Sounds like it was a great weekend. Hopefully there's going to be a twentyfour12 next year as I really fancy having a crack at it as my first 24 solo.
Not long to go now until the Torq 12:12, if it's half as good as twentyfour12 sounds, it should be a good weekend as well 😀
My 2nd time at 24/12, first time racing. It may be a long way from anywhere (except Cornwall!), but it's the best race of its kind by far! Because of the distance, my GF and I decided to turn it into a very long weekend break (hence I've only just got home to get online), coming back home via Woolacombe, Exmoor, the Quantocks and Weston Super Mare after leaving the site on Monday morning which was nice!
Anyway... First time ever doing a solo for me. Only the 12hr (no way am I doing a 24 solo!), but I managed 12 laps and finished 14th out of 37, which I am more than pleased with! Camping with Jonny and Gareth of Loco racing (great effort guys, well done!) does bring home just how much quicker some people are, but as I've never spent more than 7hrs in the saddle in a day before, it was a genuine step up for me to do a 12hr solo, so I'm chuffed.
Highlights of the weekend (other than crossing the line and handing my bike to my mate not to have to get back on it again!) were:-
-Meeting Team Sumo, and spending hours on Sunday evening putting the world to rights over a couple of ciders with them.
-The Weather
-The Course
-The general atmosphere and everyone cheering everyone on
-The marshalls just before one of the water crossings blaring tunes out of their pickup at huge volume!
-Matt Carr being as mental as ever on the Microphone
-Very nearly everyone (including all of Team Torq) being exceptionally polite when passing me... In fact prize for the most polite overtake definitely goes to Mike Hall.
Some lowlights:-
-The catering... Normally I don't have to pay £4.50 to have to make my own (yes really!) Sausage and Bacon Bap. I appreciate they were busy, but what were they expecting? They could learn a few lessons from Quavers I'm afraid to say.
-The one guy who was desperate (on my 11th lap out of 12!) to get past me on a short sharp technical climb, who then held me up the moment he'd crested the climb and got onto following singletrack. I could have sworn but managed to almost bite my tongue muttering "if you're going to overtake me, ride faster than me" under my breath afterwards.
And that's about it to be honest. Thoroughly enjoyed it on the whole, and hope that the rumours of it moving from Newnham don't turn out to be true. Everyone I know that rode this year has said they'll definitely be back next year as long as it's happening.
Fun fun fun
Managed 26th 12 hr solo vets.
Just glad it wasnt wet.
Loved the course.
Need to see more photos.
I went down the rooty section 1 footed
And totally out of control on lap 5.
Took the wussy route to the right after that!
That zombie was hot.
Some of the lady riders were awesome.
Fell in love at least 4 times.
Big thanks to Bontrager / Trek for supporting the event for the last 8 years. Couldn't happen without them and I thought the Bonty teepee in the main arena was an excellent focal point.
Hopefully the event will continue at Newnham for many more years.
I was the guy on the On-One Fat Bike & I thought it was the best course for years at Newnham. All climbs were rewarded & not just there to make a climb. For me this was the best year for incidents, just two & both minor 'easy tiger' moments. Even the Torque riders had learnt to talk! & were very polite & encouraging,thank you Matt. It was defo a Fat Bike friendly course you just had to get that 1.3km Cliff Climb done. Other riders keep talking about roots & wet rocks, what roots & rocks? I didn't notice any on my 4inch Floaters 😉 A great event & great racing with you all, lets hope there is a next year !!! Now to prepare for Gulbergen 24 another Fat Bike adventure this time in the Netherlands.
My first 24:12 and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I came down wth the Sumo boys but couldn't resist taking it a little more seriously. Glad I did and 12 clear runs out of 14 down Cottage Return was well worth the climbs, the travelling and the entry fee.
Regrets:
Wish I'd ridden singlespeed rather than converting to 1x9 in anticipation of spinning round sedately in a Sumo suit, although I did switch to my Surly for one lap. I missed bouncy forks more than the gears.
Not getting to the arena early enough to get my son into the kids race.
@ThomThumb, wondered where you'd got to.
Got back last night (Tuesday) after spending a couple of days at Croyde with the boy. Mediocre surf but loads of glorious sunshine.
Mr Beerbiker I was the guy who called you a legend in the latter half of the race (may have had my RAF kit on them can't remember lol) that bike looke ace fun.
monkeychild thanks for your support. I did start as a Fat Bike pair with BeerBabe but she had a bad fall 7 weeks ago & broke 2 ribs, her wrist & knocked herself out! She felt sure that she'd OK but after 1 lap everything she had broken was hurting so it was best that she stopped & I carried on! Cottage was fantastic as was the section from the Farmyard to the finish. I also enjoyed the river st but I had a couple of moments in there. In the end I had no falls in 24 hours which was a result. Can't wait for the next one
😆
I saw beerbabe at the start and thought AWESOME!!
Beerbiker/beerbabes weapon of choice for 24/12 ....
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Beerbiker - Am I correct in thinking you are based on Dartmoor? If so, would love the chance some time to have a test ride on your Fatty?
Thoroughly loved the event as well. It was my 3rd 24/12 at Newnham and the best so far. So many positives. Please let it be back there next year. Just working out which race to enter next year!
julioflo Unfortunately not, we're in the Surrey Hills. A lot of folk thought we were from Dartmoor because we organised the Beer sponser (Dartmoor Brewery) and we served it on the friday night. It's just something we've always done for Martyn due to our beer connections. We did the same for the Exposure Euros. However if you are ever up this way give us a shout and you can take 'Fatso' or 'Cupcake' out for a spin. 😛
crispy bacon Great little spy shot there Bro 😉
