[Closed] Talk to me about... Strathpuffer

Rigid singlespeed should be ideal. Course is not too lumpy on the whole. Full sus geared bike is likely to get killed by the mud.

Top tip - keep riding so you don't get cold.

There's quite a few threads on here for past events. No doubt you've looked at videos of those events as well to get a feel for what the course is like.

Not done it but I'd lean towards the rigid bike purely on account of the various tales of how the mud/paste destroys stuff.

Take both start on the rigid then use the full suss if / when your back is in bits.

Good luck

I'm in for next week as a quad.

Training so far has consisted of turbo trainerand some running.

Tomorrow sees a long road ride though just to Check we have some legs there.

Will be on singlespeed 32:18

As for pairs. I've done it as quads countless times and I've done it as a solo twice.

I've attempted other races as a pair.

Hand on heart I will do solo in a heart beat before I do another pairs event.

My biggest worry about next week is getting the van parked.

Previous reports about bikes dying was what led me to the "simple is good" conclusion.

Will hammocks be viable?

I'm doing it next week too. In a quad for the first time in almost a decade - I usually do it in pairs. You should sponsor us! It's five years since my old race partner was killed in an avalanche in Glencoe so we're doing it for mountain rescue.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/5-years-after-the-avalanche-chris-bell-racing-at-the-puffer-sponsor-us

I'm taking two bikes, a 120mm travel 29er full suspension bike and a 29+ hardtail with 110mm travel. Both run 1x11. Previously I've done it on a 140mm 26" full susser and a 100mm travel proper XC race full suspension bike.

I know a lot of people say that a rigid singlespeed is perfect but I'd disagree. I've done it four times now and been outside the top ten only once (this year will make it twice now I'm fat and slow 8) ) and a full suspension bike really takes the edge of the course, and it's very hilly for a 24 hour race so the gears are welcome, not just for getting up the hills but also getting decent speed down some of the fireroad and surfaced singletrack descents. I've found that it's not gears that wear out, it's bearings and brake pads.

Training wise, when I got 2nd and 3rd I was racing a lot and doing the full training regime but the last two times I've done it and this time I've just done my commute (25-35 mile round trip) more regularly (at least twice a week), with some decent MTB rides, in the four months leading up to the race. In all weathers to toughen me up, which is as important, if not moreso, than fitness.

Here's a post I put up last year about it.

Kit - everything you have owned. I have done it in fours and twos and would bank on clean, dry clothes every stint. Keeping dry is vital. I borrow shoes from friends. Couple of helmets. More vitally, if you do it in a four you are sat about for a long time. Take down jackets, padded trousers etc.

Sleep - you'll do this in a four, definitely. If you don't you'll lose. A proper bed is fine. In a pair you will still need an hour to pull you through. The year I was at my best we had a caravan and I slept sat upright in there for an hour. Otherwise an hour in a tent or back of a van is fine, but be strict, no more than an hour, and it won't be very restful.

Support - Two support for a pair, one per rider or 6 hour stretch, whatever suits. For a four one should be sufficient, TJ I think did it for us when we were a four and another but you can all help each other.

Bikes - take two, take spares and take ice tyres. Take brake pads too, though it's not as pad munching a course as it used to be. I have been through 8 sets once, none last time. Fit mudguards, comfort is vital.

Course - for whatever reason it feels like it is all uphill. It's an engaging course, short but packed with decent stony trails. Until the end when they usually run you through a mud bath which soaks you and is awful, though I heard they have stopped that.

Lights - I have always done it with one high quality bar light run on low power that'll do the whole race. Chinese crap won't cut it here. I combine that with a few helmet lights, charged before and during the race. It's cold so batteries don't last, take as many as you can borrow and test run times in your living room first.

Enjoy it, it's well good. Though I have said never again [s]three[/s] [i]four[/i] times now...

Rigid singlespeed should be ideal. Course is not too lumpy on the whole. Full sus geared bike is likely to get killed by the mud.

I rode last year on my full sus geared bike and am still on the same pads and chain now.

Everyone I speak to says pairs is the hardest way to ride as you are constantly worried about letting someone down. Why don't you both just ride solo and share pit/logistics?

Not sure about your hammocks idea, I would took a tent and uses it.

Take every bit of cycling and outdoor clothing that you own. Also take a jetboil type stove for rapid cooking/brews and lots of food.

The whole event is an exercise in logistics as much as anything else.

Everyone should ride the Puffer at least once. Speaking of which, I have a spare solo space available for next week if anyone can use it.

My best tip, don't ride it solo only 2 weeks after a vasectomy. That was a tough lesson for me to learn

Have you ever been to contin in january OP?

hammocks

Banana shaped coffin on order?

Everyone I speak to says pairs is the hardest way to ride as you are constantly worried about letting someone down. Why don't you both just ride solo and share pit/logistics?

Pairs is my favourite way to race. Quads I find you get a bit bored hanging around. Solo is just unpleasant. Pairs is good because you have to go almost as fast as a four, which is hard but fun, you get little rests and still end up the good side of roasted.

Solo is fine if you have done the miles .

It's a race against your own head mostly.