[Closed] Monstercross Delamere

Ooh, me! I did it last year.

Yes, you will die. It's bloody knackering.

Yes, you will die. It’s bloody knackering.

Bugger. I was fearing that.

I had the email through earlier and it looks as if most of the other riders are from clubs and stuff. That's a level of professionalism I wasn't expecting 🙂

Oh well. I was up around Delamere yesterday and it was a bit boggy, but ok-ish. We'll see.

looks as if most of the other riders are from clubs and stuff.

Yeah, I'd not be too worried about that. I'm in a club, the only talent and skill required is handing over 20 sheets a year.

Edit-for a sensible answer, just don't go too fast at the start. Make sure you have a bit in the tank for the last hour. Stop and eat/drink as necessary, you'll loose less time doing that than bonking towards the end.

Thanks @tthew. How much actual skill is required? I can keep pedalling for three hours - I did last years Dirty Reiver - but I'd imagine this will take a lot more than just stamina.

I did it on my singlespeed rigid MTB, so could ride it all. The only bit that people seemed to be wary of was that steep but straight slope behind the Grand Designs house, but I don't think that's in it this year. It's quite a fun course, reasonable amount of single track sections.

Can't do it this year as I'm away.

It's a great course, you'll enjoy it. Nothing too technically difficult - there was one steep chute that was asking questions of the unskilled, but you can just run down it if you don't fancy it.

It is hard, mind - a lot of small up and downs in the forest. But if you've done the Dirty Reiver there's nothing to fear.

Forest in decent condition then? It's been a really heavy winter on the cross so I was expecting more of the same next weekend.

Thanks chaps.

@Garry_Lager - I rode to and around the forest yesterday (I live on the Delamere side of Chester) and it was alright. There were bits of slop for sure, but overall it's fared pretty well. Having said that, rain is forecast for this week.

Had a practice lap for my mates who are riding last Saturday. That area of the forest was definitely not sloppy and it's quite a well drained there, (away from that stream around the perimeter anyway!) so unless there's horrific rain this week, it shouldn't be TOO bad.

Regarding that stream, assuming it's in this year, take the water splash option to the right rather than running through the mud. It's not as deep as it looks.

Edit, it sounds like I'm quite bummed to be missing it this year doesn't it? 🤔

The sandy chute you speak of is in, but theres a converging B Line for those less committed tyres, other than that its just like riding a hilly cross race for 3 hours 😂

Thanks all. I'm still looking forward to it, albeit could be better prepared. I've never ridden cyclocross before so thought I'd try this because its so close to home.

It's not really like cyclo-cross. For that you'd be better off with one of the North West league events that start again in September. There's a couple of rounds near Northwich, prob one at Blakemere Village and the Cheshire Showground. Because real 'cross is about an hour there's no pacing yourself, it's balls to the wall all the way!

Because real ‘cross is about an hour there’s no pacing yourself, it’s balls to the wall all the way!

Ah, ok - I hadn't even realised that. I think the three hour format might suit me better. Is it very competitive? Monstercross I mean, not the league stuff.

Competive? Don't know, the only time I saw the podium botherers was when they lapped me. 😁 Like most races, you just compete with the little gang that are going the same pace as you.

Been out round the course again today, it's in pretty good condition, but then again it's set to lash it down for the 3 days preceeding 🤔🤔

So how did you get on @oddnumber - a hard three hours and no mistake today! Love that style of racing, prob my favourite of any off-road discipline, and Delamere is perfect for it.

My legs let me down a bit - was going alright but 2 hours in was striken with cramp, helped on by the water splash line which sheeted cold water over the thighs. Could ride OK but the run / walk / crawl-ups and dismounts folded me, had to get off a few times and stretch the quads against a tree like a spanner.
So a rough last third for me - as slow as it felt think I only dropped a few places from sixth to ninth or tenth vet. I guess everyone was feeling the pain in the last hour.

Well after some contentious timing issues and not being called to the podium (2 laps counted as one, so I was a lap down) I got 3rd in the end and got my prizes so super chuffed but it does take the shine of it, will have to get a photoshop if me next to Steve and Ross ;).

Really good event and I'll be there next year if the boss allows it. Tough going as it was really soft in places and the long loamy decent was getting cut up badly, I found that half way down there was a smooth bit that if hit wrong, it'd would send me sideways. Last couple of laps my brain had gone and my eye sight was getting worse. Glad the rain stayed off though!

The new bike (Pickenflick) rode like a dream though. Really happy with it and there was another rider with the same taste in 90's anodised purple Pickenflicks that I passed!

Great day out!

Great ride Ben, congrats - tough conditions today.

Be nice to have a NW race at Delamere - CX under the forest canopy would be awesome.

Be nice to have a NW race at Delamere – CX under the forest canopy would be awesome.

I enquired about that before organising the Cheshire Showground race. They wouldn't let me because all the Christmas tree stuff was still around the car park and the new visitor centre is being built on the Old Pale side. They charge quite a significant levy per rider which would likely have made it too expensive on top of the already pricey BC charges.

@Garry_Lager - I binned it after a couple of hours, due to a combination of rear shifter failing and not having the legs to be brutally truthful. I found it a lot harder than the Dirty Reiver, loads more technical. Credit to some of the guys racing - they were next level.

Despite being on my backside I'll be back next year for sure now I know what's what. It was a great event and really well done and organised.

due to a combination of rear shifter failing

Depending on the exact problem I rectified this on most laps by riding through the stream rather than the bog!

Had a pretty good race in the end, bagging 3rd in Male Pairs with my mate Dave.

The girls on the team did even better, taking the win in Vets and Seniors and 1st & 3rd lady solos overall too.

The course was much draggier than last year and I fully expect to need a new chain, such is life.

Top ride @BenjiM

Depending on the exact problem I rectified this on most laps by riding through the stream rather than the bog!

I couldn't work out how deep that was so took the safe but bogfest option over to the far left.

I couldn’t work out how deep that was so took the safe but bogfest option over to the far left.

It was about hub depth on a CX bike, so bang on for cleaning / ruining your drive train 😂😂

It was about hub depth on a CX bike, so bang on for cleaning / ruining your drive train 😂😂

I don't know how you CX chaps handle the filth every week - my OCD kicked in as soon as I got home and everything was washed, dried and regreased before I could settle 🙂

That's one of the reasons I don't do more CX races. Drive an hour there, an hour back, clean bike and kit for an hour - all for a 45 minute race. Balls to that, if the non-value add bits exceed the riding time, I'm not bothering.

I don’t know how you CX chaps handle the filth every week – my OCD kicked in as soon as I got home and everything was washed, dried and regreased before I could settle

It's called a jet wash (for bikes, clothes and shoes) and a blatant disregard / acceptance for life of consumables such as gear cables, chains and brake pads.

Although to be fair, I've only had 3 new sets of pads and two fresh sets of cables this season across 2 bikes. Will need a chain each now, but I stocked up on £7 SRAM 11spd ones from no-one 😉

all for a 45 minute race

There's a bit more to it than that really. It's rare I turn up for the race and then leave. There's course recce, warmups, other races to watch, banter etc.

Throw kids races into it and you've got a whole day of muddy, cold, wet, winter family fun 😎