[Closed] Strathpuffer race

I've done it as part of a pair and as a quad.

It's not horrible.

You can rest, you don't have to ride constantly for 24hrs.

I was reasonably fit, but just the kind when your commuting and mountain biking twice a week.

If you're thinking of a solo attempt try and get some support organised, a pit bitch is worth their weight in gold.

I did it as a solo. Pit bitch is a huge help, its the hardest thing I have ever done but it was deep snow the year i did it. the atmosphere is great

pit bitch lol! That would take some convincing of someone but does sound needed.

@breadcrumb Did you know all the people you were riding with already? or meet via some sort of cycling weirdo dating service?

What's the course like? Some regions of easier riding to give yourself a chance to spin?

Always done it solo. I prefer no support.

It's pretty miserable for the support hanging around waiting for the rider to come in, especially if your pits are a long way from the marquee.

My best results have been when I just leave a box of tools and spares plus a chair as my pits and no shelter.

@TheBrick The course is not hard normally. It's the conditions that make it so. That's why many of us hope for suitably grim weather. It's more fun that way.

Also as for training, my observation is that most soloists are pretty knackered after several hours, so go out and get knackered and see how you ride then. That will be your norm for most of the 'Puffer. If you can get used to rationing your energy output, you'll be fine.

A bunch of like minded mates usually, but we did recruit a random guy once, who we do meet up with when we get the chance.

At times it is type two fun. But when/if life allows me I'd like to give solo a crack.

I've not done the puffer in recent years but the course was ideal on a SS imo.

It’s pretty miserable for the support hanging around waiting for the rider to come in, especially if your pits are a long way from the marquee.

That's what I was thinking, I don't think I could ask my partner, especially as she is a teacher and travel would be impossible, even if it was I think I would feel too guilty.

My best results have been when I just leave a box of tools and spares plus a chair as my pits and no shelter.

So it is possible.

I’ve not done the puffer in recent years but the course was ideal on a SS imo.

So i presume rigid is doable (subject to the usual extra rigid battering).

Any training tips? A couple of rides of 2hr a week plus some commuting? Realistically I can't imagine fitting much more in and currently WFH would mean a fake commute (easy to avoid). I am quite "comfortable being uncomfortable" if you know what I mean and have done longish rides (>12hr, more road / gravel while touring) before but never 24hr and only done a overnight once or maybe twice and that was on road..

@TheBrick If you're soloing, sharing a pit setup may help with logistics. I'll probably be sharing with a mate this year.

@breadcrumb I do it on a rigid SS every year. That eliminates almost any prospect of a mechanical. It's amazing how long the simplest repair can take at stupid o'clock when your brain is numb, and your fingers are frozen sausages. The time lost doing repairs means you're losing body heat, and that's not good. Simplicity saves you from that.

Mechanically, I suggest starting with a new drivetrain. Just imagine doing an entire season of XC racing with no maintenance for the bike in foul conditions, eg 12 x2 hour races and imagine what that does to your bike. Brake pads don't seem to be a major issue these days though.

BTW anyone who is racing for a position can ignore my advice. I just aim to survive the 'Puffer and give myself a good flogging to see how far I can get. I don't care where I end up in the ranking, but I'm prepared to crawl round a lap with the bike on my back if necessary to get another lap in. In short, don't stop.

If you're looking to win something, get your advice from the likes of Terrahawk.

I would be looking to survive at best.

I’ve ridden it solo and got a place for next year. I did zero training but managed to plod around for most of it

Riding solo with a mate who is also solo is the best way. We rode at different pace but agreed to stop every two or three laps. Whoever got to the van first got the jet boil going. It made the event much more enjoyable without the pressure of letting a team mate down. You also have to think about how you’ll manage the drive home

It is the very definition of type two fun

Rigid ss solos and quads here .

As above best results have been when I've left the car boot cracked open and filled with food and not even had a tent pitched.

The choice to stop and put the tent up is colder than just keeping going.

Ok. Maybe time to formulate a plan. Subject to covid restrictions of course.

The drive (I will need an extra day each end) is an issue as I live in Dorset but a very sheltered low contact rural life.

Hopefully, Covid restrictions will have gone by January 2022.

My tactics were start slowly and get slower

scotroutes
Hopefully, Covid restrictions will have gone by January 2022.

Aye, the pub going freedom seekers who don't wear masks will have wiped out all the vulnerable and susceptible oldies by then. 🙂

franksinatra
...Whoever got to the van first got the jet boil going...

Good point. What I do is have a Thermos full of boiling water and use that to make myself a hot drink if I stop. While I'm doing that I have the Jetboil on to refill the Thermos before I go so I have hot water for the next stop.

Getting a hot drink in you is one of the most useful things you can do.

Always done it solo. I prefer no support.

To be fair though you live round the corner and have been known to go home and build a different bike!

I enjoy pit bitching aslong as its on the course

do they not have vans serving hot drinks and food etc ?

Yes but the queues are mega due to lack of space for many vendors and due to the high cost of operating(high quality food outlets) in a remote area the prices are quite steep.

I did it as a quad in 2015 or 16 - it was the(or one of the) mudfest year. Barely got out of the small chainring. Had to pedal downhill. Was cold and puggled all weekend. Ate my body weight in burgers and chips.

In short, it was ace!

If you're just getting round you need to be a bit fit but the main thing is to be really bloody minded. That's the key to finishing- an absolute pig headed desire to seeing it through. It can be very cold, but it's worse if it's 4C and wet as you cool down then never warm up again. The course always seems to be more uphill than down and there are some very steep bits.

I take it all way too seriously and train for it and everything and would never contemplate rigid or singlespeed but I do munch through brake pads (one pair per lap on average this year, my record is 8 pairs- the rock is full of a very sharp mineral called mica that eats pads) and ripped off a mech this year because the grit just gummed everything up. I love it- I'm signed up for my 7th one for 2021 but I don't believe it'll go ahead.

I did a pair one year it was baltic and i fell off in many varied and interesting ways. Eventually i fell off on my head* on lap 5 did another lap and my neck gave out**.

*Nothing much to damage.

** Not in a breaky neck way just struggling to keep my head still.

The bike i chose... Singular peregrine 😁

I did this once - in a team - I fell off on the same icy corner every lap - even when I decided to walk it!

I think I must be spoiled - I did many 24 hour races back in the day for a team with a full support crew. Finish your lap - warm down riding to the team area - hand your bike to the mechanic - mark your finish time on the lap board - get changed to dry kit - get a meal from the team kitchen - sleep if you have time - get bike back from mechanic all cleaned and serviced - go back out.

I can't imagine doing without a crew especially in winter it just sounds super miserable. I did a 10 hour solo in mid summer with no crew and that was just manageable with food and drinks in a box at the side. Less mechanical issues in summer! And I right stank at the end!

I ended up in the optician a couple of weeks after the Puffer with eye issues. He concluded that my eyeballs had be scratched by frozen moisture/tears.

I have mentioned it before but I also rode it two weeks after a vasectomy. Not my finest decision but one of my prouder achievements.

Good point. What I do is have a Thermos full of boiling water and use that to make myself a hot drink if I stop.

I was adding hot water to my camel back or water bottle to break the ice!

Also using it on the rear mech to melt the ice and get the gears working again. Then leaving it near a fire to stop it freezing again.

The key is to keep eating and drinking fluids. Although the crew next to me one year drank beer for the hole 24 hours in a quad and did very well.

I found the best part of straffpuffa was the atmosphere, chatting to people. Seeing the setups and just having a laugh. I wonder how covid will affect it?

I wonder how covid will affect it?

At best it will make it easier to find a good pit place as there will be fewer people there.
At worse, and quite likely, it will have to be cancelled.

The puffer will kick the shit out of covid!!

TheBrick, have you already entered? As the event is now full and you will be placed on a waiting list, so you may not get an entry to it.

TheBrick, have you already entered?

Nope. It just came to me at 02:00 this morning randomly, I looked online and it didn't say full so presumed there may be spaces.

I am becoming sold on the idea though, good to have something to aim for in the horrible mid winter. I love heading up to Scotland (usually do once a year for partners family) and it seemed like a good excuse for a midlife crisis event!

Well hopefully you can get on the reserve list and get an entry.
Good luck if you do get in

I'm entered in the 2021 event with the same team members as the last 3 years.

I can't see it going ahead TBH. Which is a shame as it is a fantastic event.

You are all indeed that it is sold out. I thought I was organised this time being 3 months in advance.

I need to make this happen next year then.

I also suspect you will be correct re covid.

I was organised this time being 3 months in advance.

Just an FYI to be organised for this you need to be sitting at your computer 15minutes before refreshing the page. Have your card ready etc. It sells out in minutes.

That's never going to happen! This is the difficulty with all these events.

I reckon it's highly likely that there will be places come up because there will be more than the usual amount of people dropping out due to all the problems that are likely to crop up in the next few months.

So if you're wanting a place, get on the waiting list.