Race Report: 2015 Mountain Mayhem

Summer Solstice means one thing to most people, the longest day, for me (and some others) it means Mountain Mayhem. For those that don't know, or didn't read my blog last year, this is essentially a 24 hour mountain bike race at Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire. You can either enter as a team, pair or solo. I was 10th solo last year, and this year I was determined to do better.

I arrived early afternoon on Friday, greeted by a marshall, and was ominously directed to the Solo camping area, this was already quite full. Whilst obviously a Solo rider is only one person, often they have a huge support crew, so good trackside camping was at a premium. I managed to get a good pitch, near the course, which was key, so I could nip in and out to get supplies and food during laps. This year was slightly different to last year, as this time I had a pit crew in the form of my brother Jack and two mates, Tom & Dave. In order to place highly in these event a pit crew is absolutely essential, it's quite difficult to know what you want at 3am, let alone trying to work a stove and heat up pasta.

Another vital aspect of any mountain bike race is the weather, what can be a fun and enjoyable course in the dry can turn into an unrideable mess in the rain. The forecast had been changeable over the past week, with the latest saying rain on Saturday. However as race morning arrived the sky was clear, and the latest forecast seemed good. Usual pre race nerves, tyre woes, bike set up (what do you mean by brakes aren't set up right Dave?) and wondering what to wear happened, and before I knew it 11am arrived and it was off to the rider briefing in the main arena, the usual race prep talk was given along with rules and it was back to the tent to but on the lycra i'll be wearing for the next 24 hours, nice.

The race starts like many other endurance mountain bike races, with a run. The idea behind this is to string the field out a bit, and it usually works pretty well to be honest, it's only about 1k afterall. I was stood on the start line, chatting to Ellis from Phoenix and a few other mates I knew were competing, I was seriously nervous, I knew how hard it was last year, and this year was going to be harder, i'd put the pressure on myself. The claxon went off, that was the start, after the short run I was back in the arena, collected the bike, and off I go...

The Plan
I hadn't bothered to ride the course before, afterall I had 24 hours to get used to it, plus from the reports i'd seen online it remained very much unchanged from last year, albeit i'd kind of blocked that out, but I knew there was nothing too technical, and realistically i'd be looking at lap times ranging from 40 to 55mins over the course of the race. It really is a course of 2 halves, the first half is actually good fun, some sweeping singletrack, fast flowing sections, especially through the trees. The 2nd half, well, that was tough. Almost everything after the "grassy section" which itself includes a tough climb, especially as the grass gets wet, was hard, and the climbs both steep and technical (ok, maybe not in isolation, but when you're tired they are) Overall the course is 7 miles, and near as makes no difference 1000ft of climbing, punchy! Having a full support team this year also meant I could create a plan and try and stick to it, and with that in mind I was looking at doing 4 lap stints, so 28 miles and around 3ish hours of riding. 1 gel per lap, 2 600ml bottles with High 5 electrolyte tabs in per 4 laps, some midget gems in my pocket an a banana, lets see how this goes.

Laps 1-10
The first lap was fairly uneventful, I just planned on settling into a steady rhythm, not worry about any other riders on the course and well, just keep going I guess. Conditions out there were excellent, loads of grip, seemed quite fast, and as remembered, the first half was indeed good fun. I'd opted to run Continental Mountain Kings (2.2) after Dave's advise, with the view that if the rain does arrive I can still use these if conditions get worse, thus meaning I wouldn't have to stop for a tyre change, got to say, great advise there. The climbs were also as remembered, steep, tough and if you get the line wrong or hit a loose rock then can become quite tricky, nevertheless I rode them all, albeit slower than others, making sure my heartrate wasn't too high. The last few miles were tough, with three short sharp climbs, one after the other, a steep technical descent, and then a long grassy drag back into the campsite and arena. Plenty of trackside support and camping, including my support crew, who were there with bottles, jaffa cakes, gels and soreen. A new plan had emerged, one that meant I didn't need to stop at all, let alone every 4 laps. With that in mind a quick fling of the bottle and a fresh one full of water and I was off out on my second lap. The first one was around the 46 minute mark, so about where I needed to be. Laps 2,3 and 4 were excellent, really getting into it now, and setting some very consistent lap times around the 44 minute mark. Every lap the chaps were there, handing me bottles, cheering and stuffing soreen in my face, even a ham sandwich at one point, thanks Tom! My hydration was going well despite it being humid, and overall feeling good, long way to go yet, but feeling positive. Lap 5 and 6 seemed hard though, no idea why, looking back I think I had mentally prepared myself for a 5 min stop at lap 4, come off the course even, but that wasn't happening, I couldn't stop riding. Onto lap 7 and I started counting how many till i could have a meal, it had been agreed, whilst I cycled past that I would stop at 8pm, a few reasons, first of all you need lights of your bike past 8:30pm, secondly i'll be very hungry, and finally i'll have done 10 laps in 8 hours, which would put me on target for 30 laps. 7 and 8 were good laps, i'd had some more food during my ride through camp, including scotch pancakes (fave) and was looking forward to some pasta. Lap 9 it was getting quiet out there, i specifically remember the first half of the lap and there being nobody passing me, or me not passing anybody, but then after the "grassy section" riders seemed to start appeared, maybe i was more tired than I thought. Then on the final climb under the trees it went very dark and I could hear the rain, great, thankfully nothing more than a very heavy shower, which if anything  made conditions slightly better in terms of grip under the trees. Woah, 9 laps done, that final climb was hurting, and out onto 10, a quick shout to the lads, pasta, coffee and warm sauce was the order. I spent all of lap 10 then thinking how much I could eat, I think this spurred me on and I posted a quick time around 45 mins. Into camp at 7:50pm, on time, and above target. I jumped off my bike, coat and clothes on and sat down as Dave gave my bike the once over, fixed that annoying rattle that developed on lap one, fixed my brakes that "somebody" had fitted, index my gears... nothing major then. Jack and Tom then handed my pasta, and more pasta, and a bit more. I was getting fed up with gels and sweet food now, so savory stuff was essential. I agreed the next stop would be 4am, another 8 hours away, and hopefully another 10 laps in the bag. 4am would mean i'd get the dawn lap (fave), take my lights off and get some breakfast, well that was the plan.

Early on. 

Still going. 

Laps 11-20
I set off at 8:08pm, feeling full of energy, full of food and looking forward to the night laps. The first two laps I was flying (for me), I posted a 42 on lap 11 which meant I missed the lads! Lap 12 was similar at around 43, and was met with Dave running down the course to find me "We wondered when you'd be in, mechanical?" "No, my 12th lap..." Another 2 bottles replaced, making sure I was drinking just as much water as I was this god awful gel/electrolyte tab mixture in the other (seemed a good idea at the time and does work) Lap 13, and the first lap where I really needed my lights, well Tom's lights, seeing as mine broke. I knew the course well enough to not need the full 1000 lumens it offered, and wanted to make sure the battery lasted so went for the lowest setting, which worked well. The night laps are always going to be slower, namely because you can't see everything on the trail as clear as in daylight, but also because your body is telling you to go to sleep. Laps 13, 14 and 15 were all around the 50 minute mark, so still on target. The lads were still out there every lap, handing me supplies and forcing food down me. Lap 16 now done and I crossed the finish/start to see the running total time now at 12 hours something, over halfway there, which was a good thought, but also if I carry on at this pace and speed i'll end up doing 32 laps, that isn't going to happen... I had a lot of riding to do. The following laps were quite tough, I just felt in a daze really, a trance like motion akin to when you wake up in the middle of the night, apart from this time I was in the middle of the woods, sat on my bike riding. Finish off lap 18 and I shouted Jack to grab me a coffee, a cold one, so I could drink it quickly, try and wake up a bit, that along with a few gels seemed to do the trick and lap 19 was on, I knew the night shift was nearly done, and I knew i'd be doing the dawn lap soon, it's the oddest sensation, you've been riding for hours through these woods, total darkness, no noise at all, but than all of a sudden they come to life and the dawn chorus starts, it's one of the best moments of the race for me. Right, onto lap 20, I knew my breakfast of porridge, bananas and anything else I fancied was close, it was starting to get light and the race was nearly over... Ow no, maybe not, but still, only 8 hours left... I rolled into camp around 4:45, my previous night laps had been tough, both mentally and physically and whilst I was ok, times were slowing, with my last one, lap 20 just over an hour I think, in needed this sit down and coffee.

The night laps

Laps 21 to 27
The final push, you're nearly there, come on solo. Just a few words that were shouted as I set off on my 21st lap at 5:08am, by now it wasn't just the legs that hurt, the whole body hurt, arse, arms, wrist, hands, back. Whilst the course was good, it wasn't half tough on your body, the steep climbs, the very rough grassy sections, and the braking bumps, all of which on a normal ride would be nothing, but here they were something to overcome, and something to not look forward to. Laps 21 and 22 were slowing, more riders were coming onto the course as they woke up (lightweights...) and this tends to mess with your head abit, I had other solo riders passing me, looking fresh and speed off into the distance, I tired to chase a few on lap 22, but i didn't have it in me. The on the final climb in the woods my chain came off, no biggie, back on, and immediately off again, a quick look over and can see nothing wrong, but it wouldn't stay on, so I ran. It was about 1.5 miles to camp, so not that far, but certainly 1.5 miles I would have rather not ran. Dave took the bike from me, and hurried over to his workstand to have a look. Thankfully I had bought Lucinda's bike on her suggestion, so had a spare, swap seat posts and I was off on my 23th lap. Lucinda's bike is a 26" Giant XTC Team (NRS) full sus bike, full suspension meant comfort, and whilst on the first few miles of the course I couldn't believe how comfy this was, held it's speed well, and I was setting a great pace, partly I think because of the bike, but partly because I had lost 5 mins swapping so felt I needed to make that up somehow. Onto lap 24 and Dave had fixed my bike, no surprise there, best mechanic i've ever met bar none (if you're ever in Shropshire check out The Trailhead, great shop: http://www.thetrailhead.co.uk/) can literally fix anything. Despite this my body was craving the full sus comfort, so I stayed on that for another lap, first half that was the right choice, second half of last 24 and no. I wasn't used to the bike and I missed the rigid climbing of my 29er XTC, I slowly made it around the course posted a slow 55ish lap, not bad I guess. F1 Pitstop style bike swap and I was back on the XTC, and ontomy 25 lap, somewhat of a milestone considering that is what I did last year, it was 8:55am now so just over 3 hours to go, and during lap 25 I worked out that I had 3 more to do, or maybe 4 if I rode quick... As long as you come in before 12pm you had to go out on another lap, it would be close. No worries though, lap 25 was slow, around the hour mark, and there was no way i'd better that. I don't think i've ever really experienced pain, both mentally and physically like laps 26 and 27, they were tough, no other words, I couldn't relax on the downhill sections as my hands hurt to much and I couldn't really get much speed up on the flattered sections, and I certainly couldn't ride the steepeer climbs, I was simply going through the motion, tell myself it was nearly over, only 14 miles or so... I headed out onto what was my final lap, lap 27 at 11:15, I was done, but then so was everybody else, and the sense of camaraderie started to build around the course as pockets of "lurkers" appeared, a few people chatted, and most shouted "come on solo" this was simply met with vacant stares, and a grunt if they were lucky, I wasn't ignoring you, I was grateful, thank you. I relief to reach the top of that final climb was immense, just to get through the arena and it was over, behind me I could see two solo riders upping the pace, what if these were in 8th and 9th and it was going to be a sprint for the line,I couldn't let that happen, so from somewhere I mustered a sprint from some 0.5 miles from the finish, well i say sprint, more just slightly quicker. I crossed the line 2nd here, only to find out these guys had done 13 laps, not to worry. I just stood on the course, not sure what to do now, do i cry, do i sit down, can i eat? One of the Pivot Boompods guys came over congratulated me on an epic ride "every time I saw you, you were just riding, not stopping at all" Yeah, that kind of summed it up I guess. I was a broken man, and as i stumbled off the course, met by Dave, Tom and Jack we celebrated, I was handed a beer by Bruce and then ushered to a seat at Vee Tyres tent. I was done.

Through the Campsite

Main Arena

Sprint Finish. Destroyed. 

27 laps
24 hours 8 minutes
190 miles
30,000ft climbing
7th Solo

Done

Very Done.

I didn't have a number of laps targeted, I guess "more than 25" but to get 7th I was chuffed to bits with. What a race though, it's brilliant. It's odd, you spend the last few hours wanted to be done, you finish, and then I just wanted to get back out there...

Thought it might also be useful to share so tips, not just for anybody ready, but also for me when it come to next year, so...

Some Tips:
Whilst yes, the winner did win on a rigid hardtail (32 laps...) most people would seriously benefit from a full suspension bike, I didn't think I would, but on a course like this the extra comfort and speed could be the difference between an extra lap or not. Plus your body will thank you.

I was running a 34T single ring up front with a 36T biggest at the back, whilst this is fine for normal rides, and looks good I could have done with an easier gear, 32 up front would have been ideal if using a single ring, again, certainly be doing that next year. It will of course seem easy to start with, but towards the end I thought me knees might go.

A support crew really is essential to place well. I didn't have one last year, hence me coming in every 4 laps to refill bottles, having somebody handing you food and fluid is amazing, and takes anther think you have to think about away, which means you just focus on riding. My support crew were amazing, I owe you a beer (or a Jagerbomb Jack)

Eat real food around normal meal times. This might not always be possible, but I found that I was hungry around my normal dinner and breakfast time, so program that into a rest, even if it's just 5 minutes, having some real, warm food, not something that has come out of a gel packet is a nice feeling, also something to aim for and look forward to.

Cold Coffee, this worked very well, perfect shot of caffeine, tastes nice, isn't a gel and quick to get into your system, i'll be doing this again for sure.

Make sure your clothing is easy to put on/take off. I spent what seemed like forever trying to get my jacket off. Use knee/leg/arm warmers and a gilet if you get cold, again, very easy to remove and put on it needed without getting changed. May sounds obvious but it's an important point I think.

Don't stop. You can always do it. At the start I said I wasn't going to sleep, mentally that is tough, but once you know that is the plan, you'll stick to it. There were a few moments on the course where I wasn't sure if i'd make it, but after a good talking to knew I could finish, it didn't matter how long a lap would take, i'd just keep going. After all a 24 hour race is as much mental as it is physical.

A few words of thanks, first of all Jack, Tom and Dave, couldn't have done this without you guys. Dave (again) for the photos, All the marshalls and organisers, an event like this doesn't just happen, and cheers to Go Outdoors for stepping up as headline sponsors.

Thanks for getting this far, hope you found the post interesting. I'm still hurting today you'll be pleased to know, but already looking forward to next year, wonder what the weather will do...

Strava:
https://www.strava.com/activities/330239323
https://www.strava.com/activities/330239356
https://www.strava.com/activities/330239246
https://www.strava.com/activities/329886619

Race Report: Bristol Bike Fest

I've long since been saying that i'd like to have a crack at a mountain bike endurance race on trail centre type terrain and course. So with that in mind I signed up to the 12 hours Bristol Bike Fest, however keen to share the enjoyment/suffering/glory with somebody else, I fancied a crack at the mixed pairs category, so Lucinda agreed and that was it. Entry in.

My main target for the year when it comes to endurance mountain bike racing is Mountain Mayhem, so with the Bike Fest falling the weekend before Mayhem, some may see this as not ideal prep, I on the other hand, saw this as a great opportunity for me to test my fueling, make sure the bike was nailed, and get used to counting laps and trying to work out if i've got time for another before the finish, all whilst sat in a tent eating cold pasta. Nice. 

Bristol Bike Fest held at Aston Court, a large country estate just a few miles West of Bristol. Aston Court has a purpose built trail (Super Nova) that is 4 miles long, with sections of Red additions. The Bike Fest route used most of the blue, all of the red sections and then some additional fire roads to make 1 lap 5.8 miles, with the aim of the game to ride the course in your pair (or team or solo) as may times as you can before the race finished at 9pm (any laps finished after 9pm are not counted)

We left London on Friday around Lunch time, stopped off at the Rapha Archive store (rude not to eh) and then made our way onto Bristol. When we pulled into the event village and camping I was quite surprised with how small it felt, however there was a great atmosphere, with lots of people sitting out drinking beer and trying to set up tents. Pitch found and tent up, we decided to walk the course, or at least some of it, just to see what the terrain was like, having never ridden here I wasn't sure what to expect and this being Lucinda's second ever mountain bike race, and not only that, but having only been riding a mountain bike since January this year we both thought this would be worthwhile, pointing out any difficult areas, as it happened the course seemed ok, fast and flowing hardpack ground and gravel, with nothing too technical meant this should be fine. After a hearty dinner of cold pasta and warm sauce we headed into the event village/tent for a beer. There was plenty of people milling around, mainly drinking beer and eating chilli, nice relaxed feel. They also had roller racing, with the converted prize of 5 free beers each to fastest male and female rider. Not an opportunity I could turn down, and with that in mind Lucinda and I had a go and set our times, initially with us both topping the leader-board, for now anyway. Time to retire and off to sleep and discuss tactics (just keep riding yeah?) It was as I was putting the bikes away that it started raining, much like the forcast said...

Camp Set up

Start Line

I think it was about 2am, it might have been later, but the rain was lashing it down, for anybody who has never camped in torrential rain, imagine the noise of showing with a plastic bag on your head (yeah, ok) sleep that night, was at best, slightly disturbed. 6am and it was STILL raining, are we really about to do this? Apparently so, and as the 6:30 alarm went off we both woke up, both with a slight look of trepidation, or that might have been hunger, not sure. Breakfast and porridge cooking, bikes prepped, clothes on (how many layer, waterproof, shorts, 3/4? gloves) many questions about what to wear, and we were ready for the 8:30am briefing, and the 9am start time.  The start format was a short run to the bikes with one member of the team/pair opting to run, do their laps then hand over the baton (or in this instance big hair bobble) to the other team member/s. Lucinda and I had agreed for me to do 2 laps, and Lucinda then do 1, and we'll just been doing that till 9pm, easy.

Ready to roll

The start. Quite mad really.

The gun went off and a melee of riders set off up a small fireroad climb to find their bikes. Once on the bike it was time to settle into a rhythem, get used to the bike again (i'd made some changes, namely handle bars now 740mm wide) and just crack on. As with all mass start races the first lap is always very congested, and especially on this course as the first 2 miles offered very little by way of overtaking opportunities, despite this progress was good, and I was maybe in the top 30 riders on the course. The first few miles were great fun, fast and flowy hardpack singletrack which then lead onto a grassy flat section, followed by a fireroad climb, and opportunity that Lucinda and I had identified as prime overtaking opportunity. Reaching the top, there was a small descent, before you were plunged into the darkness of the woods again, still following some of the blue trail, so plenty of tight corners and bumps to navigate over, before the route rose slightly on some very tight and twisty singletrack, again, opening up we were then sent downhill, off the blue route, and onto another very wet fireroad, by this point I was soaking and the earlier effort to try and stay dry and not ride in the  puddles was quite frankly laughable now, I was just going to have to embrace cold wet feet for 12 hours. Upon reaching what I can only assume was the lowest point on the course we were met with a gradual and then steep rooted climb, a section we didn't walk the day before (thankfully). The climb now, on fresh legs and with very few riders having ridden it was fine, however I knew as both the course and legs become tired this would prove to be tough. Climb done, and we reached the next twisty singletrack section on what later became apparent, was my least favorite section of course. This was a tight, twisty section, where I seemed to struggle to find any rhythm, not sure why, probably lack of skillzz, probably the fact it was all slightly up hill. Either way the section after here was great fun, and by now, at around mile 4.5 the riders had thinned out, and I got a clean run at this section, it was, dare I say it, enjoyable. The final 1.5 miles contained a steep climb with loose rocks, roots and no clear line, again, I knew that whilst now, feeling fresh this would be fine, but after 7 hours on the bike i'd probably not feel the same. This climb then brought us back to the edge of the event village, and then straight back down down the only pure "red" section of the course, instantly different to the rest of the course, the rocks were loose and slippy, an overall rougher terrain, with jumps and trail features such as rock gardens and steps built in to make sure you are awake, this then lead into a fast descent with a clearly shorter rocky line, and a smoother line which might not be as quick, I opted for the later, still making sure I did the jumps. The course then went back upto the event village via a long grassy climb and a final fireroad flat section, before a sharp 180 degree turn into the arena. So that's 1 lap done, around 31 minutes including the run, so not bad, only 11.5 more hours to go. 

Out on the second lap I felt great, especially now I knew the course better, and there were less riders, I knew where I could really make up time, and where i'd be best to try and conserve some energy. This lap was however pretty uneventful, well bar the air I got on some of the jumps obviously. Timing wise I was being constant with my previous lap, and aiming to lap at around 30-32 minutes. Final grassy climb done, and few more places gained I pulled into the arena, and the handover area to pass onto Lucinda, she was off, and we were onto our third lap. Neither of use were sure of her lap times, but agreed that a time around 50 minutes would be great,and with that in mind I went back to the tent and grab some food. I'd done less than 12 miles but it was amazing how hungry I felt, plus it was bloody freezing, windy and raining. Nice one June! Back into the handout area and before I know it Lucinda turns up! She'd just racked up a 45 min lap. So now i'm out on another 2 laps, with the aim now to get 5 laps completed before 12, and therefore the potential for 20 in total. 12 noon was also quarter of the way through in terms of time, so a nice milestone. Again, nothing much to report on these laps, my 3rd was around 33 minutes, and 4th slightly slower at 34 minutes, but I still felt good, if not a little damp, and coming into the arena, to slightly heavier rain, Lucinda was there ready to take over and do another lap, and we were in before 12. Back to the tent again and with the weather getting worse it didn't make sense to just have an hour/45 minutes between laps, you just didn't have enough time to get warm and eat anything substantial. With that in mind, i'd made the decision that on my next time out i'd do 4 laps. 4 laps was a bit less than 24 miles, it's not the distance that tends to get to you in races like this, but the fact that you're out doing the same sections, without a break for a number of times. The first lap went well and traffic on the course wasn't that heavy now so posted a good time. The rain now finally stopped, and it was getting slightly warmer, which was a welcome relief, with this however meant the course, in sections, was starting to become slightly sticky, and especially on the long rooty climb towards the back of the course, still progress was good and I came into to complete my 6th lap in just over 33 minutes. Out for another 2 laps now and I looked down to see very little by the way of water, and reaching into my jersey, no gels... (no tools either for that matter) being concious of this I tried to ration the water for this lap, however by the latter half I was feeling dehydrated, and starting to get quite hungry. 7 laps now done and out for the 8th, wasn't really looking forward to this, and wished I had some food, never the less I pushed on, conserving energy in the twisty sections and rolling the bumps, just at the half way point of this 8th lap, I was out of water, not ideal... my pace had dropped a little and after what felt like an age I finally emerged out the woods and onto the second to last climb, I knew from this point it was about 8 minutes till the finish, I crossed the line some 10 minutes later, and clocked a lap time of 37 minutes, my slowest of the race. It was Lucinda's turn for a double lapper now, as she headed out for her two laps I stood in the handover area quite tried, but mainly hungry. Back at the tent and plenty of food and water later (Pork pies, cheese and onion pasty, cheese rolls) I started to feel normal again, thankfully. I waited near the start of the course to see what time Lucinda would come in, and she was still lapping in just under 45 minutes, and off out onto the second lap. Some more food eaten, bike cleaned (a bit) it was time again to wait in the hand over area. A quick handover I was off again, onto another 4 lap stint, but this time with a full bottle of energy drink, and Lucinda to hand out gels after every lap (very useful). The first and second lap were both great, and despite more riders now being on the course, and the rain/drizzle starting again the course was riding quick I was really enjoying the flowing sections of singletrack, I posted a 32 and 33 minute lap, which given this was my 9th and 10th seemed ok, and about what I was targeting. The 3rd and 4th lap of this stint was getting harder though, and the course was starting to take its toll, especially on the hands and back. During my final lap before handover I was starting to plot how many laps we still had to do. I'd worked out Lucinda had one more to do, and me 2 more, maybe, just maybe 3 more... There is always a moment in a endurance race based on laps where you try and work this out, and depending on how sleep deprived you are it might be accurate. Another quick handover to Lucinda for her final lap and she was off, I was off to get more food, a coffee and some energy from somewhere and before I knew it I was back in handover area. Lucinda came in at 7:25pm, that meant i'd have 1 hour 35 minutes to do 3 laps, quite a big ask at the start, let alone now after over 10 hours. Never the less my 13th lap was quick at 32 minutes, still just over an hour to go, it was looking close. 14th lap was however a bit slower, and at 8:28 I was on the final climb, I knew I wouldn't be able to make another, and crossed the line in 34 minutes at 8:32pm. We were done. 19 laps in total. We were tired.

Coming in. 

Going Out

14th lap. 

Done.

I was keen to see where we had placed, and upon checking the results, we were confirmed as 5th in our category, and around 60th overall, I reckoned that was pretty awesome! More impressive and surprising was perhaps there was only 5 minutes between 3rd, 4th and 5th. With 2nd and 1st on 22 laps a piece.

Back to the tent to clean up, collect our 5 free beers each, relax and eat. We were done and what a great race and event. Beer hasn't tasted this good for a while. Upon reflection perhaps a tougher course than I had thought, relentless under tyre and wet, slippery conditions meant you couldn't really relax and just power on, you always had to be alert, even in the dry I reckon this would have been a tough course. Reckon Lucinda has the bug now for endurance mountain bike racing as she's already suggest Oktoberfest at Ashton Court again in October...

Thanks for reading if you've come this far. This week i'll be mostly resting ready for Mountain Mayhem and 24 hours of mud and riding.

Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/325132111