[Closed] Mountain Mayhem - has the course improved much over the years?

I enjoyed it both times it's been at Gatcombe, better than Eastnor IMHO

I did the first gatcombe one. Have to say I thought it was worse than Eastnor. Apparently last year's was better though.

I guess I just like a course with a few interesting features and fun singletrack sections. I know everyone's idea of good is different though.

Quick bump.

It's a bit of a victim of its own success - it has so many thousands of riders that the course can't really be anything but a succession of fireroads.

I didn't mind Eastnor in the dry, but we so rarely saw it in the dry! 2006 was good fun though IMO!

I hated the first Gatcombe course personally, it wasn't [i]that [/i]wet, but it was damp, and there were some hellishly steep climbs for absolutely no reward. Last year was better, they'd taken out the horrendous climbs but more significantly the weather was excellent. I suspect had it poured with rain it would still have been a bit shit. The fun bits were more about how much speed you dared carry on some dew-moistened grassy off road corners, or how little you braked on the final descent and still made the corner at the bottom.

If you want fun singletrack then I'd suggest Mayhem isn't the race for you. If you want a really good event and go accept what you're signing up for then I don't think you'll be disappointed.

And pray it's dry.

Agreed. last years was the best it's been for an age, but that was almost certainly down to the weather.

If you want fun singletrack then I'd suggest Mayhem isn't the race for you. If you want a really good event and go accept what you're signing up for then I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Yeah. I did it in 2011 as a solo and ended up pulling out during the night, largely out of boredom! I really like the Bontrager 24 12 course for solo. I was hoping the Mayhem course has improved a lot as it's the only 24 that I'll be able to do over the summer. Going from the feedback here though, the course still sounds a bit suspect.

First year's course at Gatcombe was awful, last year's was spot on, this could of course been to do with the 28? weather!

I don't see how the course can be greatly improved due to the geography and the fact there are only really fire roads .

Can't see myself doing it while it stays at Gatcombe

I enjoyed it both times it's been at Gatcombe, better than Eastnor IMHO

So Steve it sounds like you're the only one who prefers the new location. What is your reasoning behind this? Ive never ridden there so can't form an opinion myself.

Last year's course was leagues ahead of 2013. In 2013 I was the only person riding the climbs each lap I did. Pretty grim, but it was built with zero time before the race. In 2014 they had a lot longer to prep and it really showed.

As above though, you don't do Mayhem for the course, although there were a couple of really fun bits last year which were very, very fast flat out. One fave was a really fast descent on a fire road, then over a jump (well it was a jump at 25+mph) into a Singletrack descent with some swoopy corners. The bit by the lake was also fun at speed.

GB

I prefered Sandwell. Eastnor was OK (and scenic). That monkey park whose name escapes me that hosted Sits for years, that was the best venue for a 24.

Gatcombe doesn't do much for me, but its OK.

Michael, it just seems better, more connected if you know what I mean. That climb to the obelisk at Eastnor was daft as was the grassy slope upto the plasticine woods.

Gatcombe is more like my local riding, which is why I probably enjoy it. I'm not one for rocks, but rather like riding through woods and near lakes etc.

So Steve it sounds like you're the only one who prefers the new location. What is your reasoning behind this? Ive never ridden there so can't form an opinion myself.

Why do you think that? It's been at Gatcombe twice, once was shit, once was fantastic. Everyone's said that.

The point is that the riding is similarly average at each place (and really bad in the wet), but that's not why you do the event.

njee's summary is bang on.
I've done the last nine Mayhems. Was biased with a preference for Eastnor (as it's local to me) and hated the first Gatcombe and the "brutal climbs" that just seemed utterly pointless.
2014 was truely mint though, an infinitely more rideable course (and great weather). Here's hoping Vin Cox recreates something similar this year (sun and all) !!

The point is that the riding is similarly average at each place (and really bad in the wet), but that's not why you do the event.

There's a bit of a generalisation. Everyone's reason for doing an event could be different. I know people say the atmosphere at Mayhem etc is really good, but that's not really what I'm looking for. I choose events for the fun of the riding, not for the amount of riders I can spot wearing sumo suits... Or something similar.

You misunderstand. I'm saying the reason to do Mayhem is the atmosphere. Not the course.

I'm not saying why [i]you[/i] should do the event (I don't think its for you anyway), I'm saying why [i]one[/i] does the event. 24/12 is a very different event. Yes, the course is 'better', but I'd rather do Mayhem because it's just a really good event. YMMV.

I did a few at Sandwell, a couple at Eastnor and last year at Gatcombe. Last years course was the best I've done.

Not an Erlestoke 12, but for a huge 24 hour event, it was great. I just pray the weather is okay.....

I did 2013 and a lot at Eastnor.

2013 course did have some pointless up's that unless you were very fit were nigh on impossible.

However it looked to have promise unfortunately I missed 2014.

I did enjoy the course at eastnor when it was dry.

Probably greatest achievement was our team "raced" all night at 2012 which most of been the worse mayhem ever.

Its a shame they cant seem to do it somewhere with more sandy soil.

I like the 24 hour format you get to spend some great time with your mates sitting around chatting / eating + drinking then u do a bit of cycling.

Trentham 1st and best mayhem course was also the wetest ever.