Hopefully it’ll be dusty and sunny for this year’s race (Saturday 17th May www.steelcitydh.com).

Steel City DH, Greno Woods, 380 Race Photos

The post Better late than never – Peaty’s Steel City Downhill 2013 Video first appeared on Monkeyspoon.com.

Cannock Chase, or more specificity “Stile Cope” is home to downhill section that form the chase trails which also includes the XC loops. Located just outside of Rugeley, Staffordshire, it is well placed and easily within reach with only a relatively short drive. I have visited both the XC and downhill trails a number of times and have been impressed with the variety and quality of what is on offer. The downhill area offers a number of good quality trails packed with features that ride well all year around. Along with an easy push up route, making it possible to get a good amount of time on the bike.

Although the trails themselves are packed into a small area of woodland, each has a different style with something for novices to more “extreme” riders. With each new visit there always seams to be something new or improved. I would love to be more of a local, saying that I think I would miss the Peak District too much!  They also run mini races and timing sessions which must be awesome, racing your mates on your local trails, sweet.

After a quick blast down one the “Red Course” a straight forward red trail, which is fast but not overly technical. Ideal for a warm up before hitting some of the more technical trails in the woods. Despite a fair bit of rain leading up to the ride the trails were on the whole well drained with only the odd puddle to deal with. Running summer tires makes a pleasant change from the normal spikes that were and are still on my bike. With the easy push up we completed a number of runs, checking out different lines. Which was fairly tricky in the rooty woods.

With such a large number of trails littering the woods it is easily to drift from one to the next and before we knew it we found a new section of trails that we had not seen or ridden before. Steep rutted and rooty it was just the sort of thing we were looking for. After walking it we discovered the top of the trail, like may of the trails it branches off one of the larger trails near the top of the hill.

We dropped in for the first runs, the most difficult section being a short but technical straight between two tight s corners. Close to the trees and a nice tasty route ready to catch you out. After a tentative first attempt confidence and getting your balance just right seamed the key. Josh seamed to enjoy it more than most, with a couple of small crashed as he lost his balance into the next corner.

We then branched across to a trail called ridge run, as the name suggest it runs very straight with only a couple of corners to slow you down. A good puddle appeared in one of this corners. With Nat foolishly saying he was up for a good splash, no pun intended. And after a couple of poor attempts we got him good. With the light fading we headed home, satisfied with the days riding.

Jeff shot a few video clips and has knocked them together into a short video.

12-11-01 Cannock Chase Stile Cop, 24 Pictures by Jeff

The post Cannock Chase – Stile Cop – 12 November first appeared on Monkeyspoon.com.

The post Summer 2012 Go Pro Footage first appeared on Monkeyspoon.com.

After the huge success of last years event, there has been alot of hype and enthusiasm around the already buoyant Sheffield riding scene, in anticipation of the second running of Peaty’s Steel City Downhill. This race is not only for the enjoyment of the riders taking part, but provides a pillar of the wider plans for Grenoside woods. The race is aimed less at the die hard racers who may travel from a great distance to attend. But instead for the local riders and people new to racing to get a feel for it and to help raise money for a good cause. I was unable to attend last years race due to being at the shop, but had heard only good things and to honest was a little gutted not to have attended.

The track for this years race was purpose built and had alot more for the riders to consider and enjoy, although the track shared the same start and finish point as the old track. It used the hill more effectively, although if you wanted to record a fast time being on the pedals was key. With the top section off the nice start ramp resembling something similar to a trail centre. With doubles, berms and tables leaning into a gap jump into a short heath section. before a series of jumps lead onto a more natural undulating section of track. With a great series of berms leading down onto the finish bomb hole.

The gap jump after the first section proved to be a great spot for spectators with only a relatively small number of riders attempting the gap jump. Jolley who was marshalling at this point along with the other marshals did a great job to support and cheer on each passing rider. There was also a great attendance of spectators, people shouting at you to “pedal” helps some riders push on. The weather in the weeks before the race hadn’t been the greatest but everything was done to keep the track running at its best. Despite a rather poor weather forecast leading into the event the weather was perfect for the race. With sunshine most of the day, the track definitely dried out during the day.

There was a real mixture of bikes, ranging from hardtails to full downhill bikes. I decided to use the downhill bike not because the track really demanded that bike but I didn’t fancy hitting a couple of the larger feature of the track flat out with no rear suspension. With the ideal bike being a mid range full suspension bike, although for most people it was all about an enjoyable race experience not taking the win.

The race was as much about raising the profile of mountain biking, with the finish bomb hole being surrounded by stands and various organisations. local companies that make up the biking community. With the race even getting a short article in the guardian news paper.

Now the most important information, how did the race go! Well the racing was very close with there only being very small margins between the racers epically in the larger category’s, with literally every pedal stroke counting. I managed to finish in 12 place in Senior. The amount of lactic acid in my legs once I had crossed the finish line was rather shocking but looking back. I had two good runs, with the screaming crowd making all the difference on the second run. All that is left to say is thanks to the organisers and those who took part and bring on next year!

The post Peaty’s Steel City Downhill 2012 Write Up first appeared on Monkeyspoon.com.

Steel City DH, Greno Woods, 598 Race Photos

12-04-21 Peatys Steel City Downhill, 42 Pictures by Jeff

The post Peaty’s Steel City Downhill 2012 – Video & Photos first appeared on Monkeyspoon.com.

This post has been a while coming for various reasons and it’s mostly all been said elsewhere a few weeks back. But I will say, that it was a great event with plenty of local familiar faces, either riding, organising, media-ing (yeah I know) or just coming along to watch.

Joe Bowman and Nick Hamilton from ThisiSheffield.co.uk, amongst others, were organising.

Rob Jolley was marshalling in the open section and also chief overseer of rider encouragement.

Bamford locals Alex Megson, Oliver Spence and Jack Read where racing, with Oli beating SPS sponsored Jack, coming 1st and 2nd in Youth, receptively. Irwin probably summed it up best: “I still can’t believe Oli beat Jack!”.

(THE) Alex Rankin (who made the Earthed series of MTB films) was filming for Freecaster along with a motley band of local video men (including myself), with a range of video cameras from camcorders and DSLRs to a GoPro helmet-cam in use as a zip-line camera. Alex explained the sort of thing he was after from us and gave out plenty of tips and advice while we walked up the track before the race runs. Having felt quite unprepared and like I was winging it for a fair bit of the race run filming (I’m used to having Saturday to scout the track and then know where I want to be for the Sunday race runs), I was very pleased with how most of it came out. A fair bit of my footage went into the official Freecaster video, including the novelty-tree-shot (which took about 5 minutes of shivering and hoping the tree would hold while waiting for a rider to come), so that was good.

After the race many headed straight to the Showroom cinema for Progression, Alex’s special edit for ShAFF of his Sprung and Earthed series of MTB films. There were plenty of laughs (mainly at Peaty crashing) and vintage footage from the early days of Downhill, it gave an idea of where the sport has come from and got to: its Progression – or, failing that, plenty of drunk racers to laugh at!

Following the film came Rob Warner ‘interviewing’ Steve Peat, I say ‘interviewing’ because, in classic Warner style, he hadn’t actually prepared anything and just relied on the audience for questions.

“Yes, you with the straight arm.”

“Josh Bryceland has just come in wearing a cap he thinks makes him look ghetto and cool.”

I think this actually worked better, with Warner providing some great banter and entertainment, while Peaty thought up good and in-depth answers. It was a laugh a minute, on a par with any stand up comic’s show, but also very interesting at the same time – a great end to a great day of mountain biking!

My video from the race:

Alex Rankin’s official race video from the event:

Some other videos are on RootsandRain.

Some of my better (edited) and general event pics are in the Image Gallery, all the rider pictures are on RootsandRain:

11-03-05 Peatys Steel City Downhill, 45 Pictures by Jeff.

Steel City DH, Greno Woods, 5th March 2011, 163 Photos

Other related pages:
Swinny’s Race Report on ThisiSheffield.
Joe’s Organiser’s Report, top results, thanks and sponsors on ThisiSheffield.
Full Results on RootsandRain.
Jack Read’s blog entry on Factory Jackson.

The post Peaty’s Steel City Downhill Race Video first appeared on Monkeyspoon.com.

Round 6 of the Pearce Cycles 2010 race series was at Bucknell in Shropshire at the weekend. The pictures from Saturday and Sunday are now up. The race video is now up.

Our pictures from the race (& practise) are now available on RootsandRain and some of the best and mates are in the Image Gallery.
Day 1 & 2 Pictures on RootsandRain – 662 Pictures
10-09-11 Pearce Rnd6 Bucknell Best – 32 Pictures

The post Pearce Cycles 2010 – Round 6 – Bucknell first appeared on Monkeyspoon.com.

Round 5 of the Pearce Cycles 2010 race series was at Hopton in Shropshire this weekend just gone. The pictures and video are now up.

Our pictures from the race (& practise) are now available on RootsandRain and some of the best and mates are in the Image Gallery.
Day 1 & 2 Pictures on RootsandRain – 732 Pictures
10-07-24 Pearce Rnd5 Hopton Best – 30 Pictures

The post Pearce Cycles 2010 – Round 5 – Hopton first appeared on Monkeyspoon.com.

Round 4 of the Pearce Cycles 2010 race series went down at the weekend at Rhyd Y Felin, aka ‘Bala’, near Llangynog in Wales. The pictures are now up.

Our pictures from the race (& practise) are now available on RootsandRain and some of the best and mates are in the Image Gallery.
Day 1 & 2 Pictures on RootsandRain – 495 Pictures
10-06-12 Pearce Rnd4 Bala Best – 28 Pictures

The post Pearce Cycles 2010 – Round 4 – Rhyd Y Felin / Bala first appeared on Monkeyspoon.com.

Within the first few hours the ruts got cut in and the faster more skilled lines emerged, this was especially true on the corners near the top and at the steep section at the bottom. The jump above the fire road gave some good action, I even saw quite a good suicide no-hander (unfortunately while I was getting my camera out – d’oh). There were only a few hold ups through out the day with the Pearce crew keeping things moving and the uplifts giving riders plenty of runs.

This time Irwin and I were camping with the rest of the lads – no Travel Lodge luxury this round. It was excellent weather for a barbecue, but unfortunately someone at Tescos had disguised a hand warmer as a barbecue so we waited ages for everything to cook. Luckily we had a camping stove so once we’d transfer some grub to that and we were cooking with gas (quite literally). The evening’s entertainment consisted of a track walk, in depth analysis of whether Brendawg really did jump from the fire road and land in the first woop at Round 1, Matt’s birthday cake, a quiz around the fire and watching Dogman digging a hole with a small machete and waiting for him to accidentally cut something off.

After a reasonable nights sleep, although not as good as a Travel Lodge, we awoke to find that mist had descended, but the forecast rain hadn’t materialised. This was good, for the most part, but had it rained it would have made for great footage on the steep corner on the top section. The uplift started early and I headed up for some flash photography in the woods and was impressed by the height some riders where getting off such a small roller.

Things soon warmed up as the sun came through and I got to the top, quite knackered, ready for the first race runs and trying to plan my filming and pictures to get the Monkeyspoon team and friends as well as the fastest riders and the, quite small, elite field in the best sections. I was shocked to discovery the organisers had not synchronised their watches before this operation resulting in races runs starting 3 minutes before 11:00!

As the temperature rose in the open section so did the speed of the riders, pumping and pedalling their way down the long straight. I got some good long shots of mates coming down, although I could have done with binoculars for spotting them dropping in 200m away. One thing I didn’t notice at the time but later spotted on the footage was the heat distortion of the air when filming down the straight.

For the second race runs I got to the bottom section in time to see the fast guys flying through the steep sections and dust ponds on the last corner in the woods. A lot of the bottom section was about pumping at high speed and with precision, and all this after 2 minutes of full on riding.

Ashley Maller won the Elite with 2:04.38 and Kurtis Knowles won Senior with 2:08.62. Out of Irwin, Josh (Hay), Nat and Tom, Tom beat Nat by 3 seconds, Irwin came closer back to form; 2 seconds behind Nat, with Josh, not quite upping his performance as much as the others, 0.7 of second behind Irwin. Roots and Rain analysis.

All in all it was another greater race weekend; Dave Pearce rolled another fat one.

Our pictures from the race (& practise) are now available on RootsandRain and some of the best and mates are in the Image Gallery.
Day 1 & 2 Pictures on RootsandRain – 875 Pictures
10-05-15 Pearce Rnd3 Bringewood Best – 48 Pictures

The post Pearce Cycles 2010 – Round 3 – Bringewood first appeared on Monkeyspoon.com.