Mondo Addo Mountain Bike Race

30/10/11

As a good start and introduction to South Africa me and my husband, Rob raced the Addo Elephant Park Mountain Bike Race.  We arrived the morning before and set up camp on the polo field and found the first thorns underfoot which were enough to puncture my crocs never mind the bike tyres!  After an easy spin around, a few café stops and an early night we woke to nice cool temperatures and little wind. 

I set off first in the 85km race.  Not too sure how the legs would react to a hard race I just rode around the front of the group and found the pace quite steady.  We soon split up on the first climb and I found myself in a chatty group with three or four other guys.  They didn’t contest me for the QOM as long as I lead them out for the finish that I thought was fair enough!  After that climb came a steep one, wet from recent rain and pretty unridable.  The views from the top over the Elephant Park were amazing though there wasn’t an elephant in sight.  I stopped looking at the scenery on the descent.  We were told to walk the first section, which I happily did and watched a guy go straight over the handlebars.  After that I was alone unable to hang onto the guys on the tricky single-track descent.  There were so many ‘Cautious’ signs, which I took too literally and at the bottom it took me an age to catch back up to the guys.  Feeling quite strong by then I followed a 98kg guy on a 29er down hill (couldn’t have planned that better if I’d tried!!)  We (well him really) then caught a rider I’d be racing the Double Century with and we rode together quite nicely through the lion reserve. 

Having dropped the 29er and later a young development rider who wasn’t working with us, me and my DC ‘team mate’ worked our way to 4^th and 5^th overall.  We had caught one other guy up and I was happy to let them fight for 3^rd place happy that I was comfortably first woman and was also one of the very few riders that didn’t go through a packet of bombs!

Riding into the finish funnel I was a few places behind Rob who had completed and loved the 65km despite losing 45 minutes fixing punctures.

6 bombs down, 2 tubes and 4 pretty knackered tyres later we left Addo for our trip along the Garden Route, next stop, a bike shop!!??

DCM Cape Pioneer Trek 2011

17 – 22^nd October

A lot of pain, a lot of laughs and a whole lot of ostrich, leather wallet and all!!

107km Oudtshoorn – Calitzdorp 

Ascent: 2161m

From the ostridge capital of the world (quite appropriate looking back at how much of those birds we ate), a nervous bunch rode out from the high school. Soon the race split on jeep tracks over some steep climbs and me and Ischen found ourselves with Nevelle from Botswana whom we’d met at JBurg2C earlier in the year. We rode hard and, as the tracks got steeper we moved through the field.  With 5km to go and on tar road we just got our heads down and out popped a snake coming up between us… nothing like a bit of adrenalin after 5 hours in the saddle and we probably recorded one of the fastest finishes!  With no idea where the next woman’s team was we were so relieved to not see them for 30 minutes, it had been a hard day but was worth it to get a nice cushion going into the next stage.  A delicious ostrich steak, a very amusing video of the day and the presentation before retiring to the tents at 8.30pm

5hr10 1^st woman, 12^th overall

128km Calitzdorp – Riversdale

Ascent: 2576m

Was awake by 4.30 despite the 7.30 start to guys mixing energy drink which is never a good thing with a full bladder and tangled in a sleeping bag! With the sun already out and with our pink, thick leaders jerseys on I was baking by the time we reached the Rooiberg Mountain Pass.  Luckily the pace in the group we found ourselves in was pretty steady and with a nasty headwind we let some of the big guys on 29ers do the pulling.  Every time I went near the front some guy would complain that they got no shelter so I left them to it!  After the second water point we turned up into the Langerberg Mountain Range.  The climbs were so loose and steep they were impossible to ride far on and the descents were as bad.  Even the top guys hiked a lot and around 2 hours and about 15km later me and Ischen rode out with a complete loss of humor.  After the last feed we put in a massive sprint to tag onto 2 guys from Cyclelab Pretoria whom I’d met at the Epic.  We both blew 50 meters behind them and I shouted for them to hang on in such a desperate voice they did.  Once glued to their wheels the 10km downhill home was fantastic.. tar road with a 6ft, 98kg time trialist sat in front, doesn’t get much better! 

6hr40min, 1^st woman, 16^th overall

With our massage slot at 2.45 it was a quick shower and food later.  Lunch by Scooters (a cold pizza or soggy pasta) then became a bit of a social event as I dined with about 6 different people and by the time I left there was only 1 hour to dinner! 

106km Riversdale – Albertinia

Ascent: 2379m

Woke to that comforting sound of rain when your snug and warm in bed before realizing that it was actually time to get up and ride for 6 hours in it!  Carrying a gillet was a good option as I whipped it off before the hills and fun technical bits started unlike poor Ischen who lost a gallon of sweat in the first few hours in her jacket until the first waterpoint.  We’d found ourselves in a fast moving group but with a strong tail wind it was tough going to hang on and impossible to stop and take layers off.  The race then went into the Langerberg Mountains, all ridable even though we did find ourselves in a heap together at one point!  On the last technical descent down I heard a loud noise coming from the back wheel that only stopped when I peddled so ended up riding the last 40km as if I was on a fixie!  (Dodgy wheel bearing apparently that was soon fixed by our awesome mechanic, Conrad) With 20km to go we swung round and the strong tail wind turned into a head wind with some horizontal rain to add to the touch.  In the last 10km we definitely lost our humor again and finishing cold and wet at Albertinia High School my mood wasn’t lifted.  The poor kids had been spending all morning holding onto the tents until they gave up and laid our mattresses out in the classrooms instead.   Luckily we arranged a girl’s only room and with only 3 of us in there I had the best sleep of the week

5 hours 16, 1^st woman, 16^th overall

Dinner: Ostrich number 2 in the form of a burnt stew

95km Albertinia – Mossel Bay

Ascent: 1579m

A ‘recovery day’… I’m afraid my legs needed more than ‘only’ a 95km stage to recover!  The race was its usual ‘hectic’ start over sand, across rivers and up some vertical climbs before emerging out onto a long gravel section.  With some strong guys pulling the group along the pace was hard and even my bribe to slow down with a nice Kooksister from my back pocket wasn’t accepted (yes a bit sticky and not really recommended but to much sugar to consume in one go, from past experience I’ve named it the Kooksister Bonk).  Eventually we turned into a nature park with lions in!  Luckily we were with some big meaty looking guys so didn’t really feel too worried and in the end the only sign of wildlife were some huge piles of elephant dung!  On leaving the reserve we had a laugh at the guy ticking off the riders, just in case….!

Riding on our own I struggled along the coastal path, scenic it was but with the narrow path, spiky bushes and sandy tracks I struggled to ride a lot of it and was pleased to find Conrad with coke at the feed followed by a nice downhill ‘home’ on tar! 

4 hours 51, 1^st woman and 16^th overall.

125km Mossel Bay – George

Ascent 2999m

After a neutral zone through town we came to the edge of the beach and 200 cyclists legged it down the dunes, paths and through bushes to get to the sea.  What a sight it must have looked for anyone out walking their dogs on a quiet morning!  Hugging the sea for 6 or so kms was also comical, especially seeing a wave in front nearly wipe out half the group!  It was sticky going though and a relief to get off.  Soon we were on long gravel climbs into the Outeniqua Mountain range and on our own from the first water point we were able to ride at our own pace.  The route was so scenic and parts very English like through woods and along fields though the temperature was a few degrees warmer!  There was a nice amount of climbing to keep it interesting, some good but not too scary technical descents and some lovely flowing single track near George, which we’d practiced the week before.  The thought of a real bed at Ischen’s and Pete’s kept our spirits high and finishing in 6 hours 30 in 11^th place was probably our best and most enjoyable day.  Tonight’s dinner:  Ostrich pie, delicious! 

95km George – Oudtshoorn

Ascent 1594m

It was hard to get motivated this morning waking in a real bed it would have been very easy to role over and sleep the rest of the day!  The ‘easy’ last day first went over Montagu Pass before some tricky rocky sections mid way, slow going and far from straight forward.  We both took the descents steady, no one wants to crash on the last day and with a lead of around 2 hours we had no pressure.  The two girls from Display Mania – Sludge Ladies caught us and we were happy for some female company.  They were having a great last stage and trying very hard to pull back the 12-minute deficit to the European Mountain Heros team.  We didn’t contest the finish riding in 2^nd, 11^th overall on GC and very excited to win another major stage race for Bizhub. 

After a relaxing afternoon in Oudtshoorn we enjoyed a fair bit of red wine, the best ostrich steak so far and was even awarded a tacky ostrich wallet and pen.  Our endurance finally ran out at 11pm and we failed the final ‘stage’ after race party… the lure of a bed all too great! 

1^st Bizhub Ladies: 32 hours 39

2^nd Mountain Heroes: 34 hours 36

3^rd Display Mania – Sludge Ladies:  34 hours 32

Oudshoorn Mountain Bike Marathon, South Africa 30th – 2nd October

Day One

Having arrived in South Africa on Tuesday and with the Cape Pioneer only 3 weeks away a three day stage race was perfect to get the feel back on the bike and get used to fat tyres, constant pedaling and lots of dust!  Ischen promised three pleasant days of scenic riding, which I thought quite amusing 4km in when we were hanging onto the lead bunch flying through the dust at over 30kmph.  20km later and we were still hanging on.  Finally the group split and we rode with a few guys with Pete hanging behind me on the descents.  I’d like to think he was hanging back to help me get back to the group as I took the corners in squares but maybe he just found himself stuck behind me and cursed me all the way down!!  I was just thinking how keen the guys in our group were driving the pace on when I saw it was Ischen leading the way possessed with the need to catch the front group again.  So, 40km in and we were with the leaders again.  One attack a few km later and we were dropped for the final time.  Ischen was eating a bar at the time and I was chatting with one of the many faces I recognize now in the MTB circle.

Back with Pete and two others there was chance to take in the fantastic scenery of the little Karoo.  Even if my legs didn’t feel 100% I had to smile seeing so many Ostrich running around in circles and lambs in the field while we are approaching winter at home. The area has had plenty of rainfall too and so looked so green and bright, not what I expected of a semi desert. 

After a long climb we stopped for a drink and my beloved Kooksister before we continued down to the finish working together with the group into the wind and crossing the line joint 1^st, 107km in 3hr50.  Catlin came in next having dropped another girl right near the finish so 1-2-3 for Bizhub on Day One. 

Day 2

With the temperature only 8 degrees first thing we set off with extra layers that were later pushed deep into my pockets as both the temperature and the pace increased.  For the first hour the bunch rolled along quite steady then it gradually got both faster and hillier.  We were a group of around 20 or so when the front 5 rolled off up a long climb.  Some of the guys obviously wanted to be back in the action in front so the pace was pretty high.  Mid way through we turned into the veldt and the track became narrow, rocky and sandy.  The guys were still putting in big digs at the front so at the back it was a constant yo yo and trying to hang on wheels while also hanging onto my bike was becoming a bit of a mission.  I was thirsty, hungry and had had more than enough of juddering over rocks and slipping in the sand, in fact I nearly shed a tear!  Finally the elastic snapped on one of the rocky descents and I dropped off.  Ischen backed off and I followed her wheel to the feed where Pete was waiting for us.  A muffin saw me right and the three of us rode steady for the last 20km to the finish. 97km, 3hr45. Can’t say it was my favorite 4 hours but is all good training and practice for the Pioneer, which goes through some of the tracks from today.  The scenery was urm… apparently very nice though I could probably tell you more about which tyres the people in front of me were riding! 

Ischen, my training and racing buddy

Not a bad place to ride!

Day 3
Forecast was a light drizzle so I was happy enough that the day started overcast but dry and a little warmer.  The bunch stayed together until the first big climb 15km or so in.  We got to the top in our usual group of 10 or so with 5 up the road.  Turning onto dual track through a nature reserve I stayed comfortably near the front and could see the tracks much better. Our bunch stayed pretty much together with the pace pretty high and yo yoing along as some of the men kept putting in huge spurts then dying off.  Nearing the end we came out on a main road and found we’d gone wrong and had 17km left on the tar, by then in a cold drizzle!  Pete saved my life with a bar and luckily I had much better legs than yesterday so didn’t really mind, unlike the other guys who were clearly not impressed!  We finished with 109km, 9 or 10km longer than the route and behind a few other groups but not affecting the overall positions.  Caitlin also went wrong and her group was turned round but she kept 3^rd overall with Ischen and I taking 1^st and 2^nd.

World Road Championships, Copenhagen 24th September 2011

I was selected for the British team to race at this years World Championships in Denmark, a country I’ve never visited unless you count a quick drive through on route to Sweden.  One week later and I still haven’t seen any more of Denmark other than some suburb near Copenhagen! 

My teammates arrived from various points in Europe on the Tuesday and we had chance of a good catch up over dinner cooked by the Sky Team chef.  Only the elite riders were allowed to sample the chef’s food and use his deluxe coffee machine which felt a bit odd as everyone else came down to eat buffet food and we were presented with homemade breads and salad with cucumber shavings and a red sauce spread neatly around the outside like something off Masterchef!  It was all really nice and healthy though we all added bits from the buffet when he wasn’t looking!  He always made dessert too, which was usually a healthier version of the buffet dessert just to stop us straying which I’m afraid I did on more than one occasion to avoid the nuts he seemed to add to everything.

Training leading up to the race was mainly out to the circuit and round splitting up to fit our own intervals in.  I always hate tapering for a big race as you spend the entire week analyzing your legs, how did they feel?  Tired from a massage?  Sore so in need of a deeper massage or a lighter one to avoid making them sore?  Too much training last week?  Too little?  Plus all the sitting around the hotel makes you feel so lethargic its hard firstly to get going on the bike then once going to keep it steady and not use all that nervous pent up energy! 

Despite the nervous moments the team was in great spirits with medals flying in every day, a bronze and silver by Emma P and Bradley in the TT and a gold and bronze for the junior girls and U23 guys. The days were also filled with massages and physio sessions digging deep into my problem shoulder and taping it up with Union Jack tape.  We also painted our nails, Sharon and Lizzie managing the full Union Jack on each finger while I still made a mess of making mine dark blue. 

Finally Saturday came.  Holding off breakfast till 10 I filled up on cereal and bread and felt stuffed right up to the 1.30pm start time.  Arriving at the race we were taken into the Sky bus… what a bus.  It was huge yet only had about 10 reclining chairs each with ipod docking stations, an area for all your stuff and a choice of clear or frosted windows.  The toilet had a Dyson hand dryer in with a shower opposite and a room at the back for leg rubs and cupboards full of snacks and energy drinks.  At the front was a TV with a huge screen behind and surround sound music system.  I could have hidden in there all day but instead went for an early warm up as I guessed once we’d signed they’d be little time. 

The race started in front of a large crowd including some friends from Whitby, Rene from Rapha and a few other friendly faces.  It was a nervous peleton with attacks from the first lap though they never lasted long enough or hard enough to split up the field.  I guess all the top nations had one thing on their minds: a big bunch sprint.  No doubt many girls were given the same jobs as myself, Sharon and Emma which was to make sure nothing went away without one of us in and not to drive any breaks away.  While exciting for us to do those jobs, it maybe wasn’t the most exciting race to watch and with the fast rolling roads only one Canadian managed to get away for a lap.  I was feeling great and concentrated on staying round the front, which felt far safer than in the middle.  Working hard I was on my last legs when a girl rode into my back wheel breaking two spokes so I had to stop to change wheels. With no help allowed from the car I had a long chase back.  I got right up to 3^rd car before realizing they’d all just slowed down for a bend and once round they all sped back off.  The second corner though I got even further up and hugged the back of any car I could find before catching my breath and darting round to the next one.  Nearly a lap later I was back on and got back to the front in time for the last lap.  My last effort was made chasing an Italian back 3km to go.  Once back I drifted back with her while everyone sprinted past at which point a crash went right across the road stopping me and Sharon in our tracks.  We didn’t fall but I do remember having to pull my foot from someone’s wheel no doubt breaking a few of their spokes which I found quite ironic!!

All we could do at that point was roll to the finish listening out as to whether to celebrate or not.  Unfortunately there was no GB mention in the medals with Nicole 4^th again and Lizzie hugely disappointed with 7^th having been caught up behind another crash. I had mixed feeling; pleased with my legs, massively disappointed for the team, relived that we were all at least in one piece, shattered from my efforts and drained from concentrating so much so I had instant bags under my eyes!

I didn’t make the night out (in fact me and Katie nearly didn’t make dinner getting ourselves stuck in a lift). The caffeine wore off enough to make me feel lousy but not enough to let me sleep till 2am, plus while it was the end of the season for most, mine was just getting underway!  

Deep in concentration!