Rich and new recruit Matt started the CX season at Hardwick Hall, and a significant crew of team and supporters travelled to the Ilse of Man for the Manx End2End race, with Paul, Nick T, Andy and Chris all racing.
The CX didn't exactly go to plan, with both Rich and Matt suffered with tub issues of such magnitide that they're both trying to now pretend the season actually starts next weekend.
Matt:
"In my race I had a cracking start about 6 th place into the first corner. Two mins into the race I hit a corner hard and my tub came off from the base tape so I stopped put tub on and ran to the pits to change over front wheels. As I've no second bike that lost me 3 mins then I cracked on with my first lap. Soon into the second lap I flatted again on the front - at this point I was last man on the course so had no other option to call it a day. I headed back to the car after doing ten mins racing in my legs but on the way I bumped into my mate who won the vets in the earlier race and he sorted me out with a new whee,l so game on (again!) I went back in where I came off and rode my nuts off to play catch up. I must have gone through half of the field but must have lost 10 mins so placing was poor but I got a cracking workout all the same.
Overall my position was last man on the result sheet as I came off the race course to get my mates wheel but that's racing for you! Only way is up from here!"
Thankfully the rest of the team fared much better across the water, with team members taking 71st/112th/303rd and 304th positions. When you realise this was from a field of 1700 (yes, 1700!) this is no mean feat!
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| "What tyres for train compartments....?" |
So, the action from Nick T's perspective:
Dawn train with bikes from Leicester with Andy - Novel way to start the trip west. Meet up with Paul, Chris and our pit crew Jo, Ange and Sophie on the ferry. Seafront hotel, ensuite, bar. Better than damp tent in a wet field!
So to the start; dodgy old coach trip up the TT mountain section. Driver struggling to locate any forward gear on the ascent. Burning clutch going up, burning brakes going down - quality.
Start line for 1700 racers was a double track width gate so we apologetically nudged our way to the front row of the sub 4 hour grid. Well it's a race isn't it? Countdown to go. GO! 20k through and off on the flat lanes to the first climb. Through and off for me and Andy. Sit on our wheels for all the slackers in the bunch. Poor show, but we delivered ourselves to the foot of the first climb with a clear run up on warm legs.
Having not raced for a couple of weeks and trained appropriately I felt good to go. I'd gone so far as planning fuel strategy and heart rate zones to work in for the race, so I was able to focus on those and not worry about those around me too much.
The course is a good mix of flat, up, down, fire road, single track, moors, woods. A bit for everyone. My call was full sus 29er, pedal on everything. It seemed to work ok, politely dispensing with a handful of pinging hardtails off the back of the first climb. The second climb dragged on and on.....and on for a bit more. However, at each corner or road crossing crowds of spectators cheered everyone on. Chapeau to them all - amateur racers like us soak it up. Mainland England take note.
So to St Johns feed station and start to look for our super-crew for a new bottle. Second last car in a long line of supporters and all I can see is my red High5 bottle being held out - perfect change over from Ange - best bottler on the island as far I was concerned - I barely slowed down.
Final long climb up to the final descent was good news as far as my legs were concerned. Again a whole crowd at the summit point cheering and shouting. Fortunately no mankini wearers today! A big long network of fast field sections before we popped out onto the road. Being a Manx virgin I wasn't sure exactly where the finish line was, so even on flagging legs I didn't know if I'd got enough to get up the nasty road climb to the racer up front and sprint the finish straight or wait and hope he flagged a bit. He didn't flag and I didn't get to him - my legs hadn't quite got enough. Not to worry, out of the saddle for the last 100m effort up to the finish line and a respectable 3hrs 47mins, 10th Vet 45-49, 70th overall. Smack on my top 10 target. Loved it - the race, the trip, the team, support crew.
Big thanks BossMan Paul for all the entry, hotel, ferry organising, Ange for a perfect bottle change and Andy for his seamless train planning! "
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| Bunny-hopping |
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| Chris failing to keep clean |
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| Monkey in the trees |
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| Our leader in action! |
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| Nick looking at his stem! |
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| IOM raiding party After taking some time to reflect, Paul has drafted his thoughts on the IOM expedition too...
"The day started with Chris and Angie coming around for 7am the ferry leaving Liverpool at 11:30.
Bikes loaded and everything packed into the car we headed off. First stopped Starbucks drive thru on the A50 after spilling a whole cup of cappuccino in the car I was hoping this wasn't going to be a start of a bad day! Or weekend ..
After arriving at the port in good time we waited to board the ferry then the next issue ! Andy Faulknall and Nick Towers had problems checking in...great! With the wrong ferry date and a new german rider Hanz Faulknall.
With a couple of calls and now all sorted we started to board the Sea Cat. 2.5 hours later we arrived in the Isle of Man . The weather forecast was looking grim and on the way to sign on the rain was coming down and there was a strong wind ! Great - 2012 all over again! After having a walk around the centre of Douglas and stocking up on food and grabbing a meal we headed back to the hotel to chill out and get our heads down for the night as we had another early start on Sunday race day.
Up at 5 am and hyped up for the day ahead I set about sorting my gear and heading down for breakfast and then getting the bikes loaded onto the car. Andy , Nick & Chris took the event bus as the 7 seater was full with all the bike gear plus everything need for the team mascot my 6 month old baby. With nearly £20 grand of bikes on the back of my car I headed off to the start. Bikes off and after meeting up with the guys we got ready and headed to the start. The support car gone and meeting us at St. John's we were now ready of the off. Now anyone who has ever done the End to End will know getting a good start so you don't get held up at the back in the plantations is key so with Andy and Nick now moving through the pack all the way to the front me and Chris followed.
Me and Chris had decided to stick together and work with each other to get through the race. 1 minute called and the normal good lucks said we were ready with Andy and Nick right on the front and both up for it I knew they would go off fast which when the horn went they did.
Me and Chris set off at a steady pace to get the legs warmed up we averaged between 17 to 21 mph on the first 13 miles of Tarmac to the first climb using taking it in turns on the front and using packs of riders to catch our breath we pushed on
The first clim ! God was I not ready for it and had forgot how long and steep it was! A few miles later and with Chris now in front we were now on the mountain open trails and we both pushed and were catching and passing a lot of riders. Now normally on the hills Chris would be in front as I'm not great at climbing but today I was on the front and pushing on with Chris on my wheel. I felt good and so did Chris. The miles passed and we came to St. John's both needing gels and some bottles we found the support crew which consisted of my partner Jo and Chris' partner Angie (oh and not forgetting baby Sophie) Fuelled up and now back on the road section heading towards what is the hardest climb on the day, Chris now pushing on I was struggling to keep on his wheel! (Bugger my legs are gone!) Nothing in them to push on, now in pain and feeling totally out of it, Chris was now way ahead up front. I just had to push on and get myself up this climb ..
Phew climb done I pushed on the down hill to catch Chris back up I could see him in the distance and I knew I'd be able to get to him before the end. Last fuel stop I managed to catch him up and we set about the last climb which seemed to go on and on.... then! Then cramp in right thigh and calf now off the bike and in pain and pushing to the top until I seen the large crowd at the top.
Time to man up and get back on as I was not being seen in the Naked Bikes kit walking up a mountain cramp or no cramp! I was now back on Chris' wheel and in a lot of pain getting to the top - once at the top it was nearly all downhill ! Now pushing on I was ahead of Chris and making good progress. Off the mountain now and heading towards the finish I was looking where Chris was as we said we would finish together. With only the last climb left which can only be described as tough after 4 hours in the saddle I decided to push on as I knew Chris would catch me. After making it up at a good pace I slowed down and waited for Chris to catch me. 20 meters from the finish I was at walking pace waiting for him and I could see him out the saddle pushing on , We both crossed the line together. Nick and Andy finished 70th & 110th with Chris 327th and me 328th 1 second behind! Couldn't let a team rider get beaten by the boss :) Roll on IOM 2014!"
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