Llanwrtyd Wells is a tiny town nestled right in the heart of Mid Wales, it’s such a small town that it boasts the title of the smallest populated town in the UK, with a population of 850 people. This is where the heart of the UK Enduro was formed, with it going under it’s organisational name in previous years as Red Kite Events. With this year’s UK Enduro’s season fast approaching, director Neil Delafield held a meet and greet event for all sponsors and folk involved, we sent Jim along to see what all the fuss was about.

Uk Enduro, launch Copyright 2016 Dan Wyre Photography, all rights reserved This Image can be Purchased from www.danwyrephotography.co.uk

I myself had competed in all but one of last year’s rounds of the Red Kite Enduro and loved every minute of it. It’s super testing and proper natural terrain, with a massive avoidance of anything bike-park or too man made. The events held last year really suited my attitude towards racing; not too serious, ride and race with your mates and take as long as it takes. This attitude is being continued as Red Kite steps up to the mark, holding this year’s UK Enduro, but this time it comes equipped with a whole bunch of sponsors and people behind the scenes, putting it up there with the big boys of enduro organisation.

On arrival at the very cosy and inviting Drovers Rest, we all received the warmest welcome from it’s proprietor and the town’s mayor Peter James, adorned in his full mayor gold necklace, looking very official! Kirsty Williams member of parliament for Mid Wales was there too, as the races held in the Mid Wales area have full support from local government; this being like the opposite of what most places over in England receive from anyone official!

Uk Enduro, launch Copyright 2016 Dan Wyre Photography, all rights reserved This Image can be Purchased from www.danwyrephotography.co.uk

Each sponsor took their turn to do the whole ‘who they are and what they do’ thing in front of the rest of the folk, informing us all of what they will be bringing to the UK Enduro table. It was quite an impressive list to be fair with Rocky Mountain bikes as the main series sponsor; they will be having full demos of their enduro bikes at each and every round. Also sponsors are Wheelies and Drovers Cycles bike shops, The Drovers Rest Restaurant, Absolute Chainrings, Sixth Element Wheels, Rapid Racer Products, Muc Off, Flare Clothing, Sealskinz, Airshot and Julbo Eyewear; most having a representative there on the day.

Uk Enduro, launch Copyright 2016 Dan Wyre Photography, all rights reserved This Image can be Purchased from www.danwyrephotography.co.uk

We chowed down on the glorious food laid on by The Drovers Rest, as we wandered about this very old and quaint restaurant/hotel, with it’s balcony overlooking the picturesque River Irfon. We chatted amongst ourselves as other top riders and representatives of different media got the lowdown on the upcoming season, more information can be found in our interview with series organizer Neil. But with around twenty folk having brought bikes there was only one thing on most peoples minds; to check out some of the stages for the first round at the nearby Crichan Forest.

A ten minute drive and we were in this desolate and very unpopulated area, as is a lot of Mid Wales, where we soon got kitted up and headed up for a blast down three of the planned stages for the first UK Enduro round. After a short climb (as the parking is half way up the hill) We were all blasting down the first stage. My god it was cool, all the more racer-style riders were buzzing at the bottom, with smiles all round, that atmosphere you only get after having ridden testing fun stuff. Some of the lesser experienced riders looked like they had seen the mucky side of the trails a few times by the time they got down and after we had done two more runs up and down they had had enough and shot off home; Neil bares no punches in letting riders know these are testing trails and not for beginners, but with them mostly being on steep loam, crashes are to be slow and not like (in my opinion) the more dangerous flat out bike park style stages, where a crash can cost the use of bones!

Uk Enduro, launch Copyright 2016 Dan Wyre Photography, all rights reserved This Image can be Purchased from www.danwyrephotography.co.uk

After the three stages we headed back to the parking where Peter (Mr Mayor!) had put on more snacks and a brew. All except myself and a couple of my #coreriders mates stayed to repeat the three stages till it was going dark. It was such a great day and has got all involved very excited about the season and riding the great trails, no wonder their hashtag is #fortheriders; we can see why!

More information can be found on the UK Enduro-Website.

Words: Jim Buchanan Photos: Dan Wyre


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