Bobs Downhill Biking for ASpire

Race Reports 2011

2011-11-10T15:34:00.002Z

Apologies for not posting this years reports, but anyway here it is. First race was at Hopton Castle, the Saturday was as usual nice and dry then came race day Sunday it poured down like a wet afternoon in the early hours of Sunday morning but spotting the rest of the day. It was fun over the weekend, people coming off on Saturday and then again on free practice on Sunday then came the race, it was hilarious people where riding the track ok untill they came into the field to the finishing line, flipping or sliding over the line. All in all a wet and happy weekend.
Second race was at Bringewood, it was identical to Hopton slip, sliding away all over the place on the track. There was a new bottom section, they had moved the "Tabletop" or jump with still the dirt inbetween the jumps, and before that there where steps four or five in all. Had a quick look at it before hand, thought it was a bit tricky but when I rode it it was as easy as anythink. I f that was bad at the top people were coming of right at the start and before I went down that part they had to close it due to being far to danderous so on a very rare thing a new designed starting top. I loved it as I was training on that type of terrian which is covered all over the place with leaves. Nice. Another good race weekend.
Third race was back at Hopton, what a weekend that was, nice dry Saturday and wet Sunday. There was a new section to this track we used, it was known at the end of the day as "The Waterfall" and it was also steep and rideable even with the water running down it. It added that extra bit of riding skill which happily everyone had got. Another great and funpacked weekend with happy faces all round.
Round 4 was at Bala and with some miracle "DRY". Some one must have been looking down on us Favourably. It has been the same track as in previous years but guess what a little change three quaters of the way down which was no problem for the riders. But one of my fellow team mates noticed that I must have had a slow puncture, I soon changed the inner tube. And for the better, I stormed down that hill like a person been chased by a Ghost. The best weekend of the year.
At Round 5 and final it was a mixture of all the round thrown together. I was lucky the rain had stopped at least twenty minutes before my to timed runs, and managed to go faster than all the rounds in the prevoius four rounds. And on top of all that I managed to get on the podium in first place. My jaw dropped with astonishment. My face was a picture. Look at the website. A few laughable moments with riders skidding all over the place. Another brilliant two days racing.

Training and New Race Season.

2011-01-24T16:22:00.002Z

Have been training for the new race season, even in the snow and cold. Been to the local training grounds in Worcestershire and in Staffordshire to improve which has to be improved. The Dates for 2011 have come out but the venues have not yet been released. Looking forward to seeing what they are. Never know there might be some new tracks for this year or might be the same and similar ones as from previous years.
In 2010 the races have been outstanding and times tumbling and me with it, coming off or hitting trees which is the norm for any Downhill Rider. So cross fingers and see what happens this year and to stay on the bike.
So between now and the start of 2011 season more training and more improving, as it has allways been.

Grand Total for Charity.

2010-11-04T14:45:00.002Z

This is the Grand Total for the Charity is £162.66. Collected for over the last Nine Races, it has been excitable and thrilling and cant wait for the start of the next seasons races. Their have been a few or should I say quite a lot of laughs with the odd few people been covered in dust from the few back wheels skidding round corners and tight switchbacks. So once again many thanks for the monies raised from the people who donated over the season.

Grand Finale Race Year.

2010-10-28T14:00:00.002+01:00

It has been a Grand and Great year for racing with thrills and plenty of spills with people having a tustle with a few trees, rocks, stumps and wipeouts. After competing in Shropshire and Wales and raising money for Autism West Midlands and collecting the final amount of £14.80. Which came to over £130 in total and will post the Grand Total pretty soon. Many thanks to the people who donated through out the Year and for your support. Once again many thanks. I am know looking forward to the next racing season and also doing plenty of training and Gym work. And if you want to donote further go to the justgiving website which is on page one of this site.

Final Race of Year, Rd 5 Caersws Finals

2010-10-18T16:02:00.002+01:00

Caersws was dry and was the same track as Rd2. The track was far more compact than Rd2 and far more moderate temperature to ride. When I first arrived on Saturday there was still mist in the valley below which was nice but soon warmed up a bit when the day went on and the mist went. The day was as fast which was brilliant and a few people coming off, I was gladly I was not one of them, but wait until Race Day. People where flying down the hill like that they where being chased by a Haunted Spectre, some where just more laid back pulling over to one and off the track to find the more quicker line or best line to take or both. Come Race Day Sunday, got up early and got to track side but as like Saturday morning there was mist in the valley but when you got to the start line at the top of the hill it was spectacular there was mist from Aberwystwyth to Newtown and you could not see the finishing line or any of the fields due to the low lying mist. If only you where there to see it. When it was free practice you had to go thru the mist and thought will I be able to look a few feet in front of you due to the mist but you could, lucky. Then the racing started at 11.00am and the riders where picking times during the dayas faster anf faster. Come my first timed run guess what had a mega off at a tightish corner and had an arguement which a rock. The rock won. I managed to get to the bottom still seeing stars in my field of view. Any way when it come to my second timed run I took it slighty carefull went past the point where I crashed earlier and got to the bottom and I managed to go faster than my first run, which was a big surprised. So that how it was and happened during the weekend.

Rd6 and Final

2010-09-17T16:04:00.002+01:00

On the 11th and 12th September was the series finals of the Downhill Biking of the Pearce Summer Series. It was raining when I camped on the friday very nice indeed not. But come Saturday the rain stayed off but was cloudy with sunny intervals. The day went on without any incidents, a few red flags came out, even one for me. The coarse was a little slippery with some fast flowing open sections, which incorporated two large jumps and an enclosed jump within the forest nearly at the bottom of the coarse. A few major come offs there, ouch. Raceday was Sunday and the coarse had dried out a bit during the night as there was no rain. The sun was out most of the time and the times where blistering fast with the fastest time of 2minutes 45seconds average. In all the day was electrifying and eye popping and a goods days racing.

Race Report Rd5

2010-08-02T15:02:00.002+01:00

Last round at Hopton Castle was a mixed affair of weather cloudy and a little rain on Saturday to warm and sunny Sunday. The track had a little moisture in which was ok but mainly dry. There where riders flying down the track, some people where crashing like nothing like it and one or two people where carted of to Hostpital. I myself had an argument with a tree and the trees gnarly roots, it hurt quite a bit. But happy to say managed to race on race day, with a little bit if pain. On practice day Saturday people where awe inspired with the track flowing corners, very tight corners and with jumps thrown in for good luck. In all a happy days riding. Come race day it was twice as happy and contentful and full on top speed mayhem, all in all it was an exciting day. Plus managed to raise £31.45 for the charity and in all raising so far £146.90. So thanks to the people who donated.

Next Race Rd5

2010-07-13T14:12:00.002+01:00

The next race of the Pearce Cycles Downhill series will be at Hopton Castle on the 24th - 25th July. It will be as exciting as the rest of the previous rounds.

Bala Race Report

2010-06-18T14:15:00.002+01:00

Saturday was muggy and hot and the track was bone dry, like it has been for the last few months at other venues. The track was fast and scary if you did not know what was coming up, on the track you where skidding and slidding with a lot of fun thrown in with some large drops to content with.
Sunday, race day was cloudy and normal weather conditions, until around 10 o'clock when the sun came out and the day started to warm up, nice. First race runs where quick with a few crashes with an average time of around 3 minutes 20 seconds. Quick in those conditions, come race run 2 some where lucky when they done there runs, when the drizzle stayed off, but some where'nt due to the drizzle like myself when the track started to be unforgiving. Otherwise it was a good weekends racing.

Money Raised Update...

2010-05-27T16:53:00.002+01:00

The up-do-date monies raised from the last two rounds Rd3 Bringewood in the Pearce Races and Rd2 Caersws in the Caersws Cup came to £24.94, come to the total so far to £115.90. Thanks again to the people who donated.

Caersws Rd2 Report

2010-05-25T14:13:00.002+01:00

It was another scorching weekend, temperatures reaching 27 Degrees but felt like 30 plus. The Course was really loose from top to bottom, and most of the riders where crashing out all over the place including myself, had a slight injury but salvageable, had another crash further on which was a simple slide out. The marshall at one marshall point at the second crash radioed for a medic, medic arrived and saw me not there, had got up and rode the rest of the coarse. there where a couple of riders that had to be carried of the coarse and taken to Hostpital. Come race day it was the same as practice day, dry, hot and everythink thrown in for good luck, all in all it was an absolute scorcher of a day. PS excuse the pun.

Race Report, Bringewood Rd3

2010-05-17T14:48:00.002+01:00

It was a hot and fine day, blue skies everywhere and bustling with more people than usual. Saturday was practice day on a old but new coarse for this season. Riders where eager to get down the dry and dusty track, some where sliding all over the place including myself, and plenty of crashes, few had arguments with the track and some which the trees. There where a few that had a few trips to the medics tent and a couple that had to be strechered to Hostpital with broken bones. Get well to the people who had those crashes. The rest of the day went smoothly as could be.
Sunday, race day, It was the same as Saturday dry, dusty and extremelly quick on the track, there where a couple of minor alterations to the track overnight which made the track even better. All went well on free practice untill it came to the race proper. All madness came to the track, riders where getting quicker and times where tumbling due to the dry conditions.
The race had to be stopped a couple of times, but happily restarted after around 30-40 minutes. No one complained and the buzz and the free banter kept on going. So at the end it was a complete success and another well put together race by the organisers, well done Dave and Lindsey.

Money Raised

2010-04-30T14:21:00.002+01:00

Money raised on Rd2 at Hopton Castle was £14.95, making the total so far to £90.39. Will be bringing charity bucket to all of the rounds and to raise more contributions towards the charity. Many thanks to the people who donated on the race weekend.

Race Report for Rd2

2010-04-26T15:53:00.002+01:00

It was a nice and sunny day with temperatures soaring to average of 18 degrees. The track was very loose and sandy in a few parts, a few people where having a good time crashing and some going into trees, and some people where just sliding all over the place including myself. The good riders where going flat out jumping and jiving and just having a good time. The weather forcast was going to be good with a little bit of rain during the night. Come race day the track had been dampened down a bit but still a bit dusty otherwise the track had that extra bit of edgeness to it and the times where very fast and all in all a very exciting day.

Pre Race Info.

2010-04-22T13:23:00.002+01:00

This week will be Rd2 of the Pearce's Summer Series, on the weather front it looks like its going to be a nice sunny weekend in which everybody likes. If anyone who likes days out in the sun go along, see map of Hopton Castle is just by Ludlow, and feel the atmosphere of a Downhill Biking race.

Money Raised for Charity

2010-03-30T19:08:00.002+01:00

Money raised at Bringewood on the 27th/28th March is £44.46 and highest so far. So money raised so far is £75.56 which is better than expected from the first two races of this year. Next race will be at Hopton Castle to raise that little bit extra. So the charity bucket will also be there, but you can also donate online at the JustGiving site which is just before the video slot. Many thanks for those have donated so far.

Race Report Rd1 Bringewood

2010-03-29T16:49:00.003+01:00

When arriving at Bringewood it was raining as usual but soon cleared up. At Bringewood itself it was as muddy as usual at the top, riders where slipping and sliding everywhere, few had mere misses with a few trees on the way down and some had a gentle hug with them. And all this was on the practice day Saturday. The track was clayish from two thirds of the way down from the top where the rain had made a little contact with the track, otherwise the track was spot on. Come race day it stepped up a gear with more madness thrown in for good luck with times that where either slightly faster on there second timed runs by 3 seconds or faster by the same amount. The weather held for a few hours until a small amount of drizzle came in which was only for less than 5 minutes each time and times it by 4 over a hor and a half. Overall the race and track was out of this world and very good organising by the Pearces's crew, well done.

Money raised so far.

2010-03-15T16:19:00.002Z

The money raised from Rd1 at Caersws is £31.10. Many thanks to the people who donated so far towards the charity. For more donations I will be at Bringewood, see race dates, and raise a little more towards a good cause.

Race Report Part 2

2010-03-10T12:28:00.002Z

After changing a small amount of the track it was as fast or even faster than expexted, with still a few sticky patches around. During the day the track thawed out and it was back to what it was on Practice day. The race runs had to be reduced to one race run as there was not enough time to do two. So practice runs was extended to 1.00pm then racing started at 1.30pm. From then on it was nothing less than high octane without the fuel for the rest of the day. All in all it was an awsome day to be their.

Race Report for Caersws Cup Rd1

2010-03-08T14:47:00.002Z

Saturday Morning was cold but the sun was out which was a lovely bonus. Got to the race track it was busy and with other riders, families and spectators arriving and checking the course.
The hill was like a Tornado had hit it with just a few trees standing, otherwise the track was spot on. It was fast and the furious on track with riders crashing etc all day.
Come race day it was frozen like a tundra, there had to have a few track changes due to safety.....
for more info on the race keep watching.

Barracuda Bob Video

2010-03-05T13:39:00.002Z

Thanks to....

2010-02-24T23:22:00.002Z

Have to mention a very special thankyou to Joanne Gumbrell for helping me in all things in setting the website up and related material for the Charity. Once again Many Thanks for your help.

Just Giving Page now set up

2010-02-17T14:32:00.000Z

A Just Giving Page has now been set up so you can donate securely. Please remember to Gift Aid it! Page can be found here: http://www.justgiving.com/bobsdownhillbiking

Latest Updated Race Dates

2010-02-09T19:19:00.002Z

These are confirmed for the Pearce Summer Series which are as follows as same as Round 1 through to Round 3, and know the penciled in Rounds 4,5 and 6. So these are the race dates again:-

Bringewood Rd1 27th - 28th March
Hopton Castle Rd2 24th -25th April
Bringewood Rd3 15th -16th May
Bala Rd4 12th -13th June
Hopton Castle Rd5 24th - 25th July
Bucknell 11th - 12th September

Pics Taken

2010-02-04T21:49:00.002Z

To follow up on the pictures that where taken at Cannock in 2008 where taken by Andy Dunwoody. Thought I had put it in last post of Pics and Venues.

More Race Dates

2010-01-18T13:29:00.003Z

These are confirmed dates for the Pearce's Downhill Races:-

Bringewood 27th - 28th March
Hopton Castle 24th - 25th April
Bringewood 15th - 16th May

These are unconfirmed and Penciled in Race Dates are:-

Bala 12th - 13th June
Hopton Castle 24th - 25th July
Bucknell 11th - 12th September

Will post up the last three confirmation dates when they come available.

Further Dates for Races

2010-01-14T14:45:00.002Z

There will be some more races dates coming. It will be a list of six starting from March in the Pearce Cycling Calander ending in Septmber/October. Will keep you posted.

Cannock Race Dates

2009-12-21T15:53:00.001Z

The dates for the Cannock Races will be up early 2010, will post them when near the time.

Pics and Venues

2009-12-10T14:03:00.002Z

The Pictures where taken in the 2008 season over in Cannock Chase. Still have to get the race dates for the other races. Will let you know when they come along.

DVD Film

2009-12-04T11:23:00.000Z

There will be a DVD video hopefully be put on within the next few weeks.

Race Dates 2010

2009-11-27T15:40:00.002Z

These are the dates for the Five races for the Caersws Cup in Mid Wales.

Rd1 March 7th
Rd2 May 23rd
Rd3 July 4th
Rd4 August 22nd
Rd5 October 17th

2009-11-27T15:40:00.001Z

2009-11-27T15:39:00.000Z

Biking pics

2009-11-27T15:37:00.000Z

I just have to mention that the photo's were taken by a good friend "Andy Dunwoody". Thanks for taking some excellant pictures.

New blog site

2009-11-27T15:35:00.000Z

Nick Eyre AKA Barracuda Bob will be competing in Extreme Downhill Bike Racing in 2010 raising funds for ASpire part of registered charity autism.west midlands
Details to come soon.