Thetford "Dusk Till Dawn" 4-5 October 2008

Jason_wright · Thetford "Dusk Till Dawn" 4-5 October 2008

Open discussions for those thinking of going

Jason_wright

so, is "team" or "solo" the best way to go...... ?

tonto

If this is your first 12 hour event then a team would be better.

Thetford may not be hilly but the trails do not give you an opportunity to coast and it can be quite tough on the back.
Carving through the trees requires you to be quite alert too Shocked

I think a team of three is ideal for DTD, enough riding time to really push yourself, and enough recovery time between laps.

You also have to have enough burn time in your lights, it really is dark for 90% of the race.

Jason_wright

The Obvious next question.....

Anyone keen for a team entry ??

oliver

i'd bee keen for a team entry for sure

Jason_wright

would anyone else like to Join myself and Oliver to make up a team ?
I've been reading that take up for the event is healthy (and restricted to 1000) so i would like to get moving to avoid disappointment.

Thanks
Jason

squirrel chaser

im tempted to try it solo, as its the london to brighton ride the week before should be able to ride 8-9 hours on the flatter thetford trails and rest/recharge lights for the rest.

Jason_wright

I think you may be right....maybe solo is the way forward... with enough of us there at least we will have a pretty decent base camp

Jason_wright

Oliver, would you still be keen if we were to go Solo ??

oliver

yeah i think i'd like to do it solo anyhow. I did the Bontrager 24/12 this weekend 12 hour solo and it was fun! bar maybe the last lap which was close to hell.

Jason_wright

Cool, I have entered... #126 in the Solo Male section

http://www.thetfordmtbracing.com/d2dregentries.htm

I've listed the team as Epping Forest Epics (which i know is odd as it is Solo), but if we all do the same we won't look like a bunch of "Billy No Mates" Very Happy

squirrel chaser

i hope i dont regret this but just entered solo. Shocked

congrats on bonty 24/12, oliver.

oliver

i want to enter but i don't know how i'm going to keep myself illuminated for pretty much 12 hours!

Jason_wright

Lumicycle are hiring light sets... they will bring along what ever you need... fully charged. I have a copy of the price list and can mail it over to anyone who is interested.....

oliver

yes yes im interested in the list if you could send it over thanks.

also anyone know that the terrain is like in Thetford? I cant really find any details about previous courses or pictures of it.
Tahnks

squirrel chaser

wouldnt mind a copy, as well jason.

oliver, thetford is fairly flat, its in norfolk and pretty near the place in the uk where it rains the least.

there arent any huge climbs around the forest but there will be plenty of small/gradual hills (else we wont get any downhill runs Wink

). there was a particualrly nasty grass climb at the winter series 4.

im pretty sure it wont be as hilly as london to brighton though.

Jason_wright

sent to your hotmail......

I've ridden Thetford around the main trails a few times. pretty flat single track through a pine forest. Some of the single track I've ridden can get fairly bumpy to the point where a full sus bike would help.... but i've only ridden hardtail (and left my mates standing on their full sus kit).... so full sus not necessarily essential Smile

Never ridden D2D though...... so not sure how much of the normal tracks they utilise.

Jason_wright

squirrel chaser... what's your contact mail address, i'll send over the hiring info

tonto

They normaqlly cut some new tracks and link up some of the better existing stuff.

This year the course includes the beast of the east backwards!

I have done the last two in a team and will probs do a solo this year as well!

Any preperation should involve core stability excersises/pilates - the course will be great but tough on the lower back.

check out thetfordmtbracing.com forum for info on preview course rides

squirrel chaser

Cazza

Hey there Oliver
The terrain is not exactly flat. It's very bumpy, requiring you to cycle constantly the whole time. It's pretty hard to free-wheel at any points. That said, there are some nice. flowing bits and there are about five/six bomb holes which are fun. Each lap takes about 50-60 minutes (especially if you're riding solo). We did it in a team of 4 last year. It does get cold, so you're probably better off riding solo, cos you don't cool down and then try and warm up again. We had a lot of fun, although at the time it was pretty tough. Definitely hire some lights, if you're not sure yours will stand the pace. Mine packed up after 20 mins, and I had to do all my laps using a commuter light. That's my excuse for my pathetic lap times.
If you fancy a run around Thetford at any time to see what it's light, stick a post up and I'll come along.
Have fun!
Caz
PS how did you get on at Beastway? I couldn't make the last three, which is a shame cos I was guaranteed a prize as there were only three women in my age category.

Jason_wright

Oliver

how did you find riding for 12 hours ?
did you do much prep/training beforehand ?

tonto

okey dokey I'm entered!

off on my hols now to get fit.....

...NOT Laughing

oliver

no i didnt do any training just the weekend rides with this group that's pretty much it. It was alrite riding for 12 hours - towards the end my shoulders and back started to hurt as did my butt where it was taking more and more of my weight the more tired i became. I had a snack after pretty much every lap. I'm gonna hopefully get a better saddle and a suspension seatpost before this one to try and make things more comfortable. But yes, its wasn't a struggle until perhaps the last lap and was in fact good fun!

tonto

Fair play to you Oliver for not doing any extra training for a 12hour enduro.
IMHO the more pre event training you can do, the better time you will have.
I suggest trying to get at least 3 rides in a week during September, two of 2hrs+ and one of 4hrs+. These should be actual riding times, prefereably non-stop.
Woodford to High Beech and back is about 2 1/2 hours actual riding.

tonto

As there will be 3 (or 4 Oliver?) of us doing this it makes sense to have a shared base on site.
I can supply a gazebo and a lamp for fettling (handy if its wet).

would be worth having a ride together too..
Epping? Thetford? Danbury?

squirrel chaser

tonto

I'll probably turn up at about 4pm Saturday afternoon, no point camping the day before.
I was thinking more of a place to fettle together before the event and during the race if necesary.

I am up for an Epping ride, prefer early sunday mornings.

tonto

Am actually going to be riding from High Beech tomorrow (Sunday) starting at 8.30.

squirrel chaser

hi tonto,

sorry i missed you yesterday, would have been there but didnt see the post til today, (no www at home), let me know the next time your around Very Happy

some friends are coming with me, they will probably be camping out so they can look after any stuff while we are riding.

Jason_wright

I'll probably aim to get there mid - late afternoon as well..... i like the idea of a communal base camp !

Jason_wright

a good excuse to 'Pimp' our communual area ??

http://www.thetfordmtbracing.com/...MTBRaceForum/viewtopic.php?t=1050

Jason_wright

Chaps

I've sent you both a PM with my contact details so we can meet up on the day.

What time is everyone aiming to get there, around 4pm ?

squirrel chaser

i was planning on getting there earlier and doing a practise lap but not so sure now. i went night riding yesterday and even though i know the trails well its totally different in pitch dark.

i dont know if pre-riding the course in daylight is gonna help, might save energy and as the course will be well different at night Very Happy

ive a couple of questions, about charging the lights.

ive got a exposure joystick which runs a 10 hour charge on race setting Very Happy

do i carry my charger with me and can the plugs be accessed easily, can i wait and charge between laps?

what lights are you all running and how are you planning on keeping chargeedup?

hows everyones preperation going/gone?

Jason_wright

My thoughts were the same as yours... a practice lap is just going to mean wasted energy that can be saved for the actual event. With 200+ solo riders and then the team riders the first lap (or 2) is going to be quite a steady pace, until the field expands outs.... so i think i'll use this to get used to the course Smile

I treated myself (after gaining sign-off from the wife) to a set of Lumicycle lights. I've got my own Pro battery and I've hired 2 enduro batteries from them for the night... i am hoping that will give me enough power to see me through..... I will bring my charger along though....
Lumicycle have charging facilities, so as long as you bring your charger you can pug it in... they give you some sort of wrist band (like a swimming pool system) to claim it back after it has charged.

I think i am as prepped as i can be. Last weekend def helped build confidence for the distance. The main concern I have is tiredness in the early hours...

tonto

I am crying off!

There I said it Sad

I have been battling with a chest infection which meant I have only ridden two hours in the last 20 days and I still don't feel even 80% healthy.

I have been hopeful that I could recover but a short blast last night left me coughing through the night again and I have to face facts Sad

IMHO one joystick is not enough light, especially at the 2nd power setting which lasts up to 10 hours.

When people come up behind you with their really bright lights you will be in shadow which makes the tight singletrack very dodgy.

Charging will also be a problem as you can't ride during that time and will chill down ( it will be F***** cold).

If I was you I would try and borrow some extra lights ( maybe ask the cru) your welcome to mine if you can collect them from danbury.

squirrel chaser

shame you cant make it paul, hope your out riding soon mate, Very Happy

oliver, did you get registered?