Categories scategories.....I'll be bringing my chain saw cuz after 'hurricane-where's-my-tent-gone' has struck the course'll be littered with fallen trees and it won't matter an ounce of **** what gears you have or haven't got!
I'd rather come 4th out of 50 than 1st out of 1!
Totally.
At the end of the day, it's an amateur race - so as long as you have the opportunity to compete in a fair environment, its all good.
what gears you have or haven't got!
Should there be a category for riding with only 3 teeth on your singlespeed sprocket?
Mixed team of 4 for me, rocket rons all the way by the looks of things with as little presure as i can get away with
Mixed team of 4 for me
You must look interesting naked.
I'm trying to decide whether to enter the Camelbak or Bottle category. Probably going for the 30-35psi tyre pressure category, though.
I believe that we are currently aiming for attendance in the:
a) Drink a beer per lap category
b) Drink quite a bit of tea category
c) Rather shite banter category
d) Keep the roadie members of the team out for longer and aim for a 'die trying' single flying lap in aid of Strava' category
Think that's it so far.
Ooo yes, Strava flying lap! All 3 of us use that, there's some healthy banter within the team! Just need to hope Gee gets caught up more than me 😕
I'm trying to decide whether to enter the Camelbak or Bottle category.
You're coming back to the same point every 40 minutes or so. Why would you use a Camelbak!?
Bringing the thread back on topic... how about some help for the Brizzle first-timers?
From me:
The first two laps are pretty clogged up, so just chill out and make your way through when you can.
There aren't many overtaking places, so be patient and let the person in front know you're there and ask to pass when it's safe - there was a bad accident last year due to someone being a bit over excited.
If you hear someone behind you who wasn't there a minute ago, chances are they're riding faster than you, so when you see somewhere safe they can get past, try to make a little extra room, and expect them to pass you.
There are about enough toilets for half the people that turn up, so expect men in the ladies; and bring your own loo roll.
The water bowser can get busy - so bring your own water if you can.
Drink lots of cider and beer. Eat burgers.
And don't forget to tell Paul (the organiser) he's done an amazing job again. 🙂
You're coming back to the same point every 40 minutes or so. Why would you use a Camelbak!?
To what point did I return? This is only the third time I've posted in this thread, I'm not sure that that's enough to get repetitive. I speculate that you're getting posters and posts mixed up.
Also, JOKE.
I'm back to do 12 hr Solo.
Got pushed off last year on the first single track, some guy decided to overtake me and another rider whilst I had clearance and permission to overtake, ended up in a tree, damaged ribs and a £300 bill for wheel and helmet.
I was leading the Solo after months of training, completely wrecked my season and has take me about a year to get my confidence in close racing back.
I did my first Solo marathon at Bikefest the year before and completely loved the atmosphere and setup.
This year I will be taking it a little easy and hoping for patience and respect from fellow riders.
You're coming back to the same point every 40 minutes or so. Why would you use a Camelbak!?
30 mins avg for a reasonably fit geared team rider I would say, also plenty of people with camelbacks stuffed to the max as well. 😐
After the first lap sprint I don't think the rest of the laps will be that fast... So just take it easy.
How is it started? Just a mass line up and sprint?
GB
yep, up hill sprinto to your bike.
GB you're doing that!
In long wet grass..
Oh, the same point on the _course_, silly me 🙂
In that case (a) force of habit (b) I forget where I've left bottles (c) what business is it of yours (d) JOKE.
Quick weather update for anyone who cares. Its been raining hard all night and it was also very windy so I would expect there are a fair few leaves around the trails as well as one or two smaller branches though I suspect the branches will be moved.
Its now stopped but from the local forecast this morning, I would expect more showers throughout the day and into the evening but it looks like the wind will clear the rain and it should be dry tomorrow
I would have thought black round tyres would be preferable, particularly the ones with knobbly bits on the side.
[i]black round tyres would be preferable[/i]
My tyre sidewalls are white. Should I change my tyres or just go over them with a black marker?
Great - I love running. Good Mayhem practice I suppose...
GB
From the looks of it, Paul has changed the start, so as to avoid people cutting the corner... so maybe no run on the long wet grass?
Kingtut's been cheating all these years. 😉
It's not cheating, it's just the racing line 😉
We actually missed out on a podium last year because I didn't cut the corner, like a numpty.
I hate wet grass runs.
Dammit Rickon, you missed out on winning a hat, a pump, a fiver, or any of the other magnificent prizes on offer. 😉
I've never cut the corner, know a couple that have though.. 😉
Dammit Rickon, you missed out on winning a hat, a pump, a fiver, or any of the other magnificent prizes on offer
I know, I always wanted an XXXL jersey, some XXS gloves, a 650b tube, and a can out out of date SPAM.
Damn you all to hell!
Weather forecast; rain stopping in Bristol about 1600 but remaining grey, wind dropping down to 15mph, Saturday sunny aLL DAY and 17 degrees with low wind, sunday rain coming in for 1000 ... phew I'll be outta the campsite by then. Entered a women's pair....eek!!
Sorry.
Did I hear you say sunny all day?
Here-say I thee!
In Newport at the moment, so just a stones throw away from Bizzle - and it's hammering it down, and proper windy.
I'd advise against putting gazebos up this afternoon, and waiting til later this evening or early tomorrow morning as it's quite gusty wind.
Bring lots of tent pegs and get all your guys pegged out.
Also be aware that the grass will be very wet, so you may get stuck on the way in or out - low revs and take it easy so as not to churn up the field.
With that weather then you will certainly be on the podium Munge-chick !
Entered a women's pair....eek!!
*s*****
We actually missed out on a podium last year because I didn't cut the corner, like a numpty.
Really? In a 12 hour race? Because you lost a few seconds!?
I'm hopeful that the forecast is accurate, looks like it'll be alright!
I'd quite like to win a 650b tube.
12 hr pairs in old gits/ss cat.
Those of you moaning that the SS category has been combined with the old blokes cat - it was always like that.
I'm praying the forecast is correct..wind and rain supposed to have dropped by 1600 and low winds over night so could put Gazebo's up tonight but we shall see.... car partially packed just need lunch and pack ALL my cycling kit then we are offski.
Thanks for the support/encouragement Ainsley..a pair seemed a good idea in January when I had these grand training plans..not so sure any more :-/
Really? In a 12 hour race? Because you lost a few seconds!?
Serious question... have you ridden at BBF before Njee? If you don't get a good start you can lose a good 5 or 10 minutes because of the snarl ups you get caught up in at the start, I think I was standing at the first corner for 5 minutes alone. Crazy Crazy Brizzle.
I really don't mind, it all adds to the Bristol experience, and who doesn't like a good whinge 🙂
Those of you moaning that the SS category has been combined with the old blokes cat - it was always like that
It wasn't 2 years ago when MaD and AndrewJ won it 😉
low revs and take it easy so as not to churn up the field.
Or a Land Rover 110 with Michelin XZLs and LSDs. 😉
Serious question... have you ridden at BBF before Njee?
Not the 12 hour race actually no, won the 6 hour pairs with Gee in 2007. I know it's infamous for the lack of overtaking places, so could be interesting!
Last years course was worse IMO for hold ups than the course I did in 2009/10; it's just the first lap / two laps though - so nothing to worry about, but you do hear some riders getting rather annoyed while standing around.
I remember following MTGraham around the side of a huge crowd queuing to get into the first bit of singletrack when someone shouted, in a very annoyed voice 'Wait your turn!'. Made me smile at a race 🙂
Weather Update: Still raining, and proper gusty wind. Does look a little brighter. Maybe it's just an illusion.
I didn't go outside the course markers and I didn't endanger any other riders. If other people are afraid to trample through brambles and nettles, that's not my problem. 😛
Rickon don't forget I'll be wanting a few hot laps out of you on the sat as well as your sunday solo. You'll be getting a bash of your own encouragement stick if you're not careful! 😀
also bike, car and toolbox now pimped with loco tuning stickers...
Just seen that the campsite is now closed until 4pm as they're getting some trackway delivered. Sorry Graham, no donuts for you this weekend.
Those of you moaning that the SS category has been combined with the old blokes cat - it was always like that
Not so much moaning but disappointed. I mainly ride SS and so like to race in the SS category but if there aren't enough entries to constitute a race then I agree there's no point in having the Cat.
Don't mind racing in Old Gits Cat, I am 48 after all! 😉
Weather update Mr Rickon. Is it safe to leave my sofa?
the campsite's closed until 4 due to 'a big brown mess' accordign to twitter. I'll assume it's mud...
Uh oh guess I won't leave quite yet then.....
What is the twitter feed??
Yes I read that as "campsite closed until 4pm to do a big brown mess" too. Little things...
For anyone thinking about leaving soon, news from the site:
"Anyone attending Bristol Bike Fest, the campsite will be closed until at least 4pm as they're getting tracking delivered to make the currently inaccessible swampy campsite a bit less so."
Weather update Mr Rickon. Is it safe to leave my sofa?
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Biblical.
Really? In a 12 hour race? Because you lost a few seconds!?
Yup, in the 12 hour, not getting clear on the first lap is worth a lot of time due to the bottle necks. In Oktoberfest I finished 10th in the solo, 14th to 7th was separated by something like 15 minutes at the end I recall, I was nursing a twisted ankle so jogged the run and didn't cut the corner, easily cost me the 7 minutes to 7th place for sure.
On the awful wet 2009 bogfest, I was stood waiting to cross the bridge on the first lap when the fastest teams were coming round on lap 2 and pushing through.
BTG pirate ninja checking in. Quite excited as I haven't done BBF before. I'm guessing it may be a new experience for a lot of us to ride a whole lap of AC without stopping for a natter every ten minutes.
Supersaiyan - doing any riding without stopping every now and again for a chat or to catch your breath is a massive difference.
Also getting caught up in the "race" spirit and trying to catch other riders kills me everytime. Id happily ride all day, but when it comes to Bikefest Im done after one lap 🙂
BBF website says campsite shut until 1700 ....you will be turned away if you arrive before that.
So they'll help us get to the campsite, then we'll get stuck! 😕
Nah I think they are laying down tracking to make the "roads" .. who knows guess we'll find out around 5pmish!
Can I be the first to coin the name Bristol Bogfest? (EDIT: too late. By 4 years)
Oh well, dry course, muddy campsite, as a soloist that's just more incentive not to stop!!!
I only live an hour away* so will be driving in and leaving Saturday night after the race. I'm sharing a camping spot with friends in the main field who are camping, but don't want to get the car stuck on Saturday night....
Therefore if anyone can report back 'live' on conditions in the main field and in the rugby club (no point resorting to parking over there if I still need towing out), that would be great.
*At 6am on a Saturday, with liberal interpretation of the speed limit on the M4
First race since a national championship in '98
I think I might suffer a fair bit. Overtaking seems different to what I remember in the good old days
First time in the 12hr solo tomorrow, have no idea why I've been so stupid! Changed tyres twice already this week and still not sure what to ride, plus it sounds like we'll be sleeping in a lake.
The joys of mountain biking 😀
soooooo beavers or renegades?
Swampthings.
It's 90% stone singletrack and doubletrack, and it dries out bloody quickly. The start finish straight might be an issue but otherwise don't run mud tyres of any sort. Something like Ralphs will be ideal, I promise.
I'm running Bonty 29-1s, I'm a local and I ran these all winter too.
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yep, just switched back to my Renegade/FastTrak combo, I remember the new sections from last year, but wasn't too sure about the natural sections,
cheers Gary
It's now all like the new section from last year 🙂