It's been a while!

Over a year in fact.

So what's new? Well the Inbred and Carver have gone to new homes, and the old crosser bit the dust. In their place there now sits a racey Giant XTR self build, a Nicolai singlespeed (poss the only one in the UK) a Planet X road bike and a Spesh Allez Elite hack bike.

As for my riding,well I half did a SITS 24 hour solo but bust my finger. Got up and riding again a month or so later only to seriously bust up my back in a stupid fall. Took to the road bike to build up fitness only to crash on my first MTB ride and tear my Intercostal thingy wotsit, that was Good! Friday.

Joined the League of Veteran Racing Cyclists and got mullered several times. Started using the road bike quite a lot, even had a quick session in France. Started my XC runs again and err that's about that so far this year.

Getting myself properly sorted for the big 50 at the end of the year. Planning another 24 hour solo,some road racing and a trip to bag some Alps.

More later...................   

5-4-3-2-1 Go....splutter and stop!

Just about sums up my Set2rise 12 hour solo effort.
Spam biking had laid on a great course that deserved a good effort by all. However all I could manage was a measley seven hours of straight riding to tot up seven laps.
Seven hours seemed to have played havoc with my knee, the reason I stopped. Though like your driving test you need a few more reasons to fail, so I'll count too much darkness and a sore butt in as well.
Seven in seven was pretty good going at the time, but the wise ones that rested between laps soon overtook me. A shame really as I was feeling 'good to go' apart from terminal knee ache.
So the rest of the event was spent watching riders go by from the cold comfort of the camper van, getting more colder and bitter as the hours went by.
Something that came to light the following morning was that my EBB had slid out a good ten millimetres towards the drive side, the same side as my knee pain, a coincidence? It was the first time I'd ever experienced such a pain.
One final thing. The Army carried out a nightime excersise mid race. Rockets, flares, Infantrymen GPMG's going off all around us........Bizarre.

It's been a while!

Not posted on here since August, that's not to say I have'nt been up to anything, oh no.
After my last event of 2007 and the failure to even get to the 3 Peaks start line I just settled myself into a routine of what I call 'just riding'. Most of that time from early autumn to now had been spent riding alone, not that there had been any issues with my mates more a case of life getting in the way riding, we've all been there.
The thing with just getting out for a ride with no agendas attached is that you often end up riding more and if you're lucky you get fitter to boot. I'm also lucky that I have Woburn to ride on right on my doorstep, and if you don't now it, Woburn is the 'all weather pitch' of mountainbiking.
Anyway come Christmas the lack of the usuall weekend meets for a ride was getting silly so after a flurry of calls we all decided to meet for a road ride, a meet for a road ride that turned out to be on the coldest day of the year! Within a mile of starting we were all frozen, any more clothing would have seriously hampered your ability to ride, and none of us need our ability hampered! All of us had become unacustomed to riding with each other, though we managed fifty odd very wintery miles together. The high point came just after Nick-No-Balance told me to calm down and ride steadilly before I have a fall, when he had a tarmac/ice/carbon fibre interface.
After that most of us went our own ways again. Though I trained steadilly with Nick all the Spring, only seeing the others on occasions.
Not far into 2008 I felt I might be alright for some events so I booked some early season races hoping to capitalize of the reasonably ok fitness I had, and secretly hoped that most the other UK bikers had stayed in bed all winter.
The first event of 2008 was the G2 Revolver 12 hour that I was to solo. Everything looked somehow quite rosy when I thought all the other soloist around me were going too slow so I thought I'd put in a fast lap and earn some valuable minutes. It was'nt long before my rosy outlook turned black then blue (verbally anyway)On my first lap I punctured and spent nearly forty minutes struggling to sort out my tubeless tyre, then once on my way again I ripped off the valve. A long hobble on a flat tyre saw me second last on lap one. Setting off on lap two I had another puncture and another almighty battle with an ever shrinking UST tyre, so another poor lap. Lap three, and hang on I've cleaned a lap. Then somehow I went into brainless mode, five hours have past and I've not eaten or taken a sip. Getting slightly dizzy and struggling with double track I finally stop to re fuel, but a combination of wanting to give up, punctures and plain bad planning see's me stop at just over six hours.
My next event is somewhat different, I've decided that I'm good enough to resume road racing and promptly enter a local criterium. Finishing at the back of the bunch on this occasion I feel elated only to hear it was the slowest race there all year. Not phased by this I apply for a racing licence through the LVRC and race again the following week. Race two was'nt so easy, the vets know their stuff and take it very seriously, so on that one I'm well and truely lapped.
And here it kind of ends for now. Tonight I'm road racing again and hoping to last a little longer. Then on the weekend I'm doing another 12 hour solo, this time the Set2rise on Salisbury Plain. Pics and reports to follow.

D2D, the 3 Peaks & a cracked frame.....

Summer never really arrived, and it's already time to think about the last events of the year.
First up should have been the 3 Peaks cyclo cross race. I did start training for this at the start of 2007, with plenty of miles on the crosser and a few xc runs each week. However, I was spared a very long walk in the Yorkshire hills when my old cross bike suddenly snapped in two places. Although that meant a long walk home in the wet, it would have been nothing compared to what might have happened if it had broke during the race itself.
I decided that buying another cross frame was'nt worth it for just one race. So instead went and bought myself a nice shiney road bike.
Crossers are fast and great for old field edge stuff, but you can't beat a 'proper' mountainbike for the real rough stuff.
So the 3 Peaks is'nt happening, it's a shame because I would loved to have done it, even if it was just to say I had!

What is happening is the Dusk 2 Dawn, a 12 hour race held in Thetford Forest between the hours of 8pm and 8am.
Again I'm going into the solo classification, and again my old friend Aaron will be there as will Marcus, all of us battling it out for local 12 hour solo honours.
I've ridden the D2D course before, and it has to be the easiest of all 12 and 24 courses, so I hope to do at least as well as I did in the Twentyfour12. The biggest issue for D2D riders is having enough light for the 12 hours, though hopefully Nick-No-Balance has sorted that for me.
All that remains to do is to stay well and fit for the next few months, and perhaps lose my summer holiday belly!

Kona Sleepless in the saddle

Catton Park August 14/15th, not actually racing this one, but there as my mates helper on his attempt to turn in a top ten position.
Helpers, or 'Pit Bitches' as they're known in the trade are there to provide help with food and water, minor mechanics and race times and positions.
Unusually in this game we call 24 hour solo's, the weekend weather looked spot on for chalking up a good placing. Dry, hardpacked, sunny and warm, perhaps a little too warm though. However, Nick-No-Balance's ethnic origins, and the fact he has very little surface area would all go towards helping him.
The race started at 2pm with the mandatory run to spread the field. For the next six hours all I really had to do was keep my rider watered and fed.
Straight away my experience in this sport told me that there would be many riders that would 'crash and burn'. Riders were going hell for leather, taking advantage of the dry fast conditions. I told Nick not to worry about his position until about a good seven or eight hours in, and to keep it steady and concentrate on the long term. Of course I did'nt need to tell him any of this, he knew what to do. Sure enough right on schedule riders started pulling out, tired and dehydrated. Now we could look at the standings, they were'nt bad.
The next casualties would come in after midnight. Riding tired in the dark can really make you think twice about what you are doing. And seeing youre tent and sleeping bag each lap can weaken many a mans resolve.
The dark and rain took more riders out. Nick was now within reach of his target. Even the previous years winner was no longer in the running. Nick had also by now ditched the full suspension Trance for the Kona Unit singlespeed, and soon realized why it was the weapon of choice for so many soloists.
During a short'ish break from helping, Nick had gone into 11th overnight with Rod Mason in 10th. Nick had been shaddowing Rod all the race, though it was very unlikely he could pass him. During the final hours some confusion set in, the bike Nick was running had no computer and the pit timing computers were running a few laps behind. We knew Rod had ridden to 9th, so was Nick 10th?
On the final lap I went on course to shout some last words of encouragement, it was then that I heard over the race PA that Nick was 10th. As soon as he passed me I ran to the finishing straight. He seemed to be taking for ever, then he appeared. As he wheeled down the course to give big Pat Adams the obligitory high five, the PA again annouced Nick in 10th. He had done it.
We were both very happy, but at a loss as what to do next after 24 hours of racing and mooching about. Nick after some time decided to wait until we had the official results before announcing it to the world. Unfortuneately this proved to be a wise move. What had happened overnight we don't know, but Nick was still 11th.
That is still an outstanding result, though he found it hard to swallow. We both came away from the Sits with many lessons learnt, Nick knew what he could do, and I had seen what not to do.
Needless to say we will both be back next year, though I might have a pop myself if my riding and 12 hour races go well.

Bontrager twentyfour/12

Woo-hoo done it.......finished the 24/12 I'd been so looking forward to.

The venue was the Cotswolds Farm Park, and I arrived there Friday the 13th. Any idea that this was going to be a stroll in the park soon went the minute I turned my Landrover into the race arena. Within yards I was struggling to keep the motorized 4X4 in a straight line, Jesus I had to race on this.

At the arena I met Aaron my co soloist and the rest of the Buzzards MTB club, the Buzzards were feilding a soloist, male duo, female duo and team. Though far more important than that, they had a massive dry tent and biggerer BBQ.

On Friday afternoon we all went out on a course recce. This was the chance to see if the 96'er rigid singlespeed would be ok. Well it was'nt. Geared it was, and the singlespeed badboy went back in the car.

One thing I'd say about the course, it had something to throw you off every few yards, mainly bombholes, roots, fallen trees, northshore and the slippiest off camber singletrack I've ever seen. One to take it steady on then.

At the start of the race I was feeling at ease, and seeing the guy on the start line next to me with his forks on back to front made me start giggling.

12 O'clock and we're off, downhill through Sallys Secret and STOP. Lap one was bottleneck city. Though great for checking the course out.

Lap 2 was different, nice and flowing, all the bits that scared me on lap 1 I just did without a thought. This is good I thought.

Laps 3, 4 and 5 go by without incident. And I start to think I'm going to do this. This is the point to feed up sort lights and lube the bike.

After a well timed ten minute food stop I complete lap 6, albeit slowly with a full belly. I arrive back at the pits to a briliant sunset. I have probably only got the chance of doing two more laps now as darkness has set in and I would have to pull something out of the hat to be in before 12 midnight, to give me the chance of getting in 9 laps.

Lap 7 in the dark goes without a hitch.

Lap 8 is started in the knowledge it would be my last, and that fact is hammered home when I start to get stomach acid. I decide to knock myself out on this lap knowing a beer, BBQ and soft chair await me at the end. Sometime after 12 I roll in. Just a downhill cruise to the camp is all that's required of me. In the camp Aaron is laying on the floor, welcome to solo world a say. Aaron and myself both knocked out 8 laps. The team managed 10, the male pair packed and the ladies pair got a podium place in third.

After 12 hours and a bit I was sat drinking San Miguels and downing burgers whilst watching the 24 hour riders slog it out until midday Sunday.

It was'nt long before the talk turned to future events, better lights and tyre combo's. And already D2D later this year was more than an idea.

12 or 24 soloing....................never say never again.

The preparation months

Ooooh my first 'Big' event of the year is almost upon me. I signed myself up for the Bontrager Twentyfour12. I plumped for the 12 hour solo catagory, and the singlespeed sub-catagory. So in three weeks time I'll be on the start line of another 12 hour event.
I decided against the 24 hour race, as my previous efforts have gone to pot for one reason or another.
Though strangely I feel more nervous about this shorter race than I ever did about the full on 24's. I think in the past I either fooled myself that I could pull one off, or went out there knowing I could'nt do it. 12 hours however is do'able. And I think I might even find room to be a bit competative!
All that remains is one huge nagging doubt, based on the fact that I've felt good for some time now? Odd I know, but I worry that I feel good because I'm not trying hard enough, I only have the encouraging words of my peers who think I'm riding strong to ease my worries.
A little side dish to this event is a 'rivalry' between myself and another local rider whom I know very well. Both of us stomp the same grounds, but our individual approach to the event could'nt be more different, think the Tortoise and the Hare.
As the date for the race draws closer, I think all I can do is stay on top of my fitness as it's far too late for any leaps and bounds in that department. So now all my attention is fixed on the logistics of the event, or in other words what I'm going to scoff.
Anyway it's not far off and I think I'm almost there, well at least as there as I'll ever be. Only the day will tell.
www.twentyfour12.com