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I'm riding the Brass Monkeys 4hr race on sunday. First time that i've ever entered anything like this. So I'd appreciate any advice to make this a pleasant experience!
Was planning on riding an On One 456 with Bonty MudX tyres. Good idea?
I've done some training so am aiming on being able to plod around for the 4hrs at a ok-ish pace, without stopping (except to unpack a munchie bar)
Thanks
Doubt you'll need Mud Xs, I'm gonna use Rocket Rons.
Don't stop at all, you can eat on the fireroads. The start will be crowded, unless you're near the front you'll spend a while queuing most likely. It'll get busier when the 2 hour starts.
Just keep going, and have fun, the courses are usually excellent.
You really won't need MudX tyres, it doesn't get gloopy around there even when its really wet - although at the moment its pretty dry and the forecast suggests it will stay that way. Something faster rolling will be better, if you've got it.
There's going to be a pit area, so if you want to stash bottles there then you can pick up a new one each lap rather than carry all your drink for the whole race in a camelbak.
Don't go off too fast - the quick boys will absolutely hammer it but if you aren't used to endurance racing then ignore them and set off at a comfortable pace. If you're finding it too easy, you can always speed up later, but if you go off too fast, 4 hours will seem like a LONG time 😮
Keep eating and drinking, little and often is best. There are plenty of long sections of singletrack where you won't have hands free, so when you do hit the fireroads, take the chance to eat and drink.
Be courteous to other riders when overtaking and try and let faster riders past when you can. The 2 hour race will start an hour after the 4 hour, when you may be not far into your 2nd lap. So expect a number of faster riders approaching fairly close together at some point.
Keep an eye on the time. 4 hours is the cutoff for [b]starting[/b] your final lap, so if you cross the line at, say, 3h50m, you can go round for another lap, and you might be riding for well over 4 hours. Perhaps think of it as a 5 hour race with maybe a bonus early finish, and then you'll be in the right place mentally 🙂
And most important of all, remember to have fun! Its a fairly techy course, so enjoy the descents and try to survive the climbs. If its your first try, you probably won't threaten the podium, but keep going and you'll beat plenty of people.
I'm also doing 4hr, see you on the start line 🙂
Thanks for the advice. I've got a set of Rocket Rons, so will pop those back on.
Just saw this. Entered for the Jan one.
Cheers,
APF
This might sound a bit weedy, but is round one a particularly "rough" course?
I've managed to get a flesh wound on my forearm through numptiness last weekend, and i don't want to be rumbling over too much rooty- rockiness which might get the bingo-wings flapping for 2+ hours!
There's an entry going in the classifieds too.
APF
Rocks - no.
Loose stones - a couple of sections.
Roots - plenty!
Yep shed loads of roots and slippy too. I've ridden bits of the course over the last week and it was drying out nicely although it did rain last night...