XC Racer Blog Post

European and UK 24h &12h Solo Champs

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BY: Louise Robinson

Published: 13th May, 2013


My first blog from the pits and an unusual position for me to be in. So much so that my four year old asked "when are you going to ride your bike mummy?"


 

A proper sign-in board - UCI style 

 

My husband Jason turns 40 at the end of the year and I think it was a moment of mid-life crisis that made him decide to enter a 24 hour solo just to say he had done it.  Although he would be loath to admit it, he did do some training. Nothing particularly structured just lots of early morning rides, late night rides and ridiculous sessions on the turbo trainer. With a job, wife and two kids riding time is always in short supply. Whilst quality time on the turbo trainer can do wonders for your fitness, nothing is going to prepare you for sitting on a bike for 24 hours like sitting on your bike.  So sacrifices were made (mostly to his sleep quota) and rides starting at 5am were not uncommon.


 

Single speeds are so non-niche, let's have a fat bike cat 

 

In a change from previous years, this year's European and UK 24h &12h Solo Champs were held at Wasing, in Berkshire. After the weather looked like it was going to provide ideal racing conditions a last minute change of heart saw the weather man predicting scattered showers and chilly winds. Oh what an understatement!


 

And they're off 

 

The race started in sunshine (even if the wind was bitter) and within 30 minutes the leaders were round to complete the first 10km lap. Now this actually makes pitting really hard. With two young kids to look after as well there really is very little time between laps to get anything done. Lucky then that Jason is the "low maintenance" type of 24 hour racer and didn't even slow down for the first 3 laps.

 

 

The Fat Bike trophy made by Beerbabe.co.uk, amongst her collection of bike upcycling products 

 

As this was my first attempt at pitting I was a bit nervous about how I would do. I don't know one end of a spanner from another and to watch me change a tyre is an exercise in excruciating tedium.  I had been instructed to set up the spare bike with lights for 8pm, which I had dutifully done on returning to the campsite (after having to abandon Jason to team boss Del for a couple of hours while I took the kids to a nearby birthday party). Unbeknown to me, Jason was on the "spare" bike because he had bought his main bike in with a bent mech hanger the lap before (so, so lucky that Del was there at that point and not me!). Anyway, with  lights attached to bike (with bent mech hanger now straightened out courtesy of the Boss) I stood in the pits at 7.40pm awaiting my man, thinking how organised I was and how I could manage this pit bitching thing after all. Uh oh, nil pois! Lights on wrong bike, I should have had the lights ready to put onto the bike he was riding.  However, Jason is a man who has been married for 12 odd years and experience shows. After a moment's thought he took the bike I had presented and rode off...


About 10 minutes later we watched as a wall of water fell on nearby fields and moved rapidly closer to us. What proceeded was a hail storm of biblical proportions.  I had managed to get the kids into our small 3 man tent as it started but the noise on the canvas was so loud that my four year old was petrified.  As I huddled under the gazebo to wait for Jason to come in from what was probably the wettest lap in history I noticed the piles of hail stones on the ground and was expecting a very sorry looking rider to return. But miraculously he was smiling and asking only for a waterproof. Apparently, I had had the foresight to give him the bike with the nobly tyres on and he was able to ride while others slipped and slid on the quagmire that the course had become�ah divorce averted. Lesson learnt from today - do what the wife tells you.


Nick Pullen, pit bitch to 24 hour single speed Champion Julian Green, makes sure he doesn't fall foul of the single speed "no taking it too seriously" rule 


 

Unlike other races, provisions for pit crews are laid on courtesy of  Binghams Brewery

 


From that point on the race changed. The pits were filled with shaking, shivering riders trying to warm up and justify why going to bed would be a good call. The rain stopped, but then it got dark. Riders still shivered in the pits. Come midnight the 12 hour riders finished and the course started to get eerily quite.  The night wore on and with the kids to think about Nick Pullen and Jo Holtom volunteered to look after Jason while a got a few hours of sleep. By 6am it was light, the kids were wide awake and ready to cheer Daddy on again. Jason kept plugging away, riding his own race and looking remarkably composed. By 11.05 Jason finished his final lap (you must finish before 24 hours) and found a well-deserved beer.  4th Place in the Euoropean 24 hour championships, not bad for a first try (and next year he will be a vet!!)


 

After 24 hours of racing the toughest part was riding one handed round the final hairpin without spilling his beer 

 

Whilst supporting Jason I was keeping a close eye on the ladies 24 hour race which was even more fiercely contested than the men's. Last year's winner Rachel Sokal looked like the favourite but rookies Iwona Szmyd and Kathy Beresford were not going to let her have it lightly. From the gun the three were closely matched with Iwona taking an early lead which grew and shrank throughout the event.  It was quite hard to keep a tab on where everyone was, especially overnight, as there was no on-going results available but all of the girls pushed on till the very end with Iwona taking the top spot on the podium and the rookie jersey for good measure.


Fourth place for Four4th lights 

 

Many thanks to the organisers who worked tirelessly throughout the race, all the marshals, all who raced, pitted, and generally supported. It never ceases to amaze me what a good bunch us bike racers are!


I apologise for the quality of the photos in this blog. My usual photographer was a little busy.


Louise Robinson, Mum, Pharmacist and part time mountain biker
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Louise Robinson

Mum, Pharmacist and XCracer Team Rider

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