Ditto, the ramp's fine. It's the speed you can attain on the singletrack that'll hurt if it goes wrong...
The only part of the course that IMO will be iffy if it rains is the deeply rutted section at the bottom, take a wrong line at speed in the dry and your off, in the wet well...
I'm sure this is telling everyone reading this to suck eggs, but you need to give people a bit of space on a difficult bit like that ramp and not come barging through. Works out a lot faster than getting into a snarl and gives you a chance to have a cheeky rest.
Sure, but not entirely practical - you'd be waiting all day as every one just barges on through if you try and back off.
I confess it's the only time on the course I actually shout rider coming through (as politely as poss with a huge thanks afterwards)
if you're riding a bike with odd size wheels
I think you'll find both my wheels are the same size.... 😉
You have to agree that some folk worry about nothing though. 😀
As long as the St Johns fix me up enough to raise my beer to my mouth everything will be okay.
PS - is a TV screen showing the lions match too much to ask?? Could put a dent in my solo plans though
You just described KingTut there SSS 🙂
you'd be waiting all day as every one just barges on through if you try and back off.
I found most people were pretty polite and figured out what was going on. Also, if they see you easing off then they tend to take a cue from you.
Me worry?
Nah cool as me.
I'm all for a technical challenge and if it's dry the down slope on the bridge will be a bit of fun that you just need to focus on for a second. I just think it's another story if it's wet (although as said if it is getting chicken wired then that will help a lot), if it's left uncovered it be like riding down a 45 degree ice sheet and I don't care what skills you have it's still a bit of lottery if you stay on or not. But a SSS is such a hero hopefully I'll get some traction whilst riding over him as he's crying like a girl in a bloody mess at the bottom :p
But a SSS is such a hero hopefully I'll get some traction whilst riding over him as he's crying like a girl in a bloody mess at the bottom :p
I very much dought that's going to happen.
It's just a bit of wood, get a grip of yourself man. 😉
Jeeez guys you're bigging this bridge up a bit, I'm going to have to take a look at it this evening now. Is it not the same as last years but turned 90 degrees? If so I imagine it will need a bit of a run up if it's muddy but can't you just release the brakes and fly down the other side?
I'd worry about chicken wire going down :'(
Just visualise the worst possible outcome, that's the way to ride stuff confidently. 😉
Jeeez guys you're bigging this bridge up a bit, I'm going to have to take a look at it this evening now. Is it not the same as last years but turned 90 degrees? If so I imagine it will need a bit of a run up if it's muddy but can't you just release the brakes and fly down the other side?
Yes it's the same, no there is no real run up, no it's not a massive problem it will just requite a touch more effort, but probably no more than in previous years when you had to make the effort after the zig zag climb.
Just visualise the worst possible outcome, that's the way to ride stuff confidently.
Yes, the ramp could collapse you know..
Or gravity could instantaneously disappear, meaning that you continue your trajectory upwards off the ramp until you reach space, asphixiate and die! 😯
LOL
Or gravity could instantaneously disappear, meaning that you continue your trajectory until you reach space, asphixiate and die!
Oh shit, that's it I'm not going to race now.
probably for the best Mike..
Oh and don't forget to factor in possible unexploded bombs from WW2 they could be anywhere on the course.
LoL @ Clubber
Sounds like we got ourselves a REAL race on now!
Will this year's Bikefest have a larger injury list than last year??!!
The Saturday last year included: 1 lost finger (due to disk - hand interface), 1 broken pelvis, and 2 collorbone's...
Oh and don't forget to factor in possible unexploded bombs from WW2 they could be anywhere on the course.
Oh no and then they will need to build a new bridge over the new bomb hole, we're all doomed.....
Well I'm sat in the Cyclescheme office up in Bath and its not wet... YET!
Just thinking about changing the conti's out for something with some grip.
Dont have anything with me tho! Hmmmm.... quick trip out at lunch? Risk it? Or see what i can thief off someone else?
Hmmm... will be doing early laps tomo, have a wedding to be at in Taunton for 3.30! ARrrghhhh
Roll on 5.30!
GaryLake - MemberSounds like we got ourselves a REAL race on now!
Rain, mud, slippery planks, collapsing ramps, space exploration and the added boost from unexploded ordinance.
What's not to like?
Are there no shark infested pits to jump over?
Escaped lions trackside maybe?
The Saturday last year included: 1 lost finger
Did they find it, or should we look out for it?
And even if you avoid all of the above mentioned hazards you'll still get your bike stolen. Bristol is just not safe and it's best you all stay away.
Are there no shark infested pits to jump over?
Sharks with frikkin lazer beams on their heads or GTFO
Well BBC reckon it should have been pissing down for the last hour and a half but it hasn't - fingers crossed chaps!
Sharks with frikkin lazer beams on their heads
That's it then.
I'm going to give my entry to SSUK away and head on down to Brizzol instead.
Fancy racing in a team of four SSS? 🙂 we're a man short on one of our teams...
I'd love to but I [b]can't[/b] miss the biggest pissup/ride out of the year. 8)
Ah well... I could offer a bottle of malt as recompense but there probably won't be enough beards, tattoos or piercings for you anyway 😉
😀
but there probably won't be enough beards, tattoos or piercings for you anyway
You do know Peter Poddy is going dont you?
Well he doesn't have a beard 🙂
Just got back from registering and I had a few goes on the ramp.
It's definately easier to get up - shallower and chicken wire. However the down is pretty steep with a step at the top, you can't get away with not braking so could be fun if muddy. On the exit there is also a tree to avoid with a loosly filled pothole on the turning point which could be an issue too.
Can't wait until tomorrow...
So in the end, even with the rain, it was absolutly fine, except half the people on the course couldn't ride it. I did 6 laps, and on only two of them did I not have to stop as someone in front of me stopped on the up slope!
The bombholw wasn't much better. On one lap I think there were about 5 people writhing in the mud with their bikes in the bottom. I just rode around the outside when I saw that. I had 2 clear runs at that too.
I tried waiting patiently, and sure enough, people just barged past me, so that didn't help at all. I'm just too polite for racing (although we did win our category, so it shoes you don't lose too much time if you just decide to not bin people in the hedge just to gain a few seconds...)
Walked up and over on the first lap as was everyone else in front, then took the chicken run on the next eleven on a couple of my laps they had completely shut it off to work on it, the bomb hole wasn't too bad, but yes on a couple of occasions riding round was easier, however I did manage to slip and impale my chest on a scaffolding pole, which was nice.
was the scaffolding pole ok?
I didn't stop to ask. 😐
The queue waiting to get over the bridge on the first lap was terrible, actually got lapped by the leading team rider before we all made the decision to bypass it.
Once the batons were on it was fine unless the rider in front stalled which made it interesting.
Bombhole was ok too, though towards the end I needed a helping hand from the marshals to haul me up over lip as my momentum ran out.
I walked up the ramp but rode down and that bomb hole caught me out on the last lap . I went too slow and flipped over backwards .Quite funny as the cadets were shouting "come on you can do it ! Ive seen you do this already !!!"
