Information - All you need to know about 'The Dog'
What's the course like? Where can I stay? What can I expect on the day? When is sign-on. All essential information to help make your day can be found right here.
THE COURSE
At present the course is running well even with summer tyres. However as it is England and summer bring mud tyres too in case as you'll need the grip. So here is a brief run down of the course. All climbs can be done on a singlespeed (one only just though!) so don't be too scared when we say steep. With all the lovely singletrack you may be worried about overtaking or being overtaken. Fear not as there are plenty of fireroad sections and also several of the singletrack decents have multiple line choices so the race should run freely.
We start in a grass open area next to Stanmer Wood and barrel along the grass for 100metres or so before darting left and cutting right into the wood itself. A quick scoot along some doubletrack with some odd roots and already it is up the first climb of the day and this one is short, sharp with several roots to contend with. Line choice will help you here. We then head right and down slightly before a singletrack uphill. Again short and this brings you out onto a "fireroad". We'll use this term but technically it is not a fireroad but it is a smooth hardpack trail where you can grab a gel etc.
Get your breath back and then it is back into the woods for a new bit of singletrack that dips, dives and traverses across the woodland before bringing you out at the bottom of a doubletrack climb. Bit longer this one and enough to get stuck into a descent rhythm. At the top it's right into more singletrack and a tricky steep descent before we hit the toughest climb of the race. It starts off well and then gets steeper and steeper with lots of roots to contend with. Power, line choice and stubbornness will see you to the top and what a reward awaits. Super fast downhill singletrack until we hit a longer fireroad mellow drag upto the top of the course.
What follows is about 5 minutes of slightly downhill crazy twisty turning singletrack with multiple line choices. Onto another flat fireroad to refuel before it's into the next bit of superfast downhill singletrack. Onto a downhill straightline doubletrack and then dart right onto the bridge that crosses the A27 into more fast and furious downhill singletrack. You'll have a massive smile by this point!
Up a short tough climb back over the A27 and up up up (this will hurt a touch) a variety of mellow and very short steeper climbs until we go back into more super fun wiggly singletrack over some small log hops to keep you on your toes. A quick bit of fireroad and then into yet another superfast downhill bit of singletrack. Will you be brave enough to hop The Brighton Big Log or take the safe line? This downhill singletrack goes on for ages sweeping left, right you have another massive smile on your face by this point too! Yet more singletrack awaits (with two route options!) that traverses down to the bottom of the park before a grass climb and steeper singletrack uphill lead you the final singletrack decent back to the finish.
RACE FORMAT
It is a 6 hour race. If you are in pairs or teams this will take the form of a relay so only one member of your team out on the course at any one time. There will be a pit area where you can handover the baton (a U.S.E. stem cap and lanyard) to your team mate. The race will finish at 6pm and only laps completed by this time will count, so think if it gets to 5.20pm think carefully about if you want to go out again, because if you are not in by 6pm then it won't count. Prize giving, and there are a lot of prizes, will be from 6.30pm in the main arena under the unflatable arch.
TIMING
All timing will be done by the lovely people at Timelaps who will show the full results on their website. This will also include all the Onderdog laps too so you really can see who was the Hot Dog out of your friends.
SIGN ON
The SIGN ON period is from 9.30 until 11am. You will have access to the course before 11am for a warm up lap. Please note a full lap is approx 8 miles and could take over 40 minutes dependant on your ability. Every rider to access the course will need a number and helmet.
RESERVES
These will be invited to sign on at 11.40 (20mins before the start) for any spaces remaining.
Contact us to be put on the official reserves list.
PARKING
This will be in Stanmer Park slap bang next to the main arena. Car Parking attendants will be on hand to guide you as soon as you enter the park.
RACE PACK
Beer Token will come in your race pack once you sign-on and it is important to keep hold of it as this is your ticket to free drinks. Remember to double check your race packs! You'll also find a whole load of assorted goodies from our kind sponsors too all contained in a lovely bag designed by Morvélo and kindly donated by Prestige Cycles in Hove. Last year the value of the race packcame to £30!
PARTY and FREE DRINK TOKEN!
As you probably know, the Brighton Big Dog is as much about the post race drink as it is the race itself. Each race entry not only comes with a rider goody bag but also a FREE drink token for use at the party afterwards! You'll collect these at the same time as registration. Make sure you don't loose it. The party will once again be held in the excellent Fortune of War, slap bang in the middle of the iconic Brighton seafront.
RUBBISH
We would ask that you use the RUBBISH SACK in your race pack to look after all your litter and take it away with you at the end of the day. We have provisioned for a small amount of litter but would appreciate if you can take your refuse away with you. As you know this is a not for profit race and all extra revenue is going toward your after race party, so rather than hire an expensive independent refuse collector we have put this money back to your party, so we ask that you can help us out on this one. Pass this on to your team members. We could loose the race area if we do not respect it.
GELS
Please, please, please do not drop your gels or leave tubes etc. on the race track! It is only a short course so either drop your unwanted's at a marshal point or hold on to it till the transition point. Again we could loose the use of the park if we do not respect it. We know you want a great event so the Big Dog thanks you in advance.
WATER
Due to the Stanmer Pavilion burning down their is no water on site. Please make sure you bring your own supply!.
STALLS
As well as an amazing race we are doing everything to make this a day for everyone so bring your friends and family. We have proper coffee, home made cakes, selection of bike clothing from Morvelo , Prestige Cycles to help fix your rig and supply you with goods to keep you racing, SIS for all your energy drink needs, Clif Bar, Kinesis Bikes, Lezyne, Brighton Big Dog DJs and much more.
MORVÉLO MERCHANDISE
Make sure you buy your limited edition T-shirt and Mug from the Morvélo stand on the day and show your support.
CAMPING
Brighton has more than its fair share of great hotels and B&Bs which can be found using everyone's favourite, Google. For those with a tighter budget or fans of more outdoor living heres a range of campsites around Brighton.