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Highland Fling Tips - Half Fling

By davidren - Posted on 13 October 2010

I'm doing the Half Fling this year which will be my third race having previously done the 50km Dirtworks and the Back Yamma 50km a few weeks ago.

Any advice on how to tackle the fling, particularly around :

1) Bike - I will have by then a 26" and 29" inch dually.........is the course suited to a 29er ??
2) Time - I did the Dirtworks 50Km in 2:45 and the Back Yamma 50km in 2:15.........what can I expect in terms of ballpark for the Half Fling............over 3 hours ?
3) Course - from what I can see there are plenty of short sharp climbs ??

Anything else to watch out for ??

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Maybe look up last years

Submitted by browny on Wed, 13/10/2010 - 11:22.

Maybe look up last years results to get an idea of times and then try to gauge against where you finished in the field in your other races?

eg for the half fling

winning time was 2:12
2:30 gets on the podium or very close to it
3:00 top 10%
3:15 top 20%
3:30 top 30%

I'm in the full fling and it's my first race of any kind so i've really got nfi when i'll finish. I had a timely opportunity to cobble together a loop of Wingello which was pretty close to the '08 race in 2:40 but I think to be realistic that was at an unsustainable pace for the full distance. At least I know what to expect though (or maybe that's a bad thing?)

I'll be really keen to see what feedback you get for the half fling. I am hoping it's a little easier than the Wingello stage.

Knowing a little about the area (I grew up there) and my experience of Wingello I'm expecting some quite fast riding fire trails with a predominantly sandy base. Wingello had a few sandy drifts which was an interesting experience hitting at speed. That is just a guess though.

Full Fling

Submitted by Logan on Wed, 13/10/2010 - 11:35.

I think for the full fling there is over 2300m of climbing all in total.

I have been training pretty hard on the road bike and putting in the K's but this is going to be endurance race (I am riding the CCMTB 6 Hour 2 weeks before hand for practice and will see how I hold up)

I have been told it's pretty tough endurance ride.

Harder than DW

Submitted by Lach on Wed, 13/10/2010 - 12:22.

Haven't ridden it on a 29'er, but it should be ideal. Plenty of fire trail / farm tracks / dirt roads where momentum is handy. Not much purpose built sniggle since they logged Penrose. May give the Niner Jet a half fling this year if there's some spare entries floating around when I get back from OS and I feel the legs are OK. Otherwise, will be my first miss.

I've gone a bit under 3 hrs for the DW 50, but closer to 3.5 for the Half Fling.

There is nothing like the "one big climb" from the DW at the Fling (or the wall in Wingello) - a few sharp pinches and a couple of fire trail hills. Pretty much all rideable if you've got reasonable legs. I usually walk a bit of the shorter, steeper option of "your call" towards the end, but its still quicker than the other way.

Be prepared to get wet feet too. "Early Bath" was almost up to my waist the wettest year (and I'm 6'7" in old speak) and "Free Bike Wash" usually means wet feet also.

And be ready for the 5.00am bagpipes if your'e camping......

Camping

Submitted by Logan on Wed, 13/10/2010 - 12:44.

Need to buy a new tent and sleeping bag etc.

Anyone have any recommendations?