Mountain Mayhem 2005

[stodge]

Did an event people may be interested in over the weekend
http://www.ssmm.co.uk/index.html

24 hour Mountain Bike endurance event - huge number of teams.
Either 5 man relay where you keep it going for 24 hours or some nutters who did it solo....

A lap was 10.2 miles with 500m of climb
Fastest laps were about 52 mins each, I did 90min and 76mins as the conditions dried out.
see map of course here
http://www.nopesport.com/td/mapdisplay.php?map=4828b3075f7b85b65476a9aa52edfaef.jpg
Winner of solo men - some nutter called TINKER JUAREZ did 17 laps - do the maths !!!!!!!!!!!
There were a load of people on unicycles and single speed bikes ( no gears !!)

Lots of things both good and bad in comparison to say the JK or 6day.
Obviously loads of huge sponsorship, big screens, traders etc
But results were poor on the day for anybody not in the elite categories + still no results up yet.
Orienteering events much much better.

Oh and Wilfs were the only Caterer onsite. Wilf and Charlotte + team were looking very bleary eyed on Sun after serving all night - however they did do bacon and sausage for breakfast (imaging wilfs chilli for breakfast !!)

[Adventure Racer]

I went and rode part of a lap on Friday (got as far as the bottom of the first downhill back from the landrover tracks towards the stadium at which point I made a shortcut to the final downhill - how far round was that?), and felt glad I wasn't racing - would have found 24 hours of sliding around in that rather frustrating I think.

Anyway, I did think as I was going round that I should suggest to the mapper of that area (who I think is Mr H, but not quite sure) that there are now some new paths that need mapping!

[stodge]

About no 8 on the map I think.
The second half of the lap was much better with less mud. It really dried out on the sunday and got much faster. Point Mr H in the direction of the map in my training diary to give him a head start.

There was a bomb hole towards the end of the lap (13 on the map) which claimed 22 injurys (an injury being at least a major cut or a broken bone)
Im glad I found out that after I pulled a big jump out of it (big for me that is).

[Matt p]

Forgive my mountain biking ignorance Stodge but what's a Bomb Hole - is it actually a hole made by a(presumably not very big) bomb or something that just looks like it?

[stodge]

but what's a Bomb Hole -

The hole in question -
Interesting when you come out of the bottom at about 20mph............

ps this is not me

[the duncan]

so was it as wet as last year, last year that landy track at the back was a foot deep in mud for the full 24hrs, think my fastest lap last year was just over 50 mins, ok course, but a bit bland, not much good technical single track

[stodge]

Not as wet as last year (my team mates did it) and it didnt rain during the event, only before.
Loads of good singletrack both slow technical through the trees and fast decents. Only one boring decent - but taken at speed at night it was still scary.
Landrover track not ridable until very late on - even then I still had to get off for bits. Really slimy clay mud.

[HOCOLITE]

Eastnor is always incredibly muddy after a bit of rain lovely red Herefordshire Clay. Once had some scouts return from a camp covered head to foot in it. By the way Alison Sloman is the mapper, it is very difficult to keep the map up to date as not only do the mountain bikers make new tracks/paths but also the landrovers and motor bikers. Interesting that the mountain bikers are able to use sections of woods we can't is it money talking. Usualyy mountain bikes are banned from the park.

[FatBoy]

Interesting that the mountain bikers are able to use sections of woods we can't is it money talking.

Partly money I'm sure but also bikes only use the tracks.

The money thing I'm very used to. Mainly due to the fact fishermen (no offence intended to any listening but it's a fact) on average are richer than canoeists that only 2% of rivers in England and Wales have canoe access. A bit disproportionate!

http://www.riversaccess.org/

[Carnage Head]

For all those MTB fans and those after a bit different (I'm in the latter category!):

On Sat 9th-Sun 10th July, there will be two world championships being held in Llandrindnod Wells, Powys, Mid-Wales. On the Sat, there is the World MTB Bog Snorlkelling Champs, and on the Sun, the inaugral World Bog Snorkelling Triathlon (12 miles run, 120yd bog snorkel, 25 miles MTB).

There will be a car or two going from Leeds early on the 9th, so if anyone wants to share a lift, contact me (alcock_david at hotmail.com) Renting MTBs from Wales if not got one. You can do the entire triathlon (£20), or split it into two or three competitors (total cost: £30).

Web link:
http://llanwrtyd-wells.powys.org.uk/bogtriathlon.htm

[Adventure Racer]

Ah, I should have realised it was Alison.

Which bits can't we use? The only obvious bit I can think of is the landrover track section, and in that bit the course stayed on the landrover track.

Mountain bikes are banned from the Deer Park for the rest of the year, but I've actually ridden "free" in there a couple of years ago, as we had a combined MTB / foot O section in there on the Landrover G4 selection event.

[LostAgain]

Mainly due to the fact fishermen (no offence intended to any listening but it's a fact) on average are richer than canoeists that only 2% of rivers in England and Wales have canoe access. A bit disproportionate!

http://www.riversaccess.org/

Fishing is the largest participation sport in the UK, so access is probably not disproportionate. It also has a well developed revenue collection system with enforcement, from which the monies are used to maintain fish stocks and various other "fishing" related things including access for the handicapped.

Not that I can see any logical reason why canoeist cannot have access.

[FatBoy]

As I said no offence to fishermen (and women). It's because land owners most of whom own rivers by accident unsurprisingly choose to get fishermen to pay a licence to fish there rather than letting canoeists on. I don't say at any point fishing go away - just that 98% - 2% is a little disproportionate.

[LostAgain]

unsurprisingly choose to get fishermen to pay a licence to fish there rather than letting canoeists on.

There I guess you have the crux of it, no fee collection no access!

[HOCOLITE]

Ah, I should have realised it was Alison.

Which bits can't we use? The only obvious bit I can think of is the landrover track section, and in that bit the course stayed on the landrover track.

Mountain bikes are banned from the Deer Park for the rest of the year, but I've actually ridden "free" in there a couple of years ago, as we had a combined MTB / foot O section in there on the Landrover G4 selection event.

I think it is called News Wood, yes the bit with the landrover tracks. The ridgeway may also be off bounds not sure. There is another bit on the other side too, castle copse to which access is severely restricted.