Checking out extreme enduro

We headed directly west as the crow - or any bird for that matter - flies and took in the Valleys Xtreme enduro. Held at the Walters Arena which is located 30 minutes north-east of Swansea and at the ass-end of the Brecon Beacons, it's a gnarly event and one we'd rather watch as riders and bikes are absolutely battered to bits!

Conditions were just like the weather, wet and miserable and Saturday sees a qualifying race to seed the best riders into Sunday's main event.

The main event is so gnarly that riders can be helped at any time by their support crew or complete strangers during the first two laps (the lap is ten miles) navigating rocks, trees, hills, man-made obstacles, roots and everything else you'd expect to find in some woods! However, on the third and final lap, there's a number of 'no help' zones that come into play. This is where it gets mad as riders can help each other and this is pretty common and not usually seen in most of dirt bike events. 

Respect to everyone that lines up as this is not an event you can just rock up to and take a punt at.

Our top spectator tips based on some of us that forgot stuff are:

• Take an MTB to see more of the course. If you hear bikes on the limmy in the distance, follow that noise!
• Take decent wet weather gear
• Take snacks
• Take a spare change of clothes for the drive home!