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I was in Llandegla yesterday and spotted a large number of fabulous Singlespeed machines with race numbers on them.
A bit of Googling later (once I was away from the trail centre and had mobile coverage) I discovered it was the UK SS Champs.
Dis anyone here enter?
How was the race and how did you do?
To the people in the banana suits … I salute you. It must have been quite a sweatfest in those with one gear and this weekends weather.
I also saw the bananas and a lot of SS bikes.
I wouldnt have entered, butbim sorry i didnt know anything about it!
Ian
I did last year, unfortunately not this year. It’s a brilliant, brilliant event. Was nice weather last year too and I remember the race itself being properly hard work!
Yep, I did it - finished 19th - great course - used quite a lot of the trail centre trails.
Was quite rough with rigid forks!
Did this on the Isle of Wight 4 or 5 years ago. Great fun.
Yep, I did it – finished 19th – great course – used quite a lot of the trail centre trails.
Was quite rough with rigid forks
it looked like it was mostly blue then red route? Whilst there aren’t any super technical challenges, it’s the kind of surface that has little respite on a rigid. Well done.
How much of the trail is rideable and how pushing was there? What gearing did you run?
I find myself fancying a SS again. Sadly my legs and lungs aren’t in agreement! 😆
I remember coming 4th* at the Cannock year run by Taz and crew
*Places were
1st
2nd
3rd
Everyone else 4th
Hope the beer after every lap tradition has continued. There was a huge bag of pork scratchings to replace salt on the start/finish line to iirc
I remember coming 4th* at the Cannock year run by Taz and crew
Was that in 2014?
The organizers took everyone's bikes at the start and hid them in the trees. There was mandatory beer at each lap - one competitor was roundly booed for sneakily going past the beer without stopping.
I did it last year, the course was proper hilly! I like hills (living near the South Downs I'm used to singlespeeding big hills) but there is a limit!
And yes, there is beer at the food stop, lots of costumes, last year there was a singlespeed tandem.
Yes, very little respite. It was all rideable - no pushing.
I ran 34:22.
The hiding/jumbling of bikes at the start and the beer stop every lap are still a thing.
That happened at Drumlanrig, although some brands were just piled in a heap. I don't remember the beer being compulsory but I think there was a shortcut made available if you stopped at the beer table. I sometimes think about building up a single speed again.
yep it was 2014 for cannock, and even with a beer stop, we still got the British cycling commissar and FC to sign off on the course and he thought it was a right old laugh.
3 bin bags of pork scratchings and all of the beer were cleared from the feed station in 4 laps of racing (and lots of bimbling)
deggy is fine on a singlespeed, I'm there most weeks.
Missed this years SSUK, but next year its off with a new organising crew and I believe down south somewhere so will be good to go next year for a laugh
Taunton won the contest to hold SSUK 2024.
(it was between him and South Downs - they had to do a mini race around the campsite, but on their opponents bike. They were then forced to run the second part)
finished 19th
I think you'll find you finished 4th.
I've not done an SSUK/SSEC/SSWC for years now but had multiple 4ths.
Unlike Mrsstu who was a tryhard one year* and won.
* no idea which year but was at Dalby.
2009 I think.
I was the last 4th place rider to finish.
It was indeed 2009. My first SS event. See video.
Gah, can’t post link off my phone.
YouTube ‘SSUK09’ by willfoxere
UK? Pfft, I got a fourth place in the European single speed championships in the FoD in 2009. My result was made all the more remarkable by the fact that I only completed one lap.
I remember coming 4th* at the Cannock year run by Taz and crew
*Places were
1st
2nd
3rd
Everyone else 4th
Well actually, I genuinely came third, but they only announced 1st and 2nd. I'm still waiting for the postie to deliver my prize 😉
DrP
Just checked SSUK Dalby was indeed in 09.
https://flic.kr/p/6uHL1P
https://flic.kr/p/6uMYPb
https://flic.kr/p/6uHPXV
SSEC was in 10.
Still got part of the huge cheese board in our kitchen.
We had it sawn up and all the organisers got a piece.
https://flic.kr/p/7ULk1b
SSEC 10 is still up there with my all time favourite events, although the smell of the cheese tent after a day in heat gently warming was something to behold.
I'm sure at some point singlespeedstu had a close look at some of my more "interesting" metalwork as well
the UK's in wales organised by Matt Page that year, were bloomin marvellous
all in all 2010 was a chuffing ace year for beery shenanigans on niche tat
That cheeseboard was lethal! Eat loads of cheese - get really thirsty. What's available to drink? Ale, lots of ale...
Thought I was going to puke on the course. One of our lot puked in to a carrier bag before he even got to the start line! 🤣
The tent was full on rank after all that cheese had sat in it all day.
I'm surprised no one died from cheese poisoning.
Mrsstu got that drunk that when she was supposed to be leading her group from the campsite to the start area went the wrong way. Despite me showing her the route about half an hour before. 😂
Taz.
It took ten gallons of mindbleach to remove that memory.
Still think SSWC in Aviemore was the clear winner for a drinking contest with a bike race attached.
Closely followed by SSUK at Drumlanrig. The pissed up penny farthing crash into the middle of a crowded dancefloor was a standout moment.
SSUK 09.
if it wasn’t an OnOne Inbred…
The only way I could do it. I’m still riding the Voodoo Wanga in the film. It’s my only mtb. 😲
https://twitter.com/darwendashers/status/1701256296647819435?s=46&t=We7m9sBVLviPIp_wY7u5lQ
I came 4th, which is some achievement as I joined Tim and Chaz* pushing the giant hipflask on people at the beer tent and only did 2 laps.
*he was drunk and slurring, I think his name was Chaz, could also be Chris, Baz, or something completely different.
it looked like it was mostly blue then red route? Whilst there aren’t any super technical challenges, it’s the kind of surface that has little respite on a rigid. Well done.
The course was ace, basically the red route, but rather than go back to the cafe and the main climb, we went up the fire road that takes you straight to the top of the main climb, and then the fire road to the head of the trail rather than the long flat-ish singletrack. It's definitely the shortcut you'd probably take if you visit and were doing multiple laps but without wanting to do the long outbowund leg.
All rideable, I think my gear was 30-19 but I've not checked for a while (and with 29x2.4 wheels). Felt about right for a fast-bimble of the course.
I've had a sus fork since Comrie when I lost all feeling in my hands for about 4 weeks afterwards!
Anyone thinking of entering, do it. You don't need to be competitive. And I've definitely never understood the people who turn up, podium, then don't hang around for the prize giving and the party. Fair enough if you take the racing seriously and don't take the beer each lap, but what's the appeal of beating a load of tipsy people in an unsanctioned race with no BC points?
Usually it's a proper 3 day event too, with a local night ride on the Friday night, practice time / explore the area / mass ride to the start then race on the Saturday, then Sunday there's the offer of another ride but usually cancelled due to barely making it out the marquee alive the previous evening.
Taunton won the contest to hold SSUK 2024
Awesome news, much more local to me! I'll be signing up at the first opportunity.
I heard the organisation was superb this year.
Well done the Godiva crew.
Taunton won the contest to hold SSUK 2024
Awesome news, much more local to me! I’ll be signing up at the first opportunity.
Ditto, I only did it once in 09 and only managed one lap due to a massive hangover. I was thinking of it just last week. I would be back on the inbred 29er as well.
Sorry, I'm not on here much these days but just resurrecting this thread...
Craig has done a bang-up job the last couple of years hosting SSUK. It is indeed heading to the South West on the edge of the Quantock Hills near Taunton for 2024.
More details here: https://singlespeedmtb.uk/
Look forward to seeing you all there!
It's a long way to travel to do a single lap...
Strongly considering it!
@joshvegas - plenty of opportunities for other riding/cider/beer over the course of the weekend... 🙂
Pffft that will affect my contention for a medium 4th placing.
I hope the South Downs organiser tries again for 2025, local would be cool. PS It's a bit inconvenient always clashing with my birthday, it was a nice way to spend my 40th but it doesn't make me very popular with the other half! But then she disappeared for her 40th too so we are at least even.
2008 Drumlanrig, I won a Genesis IO frame for being the fastest to drop my pants on stage. Was helpful being sat at the front!
Happy memories.
I hope the South Downs organiser tries again for 2025, local would be cool. PS It’s a bit inconvenient always clashing with my birthday, it was a nice way to spend my 40th but it doesn’t make me very popular with the other half! But then she disappeared for her 40th too so we are at least even.
I think there's a high possibility...
As someone who doesn’t do many events just wanted to say thanks for highlighting this. Taunton is very close to me and this seems like a light hearted fun event, so I am going to sign up.
Don’t actually own a ss at the moment but that’s a small detail
I’d entered!!! It’s probably the same weekend as Swim Serpentine (for which i wanted to do the super 6) but i was drunk last night and my lot bullied me into it!
DrP
There will be a few of us from the South Downs making up the numbers.
You know how we always say STW answers every question, even the most obscure? I was looking for pictures of that cheeseboard, first hit on Google and here I am?