Tour de Ben Nevis. Anyone else in?
Discussion
Righty,
Decided that 2011 needed one more challenge and the local Oktoberfest in Brissle, while fun, just wouldn't be quite enough.
And with a shiney new Ghost AMR just bedding in at the moment I also felt something befitting of that steed needed to be done.
So... have entered this http://www.nofussevents.co.uk/event/Tour-de-Ben-Ne...
Tour de Ben Nevis
72km lap round the massif with 5 timed special stages while enroute (1 of which is a hike a bike climb!)
Training commenced this weekend. Time to get on it!
A little vid of last year's race http://blip.tv/mtbcut/orange-tour-de-ben-nevis-413...
and another (wind on to 2 mins to get a proper view of the terrain!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hykG_JxqH0
Anyone else thinking of this one?
oh just me. ah.
Decided that 2011 needed one more challenge and the local Oktoberfest in Brissle, while fun, just wouldn't be quite enough.
And with a shiney new Ghost AMR just bedding in at the moment I also felt something befitting of that steed needed to be done.
So... have entered this http://www.nofussevents.co.uk/event/Tour-de-Ben-Ne...
Tour de Ben Nevis
72km lap round the massif with 5 timed special stages while enroute (1 of which is a hike a bike climb!)
Training commenced this weekend. Time to get on it!
A little vid of last year's race http://blip.tv/mtbcut/orange-tour-de-ben-nevis-413...
and another (wind on to 2 mins to get a proper view of the terrain!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hykG_JxqH0
Anyone else thinking of this one?
oh just me. ah.
Fair enough, I missed the passportes this year which is probably why this is happening!
I expect it to be pretty grim half way round
Going to try and get a long ride in, in the brecons sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Singlespeed world champs - mate of mine did that a couple of years ago, isn't some beer mandatory or something like that?!
I expect it to be pretty grim half way round
Going to try and get a long ride in, in the brecons sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Singlespeed world champs - mate of mine did that a couple of years ago, isn't some beer mandatory or something like that?!
theboymoon said:
Singlespeed world champs - mate of mine did that a couple of years ago, isn't some beer mandatory or something like that?!
Yup 
Ireland hosting it this year which does mean lots of the black stuff
Seriously though, the Tour de Ben Nevis looks like an awesome course. I was riding in the area during the weekend it was on last year and the weather in the week beforehand was pretty grim: usually that would spell disaster for a "regular" endurance event, but at least with a course like this it'll remain fun and rideable in all weathers.
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
What a day out!
That. Was. Hard. And, amazing!
Can you tell I liked it?
If anyone was thinking of doing this and didn't you missed out! (Sorry). Really well organised, excellent route, top bunch of boys and girls all taking part. The weather even held off from being properly grim.
That's the first XC race I've done where parts of the terrain were properly challenging. The descent into Kinlochleven is properly tech, well at least through these eyes. Good distance to cover and the hike-a-bike climb was really ugly.
The timed special stages defo spiced things up a bit. Still not really sure how the points worked just tried to ride a bit faster on the sections!
Overall, I cannot recommend this enough. Really challenging and lots of fun.
Moonlegs came into this at less than full power, had man flu all week so was on the lemsips up until the night before - managed pretty well, want to do better next time
Seriously guys, this is a good one
What a day out!
That. Was. Hard. And, amazing!
Can you tell I liked it?
If anyone was thinking of doing this and didn't you missed out! (Sorry). Really well organised, excellent route, top bunch of boys and girls all taking part. The weather even held off from being properly grim.
That's the first XC race I've done where parts of the terrain were properly challenging. The descent into Kinlochleven is properly tech, well at least through these eyes. Good distance to cover and the hike-a-bike climb was really ugly.
The timed special stages defo spiced things up a bit. Still not really sure how the points worked just tried to ride a bit faster on the sections!
Overall, I cannot recommend this enough. Really challenging and lots of fun.
Moonlegs came into this at less than full power, had man flu all week so was on the lemsips up until the night before - managed pretty well, want to do better next time
Seriously guys, this is a good one
Edited by theboymoon on Monday 26th September 13:13
theboymoon said:
waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
What a day out!
That. Was. Hard. And, amazing!
Can you tell I liked it?
If anyone was thinking of doing this and didn't you missed out! (Sorry). Really well organised, excellent route, top bunch of boys and girls all taking part. The weather even held off from being properly grim.
That's the first XC race I've done where parts of the terrain were properly challenging. The descent into Kinlochleven is properly tech, well at least through these eyes. Good distance to cover and the hike-a-bike climb was really ugly.
The timed special stages defo spiced things up a bit. Still not really sure how the points worked just tried to ride a bit faster on the sections!
Overall, I cannot recommend this enough. Really challenging and lots of fun.
Moonlegs came into this at less than full power, had man flu all week so was on the lemsips up until the night before - managed pretty well, want to do better next time
Seriously guys, this is a good one
Have to agree - awesome doesn't quite cut it even if I could barely move on Sunday. Slightly scuppered by a flat on the Kinloch descent (yes, just where they said we would get one) but pretty smooth apart from that.What a day out!
That. Was. Hard. And, amazing!
Can you tell I liked it?
If anyone was thinking of doing this and didn't you missed out! (Sorry). Really well organised, excellent route, top bunch of boys and girls all taking part. The weather even held off from being properly grim.
That's the first XC race I've done where parts of the terrain were properly challenging. The descent into Kinlochleven is properly tech, well at least through these eyes. Good distance to cover and the hike-a-bike climb was really ugly.
The timed special stages defo spiced things up a bit. Still not really sure how the points worked just tried to ride a bit faster on the sections!
Overall, I cannot recommend this enough. Really challenging and lots of fun.
Moonlegs came into this at less than full power, had man flu all week so was on the lemsips up until the night before - managed pretty well, want to do better next time
Seriously guys, this is a good one
I can't claim to any great times but I'm pretty chuffed to have just finished! Really need to practice my climbing before next year
ETA: http://ridewithgps.com/trips/402799 ; change to 'OSM Cycle' for the best view of the terrain. Doesn't look anything like as steep as it felt mind
Edited by deckster on Monday 26th September 13:50
this kind of sums it up (except we carb-loaded in the bar the night before too!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-O5VjU3MZM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-O5VjU3MZM
Excellent videos guys, brings it all back. Even the bits I've tried to forget (hike a bike section).
I absolutely loved it though, 1st ever attempt at anything like this and finished in 5hr 46mins so was over the moon with that. Had an off on the 3rd special stage which cost me a couple of places with the point system but will be back next year for sure.
I absolutely loved it though, 1st ever attempt at anything like this and finished in 5hr 46mins so was over the moon with that. Had an off on the 3rd special stage which cost me a couple of places with the point system but will be back next year for sure.
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