Bontrager 24-12: Results!, Muddy@rsers doin us proud!

Well, for all those that couldnt make it it was a friday early starts, or slightly late starts and looooooooooooonnnng road trip down for some (Rick and Lisa suffered most with this, bad luck there guys), big en-masse camping and friday night chill out/barbeque

This was followed by a saturday including an early visit to the local A&E for Tony before he'd even started a race lap (wiped out on his morning Recce lap), a glorious sight of the team members lining up on the startline resplendent in their spanking new Muddy@rse jerseys (all looking very profesional) and a day of very hot , dry and technical tails, stupendous riding and even some racing, and a few other, well, actually one particular, ahem, incident...

Jim, whilst I feel like I've been in a rather major fight yesterday, that was a good result (33rd and 12laps completed in the male pairs category) we were both smiling all, or at least most of the way and then topped off our achievement with the obligatory post race beer and roast chicken and increasingly tall tales of derring-do! Oh, and I overtook Keith Bontrager on my 5th lap, we also beat Sussex MTB into 34th place ,WooHoo!

Great Weekend guys, far too many tales to tell and I really should let the others all tell theirs









I didnt get a lot of pics taken due to camera problems (internet solution says to hit it...) and being a bit preoccupied with racing but the few I managed to take are here

Bloody well done everybody. We saw some of that traffic yesterday reccing houses in Devon. Thank God we were on the Gixxer!

Fantastic course and event, fantastic weather and fantastic company, thank you everyone!

We managed to keep riding for nearly the whole 24 hours, had a break of about an hour at 5am, mainly thanks to Helens double lap at 2.30am, and Jo getting up to start nice and early again at 6am.

We came second (there were only 2 teams entered) but we managed 20 laps. I think the winning team managed about 24 laps (cannot quite remember), so not too bad for our first 24 hour race I dont think!

Unfortunately, as I am sure Lisa will be a long again later to tell you, she had a 'minor' incident on her second lap, which meant a trip to A&E, an appointment with a toothbrush, and some nice stitches. I should imagine its nice and sore this morning, but should get better nice and quickly.

Very well done to all the teams, Guy and Jim managed a very impressive 12 laps in 12 hours - well done. Dez, Rob and Rick were a team of three in the end, and then became a team of two for most of the evening due to Rick's trip with Lisa to A&E. He managed to come back in time to get a night lap in.

Ollie, Gez, Michael and Tony managed an impressive 15 laps in the 12 hours, to come 20th in the Males team. Poor Tony had also had a trip to A&E in the morning before the race started, but managed to get back in time to do all of his laps.

The course was simply fantastic, if you ever get a chance to race there (I.e. next year!) then do. The climbs were early on, the first one was not too bad at all, the second climb was a tarmac climb which flattened out into a track climb around a field. This climb was a bit of a killer, but early on so you had forgotten it by the end.

There was some fantastic single track, I loved the cottage descent, fast but you had to be on your toes, especially in the dark at 2am! The river crossing was great, I managed it on my first lap without dabbing. I then decided not to get wet feet/shoes for later laps. On my last lap I rode it again, but it was quite deep again and running quite fast, and on tired legs I didn't make it, so got a very wet foot! In the blazing sun shine it really didn't matter though.

In my opinion, the best moment of the whole weekend was on the Friday evening, when Lisa seemed to disappear for 5 minutes, and then reappeared with a black bag and presents. Despite her telling me porkies through the week before, the jerseys had arrived, and looked fantastic (as you can see from Guys photos above!). Big well done to Lisa for all her hours of hard work and organising, as well as being able to keep it a secret, and to Guy for his fantastic design work. Well done!

Fantastic weekend, and I slept very well last night! Lots of tidying up for the day now!

Sally.

Told so well

, I think you meant to say I'd testing the limits of grip on the knarly, worn and dusty trail in Bluebell Woods and in a flash had found and exceeded the sponsors semi-slick tyres cornering limit.

Given glasses are supposed to be protective I'm a little bit annoyed they were able to inflict such a deep cut in my eyebrow - Specialised Adapterlites - as otherwise it would have been nothing more than light bruising.

Still 4 stitches did not stop it being a fantastic race with the MA team A putting in consistent lap times to achieve 15 laps and a well earnt 20th place, big thanks to Jez for the committment to get that extra lap in just before midnight.

The course was more technical than I expected but it really made the 400 mile journey worthwhile as the riding was fantastic even if camping is not really me.

Roast chicken at 1am in the morning sure beats pizza, thanks Guy/Janine for the treat.

Well done everyone, an eventful weekend by the sounds of it. Hope the injured are healing well today.......... and we do this for fun!!

Tony, I had similar thoughts when I crashed last year, my glasses made a mess of my eyebrow too.

Good to know you're ok Tony, hope the stitches are out soon and there is no permanent scaring to spoil your rugged good looks...

Lisa, we all hope you're ok, take it easy and the stitches in your knee will be out in a jiffy and you'll be well up for the next epic.

Hope everyone made it home ok: I only had to drive about 25miles to Torbay on sunday afternoon and I was pretty knackered just doing that!

All in all, 'twas really good fun guys (funny how it seems much more fun now I've had a good evening meal and proper nights' sleep to get over it), the only downer was that minor issue with the podium but don't let that spoil an otherwise ace time.

As for anyone who doesn't have a Muddy@rse club jersey, get yer order in quick cos there are (I think) five left to buy, contact Lisa for details. After that we'll need to put in a repeat order (and I might just be up for a pink jersey, I think I'm man enough to carry that off... )

After a much-needed 11 hours' sleep, here's Jo's story.

Best moments:
1. The course itself - all that fast singletrack. The peace and calmness out there as evening descended – very zen at times! (notice I’m blanking out the climbs.)
2. Waking up at 6am on Sunday and desperate to get back out for my next lap! Pure euphoria.
3. The camaraderie, great to have so many people there competing.
4. Being really proud of our girls’ team.
5. The gazebos for much-needed shade – thanks guys.
6. Energy gels with magic ingredient caffeine – delivering a bit more go, again and again.

Worst moments:
1. Hearing about Lisa’s injury – really felt for you on that one girl.
2. Feeling knackered after lap 2 and still having 17 hours (!!) to go - how was i going to make it?
(also generally being frustrated by having a cold, sore throat, swollen glands thru' run-down exhaustion etc etc. Planning to be in a better, healthier place when we return to trounce those Phoenix girls next year!)

Woman of the match: Helen undoubtedly – a double night lap?? Give that girl a medal!

Man of the match: Guy and Jim for their sterling performance in the pairs – each doing as many laps in 12 hours as I managed in 24!

Thanks to everyone – it was a great introduction to racing, having never done a team event before.

Jo
(Michael will post later - readers might want to have a cup of tea and a bit of time, the draft i saw was epic!).

Some of Joolyze photos are on her website - girls were team nuumber 601 - i think there are 2 photos of Jo.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joolzed/sets/72157606416040305/

Ollie's team number 418 - there is a photo of Ollie and Michael.

I cannot remember Guy and Jim's number, nor Rob's team number - does anyone know it?

Sally.

Finally

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joolzed/27101...57606416040305/

sealskins on so my second lap after taking the water splash on the first.

I have sent them an email asking why were didn't get to stand on the podium, when the second place 12 hour women's team did. Lets see what they say.....

Sally.

Congratulations everyone - a great effort and sounds like there's many stories to be told

R

Lisa, photo of you;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joolzed/27093...57606416040305/

lol, i swear this woman ignores me...some great shots of Guy in the river crossing...

Blimey, Jools took some cracking photos of me: makes me look like I actually ace'd that river crossing... dammit might actually have to buy some pics off her for once...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joolzed/27100...57606416040305/

Jim, there's got to be at least one of you in there, I will take a look through these later today.

Anybody have an idea where the results and lap times might be posted and when?

yeah Guy, makes you look like a pro! (snorts)

seriously, how does everyone find pictures amongst the 1100 joolz has posted? i'm clearly still a bit delirious.

jo

well we sort of had a plan, and the best laid plans of mice etc etc .

Plan A , well we wont go there

Plan B Rick goes first Rob second and Dez third. Its all going to plan for the first 3 hours. Steady lap times, all respectable and within minutes of each other. Just enough downtime between stints to try to rehydrate , stretch, help with the next changeover, stretch, get changed and ready to go again. The timesheet really helped meaning less time hanging around in the sun waiting for the rider to come in .

Then due to Lisa's tumble suddenly we are a man down .-3 becomes 2. as Rick takes Lisa to A & E. To be honest I was getting tired , and hot by the end of lap 3 . So Dez and i had a little rest and some pasta and a rethink. The chances of a top half finish gone, we decided a couple more laps, then you could use your 'Get out of jail free card' available after 4 laps, and sit and drink beer / heckle / aid others/ sleep.

Jim and I did a dusk lap, as my new to me lights were an unkown quantity, and I bailed. Dez did a night lap , again mostly with Jim , apparently they flew down the technical stuff.

I really liked the course. It was set up so your climbing was rewarded with a decent length of flat section , then some snigle or technical sections, then another climb. The decent's were also contour following , so 5 mins of climbing seemed to also get you 5 mins of descending. Alot of nice chatty people, well i chat to them as they hyperventilate up the climbs, they just grunt back. . . .

Hindsight, do more laps with your friends, or the girls. When i came across a fellow Muddyarse ( those tops are priceless with the arrow) it was more fun, the run to the finish egging Sally on , and the dusk lap trying to keep up with Jim as he nailed the techy bits were good fun. shouting ' Burn the witch' to the sooth sayer who overtook us on the flat and predicted we would overtake him on the climb, which we did.

eat normal food, all that sugar is ok for a normal XC event, but on longer enduros you need normal ish food. Tuna / Pasta /Lasagna / Jacket potatoe's / crisps or nuts. I started to want salty stuff after 2 laps, not flapjacks.

Set a target of more than 4 laps, what was i thinking??? I wasn't that tired, yes i had a touch of cramp , bit once on the bike I was moving well and still in my comfort zone. Wear a HR monitor and use it to 'wind my neck in' , and maybe Biro it onto the back of my gloves. The extra 5 minutes per lap could have got us another 2 or 3 in total.

I have to admit to be being impressed with the girls level of commitment, as , even though they knew it was allways going to be difficult, and almost impossible with Lisa's departure, to win. They kept on plugging away to a very respectable total. Its the Tortoise and Hare adage in full effect.

Start with basic's like helmet/fork/bike colour and lycra or baggies. These quickly reduce it down, alternative is to add a flag pole to the bike or stick something stupid on your head.

Alternatively Jo, just look at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joolzed/27094...57606416040305/

Ollie can be seen at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/joolzed/sets/...ith/2710023612/

Hi everyone here's my ten pence worth,
great weekend despite the hiccups (a&e visits etc) we both enjoyed ourselves loads, commeradery was great and feeling part of a special group(now with our special apparel) nice work lisa & guy! your faces were a picture when the jerseys broke cover. Well done to everybody especially the girlies who did a spiffing job (24 long hours) nutters! on that note lisa was gutted that she was robbed of not completing the event and also because the team were robbed of their hard earned podium appearance .
Can i just say big thanks to michael and guy for stopping to help damsel in distress (lisa) she was so pleased to see friendly faces when she needed help..Thanks again.
Rob & Dez great being on your team! Sorry i jumped ship at two thirds in (a&e duty) still we got our four each in. (Rob i also owe you a tenner for 1/3 warwicks entry.) time sheets were a real good idea giving well received maximum rest before going to transition nice one! dont know about anyone else but i thought the free recovery shakes worked a treat coz i felt better the lap after drinking one and i never got cramp HURRAH! Tony hope the head is ok and getting better.
our journey home was better than the journey there about 5 1/2hrs lisa now leg up and icing her knee cheers...Rick.
P.S.ten pence worth turned out to be about a quids worth.