Brighton Big Dog – Training

At the moment it’s forecast to rain throughout the race…

Torrential rain last night 😀

*checks dirt worker is working and re attaches mud guards.

For the love of…

think i’ll take my single speed as well as the pesky geared bike then! still be a change to the lovely sunshine last year 😉

Looks like leaving the Mud-Xs on was a wise move!

Been keeping tabs on the post here for the last few days as doing my first Big Dog – thanks for the updates!
Question though – are the trails really that bad? I live near Leith Hill and the Mud Xs don’t come out for there unless it’s really bad. I’m riding the trails round there with Conti Race Kings even after a bit of rain.

they were mostly hard packed mud last night. A few bits of 2″ deep slurry to catch you out.

issue will be if it does get wetter there a lot of off camber roots in places that get ‘interesting’ when wet.

Brief heavy downfall on my way to work. The ground is like a stickier version of the other Surrey Hills, not like Leith Hill because that’s sandstone, as opposed to clay on chalk.

if its been raining at all in the days prior to the race, it’ll be a sticky slidy slimefest.

So, being as it was raining yesterday, and has been spitting this morning….. it could well be time for the mud tyres.

There’s nothing in Stanmer that you would be massively compromised on if you were on mud tyres in the dry anyhow. Its all twisty turny, and very few long flat speedy bits.

It will be rootastic if it’s damp – lots of erosion since last year has made the trails more rutted, rooty and technical. I’m going for a big sticky front tyre rather that mud tyres, in the hope I can do controlled slides in the mud and stay on on the roots. It probably won’t work though…

Cool – thanks all. Sounds like the surface is more like Ranmore Common the other side of dorking which is pretty ropy in the wet.

I may stick an intermediate (Nobby Nics?) on and put some mud tyres in the car.

And keep fingers crossed for the next two days obviously.

Chiefguru – that’s what I thought too. With a lot of roots mudx will be just as bad as semi-slicks in the mud. As long as I don’t get a build up of mud on my tyres I don’t mind.

As long as I don’t get a build up of mud on my tyres I don’t mind.

it’s clay based and gets quite sticky 🙁

As long as I don’t get a build up of mud on my tyres I don’t mind.

Ha! 😉 You will need plenty of tyre clearance.

Man, it’s starting to sound like a decent pair of walking boots will be the best option.

Badgers Climb should be a hoot in the wet! Anyone remember 2010? It was totally un-rideable. I recall watching / hearing people swearing at their bikes or simply laying on the off-camber bit of the climb and laughing.

Probably Advantage on the front and Crossmark on the back for the first lap, then perhaps switch to Trailraker on the back if its stupid muddy.

Weather forecast for Brighton on Saturday showing sunshine and some heavy showers.

The clay here has never bothered me, the mud at Newnham the other week was the worst I’ve experienced in years for sticking to the wheels.

Just a quick question, is there a solo pit?

I was out on the South Downs near Stanmer last night, I’ve currently got Nobby Nic’s on my race bike and would be more than happy with them if I was competing this weekend. I’ve run a racing ralph on the rear as well and that would probably be ok if it doesn’t rain too much before the weekend.

May pop down on the day to do a single timed lap.

Can’t wait to watch you lot suffer after 3 years of racing it.

I’ll be the marshall in the Mankini & walking boots 😯

in the Mankini & walking boots

blimey, your homeworking kit is getting a more public airing then!

It’s had its yearly wash so seems a shame to hide it away 😆

Anyone want a solo place? It’s lots of fun there in the mud! Make me an offer if interested.

ellsyellsyathotmaildotcodotuk

Si, I hope you’ll have a camera! (Not for mankini photos…)

On a separate note, if it is a seriously wet, does the field car park become a mud fest? I still have nightmares of trying to get out of the field at Builth Wells for a Merida a few years ago.

should be ok.

There’s a big traveller encampment in the next field along, though.

Nice, valuables locked away then?

valuables locked away then?

I think that’s for another thread 😉

Definitely, and I don’t want to go there.

mdb – I can’t believe people were swearing whilst riding their bikes last year!!!!

[cough]

Woodsman – its rife mate! Especially with older riders whose aches and pains tend to get the better of them.

Pikeys have gone.

Maybe they got sick of the rain? 😉

Is it still raining there?

Some rain last night and some showers expected today / tonight.

Very overcast this morning but not raining (…yet).

Light breeze too which always helps to dry out The Downs.

EDIT: MDB you beat me to it 😉

It was riding quite well last night – the ‘jungle’ is more like a swamp though 😀 !!!

I love how the event website is describing the trails as running great with summer tyres 😆

I love how the event website is describing the trails as running great with summer tyres

Maybe they’ll be submitting clips of the faster downhill sections to You’ve Been Framed? 😉

Keep the mud tires on boys and girls. Raining quite heavily right now 😐