Another weekly round-up

Well another busy week means that I've not managed to Blog things as they've happened, so here's a quick pictoral run-down of the last 10 days action.

from top to bottom:

Squirtboating at the Mighty Pots

Mountain bike fun at the Mafia Trails

Sunny Surfing at Saunton

Tom 'Maverick' taking a break from sinking at the Pots

Yak paddling Gear, Southern sales Manager Pete Ford gets down to work at The Mafia Trails!

A Mafia afternoon

Ewart, Sam and myself had a quick session at the mighty Mafia trails the other week, and extended the start of the Dual track, but also found that a couple of trees had fallen and blocked a number of the other trails. Ewart and friends were up there yesterday and cleared all of the trails, and tidied up our new dual track extension.
So a few of us headed to the trails today to have some fun on the dual track. The new extension to the dual track adds a new start ramp, pump bump and berm and means that you can rack up some real speed into the middle of the course.
The weather was great and so was the riding. Here's a few pictures I managed to grab along the way.

Big Dave tests out the new berm

Tom K, and Dave flying into the second berm

Dave over the Tabletop

Sam gets some air

Going green at The Mafia

So, after hacking our way through the jungle that had set in on the top of the trails, there was only one thing to do: RIDE!
After sweeping all the trails they were rolling fast, with dry trails and just enough dirt in the corners to keep you on your toes.

Ewart on the Big Snake

Ewart sends Mother Bear

The big berm on the Main-line

Sam at the top of the Duel Track

Ewart and Sam on the Duel Track

Me at the top of the Duel track

Sam on the Main-line berm

Ewart fires up the see-saw

If you go down to the trails today.....

....Your in for a big surprise!

Mainly because you couldn't find the trails through the 8 foot high bracken, brambles and stinging nettles.
So Sam, Ewart and I set about clearing the trails. Here's a few before and after shots for you.

The view outside the barns, above the main roll in

and below after clearing

Ewart checks the view from Goldielocks

Looking down the lead in to goldielocks

and below after some gardening

And looking down the trails from the top of goldielocks

and below before we cleared

The Mafia wheels keep turning

Another night at the mafia trails, more racing the dual track, but generally a really laid back jam. People were hitting all the lines, some people going big on Daddy Bear, some of us hitting up Mummy Bear for the first time, others just rolling through the trails trying to get a feel for it all, and everyone enjoying more BBQ action! Spring has definitely sprung for us, roll on the summer and even lighter nights.

Sending Mummy bear for the first time is a great feeling

Whipping up daddy bear is where its at for others

Ewart, clean lines on Mummy bear

Adam, big lines on Daddy bear

Ollie, insane lines all over!

The Dual track berms were riding really well

Tom K on his super-light 'Mega Rig'

The bike shed lads were loving the dual course

Kicking up the dirt in the setting sun

Adam whipping the table

Mafia dual showdown

After raking out our little dual track, up at the Mafia trails, last week, it's been ridden in really well. So there was only one thing left; Time for a Dual Track Showdown!
So a whole bunch of riders rocked up on Thursday for some elbows out, no holds barred racing, oh and some obligatory BBQ action!
After stuffing our faces on Sausage sarnies, chicken, salad, chili sauce and more it was time for some action. A simple start 'ramp' was positioned and soon two riders were thundering down the course. For Ultimate carnage the dual track features two bottle necks, where both riders are forced through a gap between two trees, it means that riders can change lines at that point, but in a close race it leads to all sorts of problems!
Bikes were crashed, chains were snapped, spokes were popped, new lines were created and lots of fun was had.
Check it out........

The first corner created most of the action

The inside line seemed was faster but it was close

Hmmmmm.......BBQ

Rob H shows a clean pair of heels

Tom K squeezes into the lead

Adam schooled everyone with his DH skills

Mark H tried to create as many short cuts as possible

Is Ewart falling off, or taking the hole-shot?

The setting sun through the trails and trees

Ewart, practicing his manuals through the pump bumps

Ewart on the 'big berm' on the main line

Rob H fast and smooth, as usual!

Ian blasting the Berm

Tom K berming it up

Rob H hitting up Daddy bears gap in the dark!