Event Reports

Not one of my better days out on the bike.

This could easily be written down as a tale of woe. But as I look back at the days events it wasn't a total washout, rather a day of, well...... just one of those days.

Myself and Andy were travelling up together and the 5:45 alarm call was a big enough shock to the system without the view from the window of rain, heavy rain. Arriving at Andys for half six we were soon loaded and on our way. With the motorway signs saying the M62 was closed, we drove on like everyone else hoping it was nightwork and the motorway would now be open. Er.. no. A detour heading into Dewsbury then back out again ate a chunk of our travel time. So it was pedal to the metal for my old Transit to make up some time.

The new route into the Forest made no difference to our time and we arrived with a good 45 minutes till my start time. A quick unload, sign on, butty, trip to the loo and donning of waterproof jacket saw me ready for the off.

The course seemed to be pretty much the same as earlier in the year. I got going but couldn't find my rhythm. Covering the ground reasonably well but knowning I could go faster and better was always in the back of my mind. Still, I was out there and enjoying it. The rain wasn't too bad and although quite snotty the course was ok. The first check was 37 minutes and when it was getting close to this it crossed my mind the possibility of losing time on the first check! But just then it appeared with the other riders sat waiting. I had four minutes to spare and it came down eight on the next lap, finding four minutes was going to be hard, but possible.

The next check took us back and had the fuel and test. At fifty minutes it was a long check so I figured on about forty for riding and ten for fueling. Sections known from previous events were rutted and snotty with quite a bit of legwork required. The tracks just kept coming until the test came up. It was very tight and bumpy. Crossing the tree alleys the wrong way numerous times, dropping onto old tracks then some new bumpy stuff. (Sorry to say but it didn't seem like one of the better tests in this Forest). Back onto the tracks after it and it was now close to the fifty minutes, damn!

With about four minutes to fuel up I topped the tank, got fresh goggles on and prepared for the tight check. First in and out of the check I was determined to try and make it on time. Pushing hard the ground was now a lot more chewed up in places. Keep moving, half an hour of work then you can ease up I kept telling myself. Gary Parr came past after a few minutes along with another lad on the same minute. Then Neil Boyd (very fast) from the minute after. As no-one else was in view it seemed I was going ok as everyone would be pushing. Exiting a corner the line intended was missed and my only option was a water filled rut come hole. Through it in seconds with a bit of a splutter I carried on but the bike wasn't right. Low speed stuff was ok but try to open it up and spluttering was all you got. Bugger, bugger, bugger!! Caryying on, it wasn't long before the following riders overtook me. One by one they went by and my chances of making the check went with them.

The check clock showed me as four minutes late. Once through it was off with the bumbag and try to sort it. A few minutes here could be made up on the long check. The large amount of wet, muddy gloop that sat around the carb didn't bode well. I could well make things worse. Minutes ticked by clearing mud out. The rain was cold now stopped, resignation set in, my day was done. Limping on seemed the best course of action. The bike was running so a trail ride back and then call it a day was the plan. Holding following riders up wasn't an issue as the course seemed very quiet.

The course was now pretty snotty, rutted and very slippery. With the bike spluttering and occasionally dying it wasn't a whole heap of fun and the course had become a bit of a slog. At the test start, just as the girl said "GO" it died, and wouldn't start. Mucho kicking did nothing. Check the fuel, damn!! nearly empty. With it put onto reserve and given a push it fired up and then followed the fire road back to the finish. Cruising in Andy was stood chatting, he'd called it a day after one lap. With my timecard held out the man took it and scrawled DNF on it.

The club had put on a big loop with lots of variety but the wet weather had made it hard work. Had it been drier it would have been a lot better but that's just the way it goes. It is an Enduro after all, a test of both man and machine and the conditions are the same for everyone. It's not put me off the venue though and no doubt I'll be there next year. Hoping for a drier day!