Any soloists doing the ‘Puffer single speed?

Let’s hear from you.

Solo but not SS. Anyone got a weather/course update?

Latest course updates etc are on my thread here:

Strathpuffer update thread

aye

Cheers stooo, didn’t see that thread when I searched. Conditions look interesting again!

Do i have to ?

i dont have the fitness for that i dont think . i think ill be better using my rohloff – although if its still boiler plate i wont even get to do that as its in 29er and my claw 120s are 26″ 🙁

gary tompsett riding for singular will be ss im sure.

Starting to warm up across the country quite a bit now – I reckon there’s going to be a good thaw, leaving plenty of mud in the woods. If there’s thick ice on the fire road now though, there’s likely to still be a bit around on Saturday.

I’ll be mostly riding my SS lookalikey On-one 29er… that actually has an alfine hub in the back. If you had the right gear, I can see big advantages to SS for this event… but I remember those climbs starting to hurt even on a geared bike last year at about 3 in the morning.

i’ve got my rohloff bike working. that’s as near as i’m going to get to your ss tomfoolery 😉

are you doing it this year swiss?

Seem to have lost the STW forum. Can’t get to Stoo’s post.

So: conditions are snow on top of the ice, nice and rideable on the half of the course I checked. Possibly. ok without studs.

Will post pics later.

Edit: this post was made about 2 hours ago!

aye the right gear for those climbs s 53:11

Not solo, but in a pair and both of is are going SS 32:18, not done the puffer before how hard can it be 😯

Forgot to mention, there will be prizes for SS male & female solo, and a bonus if a SS takes out the overall solo 🙂

trail_rat – Member
aye the right gear for those climbs s 53:11

With the snow I had to drop to 48/18 🙂

Whats the opinions of 32-18 from the folk that know the conditions then?

Oh look at that ti bike stuck hard into the ice. Might go up and try and melt it out right now!

32/18 – You’ll be doing a bit of walking by 4am unless you’re really fit.

Probably a good idea to run a lower gear than usual – helps to lower the sweating and that helps stop you getting chilled when you stop or slow down.

I’m taking my SS as reserve bike with 32:18 but I’ll be on gears for most of it. The deep snow scuppered any SS training program I had.

i am indeed cullen having been a bit more smart about getting my entry in. are you going to be up at your usual bit? doubtless you’ll be passing me by as i proceed at a gentlemanly pace. tell andy my (un)specialised has set a new record for unreliability by breaking before the race this year!

some idiot ran 32:22 last year … i my self will be running 32:12 😉

it broke before the race?! thats fantastic, did it just break when it heard you talking about race?

I myself am not doing it, i will be kicking about though, and will probably do a couple of laps during the event.

32:18 sounds fine to me, having done it solos SS once before, it depends on what your used to, I’d be tempted to take a lower option for when you get tired/ it gets dark. Good luck to everyone heading up!!

bangin on – Member
32:18 sounds fine to me, having done it solos SS once before, it depends on what your used to, I’d be tempted to take a lower option for when you get tired/ it gets dark.

But that’s “changing gear”! tsk, tsk.

cullen – yes, race prior. had some problems with it, put it into the lbs to be told that the rear shock had died. they came up with the goods tho and it’s now snug in the van ready for its annual one to two laps before collapse. tho with the wet and mud maybe it’ll last. he thinks. not.

and you’re not doing it this year? sense/exams etc? keep an eye out for the blue van, give us a shout if you’re passing. t is doing the pit business – she’ll stand you a cup of tea!

I will be going round during a couple of the night laps with a younger member of the squarewheels team, but i do have to get home and sleep with prelim exams of the day after the event. Il look out of the van for sure and try and talk to you at some point.

Single speed soloists – make sure you tell them at registration that you are riding single speed.

(That’s how we know who to give prizes to)