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I wanted to enter this but have left it too late and there are now only spots available in the elite/pro category.
Now I definitely do not fit into either. I am also not racing for points places etc but just to have fun and get a bit more experience for some races later in the year (specifically Dirty Nocka - 6hr endurance race on the same or similar course). The enthusiast and pro/elite categories go off at the same time so I dont see an issue with entering the pro/elite category and accept that I am going to come last but that I will still be on the course with people of a similar ability. I suspect that there may be people in the enthusiast category who should be in the pro/elite cat but would rather get the win.
Anyone done the event before? I will have to do 5 laps instead of 4 but again that doesnt matter as a prep ride for an event later in the year.
I've done a few, it's fun, don't underestimate the lack of hills at Cannock plus the going will be soft and so more effort needed. Courses can be technical in places but nothing to kill you. I've done a few fat bike races and SS along with XC. Usually a good vibe.
I’ll just qualify this by pointing out this seems to be a bogey course for me - I’ve never finished one the last being that 6hr Dirty Nocka. Effort wise I find Cannock a bit like Hadleigh, a bit “well it’s ok” for normal riding but “holy **** it’s hard” at race pace. As per rocketdog, don’t underestimate it. <br /><br />
The start / finish area, camping and parking are good, there’s gravel to bring the start down and various corners have Cannock-unique marbles to wash out the front wheel. A couple of very sharp climbs and some slow drags toward the end. If it’s muddy at all it seems to drag. <br /><br />
So it’s hard but what racing isn’t, I just found this one particularly mentally sapping.
I'm doing this as my first ever race bke race... I'm in the fun catergory - anything need to know / be scared of??
You'll only be doing 5 laps if you don't get lapped by the winner, which is why enthusiastic is 4 laps as you will invariably get lapped by the winner.
Saying that, the lad who won the enthusiast rave last year was a 2nd yr junior and is now 1st year elite.
It's harder than it looks racing at Cannock, finding a good rhythm is tricky and it's continual efforts even on the single track sections.
@miky2341 watch out for the kids who don't enter the youth race as they'll be gunning for any adults they can.
Not much to add to what others said but I guess you noticed R1 BC National XC is there too early in early April: https://www.mayeractive.co.uk/national-xc-series-r1-2024 . It's a similar setup but the course can be slightly more technical. Being a month or so later it might not fit with your training plans though.
I doubt anyone will care if you line up behind the elite guys.
@miky2341 - sure you'll have a great time! I did the fun category spring classic last year. I had raced generally and at Cannock once in years past but zilch since 2019. I only did one MTB prep ride on a new bike (Trek procaliber) with my friend's kid beforehand and lacked confidence. The course wasn't too technical and in particular missed the rock garden that typically features in the BC national XCs there. There's one short steep rooty drop which has a turn at the end but it can be rolled if you are not confident. Oh, there's a bunny hop-able log on a flat fast section that some people will slow down for..
Did Dirty Nocka there last year which was good. Very muddy after a lot of rain so not a semi slick course unless its been dry up there for a while.
Did a loop of the route today. It’s boggy and slippy in places, it’s going to be an interesting morning. A bit concerned I’m going to hold lots of people up and they will get frustrated at me. Hey ho, got to start somewhere!
Loved that today! I started right at the back after a crisis of confidence yesterday, but then quickly overtook people and ultimately got caught in a bottleneck. After everyone had spread out I managed a clear run and didn't fall off like I did yesterday. Great event, well run and great fun. 'll definitely do a few more of these!
With it being 2+ hrs away, I Decided during the week to stay ovenight (Premier inn, natch) and bring the family as pit crew/heckle crew - definitely the right choice. Went to the main visitor centre Saturday and had a ride out, found the course and did two practice laps - very, very glad I did. Impossible/stupid to go into it blind really, need to scope out both the A-line options (which were fine, but wouldnt want to come up to them first time in a race!). Dont think there was much real opportunity for decent practicing on Sunday morning.
Course was brilliant I thought. Right length, right difficulty, just wish I'd had some toothier tyres. Did the 3 lap fun race and that was the right choice for me, came 23rd out of 83, so well happy. Unlike my limited number of previous races I went harder off the start and then 'hung on' and solo'ed in the last half of the last lap. Absolutely loved it.
Massive respect to the fast kids who cleaned those two bloody awful, very soft and peaty climbs.
Has prompted me to enter some more 'traditional' XC races this year, just a bit of a shame the open/fun cat in the Crank-It series is so early in the morning.
Cannock also looks great (never been before!) and I need to come back with my trail bike!
Not much to add to what others said but I guess you noticed R1 BC National XC is there too early in early April: https://www.mayeractive.co.uk/national-xc-series-r1-2024 . It’s a similar setup but the course can be slightly more technical. Being a month or so later it might not fit with your training plans though.
What's the difference between the fun and sport categories on the Saturday? I'm a not that competitive (although fitness not bad) 47 yr old, so I may get beasted in the Vets class on Sunday. Tempted to do the fun or sport on the Saturday though, just for something different.
I did the BC round at Cannock in 2019 and 2023. From my recollection fun cat just lined up behind sport and set off with a small (say 1 minute) gap. Checking results we did 1 less lap (3 vs 4 in 2019, 4 vs 5 in 2023; although at least in 2019 I'd ridden there so didn't miss that extra lap!).
Me and the other quicker fun riders caught the slower sport riders in both events.
One comment is that in fun there's a bigger spread of abilities. I wasn't too confident in 2023 and started near the back. Hopefully not being immodest but in reality I was one of the quicker guys. I was patient and not too bothered about finishing position but will admit to occasional pangs of frustration at the people who'd nudged past me while waiting in the start pen only to slow to crawl when we hit the single track or completely fail riding up the steep gravelly gully climb and casually walk up the best riding line lol. Once people are getting lapped though they are more courteous. Anyway my point is that you should treat the fun cat as fun. The fast vets are wayy faster than many of the fun riders. If you got good results in vets maybe fun is not for you, unless it's just a money saving thing 🙂