[Closed] Brighton big dog 2017

Just a couple of cliff laps for me this year.

I'll be there. Having to miss Brighton v Man City to race too... although can hear the goals go in from the course!

In for this and looking forward to it.

Just need to get through the last three days of Singletrack 6 and get home first.

I'm in.

Just finished 12hrs of hell at Pivot 24/12 in Plymouth up to Ard Rock on Friday and then Big Dog.

After 24hrs of travelling and the subsequent riding for these two I'll be fit as a butchers dog or broken come the race.

I'm racing again this year, look out for "The Kiln Brewery" tops going round - slowly in my case. Fitness has been non existent lately due to nagging illness so I'm planning on taking the fat bike and just doing it for fun. If it stays as slippery in there as it is at the moment I'll be sliding all over the shop, so a last minute bike swap may be called for.

Either way it's a great event that I'm really looking forward to.

About to pull out. Not well enough to do 6 very hard hours 🙁

I'll be there, probably the only bloke in a Glasgow MTB club top. Doing pairs with my bro, he's got a broken finger but should be OK as long as he doesn't crash.

I'll be making tea

I'll be there..

Thinking of a suitably unsuitable fancy dress...
Maybe y-front and vest.. Like in the school days??!!

DrP

Was planning to - but cleverly forgot to enter and solo is now sold out 🙁

So if anyone have a solo male 40+ entry they aren't able to use, I'll happily take if off your hands!

Gary

DrP, was last year's vest fancy dress?

DrP, was last year's vest fancy dress?

It was my "I don't take life too seriously" vest...

I quite liked the arm freedom it gave, tbh.

You know what they say: vest is best.

DrP

[i]You know what they say: vest is best.[/i]

they really don't.

I'll be there with the Sunday Stanmer Light Skirmishes Followed by a Limited Choice of Refreshments Bus riding a few laps.

gary - enter pairs with yourself as both riders (it was done in the fat bike category).

You know what they say: vest is best.

they really don't.

As the only other Stanmer vest wearer I can sadly confirm that no-one else appreciates the sartorial elegance or hot weather practicability...

Not for me this year due to the arrival of son#2, going to miss it as its a great event.

Plan to be back next year, probably taking it far too seriously like usual....

I'll be there, love this event.

Was planning to - but cleverly forgot to enter and solo is now sold out

So if anyone have a solo male 40+ entry they aren't able to use, I'll happily take if off your hands!

My solo entry is a 50+. E mail in profile

In pairs with Wwaswas, looking forward to it as always.

This forecast looks ok, so I am locking it in.

[url= http://www.bbc.com/weather/2654710/extended ]Forecast for Brighon[/url]

away on holiday but would like a mug to go with my 'extensive' collection. If anyone can get me one I'll pay cost and postage and an inconvenience factor, and if you don't want one yourself you can drink free tea out of it all afternoon. You don't even need to wash it afterwards, leave the lippy marks on if you want?

away on holiday but would like a mug to go with my 'extensive' collection. If anyone can get me one I'll pay cost and postage and an inconvenience factor, and if you don't want one yourself you can drink free tea out of it all afternoon. You don't even need to wash it afterwards, leave the lippy marks on if you want?

I would offer to help you out but I'm massively bad at posting things so you'd probably never see it. (And I don't normally wear lippy)

If anyone has a solo or pairs place available mail me I know someone looking for a ride.

Lots of posters in the woods this morning letting people know about next week. Looks like it's going to be the same course as last year.

[img] [/img]

I'm in a mixed team of 3 - not what I would usually do, about as far from my usual form of racing is it could be.

Should be fun!

I had a hack round last years course last Saturday before the heavens opened and the unexploded bomb over the other side of the park was dealt with! It was running ok at the time.

Weather keeps changing for saturday. Supposed to be a deluge today.....and I see the travelling folk are in town. Let's hope Stanmer isn't their choice of park for Saturday!

Course was looking really good at lunchtime. Bit of rain into this evening means it'll be slidey tomorrow but hopefully couple of dry days and a breeze will sort it out.

Tyre choice: intermediates or days?

I hope this doesn't happen but BBC weather this morning were forecasting weather overnight Friday into Saturday. The time of the race should be nice and sunny but the last thing it needs is another soaking.

I'll be putting a new tyre on the rear later today. Although I am running a near semi slick on the back at the moment and I'm only swapping for a new summer tyre.

I only have a fairly XC set of tyres on my HT, not really any choice in what I run.

I'm guessing it's going to be a bit on the wet side, regardless now.

even if it's really muddy the course itself does tend to 'clear' for the most part after 500 riders have been over it a few times. The issue is that there's a few rooty sections that stay interesting plus a couple of steep, slick, climbs that cause issues - you only need someone at the front of a line of riders to spin out on one of the singletrack climbs and everyone's off and walking.

Given how dry it was before the rain I'm still hopeful it'll dry even with a few showers more. I'm walking the dog over there at lunchtime, so will report back.

I've got some Surly Nates fitted in case it doesn't dry, though 🙂

I like it when it's a bit greasy! Mud tyres are staying in the loft.

Singlespeed pairs for me.

I remember it being very greasy in 2015 after only a little rain the night before. Dried out after a couple of laps.

I'm gearing right down and being conservative on tyres (Nobby Nic front and Ralph rear) as I fail to see how it will dry under the trees. Plan is to beat the singletrack queue then throttle right back and time trial away.

I'm on a Nic front and Ron rear!

I think a bit more rain is due this evening. Should (touch wood) be dry thereafter

Usual sections will be splashy - and I am worried about the off camber stretch with two rooty sections. You don't hit the roots straight on. Which could be interesting.

Just walked the dog on the bottom 2/3rds of the course.

Amazingly dry, tbh.

Most of it is still firm - no real mud anywhere. It is however slippy in places - both the ground and roots.

for those that know Stanmer Hole in the Wall (which has a lot of off camber roots) and the final DH to the field is dry (the latter you'd never know it had rained on). Rail the roots is a bit slidey and the roots are still damp but there's no real mud bar the usual couple of eroded puddles.

I didn;t head over to Coldean or the Badgers climb but they should still be rideable today and drier by the weekend.

Oh, and someone was holding a wedding in the middle of the race course. Hopefully there won't be something similar on Saturday - they'd used a 4x4 to get all the chairs and equipment up there.

That sounds good. A bit of rain forecast overnight on Friday/Saturday the last time i looked but that shouldn't be a problem.

Can anyone recommend a campsite to stay at? What works best?

Marvellous looking forward to Saturday 🙂 in a team of 3 old folk so mind the zimmer frames. I always look forward to the randomized team name, last time it was 'Duck Tolling Retriever'

This is about half a mile from Stanmer:

[url= http://www.housedean.co.uk/ ]http://www.housedean.co.uk/[/url]

I've not stayed there but it's been there for years and you could have a check on UKCampsite.

Course is up. Choice ont he final downhill this year...
[url=

This is about half a mile from Stanmer: http://www.housedean.co.uk/

and is full. Will have a search...

Can anyone recommend a campsite to stay at?

Slightly further afield is: http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=1593 Washington.

15/20mins drive to Stanmer, plus Steyning MTB trails a short ride away..(if BBD doesn't give you your fill).

If I'm going that far may as well drive back to London - the reason to stay in Brighton for the night is for beer and party...

The caravan club one in the East of the city is quite good - not too far out.

Is the course the same as last year, barring some A/B lines on the finish? Looks similar, but I can't quite remember.

Pretty much the same, yes. Certainly the major climbs!

The caravan club one in the East of the city

There's a pop-up one of these in Wild Park at the moment.

The A/B line at the end, I presume one goes down "derelict downhill"? Could be fun!

Nice! Thought it was great last year. Solo then. Team this year so I can give it the beans a bit more. Although less fit and a bit heavier....

[i]Could be fun! [/i]

I think I'd pick the original Big dog DH - one pileup on derelict DH would be a major delay!

As wwaswas says, derelict is probably slower than the usual bombhole descent anyway and if you're held up by a crash or just someone less familiar with it there's no way to pass.
Really want to get out and ride. This resting bollocks is no fun at all.

Seen the route...can't remember a thing..but I'm famous for my terrible navigation and memory of trails...!

I've the same bars as last year, so they should fit between trees..

DrP

It looks from the map like A line is actually straight down the steep chalky fireroad to the left of Derelict Downhill - which would certainly be fast! If it's actually down DD then it's definitely slower than the usual Big Dog descent.

Being terminally indecisive on attendance. Head says no, heart says yes.

So conditions aren't FS wrecking mud then?

Very little mud yesterday - it was more just slithery, My boots weren't at all muddy after I walked the course.

It's warm and sunny with a bit of a breeze currently which will be drying it further. Still showing light rain for this evening but I doubt it'll make a huge difference.

Now wondering - 29er hardtail or 140mm full sus? what's the course like?

So conditions aren't FS wrecking mud then?

Not in the slightest. It will be a bit slippery in there but that's because it's a firm surface with a wet top on it and plenty of roots, it's not boggy mud. Bit of a shame as Stanmer has been running so well for months. I was planning on riding the fat bike this year as well.

I'm using the Fat FS bike for my first lap but taking a HT 29er too for when/if the roots dry...

Many thanks - FS lower geared but currently ron/ralph..........

From FB:

"Stanmer trails are currently looking in very good shape for tomorrow."

Are you really taking 2 bikes??!! Captain posho there!!

I might let a bit of air out of my tyres if it's slippy.... 'tis all!

DrP

Well I wanted to have a go on the fat bike but couldn't face 4 or 5 laps on it 🙂

Weather means you'll be able to wear your go faster vest again this year too!

You reckon it's "sun's out guns out" weather.... I love that vest....might wear that, or an even scabbier one!

DrP

[i]an even scabbier [/i]

[img] [/img]

This might be important (from the BigDog Website):

[b]WATER - Due to the Stanmer Pavilion burning down their is no water on site. Please make sure you bring your own supply[/b]

thanks Simon - It's been like that for 4 or 5 years I think. The whole park is being refurbished over the next few years so it may be that this changes in future...

Come on then - bike recommendations - do I take the 140mm Helius AC sus bike or the 29 trail hardtail?

Are these lumpy rooty climbs that are going to be better on the sus bike or is it largely smooth?

29er for the speeeed.

29er if it's significantly lighter, it's a long lap with quite a large overall height gain.

I'm taking the fatty but only going to ride if it's still slippery on the first lap otherwise I'll be on a 29er HT with ardents.

Just back from a lap on my 29er with Ardents, was great.
Apart from when I crashed, twice, and dented my frame (user error).

Apart from when I crashed, twice, and dented my frame (user error).

As long as it wasn't part of you that dented it - my knee reshaped my top tube last year in Stanmer. Pedalled home one-legged (not easy on flats...)

It's raining along the coast.. :/

DrP

I have a piece of Ti holding my scaphoid together due to the Stanmer Tree o Doom and a Mrs M imposed lifetime ban from the BigDog

It's properly raining here now and I'm within a mile of the course...

Just came home through stanmer, pishing it down 😉 Enjoy !!

Well. I nipped out to Hove earlier to see Sussex smash it in the T20.

[img] [/img]

It started raining as the last bowl was bowled, its now pishing it down.

It's going to be Slippy! See you there, rubber side down, hopefully....

Think I'll put the mudguards on this morning.... I've been up since 0430 with a vomiting child... hmm...fab!

DrP

Enjoy, remember doing it the first year and it was so wet that bikes were trebling in weight with mud and clagg after just a lap. I also face planted in the grassy field right in front of the photographer!

As long as it wasn't part of you that dented it - my knee reshaped my top tube last year in Stanmer.

Coincidentally, the bruised swelling just below my right knee corresponds well to the freshly kinked downtube..

It's looking very pleasant out there! Currently putting Velux blinds up whilst my son sleeps but we might ride down in a bit - or possibly drive down with his balance bike as I still don't trust my shoulder to hold up...

Great day. Course was surprisingly dry and rode brilliantly.
Cracking day. Well done to all the organisers, dog handlers, everyone working in the tea tent (except the slacker TimP) and my fellow riders, especially those that had crashes and were injured. Heard there were a few bad ones. Hope they're all ok and heal up quick.
Roll on next year for the 10th anniversary big dog.