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Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to make it, so have a 6hr solo spot if anyone is keen to take that up at the last minute. Email in profile
Carbon wheels will be staying at home then....
There's a steep slightly off camber rooty descent about half way round that will be chaos on the first lap I'd imagine
Was it part of the course 2 years ago? I missed last year due to being on holiday so struggling to picture where you mean. Steep/off camber can apply to many parts of that side of Stanmer.
Painey - it runs down from the end of Cathedral (if you know trail names at Stanmer) down to the bottom fire road;
[url= https://www.strava.com/segments/1475684?filter=overall ]https://www.strava.com/segments/1475684?filter=overall[/url]
Think I'm with you. Was roughly in that area the other night so can appreciate the concern! Increasingly glad of my tyre choice for tomorrow.
Which is?
Current conditions are "Slipperier than an eel kebab" apparently...
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(from twitter)
If it's that rooty I'm taking my Spearfish! Added bonus - already has correct tyres fitted!
It's not all that rooty.
There's more in places.
Bit on polish on them, they'll be fine.
Was sad this week to be missing it, slightly less disappointed currently, seeing as I've managed some pretty big stacks these last couple of years in the dry, and I'm going on holiday next week!!
It's warm and windy in Brighton right now which is perfect conditions for drying out the Stanmer trails, another 24hrs and all but the worst hit sections should be rolling well. The same thing happened last year and my mid afternoon on the Saturday the combination of hundreds of tyres and the dry weather prior to the event had sorted things nicely.
There's new singletrack and everything;
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Note: the far side is a lot steeper than this one so either hit it fast and jump (no idea if this is possible but it sounds plausible) or get your weight back before you hit the top.
Really hoping it does dry out a bit more as this is my first race event and I'm happy with most things apart from wet roots! Doh!
Andy, don't worry about it, just take it at your own pace. Everyone is pretty friendly.
The course really does improve as more people go around, so things will only get better through the day as it's supposed to be dry
Can someone do a link to who is entered this year ? I can't find it, sorry
Note how the yellow lines point directly at that tree!
I have a pair of wheels with Xking front/Raceking rear and a pair with MK front/Xking rear which should cover most options.
I'm racing on an Ardent up front and an X-king rear. Big knobbly mud tyres are generally rubbish on slippery roots anyway and the chalk drains pretty well in summer
Note: the far side is a lot steeper than this one so either hit it fast and jump (no idea if this is possible but it sounds plausible)
It is! 🙂 I really like this new bit, brings you flat out into the final steep descent.
Thanks PACEMAN, couldn't see it for looking. Have a good one. We WERE 26" Ain't Dead but now we've all gone 650b so I guess it is !!
@Wwaswas/chiefgroove, is that the bit thats at the top of the old derelict downhill section?
is it rainin at the moment? hopefully me high roller on front will do the job?
Raining !
not sure have ever done a bone dry bigdog
IIRC the first one ever was dry?
I have just fitted Dirt Wizard front and Trax fatty rear in place of Knards....
Carbon wheels will be staying at home then....
Or get some Dugast Rhinos on them, which are what's on my fancy racier bike, but there is talk of singlespeeding it....
scrumfled - Member@Wwaswas/chiefgroove, is that the bit thats at the top of the old derelict downhill section?
Yep, that's where it is.
Looking forward to this, should be fun now it's "moistened up" a bit....
Still raining !
Pretty certain last year was dry? Dont remember getting wet. Chose to do torq this year as cant spare time to do both. It should be cracking. Good luck to those racing
was bit muddy dryed out though.
Is that jump rollable for first time round? Would like to get an idea of it before committing speed to a jump
Would anyone who's going mind getting me a mug? I'm getting a nice collection and can't go this year. Iirc it's a fiver and then free top ups, so you can have all the tea you want and I'll pay for the cup and then postage obviously (unless you're local to Guildford and I can pick it up)
Email in profile.
It's not raining!!
Coffee on, park opening up for 6am start.
Someone better bring Jaffa cakes (Luke!!)
Yes to cup. Drop me an email if you're not sorted.
Cheers
Tim
(Bleary eyed already)
cheers tim, sent you a mail
Well that was an awesome day! Managed 7 laps in solo vets before expiring at 5:30. Course was fantastic although it felt 90% uphill... No issues with dampness apart from a by slippy the first 2 laps. Great event, well done the organisers...
big thanks to all big dog crew ****in awesome, best yet for me and my team mate. yep bit slippy to start then just got better!!
Great day and thanks to the organisers and marshals for putting in so much effort.
Hope there was enough jaffa cakes Tim!
Did a practice lap and nearly got in the car and came home - mojo not there and frankly terrified. Modified goals to taking part, getting some racing miles in and not breaking self.
Started close to the front and buried self to avoid first lap mayhem. As tank emptied mojo increased and just managed to keep going for 9laps ending up utterly empty and amazingly 2nd in grand vets :D. Bath and large whiskey awaits.
Marshalls were incredible.
Great day of racing today! Did 7 laps with 50 minutes left to go but decided not to risk it doing one more lap! The Maxxis Beaver was not a great choice in the end but probably saved my arse on that rooty section!
Big thanks to organisers and marshals - it is a truly unique event because of you. Also thanks to the courteous team riders who respected the efforts of the solo riders.
Thoroughly enjoyed spectating, some great performances. Stand out bits (asides the sunshine) , the whole crowd cheering one rider down the hill with 1min to go on clock, and making it in the nick of time.. And the poor fella crossing the line 8secs after closing time.
Spoke to him after and he said he gave it all he had on last lap to try and squeeze it in.
Jolly good event with some serious bike porn on show too. I'll be entering next year
Cracking event as ever. Big thanks to the Big Dog crew for making it happen.
Great event, the marshalls really got into the spirit of the event, which made for a great atmosphere. Was pleased to squeek in one last lap with just a couple of minutes to spare. Nice course, was dreading a mud bath from the reports of the rain, but it was spot on, nicely grippy with no dust.
anyone have links to photographers?
Kevin Sheldrake was out there, he hasn't uploaded to flickr yet.
Thanks for coming everyone!
We had a great day putting it in for you.
I've just completed operation 'clean sweep' and there's hardly anything left - you wouldn't know that we'd been there!
Even the football pitch is in perfect nick and ready for some injury feigning activity.
We'll announce next year's date in November when B&H Council publish their 2016 Agenda - expect more thrills, spills and belly laughs. And a few nice surprises...
Thank you!
Really enjoyed it, first time there and after changing categories due to illness happy to come home 13th in the teams class, great course lots of laughs and the whole event was so chilled.
Fantastic event... marshals, course and sunshine amazing. we managed 12th in the team event.
Negatives - getting too cocky on the last corner out of the woods and wiping out in front of the marshals - and having to leave to do a lap just as Blue Monday was being played by the DJ's. At least I got back in time for "Dangerzone"
Looking forward to next years already!
Ace event and top draw riders. Everyone I met was happy even when I said they couldn't park in the solo area! You lot rock.
Luke - those Jaffa Cakes turned out to be a late breakfast and early lunch. I got home at 9pm for tea of cold samosas from the lovely lady at the curry stand. Still knackered now.
I NEED one of those Specialized PHAT bikes. The lady riding the dinky one made it look SOOOOO very right. Thanks to everyone that managed a high five with my herberts in the first woodland climb, especially after we gave a lot of verble "encouragement!"
Glad they were helpful 🙂
Thanks to you and all the marshals Tim - you all make the event what it is.
I've no idea who the woman at marshal point 4 was but she just didn't stop shouting encouragement - even when Jo turned up and started squeezing his horn.
That specialized was really nice - I *need* a bike that colour.
I've no idea who the woman at marshal point 4 was but she just didn't stop shouting encouragement
And the rest! She was jumping about a foot clear off the ground in her encouragement.
I proposed marriage but sadly on the last lap so didn't get an answer.
I've no idea who the woman at marshal point 4 was but she just didn't stop shouting encouragement
I particularly liked the "not long now" as I went past about 1:20!
I'll just add my thanks to all the marshals and organisers. This was my 4th Big Dog and it's just the most fun event with the best atmosphere, which is why I chose it for my first 6 hour solo. Disappointed not to get 9 laps in but 8 laps and 9th in the Vets solo wasn't a bad day out!
yes all the positive comments about the organisation, fantastic marshalls and great course 😀
As ever it was great but I was rubbish...
still there's always next year where I will avoid nasty illnesses, working away from home, weddings, the evils of drink and get some physio in so I can train properly 😆
Stopped by halfway through a ride that took me through Stanmer, inadvertently got onto the course and then told 'wrong way mate' as I was leaving it ;). Fantastic atmosphere and really chilled buzz around the arena. Highlight for me was how sparkling Simon's Jones looked AFTER a lap.
Simons too quick for the dirt to land on his bike. Bit like Burt!!
Mines always covered. Say no more.
There was also some other marshals holding up signs with smile written on and whooping, which was encouraging. Another marshal joined in with the Jazz hands to point the way.
Orange Specialized Fatboys are great bikes, I found mine a comfortable place to be for 8 laps didn't look as good under my gangling sticky limbs as it did with Melissa on her little Fatboy, but pleased I came in 15th in solo vets, squeaked in with a few minutes to spare.