How is Minipips doing now? I don't know his name.
Well done Keith Forsyth! About time 😀
He has finished 10 laps and is in 56th place. He won't be going out for another because he wouldn't make it around in the hour.
I suspect that he is taking in the glory and a hot chocolate.
What is Minipips name? I'm gobsmacked - is he really that young? (Didn't think they were allowed to race at such a young age)
Minipips is awesome. MrsM just said that there will be some seriously embarrassed teams out there behind a very determined 9 yo. 😀
Well done to everybody. I think I will have to go out for a couple of hours and have a word with myself about getting booked on some events this year.
Nine years old. What a hero!
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Minipips is amazing, so tough. do****cher - what a proud Mum you must be. 😀
He had to get special dispensation to race from the organisers. And yes he is really only 9.
Just had a call from Rich - they are off for bacon butties, now that he has changed out of his wet clothes. After that dates with film crews. Apparently the course side support for him has been huge and although he said it is really hard he has a huge smile on his face.
Wow and of course his Dad must also be proud.
Blimey. Top work, kid! 😀
Lad deserves his own thread.
That is a picture of one very tired boy.
I am very very proud of him...... but he still has to tidy his room!
That's made my day, well done Minipips 🙂
(& others!)
Move over Sir Ranulph Fiennes, I have a new idol. Well done Minipips!
😆but he still has to tidy his room!
Well done that boy
Indeed, it's the determination and laptimes that gets me. It's one thing to head out on another lap when you are tired and you know it will take an hour, it's completely different when you know it is at least 2 hours. brilliantThat's made my day, well done Minipips
Aw 😀
Superb achievement minipips. Well done both of you for letting him do this too.
Surely he's going to go on to achieve great things with such natural determination.
Edit: I'm going to show this to my two (7 & 10) who are currently still in their pj's and won't even come with me to get the paper because it's "cold"
Epic journey and achievement Minipips..
That story needs sharing..
Truly Epic.
* dofs cap 8)
Immense. Everyone, but especially minipips. I'm imagining the conversation in the car on the way home...
Mp -dad, we're going to have to go training next Saturday, early
P -why? You've done it now.
Mp -got to do 19 more laps if I'm going to win it next year!
It has always been a case of letting him have a whirl.... Rich has been fab in taking him out and making sure he doesn't come to any harm, but not being over protective if he wants to give it a try.
He did the Coast to Coast when he was 7 and then decided that he could better hs time so got Rich to turn around so they could try to beat 48 hours. It has gone from there.
Oh, and did Dazh have a major bike failure or something? His time stopped at around 15hrs. He'd have been well up there at the pace he was lapping.
Well done minipips
Loving minipips.. 🙂
I've seen other mentions of his achievements on the forum before and been gobsmacked but this is something else..
What an inspiration!
Nice one Keith!
Well done Minipips you must be very proud of him.
Had the pleasure of meeting/riding with him at the Mtbmeetup last February, cracking young lad and puts alot of riders to shame.
He was riding the mbr trail at coed-y-brenin on a cross bike!
Well done minipips he's the real winner from the event.
Wow! Well done minipips. What an amazing achievement!
😀
Minipips - awesome, inspirational. Well done to anyone who competes in this - though some folks might have to reassess their achievement when they find out they've been beaten by a nine year old.
Ahaaa, it's minipips. Seen him twice, see in time finishing my 8th (maybe 7th) lap around midnight feeling chuffed, only to hear his dad (Rich?) say well done thats 8 (or 7) and feeling a tad humbled. If I'd have known I'd have say hi. I did say well done but I'm pretty sure i won't have been alone in that. Props t'lad.
He has been really stoked by all the support he recieved. I don't think he would have kept going if people hadn't been cheering him on.
More I think about, it's amazing given the more techy sections. Was he on 24" wheels too? They'd be tough on small wheels (like EVEN smaller than 26"?!?!)
No he rides a small ladies mtb with 26 inch wheels. He loves the technical sections - he practices on Jacobs Ladder and the skate park when Rich is too tired to go out. I have been told never to watch him do a descent... it is scary to watch even when you aren't related.
What a great result for Minipips.
I'm sure there's a coupon of extremely proud parents around now.
I reckon he's definitely one to watch out for in future.
The results show him as 61st. I think you can take the 6 off that 😛
Bloomin' well done lad!
Ace ride by Minipips!
Is this ride the first time that GM has beaten Terrahawk? A bit like the pupil beating the teacher?
Terrahawk was singlespeed
Given that minipips was only allowed to race as long as Rich was accompanying him, the question that should be being asked is "who tired first?"
Given that rich is a pretty accomplished endurance athlete in a couple of diciplines im not sure a pootle round contin will have phased him much 🙂
Big up mini pips though !
Wow, that's amazing minipips! Actually, inspirational. This should really get some recognition.
No he rides a small ladies mtb with 26 inch wheels. He loves the technical sections - he practices on Jacobs Ladder and the skate park when Rich is too tired to go out. I have been told never to watch him do a descent... it is scary to watch even when you aren't related.
I've got some pictures from last year of Tom (Minipips) descending Cavedale on a Marin hardtail with v-brakes. He didn't clear it but he did a damn fine job of trying.
I remember a few years ago he came along with Rich on some sort of STW-organised Peaks ride. You could see people in the car park thinking "hmm, not going to be a good ride if we have to wait for this kid all the time".
About an hour later I heard Tom's voice pipe up: "will you all stop faffing and come ON, I'm getting cold waiting for you!".
Proper little legend, great kid, he comes out with some cracking one-liners. 🙂
Just skim read this thread but if a 9 year old has just completed a 24 hour non stop physical event his parents want a good talking too. (Waiting to be flamed)
Why would you get flamed for saying that his parents deserve congratulating?
Just skim read this thread but if a 9 year old has just completed a 24 hour non stop physical event his parents want a good talking too. (Waiting to be flamed)
Go on then. I'll bite......
Why?
Because he doesn't understand that the organisers would only let him ride under some strict guidelines.
kkf- you do realise they do let you have a break don't you? He wasn't forced to keep moving for 24hrs.
(Waiting to be flamed)
That's if anyone gives a toss about what you think. 🙄
[i]More so once they read some of your history[/i]
From looking at his lap times I think he took about 4hrs off in the early hours and then came back out, but I could be wrong. Well done to him and his parents, I say.
He had a couple of naps during the race and is currently fast asleep in a hotel.
The organisers did put very strict controls on his participation - one was that Richpips had to ride around behind him and if at any point Minipips said that he wasn't up for any more they would call it a day /night.
Tom has had a good couple of years practice riding endurance and has been training all the elements of a 24 hour race in the lead up to Strathpuffer. It is not as if his only experience of bike riding was a 3 mile summer pootle along a canal towpath. Yes this does make him exceptional for his age, but it was not a reckless whim or parent driven.
However I am all ears.
I don't feel like reading back through the whole thread, but who the hell is minipips ❓ .
Remarkable. Well done minipips. I feel like a part-time rider now.
Amazeballz to all that competed, epic event and of course I've congratulated minipips earlier, but blimey I hope he gets to stay in bed a little while longer 😆
I'm still amazed, in a totally good way.
Dude 8)
Michaelmcc - he's the 9, yes 9 year-old son of richpips and do****cher off here.
I remain gobsmacked.
He is a boy who loves riding his bike at every chance and fancied a bit of a challenge.
[quote=do****cher ]He is a boy who loves riding his bike at every chance and fancied a bit of a challenge.
And good on you as parents and you should both be proud of him.
Dont listen to kkf.
I passed them a couple of times. Last I think I saw them was about 2:30 this morning. Absolutely amazing, 10 laps for a 9yo is staggering. Well done Tom!! 😀
The only bike failure I had was my bloody saddle falling off halfway through lap 1 and had to ride the rest* with just seatpost. No sadly it was a run of the mill bodily failure that put a stop to things. Got to 2am and was going well when all hell broke loose and I started vomiting and shivering uncontrollably so had to retreat to my sleeping bag. I interded on getting back out there but it didn't 'happen as in the hour or two of inactivity my knee seized up due to one the 4 crashes I had on lap 12. Bloody annoying as I felt better on the last 3 laps than the preceding 5. Oh well, can't complain I had a good run while it lasted. Will be back next year, with gears.
Edit: *rest of the lap that is, not the whole race 😉
Minipips for spoty 2015! Amazing effort
Well done dazh. Fantastic effort mate.
Fantastic result Minipips, I was amazed at the rapha rising, the other year, but this is a whole new level, a talent for the future, and fantastic parents, a proper team.
do****cher - Member
He had a couple of naps during the race and is currently fast asleep in a hotel.The organisers did put very strict controls on his participation - one was that Richpips had to ride around behind him and if at any point Minipips said that he wasn't up for any more they would call it a day /night.
Tom has had a good couple of years practice riding endurance and has been training all the elements of a 24 hour race in the lead up to Strathpuffer. It is not as if his only experience of bike riding was a 3 mile summer pootle along a canal towpath. Yes this does make him exceptional for his age, but it was not a reckless whim or parent driven.
However I am all ears.
Thats what I wanted to hear, was unsure and did not want to hear that the young un did the 24 hour event non stop ! Well done Tom and great effort 😀 😯
[quote=kingkongsfinger ]
Thats what I wanted to hear, was unsure and did not want to hear that the young un did the 24 hour event non stop ! Well done Tom and great effort
I'm sure everyone is relieved you approve 🙄
Is that the closest Mr & Mrs pips will get to an apology from you bad mouthing them as parents?
I must say impressive feat from a 9 year old. Though gobsmacked by the reactions and the flaming of one of the few who doubt it was a good idea.
9 year olds are far from fully grown and hard and endurance riding can have serious consequences in the long term.
I have coached kids for years of his age too but often a bit older and know that they are capable of a lot. But they also often need protection to their eagerness or those of parents. I don't know the kid or the race/ride personally. I can just say don't take it as an example not even half of it as there is a good chance your kids body is not up to it.
Better safe then sorry.
Is that the closest Mr & Mrs pips will get to an apology from you bad mouthing them as parents?
I don't think he did, did he? He expressed doubt - which is fair enough, he doesn't know any of them and without clarification it could have been a bad situation. However he's happy that it wasn't. I don't see how it could've been handled any better?
Does this debate really have to happen? FWIW I passed minipips on several occasions and he appeared to be enjoying it, even at 10pm in a snow shower, which is more than you could say for me at that point in time. And he got the biggest cheer at the prize presentation at the end which was great.
Maybe another thread for discussion on participation of children in endurance events?
This should be celebrating those who participated - well done to all of them 🙂
Inspiring stuff, I might give it a bash next year (I say from my sofa with a beer).
great stuff, well done minipips!
As the oldest soloist I think I'm qualified to say Minipips is the future of endurance racing.
For those who have doubts about young people competing in 24 hour events, it doesn't appear to have done my daughter any harm. She did her first solo 'Puffer at 12, and each year until she discovered boys.
My race was a bit disappointing. I built a super lightweight fatbike (12.2kg) and I was hoping that would be a bit easier than pushing my 40lb+ Pugsley around. It was, but after 3 punctures and numerous minor malfunctions I was ready to chuck it in the river. Solved the problem by nipping home and rebuilding the old Pug from the frame upwards - I had to rob 4 other of my bikes to get all its parts back. So the old warhorse got to run in the 'Puffer again.
I'd rate this 'Puffer as up there with the toughest. It definitely had the best mud ever. (I've done them all). It just needed to be 5ºC cooler, and it would have had all the ingredients of the perfect 'Puffer.
Bloody hell epicyclo, that's some commitment! Sounds like that tour de France story of the bloke who had to walk to a blacksmith's to fix his forks.
You didn't have any assistance did you? You can get disqualified for that!
Hard luck dazh, at least you dragged your arse up there and gave it a good shot!
epicyclo- I passed you when you were having some issues, you still seemed cheerful enough- but that's half the battle with the'puffer I guess!
We did alright between all our various camps-
Spey Valley Brewery with Chris Bell Racing- we were fundraising for Glencoe Mountain Rescue in memory of our friend Chris. Last time we did the puffer we raised over £20,000 and you can donate for this year's effort here if you wish-
https://www.justgiving.com/Luke-Bradley/
We came 11th in men's pairs. I came back from a double with 4 minutes to spare to go out for a last lap but had budgeted for only two laps in a row so didn't have the energy. We'd have been guaranteed 10th if I'd gone but we didn't know that at the time. Also, my wife would have killed me if I'd been an extra hour with her doing all the driving back to Derbyshire in time to get to bed!
Surprisingly comfortable for a puffer that one- no mechanicals bar a wobbly saddle. Compact snow on the fireroads was easier going than slower muddy fireroads. I tried a new tactic of aiming for total consistency of effort, no hard efforts, and got the same number of laps as last time with some spare for a last lap if we needed it.
Was that last descent put in for a joke, though? Good god, it was horrible.
Got a photo on the BBC-
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-30877786
Extra big special thanks from us have to go to-
2Pure and Niterider for the loan of some awesome Lumina 650 lights.
Spey Valley Brewery for a few portions of delicious Spey Stout and Spiced Out and their luxurious gazebo.
http://www.speyvalleybrewery.co.uk/
And our support crew who were super.
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Also in our crowd were this lot-
CB/Honey Badger Racing- the other Chris Bell team, who according to them were the male quad who gave the least chuffs about results, got 2nd.
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Annie- Team Rainbows and Unicorns- Annie was 2nd solo woman, and singlespeeding. I saw her a lot on the course, I don't think she was ever off it. She had a veneer of good cheer- she's my new hero!
Mlehworld Moray Minxes- 4th in the mixed quads, sure they'll pop up and tell their story later but they were pipped out of 3rd by 2 minutes on the last lap!
was there any TV crews there? which channel and any ideas when any coverage will be on what channel? anyone?
It's generally on the adventure show in March Jekkyl.
We had ourselves to blame for the 2m loss, we were pretty casual about it to start with a it was as much about a fun weekend as racing.
I went a bit faster than anyone expected (not least myself aster a month's lay off and a heavy cold) so my handover was late twice and we missed 10m there, we had 2 chain jams for another 5-10m and Pete (Devilman) was 5m faster than anticipated at around 6am and I wasn't early, so a total of 20m+ lost.
I'm delighted though, loved it, did 10 laps of our 27 in ~8:20
Just properly read this - the Pips family sound amazing, looking forward to any TV coverage of the event.
And need to give myself a proper talking to and MTFU!
The Fatty owls managed a very surprising second place and we are all chuffed to bits after having a whole lot of fun we had the best weekend ever
and those crap Fatbikes rock
a big up to the Dingwall Pupils who whopped our arses and made a very entertaining battle .
Saw miniPips sometime in the night Good lad very well done your smile on the podium said it all .
Well done to all who took part! More than I've achieved, and of course to MiniPips too. Excellent determination and effort from someone so young. Beats sitting in your room on Xbox!
MiniPips too. Excellent determination and effort from someone so young.
My 9-year-old whinged about walking into town and back on Saturday. I showed her Minipip's photo yesterday and told her to MTFU 🙂