With Steve Peat now racing in his final year of his incredible World Cup DH career, it was time once again for the biggest little race in the UK, situated within the big man’s home town of Sheffield. Jim had raced this for the first time previously in 2015 and really enjoyed the event held in Grenoside Woods, so off he went again, two hours north of his base to do battle with some of the UK’s finest racers.

Left to right, Craig Evans, Loose Dog Lewis, Andrew Titley.
Left to right, Craig Evans, Loose Dog Lewis, Andrew Titley.

For two days it had been raining, when I say raining I should really say pissing it down with a vengeance! The morning of the one-day affair of Steel City DH saw the rain finally stop, but the crazy un-seasonal weather continued with an overnight light scattering of snow; very unusual for mid April in the UK. I called into my mate Rob’s for brecky after the early trek up north, he had missed out on an entry to this very popular event, due to the lottery style qualification to race. From Rob’s to the parking field was about a two minute drive, the van span itself to a halt halfway up the rain sodden field; ‘that’s staying there then’ I thought, as I got sorted out for the riding, feeling very tired after the previous day’s drive right down to the south coast and back to visit Muc Off (as you can see I’m getting the excuses in early!) On getting out of the van near the woods the cold hit me like a truck, it really was unbelievably chilly, feeling more like mid-January than April; most riders were sporting riding jackets, not the usual race tops.

Jim was sporting waterproof and merino under layer, but was still chilly in the crazy weather.
Jim was sporting waterproof and merino under layer, but was still chilly in the crazy weather.
It was great to see World Champ Tracy Moseley at her first Steel City race; she was so fast!
It was great to see World Champ Tracy Moseley at her first Steel City race; she was so fast!
Some frolicking was present at this fun event!
Some frolicking was present at this fun event!

This event amazes me, it’s held on what can only be described as a bike-park trail and is more like a mate’s race format than anything. The bikes are a real mix of DH and Enduro/trail type machines, with the latter being much more suited to the terrain. But the popularity of Steve Peat in his local area gives it more of a feel of a festival crossed with a national race series. The racers are a mixed bag of weekend trail/hobby riders to that of the top pros like Josh Lewis, Tracy Moseley and Craig Evans. Steve manages to pull in a great amount of sponsors to the gig, noticeable straight away as you walk off from signing-on with a fantastic array of goodies to take home; nice touch. The track itself is around the two minute mark, all hard-pack with the odd rock section and lots of small to medium sized table tops and doubles and berms, with the final bit consisting of a good sized drop-in, landing in the arena-surrounded bomb hole to the finish. It’s real fun to ride, not too pedaly and we were soon waiting for our first of two official practice runs from the made-up start ramp at the top.

It was only a quick walk or easy ride back up to the top, the joy of a short track!
It was only a quick walk or easy ride back up to the top, the joy of a short track!
Peaty's own SPS riders were present in full force.
Peaty’s own SPS riders were present in full force.
Dropping into the final step-down was a real blast.
Dropping into the final step-down was a real blast.

Trying to pin it down the first run, still cold and feeling wooden, I really wished I had the local knowledge of the trail, as I hashed up lots of corners, loosing exit speed then casing the odd jump! My second run saw me clear the jumps, but I still felt very cold and useless, but riders were having fun, and that’s what counts. I managed to sneak back on the track a few times afterwards with a walk up the track, feeling a tad better every time, as I started to see locals from Sheffield throughout the day my fist bump technique picked up, like the sales of Santa Cruz in the local area! We were soon in the realms of racing, as the amounts of spectators really picked up, hundreds lined the track from top to bottom, with the bigger doubles seeing large congregations of jeering natives, loving watching racers (including real young kids) going for and sometimes not quite making the jumps.

Jim felt a tad over-biked on the 170mm Scott, it must have been a right pedal mission on a DH bike!
Jim felt a tad over-biked on the 170mm Scott, it must have been a right pedal mission on a DH bike!
Loose Dog Lewis, a popular chap in them there parts.
Loose Dog Lewis, a popular chap in them there parts.
The arena became more buzzing as the day went on.
The arena became more buzzing as the day went on.

The day went all to plan, as racers did their best to get from point A to point B as quick as poss, with it being a short track, times were ridiculously close, one slip of the pedal or tyre slip on a turn would see riders slip down the running order and out of contention. Having managed fourth Vet last year I was after a podium, but only managed ninth. I was disappointed, as my second run was going to be the one to get my time back up, only to come un-clipped and lose time and my rhythm, blowing my chances of a good result. But as was with the previous year, the atmosphere was electric in the arena and everyone’s love for this over sized world champion was just so prolific, Steve really is like a superstar in his own area and deservingly so! I hadn’t realized just how young some of the riders would be and already have a plan to bring my lad next year for his first DH race.

Peaty, the big fella always grabs folks attention, what a legend, still pinned enough to take the win from the young elites.
Peaty, the big fella always grabs folks attention, what a legend, still pinned enough to take the win from the young elites.
The track was lined with doubles and lots of blood-thirsty spectators.
The track was lined with doubles and lots of blood-thirsty spectators.
Having a bar at the event, meant for lots of happy folk, especially with the free beer token and bottle of Peaty's trail ale riders received after signing on; brilliant!
Having a bar at the event, meant for lots of happy folk, especially with the free beer token and bottle of Peaty’s trail ale riders received after signing on; brilliant!

Winners in the women’s categories saw the top spots going to Beverly Adipura (Vets) Katy Sunter (Masters) Abigale Lawton (Seniors) and Tracy Moseley (Elites) Tracy had an amazing win of 6.34 seconds, her result would have put her in 11th out of the 20 Elite males! As for the males, winners were Scott Turtle (Vets) Jordan Gould (Masters) Kade Edwards (15-16 yrs) Thomas Dodd (13-14 yrs) Jordan Williams (10-12 yrs) Luke Wall (17-18 yrs) Jonathon Walker (Seniors) In the Elites Peaty (2nd to Craig Evans in run 1) put down the world cup power and took the win with his second run, with Craig coming in 2nd, James Swinden 3rd, Chay Granby 4th and James Hughes 5th.

The drop-in, from the rider's angle, the last obstacle before the finish.
The drop-in, from the rider’s angle, the last obstacle before the finish.
Peaty, pinned!
Peaty, pinned!
WTF!
WTF!

It was a fantastic event as usual, but with the weather making parking a bit of a nightmare and the whole thing a bit of a battle against the cold I’m just hoping it gets forwarded to warmer months for 2017.

Full Results: Here

Words: Jim Buchanan Photos: Isac Paddock, Dan Hearn


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