mountain mayhem solo loons.....

[PrimalAdventure]

......and today i started my "get fit and lose some weight" plan. want to fit my jersey better and not struggle anymore on the climbs


and im feckin starving!!!!!!!!!!!

but not long now until mayhem, cant bloody wait. working on t shirt designs so ill post a thread soon about these

Not long now Chris, I will be riding my 1988 Dawes Wildcat, what a machine

 

[al-onestare]

So 10 days to go and is there anyone thinking there's a distinct lack of information coming from the organisers? Perhaps I'm reading too much into too little, but as a first timer it seems like a "turn-up and fend for yourself" set-up.

I'd like to know more about the course, the distance, whether turning up at 08:00 on the Saturday is alright or whether it's essential to get there the night before. I've gone to the official site and the Facebook page and it's just a bit meh.

 

[Retro Spud]

Re:

Al

I thought the same a while ago

They normally have a lot more posted, in years gone by there was a 5 minute video of the course and improvements made etc, with clips of it being ridden and also a map of the course published

I can only assume its the same as last year (assumption can be dangerous thing)
I'm going Friday more for the tribal gathering on the Friday night than through necessity, your arrival time on Saturday is fine as registration will be open for a few hours past this time.

If its the same as last year the map below will help, with the proposed RB camping on the left hand side of the big loop at the top which purposely runs through the camping area.


Spud

 

[Retro Spud]

Re:

Bit rough and ready but it might help find the base camp

 

[Splatter Paint]

Re:

For solos the course is roughly an hours riding. On a retro it is quite technical with plenty of roots and rocks - fit a chainstay protector! Minor hills become major ones after about 8 hours, normally I use 22 front and 32t rear on my modern and 26 to 34t on the retro.

You can arrive Saturday if you wish though best come Friday for the craic. RB area is down the hill on the far right against the tree line.

SP

 

[al-onestare]

TBH I'm not there for the craic, I just wanna ride my bikes (although I may question that approach 6 hours in).

Thanks for this info though, nice and handy. It's sounds very technical if it takes an hour to do 7 miles but then I won't be rushing.

Fingers crossed we have some decent weather. I've already decided I'm out if it's proper wet: there's no sane reason for killing myself let alone the bikes!

Back to lights: any recommendations as I need to order them pronto

 

[The History Man]

TBH I'm not there for the craic, I've already decided I'm out if it's proper wet: there's no sane reason for killing myself let alone the bikes!

You need a Broom in your life! :mrgreen:

 

[Splatter Paint]

Re:

You can start off doing much, much quicker laps but you'll be stuffed before midnight. The best I ever did was 21st in the solos - it is hard graft.

Soft foam grips are the way to go on a rigid and a decent saddle. Pack distinct changes of clothes, wet, cold, hot - assuming you have that much gear! That way you just grab the shopping bag with the right kit rather than looking for a long sleeve jersey at 2am at the bottom of your kit bag.

Don't put any weight on your back - all on the bike, bar energy food. The solo pros put thier kit track side and just grab thier bottles going past on each lap. I generally do two then stop to get a fresh bottle / bars / gels. Eat real food every 4 hours so your guts don't rot!

SP

 

[Retro Spud]

Re: Re:

You can start off doing much, much quicker laps but you'll be stuffed before midnight. The best I ever did was 21st in the solos - it is hard graft.

Soft foam grips are the way to go on a rigid and a decent saddle. Pack distinct changes of clothes, wet, cold, hot - assuming you have that much gear! That way you just grab the shopping bag with the right kit rather than looking for a long sleeve jersey at 2am at the bottom of your kit bag.

Don't put any weight on your back - all on the bike, bar energy food. The solo pros put thier kit track side and just grab thier bottles going past on each lap. I generally do two then stop to get a fresh bottle / bars / gels. Eat real food every 4 hours so your guts don't rot!

SP

And all this from a geezer who dressed up as batman if I remember correctly....

 

[al-onestare]

TBH I'm not there for the craic, I've already decided I'm out if it's proper wet: there's no sane reason for killing myself let alone the bikes!

You need a Broom in your life! :mrgreen:

I really, really don't.