Race Report | BDS Legends Race – On The Longest Whip!
Downhill racing is a sport I have put behind me since my dummy-spitting instant quit back in 2002. I had had enough and that was that, my back was turned and I went on to other things, mini-moto, moto-enduro then now competing in our sport of enduro. I had pretty-much no intention of ever doing another DH race, having turned into a bit of a pussy when it comes to big jumps and drops, but far too proud to be choosing chicken routes! Then came this offer, an offer I really couldn’t refuse. I was invited to take part in the BDS (British Downhill Series) Legends race, to be run alongside the last round of the BDS at Antur Stiniog, Mid Wales. That was nowhere near a persuasive factor on its own, but the reason behind it certainly was; it was to commemorate twenty years since the passing of Jason McRoy and bring back some of the old skool racers in honour of this ultimate UK legend. How could I say no, but an enduro twist had to be used when it came to a story, we really don’t do DH, so an angle had to be found to cover this incredible event!
Not too long ago we had done a visit over to Mojo, where we tested one of Chris Porter’s mid-length Nicolai Geometrons and we were impressed. He had informed us of how it was quite literally a ‘do anything’ kind of bike. So the challenge was set, get hold of Chris’s own ‘Longest’ 160mm rear travel Geometron (over 1300mm wheelbase!) equipped with a shiny set of Fox 40’s and their new DH air shock and take on the might of the bike destroying Antur track, pitted against a stacked field of DH bike wielding ex-elite old skool legends; I have to admit the old sphincter was going just at the very thought of it!
I had been to Antur before and never had the balls to do any of the doubles, gully jumps and wouldn’t even dream of entertaining the thought of tackling the big four meter drop, always opting for the trail bike friendly red and blue routes. I knew they had to be tackled and was shitting my pants at the thought of it, but this wasn’t just for me, this was for enduro itself, I didn’t want the only bloke on the enduro bike to be the one who didn’t tackle the gnarly shit, so there was no choice but to go up there a couple of weeks prior and get it out of the way.
I went up with best-bud Stu Hughes, fellow Legends participant, but still racing DH and at the top of his game in the Veterans; drops and jumps being fuck-all to him! It took a lot of circling around at the top and my heart was beating as if I was going to war, but eventually I did it, scared silly and only once on the day, but it was done. Gradually through the day I got more and more used to the bike and it’s astonishing capabilities for such a long rig. By the end I had finally got all the jumps sussed and felt ready to take on the might of names such as Steve Peat, Rob Warner, Will Longden and Nigel Page, although I knew I’d be no threat to their times for sure. All I wanted to achieve was to beat one ex-elite and I’d be happy
As the weekend drew closer, my nerves grew too, part of me felt like a bit of a fraud, as I never knew JMC and was never an elite rider, but these guys were all racers from back in my day and on the first day of practice the buzz and happiness of all the Legends was really quite surreal. It was so great to see these old faces again, some still racing, others well and truly retired and out of the picture, every one was happy and the uplifts were a constant buzz of conversations of old times and great friendships. Saturday’s practice went well, I had sent the drop three times and was quite happy, most of the times I got the jumps right, although there were a couple of times I should have brought a lawyer with me for the size of the cases I was doing! The big Geometron was getting nearly as much attention as the presence of all these old timers back together again and performing flawlessly, although putting it on the uplift was a pain with the front wheel hanging over the top!
With practice out of the way Si Paton (BDS Director) put on a showing of old MTB films at a local pub for the old boys, one of these (Sprung 2) making me want to crawl up my own arse with embarrassment! Talk was of a big piss-up, but with the physical track and our combined age of the start of the ice age, we were tired and hit the sack, after a kebab of course.
All the serious competitors were being uplifted from 8.30am, at 9am we were in the café eating a cooked breakfast! We grabbed the uplift for the Legends procession, all riders still buzzing with excitement, just happy to be there. Off we went in procession down to the bridge, where we stopped and gathered around a small tree Budz (Director of Antur Stiniog) had planted in memory of JMC. The spectator and press frenzy there was quite overwhelming as Peaty gave a small speech in memory of JMC, after which his last remaining ashes were spread, I’m not a man of many emotions, but the feeling of sadness from riders who knew him was very strong, as the whole crowd went quiet as a mouse; a fitting tribute for such an incredible influence to the UK scene.
Our Seeding run was next, all the lads hit the hill, giving it death down the gnarly track, all reverting back to the days of serious racing, no holes barred flat out to the finish. For reasons I am about to explain, this kind-of became our race results, with Peaty taking the win over Will Longden then Nigel Page, a result so similar to that of the 90’s. The race run was a completely different affair though, as Peaty had decided Warner had taken it all far too seriously from the start, especially having been up there three times prior to the event! We arranged a surprise for his race run, one he wouldn’t forget!
Warner and another Legend Lee Bertrum had a bet, whoever got the slowest time had to have the other ones race time tattooed on their ass, so things were getting serious, we all wanted Berty to win that one! Peaty stashed a load of beers and Champagne up by the JMC tree and we all pulled in mid race run and hid behind the tape, Berty cracked on past us, to give the best race run of his life! When Warner came through last we all jumped out and covered him in beer and Champers as he rode past; he reached the bottom to be beaten by Berty and very bemused, thinking it was wild spectators who had sprayed him and wondering where everyone was! It was a perfect end to a perfect weekend, the racing hadn’t mattered in the end, just the riding and the social get together, remembering a true legend, the original, the first UK rider who stuck it to the rest of the world in MTB; here’s to you JMC.
As for the bike, it was performing well, until the final race run, at this point, a couple of corners in the rear Mavic XL wheel decided my jump cases and all the rocks were just too much for it to handle! Two spokes snapped and it became wobblier than a toddler’s tooth, I was then especially thankful of not needing to do the drop again; it would have collapsed for sure. But despite the wheel the bike performed meticulously, a real joy to ride, bang a set of proper DH wheels in it and it would have nailed the lot, then swap the forks for 36’s and you are back to a very long enduro bike, this really is a true all-rounder!
Big thanks to Si Paton for making it happen, the JMC Foundation, whom all the donations went to from the Legends, plus Mat Farmer and Will Longden for having the balls to do a run down on their old 90’s bikes. And of course all the UK Legends who made this the most memorable MTB event ever for me- Steve Peat, Rob Warner, Will Longden, Nige Page, Lee Bertrum, Dave Wardell, Tim Ponting, Andrew Titley, Ed Moseley, Billy Cheetham, Jonny Cheetham, Darren Howarth, Stu Hughes, James Allaway, Pete Crump, Cheezy Pete, Jason Jessop, Martin Ogden, Matt Farmer, Martin Hawyes, Andy Parkes, Andy Pope, Keith Wilson, Dave Hemming, Carl Alford and Clive Gosling.
Results: Click here.
Words: Jim Buchanan Photos: Isac Paddock, Kyle Keegan, Jim Buchanan.
Did you enjoy this article? If so, we would be stoked if you decide to support us with a monthly contribution. By becoming a supporter of ENDURO, you will help secure a sustainable future for high-quality mountain bike journalism. Click here to learn more.
