Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 20th - 26th October

Two weeks ago I had a new focus: a running fell race called the Langdale Horseshoe over in the Lake District.  I needed it as I’d come to terms with the prospect of not returning to South Africa and finishing off my season of stage races.  I was still motivated to train and in good form and with the weather turning decided to get out of my comfort zone and race in the fells for the first time.  A few days before the race started however I became the luckiest person around by landing a place in Team Asrin, a South African company looking for a rider to take the place of an injured team mate of mine in the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek.  I was to ride with Nizaam Esa in the 7 day tour and we set about via WhatsApp to book last minute flights.  I still did the fell race all be it so cautiously I was overtaken by a woman on every descent and dropped from a pretty impressive 3^rd to an ok 6^th.  However I was unscathed and headed out to Cape Town that Wednesday. I stayed with a good friend in Stellenbosch and we crammed in as many new coffee shops and restaurants as possible before heading to the prologue in Oudtshoorn. 

Once we arrived we rode the 15km route that was far looser and trickier than I remember and even though it wasn’t that hot I had a massive headache from the heat and didn’t feel great at all.  However, plenty of water, a new Continental X King tire and a mechanic to tell me I had no back brake left and proceeding to fix it did wonders and riding round in the race was a different story. 

Stage One

15km Prologue

Ahead of us by 30 seconds were most of the other mixed teams with our teammates Asrin 1 just behind.  Nizaam started like a man possessed and I never even got a chance to sit in his slip as we raced along to the first single track.  I thought I’d catch up on the climb but my legs revolted, in fact everything did, it’s been a long time since I’d gone to such depths!!  I was given a slight relief every now and again as we caught teams in front of us and by the time we came to the descents I was actually enjoying myself.  It’s amazing how much of a boost it is to catch teams no matter who they are.  Nizaam also provided entertainment too riding into a bush on more than one occasion!  Near the end we caught up one of the favorite teams, I thought we could just sit with them but my partner had other ideas and soon I was breathing like a horse again and hanging on for grim life.  It was all worth it though when we heard we’d got 2^nd by a few seconds, with team mates Asrin 1 just behind.  It might be the last time both of us are on the podium together but for now we’ll savor it!

Tomorrow the real racing begins with 105km and 1768m of ascent.  The course has a real mixture of fast open roads to technical single tracks and with today starting hot and ending with a very unusually cold and wet evening I’m not sure what lies in store the next few days but with Nizaam’s sense of humor and go till we blow attitude its going to be fun! 

One things for sure, if I get to the end of this stage race I’ll have raced 50 days of stage races this year… its quite cool to think 2 months of the year has been taken up racing round the world and makes me feel very privileged indeed!

Three days have passed since our success in the prologue and we have somewhat plummeted down the GC to around 5^th now I think.  It rained the whole night before Stage One and though we set off fast near the front we soon hit the mud bath!  The whole road was barely ride able and when you pushed the bike the back wheel wouldn’t turn so you had to carry it and an extra 10kg of sticky mud!  We thought we were moving slowly but looked up to see even the leaders weren’t that far in front.  Finally we turned onto a sandier jeep track but as we sat in a line I slid out, crashed and two friends of mine landed on top.  We were all ok but my saddle broke.  Luckily I could still ride it after taping the front down a few times but the back was pointed pretty high so it wasn’t the most comfortable. I was struggling a lot, my legs filling with lactic as soon as I tried to ride hard and I was relived when Nizaam finally slowed, his hamstring giving him a lot of pain.  I also had such bad chain suck; it wouldn’t stay in the small ring without jamming so I rode a lot of the climbs in the big ring.  Looking back that was a bad error, putting the chain and mech through that much tension in such muddy conditions was asking for trouble and true enough soon the rear derailleur twisted up and bent into my back wheel.  Nizaam managed to straighten it up to a fashion and I rode on though pretty soon after the chain refused to go through the bottom jockey wheel so by passed it making it very loose.  I was still able to pedal all be it slowly without resistance but 5km to go it broke completely.  We split the chain and cable tied it up but with such a short distance left I said he should just pull me.  There was a fair bit of down hill luckily but I felt pretty bad for my partner!  We finished to hear that so many riders had had broken derailers that the camp was sold out, luckily my partner came with a whole new drive chain and 2 spare saddles and a mechanic who worked through the night fixing it so by morning I actually had an upgrade!  After the ordeal today I was extra happy to be in a nice clean and warm camper for the night. Out of all the stage races I’ve done I’ve never stayed in one and have to say it is so nice not to re pack every morning, to have a duvet to sleep under, water in the fridge and a toilet.  As well as a fantastic mechanic we’ve also two masseurs for the 9 riders in Team Asrin and even someone washing our kit!! 

There were still riders running around 30 minutes before the start the next morning begging any mechanic around to help fix their mess!  

Stage two was thankfully shortened to avoid another mud section and with the sun out, an 8.30 start and fast roads to ride, the mood in the group was much better.  We were flying staying with the front mixed team up until the 2^nd water point.  Nizaam had just pushed it too hard and with his hamstring also giving him grief we slowed a lot.  Backing right off I took the wind on the open roads while he set the pace on the climbs.  The race ended with the Swatberg climb, an 8km mountain that took us around an hour to ride.  Nizaam battled hard, stopping and starting and we finally made it before cruising down to Prince Albert to the luxury of our campers.  There we heard the good news that our team mates had won the stage and with it been the Swatberg Pass there was a bonus of 120 thousand rand so long as they also had a number of top 10s from here on in.

Stage three and we were back to our 7.30am start that meant waking in the dark and forcing some cereal down.  The start was on a straight open gravel road for around 15km with a stiff head wind.  It was pretty sketchy with people sliding in the sand and sudden braking and I saw at least three crashes.  Though the pace was easy it was better to finally turn off and start racing across the jeep tracks.  We were both riding well together.  In fact I was surprised how well we spot each other after only a couple of days riding together.  The pace was fast but not too uncomfortable.  After the first feed we started a rocky climb and a hairy descent.  I rode following Jennie, our Asrin teammates who were holding on to the leaders jersey.  She is technically more confident that me so I thought right if she rides it I will and was quite pleased to get to the bottom with a foot off.  Whenever I hit rocky descents I think of my poor elbows that are so battered now from crashing in the rocks that I often wear elbow pads and wished I brought them along.  We rode with the two lead mixed for a long time after that before a long drag that saw the now leaders ride off and us pull away from our team mates after their efforts over the last few days holding the jersey showed.  The finish put a smile on every ones faces, a smooth fun single track leading onto a 10km downhill on the road before riding through the finish in 2^nd place and moving up to 4^th on GC.

Stage Four was only 70km on paper but I knew from last year it was one of the toughest yet and was due to be a scorcher.  The stage traverses through a spectacular valley that is only open for cycling once a year.  While it’s really impressive that also means that the tracks are rough and rugged.  The first climb starts with a 10km or so drag where we held a good pace and sat behind Jane Nusili and Ester Suss who were 2^nd in the woman’s category.  Once at the top was the first crazy descent that was so steep Nizaam’s lightweight brakes over cooked and he had to stop a few times.  That gave me a chance to come down more cautiously!  Once at the bottom we gradually pulled away from the jersey holders in our category through countless river crossings and steep climbs.  I had one small fall and landed on a prickly bush, which was pretty uncomfortable!!  The day continued with long slow climbs and equally slow descents.  One climb was around 5km long and too steep and loose to ride and again the descents were sketchy so there was little rest at all.  To top it off we were in for a treat with 8km of single track at the end, trouble was it was back up a mountain and down so most people did have a loss of humor by then!  However as hard and tough the stage was we were elated to win the day and pull our gap back to 2 minutes behind 3^rd place on GC.  It was a good day all round as our team mates took back the leaders jersey and the boys bagged enough points with a 5^th to qualify for the 120 thousand rand prize money from the pass. 

Stage Five was forecast to rain in the afternoon but we woke up to rain in the night and the next morning didn’t look that bright.  True enough just as we pushed our bikes into the start chute it started pouring.  Everyone ran for cover and huddled in the breakfast tent but come 7.30 we were off in true mountain bike fashion.  The start loop looked pretty chaotic but it seemed to string out quickly and Nizaam and myself had a clear line through the deep-water crossings and slippery single track.  The climb then began and went on until we were well in the clouds, the rain got heavier and the lightening got closer.  The rocky descent down was also pretty sketchy but I followed Nizaam and got to the bottom safely.  He was riding very strong today and I was happy to follow his wheel down the open forest roads.  It was a little sticky but nothing like day one and while it was a lot slower riding than in the dry we did at least feel like we were covering ground nicely.  The next decent down was a lot harder in the mud but we both arrived at the tech zone unscathed.  Having had nothing to eat so far I grabbed a load of chocolate and put it up my shorts much to the amusement of the girls handing it out.  We tagged onto the Dutch Cube mixed team for a while on the road.  He is on the Rabo Bank feeder team and is strong enough to ride away from us while his partner holds on!  The road section made the kms fly by and even though it was still raining it was pretty warm.  Soon we turned into the single track, which on any normal day would have been really fun to ride.  It kind of was today to slipping and sliding round but there was no speed at all.  We were lucky, whereas on Monday half the camp broke their derailers today half the field’s pads wore out and there were a lot of stories afterwards of doing the descents using feet as brakes and skidding around hoping for an incline to slow down on.  Both of us had worn the pads but not to the extent they didn’t work and we rode in in 2^nd place and more importantly moving up to 3^rd on GC.  Our teammates made it through to but lost time to the Dutch and so lost the leaders jersey.  The camp was soon flooded and the tenters moved indoors.  We stayed happy and dry in our camper, had wellies from the race sponsor and had pizza as a pre dinner aperitif so all Team Asrin was a happy camp

Stage six, the final day and with more rain everyone was relived to hear the route would go direct to Oudtshoorn 70 odd km’s a way on gravel roads though we would Montagu Pass to conquer first.  We rolled out of George leaving a completely chewed up field behind.  Nizaam was on a mission and all I could do was hang onto his wheel. Montagu Pass is a grind at the best of times but with 6 days racing in the legs it feels super slow going and gets steeper near the top.  The scenery however is amazing and I have a big soft spot for the climb and George in general having spent a lot of time here with my teammate in the last few years.  We rode a tough but manageable pace along with her and her partner and caught another couple of teams near the top so at least had company for the long road ahead.  There were some strong riders in our group so the kilometers whizzed by as we got a bit of through and off going, to sit on the front all be it briefly at least meant you could see for a brief moment… the roads were covered in a slick mud so there was constant grit and dirt flying in your eyes and mouth.  It would have been nice to have stopped and enjoyed the last few water points but there was a sense of urgency in our group and we didn’t stop once.  Nizaam did ask if we could but I said no as it was a long road to ride alone!!  Near the end a big group caught us with another mixed team.  I wasn’t feeling that competitive until they sprinted past near the finish.  We hooked on and sprinted across the field and to the finish line where we crossed ahead of them so keeping another 2^nd place stage.  The Cube team were in their element today on the open roads and were out of sight from early on, they kept the overall win with teammates Jennie and Craig in 2^nd on GC.

Stage ‘eight’ as its become known probably took as much to recover from as the racing though as he has done all week our savior JP the mechanic looked after us all again and found the remaining few members of Team Asrin wandering around Oudtshoorn near dawn.. My 2.30 end to the night was pretty lame in comparison!   

It’s the third year I’ve done the Bridge Cape Trek Pioneer and without doubt has been most luxurious and the best laugh thanks to my partner Nizaam and the rest of Team Asrin.   It’s a great race, not too big and very well organized.  The food was better than ever this year too and though I’ve been in the saddle for 27 and a half hours this last week I’ve still managed to add a few kgs; water retention I hope but more likely excess pancakes, chocolate and Steri Stumpies!!

Genco Mongolian Bike Challenge 2013

On the 31^st August we traveled two hours by bus out to the Chinggis Khan statue. 

We had a fantastic buffet, welcome ceremony and one of the best pre race rides with amazing scenery described as ‘characteristic Siberian tundra landscape’ before bunking down in traditional yurt. There were three of us in ours with real beds and duvets and such tasty food we were definitely spoilt. 

The following day the stage race started in perfect weather along jeep tracks followed by lots of short, steep climbs.  I rode my own pace but made sure I put the effort in, in order to have wheels around me to follow on the open descents.  After those climbs we had a long open stretch with a slight head wind and I was so relieved to find someone of similar pace to ride with.  We worked nicely together, he took the lead on the descents then we shared the flat bits and gradually caught up riders dropping off the big group in front.  I was first woman over GPM 1 then around 70km our group splintered and I was alone after that.  I rode around my limit most of the day, out of breath but not in the red and ate well thanks to the varied biscuits on offer at the feed, my jam sandwiches and 32gi tabs and drink.  The scenery was amazing; so vast and open it was quite nerve racking having no one in front or behind and I found myself double checking markers. The last 10km was really tough: There must have been 4 ‘last’ climbs where I thought I’d crest the top and see the big man Chinggis on his horse!  The end did eventually come and I came in 1^st woman, in the top 15 on GC. 

Stage two was 126km and 2240m ascent in the Khan Khentii National Park to the camp at Tuul River. I hung on with the lead group up to the first water point where we hit a climb through the forest.  The scenery reminded me of home and it was a pleasant relief to climb in the trees out of the heat.  Descending back into the vast open spaces I joined two Belgium’s both called Tom and we had the most social chat I have had so far in this race.  We climbed the next GPM together and joined Brit Matt Page on the descent having had a flat.  The going was slow through the rivers after that but was good riding with smooth tracks in between getting very wet. Over the last GPM and along the headwind back I hung on and suffered silently, pleased and grateful for wheels to follow but also aware that I was burning a lot of matches riding hard for a good few hours.  The last 5km we turned with a fast tailwind and I came in 1^st woman again. The weather turned pretty quickly, the strengthening tailwind became a head wind for those further back as the clouds rolled in and blew straight through our Yurt making it a chilly night.

Stage three was due to be a long day: 175km to Khavcia Ganga and after 8 hours of rain in the night it was going to be slow going. It was only around 7 degrees on the start line and having been warned rain was due I started in two thermals and my rain jacket with a bag with a winter jacket and thicker gloves in.  I straightaway regretted the jacket.  The pace wasn’t high but it was in and out of deep rivers so was like interval session chasing back on. We climbed up and descended through a flood plain which reminded me a lot like winter riding on the moors followed by such a deep water crossing I had to lift my pocket up to save my snacks getting wet!  It was a surprise to see bikes laid around the water point at 35km until we heard the news that the river crossing was impossible and had already took hostage of our luggage trucks and that the stage was cancelled. We huddled in the vans parked there until been told to ride back over the climb to a small bunch of yurts.  As we rode back I made a small detour to join a group of cyclists hovering around a tent where the guy that lived there was handing out what tasted like a brown watery soup with Mongolian bread.  Sounds rotten but as we were all pretty cold it was perfect. 10km on I joined my Canadian and USA friends in a yurt and soon the fire was going and our kit was been hung all over. I can only imagine the smells wafting out from out drying out sweaty socks but we didn’t care, we were warm and dry and gradually peanuts and coke arrived from the feed station. 

Eventually all the Russian off road vans arrived and we piled in still in our lyrca for the long way round to camp.  The drive was a real experience and one I’ll not forget.  Those vehicles get down anything and it was great to see more of the scenery without having to pedal! We stopped at a garage and shared out whatever money we could find to buy some chocolate just before we had a major mechanical and could go no further.  A few hours later we were picked up by a local policeman and continued our drive to camp laughing at his Mongolian singing and arriving after 9pm at a freezing camp. Trying to find a tent, assemble my camp bed and having a ‘baby wipe’ shower all took time and it was gone 10pm by the time I laid down.  It had been a long tiring day but the experiences will stay with me a long time!

Stage four was meant to be 165km but as not even our bike had arrived last night we were told breakfast would be 7am and we would be given more information then. The amended route was 125km missing out more swamp land much to everyone’s relief.  I again set off over dressed in my jacked and regretted it again as we flew down the hill side.  I made a huge effort to make contact with the front group then blew up and eased up.  There was chance to get my knee warmers and jacket off before the next group came past with Sonya in before I found myself riding away with a Portuguese cyclist.  He was way stronger but I tried to do a few turns until we caught up three more riders including Mike from Australia.  We rode together, he wasn’t having a great day having previously been in the top 10 but we did catch up a pretty big group ahead then ride away from most of them over the climbs.  The wind was strong and right on our backs and we averaged just under 30km/h.  The scenery changed again from big mountains and forests to now open grassy plains with no sign of life for miles on end.  Filling up at the 3^rd feed we were really surprised to see 5km to go just after and at 97km we crossed the line.  No one was upset it was a short course and the extra time allowed kit, bikes and ourselves to be washed in the river, sleeping backs dried out and I even did an interview with the Mongolian TV!

Braving the river for a wash followed by the daily chores of washing kit

Still in the pink leaders jersey and with another stage win I won another unique Mongolian hat before dinner of the sheep that had been tied up outside the tent all morning!

Stage five at 170km was the new Queen stage and ended up my best yet. The group was steady the first 80km then the attacks started but I managed to hang on with some yo yo'ing right until 40km to go when the drags finally got the better of me and I rode into the finish with a Canadian guy around the top 10 overall.  I was glad for the company as the last 10km took us over a tough climb that felt pretty hard with 165km in the legs!  Over the top we caught one of the cyclists who had attacked from the gun, it happened to be the Portuguese whom I’d been hanging onto the other day and I slowed up and gave him my remaining water. That night before we dug into one of the best feasts yet sitting in a hall with huge wedding chairs, we all cheered as the last rider, George, came in 10 minutes before the 12-hour cut off! 

Hero of the day George after 11 hours 50 in the saddle

The last stage finished in a 13^th Century Park after 91km of racing.  Matt Page from the UK attacked from the gun that sent off numerous attacks before it settled and we formed a big group along the flat tracks.  Up the first GPM I dropped off the back and was happy for once to ride on my own not wanting to irritate the cold I picked up overnight. Once alone I was struck by the silence of the area and I fully appreciated how different this race is to many.  I eventually caught a few others and rode with them to the finish.  Sonja had a brilliant ride and flew past me on the last climb, which took us round the back of camp to take the victory with me coming in 2^nd. 

Me and Rocky appreciating the setting sun

I won the overall with Sonya Looney (Topeak-Ergon) taking 2^nd and Erin Greene (Endura)3^rd.  In the men’s race Cory Wallace held the pink jersey too all the way through with Brit Matt Page in 5^th. 

The ceremony was impressive with every rider called up to receive the finishers jersey, me and Cory dressed up in traditional dress and plenty of traditional dancers and singers.  I even rode a camel while on my way to the bathroom, which was pretty surreal!!

The camel I was invited to have a ride on

There are plenty of memories from the Genco Mongolia Bike Challenge.  The vast scenery takes your breath away, the Mongolian people are so welcoming and supportive and the camps with the Yurts made us really feel like we were experiencing real Mongolia.  The racing was fast.  I was pleased I had good enough form to hang onto the front few groups for so long each day, I did have to dig really deep to do so but it was worth it to get carried along before popping off with others and settling into a good tempo.  The race wasn’t the only effort of the day either, we washed kit and bikes in rivers, suffered in a cold shower each day and tried to stay warm in our sleeping bags when the evening temperature dipped to near 0 degrees.  But all that was fine in such good company we had and we could all have a laugh about our own pain and sufferings.  Because the race only had 100 or so riders we all knew each other by the end and I have made many new friends, hopefully some I will see again in Mongolia next year!  

Greetings from Mongolia 29th August 2013

Now I have arrived in Ulaanbaatar the realisation of racing 867km through Mongolia’s most challenging terrain is setting in and I’m almost giddy with excitement.  So many other cyclists have arrived and we’ve all the same look; nervous, excited and in slight disbelief that we are doing something so unique and tough across a country that is so unknown to most.  I lost around 7 hours of my life yesterday as we traveled straight across the time zones; it was 3pm on the flight when the lights went out yesterday and 5am this morning when I could have slept all day! However, I’ve resisted all temptation to sleep and have instead built up my bike and done the tourist bit down to see Genghis outside the tourist building.  It has been hard to resist a ride especially having seen some of the trails the guys have been out on but I’ll feel a lot better with two days off and hopefully will be fresh and ready by tomorrow to have a spin out and will be ready to race by Saturday.

The Genco Mongolia Bike Challenge is set across seven different stages spanning 7 different landscapes in Mongolia.  The longest stage is 175km and it takes place on day four – the pinnacle of four consecutively longer stages. 

The race organiser has quoted;

“It is a stage of incomparable beauty and will be a huge challenge for even the strongest of riders, over the seven days of the event competitors must ascend a total of 12,410 vertical meters.”

“It will be a very strenuous physical trial and a test of psychological endurance which will try every racer,” claim the organisers. “We have designed a course that every passionate biker may desire: extreme deserts, mountain passes, unspoiled rivers and scenery of rare beauty.”

With this in mind there is bound to be some intrepidation going into the race.  I know I have good enough endurance to race for 6 or 7 hours and have done enough stage races to know how important fuelling up before, during and after the race is.  I am also not worried about the climbing, I would much rather be going up a mountain than riding along flat windy plains and having done the Epic the meters climbing each day are pretty similar.  I am however very worried about the conditions.  The last two days were really wet and cold, today has been bright blue skies but still only around 9 degrees at 10am this morning so judging what to wear will be critical.  The temperatures here can vary from 3 degrees to 30 degrees and last year there was snow and floods.  I am useless in the cold even though I should be tougher coming from Yorkshire!  I have experienced near hyperthermia one time too many and in these extreme conditions it is so important not to get caught out.  Mechanical issues are also a worry of mine which is why racing in pairs is so much less stressful, if you have a big mechanical problem you aren’t stranded alone and if I race mixed its always been the bloke that has fixed the problem!! 

Other than those worries I’m fit and healthy (touching wood that I don’t eat anything obscure the next two days!!), training has been going well and my aim is to finish knowing I’ve gone as well as I could having enjoyed the whole experience.  Competition is tough with World 24 hour champion Jessica Douglas and many others but I will try to learn from these girls who excel in the longer events.  I see the main competition been the elements and the Mongolian landscape. 

   

Final preparations for Genco Mongolia Bike Challenge!

This time next week I'll be in Outer Mongolia!  The reality has suddenly sunk in of how big an adventure the Genco Mongolia Bike Challenge is going to be.  Even my family are on about spending extra time together in case I don't come back which is been a little over dramatic.  However, it did make me ring my insurer to book on hazardous activity in an odd country.  It didn't seem right to only pay an extra £18 for this but has made me think they obviously don't think its a particularly dangerous thing to do and they've heard it all so I'm sure I'll be fine!!  

While I'm in the UK I am lucky to pick up work, we have a family printing business and do a lot of summer shows and I work in a few tea rooms.  The downside to this though is that this is our busiest time and final preparations  for Mongolia is all a little rushed and a 'bit here' a 'bit there'!  The training I am not too worried about.  I ride my bike every day, I used to race on the road and do a lot of intervals but moving purely to mountain bike marathons I have found I get much more out of just getting out and off road as my technical skills are definitely my weak link!  I love cycling even more than ever and spending 20 hours a week training is a pleasure.  I have recently met a group which go out in Dalby forest and fly round all the hidden forest trails and ride a lot with a friend who was racing at the Commonwealths in XC while I was at school.  On top of that I very often meet my parents on their road bikes and our local road cycling club which all helps with a bit of speed.  We are also blessed with the North York Moors on our doorstep though  in the middle of winter with howling gales and snow I often don't feel that blessed!!  The days do look a lot longer than I have ever raced before with stages up to 175km so I'm not that sure how I'll cope with them but as long as I'm well hydrated and fuelled I'm sure I'll survive.  Many will have completed far longer and worked a 9 till 5 job.  My main worry now is getting everything ready on time.  Luckily we are now working in York, perfect for nipping out and buying some essentials.. baby wipes, paracetamol, anti nausea tablets and extra contact lens solution were on todays list.  Yesterday I purchased a 2kg camp bed in order to sleep off the floor (to avoid any dodgy bugs that might be carrying some strange diseases crawling around our tent!!). We spent a good 30 minutes convinced it was faulty so my husband took it back today to be shown how to put it together by the manager, thats what I call good service even though he was a little mortified!!  I commuted the 85km journey this morning into a head wind so that along with the same on Sunday is one of the last long ones I'll do, I've work Monday and we are working away Tuesday to so my taper is been made for me!  Tonight I'll give my bike a good clean and tomorrow drop it into the shop.  Everything was feeling fine but its as if my Rocky Mountain 29er also knows it has a big challenge ahead and today was making all sorts of groans!  There will be a mechanic over there but theres no way I want to head off into the desert with a creaking bottom bracket.  

So, the list is still long for what I have yet to do but thats fine.  I have yet to sort out my compulsory kit... we have to carry a mirror which I presume is for reflecting the light to be found as apposed to been able to apply makeup mid race, and I have to find a descent bag to ride with.  I've never rode with one so this morning did but I think I lost more sweat through my back than I drank so maybe I'll find one with a little ventilation!  I have a rear hanger sent all the way from South Africa, a Go Pro helmet strap from Japan and I have most of the tools I need.  I have no idea how to use half of them but am hoping I can play the 'I'm a girl' card and get a little help should I brake down mid way!   I'm not sure what food on top of my race food if any I'll take.  Couscous is always a good idea as is cereal but what with my new camp bed and thermal layers I plan to take to survive minus temperature nights I think my couscous will have to stay at home!   

Hopefully my next up date will be while I'm out there, I'm not sure if my UK phone is going to work in outer Mongolia or if they've ever heard of the Internet but I'll try hard to keep you up to date with my progress and stories along the way.  

Sudety MTB Challenge, Poland 28/7/13 - 2/8/13

Thanks to the organizer for giving me a free entry into this year’s event I set about persuading my parents to come and support that didn’t take much and soon we were flying off to a country I haven’t been to before.  The race looked pretty unique, not in high alpine mountains but with around 2000 plus meters of climbing each day on stages only around 70 – 80km long it was certainly going to be a hilly one.  Sharing three to a room also kept costs down and saved me going in the ‘camp’, after doing that in Trans Alps I decided I could never again sleep in a school hall or gym with a hundred other blokes!! The race started in Kiowa Zdroj, a beautiful spa town with amazing gardens and natural springs, nothing as all what I expected in Poland. 

My helpers for the week in serious preparation.

Prologue

8km Kudowa Zdroj

480m ascent

With a 2pm start and having arrived 7am the previous morning thanks to a Wizz Air delay I should have had plenty of time to ride the route, however my first job was to find the service van after I accidentally let the break fluid out trying to adjust the brake ‘ah self service’ was the comment I got from the mechanics when I explained, ‘ah yes, no more self service’ I said after leaving with perfect brakes and gears costing me about a quid! So, I managed a 30 minute warm up, not enough for the time trial straight up with a few small descents to have a breather on.  I can’t say I felt good at all for 37 minutes but I guess no one would on an uphill race against the clock in 35 degrees!  Recovery was an ice-lolly at the top before riding down and jumping into a very cold shower.  Dinner number 2 of meat and potatoes, followed my ice cream number 3 in the very pretty town square

Stage One

89km Kudowa Zdroj – Kraliky

2101m ascent

The race rolled out at 10am straight into fast fields and short sharp climbs.  To say I was blowing was an understatement as I hung on wheels and got dragged along.  I suffered for around 13km until everyone around seemed to either slow down or I finally warmed up and I rode around the same riders most of the day.  I met 2 Brits and managed to have a chat to them but I’ve got to say riding solo can get a little lonely especially when I hit the odd long forest descent alone.  Mainly though I really pushed it in order to stay with other riders for both the company and for the drafting.  A plus of riding alone as a woman is that you don’t seem to get pressured into doing a turn, or maybe my breathing was that bad that no one would dare ask!!  Mam and dad were at 2 feeds which was perfect but I didn’t stop at the last thinking half a bottle would do for the last 20km forgetting the mountain we had to climb.  Luckily the climb was more shaded that we had been told and I envisaged my banana had enough moisture in the stop a heat stroke!!!  The climb was tough, steep and long.  It took me forever to catch a rider who looked like he’d really blown though he caught me back on the steep descent and we rode towards the finish together.  I felt the dreaded flat 4km away on a road of all places.  The sealant I’d just put in didn’t work and I didn’t know my lead so instead of wasting an age with a tube I rode slowly with a very soft tire down the tar road.  It left me with no energy, feeling a little sick and very dehydrated but I came in 1^st woman.    Another trip to my mates at the services, followed by another schnital and potatoes and ice cream number 5. 

Stage 2

80km Kraliky – Stronie Slaskie

2614m ascent

Today’s stage looked great on paper with lots of climbing and single track and much cooler after a big storm last night.  After 5km my heart sank as I felt the back wheel go soft again.  I bombed it twice but only saw sealant leaking from the spokes.  (I later found a nail lodged next to my pierced my rim tape that must have caused yesterday’s flat.  The valve was also on super tight but luckily I saw one of the timers ahead who happened to have tools and loosened it off and put my tube in for me, the perks of been a woman!!  I knew I’d been stopped around 15 minutes and knew I wouldn’t see any of the riders I’d been racing with yesterday so settled into a steady pace taking it extra slow on the rocky descents.  The last thing I needed was another flat.  Stopping again at the mechanics to grab another tube I at least had a bit more confidence that I wouldn’t be stranded and enjoyed the last half.  Mam and dad loaded me up with bananas and biscuits which I had to down in one since my pockets were full, it was as well as I hadn’t eaten much and we had a big rocky climb to do.  At the top I finally caught the 1^st lady and came into the finish 1^st again by a few minutes.  No need for ice cream today as it wasn’t hot enough, but did get more potatoes and meat for dinner. 

Stage three

60km Stronie Slaskie - Sloty Stok

2024m ascent

I love the translation of the road book… today we started with a ‘lap of honor’ round the town followed by an ‘unusual single track’ after 20km.  Unusual it was, in fact I’d better describe it as a hiking trail.  With loads of hike a bike and with the ridable bits full of roots, fallen trees and rocks it was the slowest 25km I’ve ever ridden.  Riding alone meant I had no one to grumble to and did loose my humor more than once.  However it was real mountain biking I guess and riding along the border crossing was pretty special.  I was glad to get to the finish after lots of the rest of the route was on sharp loose rocks, slow going and pretty technical.  60km took me over 4hours 30!!  I managed 1^st woman again and extended my lead.  We were rewarded tonight with the best hotel I’ve ever stayed in for a bike race, a castle complete with pool, Jacuzzi, games room for a bit of table tennis, a huge lawn, good wine and no potatoes in sight!!

Our posh castle filled with riders, bikes, baggy shorts and compression socks

Stage four

73km Sloty Stok  - Walim

2501m ascent

The first morning we all slept through the alarm happened to be the morning we were 30km away from the start.  Breakfast was a bit rushed which wasn’t a problem really as I was still stuffed from the delicious dinner last night.  I still managed a good warm up, good job as the start was as usual straight up hill and as usual I chose to go as hard as possible then killed myself hanging onto a fast group.  Despite the ‘you will ride up and down, up and down’ description for the day we traveled along at a fast rate and before I knew 30km were done.  After the second feed the steep climbing up to 1015m began.  I didn’t help myself by taking a wrong turn and descending all the way back down and adding an extra climb on by accident but luckily it was only 1km and soon I caught familiar faces up again.  I enjoyed the climbs, there were some walking sections but a lot was steep and loose and required lots of concentration that made the kms fly by.  5km to go we had a ‘very groovy track’ down.  I half expected a smooth single track through the forest but this is Poland and instead it was half forest single track then suddenly loose big rocks on a steep slope.  Wanting to neither break myself or my bike I took it slowly and ran some letting a few cyclists go past but comfortably in 1^st place again.  More potato and meat for dinner but some salad for the first time all week and my own bedroom which was almost as exciting as discovering the pool in the castle!! 

Stunning scenery on route

Stage Five

79km Walim - Kudowa Zdroj

2267km ascent

With the start 4km down the road and awake early after the best nights sleep all week I had plenty of time for a good warm up even though my legs were rebelling and I would have preferred to sit in the shade and doze back to sleep!  I was glad for it as we started up a road that must have been 20% followed by a fun forest descent then up a long open climb.  I started well and intended to ease off but the course didn’t allow for that with either hot grassy slow going tracks, rocky climbs, rooted single tracks or difficult descents.  I think the grass really got to me today too as I struggled to get my breath and was wheezing all day even though my legs felt relatively good.  On the plus there was never a moment to be bored, there hasn’t been all week and I found myself with the same faces and had a chat along the way, especially when we had the first road section of the week and I was riding with the tallest man in the peleton.  I did my work at the front but I’m sure he got no draft from me!  Mam and dad were on hand with my new favorite feed stop food, peeled oranges at all three points and plenty of water as it was easily over 30 again.  The last 20km was extra hard and I took the last descent really carefully, with a big sugar low I really didn’t want to fall or brake my bike and there was no need, I started the day 50 minutes ahead and won the stage too.  The atmosphere at the end was great back in the beautiful spa town we started in, as was the ice cream with our new mates from the UK.  It was a shame to fly home and miss the presentation and banquet but the thought of my own bed, a weekend of doing very little with Rob and not a potato in sight was highly appealing!!

I would highly recommend this race for any keen mountain biker.  The stages are challenging, lots of climbing and technical but not too long.  I was riding around 4 hr 30 every day and finished around 40^th on GC. It’s really well organized, the hotels we stayed in were great and it was all so affordable with free mechanical back up, very cheap beer  (for the supporters of course) and good food (especially if you like potatoes!)

Thanks to my team Bizhub, my Epic sponsor Energas for helping me out with European races and my Rocky Mountain 29er for getting me through yet another stage race.  

World Marathon Mountain Bike Championships, Kirchberg, Austria, 29th June 2013

Having qualified for the World Championships in France earlier in the year we travelled on mass with Rob and my parents to Austria via ferry and a long long drive down from Belgium. Staying right in Kirchberg we had access to all parts of the course which looped around so a few days before Rob swapped his running trainers to join me on the bike.  Our first ride was straight up a mountain to 1800m and literally straight down through the trees under the cable car.  The descent was tricky, full of wet roots and bridges and it did take us forever to get down.  The following day we stayed a bit lower and checked some more single track out.  The weather was hit and miss, warm sun but cold alpine air followed by  heavy showers, however race day looked pretty bright with rain forecast only for 2pm.  I slept badly with nerves and was feeling pretty jaded in the morning.  Still, the atmosphere at the start line woke me up and the narrow lanes we started on made sure everyone was fully alert.  The first long climb started after 8km and lasted around an hour.  It was all ridable open trails and I lost a few places as I settled into my own pace.  Considering we had 3 more of these to come some of the girls were really pushing hard.  The top of the climb was comical, it must have been up a black run up the grass to the crowds at the top and while one American in front zig zagged her way up I found it as fast to run.  I did ride the top bit with maximum effort just to get a cheer from the crowd!!  I chased hard to catch Robyn to have a familiar wheel to follow and Jennie must have done the same as we were all together at the bottom.  In a race with 55 other girls its amazing how you end up riding with familiar faces.  The next climb came soon enough and we settled into our own pace again.  

An hour or so later saw the top of another cable car, a short descent then another climb where I caught and rode with team mate Jane for a while.  I was feeling good and keen to stay in the top 20 taking more risks than I would normally to stay near Jane on the open descent.  Rob was at the bottom with a bottle of coke, having had a bottle of 32gi and an electrolyte drink.  The last climb was again on open road turning to a track then a steep finish up to the final feed where mam and dad were shouting us all on again.  

I had rode as hard as possible up the last climb to try to get a good gap for the descent.  I needed it as it was pretty wet and the track was well grooved out.  I rode it well for me though really had to be off the saddle as my forks were compressed and pretty locked out.  I fell once and ran a lot but came out without loosing any places.  Just when I thought I'd enjoy the last few corners and berms I hit a ridge and went flying into the banner to the amusement of everyone watching.  No harm done though and I was soon up and finished a mere 6 seconds in front of Jane who must have been coming twice as fast as me down that hill.  I was very pleased with 15th place, I have never thought I was much of an alpine climber and the European girls fly down those descents, I felt a lot stronger than in the last few weeks and got my fuel perfect.  A great result for Sally Bigham who got GB a silver medal and for Ariane who got 7th.  True to word it started raining at 2pm, resulting in a perfect post race afternoon lying around watching Tour de France and later supping red wine!  Big thanks to all the help I have received to be able to get on the start line of a mountain biking world championships.  4 years ago our gravel drive way would have out the fear up of God up me but thanks to John Robertson and Bizhub I've been given a chance to try this amazing sport, have travelled the world, met amazing life long friends and found a sport I'm not to shabby at!  Thanks also to Rocky Mountain for my helping me 'enjoy the ride' today, to Hendrik at Energas for his support for my European outings, to my family for their support and to Rob for risking life and limb by coming down these crazy routes with me.    Next stop Tour of Mongolia, watch this space!! 

Malevil International Marathon Mountain Bike Race, Czech Republic

I'd done this race last year as part of the European Championships and was keen to return, partly because of the course through the mountains, good preparation for the Worlds in a fortnight, and partly as a mini break for myself and Rob who was getting excited before we left at the prospect of all the different beer on tap.  The Czech people are really keen on the Epic so once I told them I'd won it they were so helpful in getting me over, everything was sorted out, all me and Rob did was arrive at Prague airport.  I raced with one of the sponsors of the event: kit designers, Eleven Test Team who picked us up, arranged an interview on route and who showed us their impressive factory and design studio as well as giving me and Rob all sorts of new kit.  From there we were dropped off at our cabin at the Malevil ranch.  Thanks to the organiser we were put up in our own cabin on the hillside in the forest, away from the hustle and bustle of the race village.  Our pre race ride consisted of a 2km recca and a half hour stop trying to fix Rob's chain with a chain splitter but no spare link.  Giving up on that I had a good strength workout testing out the stitching on the jersey as Rob hung on to my rear pocket.  Rob's bike later had a pretty full service for the price of a few beers, the worst of it was that he had to join in the drinking session, not ideal before his 65km MTB debut!!  

Race morning was bright and sunny and pretty laid back with an 8.30 start.  I left Rob to head to the buffet breakfast, as his start was only 10.30.  The start wasn't that laid back though and I have noticed my Joberg2c form has abandoned me somewhere along the way.  I struggled to stay on wheels and after 4km had to just recover and free wheel down the tracks until a steady enough bunch came past including another Czech girl.  My legs finally came back and on the first long climb I pulled away from the group and started catching other riders.  The course was excellent, really well marked, and a mixture of forest trails, nearly 3000m of ascent, technical single tracks and a fair bit of mud thrown in too.  I found myself round the same riders most of the day, pulling away on the climbs and getting caught on the descents.  Even without any English its amazing how grateful you become for company when you are riding near to your limit for 5 hours and without any support I had no idea that my lead was gradually climbing to 15 minutes.  I did start to cramp quite early on which was a little worrying and without wanting to stop I opened a sachet of Rehydrate and tipped it straight into my mouth, luckily I had drink at hand as it left a frothy salty taste building up, not the nicest but did prevent any more cramp!!  I finished 1st lady and felt that though I felt lousy at the start came better mid way and paced it well from there to the finish.  Joining Rob a little later, him having finished the 65km well and with no mechanical issues we had a fantastic post race afternoon chatting with our new Czech friends over beer, wine and goulash followed by an evening of rocking on the dance floor to a local all girls heavy metal group, well, its good to join the locals and they do like to party... we did however opt out of the beer at breakfast which seemed the norm!!

Put this one on the calendar, a race that’s got a bit of everything, a venue that’s stunning, and a real local atmosphere as well as very good cheap food (though we avoided the tripe and liver ball soup) and the world's best beer according to Rob.