I rode it this morning... it's a bit slippy but I expect it'll mainly dry out by the weekend. Forgot that it didn't go down to the ponds last year so it's the same amount of climbing. The quarry trails will no doubt be quicker (since by the looks of it they're very smooth and bermed) but there is extra singletrack compared to last year - the first part of BBL is included (so you turn left after the start instead of right) and where you rode the grassy field after the first gravel climb, that's now singletrack. Reckon lap times will be very similar overall.
It was nice and sunny though
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I'm doing it too :D, along with the wife as a pair for the 3 hour event. I've never done the trail, how does it compare to cannock? From the course video it looks like sherwood pines?
Its our first competition bike event, does the track have many places to over take, get over taken?
Its our first competition bike event, does the track have many places to over take, get over taken?
The singletrack is very tight and you have to be patient letting people past or overtaking, thankfully the message has got through to some of the tryhards that used to push their way through *cough* Torque *cough*, apart form me, I'll shove you in a bush if you get in my way.
Plenty of opportunity for over taking on the gravel climbs though.
It's got a lot of singletrack this year - most of which is reasonably twisty. The new sections are smooth, the older ones quite bumpy. Overtaking may be interesting this year as some of the overtaking sections (the grassy field) have been taken out, replaced with singletrack and the new singletrack will be harder to overtake on I reckon as it's mostly quite narrow or at least only one real line.
I'm glad that field has gone.
I always thought it was quite a good spot to grab a drink and a gel if you needed it but the singletrack replacing it is much better.
clubber - Member
I always thought it was quite a good spot to grab a drink and a gel if you needed it...
Seconded. Especially when soloing as there are already very few places to refuel on the course...
Guess that you'll just have to do it at the end of BBL..
Wish i was doing it. First year in ages i've missed it but doing Mountain Mayhem instead and couldn't really afford both. Good luck DrP!
Will be there, should be doing solo old gits on Sat but a couple of busted ribs might put pay to any riding......
Is there a space somewhere to to leave my stuff e.g. gels water etc? Im driving across on the day.
IIRC there's a solo area if that's what you mean.
Yeah solo area. Weather looks really good. Trails flat 🙂 not technical at all.
Hey what's this "not technical" about? It is technical in the scheme that you have to think about what you're doing it's bumpy and rooty and you can't just switch off and blat around it like you used to be able to do on the old Red Bull course. In the ST last year there was a lot of smaller rocks and roots that needed navigating around and was quite hard work on a HT.
Looking forward to new trails, after Erlestoke last weekend can't imagine it will compare but hope to be proved wrong.
12 hour solo old git for me ... I wondered about the Solo area too, don't fancy lugging water and food from rugby club after the early start to get there. I need all the energy I can get for the going round and round bit.
I shall be there armed with my camera so big smiles please .
yep riding on Sunday in the 6 hour team. Have a feeling a pal who is solo'ing at the same time might beat us 😉
Munge-chick
'gnarly Ashton Court' Not really 😉 Tight in places so having to slow down is a pain as is passing.
Muddypuddle - we should have teamed up for old gits team! Zesty 714 here, off to Trans Alps Jul. Drop me an email if you need a partner for enduro type events or see me on Sat.
Now I didn't say "gnarly" that's reserved for Morzine!! I said it was a tad technical as in you can't switch off your brain.
Ha ha 🙂 sorry was pulling your leg 😉 I find avoiding the other riders the main issue for me as they struggled (faffed) up the bridge (which is not included this year).
I will tootle up and look around. Not that I will recognise anyone, I guess, but if a strange stranger says Hello, it may be me
Say hello if you see a bloke struggling on a Pegasus w/ Lefty (that'll be me)
Oh yes there was most definately a lot of phaffage up that bridge! I managed it every time although the last 2 occasions were a tad scary where I nearly headed backwards 😉
What bike for BBF 2011?
90mm travel sub 22 lb xc hardtail or 23 lb 120mm/105mm travel carbon FS?
I set the fastest lap time on the Saturday last year so want to try & do it again this year, those TORQ guys can eat my dust. 😉
90mm travel sub 22 lb xc hardtail
That one.
I'm there as part of a 3. Team "Really? Again!!"
I set the fastest lap time on the Saturday last year so want to try & do it again this year
I thought that was one of the Certini guys. He certainly seemed to think so...
Zesty 714 with 145mm travel for festival overkill he he but it's my only bike. Guess best course times will change as the course should be faster? What was best lap last year?
MG yeah I had one guy who looked like a xc whippet fail at the apex causing a slight barging moment as my speed carried me past as he grabbed for rail!
I'll be there riding solo.
For some reason, I've been put in the open class when I should be in with the old gits.
Due to a cracked frame on my geared bike, I'm going to riding a single speed, so I am now going to be an old git single speeder in the open class.
The fastest time on the Saturday last summer was a 20:31 by one of the Dreaming Tyres Oxford MTB 3 male pair. That was a dry year and the course has changed a lot (longer I believe) this year.
Despite trawling the website, can't find a post code for the camp/race site, anyone help please?
Try BS8 3TQ - that's the postcode for the Old Bristolians rugby club next to the entrance.
Yup Sat quickest lap was Benny! he even has the trophy to prove it!
This year I'm riding in a SS old gits team on the Sunday. The other riders in the team make the average age up to +40 and there isn't actually a SS cat on the Sunday.
I'm feeling exhausted from a long weekend doing the 7 Stanes (and the drive) so now wishing I was just a spectator.
So who knows what is the course distance then? Just figuring out how many laps I think I can do, thanks!!
9.1km 5.7 mile
155m climb
its on the bottom of the map luv <ducks and runs> 😉
Pawsy Bear what bike you on, you'll get a whole can of whoop ass opened on ya if I ID ya 😉 Yeah Pedalhead gave me the link! I couldn't be a***D to go to www.bristolbikefest.co.uk!!!!!!!!!
I'll be representing the fatter end of the scale by ripping the legs off some whippets. Oh yes.
Perk up Rob. Pretty warm tonight, my padded pants were moist after a lap...........
I will be there on Sunday morning riding the 3 hours solo on Giant Anthem mtb.
Thread hijack but I have a single room at the Clifton Hotel not far from the event booked for saturday night that I can no longer use, I can't get a refund and the room was £48, if anyone can use it I can change the details on the booking. Just asking for some sort of donation to my justgiving page for Killer Kielder www.justgiving.com/killerkielderchallenge
How did everyone get on? I did like the bermy Quarry section, just a shame it had to be built on top of the old stuff cos I liked that too.
Very friendly bunch in the solo area, hello to anyone on here.
Did 16 laps in the old git category, went home happy, even if I didn't make the full 12h.