24 hour Velo Le Mans

[Simon-R]

Has anyone done this? I have just entered as a team of 6 for this years event in August.

Looking for some hints and tips as to what to take, what not to do etc.

[ajk]

Haven't done it before but have also entered this year's event.
Sorry not much help but just wanted to join in!
A couple of the others in my team have done it before so will post up any advice when I get it...

[Daveyraveygravey]

I haven't done this event but have done a charity ride at Goodwood. It's a great track but 21 laps around one place is hard.
I got a strange cramp that I have never experienced on the bike before, I was on the drops and really pushing; I don't normally stay in that position for long. It was like I was locked into this position, and almost had to fall off the bike to get off it. The pain passed after about 10 minutes and I was able to do a few more laps at a greatly reduced pace, but it taught me to not get so wrapped up in an event I forget to listen to my body.

[leyorkie]

Simon-R said:

Has anyone done this? I have just entered as a team of 6 for this years event in August.

Looking for some hints and tips as to what to take, what not to do etc.

Are you on the face book feed?lots of info but mainly in French with some dodgey translations

It’s possible to ride the circuit as a warm up in the morning

[Gruffy]

A friend rode it a couple of years ago and pulled off after a few laps, deciding that it was a dumb idea and too boring. He's probably right but I may have a pop at it this year anyway (because also dumb).

[leyorkie]

Well if anybody is up for a challenge it has to be Gruffy.
Last years solo 950k 🚴🚴‍♀️🚴🚴‍♀️🚴🚴‍♀️🚴🚴‍♀️🏅🏆

[Simon-R]

Thanks for the replies, what would be useful more about, Oh I wish I had taken "xxx" or I wouldn't do that if i did it again

[Gruffy]

For a team entry the only thing I can think of would be some coloured lights or some other way of recognising each other and your pit box at night. Le Mans has huge numbers and that'd be quite a challenge at 3am when everybody is tired.

[Usget]

For our Nurburgring 24h entry CoolC made a pub sign out of wood and illuminated it in fairy lights. It was a godsend in locating our pit at 4am!

[Usget]

Also take a foam roller, a few changes of kit, and ideally a tent you can stand in to change

[leyorkie]

It’s not that dark on the Bugatti circuit especially on the pits.
Some reflective strips/ patches on your team kit may help but it’s wearing something unique that makes you stand out.
Although there could be 4000 riders there is only 520 entries so max on the circuit at any one time.
Have you looked at the photo gallery on the web site?

[Steve vRS]

Usget said:

For our Nurburgring 24h entry CoolC made a pub sign out of wood and illuminated it in fairy lights. It was a godsend in locating our pit at 4am!

Until the lights had to be turned off as they were stopping people from sleeping!

[Usget]

I was just about to say "I don't remember that" and then dimly recall it may have been me making that request...

[CoolC]

leyorkie said:

It’s not that dark on the Bugatti circuit especially on the pits.
Some reflective strips/ patches on your team kit may help but it’s wearing something unique that makes you stand out.
Although there could be 4000 riders there is only 520 entries so max on the circuit at any one time.
Have you looked at the photo gallery on the web site?

Our biggest lesson learned in 2016 was to make our "pit" more visible in 2017, not just at night but in the day too.

It's very easy to miss your team mates waiting at the side of the track because you remember you're just after the big white flag or whatever, but it gets moved or blocked by another rider. With so many other riders, with loads inevitably in similar kit to yours they blend into one.

My pub sign was illuminated with blue and red strobes and "knight-rider" style LED strips. It could be seen from a good 1/4 mile away when in full flash mode. It did the job

Not the best picture, but the only one at night with it illuminated

Edited by CoolC on Saturday 3rd March 17:42

[leyorkie]

But is that on an illuminated pit straight or at the side of the track?
It is quite bright on the Le Mans circuit and the Bugatti circuit is illuminated all the way round.
You do not need lights to see where you are going.

Edited by leyorkie on Saturday 3rd March 21:58

[CoolC]

I'm not sure of the Le Man setup, do you do all change overs in the pit lane?

[leyorkie]

Yes in principle, that’s the only acces point, it is also the slowest section

[Simon-R]

A bit of a bump as this is getting closer. One thing that has raised its head is what food do people eat??

[Daveyraveygravey]

One of things I learned from Everesting three years ago, is to take a change of shoes, if you have them. If it rains properly, they will get wet and I had no way of drying them. Le Mans at this time of year will more likely be dry than Surrey in early May but try to think of things like that. I had to ride through the night with cold wet feet which was grim.

As for food, I would take a real mixture, and make it real food. Energy/sciency stuff is ok in small doses but if you only have sweet and artificial stuff you will not want to eat it and crave savoury or just plain proper food.

There is a thread about the Brands Hatch event, there may be some tips on that.

[CoolC]

As above have real food.

What's your team rota plan? With there being 6 of you, the gaps between stints will (should) be plenty to get real food in and settled.

Schnitzel is what kept us going at Radamring