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Beastways a good event,totally voluntary and there’s a great buzz about racing on a Wednesday evening and sitting in the sun with a cold coke and nettle rash after. But wow, 10 races with first and last being Regional B on Saturdays.
Better get Jnr entered and ask my Coach if I’m allowed to have a bash.
Not sure I'll make it every week! If I race hard, even for an hour I'll have to take it easy the rest of the week 🙂
I also entered the Cannock national series race (only fun).
[deleted, meant to post on weeksy's XC race bike thread]
Permission to partake in Beastway granted - as long as I treat them as training races, not competitive, not driven to results, pulling out if any issues occur.
I won't be able to do all of them but those that remain will be race intervals / sharpeners in my plan. Whoop...
Man sounds as though having a coach is like a second wife 🙂 [/ partner to avoid being discriminatory]. Any way good to have some other STWers there
I ordered Racing Ralph instead of Barzo (was pleased with Nobby Nic on Mount Vision before so thought I'd stick with the family)
You guys all ready for gorrick at the weekend?
Sad to not be riding.
Are there any summer evening races in the home counties? Those beastway races (edit - and the summer cross) look awesome but getting into London for a 7pm race is not possible for me.
My racing season starts this w/end, 6 man team off to Lanzarote for the Club La Santa 4stage Marathon
I’ll be back for more brass monkeys on Sunday, assuming my back has settled - really annoyingly pulled muscles playing football in the park 🙄. Looking forward to more Gorrick course loveliness
I can't make this Gorrick 🙁 I'm currently free for Crowthorne but trains are cancelled. Tempted by Hell of the Ashdown (road) anyway, as I've heard it's a good event.
@ayjaydoubleyou - whereabouts are you? Friday Night Summer Series http://fnssmtb.com/ isn't exactly home counties but some are doable from north London if you have a car. I might do some of the Midlands-ish train-accessible ones.
I'll be at the Gorrick again having just completed another Vo2max block.
Now I have a cold.
Guess that means I'll be tired and ill on Sunday. See you at the back...
Lol your version of back and your version of sick would still beat my best day.
I’m oot. Squiffy knee...
I'll be there, trundling along midpack.
Bloody love Minley, but I've got to work
Gooooood luck everyone!
does anyone know how it is holding up at the moment? Still nice and dry or did the deluge of the weekend make it heavier?
I'll be at the Gorrick this weekend, missed the last one due to a throat infection. Hoping the weather will be okay, had enough cold and wet marathon's last year to last me a lifetime.
Marathon champs are back in IoM next year, same course, same high costs to get there, hopefully not the same weather or disaster travelling over there when all the ferries were canceled. Not very happy about this decision but pretty hard to find an organiser or course for that type of event. On a positive side, the organisers for the event are great, incredibly helpful during all the trouble last year.
Anyone else heading over this year? Padkinson?
What date is the Marathon Champs on Iain65?
Last weekend in July, 28th I think. It’s the weekend after the National XC Champs as per the last few years.
Course for brass monkeys looks good from the FB photos:
Brass Monkeys
I'll be making up the numbers in the 2h 40+ category....
Yep I'll be heading out to the rock, for better or worse. Kind of hoping it'll be even more grim than last year and I'll pick up a medal, but on the other hand it'd be great to tempt some more of the big guns than the 4 or so quick lads that actually show up. Unfortunately (and no fault of Nigel and his team, they're bloody great) that probably won't happen while it's on the IOM.
No Brass Monkey for me. Still got a cold since the last Brass Monkey that I bailed out of after 2 laps. Barely touched the bike in the meantime. Every year I say I'm going to do the lot and make it a good winter focus. Every year it disappears into snot. Rubbish.
Hopefully less throwing up on the boat over this year Padkinson! I Have the same view, the worse it is then the more likely hood of a good result, would prefer a bit of sunshine though this time!
@ayjaydoubleyou – whereabouts are you? Friday Night Summer Series http://fnssmtb.com/ isn’t exactly home counties but some are doable from north London if you have a car. I might do some of the Midlands-ish train-accessible ones.
I work near Reading (with car, but miles from train stations). I was hoping with 3 different XC series, 2 (3 this year) different Enduro series and some 'cross around here on weekends that there might be some evening racing too. I'm hardly in a position to complain though.
For the first time ever, I find myself considering wearing Longs for a race... brrr
Just got back from Lanzarote, what a great experience that was, real hard climbs, mixed terrain, high winds, had just about everything thrown in it. Real seat of the pants moments heading downhill over rocks with a side wind trying to push you of the side of the hill. All 6 of the team safely back with only a few cuts and bruises from the odd small off, tough on the bikes but they all held up really well with only one puncture between us all. Can't wait until next year now.
Shame for you Paddy, wasn't nice to see you head back so early on stage 4
Anyone hear done the Cyprus Sunshine Cup? I can’t do it this year as I’ve tendonopathy, but I’d love to do it one year. Course looks excellent fun!
Stage 1 XC TT:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_MfAJDZ0q9U
First round of Southern XC series entered. Trying the open category this time round, will see if i can step it up to Vets next time, or more likely head to the fun/beginner category 🙂
"Member
First round of Southern XC series entered. Trying the open category this time round, will see if i can step it up to Vets next time, or more likely head to the fun/beginner category 🙂"
Welcome aboard Buddy, I'm one of the organisers so if you have any questions just shout.
The same goes to all of you joining/thinking of join us. I'm the tall gangly bald one who is usually between the registration tent and the timing trailer (and the ice cream van on warm days) so come and say Hi as it's good to put faces to all the names on here.
Has anyone got any inside info on the Nutcracker series? Are dates likely to be forthcoming or is it likely to be off for the same reason as BMBS Dalby (felling??)
Now that BMBS Dalby is moved, apart from the SXC series, my nearest XC race (Cannock) is a 600mi round trip away!
Yes the "National" series is rather southern. Two trips to the same venue, and two others clustered Essex / Norfolk is a bit pants.
Is the FNSS still going? A fair few of them are pretty local (Northamptonshire) and fancy trying a couple.
Provisional dates & venues
May:
Fri 3rd Northants Outcasts @ Delapry Abbey
Fri 10th CATS MBC @ Harrington Aerodrome Nr Draughton TBC
Fri 17th Rockingham Forest Wheelers @ East Carlton Country Park
Fri 24 Velo Wheels @ Stibbington Quarry
Fri 31st Welland Valley CC @ Kilworth Springs Golf Club TBC
June:
Fri 7th Numplumz @ Wadenhoe Church
Fri 14th Lloyds Cycles @ Venue TBC near Ashby De La Zouch
Fri 21st (Mountain Mayhem Weekend)
Fri 28th TREADS @ Delapry Abbey
July:
Fri 5th Team MK @ National Bowl
Fri 12th CATS MBC @ (Spanhoe) TBC
Fri 19th
Fri 26th Rugby Velo @ CATESBY TBC
August:
Fri 2nd Dean Barnett & Muddy Marvels @ Marston Lodge
Fri 9th Team Jewson @ Warwick Adventure
Fri 16th BBQ & Handicap @ Kilworth Springs TBC
Fri 23rd (Bank holiday weekend)
Thanks, twowheels.
Guess I ought to sort out a bike for it. Don't fancy doing it on a 170mm Enduro even for fun.
In the absence of Tide 2 Tide this year, this looks pretty good. 6hr race that can be entered as solo, pairs, or teams
MSG Central region series has been scrapped. 🙁 Best wishes to the organiser thats been taken ill.
Does anyone know of a race in March that's not on the weekend of 16/17, and is no more than 90 mins from London? I hate driving over 2 hours to MSG Henham, and Southern XC Winchester is about the same distance from me.
Had no intention of racing MTB this year, but since I was racing CX on my mountainbike anyway I've decided just to maintain whatever little momentum I had an enter rd1 of the Scottish XC series.
Definitely won't be fit for it after a month off nursing a sore knee, but I wasn't 'fit' for the winter CX races I entered and still enjoyed them once I adapted my strategy to my lack of fitness.
Hoping XC is a little less sprinty, a little more 'endurance' than CX, probably suits me better.
Oh, and finally, what gearing? Currently 38 x 11-40, but could go 36 oval x 11-40...
Oh, and finally, what gearing? Currently 38 x 11-40, but could go 36 oval x 11-40…
38 x 11-40 is probably considered on the higher end for XC, but should be do-able. If you have a 36t already, I'd probably throw that on.
I have 34 x 11-40 on my full sus XC bike which I occasionally race (but only because 40t is about the smallest cassette you can get for 11 speed).
I run 34 x 11-36 on my 10spd hardtail and raced it like that for a bit (and will probably race it this year), and the bottom gear there is is pretty close to your bottom gear.
I can't speak for most of the courses, but Cathkin Braes shouldn't have any long grinding climbs - it is more short, sharp undulations which should be fine for your current setup.
Who's over at MSG Round 1 today, what was the course like and how did you go??
I quite liked the MSG course this year bit more of a mix rather then the uphill grind of last year.
The uphill rock garden is a bit crap though in my opinion but I do love the whole Oak Tree drop section.
Not a great race for me as somehow I bent a chainring tooth and the chain dropped a few times and shifting was rough.
Personally I felt that was a climbers course, with even more climbing than the usual Hadleigh climbing. I liked it though.
Odd/bad day for me. I felt sick during my warm up sprints, was OK at the start until just under the finish line 1 minute later where my stomach rolled and any watts I had vanished somewhere.
I spent the whole 1st lap in a state of vague survival and seriously considered quitting, took the whole second lap to recover then finally felt better on the 3rd lap - but by then everyone was gone. I had no legs on the climbs throughout, just decided to ride for trainings sake.
Ended up 46 of 54.
As I’m training for the Scott Marathons, and haven't properly tapered - just shorter VO2max & sprint this week - for this my coach said I wouldn’t have matches to burn and I’d be lucky if I had 80% to put out. However although I’m not throwing in the towel on the coaching yet, I’m surprised 4 months of VO2max efforts didn’t help me today - I’m putting in a lot of work to dwindle down the rankings.
BUT - no moaning or excuses this year, it was a lovely day, the kids enjoyed Hadleigh and I got to ride a bike and be back in the race scene - happy days!
What was wrong with the uphill rock garden? It was tricky but doable.
Agree it is doable but hard to do every lap just seems a bit flip a coin if you will make it or not and as it is quite a blind corner if someone else has messed up your screwed.
First ever race at MSG today. How fast and way harder than I imagined8, but a great atmosphere and felt very welcome. So now i know what its like I well put some effort in and do better next time.
Ooooff, sounds like a tough day out - from feeling rough, to bent chainrings and uphill rock gardens!
The effort a commitment of you guys always amazes me!!