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

imposter2.0

Conditions are very good there at the moment. Unless we have some catastrophic weather between now and the day itself, it should be ok. I've probably jinxed it now..

tgotb

How muddy/dry are the non-sandy bits? I only have two sets of clincher wheels for the CX bike; I'll put intermediates on one, but need to make an early call between files and muds for the other.

imposter2.0

There's very little 'actual' mud there anywhere. There was an ankle-deep mud section there last year (after huge amounts of rain in the preceding weeks) which most people were pushing through anyway. As far as I can tell, all those sections are currently dry, but will probably cut up a bit during the event. Either way, the vast majority of the course is sandy, loamy forestry single track and fire roads, with a blast down the beach, so realistically I would base your tyre choices on that, as that is going to make up the majority of the circuit.

tgotb

Brilliant, that's exactly what I needed to know, thanks!

bendertherobot

Yeah, I've two to choose from. The PDX or some rather surprisingly good On One Gravel Road which came with the XLS.

THese:
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/TYOOGRT1/on ... lding-tyre

Looks like high pressure might arrive end of next week so it should just preserve the good conditions.

bendertherobot

http://road.cc/content/news/144447-more ... e-day-only

More entries allowed. Good stuff as it suggests a better course.

bigdaveskinnytyre

After fracturing my scapula in mid January I thought I was out, but I appear to be recovering nicely and subject to Doctor's approval in the week before the race I should be in. Just ordered some Clement LAS file treads for my heavy clinchers, apparently they come up wide which should help a bit.

I'm not sure on what to do gearing wise yet, I'm currently set up with a single 38T on the front with 11-32, I also have the option of 34/44 at the front and 11-28 at the back, it probably boils down to if I can be bothered to refit a front derailleur for the sake of one race?

bendertherobot

I'm running 36/46 with 11-32. I doubt I'll spend much time out of the 36. I think you should be ok on the 34t.

bendertherobot

Currently looking very dry (all week) including the day itself. High pressure. Slack winds

Not warm though, possibly quite cold on the morning, warming to 8 or so around noon.

But a pretty good forecast with only a week to go. Conditions should be very dry round the forest and hopefully no puddle of doom

imposter2.0

Looks like being a headwind on the beach section

bendertherobot

Nah, GFS has barely a breeze. 2 mph. Fingers crossed. Deffo cold mind. Main race temps should have soared to 10 degrees!

imposter2.0

No such thing as a 2mph breeze on Cefn Sidan

bendertherobot

Imposter wrote:

No such thing as a 2mph breeze on Cefn Sidan

That's a given, but it's very conducive this weekend. Looks very light indeed, fingers crossed.

http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/cgi-bin/ ... O=&PERIOD=

tgotb

Looking forward to the race, but having second thoughts about camping...

For those who've ridden the course before, how important is it to have done a recce? Are bits of it like a CX course, where you really need to know what's coming up and to have figured out the lines beforehand, or would it be OK to race it unseen?

imposter2.0

Recce not that important, IMO. I rode last year without pre-riding and there was nowhere on the course where I felt I could have benefited from a recce beforehand.

bendertherobot

So, I'll be on my XLS Flanders, my mate will be on his XLS in Black. We'll be constantly at the back so be nice and say hello!

Dunno what I'm wearing yet. But probably something Castelli................................

tgotb

Thanks!

I'll be on an XLS too, in Kingston Wheelers kit.

Currently thinking file treads with side knobbles, but will bring some alterative options...

bendertherobot

I'm just leaving my Vittoria XG Pro tubeless on.

ugo.santalucia

bendertherobot wrote:

I'm just leaving my Vittoria XG Pro tubeless on.

Formerly known as mine...

bendertherobot

They're still lovely. They even work well on commuting. AFTER this weekend I may look at what to put on there instead, there being no off road duties for a while. 28C Schwalbe One leading the way..........

bigdaveskinnytyre

I got cleared to ride by the consultant today, not bad after fracturing my Scapula and a rib in mid January. The Clement LAS have been fitted and the chain dry lubed so all good to go. I'll be on my Boardman CX-R 9.2, not sure on kit yet. I expect I'll smash myself for the first lap and slowly fade to the back as the race goes on :oops:

bendertherobot

You;ll never fade as far back as me.....

bendertherobot

Easterly wind on the beach section!

bendertherobot

bigdaveskinnytyre

That'll be a dismount for me.

bendertherobot

Yeah, shame it's not coming the other way.

I might even wear shorts tomorrow.....

ugo.santalucia

I'm in Gwynnedd... the most wonderful weather... all because of me... 8)

cyclingsheep

Good luck to all you lucky buggers racing. I'm out due to injury and being in Bucharest with the family but if reports back are good then pencil me in for next year.

bendertherobot

awesome fun. I currently, because most people haven't uploaded yet , have a KOM on the beach section!

bigdaveskinnytyre

Only 4 uploads so far, I also have lots of KOMs, they won't last long.

I somehow managed to stay with the front group on the beach for the first lap and didn't fade as much as expected. I know I ended up 39th in open so around top 60 overall. How did everyone else do?