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Yo,
I was drafted in last minute to do the Bristol Bike Fest thingy at the weekend (we came 16th!!). I rather enjoyed it considering my normal rides consist of a one hour 'slowly ride up the mountain, smash the downhill' ride per week if I'm lucky.
I was offered a place on the squad for the upcoming Mountain Mayhem w/e and thought why not.
I used a Prophet at BBF and was well over biked (thank god I didn't use my Remedy!). I'm considering using a hardtail for MM.
Question is...do I go singlering at the front, is there much climbing? What's the course like? I actually thought BBF wasn't bad technically for an XC course. Would the hardtail knacker me out considering I'm not the fittest!
I appreciate any feedback.
Cheers
I did it in 2007 when it was muddy as hell. Did 3 laps on my SS and one on my Prophet and my fastest lap was on the SS despite the Prophet being used when it was a bit dryer (before it chucked it down again). If the course is pretty much the same as it was in '07 then you'll most likely be walking the land rover track bit anyway (unless you're a glutton for punishment or your team are proper serious), so might as well go single ring. That was the only part I walked on the SS and I'm no serious SSer.
There's a lot of climbing, something like 1500' a lap. Having said that I don't use the granny ring, not for the first few laps at least.
I'll be on a light 100mm travel FS with a single (36t) ring. I will take a front mech and 2 rings incase it's really muddy, but in all honesty I sincerely doubt I'll actually fit it, irrespective of conditions.
2007 wasn't a hugely muddy year, it wasn't dry, but it's been worse, 2005 notably.
The course varies, in recent years (I've been told - not done it since 07), it's got mildly more technical, so there's less 'ride around a field' stuff, and really quite a lot of climbing. Depends how strong you are really, but I'd have thought a hardtail with single ring would be spot on.
2007 wasn't too bad at all. Good in fact. 2004 was the worst year. 3 hour laps with 75lb bikes and ripped off mechs...
Bring narrow mud tyres just in case. 🙂
Cheers for the feedback, I reckon a hardtail with the option to add gears sounds the best bet!