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Never been so what’s it like?
I’m going as a pair “just for fun” but as my season’s be compromised with illness and perhaps my own stupidity so I’m tempted to do my laps as smash laps as a performance measure and therefore actually train for it over the next few weeks.
I’ve seen small snippets of short travel FS preferred over Hardtail?
Ok to get there at 9:30 ish or will it be a melee? What’s parking like?
Its brilliant basically, hard climbs and fun descents. Slippery when wet. Hardtail perfect imo.
Its the sort of course that makes you want to keep trying harder
Lots of gear changes (unless you’re single speed of course) so make sure your bike is set up right. Brilliant is truly the tight word. Is ALWAYS well organised by Rory and the team. Love this event and it’s my local best single track. I am SOOO lucky
Tight AND right 🤪
It’s a brilliant day, just so wish it wasn’t in the summer hols - I would go every year, but am usually on holiday - same again this year 😡. It’s a great course, and a great party atmosphere. Definitely do it!
fabulous event. Hard, or very hard depending how the weather is and how seriously you take it; some of the climbs are pretty tough even to just get up for the average rider, let alone race up. Likewise descents, some interesting sections (harder than the average Gorrick I'd say) and if wet on tyre polished chalk, if you can get round at decent pace without the odd 'oh shit!' moment then really you haven't been properly balls out.
But the best bit is the DJ, the beer, the cake stand, the refillable Big Dog tea mug, the samosas, and the general laid back vibe surrounding a proper bike race.
First event in my calendar each year! Brilliant vibe, awesome course and superb tunes from the dj.
I usually ride my 29 HT, but last year rode the cotic Solaris in hovercraft 2.8 mode. Both are perfect for the course.
Its tough . Hard on the upper boady as well as the legs . Need old skool narrow bars , and big balls to send it through some of the faster tree lined singletrack. Its mostly singletrack with some fireroad sections to allow refreshment to be inhaled.
How the fast guys do 6hrs of fast laps is beyond me . Its grim if its muddy mind, loam and chalk and trees,but the cake stand makes up for it.
As above, really good day. Just a couple of one lappers for me this year.
I'll just add that it's not to be under estimated lots of sharp climbing and a fair bit off camber. But as said go for it your love it!