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  • So I'm entering Gorrick 100…
  • cycles-goff
    Free Member

    Thinking of 5 laps on my SS – anyone doing this or competed in this event before? First xc race so any suggestions very welcome. Ever so slightly nervous. CG

    theotherjonv
    Free Member

    Yes, done several. It’s a good event, nice 10 mile* lap of a mix of singletrack and fireroads. The area is not particularly hilly, but don’t underestimate the amount of climbing they can put into a lap (although they do tend to avoid too many silly sharp ones in the enduro – the short course XC is a different matter, as anyone that rode Bastard Pete’s bastard hill earlier this year will attest)

    SS will be fine, worst case you might be pushing some of the hills, but it’s an enduro, not a sprint. I am in this assuming you ride a SS regularly, if not all the time btw. If it’s your first go on one I might revise opinion 😉

    * except for the first year and the Jon/Clive ‘my half lap’s a bit over – Oh! So’s mine’ debacle. Hottest day of the year, 10 mile laps that were closer to 13, and some very broken riders by the end of it…….. Still scarred now.

    carbonfiend
    Free Member

    Done the old 7 laps course a few times. It was fast and hard, pretty technical single track with a couple of short but steep climbs. Not done it since they had to move it due to the trail closures but heard not much has changed ? Well organised & friendly.

    benji
    Free Member

    Rode that venue in the last round of the brass monkey series on single speed, and it’s nice, the only downside was the tarmac road, nice for a rest but the geared ones were flying on it.

    See you there 7 laps of fatty fun for me 🙂

    br
    Free Member

    * except for the first year and the Jon/Clive ‘my half lap’s a bit over – Oh! So’s mine’ debacle. Hottest day of the year, 10 mile laps that were closer to 13, and some very broken riders by the end of it…….. Still scarred now.

    My first year too, finished last – dead last.

    njee20
    Free Member

    Great event, although not been as much fun since it moved from Swinley. I remember the long one too, thought it was more like 14 miles a lap. 2005 or 2006 that was. The biblical rain in 2010 was interesting too.

    As said, it’s not an XC race, there’s a huge spread of all abilities in each category, enjoy it.

    alansd1980
    Full Member

    I have the dubious honour of being the dead last finisher of last years 100k event.
    Don’t feel too bad though as 1/3rd of the starters quit.

    My advice would be just go at your own pace, eat and drink regularly and don’t try and keep up with the fast guys.
    I cramped during the 3rd lap so my times went up by 15 to 20 mins a lap but I just kept plodding on.

    Try one of those little snack bags that goes on your top tube, I found that when I was reaching for my pocket when really tired I was having trouble getting what I wanted. There were not too many stretches you can ride one handed fiddling for a bar or a gel so just nipping into the bag was really handy.

    theotherjonv
    Free Member

    I remember the long one too, thought it was more like 14 miles a lap

    Might have been; like I say it’s been blanked from the memory. One of the top boys reckoned it was harder than the transalp that year.

    As for food and feedbags; don’t bother carrying anything, a cool bag at the s/f line and take a minute each lap to stretch and replenish*. No sense trying to carry it all with you. I’m amazed by the number of folks carrying full camelbacks.

    * Or get a full speed hand-up from your pit bitch if you’re one of the half dozen or so properly competitive riders. For the rest of us, it’s finishing what counts.

    I have the dubious honour of being the dead last finisher of last years 100k event.
    Don’t feel too bad though as 1/3rd of the starters quit.

    Exactly. We all think you’re a winner 😉

    njee20
    Free Member

    Might have been; like I say it’s been blanked from the memory. One of the top boys reckoned it was harder than the transalp that year.

    I’ll believe that, only 4 people finished the 7! I’m sure Gee had it at 96 miles, rather than 70! Although in 2010 no one at all did the full 7 laps.

    br
    Free Member

    Although in 2010 no one at all did the full 7 laps.

    Two laps and four sets of pads for me…

    At least I can post this again 🙂

    njee20
    Free Member

    Aah yes, TINAS of this parish! I remember seeing him and thinking ‘poor bloke’.

    I did 4 laps, got through pads, then the backing plate, and was using the pistons to stop. Brakes were never quite the same again. Fishers didn’t seem too interested in a warranty replacement either for some reason!

    Jason
    Free Member

    That was bad that year. My wife had been out riding in the morning and had discovered how cold it was, so luckily I took full winter kit with me. I turned up to do the 3 lap race and found a few friends who were doing the 7 lap race stuggling to change brake pads due to shivering too much. I managed 2 of the 3 laps, at the start of the 2nd lap my rear piston moved out too far and wedged into place, locking the wheel up. I managed to free it, but couldn’t use the rear brake for the rest of the lap. I think every moving part on my bike was trashed after that one. Swinley in the wet really isn’t good!

    The new venue is actually more weather proof and a lot less sandy, although very dusty at the moment.

    pete68
    Free Member

    I did most of the early ones including the extra long version! Then missed a few years as I always seem to be away on may bank holiday. I made last year’s though and it was still a really good event, like all the Gorricks are. As has been carry tons of stuff with you, just leave it in the pit zone. A bottle of water, some tools and maybe an emergency gel is all you need to carry.

    adsh
    Free Member

    Due some rain next week so I doubt dust will be an issue. I’m sorry I caused this by ordering a Racing Ralph.

    This was the venue of my first ever MTB race in 2013. I entered the 7 laps and did 2. Started far too fast and got so tired I was dangerous so DNF’d. Did the 7 last year and placed half way. Hoping for an incident free well paced showing this year.

    My tip for this as a first race – enter 2 laps less than you think you want to do and start slow riding your own race not trying to keep up with others. If you do this a lot will come back to you later on which builds morale and is much better than dying after half a lap with 3,5 or 7 to go!

    pete68
    Free Member

    I think the rain coming may be my fault actually adsh. Just received a thunderburt in the post, so worse than your Ralph.

    cycles-goff
    Free Member

    Thanks for the replies. Just dusted my bike down and have a Ralph out back and spesh ground control job upfront. Given the rain in the next week can I wing it on these tyres or should I look at something with more grip. Just looking to finish rather than race as such.

    theotherjonv
    Free Member

    I haven’t looked at the forecast but it’s so dry currently, unless it’s biblical this week you’ll be fine.

    DT78
    Free Member

    Can you sign up on the day for this one? Might be luckily enough to get a pass

    benji
    Free Member

    I’m running Ground Control’s front and back, but they are 4.6″ wide 8)

    7 laps of bouncey fat fun 🙂

    theotherjonv
    Free Member

    Yes, entrance usually available on the day, but you might need to be prepared to queue.

    natrix
    Free Member

    TINAS of this parish

    ??????

    benji
    Free Member

    Bumpety bump, it’s tomorrow people 🙂

    njee20
    Free Member

    TINAS of this parish

    Thisisnotaspoon – it’s him in the Midget.

    Indeed it is tomorrow. I’ve not touched a bike in 2 weeks as I got married last weekend, so a plod round in the middle of the 3 laps for me!

    Thunder Burts fitted, probably being changed tomorrow morning!

    gee
    Free Member

    Good luck everyone… Whilst the race will be mainly dry it’s going to rain all night… A dry line will appear pretty quickly round there. Did the same for AYTE a few years ago and other than some gigantic puddles it was fine.

    offthebrakes
    Free Member

    Looking forward to it, haven’t actually ridden this since the 2010 horror show at Swinley!

    Jason
    Free Member

    A 7 lap plod around for me tomorrow. For various reasons I haven’t done much riding this year, but hopefully I will get around 7 times.

    As above the course is dry and dusty, I am sure a little rain will be soaked up by the ground. My wife posted a video of some bits of the course from earlier on XCracer. http://www.xcracer.com/kawasaki-100–preview.html

    Sorry I can’t get the youtube link to work on this forum?

    adsh
    Free Member

    Went round it earlier. Brilliant course, mainly in reverse to last year. More singletrack a lot completely new and lots of short sharp climbs, roots and other fun things.

    I suspect 7laps going to be very tough.

    cycles-goff
    Free Member

    Baptism of fire that. 3 laps before pulling out to knee pain. I,m too old for ss so need to decide to buy a decent bike or stick to cross. Still very friendly crowd and was thanked by the dozens of folks who lapped me.

    njee20
    Free Member

    Good event as always. Felt for the people who started early and had the crap weather.

    I punctured in the 3 lap, pumped it up, it went flat again, fitted a tube and then finished. Somewhere in the middle. Will be pleased if I made top half as I wasn’t exactly quick changing the tyre. Finished with a huge bubble of tube poking out as the puncture was just above the bead, and about a 2″ section of the tyre had come away.

    Course was riding brilliantly by the end.

    Well done for your 3 laps CG. Will you be back to try again!?

    adsh
    Free Member

    Managed the 7 though only really raced myself for all 7 laps.Either the field was more competitive or I was crap as a year’s training has yielded an extra 2 places. Which is to miss the point – great course and great event.

    njee20
    Free Member

    Fields were tiny compared to years gone by, and the course was empty. I used to love the race because it was such a great atmosphere, loads of people. Was a shame to see about 30 people lining up for the 3 laps, at Swinley it was 100+. I guess the clashing with other events and the weather won’t help.

    Jason
    Free Member

    I managed to plod around for 7 laps. I rode the 7 laps with my wife, which was novel as we rarely ride together. Only one small arguement during the race! Neither of us have done any long rides this year so happy to get to the finish in one piece. Lou managed to catch her rear tyre on a bit of concrete on lap 3, and pretty much trash the tyre. Luckily a tube just about stayed inside and we managed to carry on. I managed to collide with a bit of branch sticking out from a tree and now have a rather sore shoulder, but apart from that fairly uneventful. very pleased to win a Gore spot prize, and Lou won some VIP tickets to the British MX GP which should be a good day out.

    I think by the end the course was riding as well as Porridge Pot ever does, any drier and it becomes dusty and loose.

    njee20
    Free Member

    Time laps saying the results are there, but the page just times out for me. Anyone else?

    adsh
    Free Member

    Just came up but as an event in the calender.

    benji
    Free Member

    Just got back home, 7 laps on a fat bike was a very exhausting exercise. Really enjoyed it, very nice lap, with something in it for everyone. Little medal thing and a Kawasaki t-shirt 🙂

    njee20
    Free Member

    Seems to be working now. 17th in 3 lap, looks like I lost 12 minutes fixing 2 flats, which is rather shameful!

    3 female winners called Louise, weird!

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