So last Saturday 15th March I was invited to the GAS DH uplift at Moelfre. I'd attended a previous uplift there in January this year on the old super 8 so was keen to see how the new bike felt.
Moelfre is not a good track for me, it's fast!
Quick course description is: from the top of about the highest hill in the area you follow a narrow rut track along a wide ridge line, there are a few gentle bends down. The first bit of note is an old quarry with a rock line, then the track continues down next to the fence line before a couple of berms, a couple more jumps and then it splits into 2 options. Option A is the main line, going down what are referred to as the BDS bends, these are steep loose switchbacks returning on a really tight lefthand bend onto the main line. Option B is a wider berm, then a rough rocky line linking up on to the tight lefthanded bend of the A route. After the 2 tracks join up, it's a narrow loose steep track with a few bends before the steep shoot to a stream before crossing the uplift track, from here on it's again a rough rocky track traversing along & down the slope with a few step downs and bends before finishing at the field.
My first run down on the Jedi wasn't that good, the strong wind at the top unnerved me and I admit, the steep shoot into the stream scared the hell out of me so much that I ended up getting off and trying to push down it. I rode the rest of the track feeling a bit down as last time here I'd been riding the shoot after a couple of attempts so I felt my riding had deteriorated.
Back on the trailer for another ride up, I was happier on the top section and not relying on my brakes as much, and even the steep loose stuff before the shoot didn't feel as bad as the first run, but that shoot looks and feels terrible. I crept up to is with a foot on the ground and with some encouragement from Darrel stood up on the bike and rolled down it. This shoot is evil, you simply can't take it slow as the grounds too loose and steep. Once down I felt so much happier and was able to enjoy the lower section more.
It took a couple more runs until I was happily riding the whole of the middle section, but a couple of rocks were catching me out so Darrel and I decided to walk down and have a look on foot. On uplifts you don't seem to walk tracks and it's a shame as I found I'd been riding totally the wrong line on a couple of bits purely as when on the bike they look right but viewed on foot look totally different.
My next run down was ace, no having to dab a foot and new line choice meant I was more in balance for the technical bits. On the lower sections I was letting the bike run faster and loving how the Jedi just soaks up the braking bumps.
I'm noticing that I'm still not working the bike like I should, I either pump the front or the rear, rarely pumping the whole bike which either results in jumps landing on the front wheel or rear wheel. I think this might be too do with nerves, something to work on. However I noticed my cornering since my coaching session is getting better and the more I put the bike into the bends and move the more natural it's feeling.
I had a great day at Moelfre, I got to meet another Loeka girl Jennifer and hope to see her at a few more local races and uplifts. It's great to meet people through the Loeka Ambassador programme, as we all have a love of MTB's and the outdoors in common.
Unfortunately due to some issues with BC my racing plan for this month have changed with the Taff Buggy race dates changing so my next race is the final Mini DH at the Forest of Dean.
A bit about GAS DH. Gas front man Simon is a regular at events as a marshal, to be honest I have mixed feelings about Simon as a Marshall, he always calls out encouragement to me and is a friendly face at the side of the track but he always marshal's the bits I'm most likely to scream on or fall off (AKA the scary bits). Simon however loves the sport and as such is running a series of uplifts and possibly some push up races. I'd really recommend GAS uplifts, they have a great relaxed atmosphere. Check out their page for regular updates.
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