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1. Lee Roy - Member

   Over taking should be done safely and respectfully, Ashton court is always going to be a struggle to over take due to its obviously huge amount of single track.

   The race can be won and lost on the first lap as the top riders are only minutes apart at the finish even over 8-12hr plus races.
   Starting before the 10 sec countdown was CHEATING, cutting the corner up the hill was CHEATING and seemed to put a huge amount of average riders quite far into the course in front of faster more competitive riders and therefore may of encouraged more aggressive passing moves? I think you could write a book on peoples complaints of bad passing moves at Ashton court and I'm sure we have all been a victim of one and i'm sure will have done them ourselves but after all it is a race and not a fun ride. JUST GET USED TO IT

   Posted 7 months ago #
2. hamishthecat - Member

   Well done Team Emptybeers, I lost out our final lap dual by 2". Arses

   Thank you! Yes my team mate put his fastest lap of the day in as the last one. His rather tall SS gearing just about paid off for the run in the finish.

   Ref overtaking I found everyone very polite. the only issue I had was with a youngster who was pretty quick but just shouted 'rider' when he got near to people and then nearly pushed me into another rider when he overtook on the bit next to the park entrance.

   Overall I agree with Lee Roy though

   Posted 7 months ago #
3. phiwai - Member

   I'm very new to not only racing (this was my first race) but also to bike riding in general(started riding xc this year).Going in to this race I was very aware of being a much slower and less technical rider. I made every effort to get out of peoples way and when I was aware of any riders not asking to get past I would shout back asking if they were wanting to get by.
   Over all I found riders to be good at picking safe lines to pass and calling out before passing. I found this very helpful In making the race safer for me and In turn for them,who want's to scare the crap out of the rider in front and possible making both rider crash.
   There will always be riders who don't callout and take a line in there eyes to be safe and that's part of racing I guess. over all I never found it as bad as I thought going into this race and can't wait to do it again next year!
   As to that young rider who tried to pass me and 3 others through the last bit of single track/rock garden. Shouting rider when clearly having no room to get past was the only **** I encountered and I just put that down to his pre-pubescent hormones getting the better of him!

   I fell on my first lap and found it good to have several riders shouting out if I was o.k.
   Over all I loved this race so keep it up!

   Posted 7 months ago #
4. GaryLake - Member

   Oh I did have to give some sod a telling off after mowing down some 12 year old kid out on course. Shouting "watch out" while doing over 20mph in downhill singletrack is likely to make them panic and stop in the trail, not make them actually move. It was very poor form!

   Posted 7 months ago #
5. KINGTUT - Member

   Well at best, maybe next year people will be more aware about the tight overtaking and maybe think a little more about their approach.

   As I recall in the early days of bikefest there was lots of argy bargy about overtaking I remember one team sponsored by a very popular energy supplement company even had to be pulled to one side about their behaviour on the course, things improved over the years as people became more familiar with the course, hopefully the same will happen with the new layout.

   Posted 7 months ago #
6. julioflo - Member

   MTG I struggled to get passed you on the big climb, this was on my second lap, when I put in a 29min lap. You were out of the saddle cranking it with 7 hours still to go - Massive Respect!

   Posted 7 months ago #
7. Mr Agreeable - Member

   I've done endurance races before where the soloists get an "S" to hang under their saddle, so everyone knows instantly why they're going so slow and (hopefully) affords them a bit more respect instead of just forcing them off the track.

   I think a lot of the aggro on the day was caused by people just not calling it when they overtook, or wanted to overtake. If you're quite new to XC racing (as a lot of Oktoberfest participants are) you probably don;t realise how important it is.

   Posted 7 months ago #
8. foxyrider - Member

   I've done endurance races before where the soloists get an "S" to hang under their saddle, so everyone knows instantly why they're going so slow and (hopefully) affords them a bit more respect instead of just forcing them off the track.

   Me too

   Posted 7 months ago #
9. KINGTUT - Member

   I've done endurance races before where the soloists get an "S" to hang under their saddle,

   This should be the norm in all endurance races IMO.

   Posted 7 months ago #
10. trickydisco - Member

    've done endurance races before where the soloists get an "S" to hang under their saddle, so everyone knows instantly why they're going so slow and (hopefully) affords them a bit more respect instead of just forcing them off the track.

    This is great at mountain mayhem. I always made sure I gave words of encouragement solo riders when passing

    Posted 7 months ago #
11. GaryLake - Member

    Talking of the start and the bottle necks. I've often wondered whether doing the run in the same place as the afternoon starters might help? It'll stop the corner cutting and going straight into a climb should think the pack out a bit. Hell, why not go down to the deer park and make everyone haul it up the road and round? Can still go straight into the event village and start a lap proper – someone then tapes the course off again before the first team riders get a chance to come round...

    Posted 7 months ago #
12. wwaswas - Member

    I'd like an 'R' to hang behind my saddle all the time. For Rubbish.

    Posted 7 months ago #
13. rickon - Member

    +1 Gary

    A good climb would thin the pack out, I much prefer rolling starts for that, as it does settle people out better than a run.

    I totally understand for Paul though, trying to get 1000 people off the line and into speed order is not going to be the easist thing to sort out.

    Posted 7 months ago #
14. Munqe-chick - Member

    Thing is the run is too short, despite most people (including me) absolutely hating the run, in SitS in 2003 the run was nearer 800metres. It strung the pack out hugely and works way better, it's now too short a start.

    Posted 7 months ago #
15. mrlebowski - Member

    A longer run for sure - way too short...

    Posted 7 months ago #
16. Dr_Bakes - Member

    But are the strong riders necessarily going to be strong runners?

    Yes for the top athletes, but it could still leave a lot of fast bike riders with a load of fast runners but slow riders to get past?

    Since this is a bike race I'd have thought a long uphill ride would be better to string out the fast from the slow. Perhaps starting right down by the exit from the first singletrack* and possibly even taking a long way round the field with a couple of hills?

    *Is this where the 4hr pm race started from?

    Posted 7 months ago #
17. Munqe-chick - Member

    Yup I suppose a longer uphill could be the way Roger! the less running the better when I get spammed with it But remember we did cheat according to some on here.

    Posted 7 months ago #
18. wallop - Member

    All this talk of aggressive overtaking saddens me. These are my local trails and I ride them week in, week out, and I'd love to enter either Bikefest or Oktoberfest, but seriously - I worry so much about holding someone up that I just don't bother taking part.

    Posted 7 months ago #
19. rickon - Member

    Wallop - Don't not enter because some people are inconsiderate because of inexperience. Bikefest is a race, but it's also great fun - for all levels of the sport.

    A 12 hour solo at Bikefest can be a real achievement, and you don't need to be jostling for first place for that to be the case.

    Give it a go next year, 99% of riders are courteous, if they're any good they be able to get past you without you having to move anywhere, just a little word to say what they're doing and they'll be gone

    Posted 7 months ago #
20. GaryLake - Member

    wallop: tbh it's largely not that bad. I soloed and was subjected to only one really dire overtake. I also had a few that were ok just a little surprising – I shouted 'call it better next time' and got a pretty sincere sorry from each.

    Posted 7 months ago #
21. crashtestmonkey - Member

    wallop, it probably better than your average local XC race, despite having a much bigger field on a short circuit with a larger percentage of singletrack than most. I made an effort as the passer and the passed, if I heard someone coming up behind I'd look ahead and give them a shout where I intended to pull over before they'd even asked, and always gave a hearty thank you and as much room as possible to those I passed. It is a race so some people are going to get adrenaline fueled and aggressive but the enduro nature of it means there's as much cameraderie as competition (even more evident in the 12hr and 24hr races).

    Though if it was my local I'd ride it when it was relatively empty and gloat, I got chatting to a female racer (possibly soloist) from Bristol Uni whilst in a s/track queue and she said she night rides there all the time. Tres envious!

    Posted 7 months ago #
22. chrisrhayes - Member

    Came 5th in 8hr old gits Team and was happy with that. Skillfully came off in the first lap trying to overtake on the perimeter trail. Doh!!!!

    As these are my local trails, I was v conscious to be polite, there's always little red mist out there unfortunately. Especially annoying was being overtaken when 10 or more riders ahead in a train. What's the point?

    Also the "bmx" section could benefit with some overtaking slots. The red downhill was always bunched because of that IMHO

    Overall a very well managed event with a nice "nerdy" event feel ( according to my wife!)

    Posted 7 months ago #
23. amt27 - Member

    I was leading Bikefest 12hr Solo this year, when I was given clearance to overtake a rider (who I asked politely to overtake, like I do all riders).

    Unfortunately a very impatient rider decided to overtake myself and the other person, forcing the rider I was overtaking into my line and ultimately me into a tree.

    The culprit didn't stop despite the shouting from other guys behind us who saw the incident.

    I ended up with a broken wheel, broken helmet, damaged rib and shoulder and had to retire from the race. Wrecked my season, just as I was hitting some top form.

    Last week I spoke to a British Cycling representative who said Ashton Court is not designed for racing, I happen to agree.

    Posted 7 months ago #
24. noteeth - Member

    I worry so much about holding someone up

    I was going to feign complete ignorance and ride AC in the wrong direction.

    "There's a race on?"

    Posted 7 months ago #
25. wallop - Member

    Ha ha!

    Posted 7 months ago #
26. racemonkey - Member

    I always find that any enduro event settles down after the first couple of hours, possibly due to a lot of the adrenaline coming from people trying to put in a fast first lap. Obviously with teams it takes a while for everyone to do a first lap.

    I had a "difference of opinion" with one ignorant **** on the lower quarry trail who tried to push past me with no warning even though there was about 8 riders in a line and he nearly had us both off. I don't have a problem with close racing but I really don't like ignorance.

    As has been said before the proper fast guys will either be patient and wait or be good enough to pass anyway. IMHO it's the people who think they're proper fast that cause the problem.

    Great event as always anyway. Congratulations to Paul and his team.

    Posted 7 months ago #
27. rickon - Member

    PSA: Photos are now available on http://www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk

    Posted 7 months ago #
28. KINGTUT - Member

    Can't see any.

    Posted 7 months ago #
29. LoCo - Member

    http://vimeo.com/30632290

    video from Big foot

    Posted 7 months ago #
30. foxyrider - Member

    http://www.sleepmonsters.com/photosystem/rightplacerighttime/digital_photosales.php?event_id=9336

    Posted 7 months ago #
31. alcolepone - Member

    Seem to remember alot more people taking Photo's

    are there anymore anywhere else?

    Posted 7 months ago #
32. RichH - Member

    Really enjoyed the event, with the exceptions of the first lap cheating by so many and the event timing going a bit wrong. The Bristol guys always put on a great event and I thought the new course was great. Its obviously not 'designed' for racing, but with the exception of the Dalby WC course and the Olympic venue, are there any 'man-made' trials designed for racing? It works, it was fun

    Unfortunately, Timelaps cocked up the results in the Solo male race which meant all the frantic racing in the dying hours was against incorrect information. I finished second which I'm chuffed with, but after 'leading' for over 4 hours and not being passed it was all a bit confusing at the end to find I'd actually finished second. If its not technically possible to credit a rider with a missed lap, mid-race, the best thing to do would be to pull the live display.

    Bit of a blog if anyone is interested here

    Posted 7 months ago #
33. rickon - Member

    Agree with you there Rich, we had a similar issue - not for podium, but 4th and 5th. We were in 4th from a good way in, chasing the Charge team after an incredibly poor start from me, dropping about 10 minutes from the grass cutting and not being able to recover the time on that lap.

    Unfortunetly, we were actually in 5th for most of the race and lost out by 4 minutes - which I think we could have reeled back in my last few laps, or just put in a double.

    It's always going to be a bit of an issue when the laps are recorded by sight, and to be fair to timelaps they seem to get it right 99% of the time and are a really cool bunch of chaps. RFID chips would be a great addition, to give some extra coverage - but I'd assume that would increase the cost to Timelaps, and therefore entry costs would increase; the chips themselves are pretty damn cheap when I was working with them (circa £1 each), but it would be development costs and the readers that would cost.

    That all said, I'll still be back in June and October again, as it's my favourite event

    PS. More loos for the men would be awesome.

    Posted 7 months ago #
34. Janesy - Member

    Ah you got stung aswell. I counted 4 stings on my right leg - ouch!

    Posted 7 months ago #
35. rickon - Member

    4! jesus. I only managed one. Spoke to a chap who had 3.

    I've been stug before, but that felt like someone had put a staple through my achilles!

    Posted 7 months ago #

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