Tell me about: The Strathpuffer. Please

It has been suggested (not by me I might add) that some friends enter the Strathpuffer next year.

Other than its 24 hours in the snow, ice and mostly dark I don’t know that much about it.

Can somebody give me some background on what its actually like and (of course) the obligatory what bike/tyres/clothing/food/etc? I’m thinking rigid ss is actually sensible for this no? clown wheels?

Its all part of a lose some weight to improve my chances of improving my climbing by 2-3 grades in the next 2 years! (oh and a possible mtb trip to Texas/California in the spring 🙂 )

Strathpuffer is great – very friendly atmosphere.

Its one race where good support makes a real difference – especially if you are solo.

A lot depend on the actual weather that day – I have been there as support twice and raced once. Above freezing but with ice on the trails, wet muddy and windy and serious snow fort hre three years.

Spike tyres a good idea, spare bike a good idea, alfine or SS a good idea. Its a harder course than many races I think. some fairly tricky singletrack. I was walking a couple of sections last year and I waasn’t the only one. It was quicker to walk than attempt to ride unless you could do all the tricky bit without dabbing

Go for it – its a real experience

MetalHeart – Member
…I’m thinking rigid ss is actually sensible for this no? clown wheels?…

Only way to do it properly. 🙂

Proper bike preparation is a good idea. Think of it as a whole season of bad weather racing in one hit.

The course isn’t that tricky (IMHO) however the changable conditions and circ 17hrs of darkness make it more difficult.

If a bike part is “on its way out” or close to it, it almost certainly won’t survive. You will probably wind up changing it by torchlight at 3am. Brake pads die horribly quickly, the mud has little bits of granite in it (afaik). Our support last year did a good job bedding in new ones between laps and this made a big difference.

Logistics is very important, having a warm place to go to (fire, heated van, caravan) between laps is a big plus/absolutely neccessary. Also you want a lot of changes of riding gear, pulling on wet shorts standing in a van at 0C is about as much fun as you’d think. We had to dig our van in when we arrived last year (lots of snow) and then dig it back out to leave (lots of mud).

A sense of humour and good mates are essential. You will have to crawl out of bed after 4 hours of not sleeping into freezing darkness to put in a lap on a rapidly degrading bike on a muddy/icy/snowy track.

It is awesome and very good fun if you can keep in good spirits.

Done it solo twice and to be honest having done other 24s in a team i would rather do the puffer solo just so you arent hanging around waiting in minus temperatures.

Plus its a great course so you dont mind going out and riding it rather than dreading your next slog around a field.

I used 2 bikes so my mechanic/mug could replace pads in one while i went out on the other but in the end i didnt need to replace pads – i may have been lucky – only did 11 laps though after knee started playing up due to one too many knee/ice incidents.

Worst bit is being one of the few in a tent while everyone else seems to have rented motorhomes for the weekend. This should incur a penalty! The first year i did it you had to cram into the picnic site at Contin which was a pain, the following year had to negotiate precarious frozen track next to frozen lake to then have to head back to hotel because pits were closed due to weather – fair enough having seen marquee ripped out of the ground and sail over our van. Its stuff like this that makes it the most memorable 24hr you will ever do.

digiphotoneil – Member
…You will have to crawl out of bed after 4 hours of not sleeping into freezing darkness to put in a lap on a rapidly degrading bike on a muddy/icy/snowy track….

Basically as he said, but he’s talking about doing it as a team, so here’s a good tip:

You can avoid all the nastiness of crawling out of a cold pit at hell o’clock by doing the race as a solo and not stopping.

That way you don’t notice your bike degrading because you get too moronic to notice anything, must keep moving, must keep moving, don’t stop, keep moving, etc 🙂

Thanks for your comments/advice all.

It sounds like just the ticket.

I might enter solo the next time if I enjoy it. Also just back from Kalymnos which had a 4.30am check in. I was bad enough the rest of the day from that!

Got 2 mates definite, 1 who will ride the first lap only to make the 4. None of has raced mtb in the last 10 years. should be carnage.

And its just the excuse I need to get another bike/frame.

So win/win… 🙂

Is there no minimum laps per person ? I did it last year in mixed team, I fancy pairs this year, I got bored and cold standing around waiting to do my lap.

The course isn’t that difficult, as folk have said re the conditions are what makes the challenge.

I would practice riding in the snow if you can too, need to program brain to be happy with the sliding out everywhere !

P.S not so sure about single speed, there are some quite steep climbs and lots of fireroad.

Aye hels – in daylight when fresh it was easy. I the dry I am sure itws a loevely trail
First two laps I rode the lot, 3rd lap I crashed heavily on the steep rock bit near the top an realised that someone who walked the entire top section was quicker than me.

Walkies for me for the remaining 8 laps I did ( I think) Not worth the effort of riding, not worth the risk of breaking myself for so little time gain.

I am no racer but have done a couple of events and that was the one I enjoyed the most. Great atmosphere – everyone co operative and nice and encouraging

Actually sorry I did it this year I meant. I guess my 5/6 laps or whatever I did weren’t enough to make the course hard, suspect it gets a lot harder after about 10 ! But thats tiredness not the course. Had some great offs, that last icy corner I tried a different line each time, and they were ALL spack. So I decided to walk it, and fell on my arse…

hels – Member

P.S not so sure about single speed

Well the other option would be that ti frame I’ve been hankering after since I used to race… (although the simplicity of ss appeals).

Did it last year on ss 32:22 after the first 3 on 32:18

Managed 17 laps – wore out 5 sets of pads in shimano xt brakes

surly ring and cog looked unworn by the end

Ive done it in teams on ss and gears and that course is the absolute best on ss ….. Some of our faster (winning) teams have been ss teams !

Warmth and waterproof is key imho ….

I had conti ice spikes this year but didnt use them opting for 1.8 muds instead to cut through mud and snow

I reckon that Trail_Rat played a blinder on the 32:22 ss gearing decision last year. I know for sure that 32:16 and 32:18 werent much fun even in a quad.

My choice was alfine geared down stupidly. 22 chainring 🙂 18 rear. Gave me just a set of granny gears – plenty of g3ears for the climbs, freewheel down and pootle along the flats. I was spinning out at under 15 mph.

Thudbuster so I didn’t have to stand up – for me it was all about saving energy. I knew I would run out of miles in my legs before the 24 hrs was up

Hope brakes for longevity – half a set of pads used in 11 laps ( I think thats what I did) Mind you at the speed I was going brakes were not under much pressure

As Trailrat said – comfort warmth and waterproofing are key. Plenty of dry gloves shoes socks is good.

I had some ice spikes – used them for the first few laps until a clear line appeared then on to 1.9 muds

It´s a great event. I did the first one and have been to most of them after that. Last year I spent a couple of days digging out the snow to help out. I think it´s well organised, square wheels and their helpers do a great job IMO. The route is fantastic, compared to other courses I´ve done, and it´s one I´d do just for fun. The atmosphere is always good and it´s the main reason for doing it. It´s hard, for sure, and the darkness is tough. I didn´t find an issue on the components, a rigid stumpjumper with a fair whack of mud clearance and when I did it there wasn´t much need to brake due to the mud! Slightly different course then though. If I was doing it again I´d have a van. Even if it was just a panel van with a wee heater and a blow up bed. My team sparked out about 11pm and I rode the night laps, that was the best way because I didn´t have to stop and get cold. I´d suggest 2 or 3 laps in a row in the dark!

doug_basqueMTB.com – Member

It´s a great event…it´s one I´d do just for fun. The atmosphere is always good and it´s the main reason for doing it. It´s hard, for sure, and the darkness is tough.

Not having raced for over 10 years it would be purely for fun. Well for me anyways…

Thanks guys, you’ve helped me make my mind up.

🙂

As I recall you have to be in pretty fast to get a place !

4s ain’t so bad. Last year all the solo places went in around ten minutes

One other thing… if you’re in a 4 then suggest that you all do one lap each first then switch to whatever multiples of laps so that you all at least get one lap in the relative daylight.

The second year i did it i was chatting to a lad on the fire road climb who was starting his first lap in a team… at 4pm when it had been dark for an hour already.

all good.

Anybody care to recommend a ss bike?

Genesis io looks like the place to start for 26er’s what about clown wheels?

TIA.

Fantastic event!

Course is interesting enough to keep you on your (posibly numb) toes, scenery (for the brief period it’s visible) is lovely, atmosphere out on the course and in the marquee is always good and there’s guaranteed to be no midges 😀

IIRC epicyclo built the ultimate ‘puffer bike. hub gears and drum brakes – minimum parts to get worn out buy being exposed to the filth

Epicyclo is praying for the same amount of snow as last year i think!

im going this year with a quad team….ill be taking lots of ice tyres/brake pads.weve got a mate coming with a caravan! 😆

looking forward to it!

loads of fun.

we did it as a 4. didn’t wear out any brake pads. did double/ triple laps meaning we could a) get into the riding a bit more b) get some proper rest for the drive back to southampton c) only had to go out 3 times; which means only 3 DRY sets of clothes.

make sure you’ve got some good lighting/ lots of it – a long night.

all 4 of us rode singlespeed/ 3 of us on rigid 29ers. can’t remember what we did about gearing.

one of the best 24hr courses i’ve ridden.

last year i just put mud tires and took all the gears off my carbon bike …. 18lbs was pretty light for throwing on my shoulder to run round my last lap ….

rode 32:22 last year.

got a rohloff bike now. dont fancy doing it on normal gears as a solo tbh – just sounds very expensive