Fridays are for riding BMX .
We’re lobbying hard to make Wednesday for wheelies and Saturdays for skids but for now we’re riding BMX on Fridays (we know that BMX doesn’t start with an ‘F’ but we’re too busy pulling super tweaks to care)!
See you down the track….
In addition to this Avon Valley Cyclery is having a bank holiday special sale with 15% off everything this bank holiday weekend!
Puppets has always been known as a great track but had been dormant for a few years whilst we worked hard to get BBMS, Spoons and 143 up to standard, so you can imagine the excitement of the first ever TickerTape on Puppets!
With no times to compare against there was plenty of guessing what would be respectable on this deceptively long track… would it to favour those who can ride the steep or the flatter corners at the bottom? would anyone take on some of the straight line options on judy? do we really have to push all the way back up?
Stace and Jim were involved in their usual ding dong but were so focussed on beating the other that they completely missed Charles’s blistering pace on board his loaned TRANSITION BLINDSIDE – beating both by a clean 2 seconds!
Ben Irons was busy putting in his usual fast runs, teasing those of us on full sus bikes and making his hardtail grimace. poor thing.
Will Hardy was stupidly fast through the steep tech section leaving us silent as he doubled up the steps and hit the berm faster than everyone else. He also put in 17 runs which is ridiculous and shouldn’t be encouraged!
As is becoming a bit of a theme Chris Smith earned yet another TickerTape Sticker with the smooth and consistently fast style that is begining to haunt the rest of us. Chris said it was his favourite track but stressed that he’d never even sessioned it before, he also said he owed his victory to his Lucozade Sport and a pretty awesome sandwich that Cally made him [pro riders ey, always banging on about their sponsors].
Stuart won the Beans award for riding his hardtail with no fear whilst wearing a ‘wife beater’ top, we’re hoping that he’ll wear his new Dakine jersey from now on as I’m not sure we’re ready for another display of those guns. Special thanks to MAX BIKES PR for the awesome prizes.
So, 45.31 I wonder how long that will stand? With Ben Batt, Neil Cousins, Rob Lewis, Redd How, Jack Howe and many others yet to set a time it’ll be interesting to see especially as the track matures, roots come to the surface and new lines open up.
And now for Ben Irons with the stats….
yep that’s right they were voted in at this years AGM in April, and are super!
So make sure you have a read of the rules and please do abide by them…
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This months TickerTape we will be using Puppets for the first time thanks to all the hard work and tremendous effort people have put in at recent dig days (thanks)!
We’ll be using the Judy line (swoopy one as apposed to the drop line, called Punch) to lead into the new bottom section of trail, then the very bottom of the course which will be a suprise section of cleared but not raked virgin trail (which will be loamy lushness all day long).
Given that ‘battery hill’ is so steep and stepped there will be an alternative option for those who don’t fancy taking it all on at once.
As always we’ll have the freelap system up and running, but remember it’s just a bit of fun so no need to take your peak off.
So, all you need to bring is a working bike (with 2 working brakes) and a full face helmet. Oh and some beans…
TickerTape
Puppets (judy line)
11:00 – 15:00
Members only (non members can watch though…)
9 riders turned out for the ride away this month, 5 of us travelled in style in Chris Sheppards new bus/postal van/Ferrari (very handy for dodging down bus lanes).
We completed a “classic” loop of the Timberland trail, it was great, so great that Ian felt the need to leave an imprint of his face and the local Flora. After stopping for a bit of first aid and the very artistic application of some dressings we retired to the Cafe for some tea-hydration.
On the second lap we rode a modified loop to take in some more of last years Bristol Bikefest course. There was an impromptu group detour and some “lost sheep” that needed rounding up but no other major incidents – unless you count Marjory going over the bars…!
Back to the Cafe for more tea with Egg & Bacon rolls and a Caramac bar – burp! Nice.
Check out the calendar and forum for details of our next BCC XC Ride Away…
As advertised the Club XC ride away for May is at Ashton Court in Bristol on Sunday May the 9th
Timberland Trail – Ashton Court
Overall grade Blue – due to the lack of climbing – but the tech sections are more like Red
Distance approx 8 miles per lap dependant on the route choices we make
Time 45 mins – 75 mins per lap
Climb – Very LittleMost of the trail has been hand built by http://www.bristolmountainbikeclub.co.uk with materials donated from the quarry next to the site. It is used as the Bristol Bikefest course and it’s fairly flat with some fast and furious singletrack and a lot of rocks and roots. Some log drops and steps, grit berms plus a little bit of technical climbing (especially if it is wet).
The surfaces vary widely from rock,mud,grass,grit,roots, wet leaves and is suitable for better quality mountain bikes – full suss or hardtail.
Tyres – If it’s dry, summer semi slicks are ideal, if it’s wet though bring mud tyres !. whatever you run pinch flats are a very real possibility – so be prepared.
There is a basic Cafe on site for Bacon Butties and tea but parking can get a bit hectic at the weekends so would advise we get there earlyish.
Meet at the Cheese and Grain 8.00 for 8.15 departure.
Cheers
Pete
Yesterday we completed the lower section of puppets, raked and groomed the whole trail and then smiled as we imagined racing it in two weeks time at the next TickerTape.
We drank tea, ate chocolates and debated the ethical robustness of GM food (I know….not what I was expecting either).
The afternoon was spent trail doodling, sketching a new lower section for BBMS with our tyres.
Turns out we did a pretty good job, getting the feel and flow just right, so we raked it to unearth the ground features and define the trail.
Clearing loam (a foot deep in places) really takes it out of your arms and back, but seeing the trail evolve is infectious so we carried on raking until we couldn’t anymore.
As you may have seen we’re in MBUK this month!
The pics were taken a few years ago now, when Gee Atherton (riding for muddyfox!!!) cleared the “Smith Gap” landing on the never before (or since) attempted second landing.
Things have certainly moved on since then, with more trails being built by the hardworking BCC Dig Day crew and loads of mini races, events and activities being offered by the Collective and its members.
If you want to get involved, or ask some questions please email andrew.denham@blackcanoncollective.co.uk
The whole Allotment is licensed to the club by the Longleat Estate so you do have to be a member to ride there (and carry a valid BCC Membership Card). Riding the Allotment without a Membership Card will cause big problems as we stand to lose all the hard work we’ve put in to build this great local riding spot, so please join up if you like what you see. You can join by reading our membership page here and following the instructions….
Cheers!
Hello everyone, just a reminder that there is a dig day this Sunday (2nd May).
The Day will be split up into 2 parts;
1st part- we will be continuing work on puppets, to get the course ready for Mays Tickertape (judy line), mass raking section of the bottom part of puppets is encouraged.
2nd part- TDS (Trail Development Sessions), BRING your BIKE and your IMAGINATION ! Together as a group we will discuss and test (session) different (and entirely new) line options for the bottom of BBMS that may well become a new properly defined bottom section to BBMS…
Hope to see plenty of you there, DO BRING WATERPROOF CLOTHING as it is expected to rain. Don’t worry though as there’ll be warm drinks and doughnuts for everyone to enjoy!
Ben. (DH Rep.)
