Mountain Ash
06/04/03
The last race on the present course, a real shame. Forestry work starts soon on the upper section of the course there by destroying the bus stop section etc. Keep your eye on Dragondownhill for updates on which courses are being used this year and for results. The racing it's self was excelent, Mountain Ash in the dry is always very fast.
I didn't manage to get any pictures, due to a siezed brake on my first practice run. I did however manage to run back up to the last drop to take some video, before the end of practice.
(3.05mb .wmv)
2002
Mountain Ash is a course I have been waiting to do since last year when
it was really enjoyable, but this year it was even better, hot sunny day
transport spot on and a bone dry course what more could you ask for.
We got to the car park for about 8ish which was already full of
activity. People putting bikes together signing on and trying to get on
the first transport and already the sun was out and it was getting
warmer by the minute.
The transport was excellent which was 2 big tipper trucks and a horse
box, which between them could carry just about all the entries. We got
to the top with the usual ride down to the start and check out the
rumours that the first drop off had been heightened.
This was to be deemed untrue but who ever started it was good as a
lot of people were looking at it saying that they heard it was bigger.
The actual course was the same, as last year as far as I remember less
the bottom section, which had some minor changes.
The ground was dry and dusty and there was a lot of loose stones
around just to make life a little more interesting especially the first
right hander at the start. After getting only 2 practice runs as Stu
pinch punctured on his first right at the top, it was time to get the
transport for the first race run. Having got in the back of the horse
box we only made it about a 3rd of the way up the hill when it stopped
and we were told to go back and get the next one as someone had crashed
and they needed to get the ambulance up the hill. So there was about an hours wait before the trucks could actually get
up the hill. A lot of sitting around and sun bathing was done, lucky it
wasn't raining or there might have been some seriously unhappy people.
The wait meant all start times had gone to shit and it was near enough a
free for all but this kept every thing flowing. The second runs went a
bit smoother and more in order but none of this affected the timing
which was still spot on. The winners for the day in elite was 1st and
2nd the Atherton brothers and 3rd place for Nigel Page. Yet again Jason
Carpenter managed to pull off a good event, and supplied entertainment
in riding out of the back of the transport, no wonder he likes to put
big drops on his courses.
The extra security was good to see, unfortunately they couldn't stop
all the little bastards from putting logs on the track or people riding
trials bikes up the course.
Who ever it was who needed the ambulance I hope that they aren't to
badly beaten and will be back on their bikes and racing again soon
enough. Not to be out done though, I heard that the SAMS which was also
running on the same day needed and air ambulance so I don't know who has
been building there courses lately!
Else Where in the World....
The majority of elite racers weren't present, this is because they
were point chasing at Donhead. Unfortunate really as its not some where
I'd choose to ride instead of Mountain Ash but its what they get paid to
do. To top it off I hear they got messed about by bad timing 1 or 2
riders on reaching the end of there run being told "sorry we didn't get
that can u go again" I don't think so!
Text by Dom Rowe
Pics by Simon Rowe
Mountain Ash
11/11/01
Yet another great course, from the start you had about 5m before a 3
foot drop with a choice of line, either left over a rooty stump or right
around a bit of a rutted corner which proved a lot slower than it
looked.
From there around to the left straight down a fairly open track flat
out for about 100m. Around to the right and right again. You then had to
keep your speed well up over the first bus stop which had a big rock
slab at the top which was slippery as hell, which meant that any braking
put you on your arse at the bottom of the bank.
The track then carried on with another 2 bus stops before it dropped
down the hill more through a dry stone wall with another choice of lines
(big rock slab or around it) and onto a fire break. It was flat out, through another bus stop and back onto the
firebreak again. At the end of the firebreak section there was another
drop off and into a bit of single track with a few jumps and roots.
Across the main track and straight into a long pedally single track
section which contoured the main track rolling up and down this seemed
to last forever before you dropped down through a stream and into some
tight single track, with more jumps and roots to catch you.
It opens
out a bit into a slightly rocky section with numerous lines and drops
and then the final 100m sprint to the finish.
Bottom Line
This was an excellent course completely knackering, a huge choice of
lines and certainly left me with a feeling of needing to go and do some
training over the winter. worst crash of the day, his would have to go to me as I was claimed
by the first bus stop, which now owes me a rear mech.
Admin nightmare, this would have to go to me for not bringing my
spares box with my spare rear mech in it resulting in only having one
gear after managing to scrounge one (which wasn’t compatible) and 2
practice runs. Repairs, just replacing a rear mech and trying to stop
Stu’s front brake from squeaking.
Video 3.05mb .wmv
Dom Rowe
