There is a g hour enduro MTB race at Bettshanger (near Deal, Kent) on Sunday. i have entered with two other mates in a 3 man team.
Anyone else entered?
Any tips on doing endurance events? Never done one before. although it is endurance over 6 hours we are 3 in the team so can swap about on the track.
anyone know what the circuit is like? The description is fast singletrack with grassed sections and it is said not to be anymore difficult that Bedgebury offroad route?
I was thinking of taking my single speed(s) and one geared bike with an option of taking crosser (not sure this will be allowed)
this is the description from the website...
Fast all-weather surface predominantly on shale (from the park's previous life as the spoil tip of Betteshanger Colliery). Testing and fun course very reminiscent of Beastway at Eastway at its best. With generally wide, but twisting and turning paths through the wooded sections, interspersed with open grassy sections.
any from sketchy like to comment?
Im not doing it, working this weekend.
oh I see buzz...I see from the list there is a few from sketchy doing it
I've raced there a few times and its a crackin place to ride. If they use a similar circuit to one I raced a couple of weeks ago then you may suffer with a singlespeed up some of the short sharp bits especially where the climbs immediately follow tight slow corners. Otherwise its fun twisty singletrack all the way. Hopefully they will use the jump into the finish area too. Watch out where the circuit crosses the road race circuit as the kerbs can give you a pinch puncture. There are good facilities for cleaning yourself up after with showers etc. Have fun, I wanted to do it but I'm on marshalling duties.
I think there is 3 of us doing solo and a couple of double teams, most are doing it as a bit of prep for 24/12.
Thanks plop and buzz...sounds cool! I am really looking forward it as it is my first race/event ever.
I am a little senior in years and not the fastest carrying about a stone too much (13st 5 10 and 45 years old). i am just going to take part really not seriously trying to win the thing 🙂
Sounds good! i wouldnt worry, most of the guys on sketchy are new to racing and really getting into it.
This event was a blast...got back tonight very tired but very happy. The course was fast singe track with some rises in places but mainly level. The gravel/slate type substrate made for a sketchy experience in cornering etc. The bumpy ride made it a little tough on the old never regions if you did not get the timing right with the pedaling!
We did 13 laps in the 6 hours of about 5 miles long. Most times for the lap were 24min - 28 min. I used my geared Fs Klein throughout even though I took both my single speed rigid bikes (kona cindercone and kona unit 29er). I just didn't feel the bumpy surface would suit fully rigid and the fast grass sections would 'kill' my single speeds.