It aint half hot mum - a belated blog from AYTE

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BY: Louise Robinson

Published: 13th July, 2013

The world has gone mad. It's July, its 30oc and its not raining. We don't know what to do with ourselves.  The kids aren't used to flip flops, they are more familiar with wellies and they don't understand why I keep making them wear a hat; it's not raining! Between school plays, sports days, parents evenings, cricket tournaments and end of term discos this is a very late blog for me. Unfortunately, life (or rather other people's lives) kept getting in the way.

 

The Army's Simon Panter (known to most of us as Pants) shows us his true colours on Dress Down Friday after a busy week organising AYTE

 

The weather last weekend was perfectly suited to BBQ's and paddling pools in the garden, and rather less well suited to an enduro XC race but I am not grumbling. This time last year we were synchronised swimming at Newnham Park, in some of the wettest conditions ever known to Bontrager 24:12. And the heat is alright, if you know how to handle it. The course organisers, Si Panter from the ACU and Gorrick, did us all a massive favour by selecting a venue with nearly 95% tree cover. It provided much needed shade and an amazing amount of twisty single-track. The next thing I did was start hydrating the day before. Taking a leaf out of the Sally Bigham training manual, and adding electrolyte tablets to every glass of water. The morning of the race I continued to cram the isotonic drinks to the extent that on the start line I felt positively bloated. It really helped though. Combined with a concerted effort to drink 500ml energy drink every lap I was able to keep going when others around me crumbled.

 

Sitting in with the men with Scott Swalling (Cycle Works) and Chris Hillier (Banjo Cycles)

 

I lined up on the start line of the 4 hour race on my new race bike, a Scott Spark 29er. This was the first time I had raced the bike, in fact it was the first time I had ridden it in anger so I was intrigued, and a little nervous as to how I would get on.  My main competition was Fay Cripps, current National Masters champion and long-time nemesis of mine. I nearly didn't make the start however as I managed to rip the sidewall out of my brand new Racing Ralph on the warm up around the car park.  Thankfully my pit crew were still by the car and managed the fastest trailside repair of a tubeless tyre ever seen with an old gel wrapper and a spare tube kindly donated from Pants himself.

 

From the gun I had a good start, being near the front of the men and tucking in nicely behind a couple of the Banjo Cylces lads, a few places ahead of Fay. I felt great but deliberately kept it steady; knowing too much too soon would be a sure recipe for disaster in the heat.  I kept expecting Fay to pass me any minute but when she didn't I slowly cranked up the pace in the single track, using my home advantage and new rear suspension to the maximum. By the end of the first lap was I still leading and caught up with good friend Dave Brothers who was riding the six hour open. Dave was suffering in the heat, cramping already but continuing to crank out a decent pace. The course was relentless single-track and short, sharp climbs. Refuelling during the lap was hard because there was very little fire road or even straight double-track and so I got a big  advantage because Dave had already completed four laps and had sussed out exactly when to drink, i.e. at every opportunity.  I just copied.

By my third lap I had pulled ahead of Dave and was given the news that Fay had pulled out, suffering from the heat and her exertions last weekend (where she won the ladies 6 hour race at Thetford Summer Enduro). I began my 4th lap a few minutes behind the start of the 2 hour race and was quickly in heavy traffic. Despite all the single-track, overtaking wasn't too much of a problem as each section was short and the hills allowed me to pass easily.  A few of the more technical sections did create a bottle neck but I managed to stay on my bike and ride though with the walkers jumping off the racing line.  As the laps ticked over my legs started to suffer and by lap 5 I was into cramp city. I found I was getting cramp in muscles I didn't even know I had. The most bizarre one was in the inside of my thigh.  I rode into a bermed corner and nearly fell off when the pain shot through my leg. I found the next hill a relief.  By the end of lap six I was well and truly ready for a cold beer and a shower. However,  I made do with a cold can of sprite and a bucket of cold water with a car washing sponge (you may laugh but it did the job).

 

It was a bit dusty out there

 

All in all a hard day on the bike but a great race. The new bike was superb. I don't know if it was the big wheels or suspension but I was able to fly through the bumpy single-track sections where I would previously have lost time on my 650b Whippet, and the twisty stuff was no problem either.  First place in the ladies race, well placed amongst the men and feeling pretty damn good about myself. Pity it didn't last. After a manically busy week with work and the social calendar from hell with the kids I am shattered. I need a holiday!

 

Ladies 4 hour Podium with Jo Scott 

 

Many thanks to organsiers Si Panter and the Gorrick team for putting on yet another excellent event, with a great course and a fun and friendly atmosphere.

Oh and if you it don't see me again, it will be because Pants has buried me in his garden after leading this article with a picture of him in a dress, he dared me to do it��well that was a major mistake.

 

 Louise Robinson - Mum, Pharmacist and Mountain Biker

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