On my first ride ever a friend said to me that with the way I loved riding I would probably end up racing
soon, and he was right. Only one and a half years later I was approaching my first venue with adrenalin
and nerves already riding high. Had I done enough training? Would I be fast enough? Would I be able to
finish the 6 hours? Was I worrying too much?
soon, and he was right. Only one and a half years later I was approaching my first venue with adrenalin
and nerves already riding high. Had I done enough training? Would I be fast enough? Would I be able to
finish the 6 hours? Was I worrying too much?
As we prepared to put up the tent and met up with my
team mate Emma it was unfortunately raining and
reports from riders doing the Saturday race promised
us a muddy and hard going event. But like a good 'first
time' event should behave, it dried up later that night
and the new morning brought the sun to warm our legs
and dry the trail.
After our power breakfast of peanut butter sandwiches
and rice pudding I attempted to prep my bike for the
race but being full of nerves I was completely
unsuccessful. Thankfully I had brought my private pit
bitch who knows every little bit of me and my bike.
Almost a racing 'vet' Emma impressed me with her cool
headedness and organisational skills. She had brought
our pit-shelter, a little three sided tent just small
enough to fit in our 1.5 metre wide pit area. The Enduro
6 is a 'parc ferme' event, which means that you are not
allowed to leave the pit during the race, so you must
bring everything you could possibly need during the six
hours.
team mate Emma it was unfortunately raining and
reports from riders doing the Saturday race promised
us a muddy and hard going event. But like a good 'first
time' event should behave, it dried up later that night
and the new morning brought the sun to warm our legs
and dry the trail.
After our power breakfast of peanut butter sandwiches
and rice pudding I attempted to prep my bike for the
race but being full of nerves I was completely
unsuccessful. Thankfully I had brought my private pit
bitch who knows every little bit of me and my bike.
Almost a racing 'vet' Emma impressed me with her cool
headedness and organisational skills. She had brought
our pit-shelter, a little three sided tent just small
enough to fit in our 1.5 metre wide pit area. The Enduro
6 is a 'parc ferme' event, which means that you are not
allowed to leave the pit during the race, so you must
bring everything you could possibly need during the six
hours.
| Enjoying our pre-race breakfast |
| We were proud to ride in MTBWales.co.uk colours |
| Emma erecting the pit shelter |
10.00 Time to start. First up was a
600yrd run to spread the riders out
and since I wasn't wearing slippy cycle
600yrd run to spread the riders out
and since I wasn't wearing slippy cycle
| A tiring run to start |
shoes I had volunteered
for it. Being quite fit I
was amazed to find that
within 30 seconds I was
gasping for breath! A
few minutes later I had
managed to run all the
for it. Being quite fit I
was amazed to find that
within 30 seconds I was
gasping for breath! A
few minutes later I had
managed to run all the
| It was harder for me on the first lap than these photos would have you believe |
way back to the pit and started my first lap. Not the best lap to start
with, being tired from the run and with my body still suffering from
nerves I made the mistake of wanting to go too fast too soon. My
legs and lungs were hurting and I felt like throwing up. What did
they mean with "just enjoy yourself"? I was not enjoying myself at
with, being tired from the run and with my body still suffering from
nerves I made the mistake of wanting to go too fast too soon. My
legs and lungs were hurting and I felt like throwing up. What did
they mean with "just enjoy yourself"? I was not enjoying myself at
| Setting out on the first lap of the event |
all! Being passed by endless amounts of fast boys did
not help much either. The sun hadn't had much time to
do her good work yet and the trail was still wet, gluey,
muddy and very, very hard going. Somehow I managed
to finish the first lap and I could collapse in the pit area.
Time for Emma to spin her pedals and fight the mud
while I recovered. But tired as I was I recovered
remarkably quickly with the help of the buzz of the
whole event and the camaraderie of the other teams.
By the time Emma came back from her very impressive
'under 40-minute' lap I was eager to go back out again.
This time I felt great and was flying over the course
clocking 41 minutes.
not help much either. The sun hadn't had much time to
do her good work yet and the trail was still wet, gluey,
muddy and very, very hard going. Somehow I managed
to finish the first lap and I could collapse in the pit area.
Time for Emma to spin her pedals and fight the mud
while I recovered. But tired as I was I recovered
remarkably quickly with the help of the buzz of the
whole event and the camaraderie of the other teams.
By the time Emma came back from her very impressive
'under 40-minute' lap I was eager to go back out again.
This time I felt great and was flying over the course
clocking 41 minutes.
| Emma starting her first lap |
Emma completing her first lap in under 40 minutes
The course was being marshaled by young army cadets who were
great in their encouragement, shouting us up the hill and
complementing us down it. With a private photographer chasing us
for brilliant shots from just about every part of the trail it really felt
like I was in a serious race. Still, most people did pass me up the hill,
but on those few occasions when I managed to pass someone I could
do that little happy dance in my head and that's what it was all about.
With the warm sunshine and the hard work involved with riding the
mud it's amazing how much you sweat. I was in much need of
something salty when I discovered I had left the crisps in the car. I
did ended up shouting at poor Colin halfway down the trail
great in their encouragement, shouting us up the hill and
complementing us down it. With a private photographer chasing us
for brilliant shots from just about every part of the trail it really felt
like I was in a serious race. Still, most people did pass me up the hill,
but on those few occasions when I managed to pass someone I could
do that little happy dance in my head and that's what it was all about.
With the warm sunshine and the hard work involved with riding the
mud it's amazing how much you sweat. I was in much need of
something salty when I discovered I had left the crisps in the car. I
did ended up shouting at poor Colin halfway down the trail
| Pretty scenery? I don't have the time or energy to notice it's there |
"GET ME THE CRISPS!". But no help is allowed
from 'the outside' and we didn't want to run the
risk of the 5 minute penalty.
from 'the outside' and we didn't want to run the
risk of the 5 minute penalty.
On the third lap I was
starting to feel the
tiredness in my legs and
the going got a little
tougher. Even though
starting to feel the
tiredness in my legs and
the going got a little
tougher. Even though
| Even with the sun out I needed extra help to keep warm |
the course was not very technical it did have
some tricky, slippery and rooty bits in it. Even
though I knew I could ride it easily, for some
some tricky, slippery and rooty bits in it. Even
though I knew I could ride it easily, for some
| Emma riding the wooded section halfway round the course |
reason my brain did not want to catch up with this knowledge and made me get off and walk! It's weird
how when you are concentrating so hard on going fast your brain seems to shut out other activities and
doesn't allow you any time to stop, work and conquer. It just tells you to jump off and run.
how when you are concentrating so hard on going fast your brain seems to shut out other activities and
doesn't allow you any time to stop, work and conquer. It just tells you to jump off and run.
Back in the pit the
atmosphere was amazing.
Sunny and warm, we
were all suffering the
hard trail but were still
having so much fun in
doing it. Everyone was
so nice taking an interest
atmosphere was amazing.
Sunny and warm, we
were all suffering the
hard trail but were still
having so much fun in
doing it. Everyone was
so nice taking an interest
| After approaching the short, steep climb I found 'jump off and run' became 'climb off and walk' |
the other riders and giving out tips about which
lines to take. Just as I was dozing off sitting in
the sunshine waiting for Emma to come back I
heard in the announcement "Sabine Hoekema
and Emma Bradley, currently in fifth place".
lines to take. Just as I was dozing off sitting in
the sunshine waiting for Emma to come back I
heard in the announcement "Sabine Hoekema
and Emma Bradley, currently in fifth place".
| Descending out of the woods halfway round the lap |
Cool! We had counted 6 womans pair teams and my aim for the day was not to finish
last. Would it really be possible? We were up against some great riders and with
me being the least experienced...? It did pump me up for my fourth lap and I
managed to keep up my lap times (45 (after the run), 41, 42, 43).
last. Would it really be possible? We were up against some great riders and with
me being the least experienced...? It did pump me up for my fourth lap and I
managed to keep up my lap times (45 (after the run), 41, 42, 43).
| Emma setting out on another lap |
The way the Enduro 6 works is you must be on the track for the whole
6 hours, if you enter the pit anywhere before the 6 hours are passed,
you or your team mate must go out again. They take this very
seriously as one of the teams found out when they rode in a few
seconds before the 6 hour deadline and were made to go out again.
With 60 minutes left on the clock Emma was about to start her 4th lap
and the question was whether I wanted to go out again if she was to
be back before the 6 hours were up. Well, I wouldn't have much
choice, after all she might get a puncture halfway or something, but
she managed another cracking time leaving me with another lap to
do. Even though I was feeling tired, I was also feeling very strong,
6 hours, if you enter the pit anywhere before the 6 hours are passed,
you or your team mate must go out again. They take this very
seriously as one of the teams found out when they rode in a few
seconds before the 6 hour deadline and were made to go out again.
With 60 minutes left on the clock Emma was about to start her 4th lap
and the question was whether I wanted to go out again if she was to
be back before the 6 hours were up. Well, I wouldn't have much
choice, after all she might get a puncture halfway or something, but
she managed another cracking time leaving me with another lap to
do. Even though I was feeling tired, I was also feeling very strong,
| Our end of race strategy meeting |
very calm and powerful. I was here doing the race and we were not last. I could feel my self getting
mentally ready to give it all and then die. As soon as I saw Emma coming back in I set off to do my fifth and
final lap.
mentally ready to give it all and then die. As soon as I saw Emma coming back in I set off to do my fifth and
final lap.
Leave the pit, up the first little climb, through the chicanes, around the back of the
pit and up and in to the woods. That first slippy and steep climb just after the little
downhill with the sharp left hand turn so you could hardly keep your speed up and
were hoping it would slip into granny ring easily. Then up and around to do a little
up and down with the big muddy drop in the middle. Tight right hand (mind the tree
on the corner and into the muddy singletrack through the bluebells. A little more
up and down, lots more mud and some pushing and then that last turn back
towards the pit area. But not before the last climb, two fast and flowing bomb holes
pit and up and in to the woods. That first slippy and steep climb just after the little
downhill with the sharp left hand turn so you could hardly keep your speed up and
were hoping it would slip into granny ring easily. Then up and around to do a little
up and down with the big muddy drop in the middle. Tight right hand (mind the tree
on the corner and into the muddy singletrack through the bluebells. A little more
up and down, lots more mud and some pushing and then that last turn back
towards the pit area. But not before the last climb, two fast and flowing bomb holes
| Starting my final lap |
and then speeding up for the last meters. Through the chicanes again, past the
spectators and into the timing tent. I made it! A cracking 43 minutes made me very
proud and when I passed the finish line I heard the commentator calling my name
out. That was so cool! I also got the traditional hand shake from Pat, the organiser.
I felt so good, for about 30 seconds and then my body realised what I had just done
to it and collapsed.
Big hugs from Colin and Emma back in the pit, but still fairly unable to speak. When
I changed my top in our little tent I did have a little crash on top of my bag, hiding
for a moment from everyone. But the buzz was too big and I was too excited to sit
spectators and into the timing tent. I made it! A cracking 43 minutes made me very
proud and when I passed the finish line I heard the commentator calling my name
out. That was so cool! I also got the traditional hand shake from Pat, the organiser.
I felt so good, for about 30 seconds and then my body realised what I had just done
to it and collapsed.
Big hugs from Colin and Emma back in the pit, but still fairly unable to speak. When
I changed my top in our little tent I did have a little crash on top of my bag, hiding
for a moment from everyone. But the buzz was too big and I was too excited to sit
| Approaching the end of the lap for the final time and..... |
still. I took to rehydrating myself while Emma and Col tidied up our pit
area and brought me back to the car. After some food and more
drinks we did one last little walk to the results table and found out
that we had indeed ended in fifth place. Very, very tired, but even
more proud!
Big, big thanks to all the organisers and marshals, but most of all to
my team mate Emma, (you're a star!) and the lovely Colin for taking all
the pictures, doing the most needed cheering and looking after me
and my bike so brilliantly.
area and brought me back to the car. After some food and more
drinks we did one last little walk to the results table and found out
that we had indeed ended in fifth place. Very, very tired, but even
more proud!
Big, big thanks to all the organisers and marshals, but most of all to
my team mate Emma, (you're a star!) and the lovely Colin for taking all
the pictures, doing the most needed cheering and looking after me
and my bike so brilliantly.
| ...crossing the finish line in fifth place (not last), can I sleep now please? |
