12 miles mountain biking over/around Winn Hill. Not for pleasure but for work, some times it does all come together
12 miles mountain biking over/around Winn Hill. Not for pleasure but for work, some times it does all come together
Wished I could MTB for work
Went out for a quikc dash along Hatterall Ridge this morning before work. First time out since last weeks 12 hour race... Weather has just been too atrocious. Muddy, but the sun was out and legs seemed to be ok, but HR got a bit high in places...
British Heart Foundation London to Brighton today. Obviously 'no good deed goes unpunished'. I only agreed to do it because a team at work wanted to boost the numbers and its for charity. I think they are still out there on the course somewhere! Rode the entire way on my own less the 26, 000 non cyclists who were also taking part - it was bedlam, bikes and bodies everywhere, congestion that cannot be imagined and then it cleared going over Ditchling for a fast few miles home. I say home but my team were nowhere near halfway by the time I finished (some uncompleted wicker work on one of their baskets I think) so had to make my way back as best as I could. NEVER AGAIN. Next year I go for the Sunday club run out and just send a cheque to the BHF to salve my conscience.
That was fun then
It is exactly why I don't do those kinds of rides... and just donate money to good causes from time to time.
Originally Posted by Great Uncle Bulgaria
130km club ride @ 28kph on Saturday.
Decided to take Dearly beloved and dog for a nice saturday afternoon stroll and, to be different, thought we'd head east into england and picked Eastnor Deer Park at the south end of the Malvern Hills.
The yellow signs as we approached should have warned me....'Wiggle Mountain mayhem'. On arrival we find the entire deer park packed with cars, tents, trade stands, portaloos and all the other paraphenalia that goes with the Brits at play on a summer weekend. Unbeknowingly we had stumbled on the World Largest 24 hour Mountain Bike Marathon. A bigger collection of complete and utter nutters would be hard to imagine. Literally thousands of loons struggling around a devilish and devious 10 mile course which, only 1 hour into the event, had already been churned up into an almost unrideable gloop-fest. Bikes and riders (some in comedy outfits) were already caked in a thick layer of mulch. I sat in bemusement watching poor sods pushing bikes uphill rendered twice their normal weight by the accumulation of crud, poking filthy fingers into submerged derailleurs in a vain hope of restoration of mechanical compliance and scooping huge handfuls of shite from tyres in order to get wheels turning again.
I cannot imagine what state everyone finished in. I remember getting up for a pee at 4am hearing the monsoon outside and realising that they were only just over halfway through!
I plan to apply for next years event. Anyone wanna join me? (teams of 4).
Last edited by Wheeze; 25-06-2012 at 02:29 PM.
Well, Wheeze, you could have given me a shout!
I was found in said deer park, riding around on my tod for 25 hrs and 30 odd minutes... I stopped a whole of 45 minutes in that time, 20 minute soup brake at midnight, pooring rain, 10 mintes 6 hours in for some hot porridge and same 18 hours in... A few minutes between laps so my pit bitch Jon could hose the drivetrain down... It was an utter mudfest. Most people gave up...
I think I may have come 3rd, but it was contested so now it is with the commissaires
I was wizzed away by my lovely pit bitch at the finish, while my future team mate and race partner sorted out the results discrepancy... I heard later my name was announced as third lady, but when I went to HQ to collect my prize was told it had gone to someone else
Ah well, come what may, I gave it my all... am now so tired and hungry I can hardly function... was it worth it? Yes! Not the most pleasant experience, true war of attrition, but it separated the boys from the girls so to speak!
I am extremely grateful to all my wonderful friends for helping me in all sorts of capacities! You cannot do it without help and pit crew
Doubt I will do a 24 hr MTB race again though, unless in a team. 12 hours are more fun... and easier to manage... Mind, if I get 4th, I will have to be back next year and show them who should have been on that podium LOL
Last edited by Hanneke; 25-06-2012 at 02:42 PM.
P.S. Wheeze, mixed team of 5? 4 blokes and a girl?
Can fully concur with Hann how bad it was.. I was in a team of four (7th or 8th in Vets but under review.. apparently the timing mats sunk under the mud and missed lots of laps!) and it was epic... solo race looked hell.. you're one tough cookie Hann! Really glad I opted for the single-speed.. I've never seen so many ripped rear mechs and terminal chain suck cases.. knees feel a tad sore today though.
I take my hat off to you both.....no, I take my hat, my hair (whats left of it), my scalp and my brain off to you....and especially Hann. We had our suspicions about you after Tour De Galles (saw "narky bitch" make a brief guest appearance in St Davids!!
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