Bristol Bikefest

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BY: Matthew Lewis

Published: 20th June, 2013

Strictly no overtaking allowed apparently at the Bikefest.

There have been all sorts of chat on bike forums about overtaking at the Bikefest and indeed overtaking in general at these sorts of races. There are some terrible stories of people experiencing all sorts of nasty crashes due to dodgy overtaking manoeuvres and verbal abuse. Unusually, I had a taste of this too. Asking very politely if I could squeeze by on the right I was told to "f%!k off"!

The only time in all the years (that I have been racing!)- to have been told to "go away" in a mountain bike race. I'm so used to people being so friendly and not giving a monkeys that it genuinely was quite a shock! Never mind, I'm a big boy.

It does make you wonder though about these sorts of team/festival bike races. Do they work? I think so, but they do have a bit of a split personality: you get the super fastboys turning up alongside the weekend warriors-like myself- and then the people who like to chug a beer after every lap and then the people who just love riding their bike for the sake of it-which ultimately is the reason why we are all there in the first place isn't it (in fact beer was on the prize list)? I suppose the tight singletrack doesn't help but then that is mountain biking. It is a race after all though isn't it, or are these events simply becoming the sportive equivalent of the mountain bike world?

 

It was interesting racing the Bikefest the week after the 3rd round of the BMBS up at Hopton. There was no nonsense with overtaking and believe me there was plenty of it, most of it past me! After hearing shouts of "on your right" it dawned on me whilst at the Bikefest that, when I am overtaken, I am one of those slightly tragic individuals that throw themselves off the singletrack with a little too much enthusiasm and screech to a halt in the bracken.

I love the Bikefest though and that start which now seems to be so uniquely chaotic that it is part of the event just adds to it. Rich started for us and although he looks like a runner (tall, underweight, built for Ron Hills) his plan was to be one of the first to collect his bike so as not have to run too far. I held his bike and stood right in what was to became the eye of the storm.

One bloke went down and people simply ran over him- he was fine though! The start is bonkers.

There was a much much better arena this year and the starting hill narrowed and headed straight for the show tents, start/finish area and then into the famous Bristol singletrack. The weather was ace and the course superfast. Rich went out first and set a stormer of a lap, followed by Phil, then myself and then Donna. We were racing against Mb Swindon and the Feedstation in the 12hr mixed teams and eventually when the category. Well done to Amanda Brooks and Rob Holbeche the winners of the 12hr soloists. I'm always impressed by the soloists. I raced solo last year and know how tough it is and how frustrating it can be to be overtaken by the fast riders but manners never cost anything and most people I think were very polite and all enjoying themselves and it is a race after all and people will be overtaken!

It was a great day/night out and it has whetted my appetite for the Bontrager Twentyfour/12 at the end of July. It was good to catch up with the team since my attendance this year has been sporadic at best and the beer that was given away as a prize was lovely. Thanks for that. See you next year.

 

Matt Lewis

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