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More ard rock questions for a newb to this event, thanks for the patience.
What are the climbs like in terms of gradient, is it all fairly steady i.e like normal trail centre climb gradients, or should I expect steep steep steep climbs.... For reference I can climb anything I've come across at UK centres with my 32/11-36 (on 29er), but was a bit testy riding up gatescarth pass with same gearing, not sure I'd like to put in 1500m climbing at that gradient with that gearing. - just wondering whether to emergency order an 11-40 cassette!
Second question is, how weather resistant is the camping field? should I expect a bog come mid day Saturday given the forecast for Reeth over next 48hr. Guess theres nothing I can do about this except pack wellies!
Is there an activity on Strava from last year? Should give you an idea about expected climbs but they might not be the exact ones in use this year. If it includes Fremington Edge then you'll be pushing 😯
Grass + people + rain = mud
Current BBC forecast for Reeth is fine from tonight onwards - http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2639510
Climbs are fairly steady gradient, but quite long. There was the odd steep(ish) bit of road climbing, but only short sections. Don't worry about it!
Don't think I saw anyone doing the enduro riding up fremington edge.
Weather forecast looks like it's staying fairly dry according to BBC?
The camping is a grass field that will probably get muddy.
The climbs are mixed. I did last year with a 36 chainring and 11-34 cassette....walked the steep stuff. Most people walked the really steep climb between stage 1 and 2 regardless of gears. There's nothing in the raced stages that you'll struggle up on so long as you've got a comfortable 'trail' gear range and keep a bit of flow.
The push out of stage 4 is always a push...even more so when it's wet!
I wouldn't be faffing around changing cassettes this close to the event.
The field has been fine every year, and weather looks okay, fingers crossed. The climbs are all fairly steady as said above.
First one is a steepish road climb for a bit, then it turns onto the bottom of FE and eases off. Climb to stage 2 is a push - only person I saw riding it all was a mad SSer who was intent on pain. The 3 climbs after that are just steady grinds.
You will see folk pushing these, but thats generally because the overall time is pretty lax, and folk like saving their legs for the descents. Most of the stages involve a fair bit of sprinting.
You'll really enjoy it, my favourite event of the year, I wouldn't dream of missing it. Fantastically well run, great friendly vibe, both out on the hills and at the event village too.
Edit - I can't remember the push out of stage 4, must've erased it from my mind Paul!
Nobeer... - Lots of bracken, lots of slop next to a gully, couple of hand gates, along side a barbed wire fence for a bit, a super steep bit - one step up, grab brakes as your feet slide back underneath you type - up an old mine spoil slope, eases off at the top and joins a dirt road across the moor next to a brick building that plenty of people seem to gather around for a snack stop.
That's how I remember it anyway!
End of the push up from stage 4 last year.....
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Ah, yeah, cross the river and climb up that, I remember now!
Thanks for the info all, I'll stop panicking and leave the bike as it is!
The forecast seems to be changing, was rain all day Thursday when I first looked, better now so hope it stays like that.
Defo looking forwards to it, I'll be trying out my van conversion in anger for the first time too, I'll be the one in the blue high top LWB vivaro (very un-T4/T5-fashionable I know, but very practical). Just got the sink / hob fitted and up and running last night.
Matt I'll try and find you, would love to take a look at your van conversion and ask a few noob questions, as I'm doing my own next year.
Sorry for the slight hijack.
there are two of us arriving Thursday evening, with the remaining 3 in our crew coming up Friday pm.
Is it normally OK to grab a spot on the campsite with a couple of vehicles and a tent and mark off just enough room between them to get two more cars and another tent in ? Bit like at Mayhem ?