[Closed] Merida Brass Monkeys Winter Series 2011/12

How does it work with picking up bottles etc? Is there a pit area?

Do all riders have to finish after the cut off, or can they stop before and still count as finishers?

We have NO real rules to the pit area as long as it is not any where near the Timing/Start/Finish area, but it will signed on the day for your area.

Technically you should all ride and can ride until your relevant cut off time for instant the 4Hr 3.59.59 you can go out again, you will all get a time no matter what happens!

Hope this helps?

Yep, ta!

The entries are coming in thick and fast be sure not to leave it to the last minute!

Right time to look an idiot. I've entered the two hour vets race (if i shake off an injury), fairly compotent off road, ok tester on tt's good club rider on road so fitness will probably be ok. Plan; stay out of the way at start, try not to screw up other peoples race have fun trying to race. I presume given none of my bikes are xc race bikes giant trance, inbred alfine with mary bars or cannondale prophet go with usual ride (the giant), any other tips or things i need to know of a serious and relevant nature do you move for passing racers leave it up to them to get past etc etc?

Most racers will normally call out telling you which side they want to pass on say "rider right" means the guy or girl wants to pass on the right. If your not happy with where they want to pass you give them a clear instruction where you want to be passed. Most are pretty polite but there are some d1x out there..As for the start just hang at the back as the fast racers will be at the front. Youll soon find out how good you are compared to whats about you. Mind dont be surprised that if you are at the back the first lap is a bit slow & you may even end up waiting at some point..

Racings fun, enjoy!

The Inbred Alfine could be a fine choice if the weather's grim. Would have been a very suitable bike for Round 2 last year.

Remember that 2 hours is the cutoff time for [b]starting[/b] your last lap, not for finishing. So if you cross the finish line just before 2 hours is up, you can do another lap, although you don't have to if you don't mind losing places. As a result you might be riding for anything up to 2h40 or 50, depending on how fast you are and how it pans out.

Ha Ha Porridgepot has the Hills of all 3 Venues LoL

All entered again 🙂 just hope my arm is mended...

[b]ROUND TWO VENUE CHANGE[/b]

Venue Change due to circumstances beyond our control as we have been outbid by Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) for shooting reasons we have had to change to Tunnel Hill just over the road, don't worry you will still get all the same level of service from the Brass Monkeys Team. The course will be aplenty with all the fun Singletrack along with some new stuff, so we look forward to seeing you at Tunnel Hill the old favourite.

Not too long now for Round 1 now, the Course is set and ready! 😀

In a thoroughly uncharacteristic move I've pre-entered all of them, dunno what's wrong with me. The week preceding the race just won't be the same without the frenetic panic on Tuesday afternoon where I remember I've still not entered!

Now... to find some fitness.

Did you race at the Gorrick Autumn round 2 Nick?
Didnt see you , i had a bit of a shocker . Couple of tumbles and spaz moments and no burst energy so i slogged it out and finished at least ( 50 / 65 ) but 1 min faster a lap would have stuck me right in the middle of the feild.
Just working too hard I think.
Will miss the final rd i think as skiing , so vets 4 hr for me i think.

Nah didn't do either of the Gorricks! Always enjoy the Brass Monkeys though - Pants does a good course. Let's hope we have more of the frozen tracks and less of the mud-fests that they're becoming known for!

Ben rode the lap yesterday and apparently it's riding really nicely.

I'll be racing round 1. rd2 is after works xmas do so I'm going to have to be very dedicated....

Doesn't appear to be any discount for prebooking all 3?

Rode the lap tonight and its still riding really nicely 🙂

You get a special surprise for booking all 3 at the event 🙂

Mud fest Never, last year Nick.

The course is different from the last as your riding a few new bits and riding other bit back to front, Oh and I've added a new climb or two! 👿

Am heading that way at lunchtime today. Must have a look around. Is there a map anywhere? Assume it starts by the green?

Mud fest Never, last year Nick.

You won't fool me that easily Pants, I built my bike up the night before R2, was looking forward to the frozen snow covered trails, and then it rained. And rained. It's never been the same since 🙂

It didn't really rain though Nick, it just all melted overnight. The amount of spray coming up from riding through rivers of mel****er felt a lot like rain though 🙂

All those hours spent a couple of days earlier smashing ice off the racing line with shovels, and we needn't have bothered 🙁

Have you been back and ridden the course since though? Its been great all summer and still is!

No that's probably true, although I'm sure it was raining on the start. The course remained rideable at least, that's the biggest test.

You get a special surprise for booking all 3 at the event

They should state that somewhere I was going to book all 3 but as the price was exactly the same I didn't bother.....

DT78, a good point.

has anyone got a gpx for round one course yet? I gather its different to last years - which was a good route

Can you change entry on day - e.g if I book for 4 hour can I change to 2 on the day?

It's still a great route! 🙂 you will be able to change Category's on the day, just send a cursory email. Noooooo GPS route as we try to discourage this on MoD Land.

Not long now!!!!

Cheers - I'm in!

I'm in for 4hrs. Say hi to a tired looking bloke on an Orange anthem!

Heckle inbound!!!!!

IIRC at the AYTE you promised concrete hill for the singlespeeders....

The Cheeky Monkeys are ready for you! But are you ready for them!!!!!!!

Keep an eye on out for them as they might get you! 🙂

Any ideas on how the course is holding up now? Racing Ralphs okay or something more aggressive on the front?

Was fine on Thursday but it rained a bit that night, not much but enough to keep those roots nice and glossy. The wind today seems to be drying things off nicely though.

Just back from putting out the mile markers. Its basically dry everywhere, but very slightly greasy in a few places. Some slippery leaves around, but the course is being blown again at the moment so they shouldn't figure too much.

Forecast is showing a possibility of some light rain early tomorrow, so that could make a difference, but its not going to be a mudbath.

I'll be using a Nobby Nic up front and a Ralph at the back, but then I tend to run that combo in the dry anyway.

Cheers. I'm just gonna chuck some Ralphs on and hope for the best, used them last year and have only gotten better since so hopefully I'll be okay 😯

Course is looking good. Have fun peeps!

Yepp the cse will be fine and is great shape, I'm thinking NO rain so you all be flying round in 35 mins- 🙂

what an ace day! great event again guys well done =)

Fantastic day in the sunshine on brilliant flowing trails.

I have to give thanks and credit for what went in to making today's route and trail quality simply fantastic......as for the balmy 14deg, sunshine and dryness it's got to go down as one of the best days riding in a long time

Agreed, was brilliant, great course, so dry and lovely weather.

Just need to get to the start a bit earlier next time, couldn't believe how many people were there!

Probably the best race I've done, fantastic course and conditions - I had a little moment where I remembered why I love riding - golden sunshine, leaves blowing across the swoopy bermy trail. Shame it was all ruined by the sudden onset of horrible cramp in lap4 that saw me fall off on those nasty climbs!

Thanks to all the riders that offered words of support, felt a bit of a tool but from what I saw I certainly wasn't the only one suffering towards the end.

Great day out.

Ditto above. My first proper race. Course was fantastic (understatement) and organisation spot-on.

Anyone know how the guy was who crashed on first lap of 2 hour race? Didn't see it but looked like he had hit a tree.