forward. There were no more incidents on the rest of the lap just a fight with my
legs to keep going fast. They didn’t let me down and I crossed the finish line a few
minutes after 4pm.
In the end we came 41st, a position we were really happy with. For two blokes who
legs to keep going fast. They didn’t let me down and I crossed the finish line a few
minutes after 4pm.
In the end we came 41st, a position we were really happy with. For two blokes who
As I had committed myself to riding the ‘Sleepless in the Saddle’ 24hr race ‘solo’ this year to raise money
in memory of my mate Paul who died from cancer, I thought it best to get some training in. With a non-
scientific plan of increasing my commuting miles and doing some big mountain bike rides, on top of my
normal riding, I accepted the offer of entering the Wiggle Enduro Six at Catton Park with my mate Maca.
in memory of my mate Paul who died from cancer, I thought it best to get some training in. With a non-
scientific plan of increasing my commuting miles and doing some big mountain bike rides, on top of my
normal riding, I accepted the offer of entering the Wiggle Enduro Six at Catton Park with my mate Maca.
For those who don’t know, the Enduro Six is a 6hr endurance event put on at the
same venue as ‘Sleepless’ by the same organisers. The idea is to see how many
6 mile laps you can do in the allotted 6hrs. The unique thing about this race is that
it’s run from a 'parc ferme' where teams are allocated a pit area to keep everything
they need for the race. Once the race begins you can only leave the 'parc ferme'
to ride the course, you can’t pop out for extra food or spares, so it’s very important
to take in everything you need at the start or it could spell disaster.
The outlook for the weather was bleak with the forcast showing a band of dark
blue covering the lower half of the country. When Maca picked me up at 6am it
was raining and as we drove down the M6 it just got heavier. If it stayed that way
the ride was going to be an ordeal. Unbelievably at the M6 Toll the skies started to
brighten and by the time we pulled into Catton Park the rain had stopped
completely.
As we signed on, unpacked and got ready we bumped into a lot of people we hadn’t seen for a while. It
was great to catch up with old friends, talk bikes and share our thoughts on what lay ahead. We also
enjoyed the great atmosphere, which I think was a lot to do with the mixture of entrants. There were
racers out for a win, friends on for a good ride and even a couple complete their baby and dog.
was great to catch up with old friends, talk bikes and share our thoughts on what lay ahead. We also
enjoyed the great atmosphere, which I think was a lot to do with the mixture of entrants. There were
racers out for a win, friends on for a good ride and even a couple complete their baby and dog.
|
| www.flattyresmtbroutes.com |
| Finally I have to say a big Thank You to Rob Crayton for letting me use all the photographs on this page. Check out his website for lots more photographs of mountain bike events. |
Maca was buzzing and worrying about tyre choice, he admitted to
always getting nervous before a race. Eventually, happy with his set
up, he positioned his bike along the rails at the start. After this the
time passed quickly and it didn’t seem long till those doing the first lap
were lining up. Maca was doing ours as the race started with a ¼ mile
run to spread out the field. I don’t do running, he does.
Then it was 10 o’clock and they were off. I saw Maca make it back to
the start about halfway down the pack before picking up his bike and
shooting out of the arena. While he was fighting round the first lap
| Bikes lined up at the start |
tackling congestion and soft, energy sapping ground I sat down in our
pits and closed my eyes for 20 winks, I had been up since 5am after
all. It wasn’t all relaxing though and I was soon getting myself warmed
up.
We weren’t sure of the course and how long a lap would take but from
previous years we guessed at 40 mins. It was a guess that proved
spot on. At our hand over Maca gave me some idea of what to expect,
then I was off. As I got up to speed I had to remember to keep it
steady until I’d warmed up properly. The ground was as damp and
spongy as Maca had said but everyone was having to cope with that. I
just concentrated on going as fast as possible without burning out.
pits and closed my eyes for 20 winks, I had been up since 5am after
all. It wasn’t all relaxing though and I was soon getting myself warmed
up.
We weren’t sure of the course and how long a lap would take but from
previous years we guessed at 40 mins. It was a guess that proved
spot on. At our hand over Maca gave me some idea of what to expect,
then I was off. As I got up to speed I had to remember to keep it
steady until I’d warmed up properly. The ground was as damp and
spongy as Maca had said but everyone was having to cope with that. I
just concentrated on going as fast as possible without burning out.
| And they're off, even Andy Champion (in black) with a dodgy knee |
| Definitely a race then... |
The lap went well and I was happy to be passing lots of
people without being passed myself. While overtaking it
almost went very wrong, I hit a big hole in the
undergrowth and almost went over the bars but somehow
managed to get through without crashing. After that fright
I chose my lines more carefully and completed the lap 32
mins, a time I was very happy with.
Without the run I expected Maca to finish his second lap
in the mid 30’s. When he didn’t come back I started to
worry that something had gone wrong. It had. He had
dropped his bike in a big mud hole, which had loosened
his flippy-flappy shifter and prevented him changing gear.
Thankfully he’s a man of determination and made it back,
only a few minutes late, using one gear. My second lap
felt good and I was still passing people. By the time I got
people without being passed myself. While overtaking it
almost went very wrong, I hit a big hole in the
undergrowth and almost went over the bars but somehow
managed to get through without crashing. After that fright
I chose my lines more carefully and completed the lap 32
mins, a time I was very happy with.
Without the run I expected Maca to finish his second lap
in the mid 30’s. When he didn’t come back I started to
worry that something had gone wrong. It had. He had
dropped his bike in a big mud hole, which had loosened
his flippy-flappy shifter and prevented him changing gear.
Thankfully he’s a man of determination and made it back,
only a few minutes late, using one gear. My second lap
felt good and I was still passing people. By the time I got
| .....and me |
back I saw we were 55th out of 132. Our aim was the top
50 and I was sure we could improve. Happy with how it
was going I sat in the sun and prepared for the next lap.
The weather was still being unbelievably kind.
On my third lap I was starting feeling the pace. When a
rider on a yellow forked Lightspeed came flying past I was
impressed at how much faster the top riders were.
Somehow though I caught him on the first climb, then
overtook and never saw him again. At the time I
wondered what was going on but after I passed it went out
of my mind and I just got on with riding.
Back in the pits I met Alvin of the 'Alf Jones Cycles' team,
‘Well done mate, that was a good lap’. It had been him I
had passed. Normally I would never be able to stay with
him but on the second lap of two he’d started to suffer
50 and I was sure we could improve. Happy with how it
was going I sat in the sun and prepared for the next lap.
The weather was still being unbelievably kind.
On my third lap I was starting feeling the pace. When a
rider on a yellow forked Lightspeed came flying past I was
impressed at how much faster the top riders were.
Somehow though I caught him on the first climb, then
overtook and never saw him again. At the time I
wondered what was going on but after I passed it went out
of my mind and I just got on with riding.
Back in the pits I met Alvin of the 'Alf Jones Cycles' team,
‘Well done mate, that was a good lap’. It had been him I
had passed. Normally I would never be able to stay with
him but on the second lap of two he’d started to suffer
| We shared the course with some great riders Nick Craig and Jenn O'Connor |
from cramp. He finished 12th with TC so I don’t care how it happened, I beat him. This made me very
happy, as did the fact that Maca and myself were now 48th.
happy, as did the fact that Maca and myself were now 48th.
Although slowing down with each lap our times were still
good and our position was slowly creeping up. Just
before my last lap I saw we were 43rd and the prospect of
a top 40 finish entered my mind. Maca returned and
| Maca and me giving it everything |
asked for no heroics, not wanting
to go out again, but with only 30
minutes left there would be no
worry of that. I gave it my all and
was sure I’d made some positions
but still it could have gone
wrong. Being tired I lost
concentration and clipped a tree
with my bars. Thankfully bouncing
off the trunk with my shoulder
kept me upright and going
to go out again, but with only 30
minutes left there would be no
worry of that. I gave it my all and
was sure I’d made some positions
but still it could have gone
wrong. Being tired I lost
concentration and clipped a tree
with my bars. Thankfully bouncing
off the trunk with my shoulder
kept me upright and going
| It's the final count down |
just ride and do no structured training it was a great result. It had been a great day in other ways to, riding
with friends on a good course at an event with a great atmosphere. Big thanks to Pat Adams and the team
for organising everything and, as we drove away with rain on the windscreen, for keeping the weather at
bay as well.
After doing this event I am happy to know my speed is still there. All I need to do now for ‘Sleepless’ is
work on increasing my stamina.....a lot!!
with friends on a good course at an event with a great atmosphere. Big thanks to Pat Adams and the team
for organising everything and, as we drove away with rain on the windscreen, for keeping the weather at
bay as well.
After doing this event I am happy to know my speed is still there. All I need to do now for ‘Sleepless’ is
work on increasing my stamina.....a lot!!
|
| Maca..... |
| Please don't forget that I am riding 'Sleepless in the Saddle' to raise money for Cancer Research UK and my local Hospice. Details of how you can sponsor me are on the tribute page In Memory of Paul Bebe. Just follow the links. Thank you! |