“I just want people to ride!”
Kev Smith’s ambition is simple – get people on their bikes. Meeting that ambition is somewhat trickier – but he’s working his back end off to make it happen.
Focus Rides are running a series of cross-country Enduros, and Kev wants you to get involved.
“Work’s started already on prepping the Peaks Enduro we’re planning in October,” says Kev. “Work has started on the stages. It’s a mashup format and hasn’t been done before so we’d love people to come along.”
Kev has put in the groundwork, securing a location and convincing landowners to support – so a start line full of mountain bikers wanting to support grassroots events would be brilliant. Right now, Kev is shaping the track, wielding a strimmer and getting as many people as he can to sign up.
Enduro – if you haven’t ridden one – typically consists of a number of timed downhill sections linked with untimed cross-country transitions. It’s the best of mountain biking, with a fun bit of competition involved.
And because it’s on private land, Kev and his team are able to put the work in to make the Stages amazing just for mountain bikers – these trails aren’t there for the rest of the year.
“If this works, the landowner will support us doing more,” says Kev. “We’re hoping to run loads more next year, and maybe a winter race too.”
Kev is also looking for new locations – so if you have a good patch of land, or know someone who does, get in touch.
And you can sign up now – supporting a grassroots event – www.sientries.co.uk/event.php?event_id=15700
Early test of riding Stage 2 : https://www.facebook.com/groups/PeakDistrictMTB/posts/24216713357938757
