Momentum 94.7 Road Race, 18th November 2012

With the mountain bike races sadly over it was time to get back on the road for the last two races of the year.  The 94.7 is the world’s 2^nd biggest timed road event in the world after the Argus so with it carries a similar prestige.  Before the race the usual café conversations go like this

Q) Are you practicing for the 94.7?

A) Well, its a little late to ‘practice’ riding now but we are racing the 94.7

Q) What time are you hoping for?

A) I have no idea

Q) Oh, you just doing it for fun?

A) Not really, we don’t really look at times, just positions

Q) Oh, well they say you must have starch and caffine before

A) Oh right, thanks for the advice!

Race day arrived and with the ‘practices’ over we woke up at 3.30 to get to the race for the crazy start time of 6.15.  Couldn’t really complain as the first poor souls set off at 5.30 and even poorer souls didn’t set off till 9 when the temperature was already in the 30s. 

The flat start mean’t the bunch was steady with a few attacks that didn’t go anywhere.  After 10k or so we hit the hills and the real moves started.  Toyota were always in the moves and when the pace upped and the group reduced down to 12 or so there was always around 8 of them.  I thought they’d then work at the front and when the gap was established then start firing one after the other up the road but with either a full race season in everyone’s legs no one was that keen and the group increased after each big effort.  I was pleased I was up there and amongst the action when it did split as the mountain biking does leave you with slow diesel legs!  The hills were pretty relentless, not big climbs but a lot of them and eventually Sharon Laws got away.  I was hanging on 3^rd or 4^th wheel back then had a sudden spurt of energy and started chasing.  I knew there were a few girls on my wheel but thought if I caught Sharon we would be a pretty small breakaway.  Next time I looked back more girls had tagged on and I swung over.  I definitely wasn’t planning on dragging a big group along when much bigger teams like MTN were all still there plus even if Sharon isn’t on my team I wasn’t going to help bring a fellow Brit back just to have it counterattacked by another Toyota rider. 

MTN soon grouped at the front and started working but with the headwind it soon fizzled out and we were riding along chatting amongth ourselves. Feeling good I did start a few attacks on the hills towards the finish but each time they were covered by Toyota who didn’t seem to want to get away despite the fact Sharon was just about finished by then!  The pace up the last climb was tough and I was swaying over my bike before we turned the last corner to the finish.  Down the hill I attacked to get to the roundabout first and, carrying a bit more speed than I antipated I leaned hard and thankfully came out the other side still upright.  Sprinting to the finish I was surprised no one came round and rode over the line just ahead of the fast approaching Cherise to hold onto 2^nd place.  With a 2^nd as well at the Argus despite concentrating on the mountain bike I have to say its been a pretty successful year and its now time for a well earned break back home before training for next year starts again! 

Holding on to win the bunch sprint

The presentation with Sharon and Cherise

Getting too much sun with fellow Brit, Sharon Laws

Contego Wines2Whales Stage Race 9 - 11th November 2012

This last weekend Ischen and myself were back racing at the Contego Wines2Whales 3 day event.  With a good forecast and no snow predicted this year we were both looking forward to our last big event for the year. 

Stage One started in Lourensford, straight onto a long climb.  Glad of the warm up we settled into a good pace and moved into the lead half way up.  After the first water point I hit a stump at the edge of a river and ended up swinging round a tree to avoid the water.  Unfortunately there was no tree for the guy behind who ended up breaking the bridge and ending up with his bike in the water. I did feel guilty and apologised that night on stage where I had to down a brandy and still walk off stage in a straight line!!  Incidents over we settled into a steady pace until Ischen had a sidewall.  She quickly plugged and bombed it and we were soon off, now in 2^nd place.  Chasing hard over the Gantouw Pass Ischen started to cramp and as the course got pretty technical we knew we weren’t going to win the stage.  Still, we arrived 2^nd, losing 2 minutes to Yolande Speedy and Hanlie Booyens but gaining 14 minutes on Cherise Taylor and Mariska Strauss. 

Stage two was a shorter 65km stage in a loop from our campsite at Oak Village.  The single track was so smooth unlike yesterday and after a short climb to space the field out the riding was very enjoyable.  I was pretty nervous about the infamous ‘Pofadder’ singletrack and was tempted by the chicken run but in the end managed it fine.  The race was pretty competitive to start with three woman’s teams together.  We lost them on the single track but there was only 4 minutes separating us at the finish with Contego Ladies taking the win in 2h54. 

Stage three took us down to the coast.  Ischen was struggling from the start and we knew the Contego Ladies were out to take our 2^nd place overall setting off fast on the front line. The course was pretty fast down to the first water point then there were some tough short climbs to get over.  We were riding with the Momentum girls for a while then dropped off their pace while Ischen battled on feeling the effects of a long season of racing.  At the third water point Conrad who had been spot on with our bottles told us we were 7min30 behind leaving us with only 3 minutes for the last 10km.  We battled on and the finish couldn’t come soon enough, it was a stressful day ‘in the office’ but we held onto 2^nd place overall by a mere 50 seconds after 10 hours 38 of racing.  The race was again a fantastically organized event, well marked, some great new single track and plenty of sunshine!!

1st Momentum Specialized Insurance Ladies 10hr 25

2^nd Bizhub FCF 10hr 38

3^rd Contego Ladies 10hr 39

Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 14th – 20th October 2012

Riding in the Bridge/Bizhub kit for this year’s event thanks to a free entry from the main sponsor, Bridge, I again teamed up with Ischen and made my way to the start line via plane, van and finally bus.  Having traveled home from the World Championships in France, I flew out to Johannesburg and the next day started traveling down with mechanic Conrad in the van.   4 hours past Bloemfontein and the van broke down, 5 hours by the roadside we were eventually towed back up to Bloem where the van was fixed.  I caught the overnight bus down to George eventually jumped out at Oudtshoorn and grabbed a lift to the race start with one of the organizers.  Having not had a real meal in days I made full use of the all you can eat buffet breakfast at the beautiful setting in Buffeldrift Game Lodge.  Meeting Ishen, Pete and his partner for the race Tony we rode the prologue course, along the way seeing elephant, bok and apparently a hippo.  Despite days of traveling I was suddenly in this gorgeous place and the last few days were soon forgotten!

The promise of a more ridable, enjoyable course started true to word with an opening 15km prologue in Buffelsdrift Game Lodge just outside Oudtshoorn.  With a 2pm start the sandy single track was very loose from the riders off earlier and with Ischen crashing once and me riding straight into a fynbos after staring at it too long we backed off and took it conservatively through the reserve.  The traveling took its toll and I battled to stay on Ischen’s wheel and had to sprint hard at the finish to catch her.  It was worth it as we took the lead by 3 seconds to the Klein Karoo Chicks, it was going to be a tough week!

Stage One took us from Oudtshoorn to Calitzdorp.  The 103km of racing started badly when I suddenly felt like I was dragging a dead ostrich behind me.  Stopping to make sure I wasn’t I found the chain not sitting on the jockey wheel.  Loosing the bunch I kept stopping but it kept coming off and on a few descents the whole chain came out of the cage and tangled itself up.  In the end I rode with it as it was and as the cage widened it felt easier.  We were so surprised to catch the lead ladies with and then leave them to take the stage win. 

Stage Two’ s 85km was without incident, a near perfect race with both of us feeling strong as we raced from Calitzdorp to the summit of the Swartberg Mountain Pass.  We managed to get in fast moving groups after some jeep tracks and with no mechanical issues we rode up the pass and took the QOM stage win.  Only 85km but with 2760m of ascent the day wasn’t easy but was one of the most enjoyable racing days we’d both had.  The ride was a lot more comfortable than that of Carel from Merrill who rode the pass in a G String, enduring a lot of stares and comments along the way in order to win a set of wheels at the top!!  The camp was down in George so for once we could enjoy the descent down taking a few photos along the way but hitting a major sugar low near town!!

Stage Three to De Rust, 109km away started with a 15km flat open road with one big bunch moving along.  Narrowly avoiding two pile-ups we turned south into the Karoo bossie veld.  With Ischen suffering a little we lost the Karoo Chicks and made our way over the mountain alone.  The weather turned and soon we were riding in a huge storm.  With hail and strong winds the roads turned to rivers and it soon became freezing cold.  I have to say I’m a huge wimp once the cold creeps in and I made some odd animal noises as we struggled along.  Nearly stopping to borrow a jacket from the Bridge spectators I told myself to just toughen up and instead rode head down hard along the road to the finish and to luckily some hot indoor showers for a change.  We came in 2^nd now with a narrow lead on GC. 

Stage Four was another battle for Ischen who had picked up a virus not helped by the wet conditions and damp tents. A lot of riders had picked up a bug and dropped out so I was just happy to still have a partner though knew we would probably loose the lead especially as Yolandi De Villers was getting stronger every day and Yolande Speedy is just a classy riders be it in XC or the marathon events.  We started strong but then slowed down as the race went gradually uphill for the first 20km.  The scenery was amazing and everyone felt privileged to ride through the desolate Kammanassie Mountains especially in the sunshine!  My cleat came loose resulting in a few stationary falls on the climb before I realised the problem and tightened it back up.  The decent down was rocky and very steep but we both came out unscathed passing numerous riders with slashed tires along the way.  Someone behind told me a descended like a demon which is the best comment anyone has ever made and one I will not forget!!  2^nd again we were now holding onto 1^st on GC with the skin of our teeth! 

Stage Five was postponed for an hour with the first loop abandoned after heavy rain From hugging hot coffee under the tent in the rain the layers soon came off as the sun came out and the race went straight up the ‘Devil’s Pass’.  We saw the first glimpse of the sea and towards the end rode round the familiar single track at George’s Dam finishing a long day with Ischen’s husband, Pete and his partner Tony and also riding with team mate Yolandi and her partner, Dirk.   Unable to get past the layers in my pocket to food I had to stop for a bit of ostrich at the final stop, it had looked good all week but in ‘racing mode’ I hadn’t had any till now.  Trying to chew and ride wasn’t easy but worth it!!  We were 2^nd and now 1 minute down on GC and with a short ‘roadie’ stage to Oudtshoorn with Ischen still recovering from her bug we needed a miracle to win. 

Stage Six’s final 84km started well, we fought hard to stay with the other girls and got to the Montagu Pass together.  Over the top in the rain we were only 1 minute down but with the other girls in a group with some strong men and two mixed teams they soon got away to win by a long margin.  It was a relief to loose by a big margin to the stronger team.  Had we only lost by 1 minute I would have blamed the first days problems, a longer than necessary stop to lube or eat, or a section that we walked and not ran but as it was the best team won with a good consistent week so we took 2^nd place with team Wilde 2 coming in 3^rd. 

The race lived exceeded expectations with such a friendly, close-knit atmosphere, entertaining evenings and plenty of ostrich meat and even feathers this year! Unlike last years route its not a race to tick off and do once, but rather do year after year and I’m pretty sure it will have twice as many riders next year, hopefully me included!

Jelly and Custard made the racing look easy with constant smiles!

Hero of the week, Zandilla completing her first stage race

Heads down racing hard!

I thought the Karoo translated to semi desert!!

Eventual winners the Klein Karoo Chicks

Tony and Pete, our riding buddies!

Mud pack ready for the big night of partying!!

Race on with the other girls in the background

World Marathon Mountain Bike Championships, Ornans, France 7th October 2012.

We flew out to France early and so enjoyed the luxury of doing nothing other than recca a bit of the course a day at a time and relax with French pastries and coffee.  It was a good job, the course was that tough it took three days to get round.  To be fair we'd also rode most of the men's circuit by accident, neither me or Rob are that great with maps!  The weather had been mixed, one day riding in mud and  rain,. the others hot and sunny but the forcast for race day didn't look great so it was good to know how bad it could be.  

Should have done more gym sessions!

Keeping energy levels up mid course!

After a clear blue sky Saturday I woke early Sunday in the dark to that dreaded noise of cars going through water.  Still, it was pretty warm and the course was going to be so hard, getting cold, my biggest fear wasn't going to happen!  9.10am we started after the elite and open men.  Straight onto a wet churned up muddy track  I was caught up in two early crashes, one taking out one of the pre race favourites; Sabine Spitz.  Moving up again I then got stopped on the first climb.  I am slowly learning with mountain biking how its not all about just going as fast as you can, pacing it and leaving a descent gap in case riders stop in front is far quicker in the end.  Once climbing the gaps opened up and near the top I was surprised to catch and pass Brit Jane Nuessli. It was short lived as  we dropped through the forest, now not only steep and technical but with the added slippy deep mud covering wet rocks.  Jumping off and running bits that I'd done in practice was inevitable, it was far more impoartant to finish the race and lose a few minutes.  Jumping back on near the bottom I'd rdoe a few meters when my front wheel just slipped out and I was left tangled up.  The brake lever dug in my quad and my initial thought was that I'd broke both my leg and bike!  However, twisting the levers back to where they belonged I also knew my leg was ok, it had missed my knee and was only painful when I peddled, umm only 45km to go!!    Rob was at the feed and gave me energy drink.  Having drank nothing so far I cleaned myself and bike up a bit wishing it was water but with eyes and face so full of mud I wasn't going to complain.  While the other Nations had the luxury of team cars, mechanics, spare sun glasses and even power washes  Rob looked after half the GB team with a bike and backpack, feeding both me and Rachel Fenton.  From that feed we started climbing again.  I was unsure if the rain had stopped as the course was so muddy and wet you couldn't tell whether it was coming from the sky or the ground!  Luckily the organisers took a section out, one we'd tried and failed to ride on Thursday when it was also raining.   It looked a great single track but was on a slight camber and impossible for even the top guys to ride even then.  

The last 20km was really slow going.  At one point I was riding up a climb with the bike getting heavier each pedal stroke and was aware that two men were walking up behind as fast!  The mud we were carrying on the bike started to get worse as the rain stopped and it started drying up.  During the race I  became a bit of an expert in mud identification.. there was the almost pleasant 'Wet Flowing Mud' which gave a fine spray, then the real 'Slippy Mud' which was impossible to walk on never mind try ride, the 'Surprise Mud Flicks' which left big chunks in your eyes, then the dreaded 'Thick Stuff', impossible to ride it clung onto the bike until the back wheel could no longer be pushed round so you had to stop every few minutes to clear it!  Despite all this I still felt good: had managed to get a bar and few gels down and caught and dropped a few girls in front of me on the last climb.  Unfortunanly they passed and left me again as we descended into the forest back down to Ornans, the flowing single track covered in roots becoming a bit tricky for me, not helped by the fact my right cleat was now attached to my pedal and not my shoe!    So lucky really as it happened after the last climb but did mean I lost 2 minutes to the 2 in front in the last 4km.  

As I crossed the line the massive feeling of relief and delight at finishing in one piece and in 13th position was soon replaced by a desperate need to clear my eyes of mud while my leg made it nearly impossible to walk.  Funny how you can feel so fit one minute to feeling like a broken wreck the next!!  Luckily Rob was on hand again taking my bike to the bike wash queue while I cleaned myself and iced a leg that was starting to look like Chris Hoy's!  A few days rest will see it right which is timed quite well for a week of travelling:  home, then to Johannesburg then the long drive to George in time for the Cape Pioneer with Bizhub partner Ischen Stopforth next Sunday where I am hoping it'll be a bit drier!!   

Think I need a wash!!

UCI MTB Marathon Series, Jurmala, Latvia 26th August 2012

Last Sunday I spent just over 24 hours in Latvia, somewhere I had to look at a map while sat on the plane to see where it was.  Just above Lithuania and next to Russia it turned out to be as I expected, very different from the rest of Europe and full of pickled food!!  I was well looked after by the organiser as arriving in a non-English speaking country armed only with a big bike and lycra on my own was a little daunting.  She came round to the hotel organized for me with a map and information about the race so I headed back out on the bike to look at the first section.  The only bit I really found was the beach section, not that useful really, even I can’t get lost down a beach!  It was so surreal riding along there with the locals with kids riding into the sea, I bet the bike shops do well out here!   I found a local restaurant for dinner and had some baked fish, a pile of rice and veg which turned out to be picked gherkins and a bread roll which I found full of lardons when I bit into it, good job I’m not a veggie! 

Breakfast was also a bit different… the table was covered in tapas style snacks, prawns on toast, pate, potato salad and lots of strong smelling fish.  Luckily I found the cereal and toast! 

The elite woman’s race started at 10am on the beach in the sun. The group stuck together down the beach then it got pretty hectic running over the sand dunes and through some single track forest.  One girl in front flew over a tree stump and making sure she was in one piece I chased back the lead group that was soon reduced down to 5. Into the next wooded section I stayed near the front and with some steep sandy climbs and descents and some fun narrow tracks (where I regretted having bar ends on as I nearly wrapped myself round a few trees), I came out with just one other girl.  We rode hard but soon the girls behind had chased back.  I soon learned that one of the local girls wasn’t very good on the technical tracks but was a strong time trialist and she was pulling everyone along.  This happened a few times until we hit half way and the route became a flat open road.  For the rest of the race the route was on open flat windy tracks and farm roads.  The five of us rode together and took turns in the wind but it was very uneventful. 

10km to go we turned into the single tracks again but the markings weren’t so clear and a few of us rode straight on and had to turn round.  Leide Ardave got away and out again on the tracks I started chasing losing the others on my wheel.  7km left and the time trialist, Dana Rozlapa caught me up and we worked together to catch Leide, which was pretty hectic as we were on the last forest single track with loads of fun riders in front.  Along the beach for the last 5km it felt like a South African road race, zig zagging in and out of fun riders while trying to keep contact with each other.  In 3^rd place I started sprinting at 500m on the left not realizing how much deeper the sand was on that side but at least clear of traffic.  I came over the line 2^nd with a photo finish to 3^rd with Dana taking the win. 

Though it was a close finish and I made a few mistakes I was pleased with 2^nd place on such a flat course and the presentation with podium, champagne and flowers made it feel like a real international event.  The post race food was cold purple soup and pasta with sausage, surprisingly tasty!  I had time to kill before my taxi back to Riga airport so planned a walk around until the rain started and instead I found a pub with a large screen showing Plouay World Cup and a large plate of chips, avoiding more pickle surprises!  

Craft Bike Trans Alps 14-21st July 2012

Having missed out on the Epic this year Ischen was determined to race the Transalps this year and I was not going to say no.  Having done stage races in South Africa I was super excited to race in my own back yard in Europe.  First hurdle was traveling there. Trains are a relaxing way to travel until you add a 25kg bike bag to the equation!  From leaving Rob at York I got the train to Manchester, got fleeced 70 euros at the airport for my bike, flew to Munich then caught the underground to the city and finally a train to ‘somewhere near’ Oberammergau in Germany.  I say ‘somewhere near’ as me and Ish had a little miss understanding… I’d text to ask if it was ok to arrive at this place also beginning with an O, which saved trekking to a bus stop and getting a 15 minute bus journey but Ischen thought I was abbreviating so we both ended up at different train stations looking for each other.  All ended well and soon I was relaxing in the comfort of a lovely double bed. 

The next day we did all the paperwork, registering and getting rid of our bike bags before heading out for a pleasant pre race ride along with Pete and his partner Dirk.  It was good to get back off road, having done nothing at home with such sodden ground!! 

Day One

Oberammergau – Imst 97km

South Africa organizers take note… a 10am start, what luxury when I think of those dark 6am offs over there!!  By 9 the pen was filling up though we didn’t have to worry been a woman’s UCI team as we were in the front pen.  The start was fast; someone said we’d averaged 35km/h the first hour before leaving the road and hitting the single track.  It was my first experience of how aggressive some of the European men are pushing through on the descents and very often ending up in the hedge because of it.  

The weather turned nasty and up the last climb I rode on a little to keep warm.  That was when I spotted what I thought was another woman’s team.  That was it, full gas and me and Ischen chased hard, passed them then rode a pretty risky descent to the finish pleased to come in ahead of them in 2^nd place to Centurion Vaude/Topeak Ergon Team, Brit, Sally Bingham and her partner Milena Landtwigg.  We both had to laugh when the pair we chased so hard were a mixed pair, he definitely had a feminine look to be fair and was only my height!  The effort of the day continued walking over a km with my big bag to the ‘camp’, a sports hall with a few hundred riders sharing a couple of cold showers.  I managed to move from my allocated spot to lodge by the lockers and met a friendly Norwegian as we had a laugh about how liberal a lot of the Europeans were stretching away in the nude and rubbing on their oils and creams (not that we were trying to look it was just so in your face!!) 

Day Two

Imst – Ischgl 77km

Started with what was going to be quite a common reoccurrence to the week, a long climb but then I guess it is Trans Alps after all.  10km up and we were still going. Into the rain we both put our jackets on for the descent.  At the bottom we turned into another long climb and settled into it.  It’s a good job I like em hilly with 3274m ascent today!  Having set off in the first group another thing to get used to was having the men constantly passing us and while we could hang on for a while we often just let them go.  I ran most of the last descent finding it quicker than getting on and off the bike through the rooted wet forest before a drag to the finish.  2^nd again with team Metz – Kraftwerk in 3^rd. 

Day Three

Ischgl – Naunders 67km

Woke to see snow on the mountains we were heading up to.  Forecast wasn’t great and it was only 8 degrees at the bottom so I layered up as if we were heading into the Arctic!  Knee warmers, undervest, thermal, thick winter gillet, waterproof and even my lobster winter gloves!  Needless to say I was never cold though still appreciated the lovely mug of soup I found at the first feed station, while I could pocket a banana or bottle for Ischen soup was a little impossible and I decided not to tell her of my find till on the warmer slopes!  Climbing up to the snow was amazing, I’ve always wondered what the mountain look like in summer when I’m so used to skiing on them.  The answer, so pretty and varied… the climb up was bleak: scree slopes, open and barren wheras the descent was through green meadows.  Its odd to see ski lifts in the middle of no where and I spent a lot of time trying to guess whether the slope was a blue, red or black.  Descending down the temperature crept up and soon my layers were stuffed anywhere I could put them!  Luckily I recognized one of the feeders and left him with a new wardrobe!  Ischen had a bad day, which was a shame as the scenery was so beautiful but I could see she wasn’t able to take much in.  We still finished 2^nd so GC remained the same.  That evening after relaxing on a real bed sharing an apartment with the others, we then headed up the mountain in a Gondola for dinner.  It made the day extra special, as the views were fantastic even if it was more spag bol!

Day Four

Nauders – Scuol

After the long first climb we were treated to such a postcard view of the snowy mountains right down to a huge lake at the bottom that we gradually descended down to.  Despite feeling a little nauseous today I still enjoyed it especially the last 10km as we tagged onto a good moving group. Back in the camp I had to move from my allocated spot.  300 squeezed in a sports hall and I was up against the back wall, which had turned into an airing line for smelly kit!  What with that and massage oil and numerous other smells I had to move. Risking the damp I set up camp in a changing room once the showers were finished.  Ended up having a great night, 6 of us in there, Dutch and my Norwegian friend from night number one and after a lot of banter they were all quite sleepers and none of us stirred until 6 ish. 

Day Five

Scuol – Living 69km

Starting the 2531m ascent from the go again we were soon on a single-track climb up through more stunning scenery.  Today was Ischen’s turn to feel rough and we backed right off, as there was no reason to kill ourselves.  Pete and Dirk and 2 other South African’s came up to us and we rode together for a while until I got a puncture which just needed plugging, thanks to Ischen the team mechanic as usual!  The third place girls came past us so we had to chase hard passing them up the last climb and into Livingo via some pretty nasty climbs.  Once finished we dropped our bikes off at Scott who were offering a fantastic free service all week of cleaning and checking any Scott bikes in the race.  Considering the queues for the bike wash this saved us loads of energy and peace of mind that the bikes were checked.  We also had a little help if we needed it from Team Bulls mechanic who at Livingo gave my bike an extra TLC before the big day to come. 

Day Six

Livigno – Ponte di Legno 106km

The longest day and with 3451m of climbing it was going to be an epic!  I slept well in a big hall with some soft gym floor and so my hips didn’t feel so stiff either.   In fact I over slept and with an earlier 8am start my bowl of cereal was still making an appearance 10km in!  Luckily it was a steady start, straight into a queued up single track climb which was fine and rideable for us in batch A but apparently was a long slow walk for the teams further back.  The descent down was a steep wide and very rocky descent and for once with the Epic training it was our turn to pass the Europeans following camp mates, Mike and Niome from Australia who finished 5^th in the end in the mixed.  Onto lovely flowing forest tracks I came to a sudden stop with one pedal missing!  Somehow I didn’t fall off and ended up running down the track wondering what had happened.  I rode down to the feed pedal in pocket but found no mechanic down there thinking it was threaded.  I managed to screw it back in but spent the rest of the ride worried it might fall off again especially as we had a 1700m ascent, 12km ave 12% climb to go up which would have been a little difficult with one foot!  It was my turn to suffer towards the finish after a hard chase following a tricky descent I decided to run down feeling low on sugar and concentration and not trusting that pedal.  The last 5km I had a real loss of humor and cursed the organizers for another ‘round the houses’ finish!!

Day Seven

Ponte di Legno – Madonna di Campiglio 72km

With another 3200m of climbing Trans Alps own Dr Evil was at work with lots of lose rocky climbing to be done. On the descent I hit the rim and got a flat.  Lucky for us Dirk and Pete were behind and helped us put a tube in after bombing it didn’t reseal it.  With a tyre pumped up hard I really noticed the lack of grip and on one turn ended up somehow facing back up the slope, ‘controlled 180 skid’ I think not!!  With Ischen also having a flat, Pete insisted on staying with us for the rest of the ride, which was so good of them, but I did feel so guilty and was pleased they ended up coming in 15^th in the Masters improving their overall GC all the time.  Near the end we had a marsh to get through and my new camp friends from CW Cycles in London came running past putting their cyclocross skills to the max.  With a  huge walk to find the camp after the finish  (which was in a ski lift car park!!)  and back to get my bike I was pretty stuffed by bed time and after some red wine, which was becoming compulsory with the other camp survivers I fell asleep listening to some Scot drone about his training and race prep! 

Day Eight

Madonna di Campiglio – Riva del Garda 75km

Breakfast in the car park was a large bowl of milky coffee, highly amusing as other than the Italians I think we are all more used to having our coffee in a mug! I was glad for the sponsored posh porridge (15 Euros a box I was told as I passed our prize of one last night to some new friends!) The race started overcast and a bit wet.  Warm up consisted of a real coffee in a cup before rolling down the road for 15km behind the car.  The neutralized section was more risky than some of the mountain descents and it was difficult to keep an eye on each other.  Eventually onto the climb we climbed into deteriorating weather.  I put my jacket on but still froze on the descent.  I have to admit to singing ‘Always look on the bright side of life’ over and over, hearing your own voice really does help when on the verge of crying!!  Ischen was a lot worse and at the bottom I was really worried about her.  Luckily a team van was there and she managed to borrow a big jacket.  Dirk and Pete were there soon after borrowing any layers they could find.  Getting going was hard after that but as it warmed up and the km kept going down spirits picked up and soon after some real sticky tracks we descended onto the road into a group heading to the finish.  As we looked at each other and grinned Ischen’s chain jammed and we had to laugh as we stopped again to sort our last small mechanical problem.  Arriving by Lake Garda was pretty special and with the sun out everyone was so happy.  After the presentation our big night out consisted of ice cream and hot chocolate before bunking down on the last hard floor for a while and with next doors disco in full swing I slept all of a few hours before heading home.  As luck would have it I found some riders on the same flight as me so shared a taxi to Verona meaning I had time for a nice relaxing breakfast by the lake

Spag Bol in up the mountain

Breakfast by Lake Garda

Pre Race Ride with Dirk and Pete

Post Race ice cream

Finish Line

2nd in Woman's Catergory

Malevil Cup, Czech Republic, European XCM Championships, 17th June

After finding the European Championships were in a country blessed to be served with a cheap airline and for Rob, excellent beer, it was hard to not just jump at the chance to enter the European Championships and worry about the actual race at a later date!  So, entry in, flights booked and accommodation sorted I started worrying about the smaller matters: no mechanic, flying with a high maintenance, unpredictable machine otherwise known as a mountain bike (not Rob!), a country where not one word sounds familiar, and the fact my first International race was going to be the European Championships!

So on Friday we flew to Prague surrounded by stags and hens chatting each other up.  Collecting the hire car and armed with written instructions, a map, a satnav and a printed route planner we still managed to sit in traffic for over an hour in the centre of Prague but arrived still in the light at our beautiful accommodation right in the mountains near Liberec. With the bike appearing to be in one piece and finding our hosts were Dutch chefs so we wouldn’t be fed pork and cabbage for the next three days, the worries were slowly fading.  The next day I found the last few km s of the race, got used to been off road again while Rob followed me in his trainers.

Sunday’s race day started early mainly thanks to the Italian cyclists staying in the B&B that had to have their pasta at 6am!  At 8.45 the nerves finally disappeared as we rode off the start line.  The start was fast and furious.  I wasn’t that far forward and soon over the fields the groups started to form.  I was middle of the second group, which was fast enough, and soon we caught a few riders in the middle of groups.  Once the hills started the group got smaller.  I rode off the front after doing my fair share of work on the flatter bits.  One girl joined me and we worked well together until she seemed to blow and disappeared outside the top 10.  Despite one bit loop into the hills, in middle of know where and even into a bit of Germany Rob kept appearing at the feed stops having tagged onto a Hungarian with dreadlocks following his wife, which was great as I didn’t have to stop and he was able to tell me I was doing ok. One girl caught me and dropped me on the next technical descent.  I kept catching her back on the climbs but, even though I was pleased with my descending i.e. I was staying upright on the loosest, rockiest steep hills, she was a lot faster and I finally lost touch at a big drop off which I’m afraid I kittened out of, climbed off and clambered down! 

The descents through the forest tracks were fantastic, the hills steep and tricky but mostly rideable and the km flew by except while I found myself bogged down literally in a real muddy patch where climbing off my feet sunk so deep I thought I might lose my shoes!!  10km to go, convinced I was been caught by two girls, and my vision was going blurred. 4 hour of out of breathe riding was taking its toll and I had to really concentrate on the descents.  I finished in 4hr34, way ahead of the next girls… the 2 behind were actually men!! The winner, World Champion Pia Sundstedt (Finland) just edged out fellow Brit, Sally Bigham, both only 15 minutes ahead of me, which I was over the moon about. 

I celebrated that afternoon by keeping Rob topped up with beer, feeling way to rough for any alcohol myself!  

Sani2c Mountain Bike Stage Race 17 -19th May 2012

Two weeks after finishing the 9-day tour we were back for Sani2c, the last 3 days of Joberg2c.  After driving down we stayed at the foot of the Sani Pass outside Underberg in some lovely secluded cottages.  Riding as easy as possible up a bit of the pass we made a mental note to come back and stay longer: riding the pass, hiking on the hills and finishing the day with a glass of wine and log fire sounds pretty!  Dinner was a nice social evening with Bizhub having three teams: Myself and Ischen, Leana and Nicky and Carel and Yolandi riding mixed. 

Day One

Underberg – MacKenzie Club 88km (ish)

Apparently it was minus 2 as we drove into Underberg for the 7am start.  Warming up was fine in my Michelin man layers but stripping down to lycra wasn’t pleasant!  Thankfully there was no slow Massy Ferguson this time to ride out behind and we were straight into racing hard.  Through the mist and dust in the fast group I took my glasses off to see, one arm broke off and I heard that awful sound of them been crushed by a wheel behind.   Just after that my back wheel jammed.  Stopping I saw the wheel had fallen out, probably from someone knocking it in the mayhem of the start.  Fixing that I lost the group and somehow also lost my bottle, they do say things happen in threes!! Unfortunately at that point we lost contact with the lead ladies, Theresa and Karien (MTN/Biogen).  Riding then in a small group the single track down to the floating bridge was as good as it can get; smooth and compact from 3000 previous riders and made more pleasurable with fresh legs.  Ischen and I rode hard and well together and finishing up the climb to the finish we were surprised to hear we were only 2 minutes behind so going into the big day it was all still to play for.  Nicky, Leana, Carel and Yolandi all came in 3^rd. 

Day Two

MacKenzie Club – Jolivet 96km

After an afternoon and evening socialisng I slept solidly in the tent despite the snoring and woke nervous about the big day down to Joliet in and out of the Unkomaas Valley

With 1500 riders the batching meant we were off first at 6.20am.  A crazy time to start and pretty amusing trying to get ready at the van in the dark; I spent an age looking for a glove with my tiny Nokia, Ischen was running around looking like she’d just woke up, Conrad was armed as usual with pump, lube, bars, jells, tools and anything else we requested, Nicky and Yolandi were their chilled selves and Leana was just telling everyone to ‘toughen up!!’ Just as the sun came up we were off. The temperature thankfully was in positive figures and with the fast start again we were soon warm.  There was no congestion down the single track and I felt like I was flying down and enjoying every bit.  Following ‘Burry’s brother’ (as we knew him by) was perfect as he took such nice lines and I got to the bottom on a real high.  In the mist the temperature dropped and we spent the next hour along the valley feeling pretty cold which was a good thing really as I’d lost my bottle again and only had Ischen’s spare half until we saw Conrad at 60 odd km.  After riding straight through the first feed (way too early for donuts and potato!!) we passed the lead ladies fixing a bike.  We didn’t know what had happened but knew we had a chance of s stage win so rode as hard as we could go.  The route was fantastic, its always my favorite day and in last year’s race it was the day Candise and myself took the lead overall.   The rocky descents were smoothed over and the deeper river crossings had bridges over.  True, we were spoilt but there was still the tough climbs to do and with such a hard effort early on we started feeling it after the second feed.  However we cracked it and flew down towards the finish coming in in 27^th overall in 4 hours 20.  Leana and Nicky took 2^nd place in GC too after we heard Karien had fallen and broke her derailleur which meant she was on a single speed for most of the day and had lost a ton of time.

After the race the mission is to find your allocated tent and black kit box which travels in the trucks.  Then its stretch, shower ands clean kit before finally flaking out.  This afternoon with the tents in the shade I chilled out with tea and a donut chatting to my tent neighbors, who also happened to be out DC teammates, it’s a small world!!

Day Three

Jolivet – Scottburgh 75km

I seemed to have acquired the nickname Disco Cath from the podium dance (compulsory I have to add) though I do have to admit I get a little carried away and last night I had all four of us making little box/big box, stirring the pot and wiggling the hips!

The start today, straight down and onto sanding twisty tracks is always a struggle for me.  With such a lead I didn't want to risk falling and breaking the bike so held back which is even more risky with guys cutting in front.  Ischen was also taking a strain with a chesty cough, which got worse after yesterday’s efforts.  As in Joberg2c where I was ill, we had a good enough lead not to make it worse so backed off the pace.  I felt strong so was happy not to try to sit in the fast bunches coming through and, unlike at Joberg2c it was my turn to look around and take in the last bits of beautiful scenery around this area.  10km left Ischen had a flat, we bombed it but it started going down again pretty soon.  I think by the time we climbed the last hill to the school at Scottburgh there was more air going into her croaky lungs than was in her tires!!  We were 2^nd ladies but held on comfortably to take overall victory with Leana and Nicky 2^nd on GC.  Carel and Yolandi had fought hard but ended up just missing the podium in the mixed category.

A great 3 days but over so quickly.  Thanks a ton to Conrad for a smooth mechanical free tour and for all the extra work done from the pimped up team ‘taxi’ and to  Farmer Glen and Gary for allowing us to race when so many are on the waiting lists and for the continuous entertainment they provide.  

Cape Argus Pick and Pay Road Race, March 2012

The Argus has been a big event on my calendar the last three years now, you can’t help but get caught up in the whole atmosphere in what is dubbed South African’s World Champs.  Your not a real cyclist until you have done the Argus and the question that always follows ‘have you done it?’ is ‘what was your time?’ As a racing cyclist this one is always a funny one, I don’t think I have ever done a bike race and stopped my watch as I cross the line.

This year though my whole focus since January has been the Cape Epic and training for an 8 day race of distances over 100km has left me with my ‘base’ legs.  Despite mixing the long rides off road with intervals the speed on the road has been a bit of an issue, especially up climbs, and I wasn’t even sure I would finish this Argus in a contending group.

Race day started early and as we drove to the start I noticed the temperature already 22 degrees, at 5am this was a little concerning and I was thankful for the 6.30 kick off.  The excitement at the start gets me every time, hundreds of cyclists milling around in the dark, dance music blasting out and, to add to it, seeing my parents and friends there after nearly two months away from home. 

Once we got going the group was pretty edgy and I stayed near the front out of trouble.  The climbs were rode at tempo so no real accelerations until round mid way where you turn back in land.  Over the top I was just off the front group and we chased back on.  Once the pace eased at the front so more riders tagged back on and so started the fight to stay near the front again.  It was the same up Chapman’s Peak and the final climb up Suikerbossie during which I was so thankful for some electrolyte from Annriette as my calves and quads were threatening to cramp.

Towards the finish I never left the top 10, keeping a close eye on Ashleigh when she was in front but also just watching the guys as a few were trying to escape early and I thought how nice it would be to get away and ‘solo’ into a victory!  However that wasn’t to be and instead there was a stampede to the line.  I stayed right, in the wind but not boxed in as the group was too twitchy.  About 300m to go I saw Ashleigh go off to my left so I went too.  Not on anyone’s wheel I had no one to hide behind and expected a herd of riders to come past.  Instead I heard a big crash so just kept going and came over the line 2^nd woman with Ashleigh taking the win and Lynette Burger taking 3^rd.

One by one the injured riders came through the finish which is always a terrible sight.  Out of the Bizhub girls Marissa broke a finger and Annriette looked like she’s been tattooed with chain rings.  There were a few nasty accidents in the Toyota team and I heard a few guys had broken collarbones.  I guess that’s the danger in road cycling and I hope everyone recovers 100%. 

After the disappointment at the Nationals for Bizhub-FCF I was pleased to get our kit on the podium.  Two second places in both the Road and MTB Argus’ in two weeks and two matching bottles of bubbly that were easily polished off a few days after on my 30^th Birthday.  

Mabalingwe Marathon MTN National Series, 11th May 2012

As my alarm went off at 4 something AM I had sudden visions of been back in my dark tent in Joberg2C then the nerves really kicked in at the thought of racing without my team mate.  I’m not sure why its less daunting with a team mate and it made me wonder if those people lucky enough to be good at team sports ever have the same nerves as those in individual sports. 

Anyway, Mabalingwe reserve was only an hour and half away and soon the sun was out and warm up underway.  Setting off with the ultra marathon guys I knew it’d be fast so did a good warm up.   Sandy flat twisty tracks are definitely my weak point; both Leana and me said we could do with a training camp here (hint hint!!) as I rode from one thorn bush to another to avoid any lean of the bike.  However, after putting Belgium crit racing to full effect I stayed with the lead girls, Ariane and Theresa and soon we had re grouped with the front guys.  I moved through the pack until I realised I was on Kevin Evans’ wheel than backed off knowing I really didn’t belong there!!  Soon we hit the first climb and I just dropped off the other 2 ladies.  Chasing alone I kept the distance then had a little help as a group of guys came past.  My cornering on the flat stuff again was terrible and I had to do so many sprints after every bend. 

Thankfully the climbing started again and as we rode past a high fence I spotted a white lion (rare I’m told).  Just after that, as if I was distracted, I managed to take a wrong turn and ended up following the half marathon signs.  Dropping down I nearly rode into 2 Kudu I think you call them, and then saw some wild hog (I think) and monkeys (pretty sure of that one!).  Soon I thought it very odd that I couldn’t see the two girls even on the straight sections and soon after I decided to turn round.  Re passing the marshals who gave the same expressionless looks the first time I passed them I retraced my tracks.  Going backwards on a course isn’t easy and in the single-track section I got lost ‘in the bush’.  Hearing the hog/pigs (?) running around and a load of monkeys made me panic and I made the nearest exit.  I imagined the story now, ‘rider lost in bush mauled by pig and finished off by monkey’ didn’t seem the best way to go so I rode as hard as I could to rejoin where I went wrong.  It took 25 minutes to retrace my tracks and I knew then it was race over. 

Still, I could still have a good work out pre Sani2C and once over the disappointment of throwing away a podium finish I enjoyed chasing the guys back from back of the field: firstly the couples who were clearly on their first and last race together, then the struggling weekend warriors, then the camlebak riders.  It was a frustrating climb in the traffic but then for some reason a completely empty descent allowing me the full rocky track to bump over and no one in ear sight to hear me talk myself down (try it when scared, it really works!!) 

The route after that was pretty dull to be honest, sandy jeep tracks and not a lot on the horizon, I think I have been too spoilt lately!!  Soon the guys I was passing got second breathe and I chatted to a few.  One told me we had 10km left so you can imagine the feelings when a marshal shouted 30km left.  We’d just re climbed the Vodacom climb and I was completely out of water, the adrenalin of the lion and pigs was wearing thin and my back was killing from that rocky descent and by the fact I am no longer in my 20s, therefore have inherited the family back issues!!

Once I knew I was on the wrong course again I slowed down, refilled my bottle at the next stop and enjoyed the bits of single track now filled with the 20km riders. I slowed down to ride with a few guys on the verge of cracking as they moaned on about finishing with 90 odd km in their legs until I informed them of what must have been well over 100km on mine.  Finally nearing the 5 hour mark I came into the field, contemplated exiting the finish by the side then thought better of it as there were some delicious ice lollies waiting on the other side of the finish chute and I thought what the heck, I’m not one to quit a race if I’ve been dropped from the pack to save my results been seen and wasn’t about to start that habit now. 

It turned out most of the marathoners had 90 odd km on their clocks and I fear the email box of the orgainsers will be full for a long time!!  Though it is set in a unique venue (when do you otherwise cycle past a lion) it looked to me that there were just too many races on one day when most of the other series races are based on two days.

Have to say sorry to Conrad who thought I was lion feed and to Bizhub for messing up a possible podium finish.  Leana finished 3^rd we thought but then wasn’t mentioned in the prize presentation so who knows!!