The Puffer

2

Comments

  • Rigga
    Rigga Posts: 939
    Awesome, good luck! Ive often wondered how i'd fair in something like this, looking forward to the write up afterwards!
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Think I will be able to post updates from my phone. I could tweet progress but that's far too hip'n'happening for me.

    Anyhow - van is packed - its been tipping it down all evening.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Good luck!
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Better late than never

    http://www.justgiving.com/RichardMerrell

    Donations will help me through the mud
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Well just taken the van up the having checked in (towards the head of a queue of about 60 people) for parking. We've got a reasonable site part-way up the fire road climb. It's lovely and mild today (9c) - just started raining but hopefully the worst of that will be gone by the morning. The temperature is forecast to be a slightly awkward 5c - right on the limit for shorts for me. At least it looks like it won't freeze.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Up at 6.45 ready for the day. Having a norming "commuting day" breakfast - latte and porridge with added banana. I'm pretty well packed for the off. Need to collect team mate. His dad (a friend and colleague) was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer the same day as Charlie's cancer was diagnosed and died 4 months later.

    The weather outside sounds pretty foul. 25mph wind from NW and rain. As long as the wind stays from the west, it won't be too bad as it will broadly be a tailwind up the hill. The rain is less welcome though. 6c is better than we dare hope for though with plenty of windchill but that will keep the frost off.

    More later.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Sounds like a lovely day for a bike ride...

    Do you have gels and stuff to eat on the go?
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    11 hours in and 13 laps done. I'm about to go out for my 3rd and 4th lap. Yes - have gels. If I mention this next year, talk me out of it!
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    Good effort sir!
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • Rigga
    Rigga Posts: 939
    meanredspider wrote:
    11 hours in and 13 laps done. I'm about to go out for my 3rd and 4th lap. Yes - have gels. If I mention this next year, talk me out of it!

    Awesome stuff! Keep it up!
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,445
    Keep your pecker up old chap. You can do eeeet! You can do it all night long!
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Just gone midnight. 4 hours done for me. We're still ahead of schedule for 24 in 24 though the lads are flagging a bit. Terrible chain suck due to horrendous mud means I can't use the small ring for half a lap - nightmare! Getting some sleep myself now. Night night!
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Up again - grab some food and clean the bike. Shoulders are very stiff
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Chapeau!

    How you feeling after that shift? And how's everyone else feeling? Last legs?
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    I think we're all on that finishing "high". Ask me again at 2-3pm this afternoon. Last ride was good. In fact they were all better than my first when I started too quick. Solved the chain suck by smothering the chain in oil that kept the mud at bay. Wrist a bit swollen. Quite mild this morning - wind has dropped and it's finally light again. Packing away the van
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Finished. We managed 23 laps in 24 hours - which doesn't mean a lot. I did 5 hours as I was the last in the rotation of our team. It was incredibly hard but I relaxed into it and enjoyed each lap more than the previous. The mud was incredible - worse I've ever seen. My wrist hurts from the battering it's received, my shoulders ache and I'm very tired but happy to have done it and "got the tshirt" (literally). The "quads" (teams of 4) were on by a team of lads all under 14! Some unbelieveably fit people there with a number of international teams.

    Dunno when i'll commute next - probably Wednesday as I'm out Tuesday evening - it'll seem like a doddle
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,897
    Excellent, well done. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
    Kinesis Pro6
    Marin Nail Trail
    Cotic Solaris
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Thank you.

    Shade over 30 miles (doesn't sound much does it?) - nearly 5000ft of climbing. My HR on the first lap barely dropped below 170bpm

    Sintered brake pads were lasting about 3 laps
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • SimonAH
    SimonAH Posts: 3,730
    You're a better man than I Gungadin! Chapeau.
    FCN 5 belt driven fixie for city bits
    CAADX 105 beastie for bumpy bits
    Litespeed L3 for Strava bits

    Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
  • MARKF
    MARKF Posts: 29
    Congratulations on finishing.Have a lie down,you've earned it!
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Thanks folks. This video posted on YouTube gives a hint at what it's like

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r7VCqkIBmo
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • willy b
    willy b Posts: 4,125
    First of all, very well done! I was meant to be doing this solo, however couldn't arrange transport & pit crew so I didn't bother.

    Looks like a punishing course, given most 24hr events are quite easy (well the actual course)

    Next year?
    Strava Profile

    Twitter

    Blog: Riding Circle
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Yup - one of the better soloists described it as the most technically difficult 24 hour course he's done.

    Couple of relatively dull pics

    Puffer1.jpg

    Puffer2.jpg

    The second one hopefully gives some idea of how cold it was sat in a gazebo in the middle of a Highland winter's night.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • willy b
    willy b Posts: 4,125
    That second shot just brings back memories of MM and SITS :? Although i susepct it might have been a little warmer!

    next year i'll do the Puffer solo. I promise!
    Strava Profile

    Twitter

    Blog: Riding Circle
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Just catching up...

    That's a stupendous effort. Well done.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 62,011
    Well done Spidey - you should post this in the MTB section as well.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Stevo 666 wrote:
    Well done Spidey - you should post this in the MTB section as well.

    They can read over there now? Oh how splendid. :wink:
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Stevo 666 wrote:
    Well done Spidey - you should post this in the MTB section as well.

    I have done - under events and races: viewtopic.php?f=10008&t=12827930&p=17383271#p17383271

    It kinda has more relevance here as I really count myself as a "commuter" rather than an MTBer - the journey is more important than the type of bike.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • Stevo_666
    Stevo_666 Posts: 62,011
    Thanks - hadn't looked in that section for quite a while.
    "I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars: the rest of it I just squandered." [George Best]
  • Bordersroadie
    Bordersroadie Posts: 1,052
    Well done matey! What an adventure, I'm well impressed.

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