83 pairs of hands flexed on the grips, trying to shed post race nerves. We were lined up in rows of 15 in the snow and the atmosphere was fizzing with nervous energy. The gated course could be seen falling down the flank of the mountain, and the first gate looked like too small a needle to thread! Elbows crept in front of elbows and racers inched forwards, like a slow moving peloton. Last minute advice was exchanged, virgin snow riders, initially pleased to be in the front lines, realized that just meters behind there were more than 50 adrenalin charged riders that would happily ride over them. Then before we were ready, 3,2,1, GO! The next 30 seconds were an insane mix of noise and contact, riders everywhere, bodies bouncing off bodies and the ground! Wet brakes wailed in unison as everyone went for the hole shot, some tripoding, some riding and some just plain sprinting in the slushy snow. No, this was not the Megavalanche, this was the last stage of the Bluegrass enduro in Glencoe, Scotland, and if you were not there, you missed something ‘epic’

Now that's something you don't get at every enduro!
Now that’s something you don’t get at every enduro!

The bluegrass enduro series this year focuses on blind racing, so that means no practice, and with open taping they are a true test of a rider. Riding on instinct and blind faith, and more than just a bit of luck, you cannot beat plunging headlong into the unknown. Making this event stand out on the calendar is that it was lift assisted, this would be an enduro for those that love flat out riding in big mountain terrain, and as far as I remember, the first of its kind in Scotland.

The ever smiling Fiona from No-Fuss seems to remember the name of every enduro rider in the UK!
The ever smiling Fiona from No-Fuss seems to remember the name of every enduro rider in the UK!
This is the 2nd round of the global Bluegrass Enduro Tour!
This is the 2nd round of the global Bluegrass Enduro Tour!
The race briefing,'Don't be a dibber with your dobber'!
The race briefing,’Don’t be a dibber with your dobber’!
The weather looked bleak from the valley floor but opened up above the invesion
The weather looked bleak from the valley floor but opened up above the inversion

Waking to a grey morning, the clouds lay like a lid over the car park, just occasional breaks in the mist revealed the snow capped peaks above. After a morning coffee in the cafe and catching up with the cheery No-Fuss team it was time to get into it. The format for the day was exciting, two lift assisted first stages, starting high up on the grassy flanks above Glencoe. Then the icing on the cake, a mass start, megvavalanche final stage in the snow, all blind and open taped on big mountain terrain. I was buzzing with excitement.

Getting started at the bottom, with just over 80 riders, queues moved quickly!
Getting started at the bottom, with just over 80 riders, queues moved quickly!
Heading up the first lift, to cover this much big mountain terrain in a day you cannot beat a chairlift!
Heading up the first lift, to cover this much big mountain terrain in a day you cannot beat a chairlift!

The weather looked sketchy and racers hid behind full face helmets and jackets, but halfway up the first lift a crazy temperature inversion brought welcome heat and the mountain vista opened up. For those who have not been to the highlands, you must put it on your bucket list. In contrast to the vibrant, shouty alps, the mountains of Glencoe have a softness and almost mournful grace, rugged for sure, but also subtle and gentle. As the lift climbed over raging waterfalls I promised myself to never race downhill here, the DH track looked flipping insane! “Chapeau” to all who have raced at Glencoe.

With the clouds starting to lift, this was going to be some day!
With the clouds starting to lift, this was going to be some day!
Blurred lines with the seasons!
Blurred lines with the seasons!

After an interesting ride on the well named cliffhanger chair, a short trudge through the snow brought us to the top of stage one. Some of the fast lads were waiting for a break in the clouds, the course was marked out with flags for direction and gates that had to be taken, and it was tough to see in the fog. Sensing a break, I started the stage, tearing down the open flank was incredible, flat out, blind hucking off grassy ridges, with only the occasional wheel hole induced bar hump to break up the joy party! Without a defined trail to follow you had to tread a fine line between looking where you were immediately going, and keeping an eye on where you were supposed to be going.

This is what we all came for!  Flat out racing on open mountainside!
This is what we all came for! Flat out racing on open mountainside! Katy Winton charging on her pivot before her crash!

Then came the crux, a short punchy climb that started out as doable and grew swiftly into a total ego shredder. The fast crew probably skipped merrily to the top on the pedals, but the rest of us ran, walked or wheezed over the crest, wondering who had stolen our lungs. After a couple of cheeky steel bridges and a bog that had everyone OTB’s, the stage dropped into the red route. A impressive collection of rocks of every size and shape, there were some good lines, but many more bad ones and 6 minutes in, line choice played second fiddle to hanging on.

Flat out reactive riding, and still throwing style points!
Flat out reactive riding, and still throwing style points!
The red route was as rough as a badgers arse, and a right handful with pumped up arms!
The red route was as rough as a badgers arse, and a right handful with pumped up arms!

After what seemed like the hundredth rock garden the last hip jump led us to the finish, arms pumped up like Popeye and eyes on stalks, everyone was buzzing. It was like a full on EWS stage, high mountain action, on terrain that these bikes were built for! There were even some certifiable dudes on hard tails, proper dedication, they will be sore in the morning. There was plenty of bike carnage too, I cannot think of a tougher place for wheels, frantic puncture repairs were everywhere and more than a few clanked to the finish on their rims.

Joe Barnes was flying on stage one!
Joe Barnes was flying on stage one!
Keeping the front wheel light was essential to avoid OTB's
Keeping the front wheel light was essential to avoid OTB’s

Having lifts, the pace of the day was pretty chilled and there was plenty of time to take on fuel and patch up bikes. 35psi became the new 25psi and elbow pads were donned (the medical tent ran out of stitches). It was back up the lifts again to stage two, this time heading out skiers right from the top lift, and indeed there were a few ‘you are crazy’ exchanges from the passing skiers, as we plugged through the snow. This time there would be no uphill stage, just a few sneaky snow fields and more high paced grass bombing. Dibbing in quickly as the wind was cold, I was into it! It was just pure childish joy, hooting and hollering as I rallied my new custom Zumbi F-11 for all I was worth, grass, rocks, shale and snow snapped by.

After a spot of food it was back up!
After a spot of food it was back up!
It certainly was!
It certainly was!
Liam Moynihan at home in the snow!
Liam Moynihan at home in the snow!

Riding off the back and desperately trying to keep the front wheel up, out of the hidden holes and ditches, it was exhilarating, loads of air time, loads of fun! In fact, I was having so much fun, I happily forgot where I was going and drifted of the flagged course and had to cut way back over. Despite riding further, I did miss a gate so my result should be taken as theoretical, Oops! I could hear shouts ahead and soon found a bunch of spectators baying for blood around a deep bog. This was the scene of much carnage, and face planting action, more than one rider got to the bottom bearing the evidence of using their helmet peak as a spade. Again the red run finished the stage. More riders suffered punctures and mechanicals here, and it became clear that this race was all about consistency.

The is the bridge, Dive Dive!
The is the bridge, Dive Dive!
Watch those holes!  Plenty of rocky surprises lurked!
Watch those holes! Plenty of rocky surprises lurked!
The course was wide open, follow the flags and go through the gates, simple!
The course was wide open, follow the flags and go through the gates, simple!

After another food break riders once again lined up to head back up the hill for the mass start, which brings us back to where we started. After the carnage of the first 100m riders started to pull out, and it was just crazy, bodies everywhere, I saw two riders just explode in front of me as they hung up in ditches. Lines were out of the window and it was down to luck as riders bucaroo’ed on the broken ground.

It was like the Megavalanche had been lifted into Scotland!
It was like the Megavalanche had been lifted into Scotland!
Plenty of top bikes on show in the front lines!
Plenty of top bikes on show in the front lines!
So how do I ride snow then?  Well the best way is... GO!!!
So how do I ride snow then? Well the best way is… GO!!!
Carnage!  Sweet style though!
Carnage! Sweet style though!

The stage one climb broke a few hearts and fit riders worked through the line as all toiled to the top. Then back with gravity on our side we careened down the hill, blind from exertion but drunk on adrenalin. Thankfully the course snapped off the red and on to ‘the bog’ where it slalomed down the hill, corners were taken sideways in the slick mud and a couple of impressive supermans marked the transition back onto surfaced trail. As riders arrived one by one it was clear that all were stoked, more like the finish of the mega or an epic alpine stage, I had never seen such excitement, fist bumps and high fives were everywhere! On a damp day in Glencoe, the vision of Bluegrass and trail knowledge of No-Fuss brought something amazing to the calendar, in a year where enduro has raised its game, Bluegrass just lifted the bar.

Joe killed the hill and led the charge home!
Joe killed the hill and led the charge home!
Plenty of carnage at the bottom, Kev Duckworth rode this out!
Plenty of carnage at the bottom, Kev Duckworth rode this out!

Results were turned around sharply and again Joe Barnes (Canyon Factory Enduro Team) showed his form, finishing in a ridiculous time, with Chris Hutchens (TheCycleJersey ABZMTB Race Team) and Greg Callaghan (Nukeproof) not too far behind, it goes to show the level of talent at the top end. In the women, Hannah Barnes (Yeti UK) took the win for Bluegrass, with Sophie Buckingham (and Roslyn Newman not too far behind. Katy Winton (Pivot Morvelo Enduro Racing) was returning from injury and despite flying through the upper parts of stage one, took a big crash and hurt her hand. We wish her all the best and are sure she will be back on it for the EWS in the Tweed. The full results can be found here

Crazy hardtail podium, 1st Gary Chandler, 2nd Danny Ball, 3rd Neil Macrae
Crazy hardtail podium, 1st Gary Chandler, 2nd Danny Ball, 3rd Neil Macrae
Juniors: 1st Kier Coupland, 2nd Alastair MacLennan Junior, 3rd Ewan Mackay
Juniors: 1st Kier Coupland, 2nd Alastair MacLennan Junior, 3rd Ewan Mackay
Vets: 1st Alastair MacLennan, 2nd Mark Dodson, 3rd Derek Laughland
Vets: 1st Alastair MacLennan, 2nd Mark Dodson, 3rd Derek Laughland
Happy Birthday Alastair!
Happy Birthday Alastair!
Masters: 1st Barry Maccormak, 2nd Stuart Carr, 3rd Phil McGrath
Masters: 1st Barry Maccormak, 2nd Stuart Carr, 3rd Phil McGrath
Women: 1st Hannah Barnes, 2nd Sophie Buckingham,3rd Roz Newman.
Women: 1st Hannah Barnes, 2nd Sophie Buckingham,3rd Roz Newman.
Seniors: 1st Joe Barnes, 2nd Chris Hutchens, 3rd Greg Callaghan,
Seniors: 1st Joe Barnes, 2nd Chris Hutchens, 3rd Greg Callaghan,

The event was not sold out which was a shame, it was a true highlight on the calendar and one of the most unique races of the year! If you get a chance to enter next year, jump at the chance, it is awesome! For more information about the bluegrass series check here, the Sicily event sounds good to us.

Stoked with 14th place on the Zumbi, Well good!
Stoked with 13th place on the Zumbi, Well good!

Words: Trev Worsey Photos:Cat Smith


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