This weekend. Anyone else going? I'm doing the 2 hour race in the vets class. Earlier start times this year though so no Sunday lay in. Looking forward to it after a half decent result at the autumn classic last week. Hopefully not too much more rain this week.
Sadly not as Mrs Weeksy is away. I may pop over though for a little day out if my lads Isla arrives by then.
Yes- 4hr for me.
Yep, 4 hour vets. First time racing on single speed.
Singlespeed is good at Minley Manor. I did it ss last year, and debating whether to go ss or geared this time.
2hr Vets for me this year.
Looking forward to 3 rounds of 2 hours instead of 4 rounds of 4 hours last time round - that destroyed me for the rest of the season!
Two hours in one of the 'aged gentleman' categories.
I've never done one of these before OR raced at Minley. What's the course like? How muddy is it likely to be?
Also sort of wondering how competitive these events are - I know they're races, but I don't really want to be to humiliated.....
Hope to come out and play at rounds 2 and 3. 2hr vets for me.
Course - reasonably well drained, so hopefully not too muddy and definitely not claggy. There are a few bombholes, lots of nice singletrack, roots, etc. Not too hilly, only 1 steep one I remember, but it was v short. There is a unique spongy bit though. Sort of mossy surface that deflects under bike weight.
Less competitive than xc and nowhere near as intense imo. Nice relaxed atmosphere given the longer race format, and longer course to spread folk out a bit.
4hr for me, been a while since i've sat on a bike for that long, results might vary...
Thanks Yak 🙂
Sounds great. I've not done anything competitive for a while so was worrying a little.
Happy to come last - just didn't want too much of a pounding.
Signed up for four hours in round two, no one else seems to want to play.
Yes, four hour for me this time. First timer last year in the two hour, and they were great races. Friendly, well organised, and more interesting courses compared to the other long duration (team) races I've done.
Looking forward to more of the same!
I'm in for 2 hour Vets again this year.
Hoping to improve on my 13th overall in the series last year.. a tall order given that it was achieved by only 13 people doing the whole series! 😆
Entry for this Sunday closes at midnight tonight, for anyone who still wants to enter...
Yep, 2 hour for me!
Be gentle with us Nick!
Yep 4 hours for me. Has anyone got any HR based guides to pacing as its one of my flaws?
Be gentle with us Nick!
You've not got to worry about me, not least because you're old 😉
Some quick boys riding the 2 hour anyway, we'll see how it goes!
Yep 4 hours for me. Has anyone got any HR based guides to pacing as its one of my flaws?
It's only 2 hours - balls to the wall! Last one I did was average of 184bpm (against a max of 203), so >90% or so! YMMV.
4hrs Vets for me.
Crosshair, I tend to pace it on how I feel, but a quick look back at previous 4hr races and I seem to average 85-90% of my max HR for the 4hrs. At the start I probably ride out of my comfort zone for 30mins or so and then settle into a steady pace.
Hopefully no more rain between now and Sunday.
3hr supervets for me cos I'm super*
*over 50
2 hours vets for me, I have no idea if it is going to be competitive or not, I will be bimbling around at the back reminding myself that taking part is important, and that I make everyone else look better 🙂
My competitive aim is that in at least one of the rounds, I won't be last male vet! I think it is good to have lofty ambitions!
Some quick boys riding the 2 hour anyway
Are you including yourself in that? 😉
I'm looking forward to getting smashed by most of my team-mates, including one on a fatbike, for which my excuse will be that I'm "training".
Are you including yourself in that?
I wish I could... Think Isaac may be doing 2 hour and Philip Pearce certainly is. I suspect the competition in Vets will generally be more fierce though!
We can skulk (and sulk) around at the back of the pack together then!
I don't think I've actually ever done a 2hr race before. No doubt I'll try and pace it either like a 1hr race, or a 12hr race, or perhaps some inappropriate mix of the two 🙂
I tend to work on the basis that there is no pacing for a 2 hour race! The issue comes when they're long laps and you finish one at 1:58, a 2:45 race is quite a bit harder if it's unexpected!
Either way, it will make a nice change from 4hrs, after doing that for every series since its inception!
Was kind of looking forward to the later start too - until the new start times were announced 🙁
2 hr vets, at my level the pacing strategy is charge off with everyone else, get stuck in the queue at the first bit of singletrack /technical feature then ride around slowly for two hours.
I rememeber the " unique spongy bit though. Sort of mossy surface that deflects under bike weight" that was a tad odd.
Off on a coaching course, so will be a no show from me.
Seeing as FTHR is only 173, I won't be averaging 184 for four hours thats for sure 😀
Looking at SPAM which I tried quite hard at, I averaged 167 for 2h50, Brecon Beast was 155 for 4h50 but that included 3 puncture stops so is a little low. 2013 Beast was 160 for 3h32.
So I reckon around 160ish which is about 83% MHR should be ok?
Everything I do lately, I lose a place on the last lap to a guy who is doing a massive negative split on his last lap (not the same guy but you see what I mean 😉 ) I just gasp away with nothing in the tank as they pace their way to moral victory.
This is just training for me rather than something I'm targetting so it will be a good scenario to try some disciplined pacing.
This is just training for me rather than something I'm targetting so it will be a good scenario to try some disciplined pacing.
That's what I'm kidding myself too 😉
Glad to see it's not just me going then! 2 hours seems plenty long enough at this time of year. Spent the summer doing longer races so just want something shorter for now.
I just can't be doing with being that cold and wet and doing that much damage to my bike! I get bored too! 2 hours is plenty!
I would race but I am otherwise committed.
Notes Daves excuse.
Thinking about it. Have a pass, so it would be rude not too.
3 hour Grandads here 😆
4 hour for me - first time in 2 years
What's worse is that my Fatbike is the only suitable bike for the event... 🙂
I'll be the youngest in grandad category - 50 on 3rd jan so sneak in by 1 day
Usually you move up the year in which you turn 50 (or 40 or 30), so anyone with the same birth year will almost certainly be younger!
The age rule is different for Brass Monkeys, I think because the series is in two years. So age relates to your age on the day of the last race.
For anyone planning to enter today is the last day to pre-enter, no entries on the day.
I'm in for the 4hr too.
I stand corrected then Jason!
Yep 4 hours for me. That way I can get two laps and a break in between!
Looking like this could be a bit damp. Heavy rain forecast for Sunday now.
^ heads to next day tyres website for Beavers....
See you all there! 4hrs again.
I'll be there as will the_ginger_one - 2 hour for me as I'm generally a wimp and don't want to race for any longer!!
Think I'll have a pop 2hr only, my first xc race since about 2000 in thetford where I vomited up last nights pizza after crossing the line, not sure I'll fair much better tbh
Oh yeah my xc bike is rigid with ardents, will I die?
Nah, you'll be good!
Kimbers - the way you say 'i think I'll have a pop' makes me wonder if you know it's pre-entry only?
Can't make this one but will be there for Rd.2.
Don't suppose anyone from milton keynes wants to car share to save on fuel costs?
[s]yeah johnny I cheers for pointing it out id seen that still available tho im off there now[/s]
oops pre-entry closed
looks like ill be racing strava round swinley then
4hr vets for me, singlespeeding as usual.
If it's the same course as Torq in your sleep from earlier in the year, the bouncy mattress climb is very odd, it is like riding on a mattress.
Nah it's not, may still use the same spongey climb though. That was horrific.
Weather looks pretty nasty. How stupid an idea would be Ralph front and back be? Not sure I can be bothered to swap them over to beavers...
You'll be fine. It's just going to be a wet swamp so nothing will grip that much.
It's not that claggy.
I don't think there has ever been a proper wet race at Monley, so who knows how the course will hold up. As Gee says it won't be craggy, so proper mud tyres won't be needed. There are plenty of fire road sections that will hold up fine in the rain, and the singletracks drains well, so hopefully not too bad just a bit slippy.
It has rained in the past during 12hr races at Minley, and one year it was fairly waterlogged at the start, and I have just run normal tyres (probably Rons or Icons) and haven't found the lack of grip an issue.
I've got mud x fitted at the moment and can't be bothered to change. I have a set of beavers as well but unfortunately they don't inflate tubeless on my "race" wheels.
Got a Maxxis Beaver for sale if anyone wants it. Only used once. 2.0 wire bead 26". Live a couple of miles from Minley. £10 (excuse my shameless sales ploy :-))
Yup , up for a 2hr SS Bimble !
I'm only available for the Jan 4th event, which will be my first outing in the SOG (Senile Old Git 50+) category. Singlespeedly as usual. Junior Balanced will be doing his first 2hr race in the 14-17s.
Just back from a ride round there. Some old faves, some new bits. Mattress climb is in but I think as a descent, whereas spongebob is now the climb. Or I may have been having my leg pulled. Course is all very rideable, few newish loam bits will be sapping after 4 hours but mud isn't an issue. The only trouble I had was on ss on the field edge climbs, which are a bit geasy and when you stand up the back wheel slips out a bit.
Of course weather tomorrow is shit so all the above is likely to be irrelevant.......
Thanks for the course update, I'm about to set sail for the south and my bed for the night, didn't fancy a 3 1/2 hour drive and the m25 in the morning. See you all tomorrow, I'm the lost sheep in the Arrows Cycles team strip aboard a Pace RC129 singlespeed.
Rode the course with TheOtherJonV earlier and its a good mix compared to the old 12:12 laps
The course descends on 'Spongbob up' and climbs on a track just parallel to 'Sponge Bob Down'
There are some real nice new sections and not that many rest sections - so it could be a slog tomorrow - but all good run 🙂
Will be on a white fat bike so please holler 'Fatty' when coming up behind me and i'll jump out of your way 🙂
Good luck all, it's chucking it down at the moment 
Well that was, erm, fun. Did 3 laps in the 2 hour race. So glad I didn't sign up for the 4 hour one. I think that's the wettest gorrick race I've ever done.
It was hard, very muddy indeed. I remember replaying theotherjonv's quote from above in my mind;[i]"...but mud isn't an issue."[/i] as i slithered to a mud induced halt on a number of occassions. 😆
I should have done the 3hr, as my 2 laps took that long! I got cold, wet and stupidly muddy, i think i might well have been dead last in vet40 2hr! I had a blast, really enjoyed the challenge and cant wait for the next time. I just need to work on my fitness......and bike handling skills......and 🙂
First race and first win for the Pivot LES today at the Gorrick 4hr Brass Monkey race. Felt terrible at the start; partly due to wrong bike position (like I said, first race), partly because I did my waterproof shorts up too tightly and cut off the blood to my legs but mainly, if I'm honest, because things I enjoy more than riding around in rain and sloggy mud include setting fire to myself. It really was a mission. After 2 laps I had a little rest, got changed, adjusted the bike and decided to MTFU. I caught back up to Rich and got the win 🙂 Good to have a Pivot 1-2-3 as well as Paul Flynn ended up 3rd.
Good effort Gee. I sacked it off after 2 laps. Had a broken spoke, had grabbed an old pair of shoes with totally shagged cleats which just wouldn't stay clipped in and I was getting cold as I couldn't pedal hard enough due to the first two issues!
The wet parts of the course were good I thought, really struggled with the muddier bits in the middle though. Would've liked a bit more grip on the little short sharp climbs too. Still, all excuses, should've MTFU'd. Glad I went, but don't feel bad for giving up!
Well I can confirm racing Ralph's was a dumb idea. Had a sense of humour failure part way through lap 3. Apologies to anyone in earshot of the swearing....drive kept chain sucking for the last hour so had to gentle take the bike round. Think I've also got through a pair of pads too.
I enjoyed myself and well done to the organises for adjusting the course slightly to avoid the worst bits. I also got a free mug!
That was pretty epic! I aired my Rons down to 20psi and managed every climb at least once. Nice to meet John on the Fatty machine. I loved it when you hopped off and said "Time to air down to 8psi!" 😀
I was about half a lap short of pace I reckon but otherwise was pleased with my ride. Finished in the top half (just!).
Nice to see you've solved your punctures Yak, sorry I couldn't chat too well, I was only wearing a towel at the time lol!!!
Just finished the massive clean up operation 😉
Haha, no worries! 4 and a bit hrs of mudmageddon! Didn't feel fast today, just churned it out for the duration and came in a few places back on Crosshair. No torn sidewalls either 🙂
A serious well done to Gee and all the fast guys today too- the speed differential was incredible.
What bike were you on crosshair?
I think I sort of enjoyed it? I managed 4 laps, I did have time to go out for a 5th, but my rear pads were down to the metal, and if I stopped to sort them I wouldn't have crossed the line before the 4 hrs where up, so an easy decision really. Bike washed down and it now doesn't look too bad, hopefully it is just the front and rear pads that need replacing.
Glad I switched my tyres to Ground Controls before the race, generally I didn't find grip a problem, but did have a couple of offs in the filth. Managed a huge muddy slide down the section with off camber corners, I lost the front wheel, hit the ground and just keep sliding!
Appreciate the fact that the organisers re-routed parts of the course as the race went on. Lots of events would have just left the course as it was, but the removing the worst bits actually made the later laps bearable.
Thanks to Gaz of KTM who sacrificed his race by lending my wife his bike after she ripped a tyre while leading the ladies 2 hour race. She wasn't quite able to maintain her lead on the big bouncy bike, but she is very grateful.
Well done those 4 hours finishers battling in the mud!
I missed a great opportunity to be on podium.
I thought I had a boom proof bike for today's conditions. A titanium, single speed and rigid carbon forks, all together under 9kg and I was feeling great, despite riding just with front brake only, very tricky on the downs!
At the beginning of 3rd lap the rear maxle started to loosen several times, chain tension was bad, the adjusters had moved forward a little bit and when putting torque chain would skip some teeth. I had a tool to tighten it at the feeding station but at mid point or so it snapped. I run to the end, asked for a single speed chain link, I was offered to try with a 9 speed chain but I was demoralized, wet and cold. I reckon I could've tried to do 2 more laps but that'd have been nearly 5 hours.
I have to find out what really happened. Need to tighten bolts a little bit more probably hehe
I ground out 3 laps today... And spent even longer cleaning my kit and bike after. The wettest gorrick I've ever ridden.
Great course though!
Scott Spark 920 with a red coat.