Brighton Big Dog Chat 2014

That was fun. Big, fat tyres ftw 🙂

Got 28mph down George the VIth avenue on the way home. I think the extra 15-20mph I normally get on my road bike was lost as tyre noise.

Oh and check out who is 4th fastest on the lap at the moment…

yes, but the rest of us are expecting to improve our lap times on Saturday 😉

[edit] ooh, max was actually 39 down the hill, 28 average. *runs off to check if tyres still have their nobbles on*

39mph on my SS!! *runs off to check and see if legs are still there*

yes, but the rest of us are expecting to improve our lap times on Saturday

that hurts 😥

It will hurt more tomorrow!

TimP I have a singlespeed CX bike you can borrow tomorrow for a lap since yours was so terribly lost after being eaten by the dog, it has 35mm tyres on it too 🙂

Agreed Lycra and accessories are the real debate, shall I wear all black or full on mixed brand clashing colour… And to take the bar mounted cup holder or not? Now that really is the question that need to be answered.

JRTG to the rescue!

Waterproof shorts or not waterproof shorts is my dilemma.

and what colour hankie to carry, obviously.

Surely brand clashing – unless you have a full replica sky outfit – which would be brilliant / awful (take your pick)

My dilemma is slightly mouldy Specialised top in red, slightly snug but lovely endura in white or really quite comfy, but average looking polaris in co-op blue.

Should I risk the rather short gore lycra without shorts – got a load of stick at Brighton Station last time I risked the euro look. Could put shorts over the top but they keep slipping down!

DC

Could put shorts over the top but they keep slipping down!

braces?

I love riding round Stanmer in August, the bike always finishes the ride so clean…

Don’t think I can be bothered to clean mine for tomorrow, it’ll only get muddy again.

Good point about the hanky

Hmmm, I have black tyres but they are Racing Ralphs front and rear…suitable or, being the first race I’ll ever have done, will it also be my last? 😥

Just cleaned my bike after last night, it took approx 59 mins longer than it will take to get muddy again tomorrow.

Darkcyan, if you’re considering the Euro Shorts outfit for tomorrow can you make sure you don’t park near my van or near to any children 😉

nuke – Member

Hmmm, I have black tyres but they are Racing Ralphs front and rear…suitable or, being the first race I’ll ever have done, will it also be my last?

You’ll be fine with the Ralphs… if you run them at 10psi 😉

Maybe pop a couple of mud-friendly tyres in the boot just in case. Conditions change quickly so you may be ok. Plenty of riders were managing on summer rubber round Stanmer last night and it’ll be drier tomorrow.

Paceman

LALALALALALALLALALALLALALALLA!

I can’t hear you….

Morning

I’m riding solo with no support so whats the etiquette with leaving a stash of water and whatnot somewhere handy?

Also are there any changing facilities there or is it a case of a frantic strip down at the side of the car when no ones looking?

Thanks 🙂

whats the etiquette with leaving a stash of water and whatnot somewhere handy?

People tend to pick a quieter part of the arena bit of the course away from the start finish line and leave a stash there.

I noticed some even put a garden fork in the ground and hang a box of bottles off that so they don’t have to get off the bike to get a new bottle.

strip down by car…

just leave a box of stuff by the side of the track near the start of the lap – that’s what I always do

yes – car strip is the way to go, no one cares if they see your cock 🙂

no one cares if they see your cock

maybe stayhigh is a woman? 😉

Would avoid Ralph myself unless you are a bit ace and know the score. Maybe bring something grippy up front just in case it doesn’t dry out. 30 psi pretty standard up front round these parts.

Thanks Paceman and darkcyan. I’ll have a think about whether to ‘risk’ it. I could stick a Hans Dampf on the front but that does seem a bit overkill

If its wet it’s a better choice.

wot he said ^

It’s all coming together but a ‘Rory Incident’ meant that I couldn’t ride the course last night – sounds a hoot, sorry to have missed you all. I may find time to squeeze one in (or out) tomorrow in between other duties.
Meanwhile this might help (below) – have a great ride tomorrow – play nice and look after each other.

BigDog 2014 Timetable
06:00 Stanmer Park Opens
07:30 Marquees arrive
08:00 Toilets Arrive
08:00 Traders and food retailers start to arrive
08:30 Paramedic in place
09:00 Children’s Sign-on open
09:00 Commissaries taken around course and any requests acted upon
09:00 Children Races start
10:00 Marshal Briefing and distribution of bags and radios
11:00 Children’s Races end
11:00 Cakes to be submitted
11:00 BigDog Practice Laps open
11:40 BigDog Practice Laps close
12:00 BigDog race starts
13:00 Clif Shots laps open
15:00 Beautiful cakes judged
17:00 Clif Shots laps close (last rider off)
18:00 BigDog race end
18:00 Marshals to clear course on way back to Arena, handing in radios etc.
18:15 BigDog Prize Giving starts
19:00 BigDog Prize Giving ends
19:00 Course and Arena tidy-up
19:30 Marquees packed down
19:30 Bin man arrives
20:00 Party at Velo Café starts
20:30 Stanmer Park Closes
00:00 Party at Velo Café ends

More rain just now, only a quick shower though 8)

That moment when you realise the time you were expecting to take to do a lap at ‘race pace’ is probably slower than the whole time allowed for ‘practice laps’.

wwaswas – Member

That moment when you realise the time you were expecting to take to do a lap at ‘race pace’ is probably slower than the whole time allowed for ‘practice laps’.

😆 😆 😆

it chucked it down the Friday night last year and it was already slippy beforehand, was damp for one lap then dry, sticking with summer tyres

Hmm, that’s the calculation as Sean Kelly would say.

30psi? Are you on ‘cross tyres? 😀

john_l – Member

30psi? Are you on ‘cross tyres?

😆 😆

25psi in Stanmer Woods is about spot on, it’s super smooth for the most part with only a few roots to contend with, no rocks or edges to catch your rims on.

10-11psi if you’re on a fat bike 😈

30 is faster

darkcyan – Member

30 psi is faster

We’ll see tomorrow eh 😉

Thunderburts* That is all.

*I’ll be the one spending most of my time sliding into the bushes

I intend to put in appearance for one or two OnderDog laps , and some cake.
Ralphs tubeless at 28psi on the 29er , hopefully.
Hope its not too claggy
Rob

I’ve settled on 8psi front and 10 rear.

Although finding a gauge accurate at those levels isn’t that easy.

Practice lap? 😯

People ride a lap before 12pm. Mental.

Should be fun now it’s a little more slippy 😉

I intend to put in appearance for one or two OnderDog laps , and some cake.
Ralphs tubeless at 28psi on the 29er , hopefully.
Hope its not too claggy

Likewise – possibly on the inappropriate enduro weapon or maybe ye olde hardtail if I sort the brakes out in time…

P.S. 30psi around here is for fat big-boned riders or berm-pumping shredders.

Those that know me won’t be surprised by the fact I just sprayed WD-40 all over my rear disk. What will shock is that it was an accident, and I know it is a bad thing. **** bollocks what a tit.
Now to see what is in the chemical warfare box. Guess ant powder isn’t ideal?

There’s always the ‘Cross bike Tim 😀

Alternatively I could bring a spare disc for you, let me know if you need one.

Paceman