One Industries Mini Enduro 03/11/2013
Decided to take part in my second ever Enduro at Forest of Dean run by One industries on sunday. Was an early start waking up at 5am for a 6am departure with our good pals Gav and Paul over at Quest Adventure.

The weather wasn’t looking too promising driving up to Gloucester with heavy rain beating down on the Quest mobil (has a flame paint job and everything!!) But turned out to be great weather with a slight wind chill but nothing a base layer and jersey couldn’t handle. We all struggled to find our way to the first stage but eventually made it for our first practice run on stage 1. The tracks being freshly built for the race and the rain in the morning made it for a slippery practice with some big ruts forming for the race runs. We only managed to practice on stage 1, 2 and the bottom half of stage 3.

Being the only one on a full on XC bike with 100mm travel (only bike i had at the time apart from the DH rig) i wasn’t expecting greatness haha! Gav was on a Whyte 650b with 130mm travel and paul on a Santacruz Jackel with 115mm so they wasn’t far off either. For the small Orbea Alma there was some big compression’s nearly causing some over the bars moments.

Come race runs Stage 1 started off with a small sprint to a blown out berm then a long sprint alongside the woods where i caught up with the competitor in front just as we turned back into the woods but he kindly moved out the way in time for me to make the pass. This is where it was all freshly built and big ruts had appeared as we was the second to last category going (hardtails). Lots of off camber sections and hidden slippery roots underneath to catch you out. I managed to get through stage 1 with only small mistakes which i was happy with and then off to stage 2.

Stage 2 was a more solid trail with only small sections blown out, making a mistake right at the start was frustrating so the rest of the trail i went hell for leather getting sideways on some flat corners and pedaled where i could to make up the time i lost at the start. The Continental tyre choice of a Baron 2.3 on the front and a Rubber queen 2.2 on the rear was recommended by the continental rep and turned out to be a great choice which me and Dave both now run on both Orbeas.

Stage 3 was my favorite trail of them all with big ruts, thick mud and more vertical! more or less one of there downhill tracks if not better so this put a big smile on my face!…lots of off camber and big roots made it tough getting down in one piece. Without knowing the top section i burnt myself out a bit pedaling the flat section, then crossing the fire road and dropping into the vertical section of the run. Gav went first then Paul and then me, i caught up with Paul coming into the steep wooded section and couldn’t help but giggle as i was getting closer ha! Due to many of our amusing conversations and laughs throughout the day the conversation before stage 3 consisted of me saying ‘if i catch you im going to shout the most random things that come in to my head’ this is what made me giggle and then crash haha but what a great run to end the day on.

Managed to take 5th in the hardtail category which i was pleased with and Overall the bike handled it self well on some tracks that were suited and made for 140-150mm enduro bikes. The continental tyres gave me more confidence in the Orbea giving me more grip than i ever expected. A great day and lots of laughs as Gav never fails to make it amusing! Till next time…