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Preview: Gore Enduro & Torq 12:12 Enduro

by Gorrick / Joolze Dymond, 21 Apr 09.

Just to say once again a huge thank you to all of you who took part in this year's Spring Series - you made it our best yet! We were all completely exhausted by the end of Sunday, but the considerable number of emails that we received makes it all worth while - an extra thank you to those riders. You obviously like the fact that we are independent and have been doing our own thing our own way for nearly twenty years.

Now we will be turning our attention to our two upcoming Enduros, the first of which - the Gore Bike Wear 100 Enduro Challenge - is on the first May Bank Holiday weekend on Sunday 3 May, and the second is the 12:12 TORQ in your Sleep enduro on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Gore Bike Wear 100 Enduro Challenge

Fancy a grand day out in the woods, where you can ride masses of grin inducing trails with loads of like-minded souls?

Well why not head over to Swinley Forest on May 3rd and take part in the Gore Bike Wear 100 Enduro Challenge. Now in it’s 6th year this event continues to grow, offering competitors the chance to take their challenge as far as they want, with a number of laps of a cracking 10 mile course, which will contain everything that makes our events so unique.

You can chose from doing either 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 laps, then it’s up to you if you want to race against others, race against the clock or just take advantage of being on some fabulous trails all in the name of fun! Whatever you do it’ll be your challenge and everyone gets a finishers medal. If you do fancy your chances, we have some brilliant prizes courtesy of our generous headline sponsor for a 3rd year, Gore Bike Wear, who will also be on hand displaying a humongous array of exciting bike wear.


There's a jovial but pensive mood amongst the 7 lap starters
knowing the challenge they're about to undertake.
Photo by Joolze Dymond

So what will the course be like in 2009? We have it on great authority that it will be 10 miles! Unlike one certain year where the course designers were having so much fun that they lost track of how many miles the lap was. This year they are still emphasising on the fun, but will limit themselves to just 10 wholesome miles. Gorrick and of course the Berks On Bikes (BOB) crew have also been busy out on the trails and the new enduro course promises to take you to parts of Swinley Forest (which comprises Surrey Hill and Crowthorne Wood) you can’t normally ride, along with lots of old favourites and a few new sections including the cracking new bridge section. Expect masses of singletrack, with plenty of fire roads to enable rest and recuperation before you hurtle back into even more singletrack. For those who fancy their hill climbing abilities, you’ll be treated to a couple of killer hills as the course winds its way through Swinley. For the rest of us mere mortals the climbs will reward you with some excellent descents as what goes up must of course come down!

For those of us that come to the events to support our adventurous other halves, there’s plenty of trade stands to while away the time, along with a plentiful supply of hot & cold drinks and bacon buties along with plenty of room to get comfy near the course to help you soak up the action and hopefully soak up those rays, as the challenge zips around you. There'll be a great atmosphere around the arena and for the riders there are sports massage therapists to soothe your aching backs and legs. If you've not done an Enduro before why not give it a go and use it as a build up to our 12 hour Enduro weekend?


Elite rider Dave Collins riding for SIS Trek on his way to the 4 lap victory.
Photo by Joolze Dymond

Getting to the venue: vehicles will enter the forest via the last fireroad entrance on the Northbound carriageway only - about 200 metres short of the roundabout - of the dual A322 Bracknell Road. It will be well signposted. The nearest post code is GU19 5PN. Follow the fireroad and signs to the parking and start area, approx 1 1/2 miles where there will be plenty of parking.

No pre-riding or camping: sorry but there is no pre-riding of the whole course except for the bits nearest the start to warm-up. Please note that there is no overnight camping available at the venue. The access gates will not open until 7.30am, PLEASE do not arrive before that time as you will block the access road for the team and emergency vehicles.

Pre-entries close on Tuesday 28th April: we highly recommend you enter in advance, not only will it save queuing at registration on the day which may make you too late to start but you'll save £3 by not paying the on the day surcharge. Entry on the day will be available from 8am, it does get very busy, so priority will be given to the 7 lap and 5 lap riders who have the early race start. Pre-entered riders should collect their race number board from Entry Express.

Feedzone: there will be a marked pit area on ONE SIDE OF THE TRACK ONLY just beyond the lap timing caravan where you can leave your supplies while you ride. We recommend you bring plenty of water with you as there will be none available on site, plus of suitable food and clothing appropriate for the weather conditions. Bear in mind you may have quite a walk with your supplies from your vehicle to the pit so allow plenty of time for this.

Start times: 7 laps - 8.30am, 5 laps - 9.00am, 4 laps - 10.30am, 3 laps - 12.30pm, 2 laps - 1.00pm. The course will close at 5pm which means riders will not be able to start another lap after this time. All laps must be completed by 6pm.

The course: will comprise some of the best trails Swinley has to offer; from snaking singletrack, bermed corners, dropoffs and technical challenges to fast open fireroads where you can refuel. It will be 10 miles give or take a bit. Because pre-riding is not permitted please pay caution to the trails.

Massage: sports massage therapists will be on hand all day to loosen up your leg muscles and ease the cramps.

Trade support: as at all Gorrick events, TORQ Fitness will be on hand selling their energising food products and Joolze Dymond our roving photographer will record your efforts which afterwards you can download sample images for free or purchase high resolution images online. 1st Gear Cycles will be selling all the usual last minute things you forgot to pack.

Test Ride a Whyte Bike: Mountain Trax in association with Whyte Bikes will have a full range of their bikes available to demo at the Enduro. Expect to see the latest new release - the Whyte 19 Team Carbon Hardtail, the E-120 Team and E-120 XT full suspension bikes and the 19 Trail Aluminium Hardtail. Test rides are on a first come first served basis and ID (photocard driving licence) is required. Plus, get a freebie gift just for demoing a bike.

For more information please read the full news item at www.mountain-trax.com.

Enduro InfoLinks:

Gorrick 12:12 TORQ in your Sleep Enduro

The Gorrick 12:12 TORQ in your Sleep Enduro is our weekend event over the August Bank Holiday weekend Sunday 30 August at Minley Manor, Hants. There'll be 12 hours of riding a magic 8 mile figure of 8 course from 12 noon to 12 midnight. You can do it on your own, as part of a pair or as part of a team of 3 or 4. There'll be a real festival atmosphere aided by 'that DJ' under the bridge and lots, lots more. More about it later, but ONLINE ENTRY IS NOW OPEN. Please note though that there won't be any entry on the day for this event (sorry) and entry will close as soon as it is full.

Enduro InfoLinks: