Anyone else doing this event this weekend? Having done very little preparation for it, I’m starting to get a little worried…..

Just hoping the weather isn’t too bad….

yup – me and mrs m

it was great last year – ‘ard work though

there were 2 lads who were inspirational though. Big fellas, came in with a marshall a long time after most people with hooge smiles on their faces. if they did it, most can I reckon (and that’s not meant to be derogatory)

They came in with me. I was sweeping, Great lads, Aiden and Jim, team 200kg. Brilliant atitude.

I’m sweeping again and looking forward to it. Any company at the back gratefully accepted 😉

Chainline, cheers for the offer…. Any idea how the course is holding up after the recent rain…..

No – team 200 kg was me and big al! I think those guys had a good few on us

This years team is more like 165kg, mrs m being rather smaller than big al (and also a lot hairier!)

I am – looking forward to it and dreadingg the weather/mud in equal measure I think…

Xavier and I will be coming again – hoping this year not to end up in hospital, I have the chain ring scar to prove it.

Fantastic crack last year – really well organised.

Apparently it might be a bit muddy , so bring plenty of spare dry clothes

I’ll be there.

It was a good crack last year.

I’ll be there as the other rider marshall. I guess I should try and get a bike working.

Come on Shaggy, I want to see that Fatty.

and yes I reckon Aiden and Jim may have had a few over the 200kg! I had assumed that was their team. They were a pair of troopers though. Still makes me smile, really funny. We team time trialed the last leg too.

Mud tyres fitted. Looks like the weather may be ‘ok’ Hope that’s not jinxed it. Maybe not dry, but hopefully not horridble.

phew that was a work out

ow and wow in equal measure – verging on wow now, great courses, if a tad moist in places

made the start of the time trial with 34 secs to spare on Friday, journey from Kent tokk nearly 5 hours; each day was about 5 1/2 hrs of graft

the arm wrestle to decide who of the 2 tall blokes got the Singular 29’er frame was hilarious!

here I am yep me and Jimbo hold the course record over 6 Hours each day (sorry Jimbo) when the winner did it in three!!! 🙂 the look on daves face when he said “hey you must be team 100kilo plus!!” Eh no mate not us!! Bless him he almost died!?!?

Phil, (the sweeper, alright mate!!) kept us in it the whole way round and was the thrid member of the team, top bloke and epic fast! If I’d know you were sweeping again Phil I’d have entered 😉 )! If this years was half as good it will have been awesome!!!!

No comeback this year but it’s marked in the diary for 2013…. Just need to lose the 25kgs to get to 100kgs!! Light weight….. 😀

the arm wrestle to decide who of the 2 tall blokes got the Singular 29’er frame was hilarious!

+1.

& yes that was tough, harder than last & thats not counting the mud!

I managed sub 5 hrs both days, down on last year but I blame the weather for that – nothing to do with being a year older at all!

Wookster..9hrs 29mins this year on day one! I didn’t sweep day 2 as I was struggling with walk/push related stiffness after such a long day out there.

It was still fun though. I kinda regretted not doing day 2, its an easier more scenic day in may ways, loved it last year.

Dave put on another great event, really well organised and focussed on making sure everyone had what they needed. Plus the best event showers ever!

Keep an eye out for other Beardedman events…

sorry wookster – you’ve lost you record……. last guy in on saturday was over 9 1/2 hours!

me and err indoors were 5′ 44″ and in the top half

A big thank you and congratulations to everyone who rode for being smiley and polite despite some nasty conditions and inclement weather.

Pictures are being processed now and will be going up on the online shop. You will be able to read the photographers report of the weekend on the website and keep up to date with progress on the pics on Facebook and Twitter.

See you next year!

Ed

It really was an amazing event (again!). Such a great atmosphere and well organized. I wished I’d trained for it though as the climbs were hard work (especially the pushing bits) but well worth it as the descents were fantastic. I particularly enjoyed the pyroclastic flow of riders on the narrow singletrack of mud through the woods on the Saturday! Must have been hilarious to watch! I will keep my fingers crossed that the event goes ahead again next year and if it does I look forward to meet everyone again! Wouldn’t miss it for the world.
(Rider 007)

Sounds Awesome!! Although if chainline had to push I would be still out there!!! 😉

Charliemort…. I see that as a challenge!! 🙂

Such a great event though and the atmosphere was second to none when I did it even being the last home on the second day the welcome was awesome!!

See you next year ( minus 25kg) folks! 🙂

Was a great event. Seven and a half hours both days. Some tough climbs but the descents were worth it. Had forgotten how much I enjoyed the Gap descent!! And winning the camcorder was a bonus….

Great event even with the epic rain and mud! The Gap ride was awesome 🙂 I wonder if the guy I gave my last tube to on the last 10km got back OK?

I’m still buzzing from the weekend. Around 6 hrs each day but that wasn’t what it was about. Great to do some real MOUNTAIN biking. I really enjoyed shouldering my bike and trudging up that smashed up tree ascent. How perverse is that?
Hard to say this without sounding sexist but how gnarr were the ladies? My experience is that the girls tend not to enjoy rocky descents as much as a lot of the guys but these girls (and I’m including the over 50’s lady in this) were proper hardcore. Taking a race bike down the gap descent was not for the faint hearted and they were clocking times in the 4-5hr bracket each day.

A few pictures to wet the appetites – lots more to follow!

I particularly enjoyed the pyroclastic flow of riders on the narrow singletrack of mud through the woods on the Saturday!

Cracking image – time to start work on Fifty Shades of Mud 🙂

I have nothing but praise for this weekend – it was amazing! Tough going in places because of that Welsh mud, but loved every second. And superb organisation – not been in a police escort before either!

Just on the 6 hours for me both days, great riding with a mate, enjoying proper mountain riding. Well done all…

Yes re: the ladies – and mainly with big grins on their faces. Mrs Mort seemed to be back in the groove after busting an ankle and a couple of ribs at Afan, and didn’t get off for much (couple of over the handlebar jobs….). Finished 5th over all and 1st in 40 – 49’s (out of a mahoosive field of 3)

Never seen her so knackered as on Sunday though – serves her right for trying to ride up everything on Saturday, rather then self preserving and pushing…..

Wow – what a weekend! Conditions were so tough, but that didn’t stop anyone smashing the BM3D. We have been taking the signage down on the routes….and we can’t stop laughing at each other because it’s so hard to ride!

Thanks to everyone who took part and those that helped – you all deserve a good rest 🙂

Ed and Steve will have the photo’s online very soon – so keep your eyes peeled on the BM3D website.

Until next time.

BM

@Foxyrider, yes, I picked up all his other tubes! I wasnt sweeping but I was marshalling after the Gap descent. He did indeed finish.

I only rode on the Sunday but felt it was a fantastic event. Really wished i had done the whole thing. David, i hope you are planning to put on another event next year so that i can take part!

Foxyrider, are you talking about the person riding a ktm 29er, in red and black kit? If so that was me and yes i did make it back. Thank you very much to the two people who lent me the tubes and the marshall who i passed my old tubes too.

Jon 🙂

Sorry late posting – Yes that was me – Glad the tube helped.

Written a blog of this great weekend with some great photos of Ed Rollason’s in it here:

http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/features/racing/black-mountains-3-day-2012.htm