Information

 

NO FUSS FOR DOWNHILL DIEHARDS
The Fort William Downhill Endurance

Endurance Downhill


Riders will be allowed one spare front and one spare back wheel. If they have to be used riders will incur a 5 minute penalty. Other spares allowed have to contained into the riders area in no more than two boxes and remember any technical work must be undertaken by the rider. Time penalties will not be incurred for any changes other than wheels.


The Fort William Downhill Endurance will be staged on the internationally renowned downhill track at Nevis Range near Fort William - home to the 2007 Mountain Bike World Championships - on Saturday the 1st of August 2009.

As one of the longest and most physically demanding courses on the international mountain bike race circuit, riders of this gruelling event will need physical strength, quick reflexes, superb bike control and an unerring eye for the right line as they speed down the 2.82km track. They will also need huge amounts of stamina in order to ride the track as many times as possible in six hours!

The Nevis Range Downhill course is a full-on, flat-out, no-compromise charge down the face of Aonach Mor, the 9th highest mountain in the UK. A succession of big jumps and bumps, berms, drop-offs, rock slabs and technical natural sections provide plenty of challenges for the riders, all the way from the top gondola station (at 655m) to the magnificent finish section above the Nevis Range car park.

Frazer Coupland, from No Fuss Events, said: “The Fort William Downhill Endurance is a totally unique event to the UK and it has already captured the imagination of some of the key players in the downhill community. 2008 saw the winning rider jam in 18 runs of the course. It is a fresh, new and different event, whilst challenging enough to be completely in keeping with the gnarly hardcore scene normally associated with downhill riders. This is a fantastic event for spectators too. With great access onto the course from both the top gondola station and the Nevis Range Car Park, excellent spectator viewing points the length of the course, and a restaurant and a café, friends, family and hard core downhill fans will be able to soak up the adrenaline fuelled atmosphere in style, whilst cheering on the riders as they complete the awesome challenge.”

In normal downhill races riders race individually against the clock, For the Fort William Downhill Endurance riders will use a Le Mans style mass start. After a short run to the event tech area downhill bikes will be collected and ridden uphill to the Nevis Range Gondola’s Tower Nine – about three quarters of the way down from the top. Riders will then race as fast as possible to the bottom where they will catch the gondola to the traditional start of the track at the top station. From here it is simple - as many descents as possible in six hours! Each descent will be timed with the cumulative descent times counting in cases of equal descents.

The idea of the event is not only to test endurance but also reliability. Participants will only be allowed one bike and a list of itemised spares to see them through the whole event. At the bottom of each run participants have the opportunity to enter the tech area to carry out any running repairs, replenish fluids and to take a breather.

There will be time penalties for riders who have to change wheels, forks, bars, frames and other major components. Also participants will not be allowed assistance in the maintenance of their equipment from outside the tech area.

No Fuss are delighted to announce that Dave Hutchens, a well known face on the Scottish Downhill scene, will assist the team in the organising and running of the event.

Dave Hutchens said: “This unrivalled event will combine both the skills and the endurance of the riders and the reliability of their bikes. The Downhill course at Fort William is well known for being one of the toughest courses. This event will add another dimension for extreme sports enthusiasts.”

 New for 2009 the race will be run from 1530 to 2130 to give riders virtually exclusive use of the Gondolas and a perfect time for an apres race party.

Course

The Nevis Range Downhill course is a full-on, flat-out, no-compromise charge down the face of Aonach Mor, the 9th highest mountain in the UK. A succession of big jumps and bumps, berms, drop-offs, rock slabs and technical natural sections provide plenty of challenges for the riders, all the way from the top gondola station (at 655m) to the magnificent finish section above the Nevis Range car park.

Rules

Conditions and Rules of Entry for Competitors

1 All competitors must be over 16 years of age.

2 All competitors must register and enter via the No Fuss web site; entry cost will be set at £70.

3 Riders should be competent and have experience of competing in downhill or extreme mtb events.

4 Rules where appropriate will follow the Mountain Biking Regulations contained within the current British Cycling Federation (BCF) Rulebook.

5 All entries are accepted either via the on-line entry system or by downloadable entry form sent to the address given on the entry form with the appropriate entry fee.

6 Closing date when entries are full there will be a reserve list taken and used in a one out one in basis.

7 Race number boards will be issued event registration between 1800 and 2100 on the Saturday night and 0600 on the Sunday morning.

8 A limited number of spaces will be will be reserved for major sponsors of the event.

9 Helmets - CE certified and conforms to European standard EN1078 MUST be worn. Only 1 piece Full Face Helmets are permitted.

10 All riders must have Body Armour protection as per the armour guideline document.

11 Race number boards MUST be displayed on the front of your bike, and any instructions from race officials observed during practice and racing.

12 Bar-end plugs MUST be fitted.

13 Competitors are forbidden on the course until they have signed on. No Fuss and or partners including Nevis Range, Forestry Commission or any partners cannot be held responsible for injuries sustained throughout the duration of the event.

14 All competitors are under the jurisdiction of the No Fuss Officials from the time they sign on until the completion of the final prize giving.

15 Top limit of competitors – 230 riders (with small adjustments at the discretion of the committee). This will be on a first come first served basis, other than reserved spaces as indicated. These are based based or the logged entry time and date from the On-Line Entry System, or on the postmark date on your envelope, whichever is applicable. There will be a reserve list, please indicate any cancellations as soon as you can.

16 When overtaking, the rider shall shout clearly to the rider in front, ‘rider’, on hearing this all riders must keep clear of and give due consideration to the following faster rider, including those from other categories. Competitors being overtaken must not willfully obstruct the overtaking rider. The overtaking Rider must also give due consideration to Riders being overtaken, in terms of accident or injury, by making clear his/her instructions and if possible to what side the overtaking maneuver will take place on. High speed overtaking, without warning, will not be tolerated and will be reported to the event officials and may result in disqualification.

17 If you retire, for whatever reason, you must report immediately to the nearest marshal who will radio your retirement to the race officials. If possible tome chip must be returned to event registration point.

18 Competitors must obey the instructions of Marshalls at all times,

19 Riders who disobey these instructions will have their race number taken and may be disqualified. This rule WILL apply to everyone including experienced riders, as Marshalls may be under specific instruction from race officials.

20 Pre race on completion of registration and verification riders will be required to have bike scrutinized by No fuss Mechanics for race worthiness.

21 On completion of scrutinizing bikes will be held in the technical area. Bikes may not leave the technical area as marked on appendix 3 for the duration of the event. Although riders may receive assistance from out with the technical area only riders and No Fuss officials will be permitted to work on bikes within this area. Any rider wishing to remove bike from the area will do so as sanctioned by the tec area official and will incur a 15min penalty.

22 Mandatory pre event meeting for all competitors will take place. Briefing and equipment inspection will take place.

23 Race start will be Le man type start with an uphill cycle to tower 8 as marked on appendix 3; where the downhill course will be joined.

24 On leaving the tec area via the tunnel no overtaking is permitted, participants are expected to commence to the chip timing area at the top of the course immediately on alighting uplift

25 All competitors are responsible for ensuring they are aware of all rules and conditions of entry.

26 Toilets provided must be used.

27 Unsportsperson like behaviour is totally unacceptable; this includes the use of profane or abusive language

28 All protests must be made to a No Fuss official (Frazer, Spook or Martin). Protests can be made throughout the event and up to 15 minutes after final results are posted. It would be appreciated if any protest could be made respectfully to the official. No Fuss officials say is final in all protests.

29 The No Fuss Officials (Frazer, Spook and Martin) will be given the final decision regarding any occurrence at the event including those not addressed in the rules.

Who's Coming

This is a list of entries for this event. If you think you should be here and you are not then let us know.

Solo Sen Male

1) maw beef  -  Michael Grant
2) Old Devon Army  -  Henry  Sharman
3) Off Beat Bikes  -  Scott Clarke
4) Yogrez  -  martin roberts
5) Team Length  -  John Jackson
6) Team Length  -  Stuart Rollo
7) Moray MBC  -  BJ Doherty
8) Geared4bikes  -  Gary McIntyre
9) Gary McIntyre  -  Gary McIntyre
10) Take it like a man  -  Graeme Farish
11) take it like a man  -  Robin Mitchell
12) Keep er Chappin  -  Hugh Dennis
13) dazwestwood  -  daz westwood
14) Bawbag  -  Callum Law
15) Haribo Racing  -  James Coates
16) Haribo Racing  -  Stephen Charlton

Solo Sen Female

17) Moray Minx Girl  -  Jo Cardwell
18) Fox Racing  -  Angela Coates
19) manx shredder  -  Sarah Brunswick

Solo Vet Male

20) El Tonto  -  Mike Anderson
21) Highland wolf  -  Kem  Avis