[Closed] Bontrager 24/12 2012

I have no idea how it compares to Gorrick's but it is always a technical lap with everything from roots/rocks and bombholes to technical climbing. Newham Parks stands up pretty well in the wet and the weather next week should not effect it that badly. Tire wise I dont think you will need Mud X's from the start but bring in case of biblical rain. I am based in Exeter and at the mo it dry and breezy so I think the trails will be well drained before the rain comes. My gut feeling High Rollers might be my choice to start.

Hope this helps a little!

Provided you are not on semi slicks you should be fine. The course never ends up like mayhem.

Unless it's absolutely biblical the course will be fine. With mud anxiety one of my team mates last year put a pair of mud x's on. They only lasted one lap until he switched back to his Nevegals. The terrain has a mix of roots and rock, with few really earthy sections to get boggy. His mud x's just slipped off all the roots and rock like football studs.

In moist conditions at Newnham i've had best results with Advantage 2.1's.

Apparently I have been told by a local its muddy :-). It holds up well in the rain, i will run a 2.25 ralph rear and i maybe might put something with more grip on the front. I always found that Rocket Rons pinged off the rocks there, cant understand the mud x comment maybe he had them blown up too hard as had no such issue when i used one just on the front when i raced solo there back in 2009 and 2010...

i live 5mins away and its not too bad atm.
fwiw mud x will be fine.

Bigger climbs than you usually get at the Gorricks but technically probably not all that different/difficult. The terrain also gets a little more varied and that does make it a nice place to ride.

Not-too-hard mud-x's have done me fine on previous wet years. It wasn't too muddy last year even with weather like this the preceding week, and drizzle for about 8 hours during the race itself: I think I had a part-worn Small Block 8 on the back and still got round 8 or 9 wettish laps fine! There is usually a river crossing at least once a lap which is is really rather good for optimising your mud clearance!

In previous discussions, some of the more technically gifted and less heavy (in weight that is) racers amongst us have talked of getting on fine with rocket rons or similarly minimal-tread tyres even when muddy.

I recommend getting there the night before for beer/cheese and a recce lap, and then just imagine the course you rode in practice, but with more rain, mud and exposed roots as the race goes on.

BTW, for its size, it is the beshtesht race [i]ever[/i].

In a mad burst of optimism, I've taken the post Mayhem mud X's off + bunged a crossmark rear+ either Ardent/Ikon/bonty FR3/back to Mud X, front depending on how it looks on Friday.
So leaving MudX's on will probly turn out to be the right choice...

Solo so fast + sketchy isn't going to be allot of fun after a few laps.
Keep us posted

To clear up the confusion I started about Mud X's. It was the 1st and only time my friend had used them! He is used to bloody great big 2.35 Nevegals and probably had to Mud X's pumped up too hard...It surprised me he didn't get on with them as I have seen others getting on very well with Mud X's at Newnham in the wet.

Thanks for all the answers.

What kind of mud is it, sloppy wet or claggy or the sandy stuff that ruins the drivetrain / brake pads?

its er mud....sloppy wet and brown....no issues with pads etc though it isn't a grinding paste.
Currently drizzling here in Plympton and everything is well soaked after last night!
it'll be moist whatever happens for the next few days.

[url= http://www.twentyfour12.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=104&Itemid=1 ]Final details of what's going on and when have been put up on the site. [/url]

Says they'll change the course at the last minute depending on the weather and gates open from 6pm on Thursday for us early campers!

[url= http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings/ ]Severe weather warnings[/url] including flooding commencing Friday in the South West!!
My enthusiasm is really beginning to wane 😥

Likewise. After Mayhem...
Mud tyres back on then.

My enthusiasm has gone.

I am more worried about the camping than the race tbh. There are enough bits of the course that are fun whatever the weather to keep it funny to ride on, and I can prepare my bike for a mudfest and wash it in the river between/during laps, but I have less control over my tent blowing away, the campsite being waterlogged and the shower cubicles being ankle deep in mud. 😕

just come back from a ride around the area (not in newnham but in cann just over the road) very muddy soaking wet everywhere but still good fun!
oh and fwiw i have my summer spesh fast tracks on and was fine.

good luck!

You should go back now and sleep in the mud for a few hours, then wake up and keep riding.
Please post up how you feel in the morning 😀
Joking mate, cheers for the update.

@hugor 😀

I'm with julian, the campsite will be boggy i reckon, maybe the slopy field would be a better bet and its still trackside...

Dammit Phillips, I have camped within 30 yards of the same spot of trees/river/track for the last four years. You aren't going to get me to change now!

thanks for the updates.
Beginning to wonder whether its worth going now plus got a cold and few niggling injuries.

MudX will be fine and will probably be what I'm running. Not as good as High Rollers for grip but will clear a little better. I think the river crossing will be interesting if it does get worse, there will be a queue for the footbridge no doubt! As Julian said I'm more worried about camping. Been offered a bed for the weekend at a mates but that's defeating the object really.

Carl - that's good to hear as currently got a fast track and captain on!

Singletrackhor - me too, got a chest infection last week. Been looking forward to this for months though

[url= http://connect.garmin.com/activity/195048083 ]Course on Garmin. [/url]

far as I can work out from the trace and my fading memory:

three climbs,
Elfordleigh Wood, Concrete Climb and Clif Climb,

three river crossing
2 bridges
One water splash Decent bridge option

Bluebell Woods
Bombholes
Cottage Return
Paint Ball
Caldron
Shooting ground
Shred splitter
Carriage drive
Grassty decent into arena

I reserve the right to have got that wrong.

Balls - thought it was just two river crossings. Saw the bridge and the one with the foot bridge next the the ford but don't know the other one. A few climbs to keep you entertained. I'm just glad the bear pit isn't in it. I'm pretty sure the rock garden is in it though. Could be entertaining!

Interesting names, thanks. Are any of those sections likely to be muddy enough to require full mud tyres? The opinions on this page so far seem to be mixed but there looks to be loads of rain forecast up to and during.

At the moment I'll probably set up my spare bike with Mud-Xs and keep the X-King/Race King on my main bike.

Taff,

If you mean the Rock Garden from the SW champs then no not there.

Crossing are:

Wide bridge into show field (100% certain)
Concrete crossing (Ford) with gangway bridge to side bottom of Pipeline (100%)
Single gangeway bridge after shooting ground (50%)

Paulio
I've no idea what Mud-x tryes are like, Just googled them and they look similar to the Spez Captains that I have as spare. My intention is to run Captain front and box fresh Fast track on the rear with a spare Captain rear in case I've got it wrong.

I'll be working Registration on Fri/Sat so feel free to come and moan if my tyre suggestion/course description is way off!

Cheers, after a quick Google your choice looks like the Specialized equivalent of my first choice Conti pair so I can't be too mad. 😉

There will be muddy bits on that course but you will suffer in full on mud tyres more so than if you had faster tyres and slip around a bit in the mud.

That's what I figured (and hoped) but it's good to hear it from someone that knows.

In the last FoD enduro it was so muddy, all the way around pretty much, that my wheels clogged up and wouldn't fit through the frame and I really want to avoid that happening again! Sounds like it should be relatively ok this weekend.

You don't want spikes in the area, definate no for Cann woods which has loads of roots. Used MudX tyres at the SW series [although dry] and was a little slippy on the roots but well grippy on the off camber without sacrificing weight. It's a good all-round tyre anyway

Just got some Hans Dampf - no idea if they'll be suitable, but it's just such a cool name.

I appear to be packing a lot of crap I probably won't need

Ha ha! Same here. I am staying over at a mates so packed last night and am driving down early tomorrow. We are aiming to take 1 car for 3 of us. Hmmm. I have even bought some cheap golf brollies & wellies.

I'm not going into stuff I've packed, will only question it again!! Got wellies and waterproofs for when off the bike hoping I won't actually need them.

Been into Newnham this afternoon, wasn't allowed to ride but camping field was fine. No problems and Martyns got temp roadway in reserve just in case.

Remember to say howdy at registration, no messing mind. Sheriff will be in town.

Good stuff. Summer tyres are staying on so it WILL be fine! Is the camping field filling up already? Can you park the car next to your tent? I'll be in solo if that makes a difference. Don't want to leave a lot of stuff in my tent unguarded

Packing an awful lot for 25 hrs in a feild.
Leaving 0630 Sat from Hampshire .
Why cant it just be sunny like this afternoon , twas glorious on the coast.
Mud X's , crud catcher , neo guard, mudguard , plus Nevegal / ADvantage if its drier than i expect , then Race Kings if drier than that hahahahahahahahahah.

Dry? Local BBC forecast put a huge blue blob over Plymouth for all of Sat 😥

As it is my riding buddy isn't keen so I might be in for a 12 hour very wet solo, first time for everything I guess.

At least it looks like the Torchbearer riders won't have the rain.

Fair play Rob. I had contemplated coming down Saturday morning too but didn't want to risk it plus I would be knackered. Just check traffic for any issues at Canford Bottom although should be OK by the time you get there.

Only about 4 tents in the solo field so far and we've all got our cars next to our tents. It's a lovely evening here, would be great (and miraculous) if it is like this on Saturday.

If the weather is going to be as good as predicted, I think that it could be a long 12.....

Any one else up for making a SSWC style beer lane through the pits area??? 😀

My rain prediction.-
Biblical till start time , then mizzle for next 2 - 3 hours . Followed by a few light showers in the wind. No precipitation on Sunday.

Is everyone taking bike cleaning stuff? Packed the car and lying in bed I've just thought about it! Don't know whether to grab a brush etc as can clean it in the river... Is that too much faff I don't know

the queue for the bike wash will be as apocalyptic as the weather.

Definitely taking my DirtWorker! Solo-ing the 12 hour noon-midnight then helping out some mates doing the 24 hour team. Should be fun... 🙂

Starting with Nobby Nics but have MudXs on standby. Both have worked really well there on previous occasions.

Spent the morning fitting Maxxis Beavers to everything - now an epic car packing mission...

I'm leaving wiltshire at 6am. I'll be honest - I'm not looking forward to it.
What I'm not looking forward to is picking the mud from the forks every 10meters from my forks. Eurgh... Shall I just have a lye in?

Weather is overcast and humid i.e. its drying it up but kind of implying it's going to rain very hard anytime soon (although no heavy looking clouds atm). Hopefully the weather will do what it sometimes does and just miss us!

any rain yet?

The odd light shower through the day but the forecast is for the worst of it to come overnight and tomorrow morning.

Been a little drizzly but its fine here. Not done a practice lap but people are coming back relatively clean considering. Tent set up and chilling watching the TdF highlights now

its pissing down now.

Well then, its a bit biblical here now. Very heavy rain all night, the rivers are pretty high and fast flowing, parkings waterlogged and the grassy bit of the track around the arena is very wet with deep puddles. Will be keeping an eye on the river level.

@rickon IIRC they can alter the flow of the river as there are sluice(?) gates upstream. just looking at the valley now fro mmy house and it looks grim over the moor. I'll be walking down with beers later to cheer youse all on.

[url= http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/34678.aspx?type=Region&term=Southwest&from=fl ]Looks like rain![/url]

Yep... Think I'll be parking a little further away from the venue, don't fancy getting my little car stuck in a flooded field.

Edit: Looks like it's to clear up over night though.

Rather gutted..

Team are down there at the moment and by all accounts it truly rained last night and is very very wet and said prob not worth the journey down for the 12hr event we are in 🙁

I did Mountain Mayhem couple weeks before so maybe a good idea not to go.. didn't fancy another mm..

@ xc stu why did they say its not worth it? because its muddy? its not a road race! it'll still be the same great course just a little more challenging.

Mud when riding isn't an issue - it will be getting there and out afterwards, based upon the red flood warnings. 😯

Put the postcode (PL7 5BN) in here [url] http://www.shoothill.com/flood/ [/url]

Hi carlphillips

Well from the conversation this morning before 6am... People were packing and leaving in the early hours this morn.. The pro's had pre ridden the course yesterday and were taken an hour + to get round due to condition.. if not mistaken last years your were looking 35-40mins and with the rain on top last night 😯

As great as the course maybe its by all accounts a mudfest ;-/ camping area alone was water logged and if anyone else did Mountain Mayhem will know the ground is just not shifting the water 🙁

I don't have anything to prove and the team isn't going to win, plus a 4hour drive for 12hr team of 4 will get very few laps in those conditions... So left with a training ride at home on the bike as not biblical here yet 🙂

"Outside of the Met Office's red warning area, which covers Plymouth and Exeter, much of the rest of the South West is covered by an amber warning"

Red warnings are given when there is an imminent danger to life.

Have fun!

GB

[s]I woke up at 6am, phoned my dad who lives in Plymouth, his road was flooded....

So went back to bed. There's NO point if it's not fun. That's why we do it.

checked weather last night given its a 5hr trip to get there decided to give it a miss.

Good luck to everyone taking part.

We are here for the 24hr just for fun. Last night was interesting camping, but we've got the mud tyres on, beers out, the BBQ is ready again for later, and we are just gonna enjoy the weekend away from home.
Good luck to all those joining us at newnham, and if you see a guy on an orange covert with fox 36's, don't heckle him for pushing up cliff climb!

The pro's had pre ridden the course yesterday and were taken an hour + to get round

There are NO pro riders at 24/12, doubt there's even any full timers.

There are NO pro riders at 24/12, doubt there's even any full timers.

I stand corrected.. fast boys and girls i.e Torq Kona etc??

i went down this morning to have a look and cheer my buddies on, course looks muddier than I've ever seen it before, not so many people there either as you said xcstu, its a steady drizzle here now, im watching the tennis then going to cycle back down with some beers...

@xcstu i dont blame you for thats a long drive and i stand corrected 12hrs+ in that mud doesn't look fun! last time i did it it rained for the last few hours but was still ok.

What a bog! Seriously claggy in parts. Long walks.

I was just wandering if conditions had improved? I was meant to be taking part and just curious to know what I'm missing!

I left about 6pm tonight, & it was drying when I left. That probably means what was sloppy mud is turning sticky... before a dry line appears.

[img] [/img]

Thanks, that doesn't look good for later! Nice pic.
Still wish I was there 🙁

By the time I left that area was just brown sloppy mud, where my mates had camped there was a lot of standing water, forcing them out of their tents & into their cars last night...

Course wasn't bad at all to be honest. The worst bit of the course was up the top before you drop into the field which with the wrong ttyres meant you collected mud and the bike was endo-ing every 2 minutes. The rest of the course held up pretty well considering. The above photo which looks to be taken on the hairpin through the tents was the worst bit with standing water but at the end of the day it was mountain biking which isn't always about dry dusty trails. Glad I made the journey down from Pompey

I found it pretty tough going even on a team so hats off to anyone who stuck with it riding solo.

The rain on Friday night was epic. I heard the organisers were seriously considering whether they should evacuate the campsite in the early hours of the morning in case the river burst it's banks.

Early laps were wetter and the mud didn't clog up the bike but some of the sections later on turned to proper sticky mud that made riding them a struggle. There were still some fun sections of the course and the organisers did redirect some of the worse sections mid event so full credit to them for making the best of a bad situation. Typically the course started to dry out just as the event was coming to an end.

All my laps were sub 1 hour and the fast guys were a fair bit quicker than that so it wasn't like mountain mayhem where people were stuck out on a lap for hours.

Managed 8 laps 12 hours solo, had a great time but I ache now.

fast guys were a fair bit quicker

All my laps were sub 1 hour

Early laps were nice and fun. Just hated the bit leading up to the field and that's why I didn't want to do another lap when it turned 11:10. Plus my shoulders were aching and I had trouble gripping the bars. Massive respect for the 24 hour lot. I don't think I could stretch that far.

Legspin - who are you? you would've been in my group of 8 laps.

I'm old and in Vets which put me 9th. Not bad for my first solo effort.
Was riding a sky blue Pipedream but it was mostly in camo mud mode.

Well, just got home. Did a team of 4. Decided to double lap as it seemed pointless getting so filthy for one lap at a time. By the time my laps came around, the mud was seriously sticky, and along the top before the drop into the arena at the end my bike was collecting so much mud that I came in after one lap. I feared for the health of my fork stanchions - the mud was collecting really badly. I did have a fender bender on, but took it off, as it was making things worse.
Next team member also only did one lap & his bike looked even worse than mine did. So, at that we called it a day until this morning.
One of my team went and did a lap, then I went out with some trepidation. But the course was great - it was 10x more rideable than my previous lap & the bike wasn't picking up too much mud. So I stayed out for two laps. The hairpin through the arena after the bridge crossing was horrendous towards the end!

Then nothing but sunshine for the drive home. How nice. Good knows how'd we did. Probably near the bottom as always...