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Great news, should be able to make this one.
🙂
Looks like different organisers to last years 'Hurt at the Haigh' I hope its as good
anyone entered?
What tyres for Haigh Hall?
😉
looks like the local leisure and cultural trust....fellow who is organising is a cyclo cross rider and organised a few cyclo cross races
anyone entered?
I'm gonna enter today, have you signed up yet?
What tyres for Haigh Hall?
I'd go mud tyres if I had any. But I haven't.
anyone entered?
I'm in. Hopefully the uphills will be a little more rideable than a cx race and the downhills a little more interesting.
+1 on the mud tyres.
Looks like different organisers to last years 'Hurt at the Haigh' I hope its as good
the guy who organised last year said on their twitter feed recently that he was refused permission to repeat as the council had decided to run their own race at the venue this year instead, but i think he was/is involved in the course planning in some capacity.
Hi there
I've just entered this race based on the above recommendations, but I'm wondering if it will be 'singlespeedable' in terms of climbs? Anyone ridden around that area have any idea?
Cheers
Ben
bump
Are entries on the day likely does anyone know?
I've entered a major bevvying event the day before, so don't want to commit to an entry in advance.
I've entered a major bevvying event
Good to see I'm not the only one. Liquid carb loading 🙂
I'm going - I shall be performing my usual pre-race kit selection - the mountain bike, wear stuff that I don't mind getting muddy.
never been there with a bike let alone raced there so haven't got a scooby about the conditions, there is some hilly bits but it's not on the side of a mountain so I would have thought SS able... I'll be on a bike with gears
Entry on the day is possible, I think its a couple of quid more.
Its being organised by one of the guys on our club (Horwich) as part of his day job for Wigan council/trust. It should be a good course, sounds like a good mix of terrain talking to him and sounds like there's plenty of space for the field to spread out - ss might be possible as its not mega hilly like edhornby says but I don't know about any short steep sections.
Come along to watch or ride and help prove that this sort of thing is sustainable and worth doing again 🙂
I've entered this and looking forward to it. What is the course likely to be like? I can't imagine that it will be rocky.
Having not done an XC race in over 10 years, what is the score with the rules for bikes? It was once simple: 26".
As 29ers and 650b(?) are common, you can presumably use those, but what about flat-barred "cyclocross" bikes, which are, to all intents and purposes, rigid 29ers? -is it up to the discretion of the organiser, like the 3 Peaks CX?
[i]I've just entered this race based on the above recommendations, but I'm wondering if it will be 'singlespeedable' in terms of climbs? Anyone ridden around that area have any idea?[/i]
Me, last year.
[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7329/12722549554_7e2fe0fff9_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7329/12722549554_7e2fe0fff9_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/kofoJE ]IMG_7180[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/91695604@N05/ ]martin holden photography[/url], on Flickr
That's 46/16, fixed.
The 46 tooth cog is on the front by the way. I actually never thought I'd need to say that. What is happening to the world?
The reality is, it's a bog in places, there's a couple of short, sharp climbs, there's some singletrack.
I'm pretty sure its no cross bikes this year.
If it is under BC MTB XC rules any bike mechanically sound with adequate brakes (both wheels) and has bar end plugs is legal
Cheers. I've asked the organiser (who seems like a very reasonable chap) for some clarification.
I was also told no cross bikes, would be interested to know if they are allowed. Cross bikes seemed faster last year.
I'll be showing up, doing a lap (assuming I don't pass out during), then seeing if I'd be first to drop out or not. Unfit is definitely my current state.
But my first 'race' so should be a laugh.
The organiser does seem helpful and I am not trying to be awkward at all.
Apparently, in order for the race to qualify for the XC racing series, it is for "mountain bikes", but there appears to be no clear definition of what that means, even from British Cycling.
Rigid 29ers etc. are allowed, but "cyclocross bikes" are not.
I'm still unsure whether I can ride my hack bike:
A 700c(or "29er")-wheeled, rigid bike with its mountain bike handlebar, v-brakes and ~1.5" off-road tyres. A bike which I use on all kinds of terrain and I believe will be more suited to Haigh Hall than my 26" bikes.
If not, it does seem ever so slightly arbitrary...
I'm genuinely not sure where the line is drawn between 29ers and cyclocross bikes, other than in the [b]name[/b] on the side of the down-tube.
Aristotle - MemberCheers. I've asked the organiser (who seems like a very reasonable chap) for some clarification
The issue is that at some places it's hard to make a course that discourages CX bikes. The BC rule book is clear (you could ride it on a moulton). Some of the handlebar shapes that are round for MTB's also blur the issue.
Apparently, in order for the race to qualify for the XC racing series, it is for "mountain bikes", but there appears to be no clear definition of what that means, even from British Cycling
I organised 20+ XC races and no-one mentioned that to me, I was lucky that no-one was daft enough to try a CX on my courses
as stated above he should refer it to the Commissaire (if he has one nominated), I'll ask at the BC Commissaires Conference on Saturday in regard to BC rules (not any criteria imposed by an organiser)
The organiser would be wise to discuss with the BC Commissaire first to save chats with disgruntled riders
I'm not disgruntled, just genuinely confused.
I don't blame the organiser, he normally arranges cyclocross races, but is running this race under different rules.
The name on the frame is the only thing to objectively distinguish a lightweight XC 29er from a "cyclocross" bike -What about a frame with no name?
I can just imagine a "cycling official from headquarters" in a blazer turning up and rejecting some bikes for subjective reasons.
The name on the frame is the only thing to objectively distinguish a lightweight XC 29er from a "cyclocross" bike -What about a frame with no name?
Seriously?
Ok, so they can be different in some details and subjectively one could be set up better than the other for some things, but who declares what the [b]objective[/b] definition of a "29er" or a "cyclocross" frame is?
Is a 29er with a cross-bike like geometry a cyclocross bike or a 29er? Is a cyclocross bike with mtb-like geometry an mtb?
The points of rider contact could be in exactly the same positions.
Is it about aesthetics?
Drop bars and skinny tyres innit?
I'd race there on one if I still had one, it's gonna be a slopfest.
I'd say it was primarily the drop bars that differentiates between the two.
You'll know if you're trying to push the boundaries of whats reasonable - a cyclocross bike with flat bars say. But I'd imagine that would be pretty short reach and not really that nice to ride?
But why would you want to? Its a mountain bike race. Turn up on your mountain bike and ride. If you're not at the front, are you that bothered that you could have got 74th place instead of 79th place because you could have been on a cross bike with flat bars?!
I bet the mountain bikers racing at World Cup level don't debate whether they could get away with a cross bike with flat bars 🙄
The feedback was that it was surprisingly firm underfoot, and the course will be altered sligtly if it is sloppy.
Aristotle,what are the biggest tyre's you can fit on your bike? Sounds like a hybrid to me. It's a MTB race- simple.
UCI rules about MTB events:
[i]During MTB races no traditional road handlebars may be used.
bis The handlebars extensions of a triathlon or time trial type are forbidden, but traditional
barends are authorized.[/i]
British Cycling rules about MTB events:
[i]Bicycles used in competition must be capable of safely
and efficiently completing the task and must, as a
minimum, be mechanically sound, have efficient
brakes on all wheels and all reasonable steps must be
taken to ensure the safety of the rider and others. As
part of the latter, bar plugs are compulsory.
[/i]
Unless the BC rules are out of date (not likely) then cyclocross bikes are allowed. This is my understanding as an event organiser as well. If someone turned up to of of our MTB XC races (BC registered) I'd allow them to race on a CX bike - unless it was UCI registered (only National Series events are).
Right, this course is not quicker on a cross bike, look at last years results, how many cross bikes in the top ten, eeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr none.
I helped mark out the course last year and raced last year, very similar course to this year, I am nothing to do with organising it this year
this course is not quicker on a cross bike
But what about a hybrid, eh?
Right, I'm not trying to win, cheat or push the limits!
As there are no clear definitions of the types of bikes (or possibly any real need for definitions), it does seem fairly arbitrary.
I'm not intending to buy a 29er XC machine for my first race in years. My 26" bikes have fairly fat tubeless tyres which may not be ideal for a muddy Haigh Hall park and riding my "hybrid" bike might make sense.
But what about a hybrid, eh?
believe it or not a very determined lady rode a Brownbacks race on a £150 decathlon hybrid, to contrast there was a bloke on a Ibis Mojo riding the same course at the same time
both seemed to have fun, which after all is what it is all about 😀
both were legal then and still are, the organiser may choose to add his own rules (it is his event after all). BC need to stick to their published rules which haven't changed in years on this
the organiser needs to talk to his Commissaire, it it's a BC rule then they will be able to quote the relevant part of the rulebook, if it's the organisers rule then so be it
If the organisers say it's a mtb race open to mtb's only thats what it is. Most people aren't stupid and don't need BC to tell them what a a mtb is, or maybe not. 😕
If the organisers say it's a mtb race open to mtb's only thats what it is. Most people aren't stupid and don't need BC to tell them what a a mtb is, or maybe not
fine, but it's the organisers decision, not a rule imposed by BC. The Commissaire wouldn't enforce it, the organiser would
the organiser could have a rule that the bikes all needed to be from a single manufacturer, or be pink in colour, or ridden in fancy dress
If the race is run under BC regs (which this is?) then I don't think the organiser can impose their own rules, they need to stick to BC rules.
Otherwise I could decide that only pink bikes with yellow spots and 1:1 gear ratio are allowed to race.
Its a mountain bike race, I don't get why its so hard to understand 🙄 😉
If the race is run under BC regs (which this is?) then I don't think the organiser can impose their own rules, they need to stick to BC rules.Otherwise I could decide that only pink bikes with yellow spots and 1:1 gear ratio are allowed to race
as far as I am aware there is some latitude for the organiser. This has to be reasonable and equitable
(for example 24 hour races where you have to dismount for a short distance for the timing chips, the course is supposed to be 100% rideable but the organiser requires riders walk a section)
But now you are not talking about strictly MTB XCO races - and probably not BC regs at all.
It's often said the MTB is the new golf. All this talk of rule books and such-like is making me think this is true 🙂 How long before we have separate trails for 'ladies' and ban them from the bar?
Tell me where it says I can't ride a Cnoc 16 in the mtb XCO rules