Are You Tough Enough?

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BY: Matthew Lewis

Published: 6th July, 2010

Are You Tough Enough?

 

No…

 

is the simple answer.

 

 

I was 'tough enough' back in 2008 but this year's incarnation of the race would prove to be too long for me!

 

I love the course though. It must be one of the most fun courses on the race circuit and despite the clash with the BMBS it still attracted some very good riders, especially the enduro boys and girls.

 

There is no way that I could even begin to tell you about the course. My description would never do the course justice and besides I don't want to appear like one of those individuals who attempts to tell the funny bits of a movie word for word, and fails to make you laugh. You just need to see this film for yourself.

 

Back in 2008 the race was 4 hours long and even though that option was still available I opted for the 6hr version. Big mistake number 1. My longest ride this year has not exceeded 3 and a half hours. Crazy I know but new work and new kiddies have made time a precious resource this year. 2 hour thrashes and burying myself on the turbo have been on the menu since January.

 

The front row of the 6 hour grid was full of Names. Anthony White of KCNC and Xcracer shop manager fame! Gerald Tudor, Adrian Scott of Corleys, Steve Corbyn of Columbia/Bikefood, Sam Gardner of Charge, Paul Howard Mountain Trax and the list goes on. My tactic was to ride my own race, take it steady and see if anything was left in the tank towards the end.

 

Great plan and strategy but like Blackadder says there was one tiny flaw in the plan. It was Bo*lok£. As soon as the gun went off I chased after all of them and was quite happy sat at the back of the lead group with Anthony White and Gavin Rumbles tucked just behind me. Riding at the front of the race with 8 other riders whom I'm presuming also hadn't pre rode the course was interesting. There were some great little bits that could catch you out. The section of trail named Watership Down could catch you out if you weren't careful but it was riding in deep sand that threw me (literally)!

 

Anyway I was quite happy with the speed and thought to myself that it would slow down soon. Reaching the half way point of the course I punctured quite spectacularly and tore the tyre a little enough for the hole to have no chance of sealing. That was it and as Anthony shouted out "tough luck" I was left to fumble for my pump and the tyre levers. I lost close to 10 minutes fixing the tube and tyre and on a course where the fast boys were lapping between 35 and 40 minutes that was a big chunk of time. I could count on one finger how many times I've punctured with my Bontrager tyres since 2008 so I must've hit a hell of a stone!

 

Instead of doing the sensible thing and keeping a steady pace and riding my own race I tried to go a bit too fast and in the process began to really feel the effects of my efforts.

 

At certain points of the race I could see the race leaders of Anthony White, Gerald Tudor and Adrian Scott battling it out. I've been able to compete with the latter guys at xc events this year and I think that this gave me a false sense of my own endurance abilities! I just haven't been able to get out for the longer rides so far this year. That's changing now though and it needs to since I've got the Kielder 100 in 2 months time!!!! That race may kill me.

 

I can't bang out 6hour rides on the turbo.

 

At the 3 and a half hour mark I had to call it a day. I got it all wrong. I hadn't eaten enough (this usually never happens!) and more importantly haven't got a good stack of longer rides under my belt. I was suffering and cursing to myself. I WASN'T TOUGH ENOUGH.

 

Thanks again to Gary Fisher, Accelerade products-I just need to remember that I have your tasty gels in my back pocket next time- and Exposure lights.

 

Well done to the team who were all racing up at Dalby! Especially Phil who bagged 1^st place in the Masters!

 

See you at Twentyfourevent /12 and before that I'll be hauling myself around the hills of South Wales for some big, long rides! Say hello.

 

Thanks to Peter Atkins aka Poddypix@gmail.com for the great pic of me going forwards and not pulling up the tape! Peter is the official photographer for the event.

 

Matt Lewis