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News › Matts' SPAM winter challenge 2007 report |
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SPAM Winter Challenge 2007 - Matt's Perspective
After the recent persistent rainy and mild weather, mud and more mud was the prediction for conditions at this years winter challenge... the event website even had an update advising riders to fit mud specific skinny tyres!!
The course for the 50k had also lost a section due to "unforeseen cir(edited)stances" - bringing the distance for the longest ride down to just 40k - though i dont think many folk were complaining given the tough conditions....
Ham and I had arranged to meet at my house at 0630 sunday morning, then travel down in my van - sounded like a plan! All went well till about 3 miles away from the race site - while trying to change up- I suddenly lost the clutch! Oops! stuck in third gear we managed to nurse the van to the race site - and it was pure luck that we didn't have to stop once - otherwise we would of been stuck as the only way i could stop the van was to knock it out of gear!!
After the suitably gnarly arrival - (and putting on our wellys!) - we went and signed on in the the outbuilding - the pre registered queue empty when we arrived at about 0845 but as we turned back towards the van - droves of people were marching up to the signing on point and soon the queue was out the door and into the field!! - cool... we timed that right then!!
High winds and drizzle meant getting changed was a shivery process, and we both dithered over how many layers, should we wear waterproofs etc etc....
Anyhow - with the race (sorry - ride) going off at 1030, I warmed up on my turbo trainer, knowing a quick start would be pretty crucial if i wanted to be away with the leaders...
By the time we rode over to the start, the line was already packed with folks for about 20 or 30 rows - so I said cheerio to Ham and rode round to the front and managed to find a matt sized space on the second row by the inflatable start gate...
We were counted down at 10 seconds and then we were away - into the muddy field for about a mile and then round into the first single track section through the woods.. the leader had opened a gap already, and I was in 3rd place as we entered the woods and feeling good as we started the first climb out onto the plain, where the leading group grew to about 10 as faster riders that had been caught at the start made their way to the front on the steep road climb...
Out onto the plain and we were riding along at a fair pace - working together, through and off the front road race style - getting a good gap on the groups behind, and shelling out riders that had started too fast... our group caught the leader at this point, and we settled down to slog it out through the mud and climbs, then tearing down the treacherously slippy and muddy descents, then drafting along the road sections... the group staying together pretty much until about the 25-30k point - when a series of attacks shattered the group - including me.
I had been dangling off the back at this point anyway in about 7th place, having a bit of a battle with Ryan Bevis - I'd drop him on the climbs and road sections (he was on a single speed!) - then he'd pass me on the really muddy sections where i really struggled for grip (note to self - get new mud tyres - my medusas are worn out to the point of being semi slicks - not good in mud!!)...
I made a mistake on a rutted muddy track and lost all momentum and came to a dead stop - and ryan sensibly attacked at this point, while I struggled to get going in the slippy mud... I did my best to catch him, but he was out of sight amongst the trees and singletrack in the last couple of miles... I'd also blown a little at this point after concentrating on riding so hard and forgetting to drink - oops! - so I was on my own on the run into the finish...
Up ahead the group had also split and the riders were pretty much spread out - though it was close at the finish between winner Scott Forbes and 2nd placed Eliot Challifour..
The rest of the group came in spread out over about 10 mins or so - muddy, wet and tired... I was satisfied with 8th about 7m 40s down....
Back to the van to get changed - then out to cheer on ham as he came into the finish full of smiles, obviously enjoying himself! (and he even managed to get some good piccys!!_
an excellent day, great fun!
To top it all - the RAC arrived within 30 mins of me calling them - the top patrolman then managed to fix the problem (including a little modification which has actually improved the clutch mechanism!) within 30 mins we were on the road and arrived back home by 1800 - result!!
Stats
time - 2hr 13m 45s
Dist - 25.5 miles (normally closer to 30)
avg sped - 11.2 mph
max sped - 36.7 mph (!)
avg h/r - 174bpm
Cals - 2200
Matt Carter EHC Jan 2007
Posted by getcarter on Tuesday, January 09, 2007 (12:36:32) (483 reads)
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