[Closed] Puffer 2010 is now behind us!

Cracking event top marks chaps - best puffer yet 🙂

Used 3 sets pads in front brake (disco pad sintered) and 2 in rear

Held up well .

Course has beaten my upperbody up something rotten !

any chance of photos

Thanks to the marshals! without you there is no race.

I did have a quiet spell - after falling 4 times on one lap despite walking the tricky bits I decided discretion was the better part of valour and went to bed for 4 hrs or so.

Ask me tomorrow if I enjoyed it.

( 1 pr brake pads front and rear gone in my 9 laps)

We were at the top marshall station last night,so hats off to everyone who came past and gave us a cheery wave etc

Hats off to the marshalls I think! You guys at the top station and the station near Loch Kinellan were ace! Its amazing what a bit of cheering does for the motivation. Thanks!

I feel a bit beaten up and quite tired. Hardly surprising...

Had a great time. Don't feel too bad either considering i'm full of the cold and haven't slept since Thursday night.

The Marshals were fab. Rock cake, winegums, sherry, they had the lot.

Dougie Vipond's bail will go down in history.

Vipond's bail will be fantastic on the adventure show, when they try to make it sound heroic!

Oh and a great many thanks to the young lady who lead me through the last descent after my lights crapped out.

Really proud of Mrs McGrew. This was her first time riding in snow, first ever night ride and first ever event.
She managed 4 laps in our team of 4 (which ended up a 3 as of 2300hrs.)
Girl did good!

Just home and only one word describes this years Puffer....Classic! Anyone else (obvioulsy solo's) who drew the short straw for the first lap.....that was Hell!!! My second lap out for a quad was 13 minutes faster.

That was another thing she took on! Took her 1h 40mins but she stepped up and wanted to do it! 😀

My first lap was my quickest I think. I did wait until everyone else had gone tho so that they were clearing the way for me

Congratulations to Trail_rat on his win in the Singlespeed Solos. Top job young sir.

TJ -it was a pleasure to finally put a face to a name - cracking effort too.

Whosthedaddy from round these parts is an absolute legend too.

Congratulations also to DaveB on his win in the mixed pairs.

32:16 was the wrong choice, but 32:18 was quite a bit better - the full 27 would have been better.

I did the first lap of my pair. It was my quickest time, I assume because I rode 2.5s on fat rims at low pressure. The rest of my laps suffered though. That second fire road just went on and on because the rolling resistance was so great. Thats just one of my many excuses.

Ta Smee. I believe you did rather well - 2nd mixed 4? You didn't give me a tow up the hills tho

Even the camping was epic - the Bothy Bikes team slept in an Igloo!

[img] [/img]

Upper mid-table mediocrity for team Dunracin'

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Brilliant event on a superb course which kept you on your toes by being different every lap. I did the last lap for our team and the fire road had started to ice up which made the big-ring downhill bit really quite scary.

Well done to everyone on here who competed, particularly all who rode solo - I'm in awe!

Also HUGE thanks to the organisers and the marshalls and all the guys who defeated the odds to make the course rideable.

Well done to all of you. Your obviously all totally bonkers & I'm not at all envious.

I was up to see the guys we did the puffer with last year yesterday, and a couple of us walked a good bit of the course. Well done to everyone who competed, it was really icy in a lot of areas, and very muddy in others when we were there in the afternoon. It was really interesting seeing how different people tackled the conditions.

The atmosphere was great, I felt quite sad I wasn't riding, but then later on I have to admit I didn't fancy riding through the night in those conditions.

Our team did 24 laps last year and the team did 15 this year.

Well done Alek, 14 laps solo, you were looking like you were enjoying it when we say you.

Innes

Just slept since last post .... Things alot clearer now haha. Calves stiff as ****.

Top marshall station was ace . Toilet paper to blow my nose after grit on gloves rubbed the shit out of my upper lip and nose

First 3 laps sucked for me i went out on 32:18 but quickly established that i couldnt ride that all night so moved to 32:21 after first 3 laps fire road was soo draggy.

Mud tires over ice spikes was right choice .

Tj and smee will testify to this im sure.....nearly ****ed up winning ss as simon was really sore and posting 2 hour laps due to sore back from pushing 32:18 and i thought im wrecked from chasing so stopped about 22 hours but i did such a slow lap simon was only 20 mins behind. He came in and i thought he had gone out again and had a 20 min lead on me .....left tj and jojo +support at 8.22 and got back at 9.10. I wish id taken the time to use the rest dibber at the desk .... That finished me off in everyway !

Smee - Premier Member
Congratulations to Trail_rat on his win in the Singlespeed Solos. Top job young sir.

TJ -it was a pleasure to finally put a face to a name - cracking effort too.

Whosthedaddy from round these parts is an absolute legend too.

Congratulations also to DaveB on his win in the mixed pairs.

..... Ahem!!!??? 😉

Jojo - you were awesome- 13 laps solo. Utterly awesome performance.

Jojo - you were awesome- 13 laps solo. Utterly awesome performance.

Absolutely! I'm (secretly) [i]very[/i] impressed.

Well done everyone. It was a tough one. Only managed 4 laps after a really bit lap with technical problems, terrible course conditions resulting me being in a stinking mood (also the fact that I'm a lazy bas!!. Got some shut eye, got up and put out my fastest lap. The bothy bikes boys igloo was class, we were camped right next to that (white marquee and green tent)

A big thanks to all the marshals and the motivation from them all was second to none. Not sure I'll do it next year as I think I may have bit off more than I could chew, but you never know. Will need alot of work but.

Jojo - I was mightily impressed with you too - just thought i'd have a separate post for you. 😀

I also knew you guys would be on for a podium place with Hels setting the pace for you all to chase down to avoid shame. 😉

Epic race with some serious emotional highs and lows for me. Stuartie came past me on my last lap after I'd come off and smacked both my kneecaps on the steepish slab in the singletrack. I was a bit tired and emotional!

My support team (Roberta, Graham, BigAl, Norm) were a total inspiration and booted me out to ride when I most wanted to stay in my pit and give up (after 8 laps!). A real team effort. 🙂

whos thiis jo person ?

onlhy kidding - you did great . they dont say its the tuffest 24 for nothing !

great effort eveyone. Top marks to the marshalls! They really know how to look after you and encourage you on. Time for a beer and then off to bed- work tomorrow 😯

well done everyone...............have a beer on me, and for me...... 😉

Great event, thanks to Terry for giving me a spare tube after i rode like a dip stick and hit the water gate (I promise not to pinch you again :wink:), to the marshalls for feeding me with chocies before I bonked on my last lap and to my team mates,George,Hels and Robin. And everyone who marshalled,rode and was connected with this epic event 8)

Next year anyone ?

Ir was a great puffer.

I was sorry to hear of the big fella that was pronounced dead in the ambulance.

I would just like to thank Mark at TheBikeChain again for the support that he gave us. Made our lives a bit easier - cheers.

Ditto what Smee says above re The Bike Chain. Merino Buffs are teh biz!!! 🙂

[img] [/img]Possible pics(or not).

[img] [/img]And another! - we salute you sir!

That's me that is.

I think yer face was melting in the heat,you stood there for so long! - Cracking day though,hope you did well.

Aye, mate went from 1hr laps to 1hr 27mins. Not being camped on the fire road was a bit of a pain.

steffybhoy - Member
Ir was a great puffer.

I was sorry to hear of the big fella that was pronounced dead in the ambulance.

I saw this. Does anyone know what happened. Deepest condolences to his family.

"you will need a shovel to clear a space for youjr car if you go up the fire road " says the marshall

me . turn the car - reverse into snow drift quite quickly. Parked

driving a shit box has its advantages (im scrapping it very shortly)

Xan - Member

steffybhoy - Member
Ir was a great puffer.

I was sorry to hear of the big fella that was pronounced dead in the ambulance.

I saw this. Does anyone know what happened. Deepest condolences to his family.

What I have heard is that it was someone unconnected with the race who was out for a walk in the woods and just died - presumably heart attack. Only hearsay however

It was funny watching people try to get things out of the car park today - power power power. Me - 1st gear, no gas, clutch up slowly - drive off without event a hint of wheelspin. 😀

The gentleman in question was unconnected with the race.However despite the best efforts of medical teams on site including a local Doctor,he unfortunatly never made it.It was his time - RIP!

I feel like I have been beaten all over with a stick. I have a fine collection of bruises. I think I fell off more in one day {7 times I think) than I have for years - and that was after making a executive decision that I was walking the rocky section as I didn't have enough oomph left to make it fast enough to be worth the effort. conservation of energy and all that

That was real mountainbiking for sure. Toughest thing like that I have ever done.

Does anyone know how long the lap was? 7 miles?

I think it got further each and every time 😀

By the way,I left the Puffer at 7am to had back to Dingwall over the Strath,and the road was horrendous.Car spinning up in 4th at Jamestown on almost no throttle.Called the cops to advise,to be told "yes we have had calls all night" - so where the **** was the gritter? 20 mins later my next door neighbor is pulling a young lassie out of her car(upside down - the car that is)on the road near Fodderty.She is OK but her car is lookin a bit secondhand.Glad I drove home like Miss Daisy.

I landed in the loch at one point. lesson 1 - check your landing before you try and jump an water bar.

ive just eaten two large pizzas , 2 boxes of chips from the chippy , a carton of custard and 2 sticky toffee puddings.

i could eat more too but that would jut be being a pig !

trail_rat
are you the guy that finished 1st mate...

trail_rat - Member

ive just eaten two large pizzas , 2 boxes of chips from the chippy , a carton of custard and 2 sticky toffee puddings.

You fat****er. 😉

Well done though mate.

I'll get you a drink in at SSEC. 😀

1st singlespeeder. And he won't have put on an ounce after all that scran!
No wonder he gets cold easily!

sangobegger , my girlfriend rode over on her road bike this morning from invergordon for the finish of the race and binned it on ice. She says it was like sheet glass - a bit like the fire road that ate my stealth light tights 🙁

ive just eaten two large pizzas , 2 boxes of chips from the chippy , a carton of custard and 2 sticky toffee puddings

a true pro's eating regime!! None of that low fat crap here 😉

aye ton thats me - not quite a shaggy effort but im not doing iditarod 😉

*not that i could have done what shaggy did even in perfect conditions !

i also feel like ive been working a jackhammer all night

No one seems to talkin up Mr Vipond,how is our telly superstar.Word is that the fall was deliberate,so that he could enjoy lunch in the local hotel - don't quote me though, as that would be seen to be mischief makin an trouble stirrin on my part,an that just would'nt do - sirs/ladies

Awesome classic puffer.

I feel like I've done three rounds with a cage fighter, then hit by a bus!

That course was energy sapping and relentless. Struggled big time to get liquid and food when on the course, unless on small sections of fire trail and even that turned to sheet ice.

Completing one lap took 100% concentration and commitment. Congrats to Alex Slaven. Amazing performance with Dave hot on his tail.

Terry - your last lap was sublime 🙂 and deserving of the SS top finish.

JoJo - you should be absolutely delighted with your result/achievement. fantastic effort 😀

Good to see you both again and keep on doing what your doing. Its obviously working 😉

And a special thanks to all my friends in the area who voiced support for me every lap. Hats off.

Big shout out to the marshalls, who lead the way in race involvement and it's great to see, and 'hear'. Well done to the organisers who continue to raise the bar with a fantastic event no matter the weather.

A classic was born and lived entirely up to its reputation - the toughest 24hr race and long may it continue...............

I'm absolutely shattered.

alek george came up with a good term for how we feel

"vibration white body"

Thats it!

Best Puffer ever. This is my fourth one now and I think these conditions, although atrocious, were the best and most exhilirating ever.
We've had rain, snow, ice, wind, you name it and still we turn out in our 100's from all over the country to participate.
Ain't mountainbiking just the best?
Congratulations to all who competed and organised.
Bring on Puffer '11.

aye the road over and back to dingwall was great between 12-3am. the gritter past at midnight and it was spreading a hefty amount but it still didnt stop the ice forming through the night as the car was losing traction in 5th gear at 55mph.although it looked dry,it white with frost.
Inverness was glistening too in places where they hadnt gritted.

alek,the way you were speaking at 3am.. i was expecting you to ask me for "a spare 50p mister for ma busfare home". drunk,but not drunk! red eyes were class too. well done though good result.

I will post pics over the next few days of folk,moments,crap..

THank god for compression kit! I can't imagine what my body would fable like now without it. Oh, and that's my sleep pattern totally ****ed too!

I have to say that was pretty tough, especially the random nature of the course on each lap - will it be sheet ice ? Will it be axle deep mud ? Will I get a clear run at the slab thingy this time ?

Was in the pits when they bought the man down who had the heart attack, pulling him out of the paramedic vehicle right in the middle of the changeover area doing compressions the whole time. Felt a bit sick and took it very careful that lap.

Brilliant efforts all over, Steve and Keith in the who won in the mens pair for i-Cycles in Innerleithen did some hard yards.

I'm covered in bruises not sure how I only crashed twice or maybe I have blocked some crashes out.

Will be interesting to see how they spin it on the Adventure Show ??!!

(one suggestion for improvement I would add - should have had the Marshalls spread out more, they were fantastic like, but it was a LONG way between Marshall points, will put that on my feedback form)

I still feel battered to bits this morning - and I too have more bruises than can be accounted.

I hear that Mr Smee/Trollingzoofighter/glupton/goan/etc/etc/etc/ may have been a bit over-enthusiastic in his campaign to get a certain Mr Vipond into a ditch...

Getting him carted off to Raigmore for a head scan isn't very sportsman-like! 😉

I wonder if it is Smees fault I feel so battered as well. Probably. Everything else is

Mwahahahahaha. 😉

I feel fine today apart from the inability to breathe.

Any pics surfacing yet? I've seen the one thread on here from last night.

I had some photos but my camera spazzed out because of the cold. My watch went the same way.

Fair play to Vipond, he did man up and come back. He was at "work" and i'm sure the BBC, and their insurers, would'nt be pleased to hear about what happened. Incidently, looking at the results, his team mate still pulled out 4 laps. Gratz to him.

what happened to vipond?

Just got off the train back in sunny Wareham and am sorting my pics now.

After I've uploaded and numbered them they'll probably be online tomorrow night - [url= http://www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk/ ]www.rightplacerighttime.co.uk[/url]

I'll put a few samples on here to show you a flavour of the event later this afternoon.

Now its all over will old niterider (square wheeler) finally give some praise to the Cube Krawlers after their fine placing...no bad for 40+ers!who managed 21 laps. Well done to everyone who battled away through the night.

I put some pics up in an earlier post, but they don't seem to show (don't have a flikr account and don't want one).

They are pics of the course in the early laps.

If you go to [u][b][url= http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=586153 ]MTBR endurance racing forum[/url][/b][/u]

Also [b][u][url= http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=585961 ]pics of the camping[/url][/u][/b]

dirtygirlonabike - Member

what happened to vipond?

Fromn what I understand a tangle with another rider on his second lap resulting in a heavy fall and a precautionary trip to A&E - no more riding for him on medical advise as he had concussion I believe

Here's the story about "that crash" from the man himself....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/8465526.stm

I was Pit Gimp for these two, winning mixed pair.... Dave took so many painkillers he was rattling, Naomi worked so hard she was barely able to speak at the end........ 10 laps each. This was just after the finish

[img] [/img]

thats it for another year. would like to say thanks to my team mate whitesox for pulling off a stomper of a sixth lap to pull us up to 25th place. but if he had pushed just a little bit harder we could have been 24th. lol only kidding mate. great event all the same. and lets give mr vipond a break. he was just another biker who fell off like the rest of us but took a bad bang to the head, just so happens he was filming for the adventure show.
and to the niterider................humble pie me thinks.

I hope you haven'y overdone it - classic 'Dave style' ! Well done

My first puffer and what a great event.

Huge thanks to everyone who put in a amazing effort to make the full course rideable. Special thanks to the two guys with the snow shovels still clearing the track during the race.

Easy to spot the tricky sections - just look out for the BBC film crew.

bike kit soup

[img] [/img]

just transfered the first batch to the machine --- the water in there is a similar colour despite me rinsing it all with the shower head !

does anyone have gps data for the course ?