There she is all built up then. I did promis some shots of the sidekick in DH mode but in my rush to get this best built up I forgot all about it. so you'll have to make out what you can from this great shot of the Saturday evening slalom race at Pitfichie.
Sunday, 22 July 2007
Red bikes are faster!
Friday, 20 July 2007
Wideopen Issue 3 - OUT MONDAY!
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Rugog NPS update - October is the new July!
SPS Events can now announce round three at Rugog will be re-scheduled to Innerleithen and a different track from that used at round 1. The new date will be Saturday and Sunday the 13th and 14th of October 2007.
Picture courtesy of Ian Linton
All entries from the cancelled Rugog round will automatically be transferred to the new revised date.
Those riders who can not make the new date and require a refund of your race fees, please do so by contacting Steve Parr with all your details:
steveparr66@yahoo.co.uk
SPS Events. Steve Parr & Si Paton..
http://www.npsdh.com/
Monday, 16 July 2007
Rugog strikes again "NPS DownHill Round 3 CANCELLED"

image by Rex at foelgasnach.co.uk
SPS Events has taken the tough decision to cancel the next round of the Chain Reaction Cycles NPS this weekend on the 21st and 22nd of July 2007.
With the wettest June on record and July almost looking the same, this has left the pit fields at Rugog inaccessible along with our two back up courses at Caersws and Moelfre.
SPS Events will let you all know by Thursday the 19th of July as to whether we will re-schedule the round or cancel it all together and offer a full refund of race entries.
Again our deepest apologies.
SPS Events.
Steve Parr & Si Paton..
http://www.blogger.com/www.NPSDH.com
Fox Racing National Champs - Beaumont's got it!
Full results are here
Friday, 13 July 2007
News overload...
Spent the week mostly sliding down the local Les Gets and Morzine tracks plus a day out to Switzerland, which was really good. We managed a quick photo-shoot one afternoon between downpours... here's Gary on the infamous Les Gets Gully run. Full repo and pics in the mag(obviously).
Anyway the press releases have been mounting up whilst I was away...here's a few of 'em.

Pump Urban Wear New Site The new site will be online 25th July, go check it out at http://www.pumpurbanwear.co.uk/

Caersws Cup From NPS4x.com . The entry for the race is now open on line. The races takes place July 28/29th at the Classic Caersws Downhill Venue nr Newtown Powys. The race is limited to only 300 riders for each day, these normaly fill quickly.
Full details of the event and online entry here

Edge Spring 07 if you've not seen it yet, the latest Edge magazine is out "Showcasing the best of the action from the Spring, the start of the race season and the first good weather we've had this year. " Check it out here

Happy Birthday Howies Howies are 12 years old this month, well done to them. Check out their website and mailing list for some birthday deals here

MRP have just launched their shiny new and improved website! Check it out at http://www.mrpbike.com/
From Matt at Ison
Team Identiti's Glen Coe has been pulling Double Backflips at CorbySkatepark. After a layoff to recover from his hernia op Glen has been back on it in a big way! He has been riding non-stop over the past few weeks and it has definitely paid off - as the video clip proves!!! Glen recently came into Ison to pick up a brand new P45 Pro Bike and it's good to see he is putting it to good use!!! It has held up to his riding with no problems - proof that the bike is strong enough (yet still nimble) for any rider!!!
The footage:
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Issue 3 update!
However we're nearly there now with this issue - probably 95% complete, over 100 pages of TOP QUALITY content... should be online in the next week. Sign up to our distribution list using the Contact link (on the right) and we'll email you as soon as it's out!
Sunday, 8 July 2007
Schladming results...
Full results on www.nissan-ucimtbworldcup.com Top 10 below....
1 HILL Samuel IRON HORSE / MONSTER ENERGY 3:51.44
2 ATHERTON Gee ANIMAL COMMENCAL 3:56.58
3 MINNAAR Greg TEAM G-CROSS HONDA 3:56.96
4 LEHIKOINEN Matti TEAM G-CROSS HONDA 3:57.01
5 PEAT Steve SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE 3:57.81
6 VAZQUEZ LOPEZ David MSC BIKES 3:57.93
7 FAIRCLOUGH Brendan TEAM G-CROSS HONDA 3:58.13
8 RENNIE Nathan SANTA CRUZ SYNDICATE 4:00.27
9 BEAUMONT Marc TEAM MBUK SANTACRUZ 4:01.39
10 REID Ben 4:01.82
Fearingout team rider Matt Simmonds got another good time on the board.
36 SIMMONDS Matthew 3:09.11 4:14.27
All in all, check how many "GBR" names you see on the board....we kick ass!
Friday, 6 July 2007
4X Nationals venue announced...
Monday, 2 July 2007
UK specific Kona...
I quote (from BIKEMAGIC)...
The all-new Five O (top) is a UK-specific "hardtail trail" bike, featuring a new aluminium frame teamed with Marzocchi's 55R 140mm travel fork. The rest of the spec leans towards the burly - FSA Gravity Moto-X cranks, Hayes Stroker Trail brakes and Sun Ditch EQ rims shod with 2.35in Maxxis Minion tyres.
Looks quite interesting to me - quite possibly a good move, since fat full sussers seem to be taking over these days, and tbh are overkill for much of the UK.
Burly hardtails are where its at kids!
Worth taking a shoofty at the translation tho, as the new Coiler geometry adjustment seems really interesting - I can't wait to read a proper English written review!
More pics over here (words only in german tho) - READ THE TRANSLATION.
Friday, 29 June 2007
Les Gets Baby!
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
Tees have landed...

The first batch of Wideopen tees arrived this morning... a full ad and details on how to get one from us will be in Issue 3.
In the meantime you can order them from the Fearingout shop.
Monday, 25 June 2007
Pump Comp Winner Pics
Sticker's were most welcome also, infact i've been after something like this since respraying the bike! I was so excited I even took pics (lucky you, they're attached too!)
Cheers again, I'm more than happy to support the site/mag in any way I can!
Matt"
Saturday, 23 June 2007
Some bits and bobs from my inbox...
"Hi guys and dolls,
Just a quickie to let you know that RockShox, both parts and forks, are back in stock. Finally! We're busy today prepping the back-ordered forks, so if you've been waiting for a new toy, then this weekend you get to play in the rain. You lucky, lucky people.
He's soooooo sad to see them go. Ahem."
Friday, 22 June 2007
Welsh Downhill Championships
See www.dragondownhill.co.uk for details. You can even watch a preview of the course which will also be featured for the British Championships (route to be changed a bit though), on the Dragon website, check it out.
Should be a good course and a top weekend of riding, racing and spectating. So if you're too scared, injured, bored or fed up of boring weekends, get yourself along and cheer the racers down that hill. Rheola...where champions are made.
Point to note, direct quote from Dragondownhill, "Midges up at Rheola are quite bad so bring some insect repellant."
So, take a horn to drum up some atmosphere, shout random chants and rub that insect repellant on liberally :D
Thursday, 21 June 2007
Mountain Sessions at The Factory Skatepark in Dundee
The Factory Skate Park in Dundee are running MTB only sessions from July to August. If your up that way, go check it out. Support your local skatepark folks!
>
Sunday, 17 June 2007
Dear industry...can we have more Freeride parks please...

Another early morning at home in Scotland and I rose excited like a child to get to Glentress FR park...the met office yet again pulled a blinder and claimed rain, but it never came, so GT FR park it was (was gonna hit Inners if it had rained!). The stinky was on form, and I reinstated big time!
Whips, hips, tweaks and ultimate development for me...one handers and then no handers. The top section was getting dialled all day, and I had a different trick on every table. One run had a one hander, a no hander, whip, hip and tweak all in one. Absolutley f@*#ing mint and development for moi :D
Good craic as usual with random park chat. Also met up with Robin again, he was throwing some nice one hander-no hander-then one hander landings, bar spins, opposite whips and all. His bike still sounds like it needs some TLC tho, clunkety, clunk...LOL!
Just a few pics, and tbh I could have taken these in my car boot anywhere, but trust me, I'm buzzing from the FR park as usual, build more in the UK plllllllllllllllllease! Nice shot of the wideopen sticker on my giro remedy, as above, lol...
Saturday, 16 June 2007
Empire of dirt cancelled...
LINK HERE
Newton Abbot, 15th June, 3pm - Kye Forte and organisers of Red Bull Empire of Dirt, are incredibly disappointed to announce that the event has had to completely cancelled for 2007.
Unusually heavy rain throughout Thursday night, and most of Friday, has damaged the course so extensively, that the hard working course crew will be unable to complete repairs in time.
Naturally, everyone involved, including Kye, Red Bull, the course shapers, event crew, and of course the world class riders, who have travelled from far and wide, are very disappointed. However, spirits are high, as planning for Red Bull Empire 2008 has already begun!
Milky will be heading down to the course in the next week to get some snaps for Wideopen. Check out Issue 3 out soon.
Thursday, 14 June 2007
Final Pump Urban Wear comp winner!

Looks like the Pump Urban Wear comp is about to come to a close! We hooked up with PUW after issue 2 and we've given away a shirt every week for the last 3 weeks.... time to announce our 4th and final winner...
The weeks shirt will be winging its way over to yet another Bath local... Matt Miller. Well done mate, your shirt and some other goodies will be on the way asap!
MASSIVE shout out to Rick at Pump Urban Wear for being super bloody cool and sorting us out with lots of shirts to give away. He liked what he saw in Wideopen and took a chance in hooking up with us. It's much appreciated.
You can check out a feature on Pump in Wideopen issue3. If you like what you see, drop by their site and think about buying some of their threads.
Look out for another comp in Wideopen issue3 - out July.
Tuesday, 12 June 2007
Whistler baby!
"Finally got my self into gear and decided to write a bit of a weekly/bi weekly blog about the season in Whistler!!! So here goes part 1…
Been a very mixed few weeks in the Bikepark from the swamp we had on opening day to dry dusty 30 degrees of last weekend to the torrential rain floods of the past few days. The bone yard is coming along well with lots of lines, a funky curved wall ride on to the Giro box, and lots of smaller trail type jumps packed in.
Crankworx is set for the 21st to 29th July and is going to be the year of the hardtail (could this be Lance McDermott’s year??). It looks like theirs no big mountain lines except for the drop to step up from last year, which has grown! Expect some huge airs off that one...
The 4x track looks like it might be a bit of a let down. There’s some huge tables and a nice step down, but its got no flow. Lots of berms in strange places and 3 funky ones that send you up hill killing your speed for the jumps! We’ll see how it develops through the season though!
Away from bikes, I’ve been watching the Stanley Cup and learning all about the finer points of hockey. I still think its just men with sticks but the fights are good, and Ticket2ride head honcho Scott (panzi)Lanzi is currently rocking a Commencial Supreme DH, in long and slack mode, but he might be fettling that! Who let that boy have a bike he can change head angle, wheel base, and bb height?!
PS I’ve also seen the proto Rocky Mountain on the trails but can’t tell u much. I followed him down angry pirate, but couldn’t see much of the bike. Will get more pics soon!! Promise. I’ve also got lots of info on the new Collective video… but I might loose my job if I tell you!"
69 for prizes at the NPS Final

RHUK as official co-sponsors of the Chain Reaction Cycles NPS in 2007 are handing over an Astrix Union hardtail frame to 69th overall at the 2007 NPS Final @ Caersws!
Astrix's Union is at home on the 4X track or down the trails...or anything in between. Available in baby blue or baby blue it's certainly eyecatching.
The ride is like a big boys BMX, so easy to bust out manuals and precise through any turn.
Boasting 24" or 26" wheel, slidey vert dropouts, ISCG, custom tubeset... she won't let you down!
So get your game on...RHUK hopes this awesome prize will make you guys push harder for the rest of the Series!
Steve Parr says, "It's going to be like Christmas at the NPS Final on the Saturday night. We will be flowing a whole list of great prizes including this Astrix Union frame to a worthy rider who has competed hard and fast all year long".
22nd July Rugog
12th Aug Moelfre
1st Sept Caersws (Saturday)
Monday, 11 June 2007
Ride the World Champs track at Fort Bill

This weekend is the big tester event for the World Championships tracks both DH & 4X, this is your only chance to race on this brand new 4X track this weekend.
Saturday night is Super cross, timed seeding runs and straight knockout (world cup format racing)
Sunday is the FSO National 4X race - 4 moto format.
Entry for the race closes online on Tuesday at 11pm, we will take entries on the day for Saturday or Sunday but these may fill up fast.
Full details of these race are on www.nps4x.com
We still have loads of goodies up for grabs, Marzocchi WC 4X Forks for one lucky category winner, FSO sunglasses & ODI grips for the winner of each category and the specially commissioned glass trophies.
Also with the fun of the SDA DH race taking place the atmosphere should be buzzing with excitement, with a few international 4x riders coming to race it going to be an action packed weekend of racing.
Race for free? - if you can supply a marshal for either day we will pay cash or give you a free entry.
Pearce Cycles Summer DH Series 2007 Rd2

Friday, 8 June 2007
Comp Winner, Bristol Bike Fest & Pearce Rd2


Wednesday, 6 June 2007
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
Empire of Dirt
Yeah Wideopen contributor Jacob Gibbins (Milky) will be at the event for full coverage in Issue 3!
PRESS RELEASE:
15 & 16 June, 2007
Newton Abbot, Devon, UK
THE WORLD'S FIRST BMX DIRT SLOPESTYLE
FREE TICKETS SNAPPED UP!
Newton Abbot, Devon - With just two weeks to go, there are no more tickets available for Red Bull Empire of Dirt! All car tickets were snapped up within a week, when the applications opened on the MySpace profile on May 14th.
There is strictly no access to Red Bull Empire of Dirt without a ticket. But hope is not lost... Those who missed out on a ticket to see the event in person, can watch the Freesports on 4 program on Sunday 22nd July at 8.30am, on Channel 4, and again on Tuesday 24th July, late night (time TBC).
Empire of Dirt will also be broadcast on the Extreme sports channel.
Meanwhile, the world's first BMX dirt slopestyle course is looking awesome!
RedBull site
Myspace page
Progress photos and course photos
PUW Flow Comp Winner
Well they've announced a winner - check out their site here to see if it was you...
More good news, there should be another comp running alongside the launch of their new site. Safe!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Xuberance Weekend
Also...Some disapointing news...The Xuberance weekend festival has been cancelled.
It was due for 9th/10th June in Llangollen, North Wales with Reel Big Fish, Pendulum, GLC and loads of bikes and boards going down all weekend.... sadly, it's no more.
The press release says:
"We are really sorry to announce the cancellation of Xuberance Weekend.
Due to unforeseen circumstances I am left with no option but to cancel the event in its entirety.
I offer my sincerest apologies for the short notice of this announcement and any inconvenience caused but please understand that this has been the hardest decision of my life and one I really didn’t want to have to make.
However the circumstances here are beyond my control, and have left me with no alternative but to cancel the event.
I have invested a vast amount of my time and money into this event over the last 14 months, but unfortunately I have been dealt a last-minute blow.
I fully intend to put on the event in the coming years and with this in mind I hope that you understand and consider supporting future events.
Thanks to everyone who has been involved & worked so hard providing time and expertise and also to those who have supported this event.
Anyone who has purchased a ticket will be contacted individually on Monday morning and will receive a full refund including all booking fees.
Please email any comments you may have to info@xuberanceweekend.co.uk
Kind regards
David Green
Event Director
Xuberance Weekend"
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Competition Time

Monday, 28 May 2007
NPS round 2 results
Preps to Justin at Foel DH riders who got a 16th in the seniors with a time of 2:40.78. Good going.
Great to see the Junior riders nailing some top times in with the Elite riders.
Top 10 times...
1 Gee ATHERTON Elite Animal/Commencal 2:11.82
2 Steve PEAT Elite The Syndicate 2:12.54
3 Matti LEHIKOINEN Elite Team G Cross Honda 2:14.29
4 Josh BRYCELAND Junior Royal/Santa Cruz 2:15.72
5 Greg MINNAAR Elite Team G Cross Honda 2:16.06
6 Matt SIMMONDS Elite Ancillotti UK 2:17.21
7 Marc BEAUMONT Elite MBUK/Santa Cruz 2:17.45
8 Sam DALE Junior Solid Electric 2:17.73
9 Joseph SMITH Junior Ancillotti UK 2:17.83
10 Tom BRAITHWAITE Elite Giant 2:17.99
full results on www.npsdh.com and www.mikrotime.com/mtb/
Full write up and interviews with some of the names above in issue 3 of wideopen.
Thursday, 24 May 2007
Chain Reaction Cycles NPS Rd 2 at Ae Forest - Heads Up!

The impressive Honda G-Cross Team will be in full attendance with their full factory set up so stop by and stare!

Bring along you XC bike and hit the famous Ae Forest trails, along the route stop by and watch the Worlds top downhill riders hauling! When you get to the bottom fly by the suspension service centres like those of TF Tuned, Stendec or Mojo and chat one to one regards your suspension set up.
Schedule:
Saturday
09:00 - 14:30 Open Practise
15:00 - 18:00 Seeding
18:15 Riders meeting
19:00 Sombrio Film Festival
Sunday
09:00 - 12:30
13:00 - 16:00 Racing
16:30 Podium
www.Descent-World.co.uk
www.npsdh.com
Monday, 21 May 2007
Pump Urban Wear comp - Winner #1!

Cheers to everyone who entered and especially to Rick at Pump for making it all happen.
Remember.... 3 more shirts to give away. One a week for the next 3. So get signed up!
Thursday, 17 May 2007
PUW comp
and send your same details... (Name:Email:Address:Town:County:Postcode:Country:Message)
...and we'll put your name in the hat.
Cheers,
Scott|editor
Wednesday, 16 May 2007
4X postponed this weekend...
PRESS RELEASE
We have taken the decision to postpone this weekend's 4X event.
The track is very wet and muddy and rather then risk running event on what would be a very wet weekend we have taken the decision to postpone until June 2/3rd
We want everyone to enjoy themselves at our events and feel that spending the weekend in a very wet muddy field is not going to be fun for anyone, least of all the all spectators and riders.
I know some would of you would love the race in the rain, but with this being a new track we really want to save it and for it to be an amazing weekend on racing on a really dry and sunny June 3rd!
We are sorry for any inconvenience caused and will transfer or refund any entries already received.
Best Regards
Chris
Europes Biggest 4X Series
Freerange Sports Optics National 4X Series 2007
Series Co-Sponsors
MARZOCCHI - HALO - ODI - BRITISH CYCLING - THE PPC IMAGELAB-DIRT BIKE SUPPLY- RIMOR DIRECT
____________________________________________________________
Chris Roberts NPS4X 25 Wrekin Walk Stourport-on-Severn
WORCS DY13 0LR UK Direct M 07702 826260 www.nps4x.com
Win PUW Gear!

Tuesday, 15 May 2007
Freelap at the NPS
Seen those fancy Freelap timing devices that Stanny is using...?
Well.... at every round of the NPS in 07 Freelap will be on hand to let riders check out their times.
SPS Events will ensure at the start and finish line of each race one of the Freelap Transmitter Poles will be located as well as an obvious mid-way point for your split times!
Tim Williams from Freelap has also promised one lucky racer at the final of the Chain Reaction Cycles NPS at Caersws a complete Freelap kit of watch and two poles!
Si Paton of SPS Events says, “The Freelap system is the most innovative product of 2007 and will turn every ride into a race. Whenever you start measuring something, it improves, this will be the same for your riding, guaranteed”.
www.npsdh.com
www.freelap.co.uk
Sunday, 13 May 2007
Foel-king hell
Saturday, 12 May 2007
Wideopen Issue 2 - out now!
Yup its out - click on the link to the left to get to the download page. Feedback as usual on the Comments page more than welcome.
PUW competion - you need to click on the 'Contact' link on the right and fill that in for a chance to win a free T-shirt!
Friday, 11 May 2007
Chain Reaction Cycles NPS - Venue Change
Thursday, 10 May 2007
TF Tuned Fast Track to summer

Just got an email update from Caroline at TF... good news for folks wanting their shox fettled.
"We are currently booking about a week ahead, and so we have re-introduced the Fast Track service for the summer. There will be a few spaces available for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of each week where, for an additional charge of 25GBP, you can effectively queue-jumpa nd get any ultra-urgent jobs turned around quickly, ready for theweekend.
I'd also urge you to plan ahead - those of you lucky enough to be off tothe mountains on holiday, don't leave it to the last minute to get yoursuspension serviced and tuned - book it in well ahead of time please.
On the stock front, we have PUSH parts available for all Fox products,and we have a few RockShox Revelation 426 U-turn Coil forks back instock. We think that these are the best value fork available at themoment at 280GBP, and it seems like the public agree as RockShox have been struggling to meet demand."
tftunedshox.com for more
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
Issue 2.... SOON!!
Its in final proofing now - so I expect we'll have it online on Friday.
Trust me - its worth the wait!
Friday, 4 May 2007
I'm back...
Dragon Rd2 Mt Ash
Dragon time again this weekend at Mt Ash.... Weathers looking good so should be a fast one. ... don't forget to pack your pedalling legs for that bottom section!
Stay tuned to http://www.dragondownhill.co.uk/ for results next week and repo in WO.
PS.... Do the Dragon Team a favour and car share as much as you can. Parking is a big issue at Mountain Ash that needs your help! Share vehicles, park tidy and try not to roll up in an enormous van! See the site for more info.
.jpg)
.jpg)


