C'mon then, I know some STWer's are going next week. 🙂
What are you expecting and what bikes / distances you riding?
Fast dry trails for the big loop on a Whippet.
Signed up yesterday with Mrs O. She's very disappointed they haven't got the 84k distance this year and doesn't think she's up for 100k yet so we're doing the 50k.
Bikes - her Juliana, me Solaris. Probably.
is this WDMBC routes
(West Drayton Mountain Bike Club?)
Yup, i'm in. Orange Spearfish. 132km route. Debating between the Maxxis Aspens or maybe even the small CX type rubber for lower rolling resistance if it remains this dry.
I'm expecting a SDW/Ridgeway 'esque generic bridleway/trail route. I'm also hoping to be pleasantly suprised by some techie woodland trails but not holding my breath for them. Time will tell... I'm pretty much as ready as i possibly can be physically...so we'll see how we get on. This will be the longest 1 dayer i've done that's for sure.
mebbe
anyone done it before? Got a choice of Yeti asr 5 or rigid drop bar fargo - thinking the fargo?
Done it fior the last few years. Can't help on the bikes though as not sure what they are. Something light and agile really, but rear suspension may be preferable if you don't have a really hard rear end.
How's the terrain Orange ? lots of bridleways ? How much road work ?
It's pencilled in, but will decide at the weekend.
Can't face riding it rigid ss, so it'll probably be 50k on the mojo hd, not fit enough for the longer distances this year. Normally a nice day out, but can be a bugger on the back if the going's quick.
I was planning on riding the big loop but have to bail with a broken scaphoid. :/
I thoroughly enjoyed it last year, a good atmosphere, lots of cake and a pint afterwards. What's not to like.
Have fun
Yes they do pretty well and keep the roads to a minimum. As you say lots of bridleways, more climbing than you'd think - they're relatively small but do add up surprisingly.
Ground is rolling really well at long last now but there are random patches of gloop left in odd places.
Lots of roots.
Sorry to hear, Forge. Will raise a pint to you at the end. Join us next year!
I'm doing the long route on my Enigma Ti with big snakeskin Ralph's and Rons on. Hopefully I won't regret using a hard tail.
im in with my 29er flash!
I'm in, assuming my ribs stop hurting after coming off at Swinley on sunday. I'll be tackling the 50km route on my 1x10 Kona 2+2.
It's my 1st ever mtb event, so I can't wait 🙂
I've done the long the last 2 years on my Boardman F/S. 2011 was dry, 2012 was muddy and a lot harder. There's not much road and 2,226m of climbing. There are also some long fast descents.
This year I may go with my Ala Carte Ti with double shorts if my final long training ride is bearable. Otherwise it's the Flux.
adsh - MemberThis year I may go with my Ala Carte Ti with double shorts if my final long training ride is bearable. Otherwise it's the Flux.
Lol,great minds - I've been riding my HT for the last 2 weeks and am taking it on a long ride Monday for the same reason. I am not strong mentally so being comfortable is important to me. I have an ASR5 - overkill - but might stick the propedal in "2" so its overley firm but gives some movement.
Although I had decided on the hardtail until your post...
I've done the long the last 2 years on my Boardman F/S. 2011 was dry, 2012 was muddy and a lot harder. There's not much road and 2,226m of climbing. There are also some long fast descents.
This year I may go with my Ala Carte Ti with double shorts if my final long training ride is bearable. Otherwise it's the Flux.
I'm 50/50.Depends on the Missus.
Haven't done any long rides this year, so obviously I'm looking at the long route.Ha.
Ali Hardtail (the p7 is resting in the lakes). 🙁
Fast rolling tyres and loads of gels ftw.
If I do it ,I expect bluebells and stomach pain from the gels.
Gels bad 🙁
Well all of my riding mates have pulled out of this...
Can i really be bothered doing a 10 hour ride on my own ? Hmmmmm
[i]I'm in, assuming my ribs stop hurting after coming off at Swinley on sunday. I'll be tackling the 50km route on my 1x10 Kona 2+2.
It's my 1st ever mtb event, so I can't wait
[/i]
You may regret the 1x10...
I would ride with someone, but I will warn you I'm heading for sub 8 hours.
My training is perfect - bike setuop tested to perfection at the weekend and just cracked my fastest road ride of the year and now am tapering to Sunday*
* I may have just jinxed myself.
I've pulled my calf and will have to decide on saturday. Maybe an entry going. Spent 12.mont :(hs training for this
I entered this morning. Long route.
If I do it in 8 hours I'll be rather pleased.
Stan- Have you spent the week in an oxygen tent to get yourself used to the altitude? 🙂
BTW , can I do it on a cx bike?
weeksy- you won't be on your own......
Loads of CX bikes on it. Wonder how wet and muddy it:sgoing to be? Ron and ralph may have to come off. 🙁
Really looking forward to it!
I'm doing the long route, on a 26" steel hardtail. I missed it last year due to work but did the previous two years on a 29er SS. This year with all the recent dry weather, and my increasing age, I'm going with gears.
Just out of curiousity, what's it like on a CX bike? I've got a friend who is struggling to decide between the speed of a CX and the comfort of some proper tyres (rigid single speed).
I think I will substitute the Solaris for my s/s given the weather.
Say hello if you pass.
Just entered the 132km - will probably be on the ti El Mariachi. See you there! My usual N Downs loop is 95 miles and takes 8hrs, so I'm guessing as this is 82 miles it will be about 6.5hrs.
I'm also now in on the long route. The bike is still in the shed covered with mud where I left it after the HONC, so barring and major mechanical problems when I dig it out it'll be a rigid 1x10 for me.
As the route all but goes down my road it seemed rude not too. I'll be the one pushing my salt n' vinegar 456 up the longer draggy climbs.
Currently raining lightly in the Chilterns.
Señor j - I've been away all winter riding up and down hills on an Italian retreat. Currently debating whether to shave off my side burns for extra efficiency.
Adsh - you know its been sunny for several weeks? Weather looks like showers only before hand but mostly dry. It's the 30mph wind that bothers me.
I'm putting my fingers in my ears re tyres after it took me 4 days to get mine on and sealed.
Currently raining lightly in the Chilterns.
😐
Going to be a bit of rain between now and Sunday, think conditions will be more like 2011 (bone dry and fast) than 2012 (a soul destroying mudfest).
Nothing technical, lots of climbing, bit of road....you'll see all kinds of bikes, I wouldnt personally want to sit on a crosser for 132km but plenty do. If you've got a 29er hardtail thats probably the perfect bike for this.
See you all on the start line. Chilterns locals holler on here with trail updates if you please though I think I'm going with Ralphs whatever the weather.
I'm thinking the wind will help the drying process....
100k here. I optimistically put semi-slicks on last weekend, and it's hardly stopped raining since. They're staying on (but I reserve the right to change my mind if it's hammering down at 5am on sunday)
100mm full suss here, it's hell on a hard tail if the clay's set solid with hoofprints.
I think I'm out, my rib is still not good 🙁 So annoyed.
I know it's [u]been[/u] dry but there's a fair bit of rain due twixt now and then not least Saturday night 🙁
Both my bikes on rons and ralphs..............
I rode the 132k last year on a x-king/race king supersonic combo and whilst not ideal considering the conditions last year it was ok. This year I'll be running the same combo but 2.2 tubeless, pretty good so far but still trying different pressures (wasn't a good combo for the HoNC this year though!)
Hoping on riding the 132k again this year but my wife was taken into hospital yesterday afternoon so no idea yet if i'll be going or not 😕
@kryton57 - you may also need to trim down below & reduce friction 😀
As for the bloody weather , as Kryton says ,it;'s going to be v windy ,plus there's plenty of spring growth to dry it up.
If the forecast showers are sustained ,I'll let a psi out of my crossmarks. 🙂
Still not decided on the bike - the safety net of a granny ring is beckoning........
Looking forward to it.
ace sparky - hope your missus is ok.
Best wishes to mrs ace sparky
Me and three friends doing the long route on hardtails. Me on a Hummer. Tempting to go rigid 29er singlespeed.
Sub 7 hours past 2 years
MM
"Sub 7 hours past 2 years"
Does that include the hour you spent crying at the second feed station? Oh Philip.
I'm carbo loading with Leffe.
Wonder if I'll be on the oldest bike. 1999 Marin...
Wonder if I'll be on the newest bike? Trek 29er due to be collected tomorrow morning...to replace an old Marin that would also have been one of the oldest out there - but is now in two pieces (for the third and last time !)
woohoo the good lady is out of hospital and safely back at home 😀 (she is much better now thanks to all those who asked).
Which means I'll be down for the 132k, missed a few planned short, easy rides this week(expected) but I'll be out later for a quick spin of the legs. If conditions and traffic aren't too bad I'm hopeful for about 6hrs, a puncture and a foot,pedal interface problem(the sole came of one of my sidi's just before the last feed station)which slowed me down last year(also happened this year at the Honc with the other shoe 😕 )
I was contemplating a 75mile local road sportive today which has a wicked finish up a steep cobbled climb but I thankfully managed to talk myself out of it, thought I might just be asking a bit too much out of my legs.
Finally managed to fit and bed in new brake pads last night in between rain showers so the bike is all good now, right now I'm off to wash the car and fit the roof carrier.
Nice one for Mrs ace-sparky.
6hrs? That's a 15mph average - please tell me your on a Crosser?
I'll be attempting the 100k. This will be the 4th time for me. I'm expecting the trails to be in pretty good condition. They were nice and dry a few weeks back, and the recent showers should have done nothing more than damped down some of the dust (I hope).
6hrs? That's a 15mph average - please tell me your on a Crosser?
It's less than 14mph actually.
Ha, you are right. Maybe my sub 8 hours aim is more achievable than I think.
6hrs? That's a 15mph average - please tell me your on a Crosser?
Avg 13.5 - 14mph will put you around 6 - 6.5hr mark.
No crosser for me,I'll be on a pretty light 2008 Anthem.
so its tomorrow..
bit more wet stuff forecast today, but i would expect most trails to dry quickly
the nettles are late this year
the long route usually covers some of my local stuff, so the guy on the black harddtail, riding the wrong way, saying hi...thats me.
have fun all
semi slicks off...2.35s on. gonna be a hard day.
1st event ever I've thought 'wow that's amazing value' £20=132km of top (dry!) riding, endless yummy cake, bananas, drink, pint glass and a free pint of Stowford Press to put in it. Brilliant day out with a good group of riders too. Thanks to WDMBC for organising it.
Some people taking it all a little too seriously; skidding into feed stations and not stopping for an ice cream 😉
Good event though I thought the course wasn't quite as good as last year.
Really? Never done it before so can't compare. Were there any big changes?
Maybe I'm getting used to it! I just thought there was a bit more road than last time but it's still got a great atmosphere.
great conditions out in the chilterns this morning too 🙂 didn't bother with sportive but only cause I forgot about it 😳
Was a good ride. Was in a quick group who started being picked apart by punctures until only 3 of us left.
Scraped a 6.40 for the long route and just missed the rain!
Tell me about it - we lost 2 of our group to punctures too.
I really enjoyed the event - just fantastic to nimble around and not worry about the lost second here and there.
GB
Enjoyed that, put in 7:26 with a target of 8hrs for the 132k so
I'm chuffed.
Great riding. Sore now though, in sure this red wine will sort it....
Great ride. What a wonderful way to spend a day.
Apologies to the 2 lads I took 100 yards down the wrong way near the end.
"I just thought there was a bit more road than last time"
I think it just felt that way because the off road sections were so fast and dry, so you you got back to the road that much quicker. I did the 100km in just over 6 hours, my fastest ever.
I'm one of the puncture victims, we were going great guns (42km in the first 2hrs) then I sliced open a tyre on one of those really steep little climbs...you know the ones I'm talking about.
Lesons learned
1. Dont bother trying a trailside repair of a tubeless tyre, just bang a tube in and get going.
2. Dont forget to check a tubeless tyre for thorns!
Tube went straight down, I couldnt find the hole so limped down to Amersham where I was glad to find a bike shop open who were good enough to charge me £8.50 for an inner tube. Yes I'm glad they were there and open, but seriously people wonder why we all buy stuff online.
Great day, thanks as ever to Chris Denman of WDMBC, that man really grafts away to put on terrific events for us. Next one I think is the Night of the Knobbly Tread and Duathlon at Black Park in October.
A really good event with some really beautiful bits of singletrack/countryside.
One puncture here & got lost a couple of times near Princes Risborough
& Great Missenden ( I think) and ended up taking an unplanned shortcut( wasn't complaining at the time!).
Big thanks to Kryton and his riding buddy (1x10 Br!) for dragging me back the last 15 miles.
A bigger thanks to the event sponsors - Lindt!! 😀 😉
Thought the signs were poor, but great place to ride. All in cracking day
Signs were nearly all there - our group of 4-6 spotted them between us at nearly every turn.
4 of us had the route on a GPS and that was perfect.
GB
Lovely day out, great route!
One particularly stunning downhill right at the farthest point - really fast, trees rushing past, seemed to just keep on going for ages. Got to the bottom, after a while I reached a road, and, no signs to be seen anywhere....
It was a long walk back!
Without the GPS bonging "off course" we would have missed a few due to speed more than anything else. GPS are quite cheap these days...
Yep...you need a GPS on this one
No GPS here (work of the devil) and not a missed turn.
(Ok apart from that bit near the end).
Well I was lucky. Just checked over the bike and there is a one inch split in the front tyre with the tube bulging out 😮
God knows how that didn't let go!
One dead knobby Nic