[Closed] Who's Big Dogging this Sat?

Not too keen on the grips but the rest of its got the right colours at the right levels (black headset/seatclamp, silver stem/post etc)

One of the nicest looking hardtails and the best colour co ordinated bike on here in years.

I'll be there riding a black Rose. Can't wait for this. Anyone know what the course is like?

If it's dry then you're in for a treat. If it's wet then it'll be speedway action in the singletrack but fun nevertheless.

Beautiful at present and soooo fast!

(I'll be marshalling again, probably early doors on car park duty so say hello when you arrive 😀 )

I'll be there on my dad's Cannondale Scalpel.

Course preview:

Me and my team mate will both be on 575's (sad...I know 😳 ), look out for me and say hi...

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I went for a quick spin round Stanmer Woods first thing this morning and the singletrack's running smooth and fast, still a bit damp in places with the odd puddle in the braking dips, but drying out nicely today I should think. Fingers crossed for dry warm weather this week. 😆

Woodsman... stunning bike by the way, even the grips 😉

yup. riding a totally inappropriate snot green Norco LT2 with 66`s as a team mate is riding my xc bike.

looking forward to the climbs.

out for a reccy tomorrow after work

Good video there.

Sir Rory on his Pivot 29er I believe.

Unfortunatley they moved the weekend so it clashes with a better event I am attending 😉

Good luck!

[i]they moved the weekend so it clashes with a better event I am attending[/i]

me too. The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival, in my case 🙁

I avoided Stanmer on Sunday due to the recent rain but if it stays dry it'll be great. Otherwise an off camber wet root fest beckons.

I'll be on this exceeedingly racey XC machine:

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Hoping not to draw the short straw (doing the first lap) in our team of three... Our grand plan is to not come last, who dares wins and all that!

I've already drawn the short straw with the first lap 😆

I'll be there trying to set a respectable lap time on a singlespeed, should be a cracking coure and atmosphere, someone needs to stop Ian L making everyone look like they're not even moving!

I'll be there, Pete (it's Jim from BEC) probably on the newly built up Flash (though I'm still a bit sketchy on the big wheels!) I think BEC are supposed to have a "track side presence" (two gazebo's zip-tied together).

I'm always complimenting you on your bike and colour choice but I've decided, rather than "Sea Grey", I think it's actually: "Gastro Pub Grey" 😉

Was in Stanmer yesterday and it was riding great, as said above, slightly slippy in places and a few puddles but I think we might be in for a dust bath this year 🙂

I ran into the Torq boys, a couple of Morvelo riders and some svelt XC-racer types bombing through Stanmer at warpspeed one morning last week, looked like they were pre-riding the course. I think Ian Leitch might have been one of them.

Needless to say, I didn't try and keep up with them for long 😕

I'm doing it in a team of three and like some others we are all trying not to be the first rider! You have never heard so many excuses or big ups to try and get some one else to go first. We are like 3 kids standing on the edge of a 10 metre diving board 🙂
BTW I'm on a white Orange 5 hopefully starting third.

I'll be there with the BEC crew. Riding less than elegantly, no doubt, down the corners of doom....

I'll be hiding in Rob's Camelbak... whilst simultaneously attending the aforementioned "better event" 🙂 Have a good'un on that rather nice bicycle woodsman.

ill be dogging on my big red stiffee, hoping to go second!

I will be there , on my Silver/white Kona Hei Hei. Going first stint in male pairs. Will not be starting stone last like last year , then having to wait 10 mins at the first bit of singletrack.
If I can do 4 laps then leg it might be able to 'compete' in the night racing at the other event i am 'Director of Beers' at.
Nice bike Pete , Battleship Grey is different but the paint scheme works well.

Hi again all,

Interesting video, if it's in sequence then the only bit I don't recognise and is new from last year, is the 'big log' - hmmm - some where before Badgers.......... [sctratches head]

'Gastro Pub Grey, Battle Ship Grey' - it's 'Steel Blue' don't you know! 😉 Grey is good though, was almost going to go for Concrete Grey as on the Soulcraft website, and those Kona grips have all but become standard issue on my bikes, one item I didn't give much thought. 🙂

I'll look out for those big wheels Jim..

See you all on the day then, best of luck everybody!

Despite Stanmer being part my local loop, the location of the 'Big Log' is also a mystery??!? 😕

Are you sure it's that one?

I assumed it's the log that crosses the middle ride that spits you out on the " welcome to the jungle" bit...

Snap... that's what I was thinking Jim.

I'm pretty sure the log is on the 'sting in the tail' climb and can be ridden round - who's got the energy to ride over that straight after Badgers! I hear there are some changes to last year, just hope it's clearly marked this time, every year I've taken a turn off the course on my first lap and had to back track. 😕

I know where you mean, just up the trail after you cross the road at the top of Badger's. That makes sense...i'll be riding round it though as i'm half dead at the top of that climb!

Would it be quicker overall to jog up Badgers pushing the bike instead of pedalling in a very low gear (if you're like me, not like one of those fast people)? Or is that sort of behaviour only allowed when it's too slippery to pedal?

Well - it is a 'bike' race but if you have to Alex! 😉

1st up - Anyone coming from the West along the A27 please remember that its Shoreham Airshow on 20th so there will be lots of people looking up rather than at what's going on in front of them. This will lead to tailbacks so best to allow a little bit of extra time 😕

I'll be there on my Banshee Paradox crawling/walking up the climbs & flying through the singletrack 😀

Also doing the 1st lap. You can't miss me at 6'5" & 300lb 🙄

Pete i still think that bike is Morris Minor Grey, not too bad given your past record 😉

That log is the one on Sting in the Tail. & the rest of the course is pretty much the same as last year by the looks of it 😯

If its dry it'll be great. If its wet I'm going straight to the pub 😀

See ya all there.

You'll see me bumbling around on a white P7, doing my best not to let down the side, eh Alex? Don't forget to shout as you pass.

PS. I've seen her in the flesh and she's a thing of beauty. Deffo grey though 😉

You're right Pete, as long as it's dry-ish I can spin up there just fine - well on the first lap at least... I'll keep the pedestrian behaviour for when my legs are dying. Rich, I'm sure any impression of bumbling will be purely due to your effortless smoothness and flow, it's the same with me! 😉

Ah, that log. Round the left it is then.

Of which log do you speak Jim, its not "that" log is it? If you are going out second does that mean I get to do the first lap blind so it can all be a "nice" surprise? 🙂

Oh, and in defence of Woodsman, that colour is a very british classic car light blue (think circa 1953 with a subtle hint of battleship and ration book)

course looks great in the vid guys...coupla questions from a first timer where do you overtake?...does all that singletrack get mega congested? anyone need a lift from North Wales/chester?

i'll be there, bumbling along on a kinesis xc120...camping somewhere outside brighton too, should be fun after getting tanked up in the evening as its one of our party's birthday that weekend too! haha

There's a car boot in Glynde but I'll be back there Sunday!

that logs ok on hte ht after the climb. not sure what state i`ll be in after dragging hte full suss beast up there though. which reminds me i need to fit a granny for the later laps!

my FS bikes more suited to badgers at wild park - supersteep loose off camber rooty sketchy downwards goodness.

Ming-Coming! On the polystrene bicycle

Wearing Pj's I hope Ming !

Paceman - that would have been me + Rory + Josh Ibbet & a few others..
In fact filming the very preview vid up there /\. And thanks, I haven't been called svelt for quite some time....

Wearing Pj's I hope Ming !

But of course!

Paceman - that would have been me + Rory + Josh Ibbet & a few others..
In fact filming the very preview vid up there /\. And thanks, I haven't been called svelt for quite some time....

No problem Dave 😉

Good luck Saturday.

Guy; not too fussed! I'm quite happy to do the first lap! Means more riding!

Weather is looking ominous, I reserve the right to review my choice of bicycle on the day! 😉

metoffice says warm and dry during the day, thunder in the evening; its all good Pete!

I'm doing it with a couple of mates. I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be on my Trek Remedy so apologies to anyone who gets stuck behind me on any singletrack climbs.

Blimey it looks very tight around the singletrack with not a lot of overtaking space !! Hope I don't hold anyone up too much !!

The video only really shows some of the singletrack highlights, don't worry there are plenty of wider path sections and multiple lines for overtaking (or being overtaken). 🙄

There is a secret line I've found through one of the twisty sections of singletrack which is straight as a dye & avoids a couple of low speed corners. 8)

I intend to use this line to get infront of anyone who's passed me on the previous fireroad & then hold them up for the rest of that section of singletrack. 🙄

Local knowledge & all that 😉

I'm off to Stanmer tonight to have a look-see 😀

It's going to be crowded, muggomagic's going to be there too and I'm taking my boy over for a look.

i discovered the short sharp climb up to teh second road bridge is not good on a freeride bike with 170mm forks whist sat down. loop-out-backwards-tastic. made all the more fun by being clipped in.

if i pass you on the descent please try and catch me when i`m coming back down the climb upside down. i promise to do my best to unclip.

I had a ride round in Stanmer last night and it's dried out nicely from the rain we had last Saturday. And the met office (at the moment) is saying there is no more rain forecast till Saturday night - hurray! I think I'll leave the summer tyres on then.

I'm heading over there this morning for a quick spin with my work buddy, also gonna give the summer rubber a run out to see how it goes. Blue skies and a breeze out there right now so should be lovely and dry. 😛

Couldn't move for mtb's at Stanmer last night.

Lots of yellow arrows on the ground and yellow paint over hazards (although not the bit I managed to fall off on and bash some ribs, sadly).

It was riding really well - only soggy stuff was a few muddy holes in the Jungly bit near the bottom end.

Did first night ride with my son (on his new Cotic) too "That was our best ride yet Dad!". He even gave me half his chocolate bar at the end of the ride so he must have enjoyed it.

Good luck to all the riders on Saturday 🙂

Did first night ride with my son (on his new Cotic) too "That was our best ride yet Dad!". He even gave me half his chocolate bar at the end of the ride so he must have enjoyed it.

Quick spectator Q;

Should I come down on my bike so I can cruise around a few different places to watch the action, or will it just be a PITA with the crowds/in the dark star tent?

Can't wait to see the action in my local woods!

take your bike and do the one lap 'wonderdog' thing?

to access the course will be a lot easier on foot than by bike, tbh, and it's all in a fairly small area so it's probably not more than 10-15 minutes walk to any point from the pub tent.

Really weird seeing my local trails as part of an event! I'm at work though 👿

Next thing you know it'll be the mini DH world Cup at Wild Park!

Hmmmm might not be doing this now as i woke up this morning & can't put any weight on my ankle. 🙁

Will see how the next 24 hours go but fingers crossed 😕

The yellow paint on the trickier stumps and roots is very off-putting, it draws your eyes to them meaning you then ride towards them 😯

Very fast and dry though today.

Pete - I was all set for soloing until i dislocated my thumb 2 weeks ago. You won't believe it but i rode into the scaffolding on the footbridge over A27 which is on the Big Dog course. Also smashed up my face.

I think i'll be marshalling so i can still throw abuse at you and Brian and the others as you go round. I'm up for beers at the Fortune afterwards.

See you saturday.

Mark

Agree about the yellow paint being off-putting. Nearly came off last night trying to avoid "hazards" that I hadn't even noticed previously!

Agree about the yellow paint being off-putting. Nearly came off last night trying to avoid "hazards" that I hadn't even noticed previously!

Maybe they could paint the SAFE bits yellow and the hazards black instead? Would that work?...

A side benefit of this is it would attract additional sponsorship monies from Stryper...

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A side benefit of this is it would attract additional sponsorship monies from Stryper...

Sold!

Blimey Mark - I did hear about your misfortune. One day you will get on the podium at the 'dog - you deserve to! [I reserve the right to review that comment depending on the level of abuse I receive on the day] 😉

Jim, the cat is out of the bag now - guilty pleasure maybe.....ahem 😯

One thing about the Yellow stripes, at least they aren't Orange (if you're reading this) 🙂

Any rain in Brighton today?

No, but it's looking ominous currently.

Torrential floods 80 miles away in Bournemouth... looks to have passed us by in Brighton 😀

Stanmer is smooth and fast as of half an hour ago, forecast is looking better now.

Was fast last night. Shoulder barged 3 trees and came off 4 times. First time with J bars. Not sure.

Giving the course a low speed test run tomorrow. Mr P7Rich has kindly provided our team with authentic early '90s jerseys, so if you're stuck behind some sartorially challenged luminescent lycra on the first climb, my sincere apologies... Hope your ankle recovers in time Si!

Rode it tonight, super fast & dry. The 2 steepish descents on the way up to Badgers are a little loose & sketchy, be careful there.

Anyone know who the sullen & uncommunicative rider on a spesh was with a blue / black long sleeve top tonight? If it's you; it costs nothing to smile or say hi.

I think your description sounds like it could have been me !
Sorry guys no intention to appear sullen or be uncommunicative, I was well away, the trails were riding so good.
Were there 2 of you, one maybe in a red top about half way round by the turn of a main trail leading to singletrack with the large log you have to jump or skirt round ?

Pete: (Re: Guilty Pleasure) Not Stryper as such, though I did partake of my fair share of coiffure metal back in the day. I draw the line at "hair metal for Jesus" though! 😀 I'll say this for them though - they put the effort in! - Some of these bands think it's good enough to just turn up in jeans and a T-shirt. Those matching outfits look like they took a substantial amount of work (but well worth the time and trouble, I'm sure you'll agree)

No rain in Brighton...Trails were indeed riding lovely last night. I stand by my "dust bath" prediction 🙂

Hi Shaggie, fair play if it was you and you owned up. No worries, neither of us was in red as it happens,. It's riding very well at the moment so getting 'lost' in the trail is understandable.

Back there again today to map out arena and some of the course. The forecast is set fair for the next few days. It will be hot, it will be dusty and you MUST bring all of the water you need with you.

BRING WATER BRING WATER BRING WATER (you get the idea where we're going with that one..)

beer tent? i dont remember being able to buy beer there last year? i`m sure i would have found that!

Had a little recce this eve, and it's super dry - even the wet bits - sketchy and loose!

Tomorrow is another day................

Just watched BBC weather, there is a possiblity of some dampness before 1200 but clearing up after that.