Thems the ones

The KTM MTB Racing team are:-

Me (Gaz Hurst) – XC Sport/Master and possible Marathon
Alex Tompsett – XC Sport/Master and 12/24 Endurance
Chris Noble – 12/24 Endurance and some XC Expert
Glen Whittington – XC Master and some 12/24 Endurance
Carwyn Davies – XC Sport

As has already been mentioned, 2 of us (Alex and me) rode for KTM last year and this year have been lucky enough to be asked if we wanted to run the KTM MTB team.

We have been extremely lucky to have been supported along the way by FLi Distribution, Continental Tyres, TORQ Fitness, FOUR4th Lights, IMP Sport and Anthony Pease Photography.

Non of us are world beaters…we are all just passionate about Mountain Biking and racing.

I will certainly take the comments about the helmets on board though. I’m thinking white helmets look better (even meaning that I’ll need to change)

I had exactly the same issue with this. I bought a Kurt Kinetic Traxle (they come in three different thread pitches so make sure you get the right one). I then discovered it was too wide to fit in my turbo so I had to go get a different one. The Elite Nuvo Force fits perfectly and doesn’t come close to the high cost of Kurt ones

I have a spare set of XT M770 cranks with triple rings sat spare in my garage. They are 170mm arms in good condition if you’re interested

Reattatched the road bike last night and did Warren. Even though it was 2hrs 15mins, I found it quite enjoyable. Back to using Virtual Power and it was much much easier to keep to a target power.

I did Haeckel last night

First time on a new turbo (Elite Novo Force) and using the Stages Powermemter on my race bike.

First thing I noticed was how erratic the power was. If the target was 269, I was reading anything from 230 to 320. Is this right? If so, how do I make it smoother? I had it set to 3sec smoothing

I also realised how difficult it is to ride at the higher end of FTP when using a 1 x 10 set up with a 32t front ring and 11-36 on the back. The session was supposed to be 3×4 intervals of high force targetting a cadence around 60rpm but I found I was doing 110rpm just to get the power in the biggest gear.

Saying that, I thought it was a VO2max session aimed at high cadence….ooops not surprisingly, I struggled AGAIN

If I’m getting the gist of what you’re asking…in Career, there is a ‘button’ at the top called ‘download’. Click on this and it downloads a file to your computer. Simply upload this into either TrainingPeaks or WKO. It works, I have done it and do do it

I have the same Elite Superchrono trainer as gazhurst and I actually emailed trainerroad about which turbo to choose on the software. They suggested the beta version of the 8 level Elite Powermag would be a better fit.

Awesome. I kept meaning to email them but kept forgetting

I was looking at the various trainer settings. Noticed that the Elite PowerMag has 8 settings on TrainerRoad. Wondered if this might be a better match for your trainer? I guess as long as you always pick the same setting of turbo and resistance setting then it’s not such a big deal. May not be accurate but at least it will be consistent, which is probably what’s important.

I do have a Stages powermeter on my race bike (mtb) but have been struggling to connect it to the turbo as it’s a 12 x 142 rear axle. I have managed to source a Kurt Traxle so that issue is now solved but the Traxle is slightly too wide to fit my turbo. Once I have sorted it, I intend to use the mtb with stages rather than virtual power

Are they 29er rims?

Try asking Peterpoddy of this parish. He built my Crests and noticed something with the stickers being wrong. My memory is clouded but I seem to remember Stans saying they had used the stickers from 26er rims by mistake

Did ‘The Thumb’ yesterday….once again I had to knock it down to 90/95% but then I realised my resistance settings on the turbo had slipped and we’re wrong. Managed to get it back up to 100% for the last 2 3min VO2 intervals

Doh

Swinley is probably the worst (and best) example of people ‘creating’ lines/trails that are pretty obviously meant to reduce times.

There are a couple of short switchback climbs that to be honest are pretty easy anyway, but people have clearly tried to save a few seconds by creating a line that goes straight up, bypassing the 2 or 3 switchbacks.

What’s the point? If you can’t ride it then keep riding it until you can, when you can, keep riding it until you get faster…

I might be a little premature with this but I’m having a bit of hassle with an easily replaceable item. I must stress though, that Evans haven’t actually refused to do anything yet.

I have a Stages Power Meter (from Evans) that developed what has been agreed by Stages, a common fault with the battery and the battery cover. This has now rendered the Power Meter unusable until a replacement cover has been obtained. I called the importers Saddleback (on the advice of a few places) who told me that they agree with the fault and that they have the new covers in stock but for me to obtain one, I have to go via Evans who simply have to request a batch of them. I then called Evans and explained the situation to them and added the fact that the bike is currently unusable but they are adamant that I have to go via the warranty claims process which means emailing them photos (or taking into a store) and then waiting for them to make a decision as to whether to replace or do as I asked and request the replacement covers. I then have to wait for them to get the stock in, tell me they’re in and then get one out to me which by my calculations will not be this side of next weekend.

Surely all they have to do is call Saddleback, ask about the fault and then Saddleback will dispatch the new parts?

Mrblobby – I hear that. I think my problem is my Turbo (not making intentional excuses). I have the Elite Superchrono with 8 varying resistance levels but that exact turbo isn’t listed on TrainerRoad so I have used the closest one to it. The one on TrainerRoad has 5 settings so I set it to 2 but had it on 3 on my turbo.

My first FTP test was 70w lower than my current one because I had the resistance on 1.

It sounds so ridiculous when I type it on here but I know what I mean

I do have a Stages Power Meter on my MTB but as it’s 12×142 I’m struggling to bolt it to the Turbo

Did DONNER this morning. I seem to be struggling to maintain the levels required for the period of the intervals. I’ve had to start knocking it down to 90/95% just to get through the sessions.

Maybe my last FTP test was just a one off good one…

Agree Gazhurst. Once it enters the trees at the Fallows it really gets started. Can’t imagine doing that clim 12 times ever. Have ridden here for years and still hate the climb up. But having ridden wi my brother in law who races for the fire service I’m sure you you coped.

Thats not Lewis Ferguson is it?

I raced there this year during the World Police and Fire Games. We we’re straight up that climb from the gun and then another bit of it after about 1 mile. 12 times up that climb hurt…a lot

I rode the red trail a few days after. I was a bit disappointed until after the climb and that first bit of the descent that is exposed at the top.

Brilliant after that though.

12 times up to the Horse track?!
I didn’t think any of the XC race categories were more than 6 laps?

It was 6 laps but 6 times up the first half of the climb and then 6 times up either the second half (or was it a different climb?)

I raced there this year during the World Police and Fire Games. We we’re straight up that climb from the gun and then another bit of it after about 1 mile. 12 times up that climb hurt…a lot

I rode the red trail a few days after. I was a bit disappointed until after the climb and that first bit of the descent that is exposed at the top.

Brilliant after that though.

Sorry, My apologies….wrong forum

I did my first TrainerRoad session on Wednesday…I did the 20min FTP test coupled with the ‘Rubber Glove’ Sufferfest video.

I’m not sure what to make of the FTP score….does anyone know what an average score is so that I know whether to be embarassed or not?

According to the Central league, they do a Novice race too

We’d just like to say thanks for all the replies to this. We have been overwhelmed with emails and there are some amazingly talented riders out there that we hope get the ride that they deserve.

We are now at the point where we have more than enough applicants and will be in a position to announce our team line up shortly.

Exciting times ahead…..

Cheers Pete

Still looking guys