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Dear Big Doggers, its that time again to share your thoughts, fears, questions, wheel size, training plans and gossip regarding the 2014 Brighton Big Dog.
Me, I will be on my Niner Air Nine, aiming for seven laps solo.
Been riding akk winter but need to up my game!
n.b. must beat timp this time round.
which reminds me I haven't signed up yet.
Can I join in...?
I'm in for 6hr solo, on my uber niche on-one scandal SS....
Looking forward to an event in the sun TBH!
DrP
Doing it as a pair...no idea what to expect, never entered before, haven't a clue on how many laps expected to do but its fairly close and looks like it could be a laugh 😀
Also on a on-one scandal but with some gears
hmmm single speeders, need your own thread I think!
just kidding, the more the merrier.
sounds tough with no gears though.
One thing is possible... A different podium in the men's 6hr solo as Ben and Tim may not be there this year!
Solo Vets for me, hoping for some sunshine too, will be riding the Tallboy I expect, aiming to beat Darkcyan and TimP 😉
One thing is possible... A different podium in the men's 6hr solo as Ben and Tim may not be there this year!
Would be great for a local rider to win BigDog, I'm hoping the organisers go back to the original technical loop with more downhill singletrack, that would benefit those with local Stanmer knowledge (as well as making the course more fun 😀 ).
that's a fine goal Paceman, tough though;-)
I sense a space on the podium for DarkCyan.
sounds tough with no gears though.
Indeed it does.
That's why I'll be running [b]one[/b]...
DrP
What tyres and indeed pressures?
Haha yes the old 'XC racers can't ride downhill' thread...
GB
the old course was better though. kinda felt wrong without badgers. any news on the 2014 course?
tyre pressure around 35 psi in the dry, in the wet around 30.
I think you missed my point Gee 😉 , the XC race leaders I've seen at BigDog most definitely can ride downhill very quickly, I was just pointing out that last year's course was more about climbing fitness than anything else and not as fun to ride as the course in previous years. The techy bits of Stanmer Woods are the only sections that local knowledge might give even a slight edge over the pro riders.
got to agree with paceman, why ride up the best trails e.g. a&e.
no doubt there is a good reason.
where are Ben and Tim. CWG?
Yep, Solo Vet, Kinesis Sync, can't wait for dusty trails.
Pairs or team for me and also on my Kinesis Sync which should be better than my 32lb full susser from last year! If the organisers read this can we PLEASE HAVE THE OLD COURSE BACK or something more techy and fun than last year!
Wasn't Ian Leitch was a local when he won it?
Riding it with the OH for the second year running, my sixth overall. Nothing gets booked in for august until big dog is on the calendar. I believe according to the pattern this year we are in for a wet day!
I quite enjoyed the change in the course last year, not my favourite but nice to see some sections a different way round. I hope they switch the far side of the road back to the other way though.
Plan is to eat a lot of cake, drink a lot of tea and maybe even think about attempting a podium finish.
More important question, anyone know what colour the mugs are this year?
I hope they switch the far side of the road back to the other way though.
I completely agree, climbing up the Coldean descent just to then come down the bridleway was annoying at best.
My favourite event if the year though, can't wait 😀
Purple mugs would add to my set nicely!
tyre pressure around 35 psi in the dry, in the wet around 30.
Are you using cx tyres? 🙂
I'm still negotiating family holiday dates.
Given DrP will be on my lightweight race bike I'm wondering if 6 hours on a Fat bike round Stanmer maybe asking too much of my legs. It would be a very good excuse to walk up *that* climb, though.
John_I ... 😆 😆
Wwaswas, do it, you'll get maximum kudos each time you pass the crowds at the start/finish area.
[i]you'll get maximum kudos [s]each[/s] both time you pass the crowds at the start/finish area[/i]
ftfy 🙂
The way my legs felt after 6 laps on the Scandal last year I'm not sure I could face the same distance on a fat bike, tbh. Maybe I'll drag it out for a lap or two if it's finished in time...
Signed up for the pairs again. I've 'raced' it every year and to be honest I didn't mind the course last year (easier to overtake) although the previous route is more fun. My team mate hated the other side of the A27 though and up A&E is wrong.
Bike - depends how i feel on the day
Tyre pressure - a quick squeeze of the fingers
Agreed the 2012 course was better - badgers and the coldean trail the other way round was better. The final downhill was longer and more fun in 2012 too. Scared the crap out of myself down there more than once.
Ben might be racing Excalibur if he can get a free/cheap entry and Tim is racing abroad that weekend I think.
Given DrP will be on [s]my [/s] [b]his[/b] lightweight race bike..
FTFY 😉
I serviced the forks yesterday - a winter round here had turned to foam rings into the state of a messy nappy, and the oil looked like vomit!
Buttery smooth again now!
DrP
will we be seeing many dropper posts I wonder? if it's dry no point imo based on previous years, but in the wet could be handy.
if you had one fitted would you remove?
[i]Buttery smooth again now![/i]
cool 🙂
they do a good job given they 'only' have 100mm of travel.
On a similar yet separate note...you riding tomorrow night???
DrP
I was going to but a customer's rescheduled a call to happen tomorrow night.
Will probably head out at lunchtime today and avoid this evening's rain. Getting quite adept at playing dodge the showers now. Weekend weather's not looking too bad?
Might try a Sunday PM spin then if you're interested? Fancy riding 'my neck' of the downs?
DrP
emailed you DrP.
It's not inappropriate pictures of you in lycra again is it?
DrP
*wanders off to look for 'recall' button on hotmail*
Will we be seeing many dropper posts I wonder? if it's dry no point imo based on previous years, but in the wet could be handy.
if you had one fitted would you remove?
The benefits far outweigh the 200g weight penalty, and I think a dropper post is more relevant in dry conditions when you lean the bike more into corners and need the saddle tucked out of way; in the wet it often pays around Stanmer to keep the bike more upright in my experience 😯
You'll see Darkcyan, well maybe you will 😉
can anyone share any information on the course this year.
Also what kind of training hours / routine you putting in, any special reps for big dog i.e. going up and down short sharp hills for example or old school just riding lots.
DC
It's in August, isn't it? Just checking 🙂
Darkcyan likes to start worrying about BigDog as early as he can 😉
Everyone needs a bit of time to experiment and find the right tyre pressure.
I wonder if I' ll be around this year. Quite fancy a go solo... Shame they made the course crud, tho I understand why, it's putting me off. With a bit of training I reckon 6 laps is a goer
I'm pretty sure the course is changing this year again, sure the revised map in the Big Dog site is different.
Just got signed up and wondering whether to do Brighton MTB this evening.
It says it will Brighten up but looks awful out my window.
I will make it my goal to beat you by just 1 second this year. I know how upset you were by 2 seconds last year so it should make you feel better?
wwaswas - I had the garage re-roofed this week and the spare white good should be out of it by the weekend so three should be more bike space in there. I should be able to come and collect [b]your[/b] cx bike on Sunday or Monday if that suits?
My one and only goal is to beat you TimP. I find it helps me train much harder 😉
Won't hang around for you this time!
Last year I was fat, unfit and on my 26" SS. I was overtaken by a bloke on an Xtracycle at one point on a course that was about 90% uphill.
You had the trails alive under your geared 29er...
It has clearly affected you deeply. Maybe the dropper post will make all the difference this year
TimP - either should be fine, send me a text a bit nearer the time.
Glad to see it going somewhere with a good roof 🙂
darkcyan have you actually signed up yet? Wouldn't want you to conveniently not be able to enter.
That's a very original user name Matt, was hoping for something like "stravaMan" or "Pink gloves" or "Girls Helmet" or something of that ilk!
Anyway - all signed up so no excuses!
That's a very original user name Matt, was hoping for something like "StravaMan" or "Pink gloves" or "Girls Helmet" or something of that ilk!
😆 😆 😆
Welcome to STW Matt, it's more addictive than Breaking Bad 🙄
Hope your knee mends soon, I'll email you a link to those knee pads,
Paceman
I want to know what the C is for. Cuthbert? Camilla?
stanmer mud fest last night. good turn out though. could have done with the dropper on a few occassions.
for those interested in doing big dog 2014 places always fill up quickly. sign up quite soon to avoid disappointment.
anyone out there gone from 29er to 650b on their xc bike?
darkcyan - Member
anyone out there gone from 29er to 650b on their xc bike?
Most riders if some of the magazines are to be believed; in reality probably a core few early adopters. I'd like a go on one to see, but I can't see me replacing my 26/29" collection with the middle size.
Dropper post in Stanmer!! 😯
[Dropper post in Stanmer!!]
Yeah, not so much for the downs though it can help, just as much for off camber muddy corners and moving around on the bike. Certainly a plus in darkest muddy winter.
60% of BMTB on droppers last night.
Dropper post in Stanmer!!
You wouldn't understand, you're already closer to the ground than most of us with our droppers dropped! 😛
seriously - are people still riding Stanmer right now? I rode through this morninig, and opted to stay off the singletrack
Surely it needs a bit of a rest to recover and dry out after the winter we've had?
seriously - are people still riding Stanmer right now? I rode through this morninig, and opted to stay off the singletrack
Surely it needs a bit of a rest to recover and dry out after the winter we've had?
Riding many of the trails is cutting them down to the chalk so they'll dry out faster. The muddiest trails are the newest ones with the deepest topsoil.
suns out, flowers are out . things are looking up. remarkable how the trails dry out!
How are the trails.....? just thinking about heading out tomorrow. I haven't been in Stanmer in over a month and last time it was impassable (riding) in many places... Are there signs of drying?
anyone else been out today? (Saturday)
Note to posters: Big Dog is in August. It's still ski season!
Wuff wuff!
(checking in).
No - still v muddy - but a week of sun / wind does wonders.
if you do go out then Uni side.
DC
You wouldn't understand, you're already closer to the ground than most of us with our droppers dropped!
Surprised you can see that far ahead to tell
😛
mattig, how are the cocks;-)
u in this year, ss?
coming down for a bit of stanmer training at some point?
DC
March Topic:
What's your Big Dog Bike set up and why?
Will post my own answer tomorrow 😉
I'm going to steal the Scandal back from DrP and put some gears on it 🙂
Nick (IIRC) the Cocks are doing good, there is a Big Dog thread on the Cock forum déja!
http://dorkingcocks.freeforums.org/brighton-big-dog-2014-t848.html
not sure personally what's going on, am already in RideLondon the week before and can get only so many passes. happy to come down for a ride about of course.
Yeah - you are most welcome to come down for a Sunday ride with the Stanmer Tea Room Crew. We could do a tour of the park!
Let me know.
Wait for the rain to go.
Cheers Nick errrrr DC
n.b. doing 6 hour solo on my niner air nine, probably with Spec ground controls on.
Been riding through the winter so feel like I have a good base to work off.
oops sorry I blew your cover
my fitness rubbish, oh well only 1 way to fix that
you guys did well last year, I was in effect solo as my buddy quit after less than 1 lap, I did 5 and was bushed.
(now where did I put those silly little 720mm bars, they came off immediately after BD13 and into the garage bike part junk pile!)
I'm going to steal the Scandal back from DrP and put some gears on it
You'll have to catch me first... 😉
DrP
Mattig, get those weeny bars out, no scaffolding poles in Stanmer i'm afraid.
nb five a v good effort imo., especially as you went in thinking pairs!
ta. Solo pairs was a new category for '13 I think - I won!