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Whose going? I'm racing proper as a pair, but not done this event before. Other than smashing my laps, any advice on racing as a pair? Both of us are experienced 12/24hr riders so we get the feeding / lights / handover stuff so I'm just wondering if there's anything more specific?
Smash it. Recover. Smash it. Repeat for 12 hours.
Physically tougher than solo I reckon, mentally easier though.
Consider double laps, 12:12 laps are short and you really won't have much time to recover.
Agree everything in advance, you won't actually see your partner once the race starts. A few years ago Gee of this parish and myself raced Bristol Bike Fest, our car keys went missing and we had to play the entire conversation out over 2 second snippets as we handed over each lap. Turns out a Torq rider we entrusted them to had taken them home to Leeds!
I can't make it this year, which is a shame, as it's a great event.
Yep we'd decided most likely an 45min - hour out each regardless of how many laps that is. We'll probably double that time around 6pm so we can each eat, rest and mount up lights for the evening sessions.
Shame you won't be there NJee I'm not sure you've met BHB before, he's my partner in this one.
Certainly have, that should be good then. Like I say, it's a great event. Did pairs there in 2009. Tougher than 24/12 as it's flat out the whole time.
I've solo'ed, paired and teamed it in the past and as Njee says, pairs and teams are harder because there's no excuse to not be redline on every lap - remembering that my redline might be substantially slower than yours but it's no less effort.
Solo'ing I had to eke out my effort and while I had more issues with bike position soreness and back and shoulder cramps, etc., on pure CV effort it was easier to manage and gauge, and i didn't feel quite as broken as when I did it pairs.
If you're quickish, a lap will be around 40 mins (assuming an 8 mile course in the dry) - teams were doing mid to high 30's at the sharp end last year - so 45-60 min turns is almost certainly right between singles and doubles. In which case i'd opt for doubles at least to start with and until you slow down a bit otherwise you have literally no downtime.
Enjoy it. Best event of the year, sadly* away for this one this year
(* not really, because I'd talked myself into solo again)
Aye, just been and looked, my lap times last year were: 40.29, 40.52, 41.22, 44.04 and 44.01, with the latter two in the dark, so you'll be right on that 40-45 minutes I suspect. I'd still be inclined to chuck in at least one double I reckon.
I'll be there, 4 of us going and racing as pairs.
Did it a few years ago and really enjoyed it, nice change from enduro.
Enjoy, I've soloed it every year since it began but sadly probably won't get to race this year 🙁
Love the event though, course is good fun and the atmosphere is great!
Not done pairs at this one but have elsewhere, as others have said it is pretty brutal - smash it hard, stop, try and stay warm, faff for a few minutes, eat something, time to get back to transition, all the time trying to stop the legs from seizing. You really won't get much (any) downtime unless you switch to double laps, however these might be slower. As ever, a pit bitch can really help, as can a calm demeanour when off-course. Good luck!
I'm doing it in a pair with Morgan Jones. The course is great but very easy to get caught up in the 'race' and smash it too early because it fast and fun - it doesn't slow down even in the wet.
I've teamed and paired before, although harder pairs are great fun!
Doing it as a team of 3 - first race event for me.
it doesn't slow down even in the wet.
Define 'wet' 😉
Doing the mixed pairs with my wife. Done it many times as a solo but this will be our first pairs race. Just doing it for fun and think we'll be near the back of the field. Expect I'll end up doing 4 laps to my wifes 1
Solo'd it last year and managed 5th...
Would have loved to do it again this year and tried for a podium place but having to go on a family holiday.....
Booo !
Great event even if it is darn sarf !
I'm in for the pairs for the 3rd time. Really looking forward to it.
Couple of top tips from me (sorry if blindingly obvious!)
- pad of paper and large clock in the tent. Write notes to each other and make note of lap times so you know roughly when to be back at the handover
- consider double laps (agree them in advance)
- wear recognisable kit, maybe something reflective so you can tell your partner. First year my buddy wore a generic red gore top, I was forever confusing him with several other riders
- adjust your line choice from the fun one when it is dry and fast to the safe one when moist and dark - I had a massive off in the 2013 race and we called it a night at around 10pm
- decide who is best at starts and let them go first (I often get carried away in mass starts, so best for my slightly slower but more sensible buddy to take the first lap)
- and porkpies lots of porkpies 🙂
I'm going to pop down for the 6hr solo.
Few people from the club are doing pairs but I fancy something more chilled.
Any idea how much ascending there is per lap? Trying to gauge whether to take the SS or not..
No big climbs, quite a few short sharp ones that all add up. All are SS able, you may choose to hop off on some and save your legs for the fun singletrack (YMMV)
Checked my stats from last year on Strava, about 170m per lap
I'm in. 12 hour solo single speed. Race really starts at 6pm. See if O can improve last years result but I'm on gears now!
Maybe I'll take the SS then to spice things up..
Forgot to ask- how longs a lap?
Good effort Sarpullido 😀 !
about 8 miles
Maybe I'll take the SS then to spice things up..
It's a race, unless you're winning by miles why 'spice it up'?
's a race, unless you're winning by miles why 'spice it up'?
We clearly want very different things from an event. I want to have fun with like minded people and push myself a bit. I don't actually care where I come.
Fair enough! You're right, I want to do as well as possible, so I'd not handicap myself with equipment choices!
Fun remains very high on the agenda though.
Then there are the folks who still win while riding a singlespeed....
Tbh there are only one or two places on the course where a singlespeed is a significant detriment.
Depends on significant I guess, but there are none where it's an advantage 😉
Tbh there are only one or two places on the course where a singlespeed is a significant detriment.
If you're me, that's the first half and the second half 😉
Not riding but hope to be taking some photos and chillin out to the DJ under the bridge.
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Singlespeeded it last year, wasn't an issue. This year I'm fat for 6 hr solo.
Depends on significant I guess, but there are none where it's an advantage
If you are used to it, the whole course - nature's own pacing strategy. N.b. Steve Day won solo 12 last year on a rigid singlespeed.
Perfectly aware of people doing well on SS (used to ride occasionally with Aidan Harding), but are they quicker than with gears? Serious question.
Did it last year and loved it . But it was bone dry . The start was a dustbowl like the Roubaix stages , and I was near the back (obvs) . Think I was putting in 46 min laps in a team of 3. Same time for night laps as our team strategy was simple. Each lap must be faster than the one before, aiming to pick up places toward the end of the race .
Might do a 6hr solo but was kinda relying on a few people I know for encouragement but they arent going this year.
but are they quicker than with gears? Serious question.
Don't know, never seen Aidan ride a geared bike. I think for a certain mindset of rider for long endurance stuff (say >4hours) it's not a hindrance and maybe even a benefit. Particularly if you factor in something going wrong with gears in adverse conditions.
Weather's not looking too special this week is it? Think I'll take off the thunder burt, although I've only got a Ralph to replace it with.
The weather for the end of the week is changing daily. Was due to be dry from Friday but now Sunday is looking wet 🙁
Time for an airshot inflator and some more Stans I think!
Bonty Mudx already on my spare wheelset.
Looking for somewhere to buy some black marigold gloves now.
Arse. I was planning on Sunday with a 2 man pop up and just getting on with it. Looks like I'll need the big tent with a porch to get changed in then.
I hate wet racing!
Early days yet - forecast is changing by the hour for the next 3 days let alone 6 days.
Oh ok. I'm overseas and the what glass half empty forecast shows heavy showers each day on the UK.
Doing it as a team of three. First time doing something like this for two of us, and one did Dusk till dawn at Thetford as a pair for a few years.
Forecast seems to be looking better by the hour - according to the BBC light rain showers tomorrow and then dry into the weekend. I might not need those dry suit wrist thingies I just bought to seal my boots after all.
Doing it as a team of three. First time doing something like this for two of us, and one did Dusk till dawn at Thetford as a pair for a few years.
Team of 3 is good fun! Not nearly as knackering as pairs, but more time on your bike than a 4, which always feels like a cop out for a 12 hour race.
Taking my children on Saturday for the kids races (weather permitting) 😀
BBC now has Sunday as merely cloudy. No doubt it'll change a few times between now and then.
Missed the Tunnel Hill Trolls ride of the course tonight. 🙁
Can't see that really making much difference, you know broadly what it'll be.
Agreed - just wanted to get out instead of cooking!
Course was riding well last night with some nice new bits in the 8 mile loop.
good luck those racing.