I entered this event in the back end of 2008 and I was looking forward to this as I missed last years as I was not fit enough to compete due to my recovery from my broken shoulder so I was determined to make amends. In the 4 months build up I was averaging less than 3 rides and 61 miles a week. That included Mayhem and a SDW ride. In hindsight next time I would like to put in more miles and the number of times I actually ride a week and hopefully try to fit it a couple more endurance races along the way…
I made the trip with Charlotte who had just had a shoulder op the week before she informed that she would not be able to help out and would just watch me suffer… I borrowed my friend’s wife car and her young son kindly kitted me out with a big medallion, shiny glasses and rings to go with the vehicle….
PIC OF PIMP MOBILE ?
We met Si and Jim laughing at the pimp wagon at about 10.30 at Crossbush and we set off on the journey down to Plymouth. Every other car seemed to have camping gear in and seemed to be heading west also so the traffic was quite congested. I lost Si as he turned off onto the A36 and we stayed on to get on the A35 but that was completely jammed so we meandered through Poole where the Sat Nav said another 4.5 hours at which point I said to Charlotte I cant be bothered with this as we had already been driving for over 2.5 hours. After resetting the Sat Nav it had a change of mind and the journey was now another 2.5 hours to Plymouth so off we went and made it to the site to find Si and Jim setting up at about 3.30. Phil and Alex were already there. Brian and Andy then turned up and put up camp near by.
Tent erected and then Phil and Alex returned from there practise lap looking a little muddy and informing us that the course had quite a few hills. I readied my bike and did a practise lap with Brian. The course itself was rather slimy in places and the ST was littered with wet roots. Twice I lost the front end on the lap. The course was 7.92 miles long. We got back and I cleaned my bike and showered cranked up the BBQ, helped Charlotte quaff some wine and then a walk around the arena to look for any goodies, got to have one of those Exposure Diablo lights they look awesome….. Expect to see a few joysticks on the classifieds soon……
PIC
Time was getting on so we went off to bed but parking next to the main road in and out of the camp was not the best idea with the cars running up and down but eventually they closed the gates and I got in a few hours sleep. Dougall arrived in the morning and set up nearby. On the Friday I had really neglected the carbo loading so I tried to play catch up scoffing various things whilst I changed the tyres on my bike amongst other fettling. The weather was due to stay dry but I opted for a mud front and a fast rear due to the conditions. Charlotte by now had volunteered to help me with my food and drinks whilst I was racing so that was a great help. By the time I was dressed to ride and finished with my fettling I set to the start line with Jim Si and Dougall. We were right at the back and arrived just as the start commenced.
There was a short lap to spread out the field but it just created a big bottleneck into the section of ST they used for it. We then circled back around through the start and the real lap commenced via a grassy track that meandered around the site and then up and out to the big tarmac climb that would take us up to the first bits of ST. The usual hold ups in the ST continued through most of the lap but the climbs were starting to string the field out. The Clif Bar climb was the toughest for me as if you lost traction you had no chance to remount due to its steepness. Managed to get the first lap out of the way in just over an hour, the bike felt spot on and the tyre choice I felt was definitely the right one. I went through the first lap without stopping and then set about the second lap. It was now I began to feel a little dehydrated, the field was beginning to thin and you could now put the hammer down in the ST – the cottage return was awesome.
PIC?
After completing lap 2 in a similar time I stopped to refuel opted for a small camelback to keep my hydrated. As I was just slowing down to pit a rider decided not to shout left or right and just piled into the side of me. I kept my cool and just told him what a cock he was as he lay spreadeagled on the grass. Luckily I just suffered a bruised ankle, it could have been a lot worse… I still could not fathom why I could not seem to rehydrate but set off on lap 3, not long in I had severe stomach cramps which I could not shift. I stopped at the end of the lap where I had to take an extended break as the cramps were getting worse. A run to the toilet then ensued and I had acquired the runs, I knew that if that continued I would have to bail. I made up a rehydration drink, downed it and set off, the first half of the lap the cramps were still causing me problems then as quickly as it came on it had gone. I then set about just trying to record reasonably consistent times for the rest of the race aided by Charlotte who tended brilliantly to my food drink and drug demands.
Lap 6 I was told I was in 11th place and my aim was a top 10 finish so I just continued on at a steady pace and by lap 8 I was inside the top ten. Pushing on again in lap 9 I made another place and had lapped every other ride below me now so that was secure. Lap 10 took a little longer as after taking the first descent my rear brake pad on one side seemed to just disintegrate so it was metal on metal for the rest of the downhill’s so I took it easier after previously seeing 2 casualties on one of the cobbled descents… I got back to the pit with about another half hour to spare but I would have had to change my pads – Si kindly offered to help but my body was saying no as the earlier stomach problems had taken their toll. Charlotte checked my placing and I was 7th so I knew 8th was the worst I could end up with so I decided it was best to call it a day. Completing another lap it turns out would not have placed me higher anyway.
Got off the bike and got some food and showered where a certain organiser joined the queue and bragged to another chap in the queue how he had just done 12 laps in male vets category. Funny that as he finished behind me on time with 10 laps also once the results were published…….. Hmmmmmm. Next year I will lap him at least once just to make sure
Anyway went to bed interrupted by the cars and the 24 hour solo helpers. All I can remember is being woken that night by shouts from one of the top five 24 solo riders to his helpers – “ flat coke 500ml” them informing him his nice clean podium shoes were ready … I was woken almost every night lap he did with his request for food and drink….
My goal had always been a top 10 finish here in my category but the others also put in great efforts, some of which surpassed mine. I’m made up with my placing and I doubt any future 12 hour solo will be without its set backs some time in the race. My GPS recorded over 14,500 of climbing,…. D2D to see the year out and I can’t wait to tackle this one again next year, I’m not one to brag but I know there’s more to come from me performance wise one day if I continue riding a little more than I currently am…
I entered this event in the back end of 2008 and I was looking forward to this as I missed last years as I was not fit enough to compete due to my recovery from my broken shoulder so I was determined to make amends. In the 4 months build up I was averaging less than 3 rides and 61 miles a week. That included Mayhem and a SDW ride. In hindsight next time I would like to put in more miles and the number of times I actually ride a week and hopefully try to fit it a couple more endurance races along the way…
I made the trip with Charlotte who had just had a shoulder op the week before she informed that she would not be able to help out and would just watch me suffer… I borrowed my friend’s wife car and her young son kindly kitted me out with a big medallion, shiny glasses and rings to go with the vehicle….
Damo and the pimp mobile
We met Si and Jim laughing at the pimp wagon at about 10.30 at Crossbush and we set off on the journey down to Plymouth. Every other car seemed to have camping gear in and seemed to be heading west also so the traffic was quite congested. I lost Si as he turned off onto the A36 and we stayed on to get on the A35 but that was completely jammed so we meandered through Poole where the Sat Nav said another 4.5 hours at which point I said to Charlotte I cant be bothered with this as we had already been driving for over 2.5 hours. After resetting the Sat Nav it had a change of mind and the journey was now another 2.5 hours to Plymouth so off we went and made it to the site to find Si and Jim setting up at about 3.30. Phil and Alex were already there. Brian and Andy then turned up and put up camp near by.
Tent erected and then Phil and Alex returned from there practise lap looking a little muddy and informing us that the course had quite a few hills. I readied my bike and did a practise lap with Brian. The course itself was rather slimy in places and the ST was littered with wet roots. Twice I lost the front end on the lap. The course was 7.92 miles long. We got back and I cleaned my bike and showered cranked up the BBQ, helped Charlotte quaff some wine and then a walk around the arena to look for any goodies, got to have one of those Exposure Diablo lights they look awesome….. Expect to see a few joysticks on the classifieds soon……
New shiny stuff from exposure
Time was getting on so we went off to bed but parking next to the main road in and out of the camp was not the best idea with the cars running up and down but eventually they closed the gates and I got in a few hours sleep. Dougall arrived in the morning and set up nearby. On the Friday I had really neglected the carbo loading so I tried to play catch up scoffing various things whilst I changed the tyres on my bike amongst other fettling. The weather was due to stay dry but I opted for a mud front and a fast rear due to the conditions. Charlotte by now had volunteered to help me with my food and drinks whilst I was racing so that was a great help. By the time I was dressed to ride and finished with my fettling I set to the start line with Jim Si and Dougall. We were right at the back and arrived just as the start commenced.
There was a short lap to spread out the field but it just created a big bottleneck into the section of ST they used for it. We then circled back around through the start and the real lap commenced via a grassy track that meandered around the site and then up and out to the big tarmac climb that would take us up to the first bits of ST. The usual hold ups in the ST continued through most of the lap but the climbs were starting to string the field out. The Clif Bar climb was the toughest for me as if you lost traction you had no chance to remount due to its steepness. Managed to get the first lap out of the way in just over an hour, the bike felt spot on and the tyre choice I felt was definitely the right one. I went through the first lap without stopping and then set about the second lap. It was now I began to feel a little dehydrated, the field was beginning to thin and you could now put the hammer down in the ST – the cottage return was awesome.
Damo
After completing lap 2 in a similar time I stopped to refuel opted for a small camelback to keep my hydrated. As I was just slowing down to pit a rider decided not to shout left or right and just piled into the side of me. I kept my cool and just told him what a cock he was as he lay spreadeagled on the grass. Luckily I just suffered a bruised ankle, it could have been a lot worse… I still could not fathom why I could not seem to rehydrate but set off on lap 3, not long in I had severe stomach cramps which I could not shift. I stopped at the end of the lap where I had to take an extended break as the cramps were getting worse. A run to the toilet then ensued and I had acquired the runs, I knew that if that continued I would have to bail. I made up a rehydration drink, downed it and set off, the first half of the lap the cramps were still causing me problems then as quickly as it came on it had gone. I then set about just trying to record reasonably consistent times for the rest of the race aided by Charlotte who tended brilliantly to my food drink and drug demands.
Lap 6 I was told I was in 11th place and my aim was a top 10 finish so I just continued on at a steady pace and by lap 8 I was inside the top ten. Pushing on again in lap 9 I made another place and had lapped every other ride below me now so that was secure. Lap 10 took a little longer as after taking the first descent my rear brake pad on one side seemed to just disintegrate so it was metal on metal for the rest of the downhill’s so I took it easier after previously seeing 2 casualties on one of the cobbled descents… I got back to the pit with about another half hour to spare but I would have had to change my pads – Si kindly offered to help but my body was saying no as the earlier stomach problems had taken their toll. Charlotte checked my placing and I was 7th so I knew 8th was the worst I could end up with so I decided it was best to call it a day. Completing another lap it turns out would not have placed me higher anyway.
Night time at the changeover
Got off the bike and got some food and showered where a certain organiser joined the queue and bragged to another chap in the queue how he had just done 12 laps in male vets category. Funny that as he finished behind me on time with 10 laps also once the results were published…….. Hmmmmmm. Next year I will lap him at least once just to make sure
Anyway went to bed interrupted by the cars and the 24 hour solo helpers. All I can remember is being woken that night by shouts from one of the top five 24 solo riders to his helpers – “ flat coke 500ml” them informing him his nice clean podium shoes were ready … I was woken almost every night lap he did with his request for food and drink….
My goal had always been a top 10 finish here in my category but the others also put in great efforts, some of which surpassed mine. I’m made up with my placing and I doubt any future 12 hour solo will be without its set backs some time in the race. My GPS recorded over 14,500 of climbing,…. D2D to see the year out and I can’t wait to tackle this one again next year, I’m not one to brag but I know there’s more to come from me performance wise one day if I continue riding a little more than I currently am…
The course
Posted on August 1st, 2009 under Articles, Race reports • Tags: 24/12, bontrager, endurance racing, mtb, plymouth, sussex-mtb. • RSS 2.0 feed • Leave a response, or trackback
August 1st, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Thanks Damo, it was a great article, well done everyone who entered. I think we all agree it was a pretty tough course this year!!
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:34 am
Meerkat peeking out the long grass!