I'm always up early on a Sunday as every Sunday is like Christmas for me.
You out Tuesday evening? Hoping to do at least one lap as long as technology and memories don't let us down. If they do we'll just go ride.
I've got a call to NZ in the evening - either going out tomorrow am or wednesday am and then probably try to get out on the BMTB ride on Thursday too. Need all the time on the bike I can at the moment - I need the practice... and to get over 'the fear' of falling off to the right that happened a couple of times yesterday and slowed me down.
[edit] and fair play for the early Sundays - I drag myself out of bed at the last possible moment.
Ok. I might get along Thursday. I try and be sensible and rest that close to a big ride, but the lure of Stanmer's singletrack is like a siren song.
now you're rocket powered you've no need to rest!
Looking at those track maps. It's a lot flatter than I remember from the last 2 years.
It's pretty much the same course so it may be the low res track that's not catching all the elevation changes.
Think it's about 900ft/lap from talking to one of the organisers yesterday.
Just had a look at my Strava data from last year and it's approx. 1000ft per lap.
disappointed to be missing it this year, first time in 4 years, multiple broken ribs kinda take my competitive edge away 🙄
question is can Ian Leitch beat Ben Thomas & Tim Dunford
Course is v similar to last year, which I made around 940ft of climbing. In fact, I don't think any of the climbs have changed.
Looks like there may be a few showers on Saturday after heavy rain Friday. Hopefully not enough to warrant mud tyres but some slippery chalk can add to the fun 😈
Now that we've discovered that there's a Rugby World Cup test event on Saturday evening it may make it impossible for us to get home after 🙁
I live a mile or so from Stanmer Park, there's been heavy rain overnight and still going steady this morning with frequent thunder overhead. Even though it dries out pretty quickly in the summer, I'd suggest preparing for mud on Saturday, at least chucking some mud tyres in the boot if nothing else 😐
This is just crossing the channel.
It'll get worse before it gets better 🙁
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Not sure riding the course tonight's going to be a good idea...
aP - is the test event at the Amex stadium? What sort of attendance are they expecting?
wwaswas - test event is at Twickers. But they're closing the A316 for 8 hours starting at about 5pm. Its going to be Carmageddon.
ah, not good for you.
If this rain keeps up it'll be the least of your worries on the day, tbh 🙁
Haha. I'll be riding my Fargo. It's designed to be pushed for long distances...
Biblical now
It's going to be fun!!
I'll try and get hold of some waterproof Jaffa Cakes Tim!
Doesn't it do this every year?
Slippery root fest on Saturday then...
Yep, think I'm looking forward to some slippery fun in Stanmer.
When/where should I start making my excuses for a p poor performance 😆
It won't be too bad after everyone's done a lap or two if it's dry tomorrow and Saturday. Probably.
I might pack the 4.8" Bud for the front just in case though...
Brighton's now so full of water it's overflowing into the sea;
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the new course looks short! i hope they have included some fun stuff 😕
will try and make it out tonight guys. first thursday ever! love a bit of mud.
Great photo. I'm hybernating with tea and cookies. The grass can wait till Sunday.
Course is the same as last year.
Tim I'll be swiming over to BD on Saturday. I'll bring you a soggy cinnamon bun!
Course is the same as last year
dissapointing - described by most of my riding buddies as 'a bit shit'
VH - just go faster with 650b tyres - it'll "come alive."
Matt - see you there. I'll be near the coffee/food/Luke (as he'll have Jaffa Cakes)
Sorry to ask but having never been anywhere near are we talking fast draining stick with rons/ralphs or muddegeddon with something chunkier?
probably somewhere in between.
there's a lot of bare roots, some exposed chalk, short steep climbs and a few off camber descents so you need something with a bit of grip if it's damp.
There's a few people riding it tonight - I'll try and post an update tomorrow.
Cheers - it's part of my training week, I'm wrecked and number one priority is racing miles without injury so I suspect it's a mountain king front and x king rear sort of thing?
course "a bit shit" or course "a bit hard"? Dunno, I thought it was really good for a XC race.
Did most of a lap last night
1) It was pretty much fine - sticky rather than muddy and (despite a bit more rain overnight) I think it'll be fairly dry come Saturday.
2) There's a lot of detritus and loose stuff on fire road climbs where it's washed down so traction can be iffy (I was on 4" fat bike tyres and spun once or twice).
3) the rooty bits will need a lot of respect if they stay as slick as they were. There's a steep slightly off camber rooty descent about half way round that will be chaos on the first lap I'd imagine - it caught people out last night.
4) I'm not a racer but if I was on a non-fat bike I'd be sticking something with a bit of bite on the front at least and probably the back too.
There's a steep slightly off camber rooty descent about half way round that will be chaos on the first lap I'd imagine
If it is the same or broadly the same as last year, i suspect I know the bit you mean.
And you sir are a master of understatement. Chaos? It'll make the disruption caused by Eyjafjallajökull look like a Thursday in a small welsh post office.
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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!!
