[Closed] pictures from Mayhem

The photographers are less likely to walk to the very top of the hill and take pics of the best bits

njee20, don't blame you at all - the thought of riding an XTR drive train through that would make me cry just thinking about the cost of replacing it all!

Wait till I've uploaded my photos from [b]Somme[/b] woods.

^ It's [b]Paschendale[/b] woods you clutz - do you know nothing 🙂

Fully anticipating a correction to inform me there were no trees in Paschendale...

Mmm, yes it wasn't ideal! The 1.5" Black Sharks were good though, was nice being able to (almost) ride certain bits!

I dropped off my Mud Sharks with Andy Cockburn to give him a chance of getting round in one piece!

I did say 'most' of it. 😉

I think there were trees in Paschendale. When they started. Not many left by the end.

Bits of it were fun. In a strange way. If you could get a half decent line, you could carry some speed in the woods (not so much on the first half) and sail past people who were trying to find a line on the margins. 45 PSI in mud tyres did the job for traction, not always for steerage 😉

If it was dry, it would have been a good course. There has to be an argument for 'built' trails in the estate if MM is going to stay there. MM wasn't full this year, Wiggle signed up for three years so I guess they'll be looking for ways to persuade riders to sign on next year.

I'm not. I am officially retired 🙂

Princejohn
No worries didnt want to come back at you in arsey way either
As above i did 2007 too and defo worse this year we all managed 3 or 4 laps then without any mechanicals

Alex, attendance at all events seems down this year and quite a few have cancelled (eg 10 at Kirroughtree) due to lack of entries. I wonder if it's recession related or at least cost of fuel?

I ache more now than if I had ridden it.

Yep, same here - my legs are stuffed after wading round the course yesterday!

I'm interested to see what ramifications it has for the future of Mayhem. Despite assertions on Thursday that they were 'weatherproofing the course and taking out the worst bits' it was yard for yard the same as last year, and not event remotely 'weather proofed' which I personally think is a bit of a piss take. Why not just say "the course is really rubbish, bring mud tyres", or actually take out the worst bits! We could have climbed up out of the arena and then turned left before the obelisk where the course comes back at the end and dropped into the arena, in the conditions I don't think the traffic would have been too bad and it would have missed out some of the worst bits.

Prize money for the sole elite category is now £3000, used be at least £4k, if not £5, entries took far longer to sell out (if they did at all?), I wonder if people will still come back next year!

I think the whole UK enduro* event scene is having a lull right now.

* and yes I know it's not the same as European Enduros

@FF- that's a fair point. Which means I guess that promoters are going to have to try harder to either bring back people who used to enter or widen the pool of people who would enter (like MM Kids Race, Sportif, etc)

Shops are selling road bikes rather than MTBs which is going to remove some possible riders.

Entry fees are silly in some cases,

Fuel is expensive

Wages for most people are static or falling.

Cost of living is going up.

How many youngsters do you see on bikes these days? when i started 20years ago there were a fair few of my age riding, but if i look around i don't see them anymore? Is it a case of older riders, been there done that, nothing to prove, and with it there is no reason to go to events like Mayhem?

Oh, i would do Mayhem again, if they go somewhere that can stand wet weather, UK late June it does rain a lot, so make sure the course can take it.

Oh my god looks nasty, glad I gave it a miss this year, will prob go next year though as its bound to be dry 🙂 congratulations to all who got round this year, well done.

I like MM for the atmosphere - it has a really good vibe to it, although the mud did subdue it a bit. The whole camping with friends, beer, BBQ, catching up with loads of riders you know etc. Bumped into no end of random people I've ridden with or bought / sold bike bits too there yesterday. We just need a few good summers now to get things back on track!

I've done 11 Mayhems and this was by far the worst conditions. It's also the only one I haven't finished. It has never been terrible for the entire race. The arena and camping fields have never been that waterlogged and muddy. It was like riding in 6" of wet porridge in places - and yes, places that before weren't so bad. Before it rained overnight, the entire first half of the lap had a dry line developing apart from the sections in the camping fields which were a total swamp. This has not happened before. The second half of the lap was a swamp from the top of the obelisk climb - tbh it has been as bad up there before, just not for the entire race - max 12hrs or so of slog.

As Nick said, we decided that we've done enough to know the likely horrors that lay ahead - I couldn't face a repeat of 2008 when it took me a full hour to stop shivering and regain the powers of speech after my night lap.

Last time we asked, Eastnor wouldn't allow built trails - the course has to remain 'natural'.

GB

No, the same bike! They appeared to have 2, they swapped over at one point, not sure if it was a logistics thing so they could get numbers swapped, but they were sharing bikes. It was to prove how resilient they were!

Oh - I did note his exact words, but the bike seemed far too clean at 9:30 last night to have been ridden continuously. Maybe that was just after the change (or did they change every lap?)

Is it actually fun when you're riding it? It looks a bit boring.

With the right attitude, yes. I suppose a few things did help me:
- when you're on a uni everybody cheers you on, even when you're not riding it, and you get a really big cheer when you try and ride something seemingly impossible (I think my attempts on the bridge were appreciated, even if unlike some of my team-mates I didn't actually manage to ride the whole thing)
- no drivetrain to destroy
- everybody is supposed to overtake you when you're on a uni, so overtaking bikers (even in conditions where they can't ride and it's actually easier to push/carry a uni) seems like a small victory
- nothing is boring on a uni, especially not in those conditions

..but even without that, it's just a case of making the best of it and not being miserable just because it's a bit grim (and I know all about being miserable).

MM wasn't full this year

😯 so no more hand delivering entries to Pat? Experience of other event formats which used to be over subscribed but then stopped being so popular (and in many cases no longer run) suggest the only way is down. People have/will move on to something else. Or is it actually time to try reviving some of the older things like Polaris (ACE Races kind of got a revival this year and seemed to do quite well).

It was pretty sloppy and sticky in equal measure the whole way round. The climbs where never ending and the off camber bit in the second half was ridiculous but the downhills were ok but to straight and short. The last downhill into the arena was awesome. I went down it around 9pm and although it was like a brown river I had great fun.

Its the little things that could help revive the event such as a covered changeover area that has been there previously no fun waiting in the rain for a team mate when the conditions were leading to mechanicals that could add 30 mins or more to a lap

I guess it's several things like price of entry,fuel and generally people being more cautious what they are spending on.

I haven't done a MM for a couple of years and it was hard work trying to get £45 quid out of people for a team entry of 4 never mind now its £200+ though there is interest of doing a future one.

Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/sets/72157630239878880/

Dry line:

[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5112/7432071460_1340d21a09.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5112/7432071460_1340d21a09.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/7432071460/ ]Mountain Mayhem 2012 - Race Days[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

Not Dry Line:
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7113/7432114968_07c312359a.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7113/7432114968_07c312359a.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/7432114968/ ]Mountain Mayhem 2012 - Race Days[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

Same corner, over the bridge as you come back into the camp site. One is 6pm, one is 10am the following day

Dry line / Sumo Jump. Those boys and girls are awesome.

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/7432086566_fb668e3d9f.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7132/7432086566_fb668e3d9f.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/7432086566/ ]Mountain Mayhem 2012 - Race Days[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

Cracking trousers!
[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5231/7432031898_9a5f235004.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5231/7432031898_9a5f235004.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/7432031898/ ]Mountain Mayhem 2012 - Race Days[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

Start
[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8153/7432312300_5b1d89d524.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8153/7432312300_5b1d89d524.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/7432312300/ ]Mountain Mayhem 2012 - Race Days[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

Cleaned Car inside and out (Mud on the roof from field exit!), bike, clothes and shoes in a bucket first before risking washing machine, tent cleaned and out to dry, kit unpacked. The next priority has to be beer!

I took over five hours to do my lap.

Let us never speak of this again...

Oh and before a lap
[url= http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5159/7432254734_7ce6cbb905.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5159/7432254734_7ce6cbb905.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/7432254734/ ]Mountain Mayhem 2012 - Race Days[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

and after
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/7432041348_0631b9eb77.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7108/7432041348_0631b9eb77.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexleigh/7432041348/ ]Mountain Mayhem 2012 - Race Days[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/alexleigh/ ]Alex Leigh[/url], on Flickr

There was a guy on the big old climb out of the campsite with cramp, walking one step and then swearing impressively. Then taking one more step. Then swearing. And repeat. He was going to have a long night. But 5 hours! What happened?

Mrs Toast - Member

I took over five hours to do my lap.

Let us never speak of this again

OMG 😯

sorry, spoke of it again

Did you get lost Mrs Toast? 😉

There was a guy on the big old climb out of the campsite with cramp, walking one step and then swearing impressively. Then taking one more step. Then swearing. And repeat. He was going to have a long night. But 5 hours! What happened?

I SAID WE WOULD NEVER SPEAK OF IT! But since you asked...

I'm actually fairly terrible at mountain biking. I'm cowardly, which makes me fairly bad at downhills. I'm missing half of the ligaments out of my left knee, which also makes long climbs difficult. I'm also fairly timid, so I'll throw myself into the side to let others past, and will wait for everyone to pass until there's a break in traffic. Unfortunately I'm also terrible at starting off in the mud, so by the time I get the bike moving again, I have to stop because there's another pack of people approaching. Also, I had to do the last two miles in the dark with no lights, because I'd been out for so long. The first half wasn't too bad, but after the climb back out of the arena...

I did Mayhem last year and hated the course (which only took 2hours 19 minutes that time), but for some reason thought it would be a good idea to do it again this. In hindsight, not a great plan. I did get a liquorice allsort from a friendly unicyclist though. And, fact fans, not only did I get overtaken by Team Sumo and a unicyclist, I was overtaken by Team Islabike on their 16" wheel dandy pony.

[i]Twice.
[/i]

Still, Sleepless in six weeks! \o/

10/10 for perseverance!

Yesterday:
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This morning:
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Character building though Mrs toast

Your post are always funny but this time I cannot decide if I am laughing with you or at you 😕

Crikey! I bet your team were a bit concerned but maybe a little bit "well if she's still out there, that means I don't have to go". At least you can carry the ickle isalbike, but the sumo's - that's got to be a tough gig.

Nice one for sticking it out. I promise not to mention it again 😉

rider photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/sets/72157630266372948/

Mrs toast that's just freekin awsum.

Fair play to you. 😀

Results?

Blimey, Ive never seen mud like that at Mayhem before, well done anyone who rode around in it ! 😯

Absolutely fantastic!! ( i think!)
Well done all of you!

May be tempted myself in a few years 😀

Took some pictures, at the start on the slippy corner down at the swamp where we had a message board. The looks on some of their faces were priceless. The surprise/shock/horror was pretty awesome!.
I also took some of the last riders coming into the finishing straight with about 2 minutes to go. I've listed those i could identify by their numbers here but the ones at the finish were often too muddy.

[url=

album[/url]

Stripped leggings and mohican, Sumos, Tutu lady, Team Naan, 1099 1501 1060 1067 325 1099 747 2302 112 568 441 797 1912 901 2691 1611 1700 1940 2379 1860 1070 619 2566 1044 474 40 163 2152 2676 116 596 1465 288 1527 1318 575 1707 200 1200 2004 115 779 183 115 8 106 170 908 121 149 1983 13

Well done to all those who ventured out on their bikes, especially those who kept going in terrible conditions.

Fair play Mrs. Toast...

I did 2 laps, one last night in 1hr 40 when the conditions were pretty horrific (which I was quite chuffed with, though I reckon I could have shaved 5 mins off it if I'd really pushed myself, but our team was nowhere as 2 of them had already ripped their rear mechs off).

The 2nd one, I started at 10:15am this morning. Figured I'd go out, and try and get a properly quick one in, then just lurk on the start/finish straight. Bumped into a friend who was riding solo though, and was in real pain, but another lap would mean she potentially got on the podium. So 2 of us nursed her round, took us 3hr 30mins but we nursed her round (with copious amounts of swearing and some crying on her part, and a huge amount of being understanding on our part). She got her 3rd place, and after she'd calmed down (and swore at Pat!!!), she was pretty bloody delighted with her efforts! And to be honest I'm glad, as if I'd gone out and done a 1hr 45ish lap this morning, we'd not have finished any higher anyway...

Oh, and I've just got home and I'm a bit sunburnt! Dunno where you other guys have been all weekend 😉

As for full sus and XTR at Mayhem... Can only say this much... Bring 2 bikes! If it's muddy, you [i]need[/i] a rigid bike, and preferably a rigid singlespeed. I quickly fitted my rigid forks to my hardtail yesterday lunchtime, and 1.8" mud tyres, and went off to try and buy a SS kit (which despite both Superstar and On One being there, nobody was selling, so I nursed my 1x10 round). Rigid made much more sense, and the descents weren't any hairier for it, in fact I reckon I had more control...

Oh, and forgotten the name of the guy I rode most of my night lap with (white bike, couldn't see what under the mud), but seriously... Fair play... You got some skills on the downs fella, cos I was overtaking everyone else, and you sailed past me each time!

Bumped into a friend who was riding solo though, and was in real pain, but another lap would mean she potentially got on the podium. So 2 of us nursed her round, took us 3hr 30mins but we nursed her round (with copious amounts of swearing and some crying on her part, and a huge amount of being understanding on our part). She got her 3rd place, and after she'd calmed down (and swore at Pat!!!), she was pretty bloody delighted with her efforts

Wow - fantastic. Now that's what you call friendship.

Well done Mrs. Toast 🙂
I think we need to discuss forming a team for next year- as I too have perfected a very similar race technic!!!! Didn't make it to Mayhem this year but last year someone actually offered to carry my bike for me so I could get down a downhill section - I was at the time using the cling to a tree while I let everyone else past technic!!!!!
You should be very proud - bet there weren't many others managed two hours in the dark without lights!

I like to think that I actually placed pretty highly - see, it's an endurance race, and I endured a lap for nearly six hours. All the people doing faster race times were having to do more laps to do more endurance. Therefore, I am more efficent. THAT'S SCIENCE!

Anyway, getting dangerously back on topic...

Sumos!

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Poor sod who completely knackered his bike, so took a shortcut:

[img] [/img]

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That is ****ing RIDIK!!

if it was so bad why does everyone appear to be smiling here?

rOcKeTdOg - Member

rider photos here http://www.flickr.com/photos/rocketdog/sets/72157630266372948/

geat photo album mr dog 😀

not only did I get overtaken by Team Sumo and a unicyclist, I was overtaken by Team Islabike on their 16" wheel dandy pony.

To be fair I overtook quite a lot of people [s]on[/s]with my unicycle, and Team Islabike were actually going pretty fast, so I'm sure you're far from alone with that experience. Well done for persevering.

[b]Mrs Toast [/b]

I did get a liquorice allsort from a friendly unicyclist though