Sussex-MTB

This race was not part of my planned itinerary for 2011 but as Charlotte is expecting our baby in August I was told that my racing would have to stay more local in July and August as I would not be Mr Popular if I missed the birth.
Since my first good result a 7th in the 12 hour solo vets at the Bonty 24/12 2009  a decent placing has eluded me due to injury, severe nausea half way through a D2D solo in 2009 and stacking at last years 12 hr solo in the Bonty causing me to retire after 6 laps.

I decided at the back end of 2010 that I would try to race over winter in the 4 hr brass monkeys but due to a lack of riding I failed miserably in all races, I completed one in a slow time, one I was too ill to ride and the last one I was unfit and cramped up after 3 laps. This I would not attempt again as I cant seem to get the necessary training in over the dark winter months. Up until February I thought the wife would allow me to ride the Bonty  12 hr solo so that was my target but then a change of mind and  all my plans were now scuppered along with the Kielder 100 in September although I have not given up my entry in that yet… !

Again I turned to Jenny Copnall who wrote me a ride plan month by month but Feb again was a wipe out hardly getting in any training of any significance and it was not until the second week of March that the training kicked in and I actually managed to follow the schedule and this continued all the way up to Erlestoke.  The training would start at about 7/8 hrs a week and peak at around 15 consisting of 3 – 4 rides interspersed with rest days and a recovery week every 4 weeks. . Along the way I entered a  Spring Gorrick Open on the 6th March where a lack of speed and strength training placed me much further down the field than I would have liked. I had already decided to enter the Gorrick enduro where again I suffered a disappointing result coming in 51st in the 7 laps and I only completed 6 laps. After analysing that I was again short on speed and strength work. Just after that though my wife gave up her Yoga on a Tuesday evening so I was now able to at least get out and chase some of the faster guys from Brighton MTB on this night to hopefully try and help address this.

The training continued following Jenny’s plan almost to the letter building up to the last week where I rode for around 15 hrs, and 11 of those were back to back days of a 7 and 4 which would lead into my 2 weeks taper to get myself ready for race day itself. The only really set back was having to change energy drink again due to severe nausea kicking in after 5 – 6 hrs in the saddle so I had to change my energy drink with 2 weeks to go. I read an article on Dave Buchannan doing Wales south to north and back off road in 48 hrs, an amazing feat and he only used Infinit energy drink whose recipe is tailored to each individual on the responses they give to about 15 questions. I ordered some and tested it on my last 6hr training ride a week before the race and all seemed ok.

I decided to take both my race bikes to the race, a carbon Scott 29 and my trusty Scott Spark that weighs a paltry 20.8 lbs in race guise. The plan was to hopefully race the first 5 – 6 hours on the 29er and end it on the full suss.  I preceded to carbo loaded for three days prior to the event. Come the day Darren was pitting for me so I collected him on route and we arrived at about 9.30 after a 3hr drive on the Saturday with the race due to start at 12 Midday, we quickly set up and got the bikes prepped, mounted the 29er and as usual just got to the start as the race was setting off. The first few laps I completed in times of 48 and 46 minutes. The course flowed amazingly well but the weather was very changeable raining then sun, then rain and also very windy.  Although the rain was heavy at times the course stayed relatively dry throughout the whole race. I decided just to stay in the kit I started in as many around started to don light rain / shower jackets. I was getting a little beat up on the hardtail 29er so changed to the Spark after a lap time of 48 minutes. At this point I was in about 25th position but I felt so much better on the spark and in the tight ST I really noticed the advantage of the smaller wheeled steed. In hindsight I would have just ridden the Spark as I’m not a hardtail fan and they do seem to take their toll on my back off road. Over a shorter distance the 29er hardtail is faster but for longer races over 4 hours the Spark  definitely has a edge.

I reeled off another 4 laps relatively close to my first 3 lap times, waved off the other South Downs Bikes riders who cheered me on, they had just  completed their 6 hour solos and then settled down again feeling very strong,  just waiting to hit the wall at some point. Another 2 consistent laps followed but then on lap 9 I stopped quickly to chat to  Darren to find out where I was and I was now 12th and in the excitement the nearly empty drink bottle I had put on the table I somehow picked back up and set off to do another lap with about 2 mouthfuls of drink. This I realised about a mile in and I could either turn back or ride on so I slackened off the pace and rode my slowest lap of the race aided with a few shot blocs. Come lap 10 lights on now, still feeling strong,  I then put in a faster lap similar to what I had been already reeling off but then on lap 11 a strange stabbing pain in the right knee appeared from time to time and even heavy doses of painkiller and cold spray failed to cure so I decided then to ease off and just complete the race. I just held on to 9th place by about 7 minutes.  If I had come in another 10 minutes earlier I could off easily racked off another lap but did not want to risk further injury pushing a quicker lap as you had to finish you last lap within the 12 hours for it to count.

I was well chuffed with the result, probably a better result than my 7th in the Bonty 12 hr Vets 2 years ago as this was an open field and the first 5 riders were of a very high calibre and as far as I ‘m aware not many Vets finished above me.  Aside from the knee issue I felt strong all the way through and never once really flagged.  My energy came from almost entirely Infinit energy drink with no nausea issue, would highly recommend that to anyone.

The course I would say is one of the best I have raced on for an enduro as its just about the right length, flows amazingly well and has loads of lush ST. I would love to race there again but not sure I could achieve that level of fitness again that early in the year. Also the MOD may not sanction the use of the land again , look up the Spam biking website for more info there, that would be a shame.

Next Solo Race  – ACU – Are You Tough Enough – 6 hr VETS 3rd July..
Thanks again for Darren for pitting, that gained me an extra lap without doubt !

Damo