Howie's Battle on the Beach : 22nd March 2015

bendertherobot

http://www.battleonthebeach.co.uk

Missed out last year, but, at the stroke of midnight last night, made sure I was in.

Anyone else doing it?

(It's vaguely cx/mini sportive/mtb/difficult to peg)

cyclingsheep

Wanted to but sadly won't be in the country

tgotb

I'm in. Worryingly, it'll be the first race significantly longer than an hour that I'll have done for 2 years...

ugo.santalucia

Looks like they're all on MTBikes with 2 inch tyres... can you float on the sand with CX tyres?

There is a horse track in Esher common which is made of beach type sand... when it's slightly damp this time of the year is fine, but when it's bone dry in summer, it's almost impassable with 32 mm tyres

mpatts

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Looks like they're all on MTBikes with 2 inch tyres... can you float on the sand with CX tyres?

There is a horse track in Esher common which is made of beach type sand... when it's slightly damp this time of the year is fine, but when it's bone dry in summer, it's almost impassable with 32 mm tyres

I have no knowledge of the event, but looks really interesting. Seems that there is only 100 metres of soft sand, rest is hard packed.

In my head I've already decided that a CX bike will be much better than a fat bike.

tgotb

If I owned both sorts of bike I'd do a practice lap on each before deciding. Since I don't, it's going to have to be a CX bike (presumably with file treads).

Looking at the video from last year, quite a lot of the competitors seem to be carrying quite substantial rucksacks. Given that you're never going to be more than half an hour's walk from the finish it seems hard to justify carrying more than you can fit in a small saddlebag, but maybe I'm missing something...

imposter2.0

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Looks like they're all on MTBikes with 2 inch tyres... can you float on the sand with CX tyres?

There is a horse track in Esher common which is made of beach type sand... when it's slightly damp this time of the year is fine, but when it's bone dry in summer, it's almost impassable with 32 mm tyres

The sand at Pembrey is very firm - same as Pendine, where the old land speed record attempts took place. The RAF occasionally use Cefn Sidan beach as a landing strip for C-130s, it's that firm. You don't sink into it at all, although there is some 'typical' loose land on the transitions on/off the beach through the dunes.

http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/v ... 6&p=107976

I used a CX bike at this event last year. This year I'm on a 29er MTB. About the only place where drop bars are vaguely useful is on the beach leg, the rest of the time (ie most of it) I decided I would rather be on a HT. Awesome event though and hopefully we won't have to negotiate the 'puddle of doom' this year...

bendertherobot

Yeah, the thread on singletrack suggests that there were very many CX bikes there.

I am torn between this and my hardtail but, well, let's find some 40c tyres first.............

bendertherobot

TGOTB wrote:

If I owned both sorts of bike I'd do a practice lap on each before deciding. Since I don't, it's going to have to be a CX bike (presumably with file treads).

Looking at the video from last year, quite a lot of the competitors seem to be carrying quite substantial rucksacks. Given that you're never going to be more than half an hour's walk from the finish it seems hard to justify carrying more than you can fit in a small saddlebag, but maybe I'm missing something...

I think that's the MTB way I'd certainly not take anything. Though, if I am carrying bottles, I may stick the puncture kit in a tiny camelback.

That said, if I need more than 2 tubes I may as well abandon...............

imposter2.0

bendertherobot wrote:

Yeah, the thread on singletrack suggests that there were very many CX bikes there.

I am torn between this and my hardtail but, well, let's find some 40c tyres first.............

Did the CX + 40c tyre thing last year. My advice would be HT - it's a great event, but it has more in common with MTB, less with CX.

bendertherobot

Imposter wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Yeah, the thread on singletrack suggests that there were very many CX bikes there.

I am torn between this and my hardtail but, well, let's find some 40c tyres first.............

Did the CX + 40c tyre thing last year. My advice would be HT - it's a great event, but it has more in common with MTB, less with CX.

My only issue is that I'm selling my MTB to fund some more CX type goodness. Possibly adding a Ritchey Swiss Cross disc to the Bivio X and Planet X XLS.

So, unless it doesn't sell, I'm going to be limited. Also, my mate will be doing it on his CX so it seems unfair to have the advantage.

imposter2.0

It's definitely do-able on CX. If I was riding a CX again this year, I would go for a much wider cassette, probably with a 32 on the back.

bendertherobot

That I can do! Fortunately both the Bivio and PX have WiFli cassettes.

I was looking yesterday at WTB Nano 40c. IF they fit they might be a good option. Unless it's relentlessly wet in which case, well, I dunno.

ugo.santalucia

Looks like a great event, but it's the week before Gent-Wevelgem... two weekends away in a row is asking for trouble... :roll:

imposter2.0

bendertherobot wrote:

Unless it's relentlessly wet in which case, well, I dunno.

Something like a Conti Race King or CX Speed would be ideal there on whatever bike you choose.

ugo.santalucia

bendertherobot wrote:

That I can do! Fortunately both the Bivio and PX have WiFli cassettes.

I was looking yesterday at WTB Nano 40c. IF they fit they might be a good option. Unless it's relentlessly wet in which case, well, I dunno.

My CrossWolf are awesome on the sand... just saying...

tgotb

How hilly is it? Wondering whether to switch one of the bikes back to a double chainring; race season will be over, and I'll need one configured that way for 3 Peaks in Sept anyway.

Clement LAS come out around 40mm on my Iron Cross rims, and work surprisingly well in light mud; reckon I'll take those and maybe a set of something like Vittoria XGs just in case...

imposter2.0

The area is essentially flat, so no major climbs. Plenty of small ones though.

bendertherobot

ugo.santalucia wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

That I can do! Fortunately both the Bivio and PX have WiFli cassettes.

I was looking yesterday at WTB Nano 40c. IF they fit they might be a good option. Unless it's relentlessly wet in which case, well, I dunno.

My CrossWolf are awesome on the sand... just saying...

Narrow though? Don't think they'd offer anything over the Prendas PDX. Unless your point is that WTB are good, which they are!

I've seen some poor reviews for the Nano 40C but ONLY Because they didn't fit. Those sort of reviews annoy me.

ugo.santalucia

bendertherobot wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

That I can do! Fortunately both the Bivio and PX have WiFli cassettes.

I was looking yesterday at WTB Nano 40c. IF they fit they might be a good option. Unless it's relentlessly wet in which case, well, I dunno.

My CrossWolf are awesome on the sand... just saying...

Narrow though? Don't think they'd offer anything over the Prendas PDX. Unless your point is that WTB are good, which they are!

I've seen some poor reviews for the Nano 40C but ONLY Because they didn't fit. Those sort of reviews annoy me.

Come at 34.5 mm on my 25 mm rims... maybe a bit less on yours... time to go tubeless...

bendertherobot

ugo.santalucia wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

That I can do! Fortunately both the Bivio and PX have WiFli cassettes.

I was looking yesterday at WTB Nano 40c. IF they fit they might be a good option. Unless it's relentlessly wet in which case, well, I dunno.

My CrossWolf are awesome on the sand... just saying...

Narrow though? Don't think they'd offer anything over the Prendas PDX. Unless your point is that WTB are good, which they are!

I've seen some poor reviews for the Nano 40C but ONLY Because they didn't fit. Those sort of reviews annoy me.

Come at 34.5 mm on my 25 mm rims... maybe a bit less on yours... time to go tubeless...

I've looked at the Clement MSO as well. Might be the boy........

Tubeless? Well, IF I can sell my MTB then there may well be a Ritchey Swiss Cross Disc with HED Belgium tubeless solution......

ugo.santalucia

bendertherobot wrote:

Tubeless? Well, IF I can sell my MTB then there may well be a Ritchey Swiss Cross Disc with HED Belgium tubeless solution......

Which would be your CX bike number 3 if I am correct...

The HED are great, but grossly overpriced... you can buy the same quality for 80 quid a pop instead of 120... the graphics look good though...

bendertherobot

Not only would it be CX number 3 but I'd only own CX bikes. IF I got the Ritchey, it would replace the Ritchey.

So, in theory it would be:

Ritchey Swiss Cross (Best bike, road, sportive, long distance)

Bivio Commuter

PX, CX and MTB duties.

Monty Dog

Shame that I've got a prior commitment that weekend - perhaps just as well as I'd never be able to make my mind up between 2x CX bikes, a 3"-tyred 29er or a 5"-tyred fatbike. We have lots of sand in these parts and even 3" tyres can be a handful on dry sand. For CX bike tyres, I'd go for maximum width like a Surly Knard 41mm.

bendertherobot

Yeah, going to need to experiment with clearances. The maximum "soft sand" distance is 100m or so. Run-able. I know Pembrey well and the rest is pretty hard packed depending on your line. But that experience is in relation to running on it (an event pretty similar to this but a single lap). Will be interesting to see how that translates to tyres.

imposter2.0

Don't worry about the loose sand - there's not enough of it per lap for it to affect tyre/bike choice. What I learned last year was that gearing and comfort were the main issues (and fitness, obviously)....

Just to go back to what I said earlier - last year, I did it on a CX with 40c tyres, 42/34 and 12-25. Drop bars were useful on the beach, but offered no particular advantage anywhere else. Gearing was fine on the beach, but came up quite short (for me) on some of the other sections.

29er HT this year...

bendertherobot

I should be a bit better on the longer gearing. Have 46-11. Wifli as well, so useful for any gnarly bits. I doubt I'd get anywhere near the lowest gear mind. It'll probably stay on the 36t ring most of the time.

Paul 8v

It sounds like an excuse to buy a fatbike to me. The missus would kill me though.

Paul 8v

I've put my name on the waiting list. For the race, not the fatbike unfortunately but I fo know of an Ice cream truck ops going cheap...

Monty Dog

Gratuitous fatbike piccie:

We have lots of sand in these parts - riding across a sandy common where regular MTBs can be hard work, I was able to sit up and ride no-handed whilst the others struggled to keep a straight line.
It weighs 25lb and yes, it's mine

bendertherobot

Might do a recce shortly to see what the conditions are like. It's well drained so I expect it to be good overall as long as there's no puddle of doom.

Seems a shame to get sand on my PX so it's probably going to be Bivio with Clement PDX