SnowRun Enduro 2011
Words by: Vess
I umm'd and arrr'd about entering the SnowRun this year. I haven't ridden since trail-riding in France last October so decided that 3 laps of the Snowrun in the Vets class would be too much so opted for the 2 lap Sportsman class for 2011.
Myself and Julian arrived in good time at about 8am after an easy journey down where the weather just got worse and worse as we headed west from home. Julians first task was to cut a bit of snotty going at the end of the lap where even marshals were already getting stuck. I suggested that I was quite prepared to put up with the monsoon conditions if all the nasty bits were cut!
My late entry put me almost at the back of the start at 11am, just before the championship riders came around for their second lap! I was in good company a few minutes behind James Wilden, and very near to Dave Muller who some will remember as our guide on our Devon trail ride a couple of years ago.
It was about a 25 mile lap with 2 'out' checks. It was all typical Snowrun - bit of firetrack- snotty slotty bit - firetrack - slippery muddy bit - firetrack - snotty slippery muddy rooty bit - firetrack etc. etc. etc.. Nothing too nasty, but the check times were reasonable tight, and after the first check I never saw a queue again! The puddles in the sunken road at the end of the lap were a little on the deep side and apparently at one point some numpties in a 4x4 decided to go down it against the flow which must have been a bit of a surprise to some of the riders.
I think it rained almost constantly all day with water levels noticeably higher on the second lap! Two laps was enough for a most enjoyable day's riding so thanks to WTRA for another great event! James finished OK as well, as did Mr. Biddle after his 4 expert laps (I was sat in the van with a cup of tea by then).
Note: I have to strongly recommend double-glazed goggle lenses. Definitely the most useful bit of kit I've bought in the last couple of years. In all the rain and mud I could see at all times - they didn't steam up once - or perhaps I wasn't trying hard enough!
Vess.
If you look at the video below from Euan Davies (or Here), and go to about 5:45 you'll see some old bloke on a 250 Gasser wriggle through some stuck riders in a muddy bit amongst the trees......... (and SteveB @30secs)