2025 MTB XC / Gravel / Leisure scene

Focus Rides MTB xc series R4

Withcall N.Lincs  Sunday 6th Jun.

Write up – Dave Millson

The route was similar to last year from the start in the farmyard heading up the gravel climb onto the old railway line. This year a small singletrack section taking you off the flat through a lumpy wood section before back onto the old railway line and up to the first technical wood.

The singletrack track twists and turns looping up and down on the off camber wooded hillside. Out of this and a grassy track to the flatter wood weaving around to the grassy track the other direction dipping into the top of the off camber wood. Once negotiated it’s on to an energy sapping grassy field climb before descending with a jump halfway down to a bomb hole before another grassy field climb to the top of the steepest descent down to the start finish line. For the Sport race he format is as many laps you can complete or start within an hour.
Paul Campbell – Wilson’s Wheels followed his round 3 win with another top step ride.

Jon Snowden VLV finished 11th and myself 14th out of 24 finishers.

Focus rides round 5 (see facebook link below)

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KvwM6ZbKA/

‐—————— round 3 ——————

MTB XC SCENE
Focus Rides (round 3) East of England XC MTB

Event: Well Vale, Alford, Lincs.

Date: 18th May 2025

Photos: Dave Millson, Focus rides and TimXCMTB

(See website links below feature for more information).

Round 3 of the Focus Rides MTB series was a new course at Well Vale just south of Louth. Using the woodland they had recently created a manmade course which was a little bumpy, heavy going therefore strength sapping with painted stumps to avoid and logs the size of your forearm.

From the start at the bottom of the wood it twisted and turned to a small gravel track which climbed to the top of the wood before turning left where on more recently mowed woodland.

Here it undulated and weaved before turning right along the top of the wood passing the very top of the gravel track which we had climbed earlier before the descending through more twists and turns back to the start. There was a good representation from East Yorkshire Clubs, Wilson’s Wheels, VCB and Wold Top.

Tom Ramsey winning the Expert Race and Paul Campbell winning the Sport category. The vibe is really friendly and fun, 90’s dance music pumping out in the main field and one of the marshals on the loose off camber section of the descent was more naughties dance music.

Two more rounds left in June and July with categories for all ages and abilities. Dave Millson.

Contact Focus rides to get involved and support your mtb XC scene (below).

https://focusrides.co.uk/

Remaining events if you fancy a race (below)

https://focusrides.co.uk/events/

——————– rider write ups —————–

Racing, Gravel riding. Bike packing. Ultra endurance. Holiday adventures.

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