[Closed] Hamsterley Beast - Advice Sought

So, two questions really – what sort of grade would you say it was in previous years (apparently new trails are going in so I understand this can’t be known 100%) and would I be mad to do the 40 miler with average/good fitness/experience?

I've done some challenges outside of my comfort zone, it's always way more about your mind than what is in front of you

I did it the year before last. It was great, hard work, but worth it.

Although the exact route is a closely guarded secret, knowing the area well I've got a good guess as to roughly where we'll be taken.

The 40 miler will most likely begin with a speedy loop around the forest, using the fire road climbs to stretch out the crowd. Then there'll be some of the fun sneaky trails and red route descents/climbs. Following that fun they're bound to punish us with a fairly lengthy Loop out over the moors. That's not as scary as it sounds as it will be on some of the tracks that are not Rights of Way, having got the permission of the local Landed Gentry! The climbs from the bottom of the forest to the top of the moors are "challenging".

After the moors loop it'll be back into the forest for another loop or two more of the trails, both official and sneaky. Expect some daftness as we have been sent up some of the red route descents in the past.

Overall, the technicality of the trails is definitely no more than a Red route standard. What makes it hard is the distance and the climbs. On the return to the forest after the bi moor section I was suffering a bit. Holding it together on some of the sneaky/technical descents and trails when at the end of your energy levels is hard.

Whatever bike you choose make sure it's one you know you will be comfy on for a long time. I'm going out on a steel hardtail with middle of the road geometry, and fairly light wheels.

Fitness wise, you don't have to be an Olympian by any stretch, I think it's more about pace and not going too fast at the start. I did last year, and it made the last part a bit tough.

Whatever bike you choose make sure it’s one you know you will be comfy on for a long time. I’m going out on a steel hardtail with middle of the road geometry, and fairly light wheels.

This is my main concern initially - I have an alloy hard tail from Bird which is harsh in the backend and i knew it would help the climbs but kill my legs if any of the descents had repeated hits. So glad i've basically got the FS version of the same bike to ride - familiar, yet squishy! I was tempted to ask for a 29er but i've never ridden one for more than 10 mins so thought that was a mistake.

Fitness wise, you don’t have to be an Olympian by any stretch, I think it’s more about pace and not going too fast at the start. I did last year, and it made the last part a bit tough.

So the climbs are long, rather than steep? Longest ride I've ever done was 20 miles and I'd bonked pretty hard by the end! Thats good advice on pacing though; i'll bear that in mind. I'll need to find out what the drive train is on this demo bike...

It sounds like an interesting/fun route though - thanks for the detail. I did Antifreeze at Coed-y-Brenin a few weeks back and it was very disappointing. Basically 6 miles of fireroad and a mile of singletrack...

So the climbs are long, rather than steep?

It's a mixture really, there are long smooth fire road, and some tricky technical ones ('no shame in pushing' climbs)

Are you doing it with a group or on your own?

With one other guy from work - but he’s got a pretty serious bike (Intense Carbine) and i’ve never ridden with him before, so expecting he’ll whiz off...

The clue's in the name. I've marshalled on the last two. I've seen some broken-looking riders.
Brilliant!

There's a pretty big crowd doing it this year, so I'm sure there'll always be someone to pace with. I'm a billy-no-mates for it this time.😕

Does anybody know about trail closures on Sunday? I'm picking up my new Bird and would like to go for a ride while I'm down. Had a good look but can't find any info.

Longest ride I’ve ever done was 20 miles and I’d bonked pretty hard by the end

I'd be a bit more worried about this than anything else. A lot of the issue with riding a distance is 'having your legs in' for it.

You say you've never ridden more than 20 miles? So this will be double anything you've ever ridden. I'd have tried to do a couple of longer rides leading up to this so you can gauge the effort required on the day.

Pace yourself, drink often and little and eat before you're hungry.

So how did people get on?

I paced myself and felt alright after the first loop - but apparently I paced myself too much and had too much of a break and by the time i went to start the second loop they'd closed it.

Was a bit miffed to be honest but on the grapevine I heard that they had difficulty getting volunteers so had to finish it early.

The first loop was interesting; although the bits through the copse where you had to get off the bike every 5 minutes to hop a ditch seem badly judged. I think it made the loop a lot longer, especially for people (like me) who were towards the second half of the back and so were contending with a lot of worn trails and mud from the previous riders.

I was disappointed not to get around the other loops; but I did have a shoot round a couple of the red and black trails afterwards that the loops took in. Will definitely be returning to Hamsterley as its a nice little trail centre.

@stevenmenmuir which Bird did you get? I'd been in touch with Ben and he lent me a 120LT for the whole day; we had some really good chat too. Super nice guy, and a very canny businessman too it seems (We briefly discussed Sick). It was really nice to have a 'base' at the ride after driving so long to get there, and Ben really looked after me with that bike. When I have the cash, I'll be picking a Bird up for sure!

40 +5 miles in 6h15m.
Cracking day for it, first proper big ride for me since back surgery last year.

If you missed the second loop, you missed the 'highlight' of riding up transmission! 🙂

I cramped hard on one of the climbs on loop 3 and had to walk a good way to loosen it off.

Saturday night drinking in no way helped.

Good fun.

If you missed the second loop, you missed the ‘highlight’ of riding up transmission! 🙂

Ha - I did actually ride up it when i had my little explore once I'd been told the loops were closed! One experience I was 'lucky' to have...

I'm getting a Zero 29. Didn't come down, stuck with the original plan to meet Ben next weekend at Innerleithen. Ben is a top bloke.

Anyone got a route map? I'm a hammers semi-regular and want to know what trails were used (to avoid them) 😉

I couldn't do it due to injury so not sure if there's a map. I am seeing loads of people have put it on Strava though. (Don't want to put someone else's ride here though.

That was the last Beast as well. A shame but I guess organising it all is a bit much year after year.

Bear in mind some of the route was on the Raby estate and they made this clear that the access was a one off and they made a plea to not ride it after the event.

It was a brutal day out. I managed to get to the 30 mile point before the cut off but suffered like a dog till then end.

Apparently later on there were riders riding down transmission while people were going up having ignored the signs and the tape. This is very disappointing.

The cut offs should have been made clearer but I really feel for the organisers who are getting a kicking on social media. They've put an enormous of time and effort into making the event happen.