So I wanted to be a Romaniac!!

louisdut

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My definition of a “ Romaniac” is someone who gets an official finish in Redbull’s Romaniacs Hard Enduro Rallye which is billed as the worlds toughest enduro.

So I took a break from touring on my Hp2 and trail riding in the UK and spent as much time as I could training on and off the bike. I had a great time training on the bike meeting some great people who are now mates for life, trying to get fit was tougher!

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So off we went to Sibiu, we met up with Seb & Justin who I’d met training (to be fair the plane was full on racers) little did I know how Seb & Justin would effect me becoming a Romaniac

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First thing was to get signed on which meant getting all the right stamps

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Bike checks were a quick look over and them putting Redbull stickers on your bike

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But they did check all your safety kit

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We all had to carry tools, flares, foil blanket etc.

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I used Desert Rose Racing for shipping my bike to Romania and for servicing the bike at the service points and each night. They were great and I would use them again for sure ( I signed in using my race name)

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I used a KTM 350 exc

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So lets go and scare ourselves with the prolog

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This was the track director for the prolog

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Seb, Emily & myself trying to chill before our turn on the prolog

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My bike all lined and ready to race

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Then its my turn, to say I was worried would be an understatement !!

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Yep pleased with that

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As you can see the prolog takes place on the main street in Sibiu

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Seb & me very pleased with our run (and not having to do it again)

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Off road Day 1 start

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Justin and me at the start

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So it’s all starting to get a bit real now 4 days of racing ahead of us

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Day 1 over

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Off road Day 2 start

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Day 2 Finish

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We now have moved away form Sibiu to Voineasa where the food and accommodation was not the best so home made breakfast for me (accommodation was no better in Petrosani for our next night)

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Now throughout day two Seb, Justin & me found ourselves riding together not planned but it worked really well as there are places on the track where you need to team up, so on day three we started out together

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Off road day 3

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(Not many photos of day 3 as Nicky was called away to help Justin who had injured his eye)

The off road start of day 4 was miles down a track and even with Nicky’s 4x4 it would have taken too much time getting there so Nicky headed to the service point


Me coming into the service point on day 4 where you have to have a 20 minute break (only break you have all day)

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The Finish Hill !!

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Justin, Me and Seb

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Ok I’d better have a go then

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To be honest I didn’t have a lot left in the energy department so just aimed at the first chicken run which ran parallel to the main hill which was only a little easier

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You always need help form your team mates !!

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Yes got there and in time (lots got to the finish but had timed out)

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Still blown away by how happy new mates were for me at the finish, I think this is because we’d all been through it together.

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I’m a Romaniac, living the dream! Completely knackered!!

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Big thank you to Nicky for the great photo’s and being a great team manager, couldn’t have done it without her!


Here's a link to Justins video, I personally think it captures the real essence of Romaniacs (Can't be viewed on an iPad or iPhone sorry). It's 30 minutes long, beer required! http://youtu.be/L32e29ymO4Y

Louis
 
Absolutely brilliant Paul, the best challenge I've ever seen on here.

How long were the days in miles or hours riding?

Was it really full-on mental? More or less dangerous than you expected, or was it more that it was properly knackering?

cheers
G
 
Congrats on completing it, that's certainly some achievement. Some of the climbs and descents looked impossible to us mere mortals. :thumb
 
Absolutely brilliant Paul, the best challenge I've ever seen on here.

How long were the days in miles or hours riding?

Was it really full-on mental? More or less dangerous than you expected, or was it more that it was properly knackering?

cheers
G

You up for it then Gaz?

Great report Louis ....again!:beerjug:
 
How long were the days in miles or hours riding?

Was it really full-on mental? More or less dangerous than you expected, or was it more that it was properly knackering?

cheers
G

Hi Gaz

I would say between 80-100 miles a day
Day 1 was 70% fast riding so around 6 hours the rest were around 7-8 hours
There was some big drop off if you get it wrong and steep down hill but theres no rest so after 4 days properly knackering for someone of my level who was never really a racer

Best riding i've ever done would go back tomorrow

Louis
 
Well done Louis, fantastic effort and fantastic video - awesome :thumb2:thumb2
 
Louis.....

Some great pictures to show what a memorable experience & superb achievement mate, bloody well done!!!!

:clap:clap:clap:clap

Wish I had half as much off road riding skill.....:D
 
Brilliant, congratulations on doing that. Same next year then? :)
 
Great ride report and pictures , Massive well done and respect
 
Excellent report, though i fear i have just added another "must do" to my own bucket list....:blast
 
Excellent :thumb2 And food for thought on this forum - whilst it seems there's plenty who know feck all about motorcycling (mostly in the WC section :D) there are also plenty on here that compete, do serious travel, and generally really know their onions ....

Well done ... :clap
 


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