[Closed] Brighton Big Dog 2019..who's in...?

As you won't be allowed to wear *that vest* this year I'll be there.

Ahh... loophole...
I can wear full riding gear when RIDING... and go absolutely start b****ck naked the rest of the time..

That'll show 'em..

DrP

carry a brolly:

It's looking like a stormy end to this week. On Thursday night / Friday morning we are expecting a band of persistent heavy rain followed by heavy showers and thunderstorms during the day on Friday. Torrential rain is possible with some places seeing 30mm of rain in a few hours

They're forecasting gusts of up to 50mph, so I'd only put the brolly up when you're heading east.

Super news on the weather front. I’m marshalling this year. 😑

August is a write off these days, we need to shift the school holidays to July.

Ming coming!  Team of two, I’ll either be on the Curtis bling speed (if it’s ready) suffering from lack of fitness or the White Enduro struggling with draggy tyres😁. I will of course be wearing my Fox Racing pyjamas.

im going to really try and not break my wrist like I did at big dog 2 !

Mixed pairs, as usual. Not expecting to exceed our high water mark of fourth, it's not been a fast year! Waiting to see how many have done every year this time around!

Looking forward to it, tbf I think we must be due a wet one.

Singular team of 3 with the DS.

Yep in for vets pair.

Vets pair here, with a partner who’s a relative beginner so I’m not hunting for results.  Would be nice to get get 4 or 5 hard laps in.

Most likely will be Oneder Dogging (edit, now called CLiffshot lap which has far less innuendo bingo opportunities) as I have zero competitive instinct but need a new mug..

Will also be bringing sunglasses as I have seen Ming's Fox racing kit before and it caused a major league migraine

Team of three for me, always a great day out on and off the bike. See you all there.

5 in my team racing x2 vets pairs and one doing solo

In! Another one lapper or two here.

My 9 year old will be racing yours @DrP. He's almost as excited as I am (but doesn't have any friends he can discuss tyre choice with).

In for pairs here. Going up Thursday for a few laps- weather should be interesting!
Did solo last year and loved it but looking forward to being able to go for it a bit more rather than survive!

I’m in! Pairs.

My little one (5) wants a dabble. What age brackets are the kids races? And at what time?

Solo for me. Have ridden in the past as part of a three and love this course. 2012 it started muddy and slippery which was great fun then progressively dried through the afternoon until the grip was amazing. Lap times got faster which is a really cool feeling.
First race of the year for me after taking time out from all the madness. Looking at the start list I’ve seen a fair few friends from the cx scene so am looking forward to catching up.

My little one (5) wants a dabble. What age brackets are the kids races? And at what time?

9am and under 8s for a 5 year old... http://www.brightonbigdog.com/categories

I'll be making tea for you all

Dont forget to enter the Cake Competition...

What's the cake competition?

Big Dog Cake Pledge:
We all love a nice free cuppa and a slice of home made cake at Big Dog.... but where do all those delicious home bakes come from??
.... from good folks like yourself.

We would love your cake donations please. And remember if you make it nice/decorated you can enter it into the Big Dog Bake Off Competition. Voted for by our spectators and racers, the winning cake gets one of the last exclusive Big Dog Tea Pots plus two of this years Mugs.
All competition entries are then sliced to be enjoyed after 3pm.

So how about it? Get the kids round the mixing bowl and have some fun with it. Please pledge to help your event and let others enjoy some o your home baking....let's show our visitors again what makes Brighton Big Dog such a fun event. Please encourage others. Deliver your cakes to Nicky at the Tea Tent on Saturday 10th.
Thankyou 🤗

I'll be there, with GF and brother in mixed triples. I hope we do better than our other attempt at mixed triples, me and bro have managed solid enough performance (against our expectations anyway!) in pairs previously.

A little worried about the wind causing issues at the weekend. And also, on our final recce last night there were a load of travellers pitching up. Not on the arena side, but where the carparking for the teams is (as you enter the park through the gates on the right hand side).

Fingers Crossed.

Not to be judgemental, but £1000's of bike kit in cars and vans, Storm whatever and Met office "do not travel unless necessary advice" going on.

The organisers have posted that gazebos and tents will not be allowed on the day and that they are monitoring weather conditions.

Last time there were Travellers there a couple of days before the event an 'emergency' eviction was carried out.

note re travvellers from big dog FB account:

We have a request in with council and police. Hopefully can be politely moved on. Also looking at added security on Saturday. We will all need to be vigilant and remind everyone near us in parking etc to be same.

There's still a massive pile of stuff left at the end of Rollercoaster from a month or so back! 🙁

Music festivals cancelled in both Newquay and Norfolk for next weekend - it’s not been a good few weeks for outdoor events in the UK.

Good luck to the organisers for this one.

Rode the course last night but with all the rain and wind who knows what it’s going to look like tomorrow at 12! The bridges over the A27 are very exposed going across a valley, with 50mph winds, will make those barriers feel awfully low! Could easily adapt the course to miss that section out, a shame as it’s a great part but may well be sketchy getting across.

Reckon it’ll be muddy with the forecast in mind? I’ve got fast summer tyres on so may need a last minute swap out..

It's going to take a lot of rain to make it muddy (which we might well get). Unfortunately it doesn't take much rain to make some parts of the course quite difficult to ride, never mind racing with a couple of hundred others.

Good luck to everyone. I'll hopefully be riding over to watch and take some pictures and videos.

Does anybody know anything about entering on the day? Especially for the kids in the morning. Suddenly available but with the impending weather want to make a call tomorrow morning. Is on the day entry for the kids still possible (I'm sure it was in the past)?

I’ve seen people hang around with signs saying “rider available” before... no idea how successful they’ve been.

Am so hoping it’s on. 50mph wind isn’t that bad. Unless you’re trying to erect a registration tent obviously!

There’s still a massive pile of stuff left at the end of Rollercoaster

The new lot of travellers are using the woods at the back of the park (where the cross races take place) as a toilet area. Fortunately we spotted the toilet roll before we rode through it 🙁

Agree with muggomagic it doesn't have to rain much to make it a very tricky course - I used summer tyres last year when it was a bit damp for the first couple of laps. Despite being a regular at Stanmer I really struggled and ended up with a faceplant on the Coldean bit after my front wheel washed out on an off camber root.

Last year the rain was biblical the night before the race, way wetter than the forecast this year. The course was fine, I’d recommend tyres in the racing ralph category. The roots will be wet which no tyre will help with and the top layer a bit sticky, you want open tread and it will clear fine.

I did see a few people WAY out of their depth because of the wet roots (including one lass in floods of tears 😔) but it’s a great course, plenty fast and fun. It’s an MTB race, stay off the brakes, take the highest line you can and eat cake. You’ll be fine. 👍🏻😎

I wash out in moderately dry conditions.

Which tyres shall I run for a mixture of water, wind and that clear p1key poo quickly?

There’s some new lines where trees/bushes have been cut back on some of the rootier sections giving some easier ways through I noticed yesterday. It was all running beautifully yesterday that’s for sure, as you say last year was worse- so my ardent races will be ideal 👌🏻

this came from the organisers but ended up in my spam folder;

Weather:

Though... the weather report for Worthing today was meant to be grim..as i sit here looking out the window at glorious sunshine...

Hmm... will see how tomorrow goes!!

DrP

I'll be down tomorrow. Part of The Kiln Brewery mob with @Mcraque and a few others. Only doing a couple of clif shot laps or whatever they're called these days. Off on holiday at 3am the next morning so wanted to take it at a leisurely pace.

I'll be on a red and black Canyon fatbike for one lap and I expect to get passed by A LOT of people! Feel free to say hello when you go past, let's hope the weather isn't too bad and doesn't spoil what's always a great event.

So is it raining , just tipped it down in croydon

I live just over the hill from Stanmer, it’s not raining yet and has been dry and windy all day.

Edit: just had a few spots of rain and it’s getting cloudier.

Weather has eased to max 61% chance of showers at 4am and even the wind has dropped to 31mph.  Good stuff.

I've swapped to the battered family car rather than put the shiny BM in the car park, and made sure anything valuable fits in my jersey pocket - essentially my phone, a debit card and a tenner! 😉

Still says 48mph gusts for Stanmer on the BBC.  I'll be slithering around on my new Curtis cursing my optimistic tyre choice.

Oh so are the uninvited actually there in the carpark ? Hmmmmm

Hope you all get chance to ride.

We at the Club, Hayling island, have cancelled all club racing and ferry..

Fingers crosses for the event, and you lot having a great old time.

👍🤪

And Cowes have binned the first days racing 🤯

I'm racing male pairs although my team mate is ill and may not be able to come 😬. 6 year old daughter is doing the mini dog race too!

Well my garden is still here despite sounding like it was going awol last night, hopefully no trees down in Stanmer.

Much rain,

2.0mm rain in the last 24hrs in Eastbourne.

Great day! Surprisingly it was really dry, a couple of slightly greasy roots on the first couple of laps but then dry as, it was running quick!

Great day and the trails where running well. Well done all.

That was excellent. First time at Stanmer / Big Dog and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Bit tough for us non climbers as the single track pretty much was the same for everyone, and the climbs would be where the time is but hey.  Some lovely single track but I’m not sure I’d want to do that in the wet.

And the wind didnt didn’t have much impact.  Awesome.

Just finished loading the last of the race gubbins into the luton van. It’s a hard job running these races, a day spent the other side of the tape certainly opens ones eyes to the work involved. 😳

Tip of the hat to everyone involved in races.

Well thank you Picton road for your involvement, your efforts give us the brilliant day we’ve all enjoyed.

Taking down tape is one of my most hated jobs...

Great day, top marks to my teammate who binned it hard on lap 1 but still carried on for another 3 laps.  Thanks to the Marshalls for the motivational abuse, especially at the end of the first climb (I was the bloke pushing/jogging/finally staggering on the silver single speed rocking the 80's racing pyjamas).

Awesome. Most fun one yet. So dry and grippy. Everyone seemed in a really good spirits even more then usual... defo back next year again

Great day, really enjoyed the very tough course those descents were so much fun though, amazed how dry it was given the weather overnight. Our first one and happy to finish 16th out of 60 pairs shame my team mate had a big off trying to get a final last lap in 38 mins left so he just went for it hard and hit the ground harder.
Nice friendly atmosphere everybody seemed to be enjoying it.
Shame to hear someone broke a collarbone on one of those logs early in the lap.

That was my dad who broke his collarbone over the log- tyre blew just in front of it and sent him sideways. He’s ok though and was helped by some lovely riders and Marshals. I needed a pitman for the cx season so he still has a use 😅😅

Great day out and as said previously a huge thanks to all those amazing volunteers and people shouting encouragement/abuse.

Ming... We're you in the Curtis with 'those cranks'? If so, I think we had a verbal deal.. PAY UP!! 🤔😉

I must say, WHAT A COURSE! Honestly, that was the fastest and grippiest I think I've ridden it (ok.. I wasn't the fastest I've been as not been on it this year, but the ground was sooo grippy!)

A non sealing puncture needing 4 inflations before holding cost me and my partner a podium, but apart from that the bike and new Hunt wheels rode brilliantly!

Thanks Pictonroad for helping, and giving me abuse as I rode past!

Aching now, and my daughter vomiting all night didn't help my 'recovery' (in the sense I only managed half a glass of wine before the puking started! Oh the joys of being a single parent!!)

DrP

Awesome day out again. Many thanks to the Big Dog crew. Course was cracking and amazingly dry. 23rd in male pairs- happy with that. I was properly tired at the start after cub camp, but the race blew the cobwebs away and I felt good on the course. Great atmosphere on and off course and top kids races too. Love it.

Yes DrP that was me, I was blowing badly by that stage in the race, first time on SS in 6 months so by my 4th lap every time I tried to put the hammer down my thighs started cramping so all I could do when you passed me was give you a load of “thought abuse” 😂.

We finished 32 in male pairs which were chuffed with as it was my mates first race (and race crash) and my second ride on the Curtis SS! (and I turned 50 this year).

Anyone know websites for pics?

Should be a link on the BD website once they are uploaded.

That Curtis ss was nice- quite surprised the cranks were still there if you left it unattended at any point.

Did anyone else think the course was a bit longer than previous years?
I’m not as fit as I have been, but one of the guys I was riding with definitely is and both of us were doing longer lap times than before.

Subscriber

Did anyone else think the course was a bit longer than previous years?
I’m not as fit as I have been, but one of the guys I was riding with definitely is and both of us were doing longer lap times than before.

the course was exactly the same as last year, you're both just a year older 🙂

thank you everyone for risking it on a day that could have gone either way weather-wise, turned out to be a good one...

Aye, fair enough, I’ve done it enough times to that they all sort of blend! I was wondering if some of the bits along the top had been rearranged. Still as awesome as usual.

ah, yes, there was 50 metres of new trail at the very top but not enough to make a difference 🙂

Great day, top marks to my teammate who binned it hard on lap 1 but still carried on for another 3 laps.  Thanks to the Marshalls for the motivational abuse, especially at the end of the first climb (I was the bloke pushing/jogging/finally staggering on the silver single speed rocking the 80’s racing pyjamas).

You!

spare a thought for those of us that have to look at you next time you choose your racing attire. 😉

So course same as last year but what about 2017. Same or slightly diff. Felt different on some bits

Think that was my favourite Big Dig so far (except, of course, for that really wet one @JoB ;o)

Course seemed to be really fast, organisation and heckling/marshalling was awesome and tunes spot on! Had new bike placebo too, which is definitely worth a few seconds.

Massive thanks to everyone involved for what must have been a really tense few days.

I feel for those getting an eyeful of Mings pyjamas...he turned up to my wedding in his best gear 🙂

I did Big dog last year on SS and found it tough!

Great day out, thank you to all involved. Super fun, challenging course and yes, surprisingly grippy. Also grateful for the shelter in the trees!

Well done to all the big doggers. I didn't "race" this year, I just came to spectate. It's such a great event and most of the racers seemed to be smiling

Was a lot of fun. Especially seeing my little boy who’s 5 ride his first puppydog race!

Ended up mid pack in the pairs, course ran well and good work by the organisers to even get the event on. I can imagine it’s quite stressful for them.

One sour note- my mate had a bad crash and couldn’t continue. Got his line wrong on the B-line bombhole and nutted a tree. His helmet was in 4 pieces and on X-ray he’s broken his back too. Initial signs are good though and he was still walking. Sees the spinal specialist today. Fingers crossed.

One sour note- my mate had a bad crash and couldn’t continue. Got his line wrong on the B-line bombhole and nutted a tree. His helmet was in 4 pieces and on X-ray he’s broken his back too. Initial signs are good though and he was still walking. Sees the spinal specialist today. Fingers crossed.

Ouch! Hope all is good and he's back on the bike soon

I saw a couple of people got it wrong in the bomb hole, there were marshall's shouting at people to slow down as I went in, it's an easy place to carry massive speed out the top and just plough straight on if you don't know it (or even of you do sometimes).

Hope the guy with the back injury is ok - too much of that around at Stanmer currently 🙁

Best wishes to him, I hope his recovery goes ok.

So er, where was this bomb hole then?  I don’t remember riding down one...

the big 'dip' on 'B Line' just before the arena.

Fast in, gain speed through the downslope, ride the compression, launch off the lip and then realise there's an immediate sharp right across off camber roots and a load of trees to hit if you go straight on.