GT7 who's going?

Quite a few by all accounts, as the numbers are approx 420 so far. I was up there this morning getting some extra tips from the guys at Ridelines – thanks to Andy and Ben. The course looks good with plenty of climbing and lots of muddy descents.

So who’s competing?

I have entered in pairs. I will not be competing 😉

I wondered if someone would pick that up 🙂

I’m in a three so hoping to only do 3 laps max and much lying in the sun!

I’m in and hoping for 8-9 laps solo if the course is the same or similar to last year. Will be riding in a MidAirCrisis top on a white specialised full suss. 3 others from the same club riding too.

I shall be there. No preparation at all, just having my first beer of the night, got to sort the bikes out (start with the singlespeed, curse it, throw it into the undergrowth after first lap and resort to the heavy bike, just like last year) and get food etc together and then get down for the crack of dawn to sort out base camp. Must try and remember to breath between now and 10am tomorrow.

Steven, I’m sending Malcolm in as advance spotter to grab a place in the car park, going to stick ye waterproof gazebo up there if we can and there’ll be space for more… Just like last year really.

That’s assuming the car’s brakes don’t go on fire on the way down anyway. Proper advance planning.

Rich is giving us an ez up. I’m meeting him at 7am, I’m sure there will be room five of us, including Martin.

Ooh, swish

I’m hoping the weather holds and going without a shelter!

That’s assuming the car’s brakes don’t go on fire on the way down

Getting your excuses in already 😉 Sure the self appointed King of the dual slalom will manage solo just fine.

Had a great day but truly knackered now. Well done to everybody but especially to the marshalls for giving up their Saturday to cheer us motley lot on and generally look out for us. Thanks everybody 😀

Oh and didn’t throw the singlespeed away until I’d done three laps on it.

What a brilliant day, I was totally knackered after the GT7 today but the gig tonight has perked me right up again. Many thanks to the Tweedlove organisers for an amazing day.

Ah I am ruined now! Great day, very different to last year. I have no idea how the marshalls manage to be so cheerful and supportive for so long, any time I do marshalling I’m a right miserable sod. Thanks all!

So – how did you chaps get on? How many laps? I’d love to give it a go when work days tie in.

My pair knocked off 8… My teammate went off a bit too hot and had to quit after his third so I ended up unexpectedly doing a 5th and just barely got in before the end (last year I did 3 and it broke me like a wet twig, so that’s a result for me)

Placing wise I think that puts us bang in the middle of mediocrity, which is only right and proper.

Jeez! 8 laps is mediocrity! Me, personally, I’m off under a rock!

My trio did 8 laps too. I want to do it as a duo next year but some training will be needed as the climbs were brutal. Sair Fecht, Rue du soufranne and Pennels Vennel the wrong way were the worst bits for me. The descent was a total blast. The winning solo did 10 laps!

Great fun climbs were magic the downhills no so much fun as I’m not a real mtber yet! Whole day was well organised and another one for respect to marshals. All cheery and liked a chat….. Even took requests for songs for when i passed on my next laps.

I planned on 7 laps and managed 7 even though I took on a rock face first at the decent into pennels vennel on lap 6.

I got in at 4:28 and was told go for another one… A cheeky rude reply followed with a huge smile though.

I need to practice roots and off camber riding the last decent was good but I was slow.

I might get into this mtbing but I’ll still shave my legs 😉
My cuts are healing already

And would Rooney with the sore nose and shaved legs also have ginger hair by any chance?

Would there be any results anywhere?

Yep ginger Rooney that’s me 🙂

Rooney, I hope you’re OK. I think I passed you at that section. It was loose in there. I loved the descent after the drop, off camber with the roots, I lost places on the climbs but made them back there!

Respect to the Marshalls from me too, I knew a few of them which was great for a bit of motivation!

Any of you go to the gig? What did you think?

Did 9 laps solo for 10th place overall (or seventh in the seniors – must be some fast old men!)

Loved it (well the first 7 laps – the last two were a struggle)! Climbs were brutal no where to rest up. Descents were fantastic nice mix of man made and the off camber rooty stuff was really testing by the end. Especially on xc tyres with 40psi in!

Good atmosphere out on course too.

Provisional results on the tweedlove site

Roll on 2013.

Results not 100% I definitely did 7 laps. 🙁 hope they get sorted.

7laps for me solo, cramped so missed out on the 8th. Was on a shiny zaskar

24th in cat for us, Bike Track People, pretty happy with that considering the amount of riding I’ve done this year. Even managed to help out with the pump track in the morning. Long day and pretty damn tired today.

won solo’s with 10 laps in 6:36, enough to place me 2nd overall in all categories. Only a minute off fastest lap as well :). Loved the course, not too much climbing. The first grassy climb was not great and actually didn’t mind the rue de suffrance, it was the climb immediately before it and obviously the 2 in pennel vennel which were tough. The descending was fantastic, really as soon as you came out of pennel vennel it was mainly all downhill. Made up masses of time on them. Think everyone got suprised about how wet it got near the end with stream bursting its banks.

Overall, fantastic event, brilliant laid back atmosphere, great marshalling and support, excellent course and riders on the course were great as well. Think i only seen 2 dropped wrappers

Great event! fantastic organisation and course. will be back next year!

and congratulations Greig! great effort…

25th in cat for us on the provisional times (damn you Menmuir and your 3 and a half less minutes!) or pretty much exactly in the middle of the overalls. Pleased with that!

Congrats Greig, I don’t remember ever seeing you on track but I saw you come through the transition like you had a bloomin engine.

For me the first climb up the field was the worst. Couldn’t believe how slow most people were on the descents

most people?!

Quite a statement.

Anybody know who the photographers were and their respective websites? Google reveals very little from this year.

Done 8 laps in 7h13m putting me 40th. Properly struggled on the last 2 but had a cracking day.

Some photos here – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.435027339855807.102815.161555337203010&type=1

I say most people on the descents as in 7 laps I got overtaken only once on the descents, many, many people overtook me on the climbs, expecially on my last 2 laps.

Was great, arms didn’t work by the end!

Pesky Jonba, another lap and I would have had my top10 😉

Roll on next year!