Mountain Mayhem 2009

ExeterSimon

Many forum bods heading up to MM next weekend?

stumpyjon

Yep, getting a bit close isn't it :shock:

Have you done it before? Any sage tips or pearls of wisdom for a newbie?

ExeterSimon

Total noob at any kind of MTB racing..heard it's a good atmosphere tho.

starsky007

Me too, im there from thursday. cant wait. never done a race before so should be interesting. come over and say hello. ive got a england gazebo with my tent and a pajero.

sharki

I'm not doing it for the first time in 3 years.
Taking a year out from doing these events.

Tips for newbies.

Have fun, it's not a race, the key thing is to keep going no matter what happens (traditionally torentail rain and horrific skilz testing trail conditions, up till the sunday just prior to the cut off time, when the sun comes out, making the course the fastest it could be, shame the legs are shot to Fok by then)

Eat little and often, grab what you can between laps making sure you take on fluids and replace, salts at all times, don't let yourself get hungry, you may not feel like eating but get something down you, all the same.

Assuming you're part of a team of four and not competitive, changing over in the transition tent may prove to be a dull and nasty experience.
You'll attempt to get there ready in time to meet and change over straight away, but in reality you may end up waiting there for up to 30mins, during the night laps this can be cold and demoralising, so it maybe easier for the rder to come back to the pits and get the next one out....He'll need to go through the transition area to rejoin the cours
If your team mates intend to get some kip, a wake up routine c n be used.

Laps will be between 45mins and an hr in the dry and up to 2.5hrs and the utter shite.

But assume an hr and organise the troops.

Each rider will get about 3 hrs rest between laps (lapping one lap at a time) so an hr to take on food, an hrs kip and an hr to get up, get ready, get to transition if necessary.

Don't waste water and time in cleaning the bikes off every lap, clear the mechs, keep gears working if using them(i don't). Eastnor mud is the stickiest compound known to man.

If you want to clean bikes after every lap, take a non rider and get him to do it, use a dirt worker, there will be onsite pressure washers but if it rains the queues will be ten bikes long and you'll be wasting time stood up waiting, when you could be resting and supping beer....

Bowsers will be scattered around the site and iirc taps too, take a water container.

Also take your own bog roll, energy gels can have adverse effects....don't rely on the bog services to keep on top of things, they do try though.

If you've got mud tyres take them, narrow and spikey are best in the sloop, like i said this stuff is super stickie and it wll try it's best to clog up and stop your wheels turning.
That'll do for now, any questions please ask.

ExeterSimon

Let's hope it's sunny for once.

Long term forecast indicates it's gonna be ok. But thanks for the tips Skarki.....

MilitantGraham

I'll be there riding solo representing team Pale Skinny Vegan.
Never done a 24 before, but done a few marathons between 10 and 12 hours.
I'll be following my usual "migrating wildebeest" riding technique. Slow, but keep moving.
According to my GPS I used 9300 Kcal during my last 12 hour race (and I'm still fat :P ). I'm aiming for 18000 in 24 hours. That's a lot of fig rolls and bananas.

silent.shadow

hi graham, most probley not goin to c u befor mountain mayhem, good luck hope it goes well and dont stop peddling
mark

cgarossi

I live in Ledbury, 3 miles from Eastnor. So I'll be there on througout the weekend. Won't be taking part though, but I hear the course is open for two hours on Friday so will go have a ride around it.