Yeah that’s not cool. Hope it’s just bumps and bruises man.
If it rains every ambulance on duty in Lancashire will be On the loop three weeks on Sunday, it’s ducking dangerous
I’ve been out today 120 ish km including 11 climbs of hunters 3:45
Ish
At about race pace
It’s the first time I’ve thought I might get near 6 hours for the bike split
I wouldn’t train on that loop, it’s Horrid.
Get well soon.
If your crooked Jorgan will take your place!
Heal Strong Chris. I thought people were exaggerating about the course but I’m hearing the same thing from more and more experienced athletes
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Priorities, got to keep the fans happy 
Managing a train journey to Dundee for a stag weekend but far from looking forward to it. Will sit out the quad bikes/white water rafting and alcohol, making me a frustrated observer following behind all weekend.
Super strong. I was aiming to race 6.5 hr to have hopes of staying in the sub-11 group, todaywas just finishing my first lap at 27.5kph. Think was pacing well, slightly quicker still fairly fresh and HR lower, but hard to judge if accumulative distance and hills would have come back to bite, hence wanting the long recce.
I live near the loop but won’t train on it.
It’s too busy, mad Friday drivers, technical descents, pot hole central
Do you think IM hate us…?!
Been round it 3-4 times and have never felt safe in it to be honest.
Maybe with closed roads and filling in the craters it may be better come race day!
I dissed the bike at Deva and hit 2:32 ish but I’ll probably do 6- 6:15 balls put on a good day on this if it’s wet…
How longs the cuts offs?!?
We’re did you crash?
Glad your ok !
I did the new loop yesterday evening and riding through Bolton during rush hour was challenging (to stay alive). A nice touch was when a motorbike over took me doing a wheelie. New hill that’s been added is just another hill although the junction at the bottom is quite gravelly as you do a tight left turn. They have been putting up the road closure signs and there are a number of not overly wide sections where traffic is only stopped in one direction. Some potholes repaired and others marked up to be repaired, but still a bad road surface generally, but I’ll be on my road bike (no need to get the gravel bike out) so less of a worry. Got round fine and looking forward to it and possibly a bit early but the weather forecast is looking better than recent, just hope it’s not too hot !
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That’s why I don’t train on the loop
I’ve done four circuits and the road closures should help with avoiding the constant pot holes …
The run route is better, did it Sunday.
Forecast is 14 some drizzle and zero wind…
I’d take that, but watch the descents!
i rode the old course a couple of times and although it had its moments, it wasn’t as bad as it had been portrayed…
this one sounds pretty horrendous. Because both the TT bike and the road bike are in the carbon repair shop, and i’ve done no training, i may fire up the cross bike…
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Never…!
It’s bad but doable !
Crossbike…?!?
At least you can use 28 mm tyres, roads are bad…!
I have a med focus Izzalco pro that’s mint if your stuck
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28mm tyres plus disc brakes - I am only looking at doing the swim-bike so it’s a leisurely ride for me…
Thanks though, that’s a kind offer
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No problem…
I have several bikes…
Can’t run? I was the same at the Deva last year… not the same when your not going to finish, but 2/3 ain’t bad
If it rains you will be glad of the discs on sheephouse, pickup bank and the rat run…
i could run, but i haven’t run anything longer than about 10 k in the last year…
that was my thought…
I would seriously advise a drive round in the car at the very least…
yep…will still try to get up and cycle 1 loop…
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Yeah I’d timed my ride last week so that I would go through Bolton around 7 and 10am to try avoid traffic, hence first lap was going well early morning. Road surfaces did seem better in places, definitely some sections been repaved. How well they close the roads will be key, keeping cars off the kerbs through the many suburbs.
New section didnt seem too bad, although bit less inspiring especially compared to village support from PCP.
Hadnt started thinking about raceday weather 2.5 weeks out, trying to avoid the daily checks for as long as possible!
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The normal group I went out with said the new hill by the golf course was tough on the second loop, but I think they went a bit hard on the first loop, as you say closed roads and it’s a different party
I’m light and climbing well but I’m still going 34x28 maybe even 30!
It’s a decent hill but it’s early on in the lap. True test of peoples pacing (other than the marathon of course) will be 120-160km, Grane Road to Belmont. Once get to Belmont you know it’s just Sheephouse and then fast bit to the town centre, but go off too fast and those constant undulations before Sheephouse will be where people start falling back.
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Haven’t looked at the run yet with all the focus on the bike. Looks straight forward, similar style to Outlaw - 4X an out and back section with a loop round the town each lap. Is the hill much to think about, looks long and gradual rather than anything to walk?