Brass Monkeys XC series - Winter 2015
Discussion
This winter's Brass Monkeys series kicks off this Sunday, at Bordon, Hampshire.
Just noticed that you have to pre-enter (no paying on the day) and today is the last day to do so - i have just paid up.
As usual, im only doing the weaklings 2 hour race, and unlike the gorrick races, theres no experience-level categories, just ages - which means (at 39) i will be in the 18-39 race against sponsored riders 20 years my junior. Great!
Any PH'ers fancy doing it? Benji - you normally do, and end up wiping the floor with the other riders in the 4-hour. Hope to see you there
Details of the 3-race series:
15th November, Bordon, Hants
http://meridabrassmonkeys.com/?page_id=2
13th Dec, Frith Hill, Deepcut
http://meridabrassmonkeys.com/?page_id=37
3rd Jan, Minley, Hants
http://meridabrassmonkeys.com/?page_id=39
Just noticed that you have to pre-enter (no paying on the day) and today is the last day to do so - i have just paid up.
As usual, im only doing the weaklings 2 hour race, and unlike the gorrick races, theres no experience-level categories, just ages - which means (at 39) i will be in the 18-39 race against sponsored riders 20 years my junior. Great!
Any PH'ers fancy doing it? Benji - you normally do, and end up wiping the floor with the other riders in the 4-hour. Hope to see you there
Details of the 3-race series:
15th November, Bordon, Hants
http://meridabrassmonkeys.com/?page_id=2
13th Dec, Frith Hill, Deepcut
http://meridabrassmonkeys.com/?page_id=37
3rd Jan, Minley, Hants
http://meridabrassmonkeys.com/?page_id=39
An update for this..............
MERIDA BRASS MONKEYS ANNOUNCEMENT
Due to widespread, ongoing Army training manoeuvres across the area, we have this week been told that we cannot now use any military land at all for Merida Brass Monkeys Round 1 this coming weekend.
We have therefore had to try and source some non-military land at very short notice - with insufficient time for the usual official pre-application paperwork that is required at most venues.
We have been greatly helped in this by Steve Jones of Banjo Cycles and, as a result, Merida Brass Monkeys Round 1 this Sunday will now be held at Hammonds Farm, Checkendon which is a privately owned established mtb venue. It is halfway between Wallingford and Reading on the A4074 and the nearest postcode is RG8 0QT.
Although we envisage a shorter course than usual for a Merida Brass Monkeys event, the team will ensure that you have an enjoyable opener to the Series. As you can imagine, we have had an extremely difficult, uncertain couple of weeks and we appreciate your understanding.
I'm entered in the 4h singlespeed category but I'm not sure if I'll be doing it now.
I'm not sure that Checkendon is going to be a great place for a 4h race.
MERIDA BRASS MONKEYS ANNOUNCEMENT
Due to widespread, ongoing Army training manoeuvres across the area, we have this week been told that we cannot now use any military land at all for Merida Brass Monkeys Round 1 this coming weekend.
We have therefore had to try and source some non-military land at very short notice - with insufficient time for the usual official pre-application paperwork that is required at most venues.
We have been greatly helped in this by Steve Jones of Banjo Cycles and, as a result, Merida Brass Monkeys Round 1 this Sunday will now be held at Hammonds Farm, Checkendon which is a privately owned established mtb venue. It is halfway between Wallingford and Reading on the A4074 and the nearest postcode is RG8 0QT.
Although we envisage a shorter course than usual for a Merida Brass Monkeys event, the team will ensure that you have an enjoyable opener to the Series. As you can imagine, we have had an extremely difficult, uncertain couple of weeks and we appreciate your understanding.
I'm entered in the 4h singlespeed category but I'm not sure if I'll be doing it now.
I'm not sure that Checkendon is going to be a great place for a 4h race.
Oh FFS!
Firstly, thanks (again) for letting me know a race has been changed. I only signed up this morning and the website was still saying Bordon, and yet in the statement you quoted they mention an uncertain couple of weeks. I haven't had an email saying theres a change - its piss poor I have to hear about it from another entrant!
Never heard of Checkendon, but from this video I see what you mean - doesn't look that exciting - totally flat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2ar6HcnDtU
Why don't you see if you can downgrade to the 2hr one?
Firstly, thanks (again) for letting me know a race has been changed. I only signed up this morning and the website was still saying Bordon, and yet in the statement you quoted they mention an uncertain couple of weeks. I haven't had an email saying theres a change - its piss poor I have to hear about it from another entrant!
Never heard of Checkendon, but from this video I see what you mean - doesn't look that exciting - totally flat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2ar6HcnDtU
Why don't you see if you can downgrade to the 2hr one?
daddy cool said:
Oh FFS!
Firstly, thanks (again) for letting me know a race has been changed. I only signed up this morning and the website was still saying Bordon, and yet in the statement you quoted they mention an uncertain couple of weeks. I haven't had an email saying theres a change - its piss poor I have to hear about it from another entrant!
Never heard of Checkendon, but from this video I see what you mean - doesn't look that exciting - totally flat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2ar6HcnDtU
Why don't you see if you can downgrade to the 2hr one?
That's exactly what's happened to me. I only heard about it after reading a post on Singletrack where it was mentioned earlier today by someone that they'd seen something yesterday on the Gorrick Facebook page mentioning Hawley Lake as the venue.Firstly, thanks (again) for letting me know a race has been changed. I only signed up this morning and the website was still saying Bordon, and yet in the statement you quoted they mention an uncertain couple of weeks. I haven't had an email saying theres a change - its piss poor I have to hear about it from another entrant!
Never heard of Checkendon, but from this video I see what you mean - doesn't look that exciting - totally flat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2ar6HcnDtU
Why don't you see if you can downgrade to the 2hr one?
You're 100% correct though, it's piss poor organisation by Gorrick. I may be being cynical but I wonder if they'll only email everyone once the pre-entry has closed tonight.
Checkendon is ok for short XC races like the Southern XC but not for 4h races I wouldn't think. I'll wait to see if they'll offer us refunds or entry to another round in place of this due to the changes. If not, I'll have to just stick a smaller cog on the back to compensate for the lack of hills and just race it anyway!
I personally think that the "Army are busy on the training areas" thing is bogus.
My opinion? The army don't want ANYONE on 'their land', least of all MTBers who will post their rides to Strava, and videos to YouTube, thereby encouraging more riders to visit land which the MOD are currently trying to discourage riders from using.
All seems to have gone quiet on the official MOD channels regarding their decision to update the 1976 "Statutory Instruments" (or bylaws to you and me). But I get the feeling that things are going to change with regard to public access and land use. Whether they are genuinely getting busier or not, the MOD/army can easily engineer a situation where "over-use" of the available training estate can be used as an excuse to close it to the public.
The Brass Monkeys run-around is just a symptom of this hardening attitude. Training areas are booked up months ahead of actual exercises, and whilst it's understandable that private bookings are 'bumped' for late military users, it's difficult to believe that, come Sunday, there'll not be a single suitable MOD-owned venue available due to them all being thronged with squaddies and their heavy vehicles.
Aldershot Training Estate management ought to just come clean, and state their position on this. Accepting bookings and then giving the event organisers the run-around on this scale is, I suspect, a cynical attempt to discredit the event organisers and push them into looking elsewhere for land to use. Then they'll turn around and say that there's no longer any demand for access and fence us all out of the huge swathes of land they own in the area. And all this flys directly in the face of stated government aims to get more people exercising in general, more people cycling, and more people involved in organised sports at grass roots level.
I'd love to be proved wrong, but I don't see a rosy future for MTBers and the MOD getting on well together...
Anyway. I'm out, because a) no bike, and b) my wife has booked a table for 1400hrs Sunday to celebrate my 45th (
) birthday (which is actually on a school night next week)
My opinion? The army don't want ANYONE on 'their land', least of all MTBers who will post their rides to Strava, and videos to YouTube, thereby encouraging more riders to visit land which the MOD are currently trying to discourage riders from using.
All seems to have gone quiet on the official MOD channels regarding their decision to update the 1976 "Statutory Instruments" (or bylaws to you and me). But I get the feeling that things are going to change with regard to public access and land use. Whether they are genuinely getting busier or not, the MOD/army can easily engineer a situation where "over-use" of the available training estate can be used as an excuse to close it to the public.
The Brass Monkeys run-around is just a symptom of this hardening attitude. Training areas are booked up months ahead of actual exercises, and whilst it's understandable that private bookings are 'bumped' for late military users, it's difficult to believe that, come Sunday, there'll not be a single suitable MOD-owned venue available due to them all being thronged with squaddies and their heavy vehicles.
Aldershot Training Estate management ought to just come clean, and state their position on this. Accepting bookings and then giving the event organisers the run-around on this scale is, I suspect, a cynical attempt to discredit the event organisers and push them into looking elsewhere for land to use. Then they'll turn around and say that there's no longer any demand for access and fence us all out of the huge swathes of land they own in the area. And all this flys directly in the face of stated government aims to get more people exercising in general, more people cycling, and more people involved in organised sports at grass roots level.
I'd love to be proved wrong, but I don't see a rosy future for MTBers and the MOD getting on well together...
Anyway. I'm out, because a) no bike, and b) my wife has booked a table for 1400hrs Sunday to celebrate my 45th (
) birthday (which is actually on a school night next week)I think that Yellowjack has hit the nail on the head there.
Despite what has been posted on Singletrack I honestly believe that the MOD are just trying to screw things up for race organisers. I wouldn't be surprised if there was no signs of any exercises at Bordon this weekend and that it was just an excuse to cancel the race.
Personally it doesn't take much to discredit Gorrick events in my eyes as I'm not a fan of their races at all, as I've mentioned here before.
I've planned around doing the January round as well and I've noticed that that's already had its venue changed to Minley Manor but I won't be holding my breath about that as I expect that it will change at some point.
Despite what has been posted on Singletrack I honestly believe that the MOD are just trying to screw things up for race organisers. I wouldn't be surprised if there was no signs of any exercises at Bordon this weekend and that it was just an excuse to cancel the race.
Personally it doesn't take much to discredit Gorrick events in my eyes as I'm not a fan of their races at all, as I've mentioned here before.
I've planned around doing the January round as well and I've noticed that that's already had its venue changed to Minley Manor but I won't be holding my breath about that as I expect that it will change at some point.
No, I've swapped my entry over to the January round as I'll be doing that one.
It's a bit of a shame as j was looking forward to doing the full series but I can't make it to round 2 so that won't be happening.
I'm quite surprised that Gorrick still haven't sent out an email to people who've pre-entered letting them know about the venue change. If they have I certainly haven't received it!
There could be a few very pissed off riders tomorrow at Bordon if they don't use Facebook and aren't aware of the venue change.
It's a bit of a shame as j was looking forward to doing the full series but I can't make it to round 2 so that won't be happening.
I'm quite surprised that Gorrick still haven't sent out an email to people who've pre-entered letting them know about the venue change. If they have I certainly haven't received it!
There could be a few very pissed off riders tomorrow at Bordon if they don't use Facebook and aren't aware of the venue change.
They did actually - but not til Thursday. Prior to that I had a moan on the FB page, asking politely if in future they could send an email out as soon they hear about a venue cancellation... they replied saying sarcastically saying that "things have been a bit busy here you know". So, they couldn't just cut & paste the same statement that they put elsewhere into a group email - its not rocket science!
Yeah, this could be my first full series, though im losing patience with Gorrick/Brass Monkeys. Its not like the races are cheap to enter, and when a mediocre amateur (me) is in the same category as sponsored riders 20 years younger, I feel like im just there to pay for their trophies! Maybe i'll give the southern XC races a crack in future.
Yeah, this could be my first full series, though im losing patience with Gorrick/Brass Monkeys. Its not like the races are cheap to enter, and when a mediocre amateur (me) is in the same category as sponsored riders 20 years younger, I feel like im just there to pay for their trophies! Maybe i'll give the southern XC races a crack in future.
daddy cool said:
They did actually - but not til Thursday. Prior to that I had a moan on the FB page, asking politely if in future they could send an email out as soon they hear about a venue cancellation... they replied saying sarcastically saying that "things have been a bit busy here you know". So, they couldn't just cut & paste the same statement that they put elsewhere into a group email - its not rocket science!
Yeah, this could be my first full series, though im losing patience with Gorrick/Brass Monkeys. Its not like the races are cheap to enter, and when a mediocre amateur (me) is in the same category as sponsored riders 20 years younger, I feel like im just there to pay for their trophies! Maybe i'll give the southern XC races a crack in future.
That's odd, I've not received any emails about it.Yeah, this could be my first full series, though im losing patience with Gorrick/Brass Monkeys. Its not like the races are cheap to enter, and when a mediocre amateur (me) is in the same category as sponsored riders 20 years younger, I feel like im just there to pay for their trophies! Maybe i'll give the southern XC races a crack in future.
I personally find that Gorrick's organisation leaves a lot to be desired. I don't like entering their races but the Brass Monnkeys is the only thing on over winter so I thought I'd give it a crack and so far I'm not exactly desperate to be entering any other Gorrick events.
The thing with the categories is no matter what one you enter there's always going to be someone loads faster, especially on some of the races which have obvious pot hunters entering. It happened at the Night of the Knobbly Tread a couple of weeks back where a guy who's raced at Expert level last season in the nationals entered and won the fun race, a similar thing happened last year as well which is pretty pathetic on the part of the riders. The organisers don't have time to police these things for all races.
From previous experience I'd reccommend the Southern XC series. I entered it this year and a few of the races last year and they were head and shoulders above the Gorrick races in every way. Much better courses, better organisation and I thought they also had a better atmosphere. The series is going to be ran by different people next year so i'm not sure how it'll be but I'm hoping that it'll be as good as the last couple of years.
How was the race today? I'm guessing that it'll have been a bit muddy and slippy?
neenaw said:
How was the race today? I'm guessing that it'll have been a bit muddy and slippy?
That's an understatement! Spent as much of the time sideways as I did going forward I think. I reckon it would be a fun course in bone dry conditions, but today it was long sections across muddy grass fields (very tiring) and the 2nd half of the course was 12" deep mud (very tiring). And its that really claggy mud that fills in the gap between tyre nobbles, making your tyres into fat slicks!Fair play to anyone that did the 3 or 4hr races...
I finished the 4th lap around 1hr50m meaning (much to my dismay) I had to do a 5th lap. By this point I was really struggling and every pedalstroke seemed to need twice the effort. It was only after I finished that I found my entire rear derailleur was completely seized up with grass and mud - the cranks wouldn't turn freely.
(Yeah, I was one of the 5% that fitted mudguards, I know im square)
In the end I came 22nd of 42 in the 18-39 Male category, which will do me. I was pleased to see I came in a couple of minutes after a sponsored rider from my LBS - from looking at the lap timings, we were almost identical on some laps. I only know the guy because once in swinley we had a full-pelt race over Seagull/Newt and got chatting afterwards, and now see him at the local races - hes my "achievable target" in terms of MTB performance.
Think that's me, on the left, 2nd row back - PH Jersey just visible. Got overtaken by someone on the last lap that shouted "C'mon Pistonheads!" which was nice, dunno if hes a member...
Will post some more pics/videos later maybe.
Damn them! Somehow they have bumped me down to 23rd since the results got published online.
To add insult to injury, once again the official photographer manages to make everyone else look cool and heroic, and yet makes me look like someone that a) doesnt want to be there and b) probably shouldnt be there.
To add insult to injury, once again the official photographer manages to make everyone else look cool and heroic, and yet makes me look like someone that a) doesnt want to be there and b) probably shouldnt be there.
Well well well!
Quelle surprise...
...so I wasn't wrong when I thought that the MOD were less than interested in MTBers on the training estate. Minley off the calendar now, and it'll be a shame if they end up having to move the 12:12 Torq In Your Sleep event elsewhere in August. The local MOD chiefs need rockets up their arses over this. It needs to stop, and they need to quit taking bookings and 'fess up to not wanting these events on their land. Either that, or if they take a booking they need to honour it.
Minley? Almost exclusively used by RE training regiment at Gibraltar Barracks. The trainees probably won't even be back from Christmas leave on 03rd January. I'm pretty certain that there'll be no exercises at all running on that Sunday. And even if there were, they have the entirety of the Hawley side to play in for one day, maybe two including setting the course out. It sucks. Big time.
Quelle surprise...
Gorrick MBC email said:
Round 3 will now be held at a NEW VENUE – one that we have been looking to secure for a while, but recent issues have meant that we have brought forward it’s launch. The compact, but beautifully formed course near Frimley Green, Surrey GU16 6HT (which will be clearly signposted from Frimley Green village) will, as ever, be carefully set and prepared by our very experienced team and you can expect to go through heath and pine woodland with flowing and testing singletrack mixed with climbs and descents. Please note that the venue is privately owned and not open for riding at any other time.
http://meridabrassmonkeys.com/?page_id=39...so I wasn't wrong when I thought that the MOD were less than interested in MTBers on the training estate. Minley off the calendar now, and it'll be a shame if they end up having to move the 12:12 Torq In Your Sleep event elsewhere in August. The local MOD chiefs need rockets up their arses over this. It needs to stop, and they need to quit taking bookings and 'fess up to not wanting these events on their land. Either that, or if they take a booking they need to honour it.
Minley? Almost exclusively used by RE training regiment at Gibraltar Barracks. The trainees probably won't even be back from Christmas leave on 03rd January. I'm pretty certain that there'll be no exercises at all running on that Sunday. And even if there were, they have the entirety of the Hawley side to play in for one day, maybe two including setting the course out. It sucks. Big time.
Those crazy kids! At least this time I had an email from brass monkeys (just) before I heard about this change from PH, so at least they are working on their communication.
I wonder what this course is like? I will sign up anyway, just to complete the series - of which im currently 35/60 (if only because most of the people im ahead of have only done one of the races so far!
)
I wonder what this course is like? I will sign up anyway, just to complete the series - of which im currently 35/60 (if only because most of the people im ahead of have only done one of the races so far!
)Sadly I'm not surprised that they've moved the venue.
After reading the other day that the SPAM Winter Challenge had been cancelled due to Landmarc/MOD issues yet again I was saying to my other half that I fully expected the same with the Brass Monkeys at Minley. I hope that it doesn't affect the Torq 12:12 event but I really won't be holding my breath for it.
The MOD/Landmarc are becoming a real pain in the arse it would appear and I can't se it getting any better in 2016.
As for the venue for the next Brass Monkeys race, I'm not too keen on the suggestion that it's a 'compact' venue. From my limited knowledge of the area around there I can't see it being much more than a flat circuit but we'll have to wait and see I suppose.
After reading the other day that the SPAM Winter Challenge had been cancelled due to Landmarc/MOD issues yet again I was saying to my other half that I fully expected the same with the Brass Monkeys at Minley. I hope that it doesn't affect the Torq 12:12 event but I really won't be holding my breath for it.
The MOD/Landmarc are becoming a real pain in the arse it would appear and I can't se it getting any better in 2016.
As for the venue for the next Brass Monkeys race, I'm not too keen on the suggestion that it's a 'compact' venue. From my limited knowledge of the area around there I can't see it being much more than a flat circuit but we'll have to wait and see I suppose.
'compact but beautifully formed'..... lol, looks like they've employed an estate agent to write their descriptions.
Looking at the area, there's very little non-MOD land around there that you could cobble together a track in. There's a bit of private land at the north west corner of Tunnel Hill (south of Old Guildford road and north of the canal centre cafe/Potters) that I've ridden a few times and there's plenty of gradient there. It's open to all so doesn't sound like their description.
Looking at the area, there's very little non-MOD land around there that you could cobble together a track in. There's a bit of private land at the north west corner of Tunnel Hill (south of Old Guildford road and north of the canal centre cafe/Potters) that I've ridden a few times and there's plenty of gradient there. It's open to all so doesn't sound like their description.
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