It was my Lady's first big MTB race and she loved it
4 laps solo before she ran out of dry clothes to change into
The lower section of mud she found easy to ride through
she is now looking forward to Kirro or Llandegla
Bike Forum
Any 10 UTB updates?
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Posted 1 year ago #
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it was a very tough day out. The weather wasn't really an issue, it was pretty reaonable until about 3pm, then it rained but i never felt it was too heavy. The course had 3 (4 when you were tired) tough sections.. the 1 mile long guess a route muddy section after the auction mart( but still 100% rideable all day) and the 2 natural sections ( the 4th was the hill of doom ). Felt after lap 3 the 2 natural sections were pointless and just ran them as it was quicker, the course was so much better when they were taken out. The first half was climbing the second half was descending so no guesses on which i preferred.
Anyway, had a great pit crew of the 2 Stu's and Jill who were marvellous all day and a big reason for being constant and doing so well, changing brake pads and also keeping my lap stops to a 10 second affair. Also a big shout out to Stuartie C' parents for allowing me to stay at their house the night before instead of my tent ( the smallest one in the car park beside the red Civic).
The race was actually really good, 3 of us grabbed a lead half way up the first climb, then 1 of the boys started having a gear mechanical so just me and another guy who was in pairs. He pulled away from me but i was quite content at the pace i was going . Somehow the guy in front took the wrong route so i managed to lead going into lap 2 which when doing solo is never i good sight. Just after the auction mart before the horrible muddy section grabbed a snake bite and took what seemed like an incredible amount of time to fix but in reality lost 12 places ( 2 in my category). By top of climb of that lap had caught the main bunch and slowly moved through them where Oli Young stayed on my wheel.
We slowly grabbed a lead from everyone else so we chatted alot for next lap. I know Oli well which helped. Into Lap 3 and i pulled a gap from Oli but he closed it again so we talked tactics and we knew we had 5 or 6 mins lead so discussed slowing pace down slightly. Into Lap 4 and Oli disappeared, think it was mechanical and early fatigue so i plodded on regardless. Had a 1 or 2 riders pass me so grabbed there wheel for some sections before letting them go on the climbs. Slowly gained time every lap on everyone and i think laps were pretty constant before the rear brake flet like it was letting go. The good thing i noticed about the course was you didn't use the brakes alot. Told my pit crew that we'll fix them next lap so lap 9 pulled in for brake change ( also red bull, jelly babies gallore, 2 chocolate cookies and a choc rice krispie). Went out again and had a decent lead but started feeling quite crap so was happy to spin up the climbs and make time of descents although had a head on collision with a tree which dented the helmet, knocked me off my bike and gave me a sore ear. lap 10 and front brake was going so planned to change pads on lap 11 which we did. Wasn't sure how i was doing and whether i needed to do 12 laps so was hoping lap 11 was my last. Kept eating and drinking, chatted to a few people on the way round and always looked forward to getting to the top of the final climb cos it was nearly all down from there. Got to pit at end of that lap and was shoved out 'to enjoy it' ( yeah, good one stuartie), so not knowing if anyone else would be able to start Lap 12 pushed the first part but had really noticed amount of people on course was diminished so most of the time had no one around me. Soon as i got to top of final climb i relaxed alot, swooped down the great descents, pounded the fast fireroads and generally counted down sections left until finish line.Over the line, 12 laps completed compared to 11 last year and retained my solo crown.
Very disappointed with the medals though, thought there would of at least been a trophy for winners.Overall, great event, typical unpredictable Scottish weather, fantastic marshalling and good job by no Fuss. Next year has to be sunny though.......right???
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well done Grieg, good wee report that. Didn't you get any pics?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Got to echo that, well done. 12 laps in those conditions is completely mental!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well done that man ,and another big shout for the marshals.
That bloke in the orange jacket after the shore and the kids in the trees Posted 1 year ago # -
excellent ride Grieg, well done. Hardcore going out on that 12th lap. I came in with a few minutes to go but had already decided that i wasnt heading out on a 12th lap.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Anyone know when the results will be up? I did 8 laps solo
And enjoyed ever one, I rode the last two laps with next to no brakes. Biig thanks to the marshals especially as people have already pointed out the guy towards to end just after the bridge and short hill and the lads on the final
Section.
Well done on the 12 lapsPosted 1 year ago # -
12 laps is very impressive indeed!
Posted 1 year ago # -
12 laps is quite an achievement - I'm impressed. Managed 6 here, timewise could have fitted another one in, but bike needed new rear pads and an extra 1 1/2 hours in the pub, at that point, seemed like a much better prospect.
As mentioned above the guttery bits were more or less rideable if you got a clear run at them, but any traffic and they were horrendous. The really wet bit was taken out on my second last lap, and both were out on the last lap which was a nice way to finish - although had no rear brake for the last lap which made it a wee bit more intersting.
Must admit, wet and cold as it was I enjoyed it, well I say enjoyed - I think it's one of those things that you endure for 1 day of the year, and enjoy for the other 364.........
Posted 1 year ago # -
especially as people have already pointed out the guy towards to end just after the bridge and short hill and the lads on the final section.
Totally agree - totally powered up that short hill every lap with his encouragement!
Positions/Times are up. http://www.nofussevents.co.uk/event/10-Under-The-Ben/1805/
Pretty awesome doing 12 laps solo in that weather - great effort - only two laps over an hour!
Pretty chuffed with my 77th to be honest!
Posted 1 year ago # -
head on collision with a tree which dented the helmet, knocked me off my bike and gave me a sore ear. lap
Brilliant effort Greig.
What happened to the tree?
Posted 1 year ago # -
6th overall in all categories
and under 30 mins for 1st lap. Tree was fine, it wobbled i'm sure or maybe it was my eyesight as i collapsed
Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks for posting that Chris.
12 laps is indeed impressive. Rob and Rob were flying in the pairs too. Pleased with our 21st placing in the pairs. Lap times confirm that back to back laps at the end was hard work on the legs though. Think my teammate probably had the right idea in hanging up his bike after our 8th lap.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Results are indeed in and one lap less than we managed. Not sure what's happened as all the times look right, think it's just missed the last one. Sure the timing mat bleeped as I crossed the line and it was about 15 to 20 minutes before the final cut off. Was in the van getting changed when they announced the finish line closing so 100% sure it should have counted.
Never mind I suppose, wasn't exactly in the running for a good position but a bit hacked off that the effort that went into the last lap (running for a few miles with a puncture) never got counted.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Actually now that I've downloaded a fresh copy the last lap is there, please ignore my previous moan! Looks like I've hit the spacebar or something on my keyboard to blank out the last time, oops!
Posted 1 year ago # -
I seem to be missing a lap too.
Not that it makes much differencePosted 1 year ago # -
One less lap for me as well
Could've made all the difference between wining.............. mibbe not.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Same here. No big deal, I only did 4 but it only shows 3. Hey ho, go back next year and do better.
Posted 1 year ago # -
We "lost" a lap last year but contacted No Fuss and they checked the manual records and reinstated it, raising us from about 1000th to 999th.
Posted 1 year ago # -
70th for me, and happy with that.
As has been said, big bloke in the orange jacket on the wee hill after the bridge was a ledge, as were the young ones on the boardwalk at the end.
See you all next year
Posted 1 year ago # -
One of our team's laps didn't get logged meaning that we lost a lap and one lap was measured at over 2hrs. Also we would have got a podium if it had been counted.
I thought that perhaps one of my laps hadn't been counted as I didn't get off my bike quick enough through transition?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Any one got any pics? I didn't take any :(.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Cleaned my bike and kit last night.
Half Leanachan forest is now down my drain and my bike is shagged!
Serious TLC required!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yes I'm dreading the shopping list mine is needing, when I get round to looking at it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
9 lap solo here, Niner Air 9 Carbon Rigid. Brilliant day and a brilliant job done by all the marshals. The bloke after that short hill after the boardwalk and the young uns near the end were ace fun and the banter always cheered me up.
I lost middle ring on lap 2 and rode the remainder of the race in "big ring" (2 x 10 so big isnt that big - 38 tooth) until the last lap where the water had cleaned all and I could return to little ring for a much needed grind (literally) up the climbs.
Had some good banter with other riders, but a lot looked miserable and cream crackered..
The mud section after the auction was ace, as was the descent before it. Although I was wary of the marshal's position in case it all went pete tong. I found the best place to be in that muddy section was in the puddles, not round the edges, knowing that the new river on the single track after would clean the bike!
Rode all on lap 1 and lap 2, but gave up in the "muddy sections" and the hill of doom from then on as energy exertion and danger levels a lot lower walking than attempting to ride. (for me in any case)
Best bits for me were the really technical sections where I thought I would struggle with the rigid niner, but in actual fact the super precision of the front end and the big wheels overcame any issues. The big rocky descent at the end of the lap was ace fun. The rock/wood steps into the big granite slab at the end of the first bit of singletrack was also great.
Lost back brake after lap 8 and did lap 9 without it. Worry at the speed of the guys at the front ".....didnt need a lot of braking.....". Absolute biking heroes.
Thanks No Fuss, ace event.
Nigel
Posted 1 year ago # -
[/quote]The bloke after that short hill after the boardwalk and the young uns near the end were ace fun and the banter always cheered me up.
[quote]Yeah he was great. One my last lap when I was feeling particularly miserable he said "Oh there you are 264 I was worried about you!"
I have to say I didn't enjoy the event as much as last year (maybe because it wasn't my first time) the course definitely felt more up than down and there was too much fireroad but there was still a really good atmosphere both on the course and in the car park.
If I do another 10 next year I might try one of the other events
Posted 1 year ago # -
Nigel (imonigel) - take it that you in the big motorhome in the area over the track near the transition area, especially once I realised what the IOM part must stand for!! I was one of the guys from the caravan next to you (the only one still going after 5 hours!!)
Lovely looking bike and impressive the way you kept going lap after lap. Great effort! Cheers to you and your mate for the words of advice at the start!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Yep, that was us in the motorhome. Cheers for giving me the encouragement "your 25 minutes up on yer mate" - made my day
Never got that cup of coffee or any bacon sarnies...
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well the bacon sarnies were all mine! Not getting your hands on one of them!!
Not sure what happened to the cups of coffee, the order went into the chef but don't remember them being passed out - I'll have a word and make sure he does better next time!!!
Did offer you the use of the pressure washer though, in those conditions I thought that was FAR better than a wee bacon roll (I'm lying to ease my guilty concience, the bacon roll was awesome!).
Posted 1 year ago # -
Think I chatted to to you early on Nigel. I presume you were on the orange niner? I rode alongside for a bit along the bottom firetack section, but you stopped shortly afterwards to fettle your gears.
Good effort with 9 laps!
Posted 1 year ago # -
Tangerine not Orange
Fettle = pull the chain back down from above the chainstay....
Posted 12 months ago # -
Cupra...were you in the black Ibiza Cupra? Near the end of the course just before the last climb at the transition area? If so I was parked up about 3 cars away from you...
Posted 12 months ago #
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