Battle On The Beach 2019

[BruceMackie]

Last weekend was BOTB, a race that few of us on the forum wouldn't miss. Apparently it's the largest off road race in the UK with a 1000 rider massed start which is without comparison to anything else I've ever done. Fortunes were mixed for the LP contingent but in the end the most fortunate was Neal, who was able to walk (or at least stumble) away from a massive, high speed crash involving an immovable lump of metal on the beach.

https://www.facebook.com/neal.mackintos ... 827470760/

[Stuart]

the most fortunate was Neal,

Yeah, and Bruce who is too modest to say he came 2nd behind Nick Craig - which is in effect first of the mere mortals.

Chapeau Bruce!

[Chris Clague]

Indeed - was waiting for Bruce to post. And also a picture of his bike would demonstrate his intent... it was a thing to behold.

Mine was always going to be a ride of recovery. Thanks to my son and a mate we started near the back. Looking at the result I must have overtaken 500+ on the beach. And I was trying not to go full gas as I knew the distance would take its toll on me later. This is just an epic race every single time.

Also did the night race this year for the first time. Bruce (a star again) lent me his mega light - basically like a car headlight only brighter. My big problem was on a CX bike the soft sand was always tricky with the narrow tyres. As the tide was in, the racing line was about 30cm wide. Fine to ride on, a nightmare to overtake. Most people moved out of the way and on the line it was clearly the bike to have, but hard work elsewhere.

Race of the year. Every year.

[JackCurzon]

the most fortunate was Neal,

Yeah, and Bruce who is too modest to say he came 2nd behind Nick Craig - which is in effect first of the mere mortals.

Chapeau Bruce!

2nd to Nick Craig? Fantastic! That’s something to tell the grand kids about!

Well done all of you!

[Stuart]

Bike?

[Chris Clague]

C’mon Bruce - post a picture!

[Chris Clague]

[BruceMackie]

Bike? As it's my 5th attempt I've been slowly refining what I ride. Started with a 29er hardtail, then a cross bike, with 650b fat front wheel, then rigid 29er with beach race rear tyre then weather was bad last year so used the same bike with mtb tyres but this year I went for full beach race tyres, put on a short fork to drop the front end, put on short cranks to keep ground clearance. Fortunately the frame is modern and relatively slack so the change in geometry made the front end similar to my cross bike. Inverted a set of riser bars and yes, as you might have noticed, had a deep section front MTB wheel (who even knew such a thing existed).

[Stuart]

Ha ha, absolute master of the frankenbike. Even down to the bottles mismatched in both size and design.

[BruceMackie]

Well spotted Stuart, the bottle is a small Elite one for a kid's bike, but it hides behind the down tube nicely. Rear is the tool kit for running repairs seeing as I'd only just built the bike, you'll be pleased to know it was removed for the race, substituted for a CO2 cylinder and a Dynaplug tubeless repair kit strapped to the handlebars behind the paste board. Looking forward to more Frankenbike modifications next year.

[BruceMackie]

[BruceMackie]

Nick Craig on the front with me playing catch up on the back....

[BruceMackie]

[JackCurzon]

Well we definitely know who won the battle of the hairiest legs!!! What with all the sand particles clinging to hair follicles, I'd say that aero drag would've cost Mr Clague about a minute a lap at least!!

[Chris Clague]

What is it with you people and this bizarre obsession about shaving legs? Go find me one non-cyclist who considers this 'normal' behaviour for a man.

Besides, a minute a lap would have made little difference to my position and I *did* overtake a lot more people than Bruce and Nick Craig...