exmoor beast

[Lance Substrong]

In defining a sportive as: "An event which delivers the professional racing experience - without the racing.", I think what the originator of the statement was trying to say was, not that you could go mad on open roads, but that the experience was a lot more than you'd get on an unorganised ride.

In a professionally staged sportive: -

You sign-on at the start. You have to display your rider number. You line up at the start and depart in a big bunch, Your riding time is being recorded, You don't need to take a map because often a route card is provided and it is way-marked and marshalled. There are feeeding stations (although not zones were musettes are handed-up). There are back-up vehicles - motos, technical support, paramedics, broom wagons. You cross the finishing line, The riders' times are published. There are ride completion rewards.





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[Nasawing]

Ok Ian - my appols if I misunderstood. I'm new to all of this (and as a result, highly enthusiastic). Mind you, lets see if I'm so sanguine after the weekend!

Thanks to all for tips and advice in this and the other threads.

To all those taking part - good luck, have fun and maybe see you for a pint after!

 

[Ian H]

Ok Ian - my appols if I misunderstood. I'm new to all of this (and as a result, highly enthusiastic). Mind you, lets see if I'm so sanguine after the weekend!

Thanks to all for tips and advice in this and the other threads.

To all those taking part - good luck, have fun and maybe see you for a pint after!

Have a good one. I shall be grinding my way around Dartmoor. The weather's looking a bit iffy,

 

[mrwenger]

Anyone from the Swindon area cycling this?

 

[Baggy]

Have a good one. I shall be grinding my way around Dartmoor. The weather's looking a bit iffy,

Good luck to all of you!

 

[Fattman]

Another choice, which was featured today in the Exmoor Beast Chronicle, relates to the ford which crosses the road after the first part of the Dunkery Beacon climb. Should you risk falling off by attempting to ride through it or take advantage of the nearby footbridge? Anybody got any experience or advice on this one?

FWIW, I have seen people scoot happily across the ford and others scoot happily halfway - to end up on their arses/sides/backs in the middle. If you've got silky bike handling skills (I haven't!) you could chance it but 70 miles with your shoes full of river water might be pretty unpleasant.

Something I would flag up and I think could possibly do with a little more highlighting (Marcus, if you're still following this?) is the cattle grid further back near the bottom of the same climb. It's under trees and on a gradient and vicious slippery and we saw a lot of people hitting the deck last year. I reckon it could be the scene of something nasty cos of the way you could snag an arm in the grid and crack a bone. Getting off and walking round is definitely an option here (you probably won't be going at much more than walking pace at that point anyhow!)

Both those are just comments on two gotchas in an otherwise pretty singular event. That Dunkery climb is a bugger anyways, and with the heavy Autumnal Exmoor weather it is a great physical and mental challenge - enjoy!

Matt

 

[Spartak]

FWIW, I have seen people scoot happily across the ford and others scoot happily halfway - to end up on their arses/sides/backs in the middle. If you've got silky bike handling skills (I haven't!) you could chance it but 70 miles with your shoes full of river water might be pretty unpleasant.

Something I would flag up and I think could possibly do with a little more highlighting (Marcus, if you're still following this?) is the cattle grid further back near the bottom of the same climb. It's under trees and on a gradient and vicious slippery and we saw a lot of people hitting the deck last year. I reckon it could be the scene of something nasty cos of the way you could snag an arm in the grid and crack a bone. Getting off and walking round is definitely an option here (you probably won't be going at much more than walking pace at that point anyhow!)

Both those are just comments on two gotchas in an otherwise pretty singular event. That Dunkery climb is a bugger anyways, and with the heavy Autumnal Exmoor weather it is a great physical and mental challenge - enjoy!

Matt

 

[Spartak]

Sorry about last post hit the wrong button !

Great ride today, not much rain although misty early on.
Was aiming to beat my time from last year 5 hrs 12 mins, at the first feed station didn't think I would manage this but kept grinding on and got back in 4 hrs 36 mins ! A silver finish and 1 minute short of a gold finish - something to aim for next year !

 

[mrwenger]

Sorry about last post hit the wrong button !

Great ride today, not much rain although misty early on.
Was aiming to beat my time from last year 5 hrs 12 mins, at the first feed station didn't think I would manage this but kept grinding on and got back in 4 hrs 36 mins ! A silver finish and 1 minute short of a gold finish - something to aim for next year !

Wow quick time!
It was only my second sportive ever but i loved every minute of it, although I did see at least 3 people fall foul of the cattle grid! and could hear the crunching sound of others falling of behind...ouch

 

[Spartak]

What happened ? Plenty of talk before the event, but very little since ! Are people still recovering ?

 

[Lance Substrong]

What happened ? Plenty of talk before the event, but very little since ! Are people still recovering ?

If you look at this thread, it's had nearly 3100 views but only 70 odd posts from a small number of repeat posters. Therefore poassible less than 2% are prepared to contribute.

Given that The Beast had just over 1000 starters - and only a small minority have probably ever heard of CycleChat - it's no surprise there's been little activity on this thread.

For my money, it was a really great event, which I thoroughly enjoyed and will be back next year to give it another go. In the meantime, there was talk of the organisers putting on another sportive in the area, to be known as The Exmoor Beauty and run in the summer. Can't wait to hear more.

 

[Spartak]

If you look at this thread, it's had nearly 3100 views but only 70 odd posts from a small number of repeat posters. Therefore poassible less than 2% are prepared to contribute.

Given that The Beast had just over 1000 starters - and only a small minority have probably ever heard of CycleChat - it's no surprise there's been little activity on this thread.

For my money, it was a really great event, which I thoroughly enjoyed and will be back next year to give it another go. In the meantime, there was talk of the organisers putting on another sportive in the area, to be known as The Exmoor Beauty and run in the summer. Can't wait to hear more.

Yes, I also heard about the planned Beauty ride in the summer

I will look forward to my half of 'Exmoor Beauty' ale after the event, heres hoping its as good as the 'Exmoor Beast' ale that was available after this years event , 6.6 % ABV Crikey