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Hi,
I've bitten the bullet and entered the Torq in Your Sleep event coming up in 2 weeks time. For me, it's not about coming out in a decent place in the results table, more about taking on the challenge, especially as it's the first time I've done a 12 hour enduro.
I'm looking for any tips and advice anyone might have, especially on this particular event and I've a few specific questions which I'd be welcome responses on:
1. I've 2 bikes as per the links below. I'm thinking of using the full suspension as it's more likely to be forgiving of mistakes when I'm tired, more comfortable which is important given the time and distance etc. The hardtail is definitely far lighter but far less comfortable in terms of set up and long distance riding. Which would you pick and why?
My bikes:
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/11134/trek-fuel...
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/11161/trek-elit...
2. I currently don't have any lights. I'm willing to spend around £150. I want something I'm able to swap batteries on as most only seem to last 2-3 hours, which isn't going to last me. Ideally something waterproof too and ideally mounts to a helmet.
3. Any other equipment or kit tips you'd recommend?
Cheers,
On the light front hire them!
Four4th lights hire out there lights and looks like be supporting the event again this year, you prob need to book but they are good. bright lights.
http://four4th.co.uk/
Cheers for that.
Just had a scout on their website, can't see anything about hire, so will give them a bell tomorrow.
Four4th are great but probably above your budget (unless you can hire)
I've a four4th exodus headlamp but also a smudge (mtbbatteries) lumenator which would probably be in budget if he has stock. I'd consider one on your budget and then find a bit more for an ordinary aa or aaa led torch off eBay that you could duck tape to you helmet for seeing round corners, and also if you get a puncture / mechanical.
Torq 12 is noon to midnight, so the first 8 hours will be in the daylight anyway. So you shouldn't need spare batteries if you run on less than full power, which should be fine - no mega technical superfast downhills and lights are so good now, my lumenator on 70% power is still brighter than what I had 2 years ago.
Cheers. I think I'll look into hiring them, just heard back from Gorrick, who've confirmed they'll be available to hire / buy at the event.
Bump.
Anymore for anymore?
Magic shine lights are very good value
Check out the hope r4 they were on Merlin with 10% off I got the 2 endurance battery set up for just over 220 so you should get a 1 battery set up for close to your budget very small but powerfull light don't even need to use it on max so run time will be around 4-5 hours
Another Hope R4 user here. Two 5200mAh batteries will give you about 10 hours on the brightest setting, about 200 hours on the lowest.
Re lights - I'm not sure if the Lumens Liberator is within your price range, and it isn't helmet mounted - but I am a HUGE fan of Trouties lights. Done 12 hour races with them, many night rides, no problems. I bought a couple of spare batteries from Smudge as well, and keep them in a frame bag.
Do you have a support crew (pit bitch) at all? Might be worth while taking both bikes, if something breaks you can just hop on the other one. If you have a support crew they could be fixing/cleaning one bike while you're riding the other one.
It hardly gets dark at the moment. Should be fine with a P7 torch.
Sorry - that was 5 years ago.
Maybe get some decent lights, one on the bars and one on the lid. I shall be using Four4th lights Holy Moses on the bars and a smaller light on the led.
Oh and if you are running 26er wheels full Suss is better. 29er - not so much difference.
Don't get too het up about lights. By the time it get too dark to see you will only have a couple more laps in you and you'll know the trails well enough to do them with your eyes closed. 😀
Thanks guys.
No support and no pit bitch either, it's a solo trip in the truest sense.
I'm hoping to take both bikes, subject to them fitting in the car! From what I'm told, there are support tents if things go properly wrong and they're more than happy to help. Both bikes are in the workshop at the moment, so I'm doing everything possible to get prepared.
Both bikes are 26", both carbon framed Treks, both lightweight. Obviously the FS is heavier but it rolls well. In fact it's the same EX 9.8 they have on long-term test on Singletrackworld at the moment. I'm reading the course is a little rooty, so maybe it'll come into its own.
I'm getting there Saturday afternoon so will be able to pre-ride the course.
So, if you spot a black Polo GTI parked next to somebody struggling to pitch a new tent they've not had the chance of using yet, or somebody collapsed next to a Trek, feel free to come and say hello.
Ride the hardtail, if its anything like last year the course is pretty smooth all the way round and not at all technical. I rode a full suss last year and it was overkill so I'm on a hardtail this year
I am taking a 29er hardtaill and 29er full suss. Planning to ride the hard tail. I have ridden it on a hardtail (26 and 29) for the past few years and as mentioned above it is fairly flat so no real benefit (apart from a bit of comfort!) to a full suss. There are a couple of bits that are bumpy with roots, but they are very short.
If you have got two bikes I wouldn't bother with the technical support, if one bike breaks just get back to the pits and take out the other one. By the time you wait for someone to fix something you will have lost loads of time.