[Closed] The annual Mayhem - tyres and course thread!

Well watched the BBC long range weather forecast on TV, and there is a nice big low pressure system coming through on Friday, followed by another on Saturday.

😐

It was never going to be anything other than wet was it, its pissed down for months. But its the same for all of us and with some proper preparation i reckon it might be just as much fun, although try asking me that at 4 am for a dawn lap...... 😉

Alec - happy to help in a misery loves company kind of way 😉 Malverns are fun but really wet. I have a feeling the MM course might be 50% of that!

I've gone with the Beaver/Mud-X combo. A set of tyres that - like me - shall be retired after the race. If you see some damp middle aged blokes shivering in the drizzle over a camp stove cooking endless sausages, that'll be us!

Looks like Lefty is the way to go. I'll pack Trailrakers and the extra Nobby Nic to replace the Ralph.

Just for you I took a trip through Eastnor today, and on some of the course (I presume that's what the mown strips are). Actually a lot drier than I expected - admittedly I didn't go to where the worst bits might be, but found nothing like shown in Alex's pic. The grassy area down the bottom was generally fairly dry if soft, with a few wet patches. The track I took up through the woods was a bit muddy, but nothing horrific. Up top all very dry and firm. Landrover tracks a boggy horror as always, but the course doesn't use those any more does it?

Saw a group of other people on bikes up near the obelisk - anybody on here?

Up there about 8ish tonight. Just did the L shaped downhill bit and got splashy muddy bit where I've never had them before. It's basically waterlogged which means the well drained bits are fine and the woods will be a cluster ****! Will be fun tho !

Sounds like 2.2 Racekings will be fine then 🙂

Crossmarks Off

Trailrakers On

Fitted brand new Panaracer Razers on Friday, I will not let this sh1t weather dampen my sense of optimism 😀

100!

Fitted brand new Panaracer Razers on Friday, I will not let this sh1t weather dampen my sense of optimism

Optimism??

A set of 1.8 TrailBlasters in the boot would be real optimism...

I will not be worrying about which tyres to use as I only have 1 set of tyres, so will just use them!

However, I do feel sorry for the bike wash people they will be a bit on the busy side. I remember the year with the land rover track, the guys doing the bike wash were more knackered than a lot of riders come the finish on the Sunday.

Glad I checked the MM website.

Start time this year is 1200 ....!!

I going for Race Kings as the optimistic choice. What could possibly go wrong?

Votchy,

I can dampen your spirit, by my calculations it's your turn to do the run this year! 🙂

Wohoo, 29'er mud x TLR's for £26.99 each @ cycle surgery in Holborn this afternoon, sorted

My first Mayhem entry this year, have gone with a combo of Spesh storm and Mud X, from everyone's comments though, I wish I'd stocked up on brake pads.... 😐

Just swapped my 2.2" Rubber Queens off my hardtail for some 1.95" Maxxis Ignitors (the optimistic choice). Though have also managed to blag a pair of Bonty Mud X's and a pair of 2.1" Trailrakers for the weekend also, just in case!

But it WILL be dry... Oh yes, it WILL be dry... 😉

Anyone else thinking of putting flat pedals on and riding in walking boots? 😕

I'm checking if there are wellies with spd compatibility.

" I wish I'd stocked up on brake pads...."

It's not a brake heavy course so I wouldn't worry. Plus the fact all the mud sticking to your bike means that you will have to pedal hard downhill to keep going 🙂

Hoping these two days on sun might help! Although Thursday is looking moist to say the least!

I reckon slick tyres may just be the answer - something like Schwalbe Big Apples - mud won't stick to those!!

Current plan is 1 bike, two pairs of wheels (one with Crossmark, the other with Nicks.)and a pair of Mud X just in case.

Coffee via Aerobie Aeropress.

Beer by Badgers.

Whisky by Glenfiddich.

Clothing by Endura (pink).

There will be a dry line by the time I go out on lap 4!!

Although Thursday is looking moist to say the least!

and Saturday or Sunday (depending on which forecast you look at).

There will be a dry line by the time I go out on lap 4!!

Unless of course the BBC 5 day forecast is accurate and it's raining.

Mr Tall,

you are wrong, team captain always does the run which means our French cousin will be donning the running spikes this year 😀

There will be a dry line by the time I go out on lap 4!!

4 laps - better than we plan to do 😉

I think he may dispute that.....!

Hoping these two days on sun might help!

No this is just the weather gods toying with your emotions.

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Hmmmm

Coffee via Aerobie Aeropress

Good man, a fine choice! What coffee will it be though? I might pick up a new press for the weekend, coffee is essential!

Essential for the MM tool box

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Essential for the MM tool box

Agreed 🙂

Nah, this is essential 😉

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciderinsport/6922932356/ ]cider_tanker[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/ciderinsport/ ]ciderinsport[/url], on Flickr

Last year I rode with a semi slick rear tyre - no problems experienced.

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This year I'm taking the 1.5'' Contis .........

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Rk001 - I went out yesterday to buy one just for this weekend 😆

If its going to rain I hope it really pissing it down..

at least then the thick sticky mud will turn to wet watery thin stuff!! For most of the years done MM its been fine whilst it rains its when it starts to dry it becomes a thick mess... and of course being MM it never completely dries before it rains again...

Yes while it's actually raining we may be ok!

See your bikes finished then Will. I'll try to spot you out on the course. This may be tricky under all the mud though...

I shall this year be running a Crud Race Guard on the rear, and an SKS Shokboard up front.

Yeah cheers Pete! Be nice to see you 😆

Essential for the MM tool box

BBC is now forecasting thunderstorms on Sat. That's a new one.

GB

Black Sharks ready for bike #1, spare bike for emergencies already rigged up with Conti 1.5s. We've got two pressure washers in our team. I think we're going to be popular!

i wish you all well,

and hope the course doesn't end up looking like the bottom of one! 😀

40mpg - Member

I shall this year be running a Crud Race Guard on the rear, and an SKS Shokboard up front.

Should help keep a little of the mud from your 'race clothes!' 😆

"Weather update: We’ve just been told Patrick Adams and team have been hard at work weatherproofing the course, re-routing some the the traditionally muddiest parts, so should the worst happen (it won’t! it won’t!) then the course will still be fun to ride. Yes, we know some of you will be disappointed by that, but come 3am you may change your mind."

From the front page.

I hope they have left some thing interesting in the course, ie muddy slippy INTERESTING decents, and just got rid of horrible sloggy muddy sections.

I actually hope they shorten it too. I know in previous years lap times have gone up 20-30 mins per person, making a lap too long to IMO

"BBC is now forecasting thunderstorms on Sat. That's a new one."

Aah, George, I remember back to 1998 and the first Mayhem. There were thunderstorms with lightning on the start line.

Ashley Green