and slowly!) and I don't class myself as anywhere near an expert, I am a slow intermediate at best. As there were only 30 entrants in the end I was probably the slowest out there! Fitness failed me in the end, as I get more tired what skill I do have gets that much harder to apply!
The rider briefing stated that 1 down arrow was equivalent to a normal enduro double and three arrows was get off your bike to get down if you want to live. There was one section on the first lap with a 2-3 metre vertical drop slip with a very tight transition at the bottom where there was only one arrow. At the time I was thinking where are the other bloody arrows! I pushed my bike off it anyway. The triple arrow downhill on the first lap was pretty cut up by the time I got there which showed the way, it was pretty much a downhill swamp/waterfall! Bulldogging it down the front would land in steps that the front riders created causing the back wheel which was usually higher than my head to flip over and mostly land on me. There were some seriously slippery rocks too. It seemed crazy that you could be on the steepest hill pushing as hard as you could (down!) to get the bike moving but as soon as it did move you were doing all you could to stop it and mostly just along for the ride.
I found the hill climbs the most fun, they were mostly on long super steep sheep rutted hills but as it wasn't wet they were mostly manageable. I would probably class most of the hills as AA's but probably harder than any I've done on any trail rides. I don't think there was a AAA hill on the first lap. There was one hill with quite a technical start with little room for run-up but it was easier in the end than it looked. I tend to take mostly direct lines but I learned a lot about getting up just far enough and cutting out horizontally if need be by watching the Scott lads and the other marshals.
I think a lot of people seemed to be put off from last year, but if you like all the A bits at trail rides and like to try crazy hill climbs then this ride is fun. It is bloody hard and you probably would be cursing the Scott boys for their line selection at times or just wondering how they thought of a particular line at all. During the event you will also likely be questioning your own sanity at times for doing it. I did much better than I did last year but I still didn't get very far over the whole race distance so I'll give it another go next year.
Key points for next year:
A) Must have my bloody starter motor working. This ride is the worst ever to not have the button.
B) Now that Ive done some, I think I can be a bit less timid and quicker on the crazy bulldogging downhills.
C) Must spend more time in the Gym!

[Rupe]

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKsqbusuMy4

Heres a vid someone took of part of the start, shows some of the hills the buggers made us go up and down at the end.