southerndownhill.com - Forum

Round 5 is nearly here.
whos doing it?
any one know what track there going to use?
should be a good race  :)

robbie.

from what i gather the trak starts at the new start - straight down the new forest section with jumps in - onto new open section which is mint! into wood again (think it was used for first round of winter series?) - fairly flat with couple  new jumps, out over fire road into switch backs (which u can only just see as majorly over-grown) off drop over small fire road into berms, off the rooty corner, then goes left onto what i think is old nationals track? (correct me if wrong?) which finishes to the right of the big tabletop used at rd2 - I think this is right as the other fields are full of corn so can't use. Can't wait!!!!!

i will be there i can't wait either ! the track sounds really jumpy from what i have been told by numerous people !....should be fun.

Oh dear. Didn't realize it was that close. Better get practicing!

yeah there are quite a few nice jumps in it - nothing big but really flowy stuff

am going down on the friday because i never get there in time to walk the track and the uplift has already started if i leave on the day.

does any one know if im allowed to walk the track on the friday??

just so i can save time on the saturday realy.

robbie.

i'll be there marshaling  :-\

and yes you can walk the track the monents its taped out , but dont ride it or youwill be disqualified .

joe

http://www.southerndownhill.com/forum/index.php/topic,165219.0.html

i was there today, it would make sense that that is the track as the track has all been cleared.

it is an awsome track with loads of jumps so if you are not a jumper then best get practising

any one happen to have any photos or anything??????

A few of my mates went down last weekend.
Did this video
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/29061/

Pretty cool vid, is that the track for either round 5 or 6??

Gutted sounds like the good track, I've had to pull out as my hands still knackered :'(

I'm pretty sure it's 5.

Anyone going down this weekend? I think I'm going try and get down on he sunday.

Sweet, if my Solid is ready i should be there on sunday. just look for a brand spanking new mission 9  :P

may be down next wednesday when i'm back from inners if anyones interested.

i'm now going down on friday night and staying through till sunday in my dads camper van, i just need to know,  what is the earliest you can arrive/park up on the friday?

also who else will be there on the friday?

I think the gate is open all the time. It's not like they (the FC?) are going to lock it every night and open every morning. Or at least i wouldn't have though so

the gate to the field where you park for the races is never open to the public.

the public carpark is closed every night but i need to know when pearce cyles open the actual finish field for campers on friday night

there is a small bit of the field at the bottom of the track (first gate is open, 2nd always locked) b4 te second gate which is cordoned off. i.e no corn, we park there when we ride. I can't see you being in the way there, unless they are using that as the finish. best to check with pearce first though!

were you at round 2 at hopton?
is what you're talking about the overflow carpark from then?

Best to ring Pearce tomorrow and ask, best to be sure rather than guess and sit in a layby for hours!

yup, I think it was used as overflow. right by where the uplift is. but again its best to check with pearce. Can't see a problem with it, its fairly dry atm too, nothing like rd2.

Bloody good track!
Just returned from there, and it was very dry and dusty. Let's hope it stays like this for the weekend.

Where did you park today?

ye am goin down next friday
any one know a decen pub to eat in round there?

robbie.

Got a lift to the 'official' car park from my mum then got picked up near the uplift point at the bottom.
There were quite a few vans and stuff near the uplift point so I think it is ok to park there.

Yeah had a great day up there today, that track is so much fun, and was soooo loose in places.  Stuipidly hot today too, but we still got about 5 runs in or so (did quite a lot of sessioning - 7 times at the top, about 3 at the bottom, something like that anyway).

Ah may have seen you today then?
I was on the hardtail. Riding with two other lads. May of had a camera in hand ;)

I really enjoyed the jump at the top too. Very flowy.

I was on a DHi, top off cos it was so hot ;D

Anyone know how the kid that got stretchered off got on, hope he's ok?

ye that was leo he has broken his femur according to his brother.... not cool ! he won't be riding for the rest of the season now...   :(

Ah that sucks  :-\

Was speaking to Ian Whitely (I think?!- The guy who rides/works for Pearce), he said he was trying some of the rough lines through the stumps and roots after the oak tree drop. Wish him a speedy recovery!

is anyone going to be up there Tomorrow? Ill be on a scott gambler, and mates on kona stab and a sunday...

is the new course hard to find?

I haven't been to hopton since beg 07 i think!

Go to the normal start area and follow the jumps straight on, can't miss it.

wicked, this bloody rain better stop before saturday hahaha!

Forecast is looking pretty wet at the moment
http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/dayforecast.asp?zipcode=sy7&day=5

5 days off though, so high chance of it being wrong, I'm not worried yet :)

well lets just hope that they no NOTHING. I'm getting bored of wet kit and rushing home to get it clean for the next day and all that rubbish!

is this new track more graded than previous hoptons?

graded?

I am! I live about 20 mins to the north of Hopton and I've never seen rain this hard around this neck of the woods..
But ah well. It's just keeping the dust down, innit! ;)

as in More Gradient?
 lol

How many people have been doing pikey practise... and there was me thinking with a new track at hopton is was gonna be all equal lol! oh well if needs must

Its a good track, went today, the top section is nice and jumpy/flowy,(wet tho) and the middle section is quirt simply outstanding, the Stumps and jumps are very fun, then woods (old sections with new jumps) takes you into the open section from last year with the switch backs and step down over the road..

I'm not going to spoil the finish for anyone who hasn't been but i think the last 20 seconds is pretty amazing  !

pikey practise ..................




it aint bala

ahaha, maybe not, maybe i am just jealous i didnt skank some extra practise!! we'll see when the clock stops...

just spoke to pearce cycles and for anyone going down on the friday evening. the main car park is open from any time after 6PM.

i'll be there on friday to get an idea of track condition as the weather is still looking crappy, the jumps will be solid if its all wet and slow and pudles everywhere.

fingers crossed its o.k.

6? I'll be surprised, I've turned up to plenty of races at midday/2pm etc and been able to park up, and I expect this'll be the same.

had a look at the weather and it looks as though it is going to rain on thursday pretty bad then just drizzle on friday, then hopefully it will stay away for the weekend... fingers crossed the track dries out !  ::)

i'm going to be there at probably just after 6pm on friday. come and say hi when i get there (i'll be in my dads motorhome so not too hard to miss  ;) )
as i want someone to walk the track with and look at lines as i'll get lonely  :D

+ iirc i know some sneeky lijnes to share  :)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?id=3616

not too good :-\

BBC forecast is much more often wrong than metcheck I find, and they don't provide nearly as much info either.  That black cloud with rain coming out of it looks horrible, but it might only mean a tiny bit of rain.

Indeed: http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/dayforecast.asp?zipcode=sy7&day=2 doesn't look too bad.  Sunday morning looks a bit damp though :(

Yeah, (kind of) reassuringly, it's had Shrewsbury down as 'black cloud with rain drop' today and it's not produced more than a couple of light drops...

I don't trust either after Caersws - they lied and I got wet  :'( hehe ;) let's just keep everything crossed...

where abouts in shrewsbury do you live?

Same story in Telford.. the only time its rained all day is when I went outside. Stay indoors and it hasnt rained yet...

well yer i live near both telford and shrewsbury and its only rained a tiny ammount

in fact My DJ's are dusty

Near morrison's... i.e. northern side, fairly near Haughmond Hill, if that means more than supermarket refs

Do you somehow live in both shrews & telford or are you somewhere in between?  :P


Lol sounds like a good plan, possibly with one flaw... Can't think what it is tho ;)
Mind you, don't blame you wanting to stay inside if you live in Telford! :P

i live just outside newport so yea, on the haughmond hill side of shrewsbury (good memories  :D haughmond used to be my favourite place to ride)


HAHA  :D  :D i totally agree

Anyone down there tomorrow for some especially dirty last minute practice?!  ;) :D
I won't be up for long, pop there in the morning have a play, see how the track is doing.

Haha and the thought of a Telford remark did come into my head, but I was unsure if it would have been well received or not  :D
All safe down here in Church Stretton though.

i'd be careful, pearce don't like people getting last minute practice like that and you may be in the doo doo.

and if your from church stretton why do you say- won't be 'up' for long, isnt hopton south of church stretton.  :D

Ah really? I'm going with two other lads who aren't racing. Think I'll give them a call in the morning.

And as for the 'up' thing..
I er.. Meant up the hill of course!  ;) ;)

shutup!

Haha yeah, I cant admit to living in the nicest part of telford.. go upstairs, lock the doors. Go down the garden out of site of the house, lock the doors.. etc.. ::)

Gonna have to brave leaving the house on Sunday to go snap you guys at the race but we'll see... hopefully the rain wont come out with me!

pi**ed down all night long here :(

great another wet round. spikes it is

The Weather will be good, I'm telling you...

Grippy tyres coming back on bike :(

NOOOO, don't run spikes, the ground is really hard/rocky, so even if the surface is wet there is still hard ground beteeth, spikes would be bad, besides, theres lots of jumping which spikes are also bad for.

High rollers FTW (possibly swampy's if i feel they are needed after praccy)

is it best to change tyres now ? running minions (f) right now ? what should i change to ? or just keep them on and keep the faith !  :P

keep them on, walk the track, change if you must, but i'd say do a few runs on them if you hate them then maybe a swampthing front high roller rear.

i may decide to go swampthing front minnion F rear

get ya spikes on !!

the weather may get better, it hasn't rained today  ::)

the bbc forecast doesn't look too bad... jus a couple of little showers... is the track wet through?...

i don't even know why i am asking these questions, i will be there soon !  ::)

yea that was ma little bro, he snapped his femur clean in half tryin a rooty/stumpy line through some corners. thanks to every one who helped us, james and his friends(on a demo & a dhi) for the drink, and a big thanks to ian ( i think it was ian, dave pearces son in law) who arainged the ambulance and got them up there, and got the gates unlocked.
thanks for all your get well wishes everyone :) ;D :) ;D

http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/today.asp?zipcode=ludlow
the wether, lookin GOODDDDDDDDDDDD ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

just done a few runs this moring, had my spikes on they were hooking up a dream, track is rad, i tryed the doubles and the table tops but came up short though, hopefully by sunday i can kill them!  ;D ;D ;D ;D

how is the track, is it wet?

very very wet.

More rain 20 mins north of Hopton  :-\

awsome weekend, dried out alot but i am so F'ing p**ssed right now.

first run, caught up with someone at the begining of the secong open section on a pinned run, shouted rider loads, he eventually pulled over at the tigh root corner before the last switchbacks.  >:(  >:(  >:(

second run, blew out the corner after the road gap. on an O.K. run, but lost too much time faffing around triing to get back on the track.

ace weekend ;D
track was dusty in places so i duno what happened to all this rain that every one said was gona appear and turn the track into a river.

Fantastic weekend, and a fantastic track.  Most fun I've had on my bike all year I think, maybe even including Bala dare I say it! :-O

any one see any one filming the weekend for a video????

thers usualy one or two people who do them.
just wondering realy.

robbie.

is it just me or was it pretty flat? :-\

Not the steepest course in the world by any means, but possibly the most fun.  Contrary to popular belief you don't need a steep track for it to be a fun/good track, in fact invariably the converse is true, it seems to me.

had a fun weekend didn't have a good result but that isn't the most important thing  ::)

big shout goes out to james for letting me watch the dvd in the motor house on saturday night ! and to pearce for another flawless race   :)

ben, you didn't get that bad of a result, considering how many really good riders were there.

and yer, Re-Focus in the motorhome FTW  ;D beats hitting the hay at 8:30 anyday.

I'm disappointed more people didn't join our tyre slalom 4x and our human-bike pyramid ;D

I didnt even know about it!!
Got to agree best track so far for me, I just really enjoyed it......

track didnt look great when walking but was fuc£ing ace when riding it!!

couple of sketch outs cost me some vital seconds but hey im chuffed! best result of the year for me id say cant wait for the next midlands! got seven practise runs and had i the energy could have done more!

nice one pearce! you got it down!

Yep, squeezed in 8 runs on saturday and 6 on sunday (4 practice + 2 race).  Could have easily done 10 on Saturday if we'd tried! (Missed first uplifts, had a drink in between every run, and stopped early).

Pearce  races will sell out quicker than ever next year.

seb man! ur wife beater is legendery! i want one!!!

yeah pearce is  the shizzle baby! cant belive ur bike is so light!!

Ah ha, the man on a hardtail who turned a woohoo-i-got-my-best-ever-result day into a hmmm-he-beat-me-on-a-dmr-dammit day  ;D ;D  Was good to meet you mate, you're going to be dangerous with a full-sus under you.  Someone give this guy a deal before he gets snapped up!!