[Closed] Mountain Mayhem 2016 roll call

Yes I'm in, doing my first solo. I had to double check the date, I thought it was the following weekend!

I'm in. We're a 4 man team by the name of Rule 5 racing. Really looking forward to it!

Yup I'll be there. Ken Dodd's Dad's Dog's Dead Hard.

Third solo and 8/9th(?) MM24. You'd think I'd learn.

Not sure what bike I'll be on yet....! Will be either a Pinnacle, Genesis or Whyte HT in either 29, 26, or 27.5" flavour respectively....

Aiming to be there early pm Friday.

Rule 20 will be there. Mixed team this year.

Had mixed team of five, lost two to family issues and broken leg, got spare to fill in and now might be a four. Run of bad luck.

I'll be there from this weekend setting up. Had a ride through yesterday, it's bone dry. Not looking at the weather forecast....

I'm in. Second solo. 4th Mayhem including the one we don't talk about. (" you weren't there man!"). Getting there Friday morning. In a motorhome with Yorkshire flag. Riding bright orange Orbea Occam 29er. I'll have a Team Longsac top on. Come say Hi....tang is the course the same as last year?.

tang - Member
I'll be there from this weekend setting up. Had a ride through yesterday, it's bone dry. Not looking at the weather forecast....

I will then........................ oh ohhh

Does it still fill up these days?

My last one was the 1st year at Gatcombe, couldn't justify driving that far for an average course.

Does it still fill up these days?

I looked at getting a solo entry for a mate earlier this week and entry website says they have sold out. Good job really cos he can't do it now anyway.

First solo for me, 4th mayhem but first at gatcombe park. The memory of 2012 took a long time to shake. I'll either be on an O-O scandal HT or a Whyte M109 FS.

really looking forward to it despite a niggling Achilles issue.

I'm going, last year had to miss out last minute as little Superstu was poorly. This year I'd been getting out a reasonable amount but then got shingles four weeks ago and it's wiped me out, so expecting to drag our team waaaay down. I'm entering with a retro team so probably a 1989 Saracen Tufftrax but may bring a rigid inbred or Iroko for something plusher.

Signed up for soloing again, but less than motivated to be honest. Been struggling with a niggly back for 6 months on and off and a serious case of can't-be-arsed-ness so haven't put nearly as much effort into training that I should have. I'll probably turn up, plod around until I get bored and then see what happens, it'll either be a disaster or I'll be pleasantly surprised. Probably the former 😀

We're doing it as a mixed pair which will be interesting. Only ever soloed before. First time back since the 1st gatcombe one. Hoping the course is better now than it was then.

I went and opened the gates yesterday.
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Took delivery of event HQ etc. Pat is on site, he won't leave until the entire place is clean a week on Monday.

pete68 - Member
We're doing it as a mixed pair which will be interesting. Only ever soloed before. First time back since the 1st gatcombe one. Hoping the course is better now than it was then.

Hopefully it'll be pretty much the course they've used for the last couple, which I've really liked. I think it works well for a 24 hour.

Anyway, disasters aside I'll be there in a mixed team of 5,and I'll be riding my trusty Merida Big 9.

Hopefully it'll be pretty much the course they've used for the last couple, which I've really liked. I think it works well for a 24 hour.

Haha, I don't think rainmageddon helped with the climbability of a lot of it, but no-one was enjoying that cobbled climb!

How is the solo/trackside camping? Will there likely be any left by early Friday afternoon?

tang - Member
I'll be there from this weekend setting up. Had a ride through yesterday, it's bone dry. Not looking at the weather forecast...

Is the course going to be the same as last year or have you got some new routes?

I'll be there as part of a mixed 5 from Huddersfield Star Wheelers this year.
Hope the course is the same as the last 2 years as it's/was bang on for a 24hr.

I'll be there 10man Retrobike team again,hope to stay sober enough to get a few laps in .10th year doing it this year .wondering if the big announcement regarding next year will be that it will be the last ?.i will be riding a 2007 Ltd edition orange clockwork ,also fetching my tsp wave chopper ( big green thing about 9ft long with 3 speed suicide shift ) jnr will be fetching his spesh fatboy jnr for the kids race

Don't know why people take issue with the course, it's not like you want a gnar fest for 24 hours as there'd be rather a lot of ambulance cases.

Personally I rather enjoy it.

Agreed!
The blazing first few km really helps the morale aswell - it makes you keen to get back out!

I liked Sandwell 😀

Can you remember that far back?
I did the first two there and I can't remember the course at all!

I can remember it was flat. And one year there were two teenage army girls chanting "well done, nearly finished" for the full 24 hours. They'll be middle aged now...

I'm in, 24hr solo. Never done one before so to prepare I've gone to Gran Canaria for a piss up. Off the plane next Friday then straight to mayhem, perfect.

Im 24hr solo aswell im in florida holidaying at the moment and getting married today,

I have been stocking up my body with energy (cough) for the race over here in preperation

can remember it was flat. And one year there were two teenage army girls chanting "well done, nearly finished" for the full 24 hours. They'll be middle aged now...

Christ, I remember that!
Trentham Gardens SITS was my fav course.

My first solo MM this year. Rode the first year at Gatcombe in 2013 as a team of four.
I rode to work a couple of times last week as preparation...

Local weather update .

It's been raining since Friday afternoon .

I'm in. Mixed team of five this year.
My eleventh mayhem (2006-2016 inc)...and just hoping that the course is similar to the last couple of years as they've been just the right balance of fun / challenge for a 24hr.
I think Vin Cox made the statement last year, "if it ain't broke"

Weather looks ok at the moment for the weekend according to the BBC forecast.
It's quite a well draining course so all being well....
But of rain/mud will make it interesting anyway!

peteimpreza - Member
Local weather update .

It's been raining since Friday afternoon .

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I've just fitted my first tubeless tyres to my MM bike - A Racing Ralph and Thunderburt.

I'm not changing them so hoping for a dry weekend or it will be a weekend of drinking ......

I've hardly ridden for a month in preparation due to work and now I have an infected swollen elbow and am munching away at antibiotics in the hope it clears up in time.

Fully expect to drag my ten man team to the bottom of the standings 😆

I'm in as part of a team of four (Skynetters). Will be riding a Salsa Horsethief and walking up the hills if last year is anything to go by....

@Tang- Any updates on the course conditions?

@Tang...

[I'm guessing he may be busy / riding]

Steve... No doubt will see you there! Team of 4 and a reunion from our first team outing over 10 years ago 😉

On the trusted Niner Air Rdo...

I shall be there for my 9th year with Lightly Lubed riding as a mixed team of 5.
Must be mad

Day 1 done. It's wet in the woods kids, fields are fine.

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As for new bits, wait and see....

xcstu - Member
Steve... No doubt will see you there! Team of 4 and a reunion from our first team outing over 10 years ago
On the trusted Niner Air Rdo...

You sure will, feel free to give me a push when you sail past.

I'll be knocking about all over but peddling on a felt 29r with enve finishing kit, blue wheel decals. Say hi!

Thanks Tang.... Keep the pictures and updates coming!

I'm well excited. Missed last year's with a knee op.

As above keep the updates coming.

Today, new bits. Also previous good bits:
Lakeside
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PS Lots of horse flies

^^^ nice pic, love that section...

Think I'll fit my mud tyres to my Alfine geared hardtail......

Has gatcombe had the torrential rain overnight?

No rain last night, couple of heavy showers yesterday. Nice this morning.

Sounds promising

Maps / layout etc are on mayhem website

Thanks tang. It's not been too bad up here in Leeds but I was worried by the tales of woe on R4 this morning.... soft southerners

Well I'm convinced .... The Thunderburt stays 😈

It's been wet today but forecast looks good for race! Fingers crossed. It will be wet in the woods...

Forecast seems to predict showers up until Friday evening, which doesn't give much time to dry out. And it's not going to be hot/sunny enough for anything to dry much.

I've packed my 2.0" Dirty Dans and a pot of Sudocrem (I'm doing solo, so will need my nappy changing a lot)

I'm currently on Thunder Burts too, but picked up a new pair of Bonty Mud Xs on my way home today. Hopefully just an insurance policy - but it was a bit tasty at the first edition at Gatcombe the other year.

Better fit some mud tires then.... Thanks for the updates Tang!

If the weather forecast is to be believed I reckon (hope) it should dry out ok.
In 2013 it dried out for the Sunday and it wasn't sunny at all, it just stopped raining Saturday evening.

Heading down in a team of 4 - really looking forward to it.
the forecast is looking up for the weekend too.

Quick question to Tang, how quick to we have to be off the site on Sunday? My Mrs who was going to be my support and driver whilst I soloed it has decided to go and see the Stone Roses instead so I'm doing an unsupported effort and getting a couple of hours kip in the van afterwards would seem to be a good idea.

dazh: You don't need to leave till Monday morning. Some of us have to drive back to Scotland 🙂

You have to be clear of the site by 9:30 am Monday morning .

@Dazh - I read Monday 9am to exit the campsite.

My first MM after doing sleepless about 6 years ago before I was into 'biking. Team of 4 was down to 3 so two ladies doing some guest laps.

Training has gone really well. Started on Monday. Looking forward to a smooth team operation and some fun riding.

I'll be on trusty Green O-o Scandal with black x-fusions (don't confuse with snownrock)

Thanks all. Obviously I failed to read the emails. My Mrs will be very relieved that I won't be attempting to drive back straight after. I wasn't too keen on the idea either!

Course finished today in some heavy rain. Weather nice now and looking good for the weekend. Don't expect the dust of the last two years....

Just pulled up nearby. Weather is cloudy but no rain.

Not looking so dry any more on Saturday, according to BBC weather 🙁

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2642452

You sound surprised! Looks very moist now

Looks fine now.

Yeah, all clear according to the BBC.
Who have a history of lying to me about the weather.
So it will probably be biblical!

All set up. Weather is fine. Actually seen the sun. Course thru campsite is wet but very firm. Bet it's gonna be wet in woods though. Nice breeze blowing at mo to dry things out.

Sorry solo's, no jelly babies this year.

Chucked it down all night, no sun, lots of clouds and a bit of a wind. Deepest joy

Well that was another amazing weekend at Gatcombe with the Pivot Boompods team and friends.

The weather was dry over the weekend but the heavy rain in the preceding week or so had left the course resembling plasticine in places. Mostly it was fine and fast, but some parts were tough going. There were 3 newly cut singletrack sections which were all brilliant, especially the new swoopy trail which joined onto the old red bull timed section. Superb fun. We also got to ride all of the Kenda Koffin descent as per the first year at Gatcombe. The last two years we've just done the bottom half so it was great to bomb down all of it again.

We started inauspiciously, following a decent first lap where I came through in the lead our second rider out had just made a break and then snapped his chain. Usually he carries a spare chain link but it had fallen off. Nightmare! He lost 15 minutes until a friendly rider gave him one. We spent the next 5 hours playing catch up and moved into the lead at about 6pm. Overnight we paired up and rode 3 single laps on/off in each pair. We pulled out a lead which was then closed down when our second pair went out between midnight and 4am. With the gap down to 4 minutes at one point, Big Al and I set about building a lead and within 2 laps we were back out to 15 minutes ahead. Some stunning laps from 24hr virgins Rich and Stu and of course stalwart Big Al late on stretched this to 22 minutes and all I had to do was roll round and take the win. Despite the best efforts of some very, very tired backmarkers to force me into a tree and later into the lake I made it and we won. Superb! Princess Anne was on hand to give out the trophies and even the ice cream van was nice.

An amazing event with superb infrastructure - I've never seen so many portaloos and showers!

GB

Mayhem victories are like buses eh?! Chapeau, well done.

Well done gee, I seemed to spend the whole 24 hours being passed by your team. The mud/velcro in the woods was pretty hard going after a while, I spent most of the dark hours suffering with cramp in muscles I didn't know existed. Great event and some really good people, can't wait til next year