[Closed] Brighton Big Dog Chat 2014

Are CX bikes allowed ?
Trying to decide to do a solo , just to beat TimP, or a pairs for slightly less pain.

Hi Everyone,

Pleased to see so much interest & the usual suspects on this thread.

Saturday August 16th confirmed for the 6th edition with the after party at the Velo Cafe.
Course to be decided with safety, challenge, fun and being cool with all other park users as our priorities. More course details to follow in due course. Of course.
Nice mug colour this year and maybe a third marquee. I think that CX bikes are ok; not sure what wouldn't be ok tbh.

Not much more to add at the moment - great to read your interest and enthusiasm.

Cheers

Napalm - yes we are a sorry bunch but loving the Big Dog as always. So lucky to have the best race on our doorstep.

Keep us up to date with the latest info when you can.

Thanks for all the good work.

Napalm,

I'll second that, keep up the good work and let us know if you need any volunteers leading up to the day; despite some moaning about the course changes it's still my favourite MTB event, great vibe and always friendly with a competitive edge. Bring on the sunshine and flowing singletrack in August I hope 8)

Singletrackmind i've not seen a CX bike at BigDog before but plenty of variety including fat bikes, retro classics, and even a postie bike so i'm sure you'll be made welcome. I suspect some sections of the course will be "entertaining" for you with the drop bars 😉

Paceman

As Paceman knows I'm an (armchair) fan of CX and in the right hands I think you could do it. I suspect you would get one hell of a beating though. I guess there must be a reason no one else has done it - yet.

worry not, as a regular Stanmer rider there is no way I would enter on a cx bike . The course is too technical really and my back would not take the battering. I will be on my Hei-Hei most likely as its 100/75 travel make it perfect for traction and root compliance

STM, I'll go CX if you do....

another muddy Sunday ride in Stanmer. trails a little better. could the jet stream please f### off;-)

The sun is out in Brighton so hopefully those trails will dry out a little.

These last, muddy, few weeks really have been a pain in the behind.

Surprised myself yesterday by changing over my rear cassette without having a major temper tantrum - it's not all bad.

Now just to shift this pesky cold so I can get back on it!

DC

TimP, got you booked for CX bike as weapon of choice for Big Dog - I think you will fly 😉

darkcyan - Member

TimP, got you booked for CX bike as weapon of choice for Big Dog - I think you will fly

I think you will fly... over the drop bars 😉

...still in front of Darkcyan though I suspect 😀

I think 5 days is long enough for a challenge not to be accepted. No CX for me...unless you take me up DC?

Anyone out for Brighton MTB tonight.

Gonna make a late call due to lingering cold.

I'll be out at Stanmer tonight, trails were riding well yesterday, so, should be better today!

Got something else on this evening so rode into work instead; it's a beautiful sunny day in Worthing 8)

Tim, a bit of cx inspiration:

http://www.shandcycles.com/gallery/chasing-the-hare/

Is that not a roadie video Darkcyan? That bike never leaves the tarmac 😉

I'm signed up. First ever race and feeling slightly concerned about the prospect already.... Gulp.

solo spooked?

I'd be worried too 😉

I'm signed up. First ever race and feeling slightly concerned about the prospect already.... Gulp

Currently in a team but quite prepared to end up doing it on my own as I expect others will drop out. With current fitness levels a lap should be doable over a 6 hour period 🙂

no denying its tough. I go out slow and stay slow. that will get you round 6/7 times. oh yes and embrace the pain.

paceman, it's a cross bike isnt it? anyway it looks lovely.

Stanmer Woods are drying out nicely in the current warm weather 😀

felt the pain toda. loving the fat bike spotted at Sranmer Cafe.

fat fingrrrs itttt would seemm;-)

Congratulations to Matt on his little girl. That's going to effect the training eh Matt!

darkcyan - Member

Congratulations to Matt on his little girl. That's going to affect the training eh Matt!

Might give the rest of us a chance against him then 😀

Maybe, I suspect he will be on the rollers if he cant get out. Just need to sort out his ringer brothers!

Anyone out for Brighton MTB tonight.

I'll be out on the skinny-tubed rigid hardtail tonight 😀

wondering if anyone had heard any rumours about the course.

I heard it will mostly be in the woods...

Out tonight with Brighton MTB to keep the training ticking along.

Anyone else out.

Cheers Nick

DC - do you ride with the Tuesday group, just intrigued as we must have met…

Pete aka Woodsman

I'll be there tonight DC. Hope it is dry?

I'll be heading over from mine so may find you in the woods somewhere.

There's going to be a fatbike category at the Big Dog, I've read.

Cheers

Luke

Luke, are you fat biking tonight?

no, frame's not here yet.

Will be on my singlespeed I think.

When is it due? Do you have all the other bits ready? I will be on the Zen, SS too, but driving over though!

"Real soon now" - think they're clearing customs in Taiwan at the moment. I knew it was going to be a bit of a wait so I've been gathering the other bits and pieces together. Drilling holes in the rims was a bit of a fraught hour or two!

Sunday morning rides definitely gone up a notch of late. less breaks and fast up and down. Long way home to boost miles and climbing.

Woodsman. No Thursday. I know mat who rides Tuesday.

I'm sure we have met.

cheers DC.

Tuesday a bit speedy for me.

For some reason I am thinking I need a Salsa Spearfish!

Everyone needs a new bike - buy it!

Stanmer's riding really well at the moment and the bluebells are out too 🙂

rather crap pic taken on my phone as the light was failing last night;

[URL= http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/LukeBurstow/DSC_1039_zpse128558b.jp g" target="_blank">http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/LukeBurstow/DSC_1039_zpse128558b.jp g"/> [/IMG][/URL]

Well Easter is gone without too much chocolate carnage.

Good ride on Sunday around Stanmer with a sharp shower transitioning the trails from excellent to scary.

I guess this is the time when I must kick my arse into gear and imagine being on the start line having not done the necessary work - not an option.

DC

N.b. do I need a Salsa Swordfish or not?

Chain reaction have let me down as my front brake pads have not arrived despite ordering them three days ago!

Metal on metal it is then.

Never really seen a thread treated like a personal Twitter feed on here!

It could be worse for you njee20, they could be discussing Shand cycles as well! 😀

njee20 - Member

Never really seen a thread treated like a personal Twitter feed on here!

Darkcyan is old skool, he straddles the boundaries of social media the rest of us can only imagine 😀

A Spearfish would be a perfect BigDog weapon.

what's the Shand story then?

nb thought my musings were of interest;-)

DC, I think Shand Cycles are a UK based kickstarter frame company.

I thought they were a top end frame maker - wasn't there a review in STW a few months ago.

You may well be right DC 😀

Do we not get your daily musing on mountain biking?

Just entered the Big Dog and am coincidentally riding out of Brighton tonight. Potentially through Stanmer. What time do you boys meet? I suspect I'll be a little too early...

BrightonMTB rides are Tuesday (faster pace) and Thursday (regular pace) evenings 7-9pm, meet at Sussex University Sports Centre car park. Check their website.

Anyone know what the elevation gain in meters is per 10 mile lap? Roughly...

mccann.ben - Member
Anyone know what the elevation gain in meters is per 10 mile lap? Roughly...

I'd be surprised if it's any more than 100m per lap but most are short steep climbs that drain your energy. One of the locals with a Garmin or similar might be able to tell you.

Last years first climb out of the arena field certainly did that.....

It's just under 300m/1000ft climbing per lap.

Cheers guys.

any course gossip. hoping the first climb gets ditched, too steep imo.

trails at their best today. some good strava harvesting going on.

should I ride my ss at big dog?

Gears for me...if the course is the same as last year i'm kinda hoping for slippy conditions as it will advantage the local singletrack riders over the no skills, mega fit types...

darkcyan - Member

should I ride my ss at big dog?

You're definitely quicker on it Darkcyan, depends if you can manage six hours pushing that gear ratio.

myti - Member

Gears for me...if the course is the same as last year i'm kinda hoping for slippy conditions as it will advantage the local singletrack riders over the no skills, mega fit types...

I'm hoping for the old course back as it was much more fun to ride; or certainly a change from last year which didn't make the most of Stanmer's better singletrack trails.

Got a feeling the course will change again. Agree with Paceman-for once;-)

Interview with Ian Leitch in the july / aug Viva Brighton.

You can view on-line at www.vivabrighton.com from July 10th onwards.

You heard it hear first.

You heard it [s]hear[/s] here first 😉

[b]heard[/b] it [b]hear [/b]first - did you see what i was doing?

Yes, very clever Darkcyan 😉

could be a bit of old dog as regards the big dog course - to be welcomed i think.

Two team pairs entered now for the Fat Bike Category, now that's where the real men are!! 😀

[url] http://www.xcracer.com/raceentry/currententries.php?race_id=428 [/url]

Given that Puffins finally seem to be on their way out of Sam's door I shall be doing at least one lap on a Fat Bike in the Solo Vets (40+) category.

I think I'll wait until I've ridden the thing before committing to more than that 🙂

I hope the Singular Puffin has been worth the wait, they look fantastic I think and it should be fun round Stanmer woods. I'm very tempted by a Rooster if Sam makes one in a colour other than yellow.

If nothing else, I can fit 2.1" mud tyres on some standard rims to it and not worry about the frame getting gummed up with Stanmer mud 🙂

Any suggestions for van camping? somewhere near the party venue would be good

Been thinking about this.

Anyone with a Fat Bike want to join me in a pair?

I've not got the legs to do Fat Bike solo but think it'll be interesting to ride for half the time.

I did 5 (or was it 6) laps solo last year so I'm not a racer. Having said that there's only 2 fat bike pairs entered currently so there's a possible 3rd place podium up for grabs - if you're expecting to win I'm not the team mate for you.

email in profile (and I'm hoping I can convert a solo entry to a fat bike pairs one if I talk nicely to Simon).

skellnoch - I'm pretty sure that one of the Upper Lodge Cottages at Stanmer is a small certificated site or something for the caravan club or camping and caravan club but google isn't helping. There;s certainly a regular change of campers in the garden there with motorhomes etc. If you can't find it this site [url= http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/caravanclubapps/applications/uk-caravan-sites-and-parks/SiteDetails.aspx?csid=21975 ]http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/caravanclubapps/applications/uk-caravan-sites-and-parks/SiteDetails.aspx?csid=21975[/url] is about 15 minutes away.

Wwasas, I'm considering building up a 29+ bike but not sure if I'll get it together before BigDog; if I do I'll give you a shout as 3" tyres fall into the Fat Bike Category ... Semi-Fat ??!!? 😆 Will let you know.

I think our paths cross anyway from time to time on BrightonMTB Thursday night rides.

Paceman

I'm sure we've met - it's just putting real names, faces and bikes to stw logins that is tricky sometimes 🙂

I'll let you know if anything happens in the meantime.

Paceman: Fat bike or fat biker category - I could probably enter both;-)

No comment Darkcyan 😆