Torq 12:12 – advice and suggestions for first time 12hr pair.

Hi chaps,

Looking for some advice and tips from more seasoned competitors.

This will be our first time entering an event like this, previously we’ve been regulars at Gorricks / Southerns and the longer 4 hour brass monkeys.

The longer events I’ve tended to carry a camelbak, 3 litres of water and eaten an energy bar/gel an hour. Obviously this is different so need tips on hydration & eating.

For both of us fitness is good at the moment (not podium good, but definitely finishing good). Partner is typically a fast starter and quick over 1.5-2hours, whereas I tend to start slower but speed up in lap 2 -3 and am happy over 2-3hour rides. Started debating strategy – thoughts?

Both of us can take long stints in the saddle and have done seven hour rides (1hr rest 6 hours saddle)

Last but not least, any one got a spares list / tools that we should probably take. In fact we both have spare hardtails so may even bring a spare bike just in case…

No-one? I’ll try the morning crowd tomorrow then!

Lap is about 35-45mins so no need to carry a lot. Just a bottle and something to eat if needs plus tyre stuff and a multi tool. Dont need a rucksack really. You can set up camp alongside the course, if you get there early enough, so use that to reload if doing more than one lap before swapping.

Last year started dry and then went a bit muddy so spare bike usefull, perhaps with mud tyres.

Great course and great atmosphere amongst the riders out on the course with lots of pleases and thankyous when passing (I get passed a lot so its nice 😀 )

Ha Ha ! You have almost answered your own questions!

It really depends on your tactics and how you approach the race! Treat it as a XC carry puncture kit and a bit of grub! Treat it as a Enduro and carry everything bar the sink!!

The arena is never too far away, at a guess 3miles at it’s furthest point!

It is 12 Hours so pace yourselves, I think pairs is the hardest category to do! Enjoy!

You will enjoy the event as you have done Gorrick/Army Events B4! Great events and great courses with a lot of preparation and thought put in B4 hand!!

Pants is right, a pair is the hardest category. I would go for one lap on one lap off, that way the laps stay fast, although not much recovery time!

Have food ready to eat when you finish a lap together with some warm clothes. On a lap I would just take a small bottle of water, you can do your eating and drinking between laps. Try to eat as soon as you finish a lap, that way you have chance to digest it before the next lap. Take a tube, pump, multitool and power link on laps.

Spare bikes are a good plan, I needed mine last year when my main bike failed.

Take lots of clothes, nice to put on dry stuff after you finish a lap.

Other than that just enjoy, it is an excellent event. And hope that the other half of your pair doesn’t drop out on the morning of the race and you have to race solo – happened to me at the first Torq 12:12!

Thanks guys, hadn’t considered one lap at a time. I was concerned about cramps / seizing up between longer stints so that might be the best way forwards. Good call on clothing too, hadn’t thought of spare clothes – just wet / dry kit.

Is there somewhere to get drinking water at the site or do you have to bring your own to fill up between laps?

If you don’t have a pit bitch make sure you have a pad/pen to leave each other (helpful) messages as you don’t have time to say anything when you change over. As you don’t actually see each other at all during the race you need to be able to communicate changes of strategy/bike problems/where is the …. Etc. I’d suggest doubles or you won’t have time for a change of kit/clean bike between laps.

Pants is right, a pair is the hardest category. I would go for one lap on one lap off, that way the laps stay fast, although not much recovery time!

^^ this

IMO an hour is about ideal, much less and you can’t recover off the bike, and can’t get going on. I did double laps in a mixed pair (partner did singles) in 2009, and it was hard work, so singles is probably the way to go here!

I reckon it’s physically harder than a solo, you want to go flat out then stop, repeatedly!

It’ll be good fun though, so just enjoy it!

Torq have a good brochure about nutrition/training. I contacted them after talking to one of there team riders when i was after some advice for training before mayhem..unfortunately theres nothing in it about riding 10 miles thru slurry and plastercine!!!

link here: http://www.torqfitness.co.uk/home

scroll to bottom and click e-brochure link in torq philosphy section

Take a couple of cable ties and a small piece of plastic milk carton too niether weigh more than a few grammes…milk carton works really well if you slash a side wall.