Preview: Chain Reaction Cycles Downhill Round 2

Posted: 24 May 2007

Event Date: 26-27 May 2007

This weekend sees round two of the Chain Reaction Cycles British Downhill Series Rd 2 at Ae Forest, Dumfries in Scotland on Saturday 26th and Sunday the 27th of May 2007.

Round 1 was a massive success with huge crowds never seen before at a British National Downhill Race. This weekend will see an even bigger show of riders and team pits with the addition of Nathan Rennie joining his team mate Steve Peat on the Santa Cruz Syndicate.
The impressive Honda G-Cross Team will be in full attendance with their full factory set up so stop by and stare!

The Ae Forest track is ace for spectating, being pretty open up top with fast straights and challenging off camber sections the riders will be fighting to stay online. The rock garden will claim time from many, guaranteed, as will the finish section which will offer the best views as riders traverse down to the huge step down (pictured) and the largest berms on a British DH course before the 25ft near vertical drop into the finish!

Bring along you XC bike and hit the famous Ae Forest trails, along the route stop by and watch the Worlds top downhill riders hauling! When you get to the bottom fly by the suspension service centres like those of TF Tuned, Stendec or Mojo and chat one to one regards your suspension set up.

Fenwicks the bike cleaner people will be running a bike wash with free use of their jet washes and cleaner. Roger from WheelPro will be on hand to true your wheels along with our two fully trained Park Tool Mechanics, all free of charge!

For more information please checkout www.NPSDH.com

Link - our coverage of round 1 of the series NPS Downhill Innerleithen

Earlier News, Posted 17 May 2007

The usually quiet and tranquil village of Ae in Dumfries will be rudely awoken on the weekend of Saturday and Sunday the 26th and 27th of May with the cream of the Worlds top downhill mountain bikers descending to race the second round of the prestigious Chain Reaction Cycles National Downhill Mountain Bike series.

Action from Ae  and the 2005 race

Fighting their way down one of the most demanding courses in the UK in under 3 minutes one at a time they will tackle an array of obscure natural and manmade obstacles that will physically and mentally test them. Littered with large rocks, exposed roots and huge drops and jumps the riders bikes will also take a severe beating on this Scottish track.

Highlights of the weekend will no doubt be between the Worlds top 2 riders.. The UK's Steve Peat will be gunning against his arch rival and previous World Champion Greg Minnaar from South Africa.

Minnaar (pictured right) rides for the impressive Honda team on bikes worth more than a Ferrari (over £100,000.00). Made from exclusive alloys and composites with an internal gearbox system that does away from the conventional rear derailleur and cogs. This technology is deemed "Top Secret" and after each day's riding the Honda mechanics remove the carbon and titanium enclosed gear box and insist they are stored in the hotel safe!

Racing will be rapid and action packed with riders descending down the course every 30seconds to the screams of the crowd. Over 100 of the riders are Scottish based and will hotly contend in the several age group categories that range from 14 to 54! Local rider David Tallontire who races in the Masters category 30-39 is currently leading the series and is hotly tipped to take the top spot again this weekend on his home track.

Practise is Saturday 09:00 to 14:30 with a timed seeding run for each competitor between 15:00 and 18:00. Sunday morning will again see the riders perfect their line choice in practise 09:00 - 12:30 followed by a single timed race run between 13:00 and 16:00

Si Paton Race Director says, "Ae Forest is a great venue and our first choice for the 2nd National round. The locals accept us here with open arms as they see the real value this event brings to their local community. With 300 riders and their associated entourage of mechanics, supporters and friends and family spending cash in the region, every B&B for miles around is fully booked up and local restaurants and retail businesses will see brisk and profitable business."

Spectating and parking is free and everyone is welcome to walk up the side of the course and view all the thrills and spills of world class downhill mountain biking.

For more information please checkout www.NPSDH.com

Link - our coverage of round 1 of the series NPS Downhill Innerleithen