[Closed] Bontrager 24/12 2012

I have no idea how it compares to Gorrick's but it is always a technical lap with everything from roots/rocks and bombholes to technical climbing. Newham Parks stands up pretty well in the wet and the weather next week should not effect it that badly. Tire wise I dont think you will need Mud X's from the start but bring in case of biblical rain. I am based in Exeter and at the mo it dry and breezy so I think the trails will be well drained before the rain comes. My gut feeling High Rollers might be my choice to start.

Hope this helps a little!

Provided you are not on semi slicks you should be fine. The course never ends up like mayhem.

Unless it's absolutely biblical the course will be fine. With mud anxiety one of my team mates last year put a pair of mud x's on. They only lasted one lap until he switched back to his Nevegals. The terrain has a mix of roots and rock, with few really earthy sections to get boggy. His mud x's just slipped off all the roots and rock like football studs.

In moist conditions at Newnham i've had best results with Advantage 2.1's.

Apparently I have been told by a local its muddy :-). It holds up well in the rain, i will run a 2.25 ralph rear and i maybe might put something with more grip on the front. I always found that Rocket Rons pinged off the rocks there, cant understand the mud x comment maybe he had them blown up too hard as had no such issue when i used one just on the front when i raced solo there back in 2009 and 2010...

i live 5mins away and its not too bad atm.
fwiw mud x will be fine.

Bigger climbs than you usually get at the Gorricks but technically probably not all that different/difficult. The terrain also gets a little more varied and that does make it a nice place to ride.

Not-too-hard mud-x's have done me fine on previous wet years. It wasn't too muddy last year even with weather like this the preceding week, and drizzle for about 8 hours during the race itself: I think I had a part-worn Small Block 8 on the back and still got round 8 or 9 wettish laps fine! There is usually a river crossing at least once a lap which is is really rather good for optimising your mud clearance!

In previous discussions, some of the more technically gifted and less heavy (in weight that is) racers amongst us have talked of getting on fine with rocket rons or similarly minimal-tread tyres even when muddy.

I recommend getting there the night before for beer/cheese and a recce lap, and then just imagine the course you rode in practice, but with more rain, mud and exposed roots as the race goes on.

BTW, for its size, it is the beshtesht race [i]ever[/i].

In a mad burst of optimism, I've taken the post Mayhem mud X's off + bunged a crossmark rear+ either Ardent/Ikon/bonty FR3/back to Mud X, front depending on how it looks on Friday.
So leaving MudX's on will probly turn out to be the right choice...

Solo so fast + sketchy isn't going to be allot of fun after a few laps.
Keep us posted

To clear up the confusion I started about Mud X's. It was the 1st and only time my friend had used them! He is used to bloody great big 2.35 Nevegals and probably had to Mud X's pumped up too hard...It surprised me he didn't get on with them as I have seen others getting on very well with Mud X's at Newnham in the wet.

Thanks for all the answers.

What kind of mud is it, sloppy wet or claggy or the sandy stuff that ruins the drivetrain / brake pads?

its er mud....sloppy wet and brown....no issues with pads etc though it isn't a grinding paste.
Currently drizzling here in Plympton and everything is well soaked after last night!
it'll be moist whatever happens for the next few days.

[url= http://www.twentyfour12.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=104&Itemid=1 ]Final details of what's going on and when have been put up on the site. [/url]

Says they'll change the course at the last minute depending on the weather and gates open from 6pm on Thursday for us early campers!

[url= http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings/ ]Severe weather warnings[/url] including flooding commencing Friday in the South West!!
My enthusiasm is really beginning to wane 😥

Likewise. After Mayhem...
Mud tyres back on then.

My enthusiasm has gone.

I am more worried about the camping than the race tbh. There are enough bits of the course that are fun whatever the weather to keep it funny to ride on, and I can prepare my bike for a mudfest and wash it in the river between/during laps, but I have less control over my tent blowing away, the campsite being waterlogged and the shower cubicles being ankle deep in mud. 😕

just come back from a ride around the area (not in newnham but in cann just over the road) very muddy soaking wet everywhere but still good fun!
oh and fwiw i have my summer spesh fast tracks on and was fine.

good luck!

You should go back now and sleep in the mud for a few hours, then wake up and keep riding.
Please post up how you feel in the morning 😀
Joking mate, cheers for the update.

@hugor 😀

I'm with julian, the campsite will be boggy i reckon, maybe the slopy field would be a better bet and its still trackside...

Dammit Phillips, I have camped within 30 yards of the same spot of trees/river/track for the last four years. You aren't going to get me to change now!

thanks for the updates.
Beginning to wonder whether its worth going now plus got a cold and few niggling injuries.

MudX will be fine and will probably be what I'm running. Not as good as High Rollers for grip but will clear a little better. I think the river crossing will be interesting if it does get worse, there will be a queue for the footbridge no doubt! As Julian said I'm more worried about camping. Been offered a bed for the weekend at a mates but that's defeating the object really.

Carl - that's good to hear as currently got a fast track and captain on!

Singletrackhor - me too, got a chest infection last week. Been looking forward to this for months though

[url= http://connect.garmin.com/activity/195048083 ]Course on Garmin. [/url]

far as I can work out from the trace and my fading memory:

three climbs,
Elfordleigh Wood, Concrete Climb and Clif Climb,

three river crossing
2 bridges
One water splash Decent bridge option

Bluebell Woods
Bombholes
Cottage Return
Paint Ball
Caldron
Shooting ground
Shred splitter
Carriage drive
Grassty decent into arena

I reserve the right to have got that wrong.

Balls - thought it was just two river crossings. Saw the bridge and the one with the foot bridge next the the ford but don't know the other one. A few climbs to keep you entertained. I'm just glad the bear pit isn't in it. I'm pretty sure the rock garden is in it though. Could be entertaining!

Interesting names, thanks. Are any of those sections likely to be muddy enough to require full mud tyres? The opinions on this page so far seem to be mixed but there looks to be loads of rain forecast up to and during.

At the moment I'll probably set up my spare bike with Mud-Xs and keep the X-King/Race King on my main bike.

Taff,

If you mean the Rock Garden from the SW champs then no not there.

Crossing are:

Wide bridge into show field (100% certain)
Concrete crossing (Ford) with gangway bridge to side bottom of Pipeline (100%)
Single gangeway bridge after shooting ground (50%)

Paulio
I've no idea what Mud-x tryes are like, Just googled them and they look similar to the Spez Captains that I have as spare. My intention is to run Captain front and box fresh Fast track on the rear with a spare Captain rear in case I've got it wrong.

I'll be working Registration on Fri/Sat so feel free to come and moan if my tyre suggestion/course description is way off!

Cheers, after a quick Google your choice looks like the Specialized equivalent of my first choice Conti pair so I can't be too mad. 😉

There will be muddy bits on that course but you will suffer in full on mud tyres more so than if you had faster tyres and slip around a bit in the mud.

That's what I figured (and hoped) but it's good to hear it from someone that knows.

In the last FoD enduro it was so muddy, all the way around pretty much, that my wheels clogged up and wouldn't fit through the frame and I really want to avoid that happening again! Sounds like it should be relatively ok this weekend.

You don't want spikes in the area, definate no for Cann woods which has loads of roots. Used MudX tyres at the SW series [although dry] and was a little slippy on the roots but well grippy on the off camber without sacrificing weight. It's a good all-round tyre anyway

Just got some Hans Dampf - no idea if they'll be suitable, but it's just such a cool name.

I appear to be packing a lot of crap I probably won't need

Ha ha! Same here. I am staying over at a mates so packed last night and am driving down early tomorrow. We are aiming to take 1 car for 3 of us. Hmmm. I have even bought some cheap golf brollies & wellies.

I'm not going into stuff I've packed, will only question it again!! Got wellies and waterproofs for when off the bike hoping I won't actually need them.

Been into Newnham this afternoon, wasn't allowed to ride but camping field was fine. No problems and Martyns got temp roadway in reserve just in case.

Remember to say howdy at registration, no messing mind. Sheriff will be in town.

Good stuff. Summer tyres are staying on so it WILL be fine! Is the camping field filling up already? Can you park the car next to your tent? I'll be in solo if that makes a difference. Don't want to leave a lot of stuff in my tent unguarded

Packing an awful lot for 25 hrs in a feild.
Leaving 0630 Sat from Hampshire .
Why cant it just be sunny like this afternoon , twas glorious on the coast.
Mud X's , crud catcher , neo guard, mudguard , plus Nevegal / ADvantage if its drier than i expect , then Race Kings if drier than that hahahahahahahahahah.

Dry? Local BBC forecast put a huge blue blob over Plymouth for all of Sat 😥

As it is my riding buddy isn't keen so I might be in for a 12 hour very wet solo, first time for everything I guess.

At least it looks like the Torchbearer riders won't have the rain.

Fair play Rob. I had contemplated coming down Saturday morning too but didn't want to risk it plus I would be knackered. Just check traffic for any issues at Canford Bottom although should be OK by the time you get there.

Only about 4 tents in the solo field so far and we've all got our cars next to our tents. It's a lovely evening here, would be great (and miraculous) if it is like this on Saturday.

If the weather is going to be as good as predicted, I think that it could be a long 12.....

Any one else up for making a SSWC style beer lane through the pits area??? 😀

My rain prediction.-
Biblical till start time , then mizzle for next 2 - 3 hours . Followed by a few light showers in the wind. No precipitation on Sunday.

Is everyone taking bike cleaning stuff? Packed the car and lying in bed I've just thought about it! Don't know whether to grab a brush etc as can clean it in the river... Is that too much faff I don't know

the queue for the bike wash will be as apocalyptic as the weather.