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Only 2 weeks and 4 days to go!
Who's entered and what category are they doing? I'm in a pair, and we also have 2 more pairs from my team, as well as a team of 3, who are the managers of the team, which should be a laugh!
Can't wait now, would be nice if it stopped raining quite so much though.. think the ground is just about wet enough thanks.
I'm in a team of 3. Somehow I don't think the course is going to be as dusty as last year.
Indeed, it got so loose it was like riding on sand! Speaking of sand.. i'll be taking about 10 pairs of brake pads with me as spare lol
I shall be wearing crampons for the climbs and using a kayak for the descents...
team of two, but my club has about 4 or 5 teams entered.
im in mens pairs, i have a mates in retro pairs and mixed pairs
what's everyones team/entry names?
Mine is PMR@cing
The Phoenix Knights. Team of three, same line-up as at the glorious drifty speedfest of 2011. Was hoping to better last year's times/positions, now just hoping to enjoy myself, ride the downhills as fast as I dare in the wet, and not crash...
VCL Supporters Club Conor Bunn, beauty and the geek. not sure of the others
I am going solo as a Team Bullheart-ian though not entered as such. Hoping to get the new kit soon (nudge to Mark!). Not been on my bike since ruining myself at 24-12, so hoping to just keep going for the full 6 hours, and getting a beer at the end.
I've entered 6 hour solo. It's been well boggy in Stanmer (Great wood) for a while now, haven't ridden there in weeks even though I'm just down the road. Fingers crossed for this jetstream relocation thingy.
Looking forward to rehydrating with a well earned Dark Star.
Also going solo. Will be six hours of avoiding a crash if it doesn't dry up soon. The celebratory pint of Dark Star will be very well deserved!
I'm 10mins ride away from Stanmer but have only ridden there once in the last month due to the conditions. Forecast looks better for next week though so fingers crossed.
I'm in a Pairs team. Really looking forward to it as i missed the 2011 race due to injury.
Currently preparing a back-up SS bike in case the rain doesn't stop. The 2010 wet race was a nightmare.
[b]Query for the race organisers:[/b] Do you have a wet race contingency? In particular i was thinking would you cut-out the "Badgers Climb" as its a nightmare in the wet?
Will be six hours of avoiding a crash if it doesn't dry up soon.
It could be 30 degrees every day until then, it'll still be a total bog!
cut climbs?! get better tyres you bloody lightweight! and i hate the climbs.
rode through stanmer last friday on way home from pub (buzz lightyear/the long one/pondlife and its a swamp)
in a team of 2 - cant remember my team name! doing it on the HT rather than my freeride bike so i`ll be less easily spotted.
must remember to take spare brake pads and the swamp things off the fr bike.....
doing the 3 peaks challenge this friday as a warm up!
The climb on t'other side of the A27 is worse than Badgers in the mud. It was unrideable on Sunday and I usually clear it every time no probs. It will only get worse with 200 riders walking up it for 6hrs.
Team of 2: Berkhamsted Ameteur Pedaling Society (BAPS). Hope the weathers good
Just saw this on the Big Dog website: [i]At present the course is running well even with summer tyres.[/i]
They're optimistic!
Just saw this on the Big Dog website: At present the course is running well even with summer tyres.They're optimistic!
Indeed! That's a different Stanmer Park to the one in Brighton next to the A27 then...
Maybe it's near Brighton BMX track - in Illinois...
This is longest time in ages that I've gone without riding Stanmer - and I live right by there! I have to actively avoid it to get to the Downs otherwise. If we get two weeks without rain and warmer temperatures will that be enough for it to recover? I'm doubtful...
Same here, I'm 10 mins down the road and we're usually in there twice a week in summer but I can practically count my visits on one hand this year 🙁
I think it will be fine if we get a nice run of dry days beforehand. Foliage needs some serious cutting back in places though...
Rode the whole course on Saturday in the pissing rain, and while it's not fast, it;s still fun. Part of a three-man team (the other two are good, I've never raced before) and massively excited about it.
See you there.
jimification - that's been up there since last summer...
Two solo riders - Bois y Mynydd. Excited about it just hope the conditions hold out. Leaving the MudX tyres on unless a last minute change dictates
Two solo riders - Bois y Mynydd. I'm leaving my MudX tyres on...
Is the course likely to be marked out on the weekend of the 28th? Fancy a spin around it before race day
Riding in Phoenix Knights with chiefgrooveguru and very likely running up the hills carrying the singlespeed.
Rode Stanmer for an hour or so last night. Flippin awful conditions. Deep puddles with lords knows how much mud underneath the water. There were even puddles on the side that usually dries quick. Great fun if i'm honest..but guilty pleasure because it just felt like vandalism : /
solo for me and the bro this year....about 10 of us heading down from Lincolnshire for it, pretty sure it aint gonna be as hot as last year, just hope we can get into some pubs this year! they dont like groups darn sarf!
I doubt the course will be marked until the night and/or morning before the race - it's too popular a park for the tape to be left alone for long. The weather forecast is improving at last so if it actually gets warm as well as stops raining the course may recover fairly well. Positive mental attitude...
Namakoman - you have to go in smaller groups, buy your drinks in the smaller groups then get together!
Chief - you're probably right, off road routes don't last long. If up on the Thursday I will try the route otherwise will win it. Weather improved as soon as I went on holiday. Expect the return of the rain on Tuesday!!
I think that last year the course was kind of marked out a couple of days before with the odd directional arrow sprayed on the ground. Might be hard to use spray paint on wet mud though.
I'm going to remain positive that a week or so of dry weather will be enough to dry up the trails.
[b]Taff:[/b] If up on the Thursday I will try the route otherwise will win it.
Congrats! Is 2nd place still available? 😯
Well I wont be going for it so feel free!
Taff - Member
Namakoman - you have to go in smaller groups, buy your drinks in the smaller groups then get together!
that's the plan, we've got someone who knows the party spots well with us....though that could mean anything!
Congrats! Is 2nd place still available
Ha! Really should re-read what I write
Trails are drying up - a27 climb now ok - badgers still slippery but doable.
Other bits looking a bit messy still.
DC
I'm in a team of two - Team Fakawi (as in where the....) - both first time big doggers and the first time I have raced in 18 years so we aren't aiming for the podium this year!
Think I'll be leaving the Mud Xs on too.
How long is a lap and what is a typical lap time in the wet and dry?
Rode the course this afternoon and most of it running very fast.Couple of boggy bits in the middle flatter singletrack section(top of Stanmer) but otherwise pleasantly surprised.
All the big climbs are fine.
What i didn't like so much was the long grass in the start / finish arena and the next section after the first climb. Felt really draggy. Hopefully a few hundred riders will take care of that on the day.
[url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/bn1 ]Weather[/url] up to race day looking un-predictable with showers from Tuesday until Saturday so fingers crossed nothing too heavy.
Have a great day everyone.
How's it looking now guys? A few showers forecast over the next few days but nothing massively worrying..
fast and smooth, ran my summer rubber and in all but one damp bit a nice dry line has been cut through.
clean bike after a lap and some dicking about in general.
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Had a quick spin around the course this evening and it's riding very well indeed. No puddles anywhere, a couple of damp ruts but that's it. Basically dry everywhere and the organisers (I presume) have been in and done some pruning back of the overgrown foliage (nice one!). Should be a cracking ride at the weekend if the weather will just show a little kindness over the next few days.
superb! really excited for this race now. All seems to be coming together nicely! Been doing some serious endurance riding including 160 mile road rides at the weekend so I hope to be in good shape for the race.
See y'all there in a few days!
Picked my Epic up from my LBS yesterday after some work (including a Brain shock service at £160!!) and despite them putting the cassette back together incorrently, the bike rode well last night and I'm looking forward to my first race in 18 years!!
The bike has Mud-Xs on at present and I can't be arsed changing them and given that I'm at my least fit for several years, that won't make much difference!!
Is it worth me taking the Reverb off my other bike or will that not help much at Stanmer?
wrong friggin thread
3rd Big Dog for me and back in the Retro Pairs again. I love it!
Got a good few club mates and friends going down, bring on the party.
Take Off the mud tyres - you don't need them
You dOnt need a heavy dropper post eigher. It's stanmer park, not the alps
Tim speaks the truth, high posting all the way round FTW.
Looks like a lot of hardwork has been done on the course - well done to all involved.
My brother lost a glove on the non Big Dog side of Stanmer last night.
If anyone sees it could you pick it up and I'll arrange pick up. Its black long finger. Will check make.
Rode 2 laps of the course last night and it was fast. A little slick in places and a few small boggy bits (on the flatter areas) but overall its in good condition.
Just keep everything crossed that the rain showers [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/bn1 ]promised[/url] for Friday and Saturday are not too heavy. I'm leaving my summer tyres on to be optimistic.
If it's a little slipy now and rain doesn't worsen the course too much, couple of 100 riders should brake through the gunk and leave some hard pack.... hopefully. I'm planning on taking off the mudx tyres tomorrow night as they are overkill in current conditions and will be a little draggy which won't help when tired.
I'll be using a dropper post (as always) and will buzz your rear tyre on the descents if you're jittering about up on high bemoaning that you left your dropper post on the other bike! 😉 FWIW I'd rather have a dropper in Stanmer than the Alps (where I'd just manually drop the seat).
It's been raining steadily for the last couple of hours in Brighton.
For what its worth and based on previous experience, three years ago, if there is any hint of heavy rain on saturday, then the mud tyres are coming out.
DC
Maxxis Beavers for me on Saturday, it's been raining again overnight here.
Just dug out my Mud-Xs it looks like they will be a [url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2654710 ]shower[/url] or two... (looks nice for the presentation though;-)
just got in from a last minute spin, mud isnt a problem, the exposed roots will be...carnage there will be!
I agree, Stanmer roots are lethal when wet... Pick your line carefully methinks 😉
Does anyone know if there are bike mechanics on site?
I've just picked up my from local LBS and they have balls up me front deraileur settings. and I've no time to get it sorted before I get to stanmeer.
ta
I agree, Stanmer roots are lethal when wet... Pick your line carefully methinks
pah - only if you are going slowly!.
i really enjoyed it in the wet a few years back. loads of fun on cheapo dry xc tyres and flat pedals. a challenge on the climbs but it was very funny seeing people struggle on the downs on their super bling bikes.
course is a lot more blown out and rougher than last year. the holes will fill up with sludge quickly if it rains. some judicious chalk infilling wouldnt go amiss to keep the trails alive in the longer term. unfortunately they just get too much use to be left natural i think.
i also think some additional corner taping on the section down to the big dog log would add a bit more fun.
oh its just started raining again. lovely!
Hmm, that quite a bit of rain. CBA to swap tyres tho...
Bike washed and ready to go. Leaving my MudX tyres on, can't be bothered to change.
Ackie - there are me habits there, failing that look for me silver 206 with an epic with white grips and saddle and I'll help you out
Taff Thanks. I might take you up on that.
Will get home to wash the bike this evening
although I'm only on for a 1derDog lap. Think I'll keep my new tyres though...
Bike cleaned, reverb swapped over and Mud Xs left in place! Unsure Wiggo prepares for a big race with curry and cava but hey ho!
Unsure Wiggo prepares for a big race with curry and cava but hey ho!
Like your style 😉
Uh oh.. its gunna be a wet one! been raining on and off all night here in maidstone.. and keeping me awake! schwalbe rocket rons for me today.. with about 1psi in them lol ill be on a yeti asrc with white american classic wheels. i also sport a big star on my right shin and a dragonfly on the calf for anyone looking out for fellow stw riders!
Feel free to wave and say hi as you pass the very bright Bullheart top!
And sun is out down here at the moment
Good to hear the sun is out.
I will be in VCL kit on a red spesh rockhopper. We should have a big tent set up, with big VCL flags
Bloody awesome!
Ditto 😀
Brilliant event as always, thanks again to all who worked behind the scenes to make it work 8)
I hobbled over to the bombhole and took a few pictures. Not great as they were taken on my phone.
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