[Closed] Thetford Conditions

I fitted mud tires last night, so probably dry ! Figured if I went pessimistic might get some good news.

thetford takes ages to dry out except for the 100m stretch of shale/stone surface they've laid.

So not looking good then. better get the wet weather kit out

I'm more concerned about the wind!

Wind - is it not mostly in the trees the course there ?

Make sure you've got some spare disc brake pads as all that gravel will sand paper them back to metal if its anything like two years ago.

Mud Xs for me probably, fast (ish) rolling on the gravel bits and clear well in the mud. But it is never clarty sticky mud, just muddy mud if you know what I mean.

Will probably be quite sloppy at the moment. I'm gonna fit some mud tyres to a second set of wheels tonight and will be using mud guards I reckon.

I reckon the bomb holes will be proper bottlenecks for a while as some can be hard to get out of in the dry, let alone the wet!

Wind shouldn't be too bad, apart from some of the open sections. Not normally a problem there.

Who needs brakes at Thetford - I did a whole 4 hour enduro with no rear brake couple years ago and won (one of those "women know your limits" moments - don't try to fix yout own brakes.)

The mud will brake for you...

I know somebody with 650 'cross wheels - but am thinking that might be cheating !

Wind - is it not mostly in the trees the course there ?

exactly!

Obviously not pumping enough speed out of the course if you don't need to use brakes. 😉

nah - brakes are for wimps ...

Take them off then, they are only slowing you down with their air resistance.

It is lovely here at the moment. Dry, blue sky and I'm working with the door and windows open.

I rode on Tuesday in the rain and I will be riding 2.25 Ralphs.

If it gets a bit cacky I'll let some pressure out otherwise that's it. IMO RRs are fine all year round at Thetford... it is all I've used for years anyway.

As a concession to the rain gods I'll be taking some old IRC Mythos down but I don't expect to use them. The most pessimistic locals seem to be riding RR/Nic combos or just Nics.

I still have nightmares from 2 years ago.....

john_l - Member
I still have nightmares from 2 years ago.....

Shudders at the memory,,,,,, goes to dig the Mud X's out of the shed 🙁

Slowjo - nice try but we ain't falling for it. Ralphs are suicidal in the wet, they are too wide for cutting mud properly, let too much air out and they will fall off the rims.

I'm thinking 1.5s. Or Trail-rakers I am sure I have some of those kicking about...

Whooaa. That has got me worried do I need to dig my Conti Cross Countrys out?

And so the psychological warfare begins...

is it looking that bad? i'm reluctant to take my maxxis crossmarks off and the weather is looking ok for saturday night now, or is it generally muddy in thetford?

It won't be that bad will it..

In 2008, when it was a little bit wet (LOL) I managed fine on Crossmarks, admittedly I was soloing so wasn't hammering it around the course. I can only remember one short section of track where the tyres wouldn't grip. Actually I did give up trying to ride out of the bomb holes after a while, but I don't think I was the only one. I normally find something fast rolling works best at Thetford.

For this year my geared bike has Racing Ralphs and the singlespeed has pretty worn out 2.25 Nobby Nics. I don't think I will bother to fit anything mud specific. If it is wet I am sure I will be ok on the Nics.

You really don't believe me do you?

I'll be riding RRs.

It isn't muddy here atm, one or two holes are squidgy in the bottom otherwise it seems to be riding quite fast. IMO Jason is spot on. On current conditions, if you come equipped with mud tyres you'll be on the wrong rubber. Bring them as spares if you must.

Unless we have torrential rain you'll be in more trouble from sliuppy roots etc than drowning in mud.

Well it's 08:30 here in the woods and still no rain ....yet. Yesterday afternoon the course was riding nicely just a few puddles but if you believe the Met folks it won't last 🙁

It's not looking good, great weather at the moment, but that's going to change!

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/ee/thetford_forecast_weather.html

Rain to start at the start and continue for the whole race.

2.1 NN on front 1.8 NN on back, Perfect combo IMO.

Hels,

Watch out for Hillingdon Triathletes, but we're leaving the fally off ones at home, apart from James.

See you out there

Martin

bobalong.... I was out with a mate the other night, that combo is [u]exactly[/u] what he was riding and intends to ride. Unlike him I'll be a billy no mates doing solo.

Solo riders - Real respect, but you're mad.

Stumpy....We're going to be there with the Streetlife teams. Pop over for a catch up.

Good luck everyone.

Martinb - "fally off" - moi?

My ridiculous cream Rapha waterproof is going to look a treat come Sunday morning, covered in blood and mud!

I'll be there in a yellow stow road kit to start with, a brown Stow road kit in the middle and a black, torn, mad max style Stow road kit at the end.

BRING
IT
ON

I'd listen to slowjo - he knows his forest 🙂

Thetford soil is sandy, so much of it in the open drains brillinatly. Under the trees in parts it can get muddy, but no tyre is going to be great there anyway. The larger percentage of ground will be quick rolling I'd suspect - hence the Ralph recommendations.

Go tacky at your peril!!!!

Just got back from there. Not a lot of mud around despite the rain. The only bad ish bits were under cover like toby1 said.

There has been a lot of rain here this afternoon / evening, I live 15mins drive from Thetford, so can't promise it was the same there but very likely. Heavy rain due for duration of race really and again by lunchtime on Sunday!
Realy want to take to the singlespeed but long sections of firetrack........decisions!!

What's it doing now then? Sunny now but were driving from Nottingham...