Utmb

[saz]

Yes the shops in Cham are all gearing up for the TMB, but there did seem to be a lack of raid light poles around -

I agree with Morgan, mine have been spot on so far, no problems at all

s

[highlander]

Vasque Blur shoes and a 10 litre last drop rucksack.
Grip isn't too much of an issue.
Just be sure to get the colour coordination right, though.

[saz]

very important to keep up with the French - colour co-ordination that is

[MorganW]

A quick update on the poles, which featured earlier on this thread.

Needing as much practice as possible before trying to use poles in the Trail des Aiguilles Rouges on 28 Sept, I have been playing out with the Raid Light poles as often as possible.

Used them on leg 1 of Pete Beer's BG early on Saturday morning and managed to snap one of the shafts coming down from Calva.

Pole went in deep, weight slid forward (God it was wet out there), pole bent as far as it could, then could go no further..............and snap.

Continental use only perhaps?

Damn, need a new pair and fast. I'll try Likleys.

Morgan

[MOUNTAIN MAN]

I am not convinced poles are a significant advantage. I did the UTMB without and nobody at all overtook me on the ascents and I am not an outstanding climber. A few overtook on the descents but most of those with poles seem to carry them anyway.
It's perhaps down to individual preference but I rather have my hands free and just have to look where to put my two feet when I get tired without having to think about two poles as well.

[MorganW]

MM, I think it's worth a go, at least once. I am only intending to use them later in the race when I start to feel a bit weary (the TdesAR is 54 kms). Although race experience may prove me wrong, tests so far suggest they help generate extra "oomph" on the climbs and I seem to cope ok with running downhill with 2 poles in 1 hand.

Time will tell....................!

[Britta]

I can bring a pair to the 3 shires race if you want? Not same make, but the Austrian ones that were sold at the UTMB show - fold down small enough to go in a rucksack & are easy to expand... You're more than welcome to borrow them!

[AlP]

Don't test them out in the 3 shires race though, or you'll set the ranters off again like I did training with them at Ennerdale!

Yeah - poles can make a massive difference, but only really on the longer races, especially on continental trails with a bit of altitude involved - and you've got to train a lot with them if it's gonna really help.

I only did the short race (CCC) in Cham this year - but it was interesting because for the first time a lot more people near the front of the field were using them very effectively - unsurprisingly they were all guys who do ski mountaineering races in the winter too + we'd all gone for carbon fibre nordic walking poles, rather than the foldable raidlight/camp bendy ones - ie much stronger, so you can push as hard as you like with them.

If you don't train loads with them, then they are of more limited benefit - but make progressively more difference the longer the race - ie for when your legs are shot later on. On the other hand though, if you do train with them a lot then they can really save the day if it all starts going wrong early on - ie I got bad cramp after first hour + all the rest of the way round this yr in the CCC, so had to shuffle the whole race, but pushed like hell instead & still did OK - without the poles I'd have been literally hours slower..

Killian Jornet (who got kit checked 4 times on the way round by the way & always had full compulsory kit with him - ie all the gear complaints were rubbish) certainly uses them far more effectively than Dawa for instance (who cuts more corners than anyone else, just to correct a few mis understandings about the 'worthy winner'...) On the other hand it doesn't seem to slow Marco Olmo down much...

If you are after a new pair - I got mine from a lass in Ilkley who sells Komperdell Poles online, or you can go round + try them out/pick them up in person if you live locally;

http://www.walkingsport.co.uk/index....c=list&catid=1

For racing I'd recommend 5cm longer than the nordic walking sizing chart.

http://www.walkingsport.co.uk/index....opic=equipment

'featherlight bamboo' model is slightly lighter than 'featherlight foam' coz it's got a cork grip - but both are made of carbon fibre, despite the name + graphics..

PS In Cham there's just been 50cm of fresh snow and it's fallen down to 1800m, so you might want a set of skis too for the Aig Rouges race!

[MorganW]

Britta, you are an angel...thanks for the offer, but I need to replace the busted pole anyway.

New Raid Lights at Likeys for £79.99 and I suspect I can do better that in Cham so will hang on and trust I can get them when I get there.

Having been "training" with the RLs, I plan to stick with them.

AlP, thanks for your thoughts. I have a definite feeling they will help later on when tiredness sets in. I will wait and see, but this being my first pole race, it may be difficult to make a really accurate judgment, so may have to go back and do the TdesAR again to compare style. Shame!!

Snow on the ground........so much the better. Can only help someone used to rough wet ground!

Morgan

[runningham]

I reluctantly bought a pair of the Raidlight fold away poles for UTMB. I did loads of climbing for 8 months in training (maybe too much!) so thought I wouldn't need them, but I wouldn't have finished the race without them.

I did a bit of research into technique and apparently it's all about how you hold them- using the hand loop - which makes the difference. I did virtually no training with them which meant that I had problems eating and drinking on the move, so it's worth practising this or you'll lose time faffing around.

I've never owned a set of poles before so have nothing to go by, but the Raidlights seemed to do the job perfectly (although I did have to modify them a bit because they kept coming apart!)