With respect there are many faster racers in the uk, than the names you mention, never mind Europeans.
The course was actually shorter this year, I made it 99.6 miles which makes comparisons tricky, I was actually faster at 9hr50 this year than in the dry last year, must have been the lack of brakes :-).
Also can comparisons be made when a large group of lead riders can actually increase the speed if they work together, every year is different.
Heard several riders comment how they were right up there until [insert problem] made them lose the tow.

Well done to all the marshals and Helpers in that weather, not an easy day out.

Will be back for the 3rd year, if the weathers good trying to beat 10 hours. Hopefully my forks wont fail after 10 miles lie last year #kinsorewrists

wheels[/url] – I have a pair of crest 29 rims that have almost 5000 pretty hard miles on them. Front one got bent in a very heavy crash in a rut that threw me 10 feet, but straightened out ok, the rear is a good as the day it went on. Built by JRA, who do a superb job. Can’t recommend them enough, the new double socket profile is immense, really locks the tyres on.
so good i’ve just had another pair put on some old DT hubs.

Not been on here a while sorry, are you the same person who sent the team a contact message recently?

We ride every tuesday what ever the weather at 6.15 for 6.30 after faffing. Starts from Barton Seagrave Garage here
null 151 Barton Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire NN15 6

At the moment we are alternating with road rides as its bogging and we are destroying our bikes and washing machines. every 1st and 3rd Tuesday in month is a road blast, and its fast.

Come along and say hi if you are local, safe parking.

Blimy Nige, getting seriously light now. Getting serious again then?

WITHOUT anyone watching you (you dont want to look like a prat) and
while sitting in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

Now, while doing this, draw the number “6” in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction.!!!!!!!!!

although I don’t really understand why Kettering is in central region

Tell me about it, seems we are the Nomads of the cycling regions.

Threee cyclo-X races within 15 miles of me, the Kettering one is Central league, theres one nr Market Harboro which is West Midlands league, and one just North of Corby which is Lincs league…..bonkers.

In mountainbiking we consider ourself in the East, Eastern mtb race series and Midlands series are close by and where or club races………..but we don’t quality for any of their championships. If we want to enter regional mtb champs we have to go to the Southern Champs, a race series we never race, so we don’t!

I watch Regional TV for the East and Midlands, why can’t BC sort it out.
maybe we change which region our club is associated with if we are on the cusp!

see you at the kettering race.

I’m running the new Stans Alpha 700C rims with some non tubeless tyres. Maxxis raze for cross at the moment, one thing you notice is that at the higher pressures than mtb for the road you tend to get a fountain of goo for a few seconds before it seals. Makes a nice mess of your legs and shorts but has always sealed, tends to drop to about 30psi.

Will be getting some Hutchinson tubeless tyres soon for full on road blasts.

Just done 4 days of Stanes trails so I remember how hard all that climbing was 😉
Popped into newcastleton on way back, trails looking ace except for the bit they used before the soup stop, the forestry have totally wrecked them, even the fireroads….mudslop hell.

You can do it this year samuri

umm not Pedroasa
that gyro cam is ace, freaking me out

As samuri said, it's not about power, a purpose built road/CX disc brake could be amazingly small and light in use but the main gains would be:

a)The chance to build lighter rims that don't need a brake surface, and don't wear out.
b) For cyclo cross the increased mud clearance around the tyres

I'd love some for CX

Lets hope the circuit goes through the campsite as of old, last year there was just no atmosphere, it's not the same without the camp site heckling/cheering.
Pat – sort it out!

[edit] – just looked at map – no change- dull dull dull!

Strictly no as each rider must do at least two laps.
but you could wear their timing chip for a few laps – job done

Ferry over with your bike, ride on douglas prom to cafe for breakfast. Then cycle up the course backwards (not you) before they shut it to Creg-ny-baa pub and sit in sun and drink all day watching the racing.
Then when road opens rolldown hill very fast making brap brap noises and enjoy the free show in Douglas before getting the ferry home.

Done twice, long but very rewarding day out, Just make sure someones still sober by the time you get back to your parked vehicles though 😉

Bigger than avg volume, very underated tyres in dry rocky terrain, and suprising light for their toughness.

geetee1972 it's your weight then 😉

I don't do slow! …..and its on a hardtail

Life of a Pegasus[/url] Can't remember the last time I rode any of my other bikes!

722g wow, need some uber light Disc CycloCross wheels soon.

Get your finger out Rich 😉
Lets hope Pat runs the course through the campsite again this year, the atmosphere at last years event was shit! The trackside hecklers are what make it fun, come on Pat sort it out.

I've run an MRP 1.9 single top guide on and off for a year, and I've never had a problem with the chain falling off the bottom of the ring, very confused by that post.

If your chainline is good and it is installed correctly, then they work brilliantly in my opinion.

PlumzRichard it was 5:47 😉 and yes very impressive as he's only 18. I thought youngsters wern't supposed to be any good at endurance, but damn near killed me!

What a fantastic day out, well done to the organisers. superb riding and finishing with a memento glass filled with Guiness topped it off.
Really felt for those that had to finish in the rain though.

Sorry to semi Hijack thread, but anyone cycled back to French/Dutch ports from Esbjerg and can offer advice on nice/great places to visit or stay on the journey South

Hardest UK single day event – I think the Kielder 100 would have something to say about that!

National shortage of brake pads coming this week then! Same bike destroying conditions at Eastern XC race at Tunstall, finished 7 lap race using the trees to brake.

Have to laugh hearing that people racing at the Enduro6, the most slated track in the UK (by some)had fun, and those at the Southern more weather friendly course, had a mare.

riding cut gate too, boy was it good. Yeti 575 and BlurLT
really burnt after a full day out now 😉

Picture wont imbed

Have to say though it's one of the least inspiring bikes I've owned. I'd much rather take the Blur LT2 for more fun stuff, even with the 5lb weight penalty on the ups. Should sell it really.

North of Northampton on the Brampton valley cycle way there are two long old rail tunnels you can cycle through, unlit they are great. The phrase, can't see your hand infront of your face definately applies. Group rides in there no lights are manic fun. Ride untill your bars scrape the Walls then correct.

Ian it's a large and was 1665 grams out of the box, with USE seatclamp, Phil Wood 1/2 link EBB and full complement of cable guides.

My headbadge must be heavier 😉

some more photos at Flikr photos here http://bit.ly/cTMGrr

Luked2 :- are they supposed to be faster then, don't listen to hype much! 😉 I just wanted something I could ride at Flatland and local to me and chuck cyclocross wheels in for winter CX fun.
What I did notice though was off the line into some dambusting deep puddles it was a stable as a ocean liner, flew past loads of people getting thrown off line. Wrong gearing and crap tyres for the conditions (Crossmark's, all I had) didn't help in giving it full justice.

Have to say was impressed with how much grip I could get out of the rear considering the tyre's not designed for all that mud

This should help
Riding at Cottonwood is good, as is bootleg.

If you have a weekend to spare drive north up to Zion national park, its awesome and not too far away.

Must arrange a trip back there 😉

Don't know about Jet2 but Ryanair bike fee is now £40 each way, so with the other hidden fees of web check in, checked bags and handling fee EVERY ryanair flight with a bike and a checked bag will be £130 return minimum plus the actual price they quote for the flights.

As has been said don't get sucked in that they are cheaper.

The cabin staff are also pressurised into the MacD style hard sell too, which annoys me.

I've blasted an SL around for a year now, mainly racing so its had some hammer and its still Ok.

Having said that, I've broken most frames I've owned eventually, all of them while racing so I'm either due, or the Ibis is sorted.

Bad luck is probably your worst enemy, dropping a rear carbon seatstay sideways on a pointy rock would kill it, but thats not the bikes fault.

6502 miles on the garmin, must have had the "summer" off, thats 1500 down on the previous year!

2 laps of hell from Captain America, Singlespeed Hardcore

Another one for NFU, have always driven modified vans and they have always been the easiest and best choice.
Hassle free when I had a major accident in Italy.

BUT
Interested in other options as my Policy no longer covers me for driving any other vehicle third party, which can come in usefull if someone else is driving their vehicle and gets injured, you can drive.

Happy new year to all, especially to the new found riding friends of 2009.
Looking forward to finding more new riding buddies in 2010

good, the more people hate it, the more rejected mechs I can pick up on ebay.
Rapid Rise Is the true way!

just need a live web snow cam now 😉

Pics here

Great ride in this morning, lovely unfrozen snow is pretty rare, usually it's a ballache.

"peachos" you will be offended, it's intentional, as your making my blood boil, but you are a pratt!
You would not understand the level of organisation required for this event how could you as you sit on your arse preaching.

I did the event last year, and I have no connection to the organisers, but I organise events myself. It was clear they lived and breathed this event for almost a year, there is no way on a cash per hour spent they will ever make any money on this event, and incase you forget they are a buisness.

It's not just a ride in the country, this is one scary collection of rides that on any one day could kill someone. It's full on downhill, this is no trail centre ride, people hurt themselves and in some very isolated spots at that. the organisers obviously realized they need much more medical cover to prevent a disastor.

People who did the first event did so with the understanding that it was a trial run and they as pioneers, would probably have to put up with some crap. As it was they were lucky in the fact that the competitors took the problems in their stride and rallied together to get through them.

The people who rode the trails setting out upto 70 miles each day all volunteered, and boy did we feel for them, they deserve to get paid too! would you get up at 5am ride up a hill in the dark to start marking out a course you'd never seen, then wait all day for the riders to pass before you could finally ride on to the next camp. Oh and do it all again for 7 days.

This event by its nature can never be a mass event, and its only with mass participation in any sport that you can bring costs down. Personally I even think 64 people will be a struggle to cope with.

The cost of all the vehicles and drivers required must be huge, the food was exceptional and apart from a few beers to ease your aching limbs you hardly spend any other cash, everything is provided.

What ever the cost it will fill up, this is one seriously demanding event, people will always pay for the best.

Jack.

Wales Coast to Coast is a great mountainbike ride,don't rush it, travel light and book B&B's for a great experience close to home. Wales C2C

story here if you want any route info just ask

I've never finished a 24 hr and haven't done a 12 for years!

Ant White, you say well thats what got me thinking, winners like Ant and Matt do a few events and shine, but is there someone out there who does all the 24 hour races and is the real mileage king?

I seem to have seen Josh Ibbot everywhere this year and going really well, was hoping someone would wade through all the results and come up with an answer as I don't have time 😉