[Closed] Pivot 24/12 roll call.

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Cracking photos. 😆

It's this bit I hate, the mud removal and drying, at least I have a 'helper'...

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Home but not unpacked. We jacked it in around 10pm last night...
The rain was horrific.

We were camping on the off camber U-turn of doom that had a nasty rise out of it in the field.
It just got worse and worse.
Most people who went past were cursing it...!

Ended up shouting 'wide line', 'stay wide' and 'pedal pedal pedal' an awful lot.

Also helped people with chain suck, rear mech issues and empty water bottles!

Another good event, but after every year for 10 years I think this one will be our last... 🙁

Was both fun and horrific, just not sure of the ratio.
We were in open team & managed to keep going until about half 4 in the morning but a lack of brake pads, contact lenses & general willingness to continue saw us stop, huddle round the log burner & drink a few beers instead. Still managed 19th place though.
The course was great with the exception of the campsite bit & the last slog into the arena. The descents were fantastic especially at circa midnight when you just needed to ride the wettest line be to get some decent speed & grip.
I did have a total light failure on my second night lap just after the river crossing which was 'interesting', having to latch onto people's back wheels to use their lights although it seemed to make the Off camber Hill of doom easier as I couldn't see how slippery it was!
Much respect to those who carried on to the bitter end especially the solo riders. Definitely Type 2 fun...

Well that was interesting!

I sacked it off halfway through the 12h solo race and decided to go for the more sensible option of beer and a pizza instead.
The course was good, rode surprisingly well considering the amount of mud out there.

Hopefully it'll be dry again next year.

Mrs Toast, I looked for you but couldn't see you, hope you'll give it another go next year. I've prebooked the good weather!

Definitely, it left me keen rather than traumatised like MM 2012!

Found some interesting bruises tonight, to go with my scratches and cuts!

Ended up shouting 'wide line', 'stay wide' and 'pedal pedal pedal' an awful lot.

Thanks for the advice. By the time I came across you sitting there I was a broken wreck so didn't get to say cheers beyond a muted grunt.

For a first time 24hr race it was, ahem, interesting. The 3.30am shift was pretty grim bit certainly an experience. My wheels locked up with the sheer amount of mud clinging to my bike! Mostly due to the efforts of my team mates we secured 2nd in Men's Vets team and 4th overall. Pretty chuffed with that.

Hard, went to quit after 4 laps, discovered I was in 4th and killed myself keeping it. War of attrition that worked in my favour

Lot of campers here tonight, way more than last year.

Great event, seriously marly clag all around, managed to otb on my first lap in that pot hole on River run.

Great weekend. Yes weather was awful for a bit, but it didn't really put a damper (ho ho) on things for us. The kids stage racing was awesome, especially the elimination crit. Properly exciting racing aided by the free beer for us parents. The main race was good; we all binned it a few times in the mud, and a few rear mechs and pads suffered, but other than that all ok, albeit some exciting descents in the ever changing course conditions. Mrs Toast - I think I may have given you a hand back upright on the cottage return. Green bike?
Overall, a kids stage race win and a 2nd, 5th and another 5th or 6th I think between us lot. Congratulations to Martyn and his team for another top 24:12.

Mrs Toast - I think I may have given you a hand back upright on the cottage return. Green bike?

Yes, that was me, wiggling like an overturned beetle and blocking the way! 😆 Went left to let people by, but it was a terrible line and I went over. Annoying, as I nearly did [i]exactly[/i] the same on my first lap (didn't go over that time though!)

(Thanks again BTW!)

No prob!! Good to hear it is only cuts and bruises and that you are keen for next year. It really is lovely (even more so!) in the dry. See you then. 🙂

After a slightly unfulfilling 2015 attempt at the solo where I managed 18 laps, and was eventually beaten by the wet Sunday morning I thought I'd sign up again or another go at the solo.

It can't be that wet again can it I thought.....

Only managed 13 laps this time, once the tea breaks in between laps were taking longer than the laps I thought it might be time to stop - about 7am I think.

I just couldn't face any more of that infield bogfest. Other than that the course held up ok, and got easier as it got wetter (apart from the stream return of course).

Excellent atmosphere and great organisation again.

Can the next Pivot 24 please be up north, where it's drier and not a 14 hour round trip for me?

Was anyone here riding singlespeed? What gear ratios were you running?

I started singlespeed but blew my freehub on the first lap and had to ride the rest on a borrowed bike, and so I'm still unsure if my gearing would have been a bit stiff by the time the exhaustion arrived.

Steve Day was running 33x18 iircon a plus bike, he is super human and was doing cliff climb sat down 😯

Last time I did a 24hour race was at the same venue, in the dry, 3 years ago. And I swore 'never again'.

But now, after the worst conditions I've raced in, I'm left thinking last weekend was absolutely epic, can't wait to do another. How the hell does that work???

Other riders were so so polite, making way to be overtaken even if that meant leaving the barely discernible 'line' into the slippery clag-bog. Thanks to everyone for being so considerate, it was blitz spirit out there!

My team (southfork racing) took the win in Open 24 by two laps - wooohoooo! Maybe that colours my recollection of how bad it was a bit 😀

I raced 12hr pair off zero training on a Capra. I did four hours and then called it quits, kinda wished I'd done more, but to be honest, it's left me with a mad desire to do the 12hr solo next year on a more suitable bike.

Massively humbling to see the guys still out turning pedals on sunday morning

Great event, even in the rain 🙂

Cottage return was an absolute blast in the wet.

The bombholes above it, not so much. Bit of a pinball machine in that you didn't know which way it would spit you out.

I was mainly pitting for a 24hr rider but managed two laps - one in sticky mud, then after some rain another in the slop.

Mrs Yak here. Would like to say thanks to rider 204 who pulled me out of a ditch by the smiley rock before the bomb holes when I miss judged the inside line.

Mrs Yak here again. My first 24hr solo. Gutted not to go the distance - went to bed after 14.5hrs. Got up and the sun was shining so went out again in the clag for one last lap. Epic. Thank Martyn and team. Awesome. I'll be back for another crack at it next year.

[url= http://www.davehaywardphotos.com/Cycling/Mountain-Biking/Pivot-TwentyFour12-2017/ ]Dave Hayward has posted galleries... [/url]

Nice. He got a good one of me in the 'muddy hell' gallery.

Think I'll be ordering the download in the morning.

I've got unfinished business now. Signed up for my first 24hr solo but broke my mech on lap 3 so that was game over.

As others have said, despite the conditions it seemed much more fun than any of the mayhems (and I've done 10 of them).

So much support all round the Course, but then it helps wearing a sumo suit! That's the only advantage though. It was very absorbent and after lap 2 was so heavy I could hardly stand up. Add on a fatbike so full of mud the wheels wouldn't turn and was so heavy I couldn't lift it. Apologies to the photographer who's light I collapsed onto by the bombholes! Hope it was alright!

Spent the rest of the time cheering riders on from the sumo disco tent, hope it helped you all keep going a bit! Can't believe how smiley a lot of people were, even in the small hours.

After the Race, all the kids in the campsite seemed to descend on the sumo jump of doom, had a lovely day in the sun watching some incredibly skilled little nippers. The future of mountain biking is looking good if that's any indicator!

So anyway we've already decided we'll be back next year for another go. Fingers crossed for dryer trails though!

Finally many thanks to Martyn and the team for putting on such a superb event and keeping the showers working!

Results are up:

http://www.timelaps.co.uk/assets/uploads/EVENTREPORT.aspx?eventid=397NewnhamPark29/07/2017

Who was the lady taking photos on the Sunday morning, was in a lot of good places taking a lot of shots?

well that was hard, still can't feel my quads or feet! so happy to come 4th in 24hr solo! few weeks ago i wasn't sure i'd cope with the whole race due to a longtime injury, but despite my hatred of mud and rain i got through it thanks to an incredible pitcrew!

How did you all protect your eyes? I had no end of problems, especially on the orange descent ( the waterlogged track) and the descent into the campsite. After 8 laps I couldn't see, and had so much grit in my eyes it took 4 hours of flushing to get the right. Shame, as I gave up the 12 hour lead to an old nemesis!

I used glasses perched on the end of my nose for a bit, but couldn't see area in front of the bike which was disconcerting. They annoyed me so I took them off.

St Johns ambulance did a great job of cleaning up - I don't think I was their first customer.

I was in a team, so not too bad. Just cleaned my glasses with neat washing up liquid before each lap. My wife soloing had a clean pair for each wet lap, and then didn't bother when it started to dry.

It was an issue. Had glasses in the daylight but they were covered in filth by the climb. In the daylight it was manageable because you could squint past it. In the dark I had to brave it, my eyes are still red today. The orange descent (good description btw) I had to just close one eye and hope. It was brakes off and hold on territory.

Mudguards. I had no problems at all, and only wiped my glasses clean a couple of times in 13 laps. Crudcatcher and race guard thing at the front, and big crudcatcher on the back.

I couldn't understand why so few folk were using mudguards in those conditions. Having a vaguely dry, non gritty arse was a benefit too.

tlr - Member

I couldn't understand why so few folk were using mudguards in those conditions. Having a vaguely dry, non gritty arse was a benefit too.

Yep. I even had someone shout at me (in a jokey manner) that I wasn't dirty enough'...

I think part of it was that I didn't go out as first rider for my team, so wasn't picking up the spray from riders in front.
But, I had a front & rear crud guard, as well as a fender bender on my fork; that is the main thing that helps on the stretches like the long water-logged fire road traverse - the water/grit that would normally get flicked upwards/forwards that you end up riding into gets caught by the fender bender....

Still took my clear glasses off 2/3 round my second lap because the fine spots of rain on the lenses meant I could barely see where I was going!!

How did you all protect your eyes? I had no end of problems, especially on the orange descent ( the waterlogged track) and the descent into the campsite. After 8 laps I couldn't see, and had so much grit in my eyes it took 4 hours of flushing to get the right

Glasses for protection, and washing up liquid to stop fogging. Also stopped a couple of times overnight to wash them in the river/puddles when they got too covered in mud.

I couldn't understand why so few folk were using mudguards in those conditions

I saw a lot of people removing their mudguards as they were causing more clogging, that was mostly the closer fitting type though, if you have the right guards I'm sure it would have been an improvement, however a lot of the crap that got thrown into my face was from the back wheels of people in front and guards 'aint gonna stop that!

It's also massively speed dependant, the slower you go, the less gets sprayed and flicked up, there was a noticeable difference between the cleanliness of the pootlers Vs the quicker riders.

abaldie - Member
You know I said it wouldn't be biblical.... I'm sorry.

I also apologise for mocking someone and saying it's not Arizona!

Stumpy01 - you were camped diagonally across the hairpin from us. We had the event shelter and lots of loud Welsh kids.

Rocketdog - was it you that I demanded to know what was under your kilt?

wonny j - Member
Cottage return was an absolute blast in the wet.

The bombholes above it, not so much. Bit of a pinball machine in that you didn't know which way it would spit you out.

I was mainly pitting for a 24hr rider but managed two laps - one in sticky mud, then after some rain another in the slop.

It was good seeing you again, funny coincidence, and thanks for helping out.

We all felt like we'd let you down by stopping at 4am, but two of us (Andy and me) could barely open our eyes because of grit. See you around Kilvey or wherever.

Great fun, though I hope its a little drier next year.

IdleJon - Member

Stumpy01 - you were camped diagonally across the hairpin from us. We had the event shelter and lots of loud Welsh kids.

Aha! You had the 3 girls on bikes?! We were impressed how they just seemed to be rising above the weather and having fun! I'm sure it wasn't like that all weekend, but it's how it looked from where we were!! Nice one.

We were mega lazy this year. We jacked it in after 2 laps each and cracked open some beers!
Our 10th year & probably our last. The weather never seems to be in our favour and it's a long way to go to spend a weekend in a muddy field getting rained on - even though it is a good event!

Aha! You had the 3 girls on bikes?! We were impressed how they just seemed to be rising above the weather and having fun! I'm sure it wasn't like that all weekend, but it's how it looked from where we were!! Nice one.

That was us, and yes they did have great fun despite the weather. I was impressed by how well behaved they all were once we told them the dry tent routine ie you go anywhere near the tent other than to sleep and we'll break your fingers. 😆

Rocketdog - was it you that I demanded to know what was under your kilt?

Possibly, i got asked that many times!

Thought you might. 😆

Thanks to the guys I left my bike with on Saturday afternoon when I had to go for an emergency dump.

12hr solo for me next year.

Was there only the one photographer there (the one linked on the Pivot FB page)? He managed to completely miss me, he got my mates at various points around the course though!

12 hour solo for me and it was a slog. My legs felt like somebody had stolen them at 3hrs in! We managed to rectify it with my missus shoving a pizza down my throat when I stopped to change a bottle. The issue I had was eating, my hands were so muddy that I couldn't snack so had to be fed at the pit stops. In all I managed 13 laps, so we must have done something right.

I had to swap bikes after snapping a chain by the river and running back to the pits, however the spare didn't have the small front mudguard and it made a huge difference to the amount of crud being thrown up on the long wet descents... my eyes were red raw the next morning and I still haven't braved putting my contact lenses back in.

Thanks also to the riders who always make my kids weekend by taking their offered sweets and allowing them to squirt you with their water pistols... they are still telling me now about what the riders do and say to them etc, so thanks for all being great with them...

See you all again next year...

Thanks also to the riders who always make my kids weekend by taking their offered sweets and allowing them to squirt you with their water pistols... they are still telling me now about what the riders do and say to them etc, so thanks for all being great with them...

The kids with the water pistols were one of the few opportunities to clean your eyes!

Haha, cheers, I'll pass it on...

Although the water pistols were good at cleaning chains, cassettes and mechs..

We had a pair of inflatable paddling pools, filled with rainwater from the van awnings, great for re-filling dirtworkers, and also sitting in to clean off and washing clothes off between laps 🙂

Saw those paddling pools, bloody good idea! I always let the kids have a go with their pistols. They asked if I wanted a bike clean, I wished them luck!

It's tough being a solo on your own for 12 in those conditions (I'd never attempt 24 on my own in rain). Having to stop and get your own food and drink whilst literally covered in thick dripping mud was harder than I thought it would be.

When my brakes finally broke I couldn't muster the will to clean myself and the bike enough to try and sort it.

You guys in teams have some great support. It makes my weekend seeing extended families sharing out the jobs. Grandma occupying the kids, grandad jetwashing the bike, and on several occasions, the rider, partners handing hot food. It's brilliant to watch as you slog past.