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Just done a skills course there this morning in the rain, it's really slippery and a few puddles too. Hopefully it'll get a chance to dry out.....
good old stanmer, 4 weeks of sunshine, 3 days of rain and its a swamp!
Better wet right through though than wet on dry - thats evil.
sounds like the suns on its way though!
Tim - we will all be judged on the day!
You will be fxxxxxed after six hours on the ss.
cant wait!
Training has consisted of 2 weeks power eating in France.
I'll be on the 29er running a Ralph on the back and Rocket Ron up front. Why? Because that's what's on it.
Might bring the Soul in case its a total shitfest.
Was nearly sick going up summer down last night. This training thing is massively overrated. The beer tent is open all day right?
SS is ok around the Big Dog course, the section over the bridge is quite hard in traffic but its rideable, I'm sure Al from Singular will be racing and chance's are he'll podium. The entry looks big this year, seems to have turned into a classic, hopefully the trails can cope with the traffic
[url= http://chris-noble-mtb.blogspot.com/ ]http://chris-noble-mtb.blogspot.com/[/url]
I've entered singlespeed pairs. I enjoyed the mudfest a few years ago! I'll chuck on the Spesh storms if it's wet and enjoy the slides...
Any ideas on who the winner might be. Any past winners shipping up.
weather is now very hot and news is that its drying out quickly.
Ben and I (and I think Tim) are entered again and I hear Isaac (2nd under 23 at Nat Champs) might be coming too. Not sure which cat Al's doing. Last year it was Ben, Tim, me 1/2/3 but I had some issues with a broken saddle and chainsuck, hopefully now remedied...
if it's dry - my black Yelli Screamy 1x10. If it's wet, and my mate has space in his van for 2 bikes, my Salsa Selma SS.
tyres Nobby Nics both ends both bikes, fit and forget.
darkcyan - MemberAnyone been training specially. what have you done.
let me know.
Had a little swim in the sea today, and the climb up the hill back into town was tough in my flip flops... my training's being going great out here in Croatia. At least the carb-loading is going to plan 😀
6hrs solo round Stanmer was gonna hurt either way, at least I'll be rested. Looking forward to seeing you guys then.
Sounds nice paceman. long steady taper! 😉
As per previous note anyone who wants to look at the course few of us setting out from stanmer cafe, 9.00 sunday morning
big dod daily weather check:-(
dog!!!!! 😉
Has it been raining again?
Biblical thunderstorm...
what was that critter on ground hog day. was it a goffer?
gopher
'Punxatawny Phil' IIRC
thats what we need 😉
what was that critter on [b]ground hog[/b] day. was it a goffer?
on reflection, probably a ground hog!
no idea if that's the same as a gopher, and I refuse to look it up
Been with the kids all day, roasting by the Pells pool in lewes.
Very boring but the flip side is the trails will be drying up.
Did a scoot around the internet but not that much chatter about Big Dog. I guess there are other things going on in the world.
Like new wheel standards - wonder if there will be any 650b's at the race.
Also will there be a mystery guest like in some of the previous years.
Have put some ridiculously narrow 711mm bars on the bike (it feels like it's tottering around on high heels), looked up Stanmer Park Tea Rooms on maps, and am intending to join you Sunday AM. That's the plan anyhoo.
We're going to be hemmed in by the Surrey Classic here on Sunday so it'll be an early start before the roads close. I'm not at my best early Sunday mornings ...
mattig, see you there at nine. its right at the top of the park. drive in through the main entrance. follow the road all the way up past stanmer house. turn right at the junction and then first left. the t rooms are 100 yards on the left.
Chaps, I guess you'll be out riding for a couple of hours tomorrow?
I'm [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/south-downs-way-conditions-2 ]meeting up with Gribble[/url] early on and was wondering whether to try and swing by on my way back from Ebo.
Not sure who the last post was aimed at but i will be in the park till 12.00.
happy to meet up with anyone who comes late.
number is 07813947674.
will check phone during the ride.
lots of other stanmer trails to ride as well as big dog loop.
Nick if I can haul my a*** out of bed at 6 on a Sunday, and I don't get caught in the road closures (bloody roadies!) I'll be there at 9 ish.
Look for an old dented Saab 900 and a MAMIB (Middle Aged Man in Baggies) on a 29er HT, stealth build. The bike that is not the rider.
Will txt either way. Thx for the directions.
ok will do.
trails will be good as lots of sun today.
cheers nick
darkcyan et al.....you are doing a great public service...please keep us updated on trail conditions - preferably for all of next week as well 😀
.you are doing a great public service...please keep us updated on trail conditions - preferably for all of next week as well
nah you get what you get, chill out & take what comes. was a time I used to get all in a tizzy over snow reports before going skiing, but it was a total waste of time really, it didn't make any difference!
nah you get what you get, chill out & take what comes. was a time I used to get all in a tizzy over snow reports before going skiing, but it was a total waste of time really, it didn't make any difference!
i get your point, but I'll be travelling 5 hours each way, am pretty skint at the moment, and wouldn't hugely fancy pushing my racing ralph shod bike around a slidey muckfest for 6 hours getting my rage on 👿
that said the forecast for the next week in the southeast is looking more promising so hopefully all will be rosy.....
for sure, I went on the recce ride today (thx Nick), it's near optimal I'd say, a tiny bit drier but not too much would be perfect
the descent from the top back to the meadow is fun, one of those trails that feels longer on the way down than the climb to get to it
Trails running well. badgers a little greasy but should be good assuming no more rain.
Coldean in reverse is quite brutal - another long climb to deal with.
A little bit of mud hear and there but generally good.
one of those trails that feels longer on the way down than the climb to get to it
and conditions generally good...
8)
bring it on then!
if the race was today ralphs would be sketchy in a few places but generally ok.
personally i prefer something with a little more grip on the front - but that's me being cautious.
bit of rear spin on the damp grunty climbs as you go over roots. if its really dry no problem. fingers crossed.
Just checked the forecast - dry all the way if you believe the bbc. should be spot on.
you can pack away the mud tyres 🙂
I had a quick recce today too. Looked ok to me.
One thing though....Brighton are at home on Saturday and the stadium over the road from the park. And Shed loads of people use the woods as a cut through on matchdays (although I think they've put parking restrictions in Coldean this year which may limit it).
Could make for an interesting 2-3pm and 5-5.30pm section of the race
Don't worry about the Albion, Lewes are the number one team in Sussex 😉
five days to go - what's your final prep / tyre choice / bike / clothing.
Final prep: Train right through as didn't do enough when i should have. Go in a bit tired and hope the legs hold out.
Tyres: Rubena Kratos front and rear. Very nice indeed.
Bike: Niner Air Nine - scandium
Lycra top, baggy shorts.
Food: Energy drink, gels, bananas and jaffa cakes, block shock things.
It's raining but the rest of the week look good.
That said the bbc said we would miss the rain that is now hitting my window. 😐
[b]Final prep:[/b] The rest of my training consists of reading this thread.
[b]Tyres:[/b] Nobby Nics both ends, fit & forget.
[b]Bike:[/b] Canfield Yelli Screamy, or perhaps my Salsa Selma if I come over all "**** it let's bin the gears".
Lycra team top, [s]baggy[/s] lycra shorts.
[b]Food:[/b] Werthers and Nurofen.
Best bit of training you can do - if you're local - is learning to get up the new climb right at the start. Im referring to the steep chalky climb, right after the bomb hole section. I reckon it will be mayhem on that climb, especially first lap, so being able to ride it quickly I think will be a real advantage. Not sure i'll be quick after 5 or 6 hours though.
Jesus - that is a b****!!!. Why on earth would they start on that - other than to give the crowd a good laugh.
Shit worried about that already.
Mattig - we didn't cover that one off. sounds like the course has been reworked more than i thought.
matt, lycra and gears?? You are not the man I thought you were...
The new route runs up the old way but then follows fire round round to the left (rather than turn right at that big tree) to bring you up to the singletrack entrance on the left. Down there, thru the bombhole, traverse across then turn right up the steep climb.
So basically if you don't get in a good position before that left turn into the singletrack you're stuck until the top of the steep climb as nowhere really to pass. Get caught behind someone slow or having a mechanical and it will be hard to recover. Stop on that hill and you're walking.
Should make the start much more of a challenge but very tough.