Winter Enduro - SPAM Challenge

Anyone fancy a trip to Whiltshire early in January to compete in the Sailsbury plans challenge

I know from others who have attended it's a fairly tough course. Who's up for it?

Choice of 3 course

50, 30 and 15K

http://www.spambiking.co.uk/spam_swc2007.htm#

Looks good.

Would have to be 50km/30miles. I am running the Rough n Tumble a week later same place (ish) http://www.grassrootsevents.co.uk/

Will see if I can get another leave pass.

Got a leave pass - count me in for the 50km. Already printed off the application form.

Don't do it......it's mountaining biking hell on earth !!!!!!

How bad can be? Are we talking bog snorkling, rock climbing harnesses or elbows at dawn? Well it's either that and only have to entertain the children for 1/3 of the day or stay at home, do my usual circuit and entertain them for the 2/3 day

Did the Hell of the North Cotswolds (HONC) last year. Wasn't too bad. Will be signing up again for 2007.

http://www.winchcombecc.org.uk/honc.html

Me and Jamie will prob be up for the 50km. Cheers for the links

It's back home for me!

Gary (Cotswold / Farmer Lad)

Little Gav, can you provide us an insight into what we are letting ourselves into?

Back home for the Mrs. as she's from Minety. Mother in Law now in Cricklade so just a quick drive after dropping family off.

Best bet is to speak to Big Gav, Julia or Nick the Greek as they did it last year. Apparently it was very gloopy and p1**ed it down and its very exposed being on open moorland so take your thermals

I'm in.........

But I think if you have a SS then it should be a SS fest !!

(Anyone feeling left out??)

Being a Swindon lad I'll be ooo arrring it also !

Definately in - posted cheque off this morning.

I'm biased. Hate the place. Went there once, its snowed,hailed,pissed it down,big winds. Big tank tracks filled with water everywhere.
My sleeping bag got wet, clothes got wet....I got wet.
Loads of blokes firing bullets.
VERY UNHAPPY

If I was a betting man Gav, I'd say you won't be taking part then?

I used to be in the RAF, as far as I can remember there's red flags indicating live firing. I'll definately be keeping away from those !!! Might increase my speed though

Reminds me of the Chicksands run from Woburn Ss, where you have to ride behind the firing range. SCARY, as you can here the bullets hitting the sand on the other side of the brick wall!

I spent some time at Chicksands when I was detached to RAF Henlow. Used to use the yank gym and bowling alley there. I'd be scared riding behind a wall at the business end of a range if the yanks are firing.....

Jase
Your bett is very safe !

...is it in yet?

SPAM have now posted the confirmed entries for the Winter Challenge.

http://www.spambiking.co.uk/Docs/SWC2007-Confirmation.pdf

CrashBoy wrote:Anyone fancy a trip to Whiltshire early in January to compete in the Sailsbury plans challenge

I know from others who have attended it's a fairly tough course. Who's up for it?

Choice of 3 course

50, 30 and 15K

http://www.spambiking.co.uk/spam_swc2007.htm#

Sailsbury Plain errrharrruhhh
(Jim shivers at the thought of going back there)

There is a reason why it's an Army training area,cause it's a blooming nightmare.

Good luck!!! (your gonna need it)

So who's gonna be there on Sunday?

Me and ?

Come on guys don't tell me you haven't entered. Is it just me?

It is just me isn't it? Southern wuss's....... !!!

HI everyone. I can vouch 4 what L gav has said.
It is grim. Ive done it twice and it doesnt get any easier, but it is a fab way of getting rid of a hangover!

by the time u read this post u would have found out 4 yourself but the only way of finding out sometimes is the hard way!!

what better way 2 start the year?

Mud? Mud? It was a mud bath! Now I like mud but that stuff is REALLY sticky and full of clay or chalk as it's also really slippery. I have never had to pull handfuls from my bike before. I really mean handfuls. At one point at couldn't see my front or rear mechs or the chain for that matter. I looked down and had comedy doughnuts for wheels. I had a mechanical failure 6 miles in, my rear mech hanger twisted and sheered off after a really bad section of boggy mud. The thing is another rider suffered the same fate in the same area as me at the same time and when we got back to the start one guy was already there and had suffered the same thing only 2 miles in. It took me 90 minutes to do 6 miles (until I retired) of which half a mile was a tarmac steep ascent, quarter of a mile was slippery but not too bad singletrack in a forest but the rest was either open field or the bit around the field all of which was thick gloopy mud that stuck. There were guys running with bikes as it was faster. Everyone suffered and struggled to stay upright. Oh and did I mention it was raining and the wind was really bitter. Madness.

It is a challenge but it's not mountain biking.

Well done graig! you going to give it a miss next year