Glad to hear that the race went well Kryton! Nice work
Cheers. 'Chef. Steve what kit are you? Ill be moonlighting in blue PB Cycles RT top single pink band on the sleeve.
Right, nutrition talk time. I've been using skratch for a while now but I fancy a change since I've just run out.
As I see it, I can either carry on keeping bottles for hydration and gels as fuel (which seems to work for me but I don't know if it's the most effective method) or I could use something like torq/high 5 in my bottles and potentially use less gels (depending on how I'm feeling of course).
I'd like to keep it fairly natural and avoid really sweet things (like the high 5 energy powder) as I find they can get a bit sickly by the end of a race.
I know that everyone is different but I'm interested to see if there's a general consensus on anything.
I go for the high5 zero in a bottle (1 tablet per 700ml bottle) and gels. The one time i tried a bottle of energy drink i got really bad cramp.
I might switch to using isogels not standard gels as if hot gels are a bit cloying. I'm happy with the sugary stuff though, typically dont have that much, one befre the start and a couple during race.
Pembrey next weekend?
Well done r8Jimbob88 on the podium! I loved racing Dalby last year, cant make nationals so hope its still on next year!
Kryton57 - Member
Cheers. 'Chef. Steve what kit are you? Ill be moonlighting in blue PB Cycles RT top single pink band on the sleeve.
KTM Impsport kit, black with a big orange band across the chest and fluro orange / yellow sleeves.
As for the nutrition, I used to have the High 5 stuff but it can get sickly, I now use Nutrixxion (granted they're a team sponsor) but it's actually nice and doesn't give me gut rot. They nice flavours too
I've been using Tailwind nutrition for the last couple of years with very good success.
http://www.tailwindnutrition.co.uk/
Cheers ferrals. I'm proper chuffed! I'm also at Pembrey on Saturday. I'm driving down Friday night and staying over. Never raced there before, seen a clip form last year and it looks good fun. Looks more sandy than muddy?
Pembrey next weekend?
Nah it's just too far away, was at BotB at the weekend and the journey was exhausting!
I might get some samplers of the nutrixxion and tailwind stuff and see how I get on.
Nutrition for me is mostly MyProtien. I use Pro:Long for my bottles, and Soy Protien Isolate for recovery, with something to eat for the carbs.
From an eating perspective I generally stick to "wholefoods" - Mts K is really good as finding wholefood snacks - like the wholefood millionare shortbread bites - from Ocado.
I used High5 Gels on the bike although I'm trying SIS at the moment.
@r8jimbob88, yeah more sandy than muddy, but we've a fair amount of rain forecast so sure it will get muddy in places. Its great race venue IMO, I'll be in sport too.
here's a vid I made of the elite races last year:
I'm fully expecting to be smashed as not trained this year at all, fitness isn't attrocious but not done anything sprinty or high intensity since early december!
ferrals - nice video, just got the van packed and heading to Pembrey with the caravan, please say hi if you are there, I'm number 620 (I think) in GV, bright orange kit and a black Top Fuel.
Have a good one.
Iain
Probably see you there iain, I'm racing sport on sat, blue white and maroon kit, no 459. Slightly concerned with where I've been gridded given aformentioned lack of fitness. I'm imagining being crushed by a stampede of up-for-it youngsters!
Some mates did a trail run there last night and said it was very dry despite some rain the last few days 🙂
Its good idea but i am not interested it.
I'm toying with the idea of racing the Builth mtb marathon next weekend. Never done one, never even ridden 65km before, longest ride i'vedonerecently is about an hour and a half. Dumb idea? I'm also confused as to whether it's actually a race or a sportive type thing as they give rider times not positions. Could do the 45km one I guess. How technical are they?
I've been using Tailwind nutrition for the last couple of years with very good success.
Do they make you fart?
Ferrals - you definitely are right at the sharp end - just go for it! Hopefully see you tomorrow, raining here now 🙁
Iain, mtb marathons are definitely races for the first 50-100 riders. Not technical. Do night race if long seems too long, but you'll be fine. Good luck tomorrow.
Good to meet you Iain, good luck tomorrow!
Enjoyed Pembrey today, fun course and had some close racing. Funnily enough, despite poor preparation and no structured training I came more or less where I came in all the Nationals last year. Chasing commuters and sleep deprivation has there merits!
Hope whoever it was came acropper on the a line is ok.
Edit. Cheers Chrispo. Might give it a crack!
Do it Ferrals - I'll see you there!
Likewise Ferral, good to meet you and well done yesterday. Thanks, Iain.
Pembrey was a fantastic course. The A lines were fantastic and a fair bit quicker than the B lines. I'm happy with the results. Despite being gridded at the back I provisionally came 8th in the Sport cat. Saying that, I've been missed from the results completely but the lap timer guy had a paper record with me on it. I reckon my chip was goosed!
Midlands Swynnerton next weekend folks? That'll be 4 races in 4 weekends for me!
Well done! Your gridding to placing was the reverse of mine 😆
My only criticism is we could have done another lap to get to the 1.5hr time, though given that I lost 3-4 places on the last lap no bad thing for my result! Lost two places messing up gearing on the climb to the first a/b split 😳
Thought the a-b lines were spot on, I road all the b lines and apart from the last one there was only a couple of seconds in it
Yea another lap definitely. Reckon I'd have gained another two places with another lap as I was closing in on the guys ahead!
My mate is racing Expert today. He's doing 5 laps and Elite are doing 6.
Those two sandy climbs were horrific!
That's the normal number of laps for expert/elite. Heard they shortened it, sounds an odd choice.
Shortened the lap number or the course? It was a long lap distance but my lap times mid pack sport were 22.55, 22.55, 23.20 (pleased with the consistency 😆 ). The sport winner must have been sub an hour. Would have been faster today as the puddles/damp bits were were being ridden dry yesterday afternoon.
Thought the a-b lines were spot on, I road all the b lines and apart from the last one there was only a couple of seconds in it
I thought b lines were supposed to be a disadvantage?
Anyone got a link to the results today in Pembrey? I think I ended up 15th in GV but not sure, lost my chain on the sandy steep climb on the last lap and my team mate got past me, which did make him happy at least! In fairness, he was quicker than me!
Managed all the a lines which was looking doubtful on Saturday so pleased with the weekend all in all.
Shortened the lap number or the course?
Sorry, meant I heard they shortened the sport race, a friend was racing. Not the others.
I think they use the Sport race as a bit of a Guinea pig to help decide the number of laps for the Sunday races. My lap times were all around 21min 30s give or take a few seconds.
I'm still waiting for the results to be fixed as I'm still missing!
All my lap times were in the 21 mins as well going by Strava, the a-b line deficits as I saw it were:
Gap jump, 5 secs
Rooty descent, 8 secs
Hobbit drop, 5 secs
All seemed pretty fair.
Good result Iain! Somewhat regretting not trying the a-lines. Even though I know it makes no difference whether I come 20th or 30th afterwards I always look at the results and count the seconds 😳 according to my hr monitor I wasn't trying hard enough either, average hr 160, probably as I was spinning out a lot on the flat. (Race was same time as a cx race where average hr is 175+ )
Pretty certain I could have ridden the a-lines but didn't get a chance to practise them arriving at 1.15 for the 2.30 race. That's my one bugbear with the national series, the 12-2 practise is so congested it's hard for sport riders to get a full practise lap in and a decent look at the a-b lines. That said, at Pembrey, it would have probably been fine if I'd got there to start at twelve.
Had said I wouldn't do Wasing but might have to break that promise!
My average HR for Pembrey was 186 with a max of 195 😯
😯 😯
I would be dead at 195 😆
I've averaged 195 for a Southern XC before!
The more I think about it more I want to race Wasing, I'm only going to be an hour away that weekend and I guess being centrally located should be a big sports cat field so nice tight racing. Only problem being I said I wouldn't as we're going to be at my folks with our 3 month old so maybe a bit unfair to leave my wife carless for too long. How reasonable is it to race wasing without a pre-ride? Many a-b lines or bits that might sneak up on you? I've seen the big drop photos and i wont be riding that! I'm thinking get there 1.45 so i dont miss registration, warm up, race and hammer home, can make it a 4hr excursion!
Wasing if absolutely terrifying.
I don't think you could choose a worse course to race without a pre ride.
I've just entered Wasing. It's another 190 mile each way trip! Anyone know if there is camping on site?
It seems the Nutcracker series is fading. The sports category for this Sunday only has 2 entrants compared to the midlands series at Swynnerton that already has 30 entrants (same race date). Just wondering if anyone on here is turning their back on the nutcracker series and why?
For me, Midlands races are a little closer to home. Nutcracker Course practice is only available first thing meaning a very early start to get there even if i'm not racing until late morning / afternoon. Midlands series allows practice between race 1 & 2 meaning it's not a silly early start. That's the main factor for me as I can rock up about lunch, get a practice lap in and race straight away. I've asked the nutcracker guys about a later practice lap but was told no. In addition, results can take weeks and their website still has last years schedule on it. Anyone else?
adsh - MemberWasing if absolutely terrifying.
I don't think you could choose a worse course to race without a pre ride.
Guess I better persevere with diplomacy for a longer day out then! 😆
Whats the scoop with Scott Marathon registration and pre-ride info? Nothing appears to be sent out via email - is that normally the case?
Official results from Pembrey online. They can't be that official though as I'm missing still! Booooo!
I've contacted them again. I want my points!
I keep clicking on rootsandrain to see the lap analysis but they are not there yet 😥
I'm toying with the idea of racing the Builth mtb marathon next weekend. Never done one, never even ridden 65km before, longest ride i've donerecently is about an hour and a half. Dumb idea? I'm also confused as to whether it's actually a race or a sportive type thing as they give rider times not positions. Could do the 45km one I guess. How technical are they?
Remember it's not a race 😆 😉 It's a off-road challenge where they give out times and announce Nick Craig as the winner.
Go for it, you can always bail on the long one at one of the various course crosses,
Whats the scoop with Scott Marathon registration and pre-ride info? Nothing appears to be sent out via email - is that normally the case?
Yup, they don't send out courses as a lot is on private land so you can't ride them before or after unless you're a Welsh Farmer.
General script is rock up, sign on, get bag of free stuff, eat free pasta, ride (race), collect free t-shirt, queue for the bike wash, go home 8)
There are some "untagged" photos from Pembrey on roots and rain. I guess the e-mails will go out form R&R once the results are uploaded.
What's your name Ferrals? I go by the name of James Stockton...
Thanks ferrals, I was also down on HR with pretty dull legs despite feeling good on Saturday. I did have to go back out on the last practice on Saturday to get that last A line sorted out as I kept bottling it on the lunchtime one, after getting my nerve up to ride over it, it was fine.
Nutcracker events are fading a little I think, I don't want to slag them off too much. I love having these xc races local to me and understand the hard work that goes in.
However, using the same courses year after year, with little or no change or adding in a short man made section with no flow etc, waiting a week for the results, no actual podiums for the winners, hardly any race photographs, having to go through the BC entry faff, and packing up before racing has finished isn't good practice, all that for £25 - and 90 mins (if your lucky) racing, with no practice lap, hardly surprising!
