After deciding that we were just going to trot out the same track as the last one, but with a couple of variations, we went out this morning and completely redesigned it.
The venue is the same, but the course is about 80% different.
Gone are the…
Compulsory dismount.
Muddy decking.
Road crossing.
Tarmac section.
Descent past the pond.
In are…
2 x Evil carry/push climbs.
Long and fast woodland downhill.
Technical downhill used in HtN 1.
Flat out fast hardpack section.
New single track bits recently cleared by the council.
Staying are…
The steps.
The start/finish field.
The long climb.
“Rooley’s Chin” descent.
The new layout flows much better than the old one with much more gradient. It should hold up better in the wet. Lap length about 3 miles.
We will preview ride it in a couple of weeks to see how it copes with a bunch of riders. Details on here and at our place when we get round to tidying it up.
we've upped the ante on the 'pain side of things' in my opinion. We had a few 'should we? Could we? Yeh, sod it, let's send them up that' moments earlier.
I was thinking of a Sergeant Major type person to scream abuse/encouragement at the top of the new carry section. It is a field with a gentle climb that turns into a 1 in 3 for the last 20 metres. Nice.
We may borrow the dog from "dog sprint farm". After a cleat/head interface with somebody who will remain nameless it has been a big fan of cyclists. Ideal motivation for that extra bit of speed.
The little white terrier thing is going to get a proper shoeing if it ever catches up with me – always, always take a slower rider as a decoy.
I'm having a few problems with the last bit……..
Brilliant, I'm in again. Loved it last year, I came 11th IIRC. Is this new course going to favor mountain bikes a bit more than the cyclo-crossers, they did do rather well for an MTB race!
It's not a CX race or a MTB race. It's just a race.
I think it will be more about the rider than the bike. Certain sections favour CX and other are better for MTBs. I wouldn't like to do the technical bits on my CX, but on my MTB I know that I would be slower on the flat out bits and where you have to shoulder it.
Word has spread. We may have a few "Big Hitters" at this one to give the front of the field a run for their money.
Yes, to be fair, I don't think my placing really reflected my true ability, as I found out a couple of months later at Lee Quarry, (and suspect I may again tomorrow).
Judging by the average age of the competitors last time, the hard ground and all those lovely comfy cross bikes, I'm sure Preparation H might be willing to donate a few tubes.