Brass Monkeys Rd2 - 14th Dec - Tunnel Hill
Discussion
Following on from this thread I have just signed up for Round 2. From YJ's write up, Im so glad I missed R1 - hopefully this wont be so bleak.
Anyway, its only my 2nd race so I fully expect to be at the bottom of the leaderboard, especially as at 38, im at the tough end of the 18-39 category... im going for the 2 hour race.
Would be great to meet up with a few PH'ers on the startline. I intend to be wearing my new PH Winter Jersey, but at this rate, several layers underneath.
If you're interested, go here to find out more details and to register - you have to book in advance: no signing up on the day. Registration closes on 9th December.
http://meridabrassmonkeys.com/?page_id=37
Anyway, its only my 2nd race so I fully expect to be at the bottom of the leaderboard, especially as at 38, im at the tough end of the 18-39 category... im going for the 2 hour race.
Would be great to meet up with a few PH'ers on the startline. I intend to be wearing my new PH Winter Jersey, but at this rate, several layers underneath.
If you're interested, go here to find out more details and to register - you have to book in advance: no signing up on the day. Registration closes on 9th December.
http://meridabrassmonkeys.com/?page_id=37
I will be there riding the vets 4 hour, riding a Pace RC129 on singlespeed in Arrow Cycles team strip(red and black outfit). Rode the first round, it's got to be drier this time, as round 1 was horrendous, a proper mud slop trudge. Is the map on the website accurate, as I'm travelling down from Lincolnshire and don't want to be getting lost, found round 1 ok as had been there before for Torq In Your Sleep.
BadgerBenji said:
Is the map on the website accurate, as I'm travelling down from Lincolnshire and don't want to be getting lost, found round 1 ok as had been there before for Torq In Your Sleep.
The map on their website looks to point pretty accurately to the entrance used - off the road into the MOD land. The usual car park is about 200yds inside - up a little hill into a clearing. Assuming it's well signposted at the entrance it should be fine. The postcode on the site GU12 5RR will get you close enough to find itGren said:
The map on their website looks to point pretty accurately to the entrance used - off the road into the MOD land. The usual car park is about 200yds inside - up a little hill into a clearing. Assuming it's well signposted at the entrance it should be fine. The postcode on the site GU12 5RR will get you close enough to find it
Fantastic thank you, I'm in a travel lodge the night before, so a nice short drive in the morning. Just didn't fancy the M25 in the morning.yonex said:
Looks like I'm going to enter...it'll be fine right 
Long range weather forecast...Sunny Intervals
Most Likely High - 6°C
High Between - 3°C/10°C
Humidity - 77%
Visibility - Very Good
Pressure (Millibars) - 1012
Wind Direction - WSW
Wind Speed - 9 mph
...although that means the sum total of sweet Fanny Adams. The long range forecast for the last one was for decent weather on the day, dry leading up to it. They were nearly right, though. The Monday following it was lovely
PHer neenaw and I rode through the Tunnel Hill area on the way across to Old Windmill Hill (aka: Porridge Pots) yesterday, and to be honest, it's in VERY good shape. Despite the weather, it's not suffered anywhere near as badly as Minley has, and I've heard that Swinley has been a bit muddy of late too. Tunnel/Windmill hills are the venues for Rounds 2 & 3 respectively, so those races should suffer far less from adverse weather effects than the first round did.
I still haven't made my mind up about entering this one, as I want to go see Deaf Havana play at the Boscombe (Bournemouth) O2 Academy the evening of the same day. Normally I'd book both, but knowing the state I was in after the Minley race, I'm not confident of being fit to drive a 120 mile round trip after the racing...
yonex said:
So I have entered the 2hr vet race. I must be daft, hated the bloody course last time out. Looking forward to meeting you guys.
So it's your fault that the long range forecast is worsening, then? (Although to be fair, only slightly)Forecast update for Sunday 14th December 2014, as at 2100hrs, 07 Dec 14...
Light Cloud
Most Likely High - 7°C
High Between - 3°C/10°C
Humidity - 79%
Visibility - Very Good
Pressure (Millibars) - 1012
Wind Direction - SW
Wind Speed - 10 mph
(Edit to paste in the correct forecast, on account of how I'm a bit stoopid!)
Edited by yellowjack on Sunday 7th December 21:28
yonex said:
So I have entered the 2hr vet race. I must be daft, hated the bloody course last time out. Looking forward to meeting you guys.
Nice one!Yellowjack, ive no idea where you are getting those false weather reports. BBC weather is saying:
Met Office warning: Heatwave
Most Likely High - 30°C
High Between - 29°C/31°C
Humidity - 0%
Visibility - Awesome
Men: Wear Factor 30
Women: Wear Bikinis
Yellowjack: MTFU
Today's weather update for race day, as at 1300hrs 08-12-14...
Light Cloud
Most Likely High - 8°C
High Between - 3°C/11°C
Humidity - 83%
Visibility - Good
Pressure (Millibars) - 1012
Wind Direction - SW
Wind Speed - 9 mph
...so a slight improvement over yesterday's forecast, with the Saturday looking fine and dry too
Light Cloud
Most Likely High - 8°C
High Between - 3°C/11°C
Humidity - 83%
Visibility - Good
Pressure (Millibars) - 1012
Wind Direction - SW
Wind Speed - 9 mph
...so a slight improvement over yesterday's forecast, with the Saturday looking fine and dry too
yellowjack said:
List time!
...anyone else? Just quote, copy and paste, then add yourself at the bottom.
Oh God, it all looks so....formal | Name | Race Duration | Age Category |
|---|---|---|
| daddy cool | 2 Hour | Male 18-39 |
| BadgerBenji | 4 Hour | Male 40-49 |
| yonex | 2 Hour | Male 40-49 |
| yellowjack | 2 Hour | Male 40-49 |
...anyone else? Just quote, copy and paste, then add yourself at the bottom.
Rest assured I'll be making you all look like Nino Schurter on the day
yonex said:
Oh God, it all looks so....formal
Rest assured I'll be making you all look like Nino Schurter on the day
No chance of that, Mr Yonex, sir.Rest assured I'll be making you all look like Nino Schurter on the day
I only managed to place 61st out of a field of 76 for round 1, and 11 of the chaps I 'beat' appear to have bailed after one lap. 8 of those 11 were actually faster than me round lap 1 too. As per last time, I'm going to be happy just to finish the race. I'd be absolutely over the moon if I managed to score even a single point, but I'd need 40th place to do that so I'm not holding my breath. If I'm being honest, the only reason for entering these races is to motivate me to ride during the week in preparation for them (I won't dignify my riding with the description "training", because, quite frankly, it isn't). Otherwise I think I'd succumb to lazy-itis over the winter months and not ride as much as I should.
I'm very much looking forward to meeting a few more PHers on the day. Even if it's limited to a quick chat before or after the racing. I've met, and ridden with three other PH riders recently, and they've all been really nice (and all fitter, more capable riders than myself
). I think that maybe sometime next year, as the weather warms up, we should try to arrange a (larger) informal gathering at a decent riding venue or perhaps an organised event, in the spirit of the road cycling 'Circuit Breaker'.P.S. - the list was only a bit of a giggle, an 'homage', if you will, to the PistonHeads forums, home of "let's make a list!"
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff