Pentapista...

After months of organising, I woke up slightly fuzzy headed on the morn of the Leeds Pentapista event. Myself and max had been pretty rigorous in organisation but the weather forecast was more than a little worrying - heavy rain for the duration of the day. This was a nightmare given that the event had originally been planned for the previous (sun drenched) sunday. Thankfully the rain stayed off our heads until we were safely undercover at the afterparty. 

The event began at the Henry Moore institute at 2pm - The turnout wasn't quite as large as the february event (I think the forecast put a few people off making the journey to leeds which is fair enough) everyone was pretty enthusiastic about the day ahead.

We started the day with a trick jam which was a bit of a quiet event but Chicken threw down some pretty smooth keos and scared a few pedestrians. Jammy, Scott and Ben sessioned and Jonny pulled some pretty nuts candy bar leg through skids! Warren managed to seal fifth place in this event with a no handed - beer open and drink skid.

Now for the big one - the three cinema alleycat. We opted for a running start, mainly because of how it built the excitement so much last time! After the start a few riders joined us for the uphill slog to hyde park - the finishing line. After around ten minutes, We saw the red silhouette which was unmistakably Marek, leading the race up the pothole ridden lane through the park. He crossed the finish line in first place and went straight over his bars to the floor. Closely following, and carrying a huge bag was Craig Nasty, who barely seemed out of breath and in third was February's victor, Warren. The remaining riders followed in several packs in the next minute or so. The efoort everyone made in this was unbelievable, so max and I decide to spend the majority of entry fees on some crates of beer which gave everyone a chance to chill before the next event.

We crossed the road to the business school and a long fresh tarmac road for the skid comp. After a few practice runs, we marked a start line and the session began. It was clear from the first few runs who the major players were and the chalk lines began to make it further and further round the corner. This proved to be the most dramatic of events with some of the worst slams I've seen in ages - Jonny from manchester skinning his hip and Rory somehow (just) surviving a somersault onto his head. After much competition, Marek sealed his second victory of the day.

With the threat of rain we moved to our hill climb destination - a bit of a beast with a second hill on a curve so really hard to judge. The riders were divided into groups for a first rider over the line elimination process to give us five riders for a final. Many of the favourites were knocked out so the final was open to anyone. Ben Treanor powered his way to victory on a massive gear followed by Nathan and David, with Marek ("I just couldn't do it!") and Callum closely behind. This event stole the last of the energy for many of the riders so we reorganised for the trackstand event before the afterparty.

The trackstand was a three minute two hands - three minute one hand - no handed endurance battle. After more than ten minutes and with just two riders - Ben and Adam going head to head, people started calling hand actions to the guys and I think the event ended on "one hand ear, one hand nose" where Ben managed to outlast Adam ever-so slightly.

The afterparty at Nation of shopkeepers was real good - although everyone was so tired it was a little more subdued than our february Jam. We handed out our prizes and crowned our champions then retired for some well earned pints of Amstel. What a day!

A Huge list of thank-yous.
Firstly to all the riders who turned up and made the day such a success - relentless energy and enthusiasm all round. Next Our sponsors, (Halo rims, Vans, 14Bike co, Cantgoslo, TLW and Nike SB) for being so generous, and maybe spurning people to ride that bit harder for the top prizes - and Nate from NaGraphics for printing all our spokecards for free. Ash and all the Nation of Shopkeepers staff for the good food and better Beer plus a final thanks to everyone who carried bags, manned checkpoints and took photos - Katie (for putting up with all the bikes in the hall and me being a stresshead all week), Smally, my bro Ben, James, Jammy - the list really does go on and on...so CHEERS


TRICKS
1. Chicken
2. Jonny
3. Jammy
4. Ben Treanor
5. Warren

ALLEY-CAT
1. Marek
2. Nasty
3. Warren
4. Ben Treanor
5. Rory

SKIDS
1. Marek
2. Tom Harrison
3. Ned
4. Ricky
5. Warren

HILL CLIMB
1. Ben Treanor
2. Nathan
3. David
4. Marek
5. Callum

TRACKSTAND
1. Ben Treanor
2. Adam (Dangeruss)
3. Jonny
4. Nate
5. James

OVERALL PENTAPISTA CHAMPIONS
1. Ben Treanor
2. Marek
3. Warren
4. Craig Nasty
5. Nathan

If anyone has any images for the day - please link me up or send them to info@fixedgearleeds.com - Cheers 

VIDEO COMING SOON...