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So as another year rolls around it's time for 24/12 which this is teasing us with possible dry weather. I'm back in a 4 man team this year but not expecting a repeat of our shock 3rd of last year.
So who else is about for the dust/mud (delete as required) fest?
12hour solo, still can't feel half my foot thanks to 25hours of muddy hell last year!
one of the more polite overtaking pivot boompods
you are lucky, i will not be handing out the free beer this year
Entered 10 years in a row and finally put off at the end of last year, by too many wet yrs.
If it was local we'd probably carry on, but it's a 6hr drive and then to get home and have the drudge of drying out a ton of wet kit/tent etc we decided to knock it on the head.
And this year, we get what looks to be uninterrupted sunshine.....seems to be how these things go. Bit gutted to be honest, but hey ho...
12 hour pairs this year, last year was 24 team. It wasn’t the riding that was awful in that weather so much as the in between times, huddling under a gazebo in pissing rain waiting each time was so demoralising.
The lack of shelter last year was horrific - hopefully this year it'll be sun we're sheltering from...
I still haven't used my lights or unpacked my tent since 2016. 12h solo this year.
I'm sure it'll all be fine...
Me, 12 hour solo!
I thought I was going to miss it this year as my husband got into Ride London on the ballot. He's deferred until next year at the last minute though, as he a) felt guilty that he had quite a few events to do this year, and Pivot was the only one I wanted to do, and b) mangled his feet doing the Jurassic Coast challenge weekend just gone.
I did Pivot for the first time last year, which was also my first event after having our son. I absolutely loved it - despite the rain, the course held together really well and was good fun (certainly when compared to Mountain Mayhem 2012, which was the last event I did prior to that, heh heh), and the atmosphere was brilliant. I got cramp on one of my laps and some helpful randoms straightened my leg out and gave me water, whilst holding a brolly over me.
I'm just hoping it's dry this year, but I'm not counting on it (I don't think I've ever done a mtb event where it's not chucked it down at some point...)
12hr solo here. After a lay off since 2009
Torchbearer last year (4th because I was too stupid to give up), was pondering signing up this year after that when I got a message that I had been signed up for 24hr pairs.
Just finished fixing the force 10, will get the ferry over on Thursday and then back on the monday.
Really hope the weather stays decent, if it's lashing I'm getting leathered and hurling abuse at the sky.
Anyone got some stats on the course? 14km any idea on the ascent? I’ve been training at about 120ft per mile. I’m hoping it’s not much over that!
Training?
185m over 10.5km.
More climbing than the last few years courses.
https://mobile.twitter.com/twenteefour12/status/1005448539038797824
I’ve entered. Last year was my first year and even that didn’t put me off. Hoping to do a lot more laps this year though, but am doing 12 solo so I can please myself without any pressure. Just going to enjoy it, course was great last year even if the weather was horrendous
As per Superstu, I’m not really looking at being competitive at all, just doing what I can and enjoying the rest. I have a couple of back & shoulder muscular issues which may cut my 12h short anyway. This won’t be helped by Millets failing to deliver an inflatable mattress before I set off.
Time to drain / recharge my lights ready for the weekend, pasta meals and SIS are ready. aiming for a Friday Pizza and a beer. Packing comes early for me as I’m working in Dorchester Thursday afternoon so I’ll be throwing everything in the car and hoping for the best Wednesday night before I drive down Thursday.
Actually looking forward to this after failing to complete the 24’s the last several years due to the above physical issues. And unusually for me the above course news comes with a smile as I’ve spent all year training my sustained climbing ability.
All I have to work out now is - what pace for a 12h? 😀
I'm in, 24 hour solo, looking to complete rather than compete.
How does it all work in terms of being solo, I will arrive Friday lunchtime with a van full of food and bike spares and am planning on doing a few laps then stopping to refill bottles / eat / change as required.
Do I need to be packing stuff away and locking the van while I'm riding or is it all fine to leave everything set up? (e.g. a pile of bottle filled to swap out, snacks for pockets etc.)
Do I need to be packing stuff away and locking the van while I’m riding or is it all fine to leave everything set up? (e.g. a pile of bottle filled to swap out, snacks for pockets etc.)
Just don't leave anything valuable out as the site is open to anyone to wander around. No one will Nick your bottles, bars or sweaty bibs drying in the sun though
Cheers - Sounds fairly straightforward.
I think I'll come up with a system where the 24 hours is four x six hour blocks of riding including a 20-30mins faff at the end for preping food and bottle for the next six hours, eating something and changing into fresh shorts.
Looks like it'll be warm and dry so should be an interesting weekend.
Kryton - want me to bring a spare inflatable bed thing?
24hr solo for me just want to finish it this year looking forward to it.
Great event and vide.
Might have to demo a pivot but then maybe not as I be on old school 26ers hardtail.
Good luck everyone.
Demo'ed a 429? Trail last time which compared well to my 26" xc marathon machine.
I did wonder why there are no SL versions brought along as fox 36's and the like are overkill for 24/12.
V nice bikes but not in my budget for quite some time.
12hr solo - if I can start as my wright wrist may be slightly fractured from fall in slippery rock pool
12hr solo – if I can start as my wright wrist may be slightly fractured from fall in slippery rock pool
One of your camping comrades did the same with his ankle 2 years ago. I'll let him tell you about the gruesome op he's had recently.
Kryton – want me to bring a spare inflatable bed thing
As much as I'd love to, they never arrived so I popped around to Millets and picked only one up earlier today. The only thing I have spare is a roll up self inflating mat. Its lost its self inflating ability so you have to blow in it by mouth, but its only an inch thick - you're welcome to that?
Crossed wires there, I was offering you a spare inflatable mattress.
No worries.
Oh sorry!
Thanks for the offer, very much appreciated, but no need.
Yep back again even after last year.. pairs 12! So as we pitched it started to throw it down ;-/
Dare we have a dry one like 2 years ago..???
Its looking dry this year. Might be the odd light shower Friday e day to dampen the dust down, but its looking almost perfect, 22-23 degrees and slightly overcast occasionally.
Course has a bit more climbing than normal, but nothing horrendous. I'll be down there tomorrow cutting grass and taping the course so will update you all in the evening.
There are a lot of travellers in Plymouth at the moment, so without stereotyping, just be careful and use common sense. Security on the gate overnight, and gates locked at 11pm, but there are hundreds of ways out of the park on a bike in the dark. Lock bikes up at night to be 99% sure.
Best bet if you are solo is just make friends with your neighbours and I guarantee their family/pit bitch/friends will keep an eye out on stuff left lying around, but very unlikely you'll have issues. We did have beer nicked one year which upset us.
Martyn isn't organising this year, but most of the other crew have taken it over so expect a few tweaks, and a lot of the feedback from last year has been taken on board from what I gather.
Typical Newnham Park, its gone from Sunny to light rain Friday, and from Saturday midnight through Sunday.
Maybe.
Still time for another change 😀
All the forecasts apart from the BBC show less than 1mm of rain over Friday, cloud cover varying from 30-80% so either a couple of showers or a bit of very light drizzle. Same for Sat. I’m still hopeful of a pretty much dry weekend!
Martyn isn’t organising this year, but most of the other crew have taken it over so expect a few tweaks, and a lot of the feedback from last year has been taken on board from what I gather.
Somewhere to shelter from the rain I think was the main one? I really missed the Bontrager yurt...
Well I packed a wet weather front tyre and inflator so its not my fault!
Is the clif bar climb in? I don’t have fond memories of that.
What's the deal for spectating? I'm only 20mins from Newnham so might pop down for a bit to cheer you all on (hurl abuse!)
Not going to risk quotes!!
Start Finish Arena is different this year, much more "cosy" with a "pit lane" in for transition.
Lots of decent food including Thai and Pizza.
Clif Climb (aka climb up from shooting ground )is in. Tarmac/Concrete Climb is NOT.
No Grassy Descent into the arena. Its in the Dedicated Demo loop tho.
Looks like less big climbs (other than Clif), and a few more very gradual ones. Cottage return is in!
More to follow.
No Grassy Descent into the arena. Its in the Dedicated Demo loop tho.
That's one of my favourite bits!
Cottage Return is in yeah? & the bombholes? & I heard it's a descent through bluebell woods? But also more climbing?
All the forecasts apart from the BBC show less than 1mm of rain over Friday, cloud cover varying from 30-80% so either a couple of showers or a bit of very light drizzle. Same for Sat. I’m still hopeful of a pretty much dry weekend!
Pfft, did you not see that I've entered this year? I bring the rain - this year's drought could have been avoided if I'd entered more events! By Sunday, you'll all be wishing you brought canoes instead of bikes.
dabaldie, do you know if the course has increased in technical difficulty this year? Last year I felt that it was perfect (apart from the mud) - despite being very enthusiastic and having ridden for over 10 years, I'm actually a bit rubbish at mountain biking (partly down to missing ligaments in my knees, partly down to not learning to ride a bike until I was 27), so I'm always a bit paranoid at events they'll suddenly ramp up the difficulty!
I've only been on the Mtb once this year, the technical level is the same as last year.
It's all a bit odd compared to previous years (course wise).
Saccades I need five event t-shirts this year, how you fixed for a bit of gambling ?
I think its a great little route, picking on all the great bits Newnham has to offer and only at the cost of one painful climb.
It was running lovely in the dusty dry conditions last night, however its currently raining and forecast for more :/
Just done a sighting lap. Really enjoyed it. Course pretty flat with some cracking singletrack in it. Minor hillage in the middle. That’s what I’m telling myself anyway
I'm just hoping that it's been so dry that any rain will just dampen things down rather than turn it into a mud fest!
^^ I think it’ll just damp things down a bit tomorrow but unfortunately Sunday looks a nightmare.
What's the wind like down there at the mo?
If you've got anything like the amount of wind we've got here there'll be tents and gazebos all over the place!
Maybe check your guy lines are nice and tight!
Sadly I'm in A&E having faceplanted a tree. Tad too much speed and front pinged a rock. Much blood. Sttches to follow
Ahh sorry to hear ADSH. I sprained my ankle badly yesterday so sat at home watching it morph to a nice purple colour.
I had to call it a day after my third lap because I kept on getting horrendous cramp. If you passed a weary looking fat bird, in green and purple, lying on the ground or doing stretches - yeah, that was me.
Also apologies if I held anyone up!
Ive called it a day after 8.5hrs. My backs in agony, and ive twice exceeded the daily dose of inruprofen
Plus climbing a 20% hill twice an hour wore thin both mentally and on my lower back
Other than that its all been great fun, 105k ridden 2100m climbed and yet im recovering with Beef Penang and Moretti.
ADSH good to see you and sorry to hear of your accident.
Thanks for keeping a space. I'm home (in NHS pyjamas) and very lucky. Stitches above and below eye, nose and inside lower lip. Nothing broken but oh so sore. Marshalls, fellow racers, paramedics, organisers and NHS were truly great.
Mrs Toast I’m fairly certain I saw you, checked if you were ok after the fire road between bluebells and cottage return. Managed 90km in 8hrs.
Was going out again until my wife advised me that if I can’t tak coherently then i shouldn’t be lapping.
Might have seen adsh in the tent about 8:30. Were you the guy checking his times with only the vision of one eye?
I was in the fat boy in the ride to live jersey on an orange and yellow niner
T'was me. Currently waiting up for next paracetamol dose. Didnt see you but visions a bit sh1t atm
Mrs Toast I’m fairly certain I saw you, checked if you were ok after the fire road between bluebells and cottage return. Managed 90km in 8hrs.
Heh, sounds about right - I had to stop about seven or eight times on my last lap. 🙁 I could see the muscles twitching through my baggy shorts which, given the amount of fat covering them, was quite an achievement! 😂
Had loads of people asking if I was OK and whether I needed help, it really is a lovely event. Apart from the guy who silently barged past me on a narrow rooty bit on Bluebell Woods, who actually knocked me - I was lucky to stay on. He did it to the woman behind too, she was still shouting at him as he was passing me. A nobber, but fortunately an anomaly.
Sorry to hear about the injuries. I saw a chap with a swollen shut eye and grazes all over the one side of his face in the arena too. I just hope every one who rode through the night is OK after this weather.
Looks like it got stopped by the weather.
Organisers stopped the race due to fallen trees on course and the main arena blowing away. And I thought last year's weather was bad!
Oh no 🙁
When did it get called off?
I’ve done a quick audit of what state I’m in this morning. Both ears are ok. Everything else hurts.
Hope it’s all superficial stuff adsh. Suspect you might well be sore this morning but we thought you were a real champ checking your time with one eye stuck shut and cuts and bruises everywhere.
When did it get called off?
0700
In the pub, decided to get the next ferry home (3am). No need to rush to Pembroke.
Passed by mrs Cake, thought it might you but wasn't sure. Told you to "keep her lit!", Enjoyed the course, too little torque in the engine but tried to make up anywhere but the climbs.
I actually got a podium place, by virtue of over half my category not turning up! 😄
There were four in my category, and I came third. I didn't really deserve a trophy, but I'm totally going to jealousy hoard it like Gollum.
Congtrats Mrs Toast! - Were you the lady that got elbowed on the Bombholes but the same bloke that elbowed me 30 secs earlier, before I passed you on the climb? What an ass he was, barging riders on a fast technical section when he could have waited 10 seconds and passed on the climb.
Quite possibly, I was quite aggressively passed on the entry into the Bombhole Section on my first two laps, managed a clear run the third time! No contact made those times though.
I hasten to add that the vast majority of people were lovely though!
Also the dogs of Pivot article is the greatest piece of journalism ever created.
Blimey, what a big 4 day weekend! We're down one tent and a broken bike frame, but still had a great time. Between our lot we had a 3rd kids stage race, 11th and 15th in 12hr male pairs, 2nd for my wife in 24hr solo vet, and something like 4th in mixed 24hr team (we were in a cat of our own, not with the other mixed 24hrs for some reason).
Anyway lots of fun. Everyone I saw on course was cheery and polite. I loved the on course banter of riders slogging out the sunday morning laps, proper weather by that point too.
Yeah, great times despite the weather.
Good to briefly say hi to Kryton too
Some photos up here!
https://www.ak47art.com/Cycling
Only found ones of me at the start - I did get papped by a couple of photographers, unfortunately I think I looked a bit constipated at the time. Not looking forward to those ones going up, heh heh.
I’ve been riding MTBs for a long time and have been racing and riding events for almost all of that time. After ten years of riding I’d raced 200 times - that was almost fifteen years ago. I have no idea how many events I’ve been to since.
The point of this? No other event is hit by severe weather as badly as 24/12. From the first one at Ellesmere through to this weekend. Is this weekend the point of summer where the weather breaks? Is it just coincidence that almost every year we get torrential rain. I’ve raced CX for years and rarely seen winter weather affect a race as badly as these 24/12 storms.
Other than that it was great. 😁 Thirds in vets 24hr team. Great, fast course until midnight. Good arena. Good food choice. Well done the organisers.
IdleJon, you are probably right. I definitely have done a lot more wet 24:12s than dry. Still, we love 'em and well done to the organisers.
No other event is hit by severe weather as badly as 24/12. From the first one at Ellesmere through to this weekend. Is this weekend the point of summer where the weather breaks? Is it just coincidence that almost every year we get torrential rain. I’ve raced CX for years and rarely seen winter weather affect a race as badly as these 24/12 storms.
Coupled with the distance to get to Plymouth, this was the main reason for not entering this year. Bit gutted beforehand as our team had entered every year since 2008, but last year was the final straw and we decided to give it a miss.
In the run up, I was regretting that decision as it looked like it was going to be an epic weekend, but in the end Plymouth weather appeared to have delivered it's usual meteorological thrashing, so I feel quite relieved we didn't bother.
Next yr Mountain Mayhem looks to be just down the road from us, comparatively speaking, so I suspect we'll be giving that a bash instead.....
Well that was an experience!
Background: I am not a mountain biker - I do lots of CX and road riding with a scattering of longish Audax events so I had entered the 24 with fairly minimal expectation of completing it in one go and viewing it as a challenge to see where my limits were rather than a race.
I realised on Saturday morning when I woke up to a collapsed gazebo that things might be 'interesting' over night! I enjoyed the sighting lap I had done on Friday but three or four hours into the race it became clear I had underestimated how physically demanding MTBing is so I reset my aims to doing a '12 hour' race until midnight then have a sleep and go again on Sunday morning. I did ten laps (100km) roughly straight through with a few seconds per lap to swap bottle and a 5min stretch after six laps, once I had done my ten laps I had a sit down and some food with the aim of doing another six to take me to midnight. On my 15th lap (around 2230ish) I started to get a bit crashey and wasn't controlling the bike enough so took it easy and climbed off shortly after 2300 and 16 laps done.
I had food and a shower with the thought of sleeping and seeing how I felt in the morning with a view to more laps in daylight, it turned out as I woke up as it was getting pretty hairy on the top of the course and the race was stopped before I tried to do more. I am full of respect for those who kept going through the night as it all got more serious.
Great event to be part of, showed me how physical MTBing is and showed I need to eat a lot more than I though and I really need to get some descending skills. I also suffered quite badly with sore hands / arms and am struggling to grip things even now so a look at my position and grips is in order. I will deffo do more of these long races, probably aim for a couple of 12s before trying a 24 again though!
Well what is it with summer weather sun sun hot hot then the weekend for 24/12 someone forgot to pay the summer bill.
Still what a event, kids races, endro which a friend did and enjoyed. My son and daughter had a ace time on Saturday morning 12 race was funny watching the kids line up then slowly creeping forward.
Was a great course even that climb you know that climb lol but once at the top was keep it rolling fun.
Great fun riding through the campsite with hi 5s and keep going, then a chat or two with keep going have a good one.
Was crazy how the course changed as the weather set in and how windy was it just before cottage return..!
We got 26 laps in by the time the race was stopped. Which got me 2nd place in vets 24hr solo so so amazed and happy with that still smiling it a bit broken now.
Big thank you to all who make 24/12 happen and great.
Jay
We got 26 laps in by the time the race was stopped. Which got me 2nd place in vets 24hr solo
Not wishing to sound too suspicious, but ‘we’? 🤨 😂
Done so many of the 12/24 events and starting to think has it got the curse of eastnor’s mountain mayhem of continuously getting awful weather?
Think have enjoyed previous courses more then this year and the climb must have been brutal for the solo 12 & 24 riders??
Surprised none of the camping gear got trashed but taken most of today to dry and clean stuff haha...
Mrs toast great shout on the photos link.. see pivot have put official photos on the fb site too 🙂
That was quite an event considering the foul weather again forgive the writing from Jay dyslexia and tiredness don’t mix he meant I with a big I 😎
loved the vibe watching and you all did an awesome job and the organisers 👏🏻
Had loads of people asking if I was OK and whether I needed help, it really is a lovely event. Apart from the guy who silently barged past me on a narrow rooty bit on Bluebell Woods, who actually knocked me – I was lucky to stay on. He did it to the woman behind too, she was still shouting at him as he was passing me. A nobber, but fortunately an anomaly.
@MrsToast - I think that was my girlfriend... we were doing mixed pairs & she kept saying about people who were being pretty pushy on course, usually the overtaking is pretty relaxed but some teams did seem a little more on the pushy side this year.
I know I made an arse of myself on the shuttle run by accident.
We were following a lady on a fat bike (a mate in front of me) with about 50 yards to go in the dark and I saw he got past which was odd as he was 24 solo and she wasn't that slow.
I planned to follow for the next little bit to the fireroad but hadn't realised that she had stopped completely and barged past/into her. Stopped and apologised but I don't think she believed me. My mate also apologised as he met up later but the reply was along the lines of not the first time.
Very sorry, I hadn't expected you to stop there.
Apart from that and one fast lad doing similar to me as he misjudged the undergrowth everything was the usual nice good mannered event.
Maybe we are a bit cursed, but its not just that weekend. The year that shall not be mentioned (2012) was actually two weeks earlier and still got hammered by rain. That was the year that came within 20 minutes of being called off on the Friday night.
Back to sun here in Plymouth today!
The issue this year wasn't the rain (which was bad from 6pm onwards) it was the wind bringing large trees down in the woods and then one at 7am on the track by the campsite.
I've done 11 24/12's now and recall 3 horrendous years (2012, 2017, and 2018), the rest have been fine, with 3 I think that were baking hot!
Course this year was great in my opinion, only two tough climbs, and even then only Mach Attack/Clif was evil. But it got you to the top quickly. View across to the mine was incredible (and I'm local!)
Loved the course this year. Got most of the climbing out of the the way in one go and the second half just flew!
Doing 12hr pairs meant we missed the worst weather luckily. Felt for those who rode on through the night & the Totchbearer starters looked less than delighted!
In only had one bad pass performed on me but the guy then crashed shortly afterwards so I guess that was karma. I did ask if he was ok...
i also misjudged an overtake quite badly in the undergrowth to the side of a bit of uphill singletrack but again, I apologised although I suspect it made me look like a dick. In my defence the rider I was passing accelerated as I drew alongside.
I nearly binned it when someone stopped to let me through on Bluebell woods descent but then pulled into the only rideable line at that point but that was not their fault, more mine for not expecting such lack of traction following the short rain shower we’d had immediately before.
Otherwise had no issues.
The pa/comperes did an amazing job all weekend and the dj set on Sat night was pretty good too.
Loved the Thai food, also throwing a 6k Pivot about on Fri.
Did seem to be the glaring omission of a bike shop presence apart from a load of ex demo/sample sale stuff in the sign on tent unless I missed something?
Course this year was great in my opinion, only two tough climbs, and even then only Mach Attack/Clif was evil. But it got you to the top quickly. View across to the mine was incredible (and I’m local!)
Two climbs?
Quite. It was 25 mins of climbing and 10 back down in my head.
lesgrandepotato.. yep two climbs.. Clif and then the one at the very back up to paintball.
You traversed through the roots onto the old fireroad, turned left up the hill which then stepped up a steep bank after the corner before you then climbed gradually across the top before coming out onto the main fireroad at the top. Some people might not call that climb, but after 7 hours of riding it hurt enough to qualify. 🙂
Does anybody have any links to any of the other photographers that were about? I'm pretty sure I was papped twice on the course, and definitely on the podium, but I can't find any photos of me. I'm quite intrigued, as I'm fairly sure that I was pulling a ridiculous face both times whilst riding...
Also, can you ride the trails at Newnham outside of events?
Mrs Toast
Newnham Park is privately owned & apart from the organised MTB events there you cannot ride there, outside of the cycle events it's a shooting range so probably best not to ride in there anyway 🙂