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ferrals - Memberha-ha, I was going to say:
slogging my way round in Sport.
and
KTM jersey on a 29'er KTM HT
doesn't quite compute
Bought the jersey to match the bike 🙄
Waves at fwend of t'interweb
I may go snorkel on my face too if it's nasty. It is drying out quickly. All good fun in the mud.
I'm sticking to my regular tyres (was a Ron/Ralph combo, now Vittoria Peyote's).
At least I'll have my first excuses already in...
Ah yeah, thanks Adam.
Not sure what miracles of drying up I was expecting to happen since I saw it on Saturday myself but at least the forecast says it'll be dry from above which is always a bonus.
Looking forward to it now. Hopefully no mechanicals and no major offs. Be nice just to get a finishing time.
I'm on those Peyote's too at the moment, aligned excuses, nice.
How are you finding them?
I've got the TNT ones and the sidewalls are massively stiff - if I run them at the same pressures as mt RoRa's my arms and shoulders get battered!
Also I managed to convince myself the the extra 300 grams for 2 was slowing me down more than it probably was.
On the plus side they went up tubeless massively easily and I haven't flatted (yet). And they were free, which makes me feel [i]reet pro![/i] 😉
steve_b77 - MemberBought the jersey to match the bike 🙄
i was only joshing, I wondered if you were some kind of modest xc-supremo!
This talk of normal tyres is making me anxious I've been too cautious! 😆
Really like them to be honest, I'm on the 2.1's and they coped just fine with the trails at Cannock the other week and the 40km slog round the chase that followed.
To be fair I don't run a lot of pressure anyway, they were far easier to get on than the TNT cross tyres on my cross bike. Went up easily, but I'm used to Bonty tyres so nothing new there.
They clear well too, although I did part with some (small amount) cash for mine, so I'm clearly not as Pro as you 😆
I like the natty grey side walls too.
nah, they're coming up from the south.i was only joshing, I wondered if you were some kind of modest xc-supremo!
For anyone who wants to make a tyre choice here's my photos from Saturday but I only ventured into the first section:
[url= https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c0nm9wo5y5jukys/AACutZslixJ8NPai8ooJfmpMa?dl=0 ]Conditions photos at Llandegla on Saturday[/url]
Marvelous, cx studs are staying in the shoes
so, who can cycle one handed whilst wielding a chainsaw? to be fair looking at that, normal tyres proably be ok, bar the puddles looks dry
There's a preview video for the first round of the nationals up:
Thanks ferrals - that's great, it's my first national and no idea what to expect!
i was only joshing, I wondered if you were some kind of modest xc-supremo!
nah, they're coming up from the south.
Well, there are some KTM guys coming up from t'south but XC-supremos???? Hmmmmmmmmmmm 😆
I've posted a novice question to the Welsh XC thread if anyone can help me understand the Welsh XC racing format that would be great, thanks.
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/welsh-xc-series-for-2016/page/2?replies=57#post-7567478 ]Welsh XC Thread Link[/url]
Thanks for the replies... faster than I could post the link! 🙂
Just been round Sherwwod Pines this afternoon and apart from the great weather there are some really dry sections but also some massive puddles and muddy bits so who knows what tyres for tomorrow!
Practice lap on ralphs I reckon then. If it gets a bit too sketchy I'll swap with the beaver.
I was on Ron's today, my kids were on Ralph's and all fine, will be on XR2's tomorrow which are very similar to Ralph's.
Good luck too all at Midlands xc tomorrow, I'm Commisaire for the event, looking forward too the day, just not the 5am start and 3 hour drive!
Fast Birds it is then. Still planning on bringing Rons and Dans just in case!
Stylish - great event today, well done.
Bit of a disaster for me though! Lack of race pace in the early stages did not put me in a great place, was running about 9th or 10th in GV with a guy just behind me. Went to overtake a back marker in the last half mile, moved off line and found a hidden rut which inelegantly tipped me off and left me as badly winded as I have ever been, enough of a 'crack' as I went down to make me think I'd done a rib but think it might be okay now.
Really enjoyed the course today, it had enough variety to get a good rhythm with the odd technical challenge thrown in.
How did everyone else get on?
Fast Birds
tubs?
how do you find them? ive got a set of tub wheels at home and need to find a reason to keep them
First race of the year done today at Sherwood Pines. Twenty years since I last raced there (and XC for that matter) and I certainly haven't got any quicker. Fat and unfit sums up today, but I enjoyed it. Decent course and well organised. Looking forward to the rest of the series,although I'm going to need a fair few more hours on TrainerRoad.
Just home after a great day at Sherwood, a fog bound drive up this morning wasn't the best start to the day, but all ok in the end, great too see so many racers out, who looked like they were enjoying themselves, some really good rides across the classes, back too the flatlands of the East for me, but hope too see many of you out on the race courses again.
And well done to the Sherwood Team, keep it up.
Good course at Sherwood today, sure there was some trees I didn't bounce off..
I did ok but wife got a second 😀 She's a bit bruised and battered though as misjudged speed off a fire road, apparently still bounces well !
Good fun course at Sherwood yesterday although I found the first few bits of singletrack really hard work, especially at the end when they were all cut up.
Didn't make my stretch goal of top 20 but I made my goal of getting some points so I'm pretty happy with how I did (28/52, solid mid pack).
Legs felt quite flat at the start but that's probably because I got quite cold waiting at the start. It's a lot more entertaining when you've got some people around you too race with, a lot of my races last year were at the tail end of the middle and I found it quite a lonely place to ride.
Had a blast at Sherwood yesterday.
First race and only fun class, but I really enjoyed it and don't think I've rode that fast for an hour ever. Some of the early single track was pretty torn up and sticky on the second lap, hate to think what it was like in the afternoon.
Was hoping for mid pack (probably way to ambitious!), but ended up 17th of 25, so not quite where I wanted but pretty good for a big unfit bloke!
I'm looking forward to my first outing at this Sunday's Wentwood 50.
Ill 🙁
great course at Sherwood - midpack 23rd (room for improvement :wink:)
Results out for the Welsh xc, 11th out of 19 in sport so mid pack, though I was aiming for top half. While the guy in tenth was only a minute ahead, 9th was 10 minutes ahead so a bit of work ahead. I got caught up behind a slow moving vet in singletrack on the first lap and lost sight of the people ahead of me, though struggled myself in the more technical single-track. Good course in general, though I didn't like the first section of singletrack. Looking at lap times only one guy overtook me after the first lap which is encouraging.
Can't remember which thread it was that suggested taping gels to the bike, but tried that and it worked a treat. Way better than reaching into back pocket.
Really looking forward to Pembrey now, be great to be the first group off rather than last and having to deal with back markers of other races.
Had a blast at Sherwood yesterday.First race and only fun class, but I really enjoyed it and don't think I've rode that fast for an hour ever. Some of the early single track was pretty torn up and sticky on the second lap, hate to think what it was like in the afternoon.
I thought it was ok, and I had the Elites, Experts, Junior, and Sport plough through before me 🙂 There was one really sticky bit that was a bit of an arse, but mostly fine, just a bit soft. Much prefer that to 'wet' mud, if you know what I mean. At least on that type, the tyres grip and it's actually quite fast if you get the line right. Just slippy on the roots, but we all avoid them, don't we 🙂
Sport cat for the first national entered 😀
How much of a step up in ability/speed are national events compared to regional ones? Just hoping I dont get lapped!!
tubs?
how do you find them? ive got a set of tub wheels at home and need to find a reason to keep them
I absolutely love them, one of the best things I ever bought. As long as you can glue them yourself, they are great. However changing tyres just is too much of a faff, so I'm planning on leaving them until they're bollocksed and then replacing.
I would like some Rhinos to go with though, the Fast Birds are capable but get overwhelmed in the mud.
Should say this is 650, haven't tried 29er tubs.
Wanted to add that Sunday was OK for me, 15th Expert, despite a bout of food poisoning a couple of days before.
Blog post about it here:
http://www.paleoracing.co.uk/index.php?itemid=243
Interested in experience with mtb tubs too. Love them for 'cross & have a spare are Remerx wheelset that would be perfect - was looking at Tufo who do a very fast looking 2.0 & a slightly grippier looking 2.2.
Will be dabbling in some of the longer events this year on a singlespeed Swift for Singular, more as prep for the ' cross season.
I've only run Dugasts so far, but heard good things about the Geax and Tufos.
Nutcracker rd 1 at Whinlatter this Sunday, weather looking good. Should be a fast course with plenty of elevation 😀
Who else is racing this weekend then?
After my appalling showing at the first round of the WMBS I made the knee jerk reaction to enter the second Run and Ride event at Eastnor.
Anyone else heading there?
I am doing the Southern XC at black park tomorrow! First time racing open for me....little bit nervous I am usually pottering round at the back of fun!
As long as you can glue them yourself, they are great
whats it matter? i can tape, never tried gluing
do you run any stans inside them?
are your fast bird 50 or 52s?
so many questions
got a pair of SRAM Rise XX cheap thats the only reason i ask 🙂
After seeing far too many rolled off, I have no confidence in just tape, so wanted to glue to be sure. You may have more luck!
I have had one puncture in the front, so that has some PitStop in it now. Rear has been fine so far.
And yep, they are 50s but would probably get 52s next time.
Nutcracker Rd1 at Whinlatter was an awesome course, cant think of a race with a tougher climb in it.
Last day to enter round one of the Nationals at Pembrey. Had a bit of a mosey round today, not sure if I have the course 100% right but the bits I'm sure about are epic. Super fast, my average speed round a lap was 20.5km/h which is fast for me! Will be a tough race, pacing needed as little clear cut recovery sections. The new drop Matt built is nuts, much scarier in the flesh than in the photos on Facebook. I'll definitely be b-lining, but it will be a good challenge for those with the skills!
I've just got back from a 3 day stage race in Spain. It was brilliant. Report up here:
http://www.xcracer.com/stage-racing-in-spain--yes-please.html
We enter many events in Andalucia, Spain that are promoted on http://www.andaluciaciclismo.com/pcalendario2016?temporada=2016, http://global-tempo.com/ and http://www.cruzandolameta.es/carreras/proximas/. If you see any event that you are interested in let us know, and we will arrange everything, entry, transport etc. http://bikingandalucia.com/bike-and-duathlon-competitions-and-event/ refers
Pembrey will be my first ever round of the Nationals. Looking forward to it, I think, assuming I survive the charge off the line with 50 other overexcited sport riders and make it into the first corner intact.