Torq in your sleep / night time enduro / enduro lights...

Torq in your sleep / night time enduro / enduro lights...

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thenortherner

Original Poster:

1,502 posts

162 months

Monday 19th August 2013
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Bobley said:
Apologies if this is too late ... I've just sold a Trek Fuel (albeit an EX7) as I felt it was too inefficient for my XC orientated riding and I cant stand riding my wifes Giant XTC hardtail - even though it weighs nothing I'm much faster and happier cross country on a short travel XC machine so I'm sticking with my trusty 26" Giant Anthem X for a bit longer. I know after doing Clic24 twice on it that I think it was the best piece of kit at the time and my colleagues on HTs were in real trouble later in the event. If I was starting again then I'd be looking for a short travel 650b bike like next years Anthem or suchlike. If you're fitter than me (quite probably) then you could make a Trance/Fuel/Zesty/Stumpy bike work but it depends what else you plan to do with it?
No problem. Though I'm curious, what gave the guys on hardtails trouble? The only reason I'm leaning towards using the EX 9.8 is the comfort factor. I did some LONG days in the alps very recently on the hardtail, and although the terrain at Gorrick is vastly different, it did leave me feeling battered.

Incidentally, the EX 9.8 is only a month old and is my first step into the world of FS. So far, so good.

Bobley

697 posts

148 months

Monday 19th August 2013
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Mostly aches and fatigue from getting pounded over fast bumpy descents. I was just happy that the bike was doing a lot of the work not me.

Now you've said Alps, I can fully understand the Fuel 9.8 choice!!

TedMaul

2,092 posts

212 months

Tuesday 20th August 2013
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This event looks and sounds awsome, especially as there is a six hour version...

Biggest rides I have done is Langdegla forest, 22kms and several breaks in that. What sort of training do you do to get to a level where you can do and event like this (i'm 41 so no sprightly thing)?

Also, for the 12 hour, I assume you have some rest/food breaks, do you stop every lap, every other, take on food and water? Whats the actual race routine?

Good luck to those entering, diarised an entry reminder for May next year!

neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Tuesday 20th August 2013
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TedMaul said:
This event looks and sounds awsome, especially as there is a six hour version...

Biggest rides I have done is Langdegla forest, 22kms and several breaks in that. What sort of training do you do to get to a level where you can do and event like this (i'm 41 so no sprightly thing)?

Also, for the 12 hour, I assume you have some rest/food breaks, do you stop every lap, every other, take on food and water? Whats the actual race routine?

Good luck to those entering, diarised an entry reminder for May next year!
When I entered the race last year I hadn't done any proper training and the longest ride I'd managed was a 50km off road sportive. I basically made it up as I went along and stopped as and when I felt like it which was pretty much after every lap, sometimes for a bite to eat and other times for a chat with my mate who was pottering about the pits for the race. I think I managed 8 laps which is about 60 miles.

This year I've been trying to prepare a bit more for the race with some longer rides. I'm not really one for structured training, I'm too lazy for all that. My training has consisted of two or three rides a week with one or two of them being 1-2 hours at a faster pace and one long ride of anything up to 6 hours depending on what I feel like doing. On the long rides I don't stop for breathers anywhere if I can help it and try to keep moving for the whole time.

Hopefully this will have worked for me!


thenortherner

Original Poster:

1,502 posts

162 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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TedMaul said:
This event looks and sounds awsome, especially as there is a six hour version...

Biggest rides I have done is Langdegla forest, 22kms and several breaks in that. What sort of training do you do to get to a level where you can do and event like this (i'm 41 so no sprightly thing)?

Also, for the 12 hour, I assume you have some rest/food breaks, do you stop every lap, every other, take on food and water? Whats the actual race routine?

Good luck to those entering, diarised an entry reminder for May next year!
I'd say I'm of average fitness. I'm not entering with the intention of coming out on top, but that isn't to say that I'm not going to try. For somebody like me, this event is a case of mind over matter, so whilst there will be people probably running rings around me I just won't want to give up. So whilst you may not be riding massive distances at the moment, I'll bet you're probably more capable when you think. One thing I've always remembered is that the human body rarely reaches the point of total exhaustion, and when people stop / give up, it's because their mind defeated them rather than their body.

In terms of training I do a mixture of stuff, from swimming, running and cycling. Sticking to just one discipline can be disadvantageous in terms of building overall stamina and developing leg muscle, according to the physio I use whom is also a very well established and know mountain biker in her own right.

I'm aiming for 8 laps. It's going to be a massive learning curve for me, in terms of taking on fluid, food, rest etc, especially as I'm solo and won't have support with me. I'm happy to feedback on how I get on if you're interested...


TedMaul

2,092 posts

212 months

Thursday 22nd August 2013
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thenortherner said:
I'd say I'm of average fitness. I'm not entering with the intention of coming out on top, but that isn't to say that I'm not going to try. For somebody like me, this event is a case of mind over matter, so whilst there will be people probably running rings around me I just won't want to give up. So whilst you may not be riding massive distances at the moment, I'll bet you're probably more capable when you think. One thing I've always remembered is that the human body rarely reaches the point of total exhaustion, and when people stop / give up, it's because their mind defeated them rather than their body.

In terms of training I do a mixture of stuff, from swimming, running and cycling. Sticking to just one discipline can be disadvantageous in terms of building overall stamina and developing leg muscle, according to the physio I use whom is also a very well established and know mountain biker in her own right.

I'm aiming for 8 laps. It's going to be a massive learning curve for me, in terms of taking on fluid, food, rest etc, especially as I'm solo and won't have support with me. I'm happy to feedback on how I get on if you're interested...

I am very interested, I'm a target driven type guy, I cant just do something for the sake of it. My short term is just to improve my laptimes round Sherwodd Pines and to complete 'degla without pushing the last 1km climbs, but something long term to help me focus through the winter would be great.

No way i could do a 24hr, 12hr maybe, 6 hours definately.

Hope the weather holds for you all, its lashing down here in Sheffield right now and my 8yo is out on Cub Camp!!

neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Monday 26th August 2013
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thenortherner said:
I'm happy to feedback on how I get on if you're interested...

How did it go?

I think I spotted you sitting with your car after the race but didn't come over to see you as I couldn't stand up or string a sentence together!

thenortherner

Original Poster:

1,502 posts

162 months

Monday 26th August 2013
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neenaw said:
thenortherner said:
I'm happy to feedback on how I get on if you're interested...

How did it go?

I think I spotted you sitting with your car after the race but didn't come over to see you as I couldn't stand up or string a sentence together!
Not too bad considering it was my first enduro, 12 hours at that, and an unsupported solo entrant.

I did 9 laps but couldn't finish my 10th. My back was in agony by 23:00. Disappointing really, as I reckon I had 2 more laps in me. That said, for a first try, I'm happy enough.

I'm going to get some biomechanical analysis done as I'm now started to injure myself. And at 29 years old, don't want problems for the future. Not only that, I don't want my back, or any other problem, holding me back from achieving.

The course was not quite as smooth as I was expecting and after 4 laps or so I really started to feel every bump and thud. I'll be using the full suspension next time on that course.

I'm doing the 6 hour enduro in a few weeks as part of the Xterra series and also the 8 hour Oktoberfest in October.

Yep, sounds like me, slumped on my car!

How did you get on?

TedMaul

2,092 posts

212 months

Monday 26th August 2013
quotequote all
thenortherner said:
Not too bad considering it was my first enduro, 12 hours at that, and an unsupported solo entrant.

I did 9 laps but couldn't finish my 10th. My back was in agony by 23:00. Disappointing really, as I reckon I had 2 more laps in me. That said, for a first try, I'm happy enough.

I'm going to get some biomechanical analysis done as I'm now started to injure myself. And at 29 years old, don't want problems for the future. Not only that, I don't want my back, or any other problem, holding me back from achieving.

The course was not quite as smooth as I was expecting and after 4 laps or so I really started to feel every bump and thud. I'll be using the full suspension next time on that course.

I'm doing the 6 hour enduro in a few weeks as part of the Xterra series and also the 8 hour Oktoberfest in October.

Yep, sounds like me, slumped on my car!

How did you get on?
9 laps sounds like an achievement to me, well done. I saw the course map on their site, but they never show the full detail of the trail of course. How would you say it compared to an average trail centre blue/red/black.

I managed 3 laps of red and one blue at Sherwood Pines on Sunday, that was just 55km (I think) in ashade under 4 hours and it killed me.. I think what you guys did is fantastic!

neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Monday 26th August 2013
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I had a fairly good race, I was aiming for 12 laps and hoping for a top 20 place. I managed 13 laps and 18th place which was a total of 101 miles eek

I rode it last year with no training and no proper support but went a bit more organised this year. My wife was in the pits for me with a good collection of food and drinks. She pretty much made the difference for me between doing well and doing not so well.

The race itself was pretty good, the course was great considering the rain over the past few days. I'd forgotten how rooty it was last year and I was really glad to be riding a full sus bike. The guy in the pit next to me was saying the same thing and he's normally a rigid bike rider!

I know how you feel with the pain, I was aching all over after about 8 or 9 hours but seemed to blank it out after that and it didn't get any worse. Hopefully your back isn't anything that some exercises and stretching won't solve. I reckon that completing 9 laps unsupported is great going. The support makes all the difference from a mental point of view as much as anything else.

If it was you parked beside the Cotic AQR guys, we were about three tents further along next to the Swinnerton Cycles tent. After I noticed the car I kept popping back to see if you were about but must've kept on missing you!

Are you fancying giving it a go again next year?

thenortherner

Original Poster:

1,502 posts

162 months

Monday 26th August 2013
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Guys, thank you. I guess 9 laps is still 72 miles, which is a fair distance. Just a little disappointed in my back giving way and holding me from doing more.

In terms of difficulty, I wouldn't say it's even at red level, but then again I'm only comparing it to the stuff I've done around Wales. You don't need to be massively capable in terms of skill or technical ability. A lot of people came a cropper on the roots, but they'll catch out the best of them. This course is more about mental grit, endurance and determination.

By the sounds of it, you sound like you want to get up to speed. You've 12 months. That's plenty of time. I've contributed to a thread that's been going a while on here re. smoking. To put it into context, I was a smoker until Xmas day 2012. I also drank, not massively, but the two go hand in hand. I quit both on the same day and haven't touched either since. I guess my point is, if you want it badly enough, you'll get it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggq8LzZ397Q

Neenaw, pleased to hear you did well. I was directly next to the AQR guys - who incidentally helped me hugely - and I think it might have been you guys who cheered me on a couple of times! I was on a yellow / blue Trek. If so, thank you!

I can imagine having some dedicated support with you would make all the difference. I'll have to bribe somebody next year to come along. Mentally I'd say I'm pretty strong, though a bit of encouragement would help.

I've been getting physio for months now. I only really started to exercise at the start of the year properly. The problems have coincided with this. Shin splints, abductors, thighs, back ache. It's great after the physio, but reverts soon after. One of the AQR girls recommended biomechanical analysis from a place local to me, in fact it's a shop owned by Ollie Beckinsdale.

All being well my intention is to be there next year without a doubt.

In fact, I've a 6 hour enduro in a few weeks time as part of the Xterra off road triathlon series. And in 5 weeks time Oktoberfest, Bristol, which is an 8 hour enduro!

Edited by thenortherner on Monday 26th August 20:34


Edited by thenortherner on Monday 26th August 20:42

neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Monday 26th August 2013
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Sounds like you did pretty well all things considered. The first time at something like this is always a pretty steep learning curve but it gets easier.

One thing is to make sure you don't overdo it with the long races, they can take a bit of time to get over completely.
From my own point of view, it's going to be at least next weekend before I get back on a bike again!

thenortherner

Original Poster:

1,502 posts

162 months

Monday 26th August 2013
quotequote all
neenaw said:
Sounds like you did pretty well all things considered. The first time at something like this is always a pretty steep learning curve but it gets easier.

One thing is to make sure you don't overdo it with the long races, they can take a bit of time to get over completely.
From my own point of view, it's going to be at least next weekend before I get back on a bike again!
I definitely learned a lot!

I've got an event of some sort on for pretty much every weekend for the next 5 weeks or so, ranging from Tough Mudder to the Bristol half marathon to the enduros.

I won't be doing the usual sessions in the gym during the week, other than maybe once or twice, and even then for no longer than an hour. Just to keep myself moving. I just need to concentrate on getting enough sleep and sorting my diet out to help recovery.



neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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Just thought I'd drag this topic up again and see if anyone is racing this year?

From looking at about 6 different weather forecasts, it looks like it should be a decent weekend for it smile

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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I'm local, and have ridden a lot of the route over the last few weeks. The area was hit hard last year by forestry operations, and they didn't do a very good job of clearing up after themselves. Lots of minor trails were covered over with branches etc, and have been lost, but even the Army are not happy, so plans are afoot to clear a lot of the crap, but not in time for the weekend.

Having said all that, what is rideable at the moment is in very good condition. One of the military guys from the Army Cycling Union was out in 'Minley Maze' with a leaf blower and a shovel on Monday, reclaiming that segment from nature,and another chap contracted to them was out with a hedge trimmer, mower, and chainsaw, cutting back brambles and bracken that had swamped some sections, and removing some small trees and branches that were 'crowding' the trails, especially on corners. Lots of effort is going into preparation of the course, which I appreciate because it'll open up some of the tight sections that have become overgrown with vegetation over the summer. The whole area is very dry, dusty and firm, and for the most part pretty fast running. Spare a thought for those ACU fellas if you are riding the event - they'll probably be riding too, and gave up some of their summer leave to make it all work.

They still haven't confirmed the final route, but there are clues on the ground, white arrows sprayed on the floor at the entries to single track sections, and white tape on trees along the route. I'd love to be there, even just to spectate, but I'm away at Reading Festival from Thursday, so I'll be sure to raise a (plastic) glass to your efforts as I watch 'You Me At Six' and 'Blink 182' close the show on Sunday, just as the race is coming to it's end... wink

neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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Thanks for the update, sounds like it could be an interesting course this year. I read on the Gorrick FB page that they're re-using some old sections and that the lap is about 10 minutes longer than the last couple of years.

Despite being reasonably close to the area, I've never rode Minley outside of the Torq races, I really need to get my finger out and head over there at some point to see what trails are in the area.

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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"Banksey" (the 'U' shaped segment under the bridge) is open, and always has been, tree cover prevents overgrowth there. It is a bit 'rooty' though, not as smooth as it once was, and some of the corners have been 'softened' by folk 'straight lining' sections. "Spongebob" is the same, too dark for ground cover plants, and quite badly affected in spots by heavy braking on bends. "Olympic Ridge" may feature this time, as the mower was out to 'mark' the track across the field to it. The smell of sawdust was in the air last night too. That one is a 'game of two halves' so to speak. First bit is tight, twisty, and lots of roots and bumps. Second half is more open, and faster riding, but there are one or two muddy spots where the sun hasn't got to it, although nothing significant.

"Minley Maze" is the bit I saw being cleared of crap. It hasn't been rideable for some time, and if you knew it from before, the layout has changed slightly. This may be one of the old sections they are bringing back. Surface is quite loose, lots of leaf litter and needles, etc, but it will soon 'firm up' under several hundred wheels. "Farmer Palmer" looks likely too. I had to stop riding that one this year - it was OK until February, but by the time I recovered enough from my accident to ride again in June, lots of it had disappeared under bracken and nettles. Again, the guys have been out with machinery, reclaiming the route from nature. There's a lot of good riding in them there woods. The Gorrick/Torq singletrack sections are easy to spot immediately after the event, too. It's just the 'joiny-uppy' sections of fire road/tarmac that are hard to fathom, so although I can put together a 20 (plus) mile ride in there, I've never managed to follow a complete "Torq" lap, if you see what I mean.

I need to pull my finger out and ride out to Swinley some time. I've got into the habit of sticking to Hawley and Minley, repeatedly riding the same ground. A change of scenery would be good for me, I reckon.

Your profile says London. Are you inside London 'proper', or on the outskirts? If you are fairly local I'd be happy to ride round with you some time.

neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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Some of the section names sound familiar from the 2012 race so no doubt I'll remember them come Saturday!

Thankfully i'm not in London 'proper' Just on the outskirts in Staines.
I tend to do most of my riding around Swinley and Tunnel Hill/Deepcut with a few jaunts down to the Surrey Hills when I can. It'd be good to meet up some time and find a few new areas to ride.

yellowjack

17,065 posts

165 months

Wednesday 20th August 2014
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A few photos from today, as a taster of what awaits...


Bracken/Ferns cut back to reveal the full width of the trail.


Big drop down onto an old farm track.


Typical fast section through dense woodland.


Deceptively flat-looking uphill section.


This descent is 'interesting' to say the least, as you approach from around the tree trunk.


The easy looking approach to the heavily rooted descent (above)


Some of the turns are made a little hazardous by the amount of tree roots exposed on them - pray for dry weather wink


A completely new section within "Minley Maze".


Practice ride ahead of the weekend, on the newly re-opened "Minley Maze".


Heavily rooted section of "Spongebob".


Some repairs using gravel have been carried out on the worst parts of "Spongebob".


'Potholes' on the course in "Spongebob".


"Bridge to nowhere" - the crossover point of the 'figure of eight' course.


This tree has been there so long it's rotted almost to dust.


ACU volunteers and contractors have had the chainsaws out, preparing the course.


"Farmer Palmer" - the ridge after the first climb into the segment.


This fallen tree completely blocked "Farmer Palmer" for some time.


Strange tree with split bark.


Exit from "Farmer Palmer".


...I took heaps more pictures, but these were enough, and lots of the others didn't really tell the story I wanted them to. Suffice to say, if the weather holds out, it should be a great race. I'm looking forward to seeing the whole course map, as it's not absolutely clear how the wider 'fire road' sections will be used to link the slightly more technical single track runs together. Like I said, I can't be there to ride or spectate, as I'll be bouncing up and down to the sound of Blink 182 on Sunday night at Reading Festival.

Good luck to all those riding, and supporting the riders over the weekend, and a massive vote of thanks to any and all those who have given their time and effort to knock the whole area into shape ready for the arrival of the racers at the weekend

neenaw

1,212 posts

188 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
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Thanks for the photo's, it looks nice and dry there so hopefully the weather will stay like this for the weekend.

The drop in the second photo looks familiar, if I remember rightly they had it in the course in 2012 and there were a few people got it wrong and ended up in heaps at the bottom!
I'm just trying to decide at the moment whether or not to go singlespeed for the race. I've raced singlespeed a few times but never in an endurance race so I might have to wait and see how I'm feeling on Sunday before deciding.