Leckhampton XC Video

I just found this treat from one of out student members. Great inspiration to go out and put a ride together just over Leckhampton.

Leckhampton Rally - video

Thanks to Barnaby for this great little video from the 90th Anniversary timed session up Leckhampton.

Lecky 90th Anniversary DH rally. from Barnaby Tompkins on Vimeo.

Leckhampton Rally

The Club Birthday DH event was a timed rally up Leckhampton Hill. The format was one hour per track with unlimited timed and untimed practice runs then one official timed run. Four riders turned up for the full event but more appeared to complete in the final stage. The times were recorded using the clubs Freelap poles and timing watches.

Track one was the BMX track from the top, down the chute, taking the long route to the next push path. The finish gate was on the straight before you drop on to the walkers track (so plenty of time to slow down). To those that do not know it so well, this section is all about sprinting and holding speed through large corners. Nothing too technical here just power and confidence! There we no particular problems with this section as everyone knew it well, though I did have an off track moment on the first practice run.

Track two used Dragons Tail, this drops from the middle walkers path to the top of the quarry. We used some tape to force the riders around all the corners then off the main line to take in a drop before finishing just after the ‘tail’ berms. By forcing the corners made this section a lot more difficult especially turning 90 degrees on rooty steps. During the practice period everyone had some off track moment, it was clear that consistency would win through on this stage. Roger deserves special credit for his crash on his race run. I did not see it but it sounded like he smashed through a tree!

Track three used Marshall Law then through the bomb hole in the beeches area. This track is one of the most technical on the hill with a good mixture of speed, tight corners and rough trail. Again everyone knew this track well so everyone was fine tuning their lines to save as much time as possible. First practice runs showed it was going to be close with Rich getting 40.25 and I got 40.24 (and no we were not following each other).

So the overall results were fairly close with Alex M taking the fastest overall and two of the stages. We hope to hold more of these sessions in the coming months, good practice for the FoD mini DH series!

Results:         BMX track     Dragons tail     Marshall law     Total

Alex H           33.67         28.41            39.26            101.34

Alex M           32.52         25.57            35.65            93.74

Rich D           32.19         30.69            39.66            102.44

Roger S (HT)     36.72         54(crash)        46.31            137.03

John H                                          39.68

Bran                                            36.69

Jake(rear brake only)                           49

Civic following people home

A rider has been followed home recently by a group in a car. We don't have a registration at the moment but the car was described as a 98 or 99 style Honda Civic, navy blue and quite dirty.

If you are followed home from Leckhampton by this car or any other please report this to the local police (0845 090 1234) and lock your bikes up in your house for a while. Cars have been known to return only hours later to take the bikes. Carefully choose your route home so that you cannot be easily followed and keep an eye over your shoulder.

Corrective Racing: Round 1

With the new club freelap system we thought it is a good excuse to start some Corrective Racing. Round 1 started the mini series with the technical track Marshal Law on Leckhampton.


Rich took the fastest as expected, with 26 secs, but Stuart put in a surprising  28, with no chain and on a bike that has not been seen for a year. In true start of series style the timing was not quite up to scratch (Alex really should have read the instructions) but it was good to hit a track under pressure, makes you ride sharp.

Freelap night is what we need  to keep things fresh!

Results:
Rich T - 26sec (hard tail)
Stuart B - 28sec (chainless)
Alex H - 32sec
Gary H - 33sec
Rich D - 35sec
Roger S - 37sec (hard tail)
Pete G - 45sec
Tim P - DNS (but rode the track for the first time)

Suspicious cars at Leckhampton

The latest car acting suspiciously at Leckhampton is  a Blue Ford Focus registration M900 CHE fully furnished with the finest alloys.

One of passengers look liked a previously recognised character wearing a grey cotton tracksuit, it was matching, how coordinated and sophisticated. He had black hair...

If you are followed home from Leckhampton please report this to the local police (0845 090 1234) and lock your bikes up in your house for a while. Cars have been known to return only hours later to take the bikes. Carefully choose your route home so that you cannot be easily followed and keep an eye over your shoulder.

Leckhampton Leaflet - with download

An awareness leaflet produced in partnership between Cheltenham Borough Council, FOLK and CC-CC is available in local bike shops, notably Leisure lakes, Cheltenham Cycles and Roylan Cycles.

The leaflet is aimed at MTBers who use Leckhampton Hill, and primarily DHers. It is essential all riders on the hill ride responsibly and think of their impact on other users on the hill. Only by being responsible can we gain respect as a group on the hill, so please do so.

You can download a version HERE

  

Daisybank Dirt Jumps

CC-CC have been actively involved in the resurrection of the Dirt Jump site in Daisybank Fields (Leckhampton). The site is open for anyone to ride but we all need to work together on new developments there.

If you want to dig new jumps we will support you all the way, just contact us or the Cheltenham Borough Council (Wayne is very friendly) Wayne.Sedgwick@cheltenham.gov.uk

Local Bike Thefts

Many of you will remember the problems we had last year with riders being followed to their homes by thieves, then soon having their bikes pinched. Well it now appears that some riders whose bikes were targeted are being targeted again. I guess the thieves are hoping that there are replacement bikes at their properties and may be that initial security measures have been relaxed a bit.

We are advising owners of expensive MTBs to lock them indoors if at all possible. If you are either riding or driving home, be aware. Registration numbers of suspicious vehicles and descriptions of the people inside are extremely useful.

If you regularly MTB or DH on Leckhampton Hill and would like to have specific issues related to biking on the hill emailed to you, please join the Leckhampton email group. See the Contact Page for more details.  

You can report incidents to the local Police on 0845 090 1234.

Lecky main line video

Top to the quarry on Leckhampton Main Line