British Downhill Series – Bala – Preview
We head to Bala (Rhyd-Y-Felin) this weekend for round 3 of the British Downhill Series. If the weather stays good we should be on for a pretty fast set of dry and dusty runs
The Venue Rhyd-Y-Felin: Also known as Bala is not actually in Bala. Please note that Rhyd-y-Felin is a privately owned forest and therefore access is prohibited. Please do not walk or ride the track outside of organised events.
Unauthorised use will stop events being held at this venue. Any rider who causes such above actions will receive a life time ban from any BDS events.
Rhyd-Y-Felinf rom the south and east: From Shrewsbury take A5 signed Oswestry/North Wales. At Wolfshead roundabout on the new Nesscliffe by-pass, turn west onto the B4396 toward Knockin. After passing through Knockin Village continue towards Llynclys. At crossroads with A483 (Oswestry – Welshpool road) continue over on the A495 (B4396) signed Bala through the villages Llanyblodwel, Pen-y-Bont and Llangedwyn. After passing through Llangedwyn follow the B4396 that bears to the left signed Bala. This road becomes narrow with tight bends in places. At give way turn right onto B4391 towards Bala/Llangynog continue through Pen-y-Bont Fawr to Llangynog.
2015 Course Preview
Rhyd-Y-Felin from the north: From Oswestry follow the A483 south toward Welshpool. At Llynclys crossroads turn west onto A495 (B4396) signed Bala. Continue through the villages Llanyblodwel, Pen-y-Bont and Llangedwyn. After passing through Llangedwyn follow the B4396 that bears to the left signed Bala. This road becomes narrow with tight bends in places. At give way turn right onto B4391 towards Bala/Llangynog continue through Pen-y-Bont Fawr to Llangynog.
Nearest postcode for Rhyd-Y-Felin: SY10 0HJ
From Aberdeen Distance: 412.7 miles / Time: 8 hrs 1 min.
From Birmingham Distance: 83.9 miles / Time: 2 hrs 9 min.
From Bristol Distance: 147.9 miles / Time: 3 hr 25 mins.
From Edinburgh Distance: 291 miles / Time: 5 hrs 49 mins.
From Fort William Distance: 392.6miles / Time: 7 hrs 50 mins.
From Glasgow Distance: 288.6 miles / Time: 5 hrs 26 mins.
From Liverpool Distance: 63.6 miles / Time: 1 hr 53 mins.
From London Distance: 200.8 miles / Time: 4 hrs 18 mins.
From Sheffield Distance: 128.7 miles / Time: 3 hrs 5mins.
Nearest Train Station for Rhyd-Y-Felin: Blaenau Ffestiniog Railway Station. Church Street, Blaenau Festiniog LL41 3HE.
Nearest Ferry Port for Rhyd-Y-Felin: Holyhead Port of Holyhead, Holyhead, Anglesey, Gwynedd. LL65 1DQ.
Nearest Airport for Rhyd-Y-Felin: Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Liverpool, L24 1YD.
Car park: £5.00 per vehicle, motorbikes will be free. Racers will not have to pay this charge.
Spectating will be free.
Camping: £5.00 per pitch is payable by everyone who is staying overnight. Camping will be available onsite. The finish arena is grassed, level and ideal for camping. You must leave site by 19:00 on the Sunday evening of the event.
Security: Will be onsite both Friday and Saturday night of the event. You are strongly advised to lock away all of your possessions.
The Rhyd-Y-Felin Course: Man made obstacles are in abundance along the whole length of the course with several large jumps and berms. The finish arena will be surrounded by crowd barriers. Riders are advised to wear suitable protection that they think suitable, walk the course prior to riding and ride within their own ability level.
Start Line Grid Reference: SJ 03322 24159
Finish Line Grid Reference: SJ 03425 25553
Length – 1.5 km.
Start altitude – 543 m.
Finish altitude – 176 m.
Vertical descent – 367 m.
Fastest time 3:22 minutes.
Course rating (1-5 with 5 being very technical): Rating 5.
Event Schedule:
Friday
13:00 Venue open for team pits, parking and camping.
16:00 Commissaire course walk. We reserve the right to change the course at any time through the event.
18:00 Course open for on foot inspection only. No transport to the top is provided or permitted.
15:00 – 21:00 Race registration, please bring your valid BC/UCI Race Licence.
Saturday
07:00 Course open for on foot inspection only. No transport to the top is provided or permitted.
07:00 – 11:00 Race registration, please bring your valid BC/UCI Race Licence.
09.00 Uplift opens and all riders must have their transponders fitted to use the uplift.
09:30 Open practice for all Juvenile Men, Youth Men, Senior Men, Master Men, Veteran Men, Grand Veteran Men, Junior Women and Women.
10:30 Open practice for all.
16:59 Course closed for all Juvenile Men, Youth Men, Senior Men, Master Men, Veteran Men, Grand Veteran Men, Junior Women and Women.
17:00 Course open for Expert Men and Elite Men and Elite Women Only.
17:30 Last uplift.
18:00 Course Closed.
18:05 Riders meeting.
18:30 Course open for on foot inspection only. No transport to the top is provided or permitted.
Sunday
08:00 Uplift opens and all riders must have their transponders fitted to use the uplift.
08:30 Open Practice for all.
10:30 Last Uplift Leaves.
10:31 First Uplift for Racing.
10:45 – 11:00 Elite Men’s Practice only.
11:00 Course Closed.
11:15 Seeding Run followed by one timed Race Run.
17:30 Podium for top five in each category.
Racer numbers for riders that have not already competed in the series will be available at the race office where all riders must sign on and present their valid National Federations race licence and membership. Failure to do so will result in a £10.00 fine payable to British Cycling. Once paid, the rider can then complete registration and compete in the event.
Riders will be given one front number board for the series. It is your responsibility to look after the number board. A lost front number board will mean an immediate £5.00 cash charge for a replacement. The same £5.00 fee applies if you modify your front number board and it needs replacing.
The front number board must be displayed on the front of your bike at all times whilst on track.
The number boards remain the property of BDS Events until the end of your race season. Please note no deposit is required.
Note: For series overall positions, five out of six rounds count, including seeding points.
Race Categories and running order for both seeding and race run. Race numbers shown in brackets:
Juvenile Men – DMR 13-14 years (900-925)
Youth Men – Super Alloy Springs 15-16 years (800-899)
Grand Veteran Men – Kore 50 and over (780-799)
Veteran Men – Dainese 40-49 years (700-774)
Master Men – NS Bikes 30-39 years (600-699)
Junior Women – Rachel Atherton 13-18 years (130-149)
Women – Uberbike 13 and over (160-199)
Junior Men – Spank 17-18 years (500-599)
Senior Men – PRO Tharsis 19-29 years (300-399)
Expert Men – X-Fusion 19 and over (200-299)
Elite Women – Schwalbe Tires 19 and over (100-125)
Elite Men – Schwalbe Tires 19 and over (1-99)
Juvenile – Riders must be in the year of their 13th or 14th birthday.
Youth – Riders in the year of their 15th or 16th birthdays.
Junior – Riders in the year of their 17th or 18th birthdays.
Senior – Riders in the year of their 19th birthday then the Senior category is the appropriate aged based category. See below for how riders can attain Expert or Elite status.
Master – For riders aged 30 to 39.
Veteran – For riders aged 40 to 49.
Grand Veteran – For riders aged over 50
British Cycling Commissaires: Kelvin Hoy, Gary Brain, Alastair Mackinlay and Julie Fox.
Course Marshals: 26x marshals will be in place on course both Saturday and Sunday. Each marshal will be easily identifiable by wearing a high visibility vest. Marshals will also be supplied with a working two way radio, a whistle, a red and yellow flag and refreshments. We aim to ensure all our marshals are aged 21 or over and fit and able.
The marshal briefing will be carried out by the BDS Team and Chief Commissaire at 08:00 on the Saturday morning and then on Sunday morning at 07:30.
