[Closed] Oktoberfest?

If you're fast enough, you'll get past OK. 😉

Expected thread about beer.

Am disappoint.

It's got a fair bit of singletrack. That means narrow trails. I've never had a problem with overtaking though there are always a few idiots at any race.

To be honest, a lot of it is wide enough to make a pass. Those short bits that are not, having someone come up and shout 'RIDER' really loudly is only likely to slow them down even more whilst they look for a nonexistent space to pull over.

It's racing, zig zag to keep them behind you. Winning is everything!

there are always a few idiots at any race

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Anyone doing this on Saturday? I'm heading over Somerset way to see my folks, thinking of making a late entry.

I'm entered.
As long as there's no one faster than me in my category, I reckon I'm in with a chance of winning. 😉

First time for me - have no Idea what to expect - apart from rain.

First time for me - have no Idea what to expect - apart from rain.

Ditto 😀

I'm making the trip down from Lincolnshire, 8hr solo singlespeed for me.

The course will be what ever it is, and it's the same for everyone. Just hope it's warmer than dusk till dawn was the other night, -2 was hurting my lungs.

The course will be what ever it is, and it's the same for everyone.

Absolutely. Part of the enjoyment for me is the unexpected nature of riding new trails in another part of the country.

The Solo event is full/closed now, but if anyone is interested, I have a 8 hour solo entry available. Send me a mail to lloyd@qwertycycles.co.uk if you fancy a ride. £20. 🙂

Passing/being passed is easy on those trails. I've done Bikefest twice as a solo. As long as everyone is nice to each other, there is no problem.

Lloyd... YGM about the 8hr solo entry.

Passing isn't a problem if you're polite (and quick enough). There are only a few bits where it's a little tricky but those are short and the slowest people are generally nice enough to pull over. It's a well organised and friendly event.

People had no trouble passing me last year 🙂

Still it was good fun, unfortunately I don't have the time to enter/play this year.

I have a solo 4 hour for saturday morning I dont think I will be using if anyone wants to buy it off me and handle the emailing the organiser side of things.

Entered months ago but I have a leaky roof and a roofer coming this weekend to sort

It's a well organised and friendly event.

I've done bikefest twice and oktoberfest once so far and thats always how I've found the event.

I'm doing the 4 hour pm solo this year . . . . . . . . . . . the weather forecast looks nice 😆

Yup, coming down from Edinburgh for it.
If you see a guy with long hair on a root beer Trek 69er single speed playing heavy metal from some Bluetooth speakers shout "douchebag" and try and run me off the track. I'll be drunk.

If you see a guy with long hair on a root beer Trek 69er single speed playing heavy metal from some Bluetooth speakers shout "douchebag" and try and run me off the track. I'll be drunk.

You sound distinctive enough, mission accepted 🙂

Yup, sounds quite distinctive. Will you be talking Scotchist as well?
We're doing 8hr mixed pairs, what could possibly go wrong...?

No way, I speak the English good like that what y'all do

Well, due to tubeless woes it looks like I'll be running a Ralph/Ralph combo.

I'm either going to be quite fast or lying down a lot. 😐

On my way, see you folks tomorrow, apparently it's sunny in the morning and raining in the afternoon.

Well, due to tubeless woes it looks like I'll be running a Ralph/Ralph combo.

I'm either going to be quite fast or lying down a lot

The course is really weather proof. You'll be fine. (I have a 2.4 RR on the front of my bike, been fine at Ashton Ct before)

Well, I've seen a 2013 course vid and am more worried about the ralph washing out on the singletrack corners.

But I've never ridden there before so I've no idea of the grip levels. No one in the vid was sliding though.

I have a massive, really loud silver bell on my bike.
I put it on in the expectation that I would let people know I'm flying past them on the right, but in reality I will mostly use it to get service from the bar wenches

Kryton57

You should be fine on Ralphs. I have one on the back and have been riding it all year. It's pretty worn now, but still grips.

It's grippy, you'll be fine! Always forget about this, but have enjoyed BikeFest a few times. Not too sorry to miss this one judging by the forecast!

I've got a 2.1 folding Crossmark on the back of my 69er.
I doubt mud is its friend

Not too sorry to miss this one judging by the forecast!

Only 70% chance of shower between 1&5pm? I'm not talking about the weather as I'm dragging the family down, and Mrs K isn't the out-doorsy type, so standing around in a dry field was a hard sell as it was...

I can't find an email with the camp site allocation. I know I've paid in advance.
Have I missed it, or is there no allocation and it's a free for all?

No allocation this time according to the website

Really annoyed I can't make it this year.

As for tyres, no need for mud tyres, only one boggy section so no point. And any tyres will be washing out on the first bend into the singletrack, although my Fatty coped OK with it last year 🙂

Fast and furious fun!

Anyone else sitting at home feeling like they've been beaten to a pulp?

Otherwise, a good event with an underwhelming performance from me. 😥

I''d put my hand up if it didn't hurt so much

Was a bit slick in places on the first lap, improved as day wore on, managed to miss the 'shower' in the afternoon 🙂
My times were in the 'very average indeed' division, but was a very good event, enjoyed it a lot.

Did the afternoon solo and that's the closest any race has come to breaking me!

Haven't really been putting in the miles lately after a grade 3 shoulder separation a couple months ago so fitness let me down a bit. I was on my 6th lap and got back about 2 or 3 mins after the cut off point, there's nothing worse than being close enough to hear the count down to the end of the race knowing you're not going to make it 🙁

Was really slippery in places so was glad of that heavy rain as it actually made the course grippier.

I don't think I've seen so many crashes in a race. It was pretty challenging out there. Had a few moments where the bike just went from beneath me and only just managed to catch it.

The trail was noticeably quieter after the torrential rain. I think that was the last straw for some.

Good race. Well organised with a great atmosphere.
Good course too.

My first go at singlespeeding. Was pretty good actually. Did my last lap on a pal's geared bike and was slower. Might have been a bit drunker by then lol.

Takeaway curry and a shower set me right. Legs are aching this morning, but in a good way.

Some very fit people out there!

We were in mixed pairs, nice consistent laps, bit miserable in the rain.
Course was good, all rideable (except for me the two rock sections on the last bit of singletrack - which I couldn't get me head round, due to an extent because I had eye surgery 2 months ago and have lost about 20% vision in my left eye).
It was good fun and the majority of the fast boys were good when they came past, except for one not actually so fast bloke who didn't really say he was coming, kinda drew alongside me, ran out of room so pulled into the middle of the track, locked handlebars and forced me to brake instead of being forced off the track - when I said "just get on with it" he got really quite arsey - well done to you.

My team mates for BikeCity T3, Rich Hobbs and Carole Welch won the mixed 8hr after 3 years of trying .Well done both of you !!

I had to give a mid-race lecture to one guy about letting people know he was passing, after we almost took each other out.

First time soloing so letting faster traffic through took a bit of getting used to. Most riders were very polite though.

Does anyone know what happened to the guy who crashed out on the zig zags? He looked in a bad way.

I was the guy riding 8hr Solo on the green fat bike (the only fatty going solo??) so also had to accept lots of team and 4hr riders overtaking me, most were very polite I thought and it's all part of racing, a few who tried to squeeze past with no warning though but they were a rarity.

The course and event vibe were great I thought, my first time riding Ashton Court so the fast and flowing trails were a pleasant surprise. I'm truly battered today after riding solo, but I'll be back next year I've no doubts.

Thanks to all the organisers, marshals and volunteers for a great day.

Did anyone else spot some cheating going on? Twice I spotted riders appearing in front of me that I was past before entry to some singletrack. Notably an older lady in black/ flouro pink "Swindon" kit - I went past her up the long gravelly climb - the start climb- over the bridge and it to the singletrack then past the picnic table area. As I exiited the picnic tables onto that little sharp climb there she was again in front of me, swearing her way up it.

Shame on you madam, I hope you've only cheated yourself.

Rich Hobbs and Carole Welch won the mixed 8hr after 3 years of trying

Nice one.

Wells represent! 😀

Fantastic event, good course (rock garden the best bit) very lucky with the weather with only one wet lap, only saw 2 people taking a shortcut!

Well done all involved, see you next year

Kryton57 - Member

Did anyone else spot some cheating going on? Twice I spotted riders appearing in front of me that I was past before entry to some singletrack. Notably an older lady in black/ flouro pink "Swindon" kit - I went past her up the long gravelly climb - the start climb- over the bridge and it to the singletrack then past the picnic table area.

There's usually a small minority of riders finding their own "shortcuts" at most events. They're not the serious racers, often people struggling with the course, nothing really to worry about.

It was a tough day and a great end to the season I thought.

First go at an 8 hour solo event - really enjoyed it,though I can only remember the first and last laps. Everything in between is a bit hazy.Won some beer, so well chuffed. Just need to clear the muddy kit out of the car now... 😀

As always great course, I thought it was grippier after the rain, brilliant event and good buzz at the party too.

I was the guy riding 8hr Solo on the green fat bike (the only fatty going solo??) so also had to accept lots of team and 4hr riders overtaking me, most were very polite I thought and it's all part of racing, a few who tried to squeeze past with no warning though but they were a rarity.

Didn't George Budd ride his? He was planning to when I spoke to him!

Didn't George Budd ride his? He was planning to when I spoke to him!

He may well have been on his Salsa fat bike which is why I was asking as I only spoke to two other guys who were doing single demo laps on Surly fatties. George Budd would have lapped me I suspect at some point though!

yep George was there on his fatbike. He went blasting off from the start in his usual fashion only to suffer a flat tyre after breaking a spoke.

I can't believe he doesn't carry spare tubes for it! they're only a kilo or so aren't they 🙂

Shame, it would have been good trying to keep up with him.

Edit, confirmed by Rich.

Shame he broke a spoke, those carbon wheels looked good at 12:12.

just seen that Kevin Sheldrake has already posted some pics up [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinsheldrake/sets/72157648275266589/ ]here[/url]
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinsheldrake/sets/72157648275266589/

richP - Member

yep George was there on his fatbike. He went blasting off from the start in his usual fashion only to suffer a flat tyre after breaking a spoke.
I can't believe he doesn't carry spare tubes for it! they're only a kilo or so aren't they
Shame, it would have been good trying to keep up with him.

I started near the back hence the reason I didn't see him then 😉

An excellent event, felt truely battered by the end but 8hrs on a fully rigid singlespeed is probably always going to do that to you, still can't believe I came home with a trophy (2nd 🙂 ) Enjoyed seeing you out on the course YourGuitarHero, couldn't resist carrying out your instructions every time I saw you. The rain was great as it actually improved the grip in most areas, especially the long greasy climb.

Congratulations Benji, 8hrs rigid and singlespeed is no mean feat round that course, and second place too

More photos here...

[url= http://www.robbarkerimages.com/events/gallery.php?mode=gallery&id=99&page=1 ]Oktoberfest 2014[/url]

Video here, and fame for me at 1:54 onwards. 8)

I'm in at 1:02, and riding rather than crashing. Which is nice.