Epping Forest CX
Sun 13 Sep 2026
Just me flying the North Road flag at Epping Forest this week, with Dave Kiely struck down by a cold and John MacDowall still recovering from his hamstring injury.
I had a little trepidation about running new Dugast Pipsquallo file treads 
, but at 25.5/27 psi they proved a great choice. Plenty of grip in the woods, only a few corners requiring extra care, and noticeably quicker rolling. Sadly, they haven’t yet developed a version that makes the rider lighter on the climbs.
, but at 25.5/27 psi they proved a great choice. Plenty of grip in the woods, only a few corners requiring extra care, and noticeably quicker rolling. Sadly, they haven’t yet developed a version that makes the rider lighter on the climbs.From 9th on the grid I got a good start and held around ninth early on. Two longer climbs each lap were my undoing, though, and I gradually slipped back. I tried hanging onto one rider up the gravel climb, paid for that enthusiasm later in the lap, and eventually became somewhat stranded between groups.
A final-lap pass rescued 11th place, with six pretty consistent laps and a 40:52 race time.
Mark Powell of Stowmarket & District CC took the win.
Good fun, good tyres, decent result. Hills remain available for improvement.
Bryan Holland