Bluegrass Enduro

[Jimmy Mr Excuses]

Another great event held by biking.ie and weather was just perfect on race days. Two days racing this time with no practice made it a very interesting event . Just Macker Scott Ben and myself representing the club.  Scott was only allowed out to play for one day so missed the first two stages on the Sat which were short but fun although stage one was a bit slompy to say the least. Scott would have placed high but for not racing Sat it didn't count for him overall. Macker had some bad luck with mechanicals on the Sat which cost him but kept it clean and did well  today even passing me on stage 4 after my third crash (of the stage ) fourth one then ended my race as brake  broke after already breakig the dropper  seat post on stage 2 crashing numerous times. To top it all off i borrowed the bike so now gotta cough up for the damages  ,  Lets just say me buying that Cx bike is firmly out of the question now, still though weekend was fun and that porter was tasty stuff Sat night. That's the Enduro Season all wrapped up now for the year. Can't wait to get the night time Enduro started 

[Ben]

Cracker of an event, seriously under supported but the racing was great on largely dry trails. Ran out of steam a bit on the long pedaly bits on stage 4&5 and found stage 1 a bit tough but overall pleased with the progression since the Gravity down there in May.
Great way to end the Enduro season but looking forward to 2014 already!

Sorry for your pain Jimmy, you were flying! And Scott was on a stormer.

[Jimmy Mr Excuses]

Ya sorry Ben you did well also fair play. And for me s**t happens i enjoyed myself things can always be worse, i could have injured myself also with some of the offs i had

[Paul]

Goober points tree hugger..!! 

[Jimmy Mr Excuses]

Goober points tree hugger..!! 

Yep I deserve them  , two weeks off the bike then jumping on a different bike and bombin into some pretty technical sections did not end well . 

[DaveyD]

Well done lads, Been a great season for all of you this year.

[Scott B.]

Bluegrass Enduro great craic (except for Jimmy's misfortune) In fairness it could have been taped much better in spots (I think Niall used all the Bluegrass tape on the Ballinastoe Gravity Enduro..!) I was raging I missed the Saturday  as after some very hard maths I worked out I pipped Darragh Smith for 4th in the Masters (well by my reckoning day 2 only mind you) anyway very happy with that. I had a fall in stage three....! on the fire road of all places.. (I am blaming the shoddy taping) was flying down the mountain thinking Brakes or / no brakes and risk a puncture (anyway I let go everything and hoped the tubeless conversion would hold out) was flying and launched nicely onto the fire road ....then I started looking for the tape ie which direction to aim for.... and before I knew it because I wasn’t paying attention to the front wheel..... it tucked under on the shale.... jumped up still looking for the tape and course direction in my 'big helmet and goggles' (luckily the knee pad took most of it and the bar end) started pedalling again then reckoned I got away with that (no photographer's SO no GOOBER points Paul OK..!)

[ColmK]

Sounds like a fun event and wish I could have done it. As for poor Jimmy ..... just write the 2013 season off and look forward to next year!

[Scott B.]

Sounds like a fun event and wish I could have done it. As for poor Jimmy ..... just write the 2013 season off and look forward to next year!

Colm, lots of flat out pedally bit for you down there...it would have been hard to keep the leash on you boy.....

[Ben]

Some of the stages were seriously pedally, especially stages 3 and 4.  Loads of time to be made up by fit boys.  Great racing though.  Stage 5 was deadly.  Sooo tired after the climb up Seefin but the savage descent was worth it, allegedly 1,000 feet of descending.

[Ben]

Check us out on Pinkbike!!!

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Bluegrass-Enduro-Tour-Ballyhoura.html

Plenty of Jimmy, Scott in there too, I make an appearance and that's my son Luke on the podium (in the cap)!

[Paul]

Plenty of Jimmy

Jimmy found a new friend 

[ColmK]

great photos!