I am completely in two minds about this. Doing the 12 hour solo on Saturday and I am wandering if Mud X's will be a good choice or to stick with something less aggressive - Bonty XR3's or Smart Sams.
I am slightly annoyed as last week I splashed out on some new summer tyres - so apologies for summoning the rain Gods in doing so.
Just toying with ordering some 1.5" Black Shark Mud tyres for SITS now, not that it will help for Saturday.
So - what are you all thinking about using?
Same tyres I always use! Don't think it's going to get muddy at Bristol as the vast percentage is surfaced and pretty weatherproof. Well certainly not muddy enough to warrant mud tyres anyway.
Apart from the gully section after the climb out of the first singletrack bit and the following bit through the woods can get a bit claggy.
The problem is that I either have familiar mud tyres, familiar slick-ish tyres or new tyres which I haven't tried in anything remotely wet yet.
Does anyone know what Bonty XR3's are like mud?
The only part of the course that will get claggy (if at all) is the field which is a very brief section.
Take your fast tyres.
I'll be doing a practice lap on Geax Barro Racers. If I stay on, I'll stick with them for the race, if I don't, I'll swap for Small Block 8s.
Geax Barro Racers! 😯
In that case I 'should' have no concerns with my limited tyre choice 🙂
I'm more concerned about my tent staying upright than my bike staying upright.
At least the wind will dry the trails a bit.
Just hope that riders are a bit more courtious than last years Oktoberfest when it seemed that unannounced risky overtaking and barging was fair game.
Just hope that riders are a bit more courtious than last years Oktoberfest when it seemed that unannounced risky overtaking and barging was fair game.
The new trail 'edging' will stop that.
its been hammering down in Bristol for the last two hours though it appears to have stopped. its supposed to be dry form this evining through to Sunday morning but I think it will be largely unsettled all weekend and wouldnt rulle out more rain on Friday and Saturday.
In view of the weather, I've given up on the idea of using Geax Barro Race tyres and will go straight for the Small Block 8s.
This doesn't mean I won't crash on my practice lap. More likely, it means I'll be travelling faster when I do crash.
Just regarding the new trail edging. - how do you overtake on this course. As on the oktoberfest it was very difficult with 'SLOW' people not letting people through.
*campsite shut until 1700 this evening**
how do you overtake on this course. As on the oktoberfest it was very difficult with 'SLOW' people not letting people through
You don't. There are a couple of spots on beggar bush lane where you can skip round, otherwise you're dependent on people letting you through. You only chance is to hoik a lung up on the double-track climbs to overtake as many people as you can.
how do you overtake on this course
On the climbs.
Remember to be polite if you want to overtake shout "ont he left" or applicable, being a woman there is nothing more irritating then people huffing and puffing on your wheel and either squeezing past where it isn't possible causing me to crash or getting annoyed! If I hear someone behind me if I can move out the way ASAP I will.
Be courtous and polite and you'll find overtaking easily, be an arse and you will find it'a a lot more difficult!
I had someone following me once and heard him shout "E rider !".
I had no idea what he meant, so I ignored him.
Again, he shouted "E rider !" Again, I ignored him, thinking maybe there were two of them and he was shouting to his mate. If he wanted to come past he would have asked.
Eventually, we got to a wider bit where he overtook and, thinking about it a bit more, I realised he had actually been shouting "Lead rider !" 😀
Also bear in mind if you're overtaking a female or solo rider she might be slower than you, but she could be racing for first or second in her category. If you're a bloke of average speed like myself, you're probably duking it out for 25th. So don't expect people to stuff themselves into a bush on your account.
Well said Mr Agreeable, I know a lot of my female buddies as novices had bad experiences at BBF with aggressive male riders and it put them off. Don't worry if I know I'm holding someone up I will try to get out of their way, however Oktoberfest we came 3rd if only I'd known, we could've made it to 2nd!!
Remember to be polite if you want to overtake shout "ont he left" or applicable, being a woman there is nothing more irritating then people huffing and puffing on your wheel and either squeezing past where it isn't possible causing me to crash or getting annoyed! If I hear someone behind me if I can move out the way ASAP I will.Be courtous and polite and you'll find overtaking easily, be an arse and you will find it'a a lot more difficult!
Or alternatively yell "STRAVA!" & assume everyone knows what you're on about.
As I see it, overtaking can only really be done:
-through the meadow (where the running start begins), along the gravel road, start/finish straight, along the field before BBL.
-the tarmac from the gatehouse, up the gravel climb & down to the monument
-down zigzags/up the fireroad climb
-up gravel climb to New Barn Wood
-the (very) short open section between lower & upper quarry
There are a few optional blue/red line choices where locals will know the fastest line & be able to overtake.