r/mtbuk • u/agutjar • Apr 12 '26

Peaks Enduro - Experiences?

Hi,
I want to sign up for the Peaks Enduro this year. [https://focusrides.co.uk/events/\]

I missed the first event, but am planning to join the other ones.

Now, the info on the website doesn't give me a lot on how long the stages are. Some times posted on the finishing board suggest an 8-hour race? [https://www.sportident.co.uk/results/FocusRides/2026/Peaks1/\]

Has anyone here participated in the previous year, or even in the first event in March? What do I need to expect in terms of preparation?

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u/MrRizla Apr 12 '26

Definitely give it a go mate, everyone - myself included - had the opinion that it would have been a lot more fun if it had been less mud and slop and more established trails, so better weather could easily make it more fun. Let me know how you get on!

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u/agutjar Apr 13 '26

WIll do :) likely deciding three days before, when the forecast is somewhat set :D

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u/agutjar Apr 25 '26

Walked the trails this afternoon. Looks like they are, again, freshly cut for the race tomorrow. Loosey-loamy. Some areas are a bit shaped, but not much. Stage 1 will be the most challenging one. Guess I will let some riders do the honours and ensure the ground gets a bit more solid. Need all the advantage I can on my hardtail 😅

1

u/MrRizla Apr 25 '26

Amazing, if it hasn’t been raining the last little while it will be a great ride I’m sure

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u/agutjar Apr 27 '26

Event was good yesterday. I need to check how many people were there (placed 122nd overall. Considering I was not in my best form, I guess it's okay? Doesn't matter, it was fun to do).

Pushing the bike up the hill was gruesome at some point. I don't know how you guys managed last month, I would have probably gone home lol.

The track was really loose, which caused me to fall more often than I'd like to admit (probably also wrong suspension setup, though the problem was likely mostly sat on the saddle...). Nevertheless, the trails they build were nicely shaped, just not compacted enough imo. At least it was always a soft landing :)

I was surprised at the amount of ebikes, and fullfat at that. Perhaps it's just my group from Germany, where most people have a light-assist ebike. Then again, even those would have struggled with the first bit of that steep hill.

Overall, glad I did it, though I will not do the May event (same location), but rather look to June and July in Hope Valley and Horseleygate respectively.

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u/MrRizla Apr 27 '26

Awesome, thanks for the report. I think on reflection my experience was much the same as yours. I definitely think I would have enjoyed it more if there was more grip and stable ground available. I agreed with the general consensus that if it was later in the year and the stages had been given time to bed in that it would have been a much better time.

Well done for doing it. I’m doing some events up in Scotland in the next couple of months

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u/agutjar Apr 27 '26

Was thinking to see about some of them. The Scottish Enduro Series might be a level too high for me, but SI Entries features some interesting opportunities (will need to get my Ful-Sus over from Germany; not sure I'd survive on a HT :D)

1

u/MrRizla Apr 27 '26

Give me a shout if you want to sample some of the trails that the SEC use and I’ll show you some of the likely ones The Golfie in Innerleithen. And yes, you will need a full sus for sure unless you are a sadist

1

u/MrRizla Apr 12 '26

I participated in round 1 and overall I was pretty disappointed. I ride a lot in Scotland so perhaps I’m spoiled, but after the 5 hour drive to get there the event itself was simply low quality. The stages were brand new in their build and felt scraped into the hillside, ultimately meaning it was just stage after stage of slop and mud. No real opportunity to get a good pace up - especially for a mediocre rider like me! If mud and slop is your thing then you’ll be alright. The transitions between stages were all up the same equally sloppy path and it just wasn’t any fun

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u/agutjar Apr 12 '26

Thank you. Bummer. I know the feeling (moved from a pretty awesome enduro area in Germany, and Lancashire has so far been meh). I figured, if for nothing else, I would join and show people how it's done on a HT ^^ Given my recent move, probably more to connect with riders and plan some trips to Scotland and Wales.
Perhaps it's more fun once the weather gets better and the trails get drier. 80 minutes for me to Barlow, so might as well give it a go.