I hate those scramblers! I don't go out on the MTB when it is too wet, as I don't want to damage the trails... yet they go out and do just thatThey make the trails unuseable for everyone else
Originally Posted by Ed D
I hate those scramblers! I don't go out on the MTB when it is too wet, as I don't want to damage the trails... yet they go out and do just that
Well it was frozen over today so few worries there- Brendan will no doubt have laughed watching me occasionally break through the crust and go in up to my shins! Wheeze, I'll PM you some thoughts on the route.I hate those scramblers! I don't go out on the MTB when it is too wet, as I don't want to damage the trails... yet they go out and do just that
Ed! That was beyond the call of duty. It was horrible up there today!
Anyway, thanks for the input and route suggestion.
The course has defined checkpoints after Capel Y Ffin.
Grwyne Valley Road 248 291
Pen Y Gadair Fawr
Waun Fach
North end Grwyne resevoir 225 312
Twyn Talycefn 223 323
Rhos Dirion
My mistake, I should have read the previous post on checkpoints. That climb up to PyCF is tough, I reckon this race could be the borrowdale of south wales! Lots of cooling off points in the streams at least.
Yeah, a lot of us know it well as a descent on the Black Mountains race. Only thing I can say is the climb from the other side is even WORSE.
I suppose should give grid refs for the route.
OS 1;50,000 sheet 161
Start: Field by Hay School 230 421
CP1: Hay Bluff 244 366
CP2: Lord Herefords Knob 225 350
CP3: Capel Y Ffin 255 314. Safety Refuge 2 plus public call box.
CP4: Grwyne Valley road crossing. 248 291. Safety Refuge 3
CP5. Pen Y Gadair Fawr. 229 288
CP6: Waun Fach. 215 299
CP7. Grwyne Fawr Resevoir 227 312
CP8: Twyn Talycefn. 223 323
CP9: Rhos Dirion. 211 334
CP10: LHK 225 350
CP11: Hay Bluff 244 366
Finish: Field by Hay School 230 421
In terms of comms, I would hope Safety Refuge 1 at Gospel Pass would have line of sight mobile comm to Hay.
SR 2 at Capel Y ffin has a public payphone.
My concern is SR 3 at Grwyne. I'd be surprised if any mobile service works there.
Ideas anyone?
There's a few houses there; maybe drop a few letters through or knock and let them know the plan? I can't imagine in a genuine emergency that anyone would turn you down, but in terms of non-emergency comms you might get some signal up on the dam. Brendan sent a message from below waun fach summit so there is some there that a sweeper could use. Radios perhaps?
Erm, apologies folks
I am now going to go into competition with Always Injured and enter a MONSTER post.
Lots of words. Print 'em off and cogitate in the bath/on the bog/on the train...wherever you do your catch up reading.
Steam Bunny Bluff. A Long. 22 miles (35km)/5980 feet (1800m)
This is a new A grade Long traditional fell race set in the remote northern Black Mountains of South Wales.It will be run outwardly as a conventional long distance fell race but incorporating new technology with the aim of preserving traditionalism for the competitor.
What is meant by a 'traditional' Fell race?
Ever since its inception in 1970, fell racing, especially over a long distance, has been a blend of athletic ability and mountain craft. The victor in a long race will not just be the fastest runner, but the competitor who is best able to compete at speed whilst managing the tasks of efficient navigation, self sufficiency in the face of adverse weather and terrain and the needs of refuelling and hydration.
Since 1970 many changes in the nature of outdoor sporting events have naturally occurred. In particular there has been the advent of highly commercial and managed adventure racing. In addition, fell racing has grown from a base of a few hundred to many thousands. Expectations have changed and evolved and these factors have put strain on the original ethos of self reliant, low impact and simple racing over mountainous terrain.
However, many people come into fell racing as a refuge from the over-managed,over-commercialised and litigious society that exists in the common work and play space. The ethos of this race is to return to, and maintain, a more simple template. It also exists to draw a clear line between the responsibility of the race organiser and the race competitor. If you want a bells and whistles, hand held, managed event, please stop reading. If you hunger for something that places responsibility on you in the wild places of our land, read on.
How will new technology preserve traditionalism?
The demands of meeting insurance, governance and the increasing emphasis on safety are transforming and complicating the rules and recommendations of fell racing. Kit requirement and competitor compliance is becoming ever more prescriptive. At the same time, these changes and expectations are increasing the risks to the race organisers in the event of serious mishap.
But if fell racing was created from a clean sheet today, developments in technology not available 40 years ago could be employed to deliver safer but simpler race organisation.
Put simply, the responsibility of a race organiser should be limited to:
- Creating a suitable course.
- Knowing exactly how many competitors start the event
- Knowing where competitors are during the event.
- Accurately recording the successful completion of competitors.
- Providing arrangements for recovering and recording retirements.
In the current era these functions can be assisted by using portable tracking and logging aids. Event competitors will be required to carry a provided tracker device and electronic dibber to confirm passage through checkpoints. In return for this competitors will be allowed to take full responsibility for their own safety, equipment, nutrition, navigation and all other skills associated with competing in wild terrain. There will be no stipulated requirements. Instead, the comprehensive rules and regulations currently in use by the various fell running organisations will be recommended as the minimum standards for competitors to employ.
In this way,competitors will be able to enjoy partaking of a long and gruelling event relying on their own skills, preparation and competence.
How will the event work?
Race details,including a garmin trace of the route will be available online at least 3 months before the event to allow familiarisation with the route.
The race will be pre-entry only. On registration, the competitor will be issued with a race number, a matchbox sized tracker and a sportident dibber. These are the only mandatory items of equipment.
Competitors will only be allowed to the start area with a tracker. Once under way,competitors must visit all check points in order and verify their visit with the sportident dibber. Check points will be at unmanned summits and at manned valley crossing points. At the low level checkpoints the race number must also be given to the marshals. It is the runners responsibility to provide their number to the marshals and failure to do so will result in disqualification. This can be performed verbally if the number is obscured by position or equipment.
The manned lowlevel check points will also function as safety refuges for competitors who wish to retire or who are timed out. There will be a minimum of 4 marshals at 2 vehicles at each safety refuge.
At race HQ, competitor progress will be continuously monitored online. Should any tracker become stationary for more than 15 minutes, emergency recovery action will be activated employing marshals and/or mountain rescue teams.
Competitors finish times will be manually recorded as they pass the finish line into the finish funnel. They will not be classified as completing the race until they have handed in their tracker/dibber to the marshal at the end of the funnel. Failure to hand in the tracker will result in disqualification and recovery action at the competitors cost.
Competitors may retire at any of the 3 safety refuges. It is mandatory that the tracker is surrendered to the marshalling team. Retirees will be returned to race HQ by car. In the event of a retirement to another location it is essential that the competitor returns to race HQ as soon as possible. It is the competitors responsibility to return the tracker to race HQ or the race organiser by arrangement in order to prevent recovery action at the competitors cost.
The final safety refuge in the Grwyne valley is also the time out station. Any competitor failing to reach the Grwyne valley within 3 hours will be timed out and returned to race HQ by car.
Summary.
This is a traditional fell race, but redefines and reinforces the ethos of self reliance by the adoption of modern technology.
The most important point for competitors to consider is that:
The Race Organisers are responsible for Organising the Race – they are NOT responsible for organising YOU!
Last edited by Wheeze; 03-02-2014 at 11:48 PM.
Can we wear headphones?
Sorry, just come out of the bush again and saw that other thread, made me chuckle (I am presuming the poster "cannot be serious").
But I think you should allow them Wheeze!
That should put his blood pressure into orbit....
Only on the road sections....
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