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No lights and to be honest no inclination to ride in the dark, especially since to ride at a decent training pace I’d be on my own.
I'm similar, and Epping Forest is a bit Blair Witch also with a reputation spawned by the Krays that makes night rides alone a bit nerve racking...
Must be nice to stroll in that late!
Nice ride rollindoughnut!
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Getting in for 9 is early where I work! ;-P
Turbo for me through the winter. Aside from giving me quality training time, it gives me time to watch trash on Netflix that the wife will not tolerate and means I don't have to clean my bike.
Just idly looking on bc at the nationals this year, interesting to see they've ditched the open category (or at least I couldn't see it on the entry page). I think it's pretty good, should make a larger better category in sport. In mid pack sport would often find myself racing guys in open who would suddenly stop with a lap to go 😂
Seems like entry is up another fiver from last year if I remember right
No Open but there is a Fun Race at the Nationals.
I'll be in Vets and that is looking like it will be a large category.
Yeah I saw that. Personally I think its a sensible move better to have fewer bigger categories. Only doing one national this year so donest really affect me anyway
Are you just doing Sherwood Pines? A couple of us are going up on the Sat to ride the course stay overnight and then easier bimble to the start on Sun morning.
Planning on doing Phoenix as it's local to me and the champs at Hadleigh
No, I was jsut looking at Sherwood to see who'd entered in sport with half a thought to do it, but decided I'm not fit enough to race nationals at the moment so will just do Builth as closest to me. Need to get some mojo from somewhere to invigorate training!
I'm just doing it for the hell of it, i don't expect to be any where near the front but will just give it my best shot and see how it goes.
Now the Open Category has gone at nationals, it will naturally fill up the other races, almost a quiet year for me at the moment on BC Duty, just 4 MSG Rounds, Sherwood National and The National Champs at Hadleigh, its a different take on racing but one I do enjoy, and find quite rewarding.
good luck to all in 2018, and see you on the start line somewhere!
Who was racing at the weekend and how did you get on then ?
Oh to ride outside...my life is Zwift in the bedroom, except when I get out for a race or commute to work. Suffer from serious Strava envy these days. Oh well, price of a family and at least when I race I feel competitive enough for a top ten. Maybe I'll have more time to ride/train/rest when I reach Grand Vet!
I'm kicking this season off with a proper bike shakedown on Sunday at the Elan Lowther XC race in Penrith. I was going to race the first round of the SXC at Glentress but this is much closer to home for a race that I'm not prioritising. Sherwood Pines the week after that for me.
Just got back from a week riding in Gran Canaria and now trying to shake the fatigue off. I'm sure I'll be ready to go by weekend!
Excited to see where I stack up against my nemesises from last year!
Who was racing at the weekend and how did you get on then ?
Not this weekend but last, did the Dyfi Anti-freeze down at Coed Y Brenin, went ok with 3 consistent 12k laps with around 300m of climbing per lap and coming home as 4th fastest finisher.
Would I need a race license to enter Vets at Sherwood Pines?
Yes, assuming you mean the nationals there
went ok with 3 consistent 12k laps with around 300m of climbing per lap and coming home as 4th fastest finisher.
That sounds better than 'went OK' doesn't it ? 🙂
Having this conversation last night with Rollindonut... In the main whats better for XC racing all else being as equal as possible - a hardtail or short travel FS? The former perhaps being more efficient overall vs that latter being less wearing for 90 mins?
And yes I've read all the bike rader articles blah de blah, just interested in the personal opinions / debate.
That sounds better than ‘went OK’ doesn’t it ?
Suppose so 😉 I did manage to crash a couple of times though 😂😂😂
Personally I think it's very course dependant, anything with roots and / or rocks it's FS for me, it's just faster.
Endurance is FS without a doubt, less punishment equals faster overall.
Having this conversation last night with Rollindonut… In the main whats better for XC racing all else being as equal as possible – a hardtail or short travel FS? The former perhaps being more efficient overall vs that latter being less wearing for 90 mins?
And yes I’ve read all the bike rader articles blah de blah, just interested in the personal opinions / debate.
As you saw from my discussions yesterday, i'm kinda in similar sort of thoughts. For me, i think it depends on the course/terrain. But i feel the Whyte T-130 i have is quicker over the tech sections, not losing out that much on the faster bits. I think therefore, the short travel FS. Not necessarily THAT short travel FS for you, but a short travel FS.
Didn't you buy the super Scott ?
Didn’t you buy the super Scott ?
I did, with a view to Marathon / Trail use. I'm racing at Henham this weekend which appears - via MSG Facebook video - to have lots of fire road and non-tech single track, so I was debating "what bike". We decided on the Scott despite on the basis of specificity and familiarity in a race scenario for the upcoming Marathons, as the MSG races are not my priority.
Just thought I'd pose the general question. I'll be riding the Scott in "firm" 70mm mode at Henham I'd expect.
If you can afford a top end FS bike (i.e. 3k+) and it has suspension lockout of some sort, then you won’t regret your decision. However, my HT is lighter (22.5Lb vs 25.5lb) and has less on it to go wrong than my FS bike so I generally race on that. Last summer some of my races were on hard, dry, cracked ground and I could’ve done with the comfort of FS but it never got to the point where I needed it enough to switch. However, as pointed out already, any event over 2hrs or if your courses are very technical a FS would be better.
You know who I am Jack... right?
I’d say with how good full sus bikes are these days there’s almost no disadvantage to riding one over a hardtail.
I won battle on the beach (vets race) and 6th overall on a Trek Top Fuel. You can' get much flatter than that. Would a ht have enabled me to position higher? Nope.
Lol @ steve b77. That wasnt how i meant it. Mcvittees and i know each other quite well butbhes new here and im not sure he realises.
Ernie, nice one well done!
Haha! Just worked it out!
Pffftt. I was undecided about travelling to Norfolk this morning for MSG @ Henham before any snow update. FB updates look good though! Anyway my daughter decided to be projectile vomiting all night so I decided I wouldn’t take on the travelling & race tired, and therefore avoid any risk of accidents, with Builth Marathon only 3 weeks away.
I’m finding this very hard, I really like the MSG races but having to prioritise A races and defer to a Zwift race for todays intensity is probably sensible for the long game. Now that its nearly April I feel like a third of the year’s cycling is “lost” to the weather. 🙁
So far only two races entered, Malvern just because, and as it is the only event within 20miles of where I live.
and the Grand Raid BCVS, and hoping I don't break the bike, me or both! AGAIN!
Just need to get my head in a better place, starting to get seriously pissed at the never ending winter and regain some motivation.
This winter really seems to be lasting forever, it's the first national at Sherwood next weekend and there's flipping snowdrifts in my garden!
It does. My new Spark feels like it wants to be unleashed & fun on he few metres or drying loam it’s experienced so far. I’m gagging to whip through some dry woods singletrack on it!
Kryton. You realise in three weeks time we'll be CAMPING at Builth Wells.
Kryton57, im home now from MSG @ Henham, if you were travelling from the West or the South you most likely would have come across some snow fall on route, the venue itself was hard packed, frosty and riding very well im told, I spent the day in my grey kit as Commissaire, and can confirm, the Easterly wind off the North Sea was freezing, a couple of riders quoted -3 on there Garmins in practice and to be honest it didn't lift all day.
The MSG team as usual laid on a great event, the only thing being missing was the Burger van which was snow bound in Essex! but everyone made it through.
Time to warm up now.
r8jimbob88, or anyone else?
I'm racing for the first time (not sure I can count the miserable attempt I made in 1991) at Sherwood Pines in the Vets race next week. Would you mind summarising the course for me? I don't think we're going to make it down in time to do a practice lap.
Cheers.
Sorted it with Mrs Weeksy so I'm now doing 3 of the series.
http://www.xcracer.com/raceentry/index.php?series_id=172
24TH JUNE 2018 | PIPPINGFORD PARK
15TH JULY 2018 | MATTERLEY BASIN
Although this does mean that I miss the BHF ride on SDW as it's on the 14th of July. But I'll still do the White Roads the weekend before that one. So 3 dedicated xc races and 1 dedicated long event. Happy with that. Gives me something to train for now.
Kryton. You realise in three weeks time we’ll be CAMPING at Builth Wells
I have spent the year collecting thermal clothes . And, thanks to the upstairs refurb I will have plenty of..... Pillows.
I’m racing for the first time (not sure I can count the miserable attempt I made in 1991) at Sherwood Pines in the Vets race next week. Would you mind summarising the course for me?
I'm potentially interested in his answer too. My riding mate may not be about so I may enter the fun race cat.
To sum Sherwood Pines up, assuming it’s a similar course to previous events I’d say it’s very flat, very fast, sandy, twisty and dry. Nearly all in the woods with a few longer open fireroads.
Probably one of the flattest courses on the calendar.
The trail centre trail (doesn’t share much with the usual race course) is damn good fun too flows so well that it almost feels like one big downhill from beginning to end!
Well my first race of the season was cancelled today. Good job really as my car wasn’t going anywhere... opted for a Zwift race smashfest instead. First race will be Sherwood next Sunday now!