Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt

What's this course like?

http://meridabrassmonkeys.com/?page_id=2

From memory it's the least 'technical' of all the Gorricks. Quite sandy.

Gorricks

Say what now? Is that the name of the area?

"HEATED MARQUEE"

That sounds much better than getting all mucky riding a bike around England in winter.

Any singlespeeders out there with opinions on gearing for this?

Name of the race series organiser.

Told myself to ignore the weather forecast and get out on the 29er.

Terrible mistake. So. Very. Wet.

Great course at yesterday's Gorrick autumn XC classic at Crowthorne woods. Entered the Sport cat. with a field of about twenty and was duly dropped almost immediately finishing 16th about three minutes off the pace per five mile lap. Putting most of that down to lack of any practice laps and skill deficit - which I tried to correct throughout the race and managed to negative split it so it kinda worked. I need to work on slow speed cornering.

Perfect conditions apart from the cold nibbling at my mits for the first lap. Too cold for sharkpits jersey though, much to @BareNecessities disappointment I'd imagine.

Here's the course if anyone fancies it. Also, good to meet @Steves - with an old school Cannondale - on the train down.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1436844259

It was a good day. I rode as well as I could apart from a shit start and had a great race long battle for 9th ex 27 in GV. Higher intenstity intervals, weekly XC training ride and XC racing on my off season were definitely a big help. About a minute a lap off the mere mortal sharp end pace (Nigel Brown is in a class of his own).

No substitute for experience and fitness. Car park neighbour rode a rigid single speed to beat me on an Sworks Epic.....

Oh and managed to turn up without an entry and with no cash. Organisers allowed me to race on trust and pay when I got home!

Hah awesome!

Is that the same place they do the Brass Monkey thing on, that I posted about up-thread?

Ceasars Camp is nearby I think? @AdsH will know.

I'm tempted to give it a crack but I don't want to be that useless cunt getting in everyone's way, crashing so much I can't even get in the car to drive back without plastering it with gloopy Earth poo.

the only race i have ever done was one of the Gorrick ones. it was in the days when I was fitter, and i could out climb lots of the people but kept fucking up on anything technical and infuriating the people who were behind me.

infuriating the people who were behind me

RIIIDAAAAAARRRRRR, RIIIIIIDDDDDDDAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR

That can gtfo frankly. What's wrong with a simple 'on your right?'

I've only raced 24hr enduros in Oz and everyone is pretty cool at those. "Proper" XC is probably seriuz bizniz for lots of racers and at the moment I don't think I could outclimb myself.

It would mean I'd be out the back quick and shouldn't bother anyone until I get lapped :)

Do it

It's pretty loamy around that way so not much chance of ruining the car

I think the call in Oz used to be "track". Maybe with a left/right added. As a 95kg crit sprinter with little skillz playing in the dirt I didn't have much need to use it myself. :)

Wanna buy a 'slightly soiled' Focus?

£20?

Sold.

You have to dispose of the body in the back though.

I suggest you don't do it as there is a serious risk that you show me and Howard up.

It's generally very good natured and passing is normally pretty high standard. If you are fit but relatively slower on 'technical' bits you may pass people on the fire roads and hold them up on the following single track. Hey ho it's a race. If they're in your class have at it.

It's generally very good natured and passing is normally pretty high standard.

Usually just shouting at you until you shit yourself and crash

I'm joking