Big Dog Photo's 2013

Fay Cripps

Lorna Dennison-Wilkins

Simon McNamara

Ian Petherbridge

Roger Smith

 

Andy Goodyer

  

Andy Jarman

John Reay

Olive O'Leary

Marc Clothier

Emma Craddock

Karen Dixon

Julia Hammond

John Davies

Cliodhna Duggan

Pete Wilsden

Steve Calland

Smile!

A few photos from the final round of the Brass Monkeys series. Same determined expression on all three faces!

Mr Connor

Mr Goodyer

Mr Petherbridge

Brass Monkeys - Round 4

The final round of the Merida Brass Monkeys had all the ingredients familiar to those who had attended the previous rounds. Gruelling hills, grin inducing singletrack and 7 miles of glorious mud! Storm after storm has battered the UK this winter and with predictable timing the latest struck just as the riders gathered for the start of the 4 hour race!

Some excellent results for the club, both on the day and for the series as a whole:

Cat	Name	Race Result	Series Position
2hr Junior	Will Taylor	1st
2hr	Olive O'Leary	5th	3rd
3hr Grand Vet	Ian Petherbridge	6th	3rd
4hr	Ben Connor	9th	5th
2hr Vet	Andy Goodyer	30th
4hr Vet	Andy Jarman	42nd

Brass Monkeys - Round 3

I’d been readying my wetsuit and snorkel in preparation for the race on Sunday. Much of the country is currently knee deep in water and the weather forecast for Sunday was laced with phrases like “severe weather warning” and “flood risk”. Yet I woke up to a crisp, chilly morning which added the prospect of ice into the equation. At the Ash Ranges venue bright and early, the grass was still white with frost and there was an early detour in place to avoid a stretch of sheet ice. 

It was a tough course with little opportunity for respite. I’m not going to say it wasn’t muddy, but the course was amazingly dry considering the amount of rain we have had over the past month. The challenge was finding firmer ground, riders tip toeing along the sides of the trail, or even through the heather, in search of traction. The woodland sections stood up well and remained grippy throughout the race. Unfortunately the same couldn’t be said for the open trails, which deteriorated as the race progressed. What had been the best line only a lap before might be impassable just 40 minutes later. In the end, I was finding that due to its firmer base the original track was often the best bet, once your tyres cut through the upper layer of slop.

Plunging through areas of mud and mirk our chains and brakes began to complain more and more. Each turn of the pedal was met by a graunching, grinding noise as sand and grit was ground between chain and chainrings. I’d fitted new brake pads before the race, which was good as I could feel the resistance as the disk forced it’s layer of dirt through the calliper.

Ian just missed out on anther podium, finishing a few seconds behind Rob Jackson in 4th. I had my best result of the series so far coming home 13th in the 4 hour ace. Andy was 33rd in the 4 hour vets. I also passed Peter on his way to 45th in a large 2 hour field. It was also nice to hear Olive cheer me across the line, having finished 10th in her 2 hour race. 
 

Brass Monkeys - Round 2

As expected at Caesars Camp, the course had several taxing climbs. The main hill was seemingly endless, repeatedly kicking up again and again. However, it will be the loose, rocky vertical incline later in the lap that will be forever etched in the memories of the riders.

Over-heating was my initial problem. I was one of a minority of riders who’d opted for overshoes and arm warmers. Chasing around the dry trails in relatively mild temperatures, this looked to be a big mistake.

Then the wind picked up and it started to rain. The trails became increasingly treacherous and slippery. Finally my overshoes were invaluable as I plunged on through the seven mile mudfest. To give an idea of how bad conditions became, my first lap was 37minutes, but by the end I was sliding around in 48 minutes.

Lots of muddy SDB jerseys out on the course!

3rd Ian Petherbridge  3hr Grand Vet
35th John Reay 3hr Grand Vet
15th Ben Connor 4hr
38th Andrew Jarman 4hr Vets
21st Oli Fenton 2hr
40th Peter Wilsdon 2hr
13th Olive O'Leary 2hr
29th Andy Goodyer 2hr Vets
44th Damian Redman 2hr Vets

Brass Monkeys - Round 1

The Army Cycling Union created a cracking 7 mile course at Minley Manor, with miles of fast singletrack flowing smoothly through the woods of the estate. 

It was the type of course that rewarded you for your efforts without ever being intimidating! Never too technical, the trail wove through the trees, swinging left and right, allowing you to carry your momentum into every turn. There were a few climbs, most notably, one short, steep ramp near the beginning of the lap, but nothing to fill the heart with dread as you came round for your final lap.

Great turn out from the club!

• Ian took a brilliant 3rd in the new 3hr Grand Vets category.
• Will was 14th and I was 18th in a strong 4hr field after 7 laps.
• Andy was 45th and Kevin was 50th in the 4hr Vets after 5 laps.
• Oli was 15th in the 2hr race after 4 laps.
• Postie was 33rd in the 2hr Vets.
• Olive did 3 laps finishing 9th in the 2hr womens race.

Torq 12/6hr Enduro - 25th August 2013

Minley Manor is a brutal course rooty, testing climbs and sapping grassy sections this year Gorrick added a new 6hr Solo format just up our street.

We showed up at 1pm and were told we were lucky to get our numbers as we were meant to sign up by 11am for a 3pm start!!! Kevin,Martin,Ollie and Will were already under way in the 12hr pairs and the atmosphere around the arena was pretty good. The course has some interestingly named sections with  Banksey,Minley Maze and Crusty Sponge Bob standing out as the gnarlier bits and with 1 nasty drop-off 7 miles into the lap which got more interesting as the day wore on.

 
After the initial slow start the field spread out there were hardly any hold ups which was a nice surprise as we had feared the worse starting 3 hrs in to the main event. It was pretty warm and although it had rain the day before the course was holding up well. This was a tough one on the legs, but also a tough one on the brain. Sometimes the head gives up before the body and both were on their limit. 4hrs in and we were all facing our own demons if it was counting down to a section you didn't like or forcing down a mixture of gels and bars the fun was ebbing. Then as it got dark the fun returned with a DJ under the Bridge to Nowhere and some glow sticks on certain uphill sections of the course, the atmosphere ramped up and made the last 3 laps bearable. If you got to the start/finish line by 9pm you could do another lap which I and John Reay managed both completing 8 laps the 2 Andy's managed 7. Our 2 teams in the pairs performed really well Will and Ollie coming 5th with 17 laps and Martin and Kevin 23rd with 14 laps.

Well done to all as this course beats you up big time, 4 man teams next year?

Vets 6hr Solo
John Davies    - 3rd
John Reay      -  7th
Andy Goodyer - 11th
Andy Jarman   - 12h

12hr Pairs
Defcon Brown        - 5th
Sprocket Rockets  - 23rd

Probably the one and only time on the podium.

Torq in your Sleep 12/6 hr Enduro Photo's - 25th August 2013

Kevin Moore 23rd 12hr Pairs

Will Taylor 5th 12hr Pairs

John Reay 7th 6hr Vet

Andy Goodyer 11th 6hr Vet

Andy Jarman 12th 6hr Vet

John Davies 3rd 6hr Vet

Martin Taylor 23rd 12hr Pairs

Ollie Fenton 5th 12hr Pairs

Chilterns 100 Enduro - 17th August 2013

 

Starting from Woodcote, north of Reading this testing route took us from the excellent Thames Path tracking along the northern bank of the Thames climbing and swooping along a series of exhilarating twist and turns with the infamous Whitchurch steps replaced by a steep straight dive followed by a quick climb. The western edge of the route took us to where the Chilterns drop away to the plains, we traversed up and down with long-legged swoops and climbs off and on the dramatic hills. With plenty of flint around we had the usual spate of punctures, 5 in all which slowed us up a bit and with finished in just over 7hrs. As usual the route signs were a little hard to follow and we did a few bonus miles but on the whole the route was pretty good.  The only thing missing was the sunshine,and the previous days rainfall had left the trails pretty sticky in places. A cup of tea and some cake and we were on our way home a long day but well worth it.

Brighton Big Dog - 10th August 2013

The event, now its fifth year, is becoming a bit of a classic with its festival atmosphere and fantastic trails. The course was tougher than last year, riding it clockwise and taking in some steeper climbs, just over 800' of climbing per lap with some fast flowing descents. The weather which had been looking a bit dodgy all week stayed away and the course was in great condition for some fast times. Fay Cripps fastest ladies lap 32 minutes!!!!

The team and club had a great turnout and great results with many getting on the podium.
Ladies Pairs     -  Fay Cripps /Emily Iredale 1st                       
Ladies Team    -   Julia Hammond/Cliodhna Duggan/Olive O'Leary 1st
Ladies Solo     -   Emma Craddock 2nd
Male Solo 40+ -  Steve Calland 2nd
Ladies Team    -   Lorna Dennison-Wilkins/Karen Dixon 3rd
Male Team      -   Mark Clothier/Simon McNamara/Roger Smith 3rd

Slide-show of Big Dog