Bontrager Twentyfour12

I've been pretty quiet on here of late, it's amazing how time gets away from you! I will have to try and get some 'post dated' posts uploaded.

I foolishly agreed to join a team entered in the Bontrager Twentyfour12, basically it's an endurance mountain bike race. There are several races which sit under this umbrella, our team was entered in the 24 hour team race. This years event spanned the 26th and 27th July (this did put the dampeners on my attempt at this years Rapha Rising challenge on Strava)

I really didn't know what to expect of what I've gotten myself into, but what the hey!

The plan was to get down to Plymouth and setup camp on Thursday 24th July, leaving Friday free for a 'natural' loop on Dartmoor, then Saturday and Sunday for the race itself.

Thankfully the guys at Tredz managed to squeeze my full sus in for some repairs, it's been limping since a trip to the Quantocks earlier this year which resulted in a bent mech hanger and mech. I had it straightened shortly after, but it was never right.

Anyway, I decided as this was going to be my hols for this year that I would hire a van, I could then take my full sus and hardtail, plus camping gear, clothes etc and sleep in it if the weather took a turn for the worse. The journey down was hot, very hot! and it wasn't helped by a faulty electric window, according to the thermometer in the van it as 32 degrees.

Friday looked like it was going to be another hot, dry day, by the time we'd got ourselves sorted and up to Dartmoor it was almost 1pm and it was hot.

The ride itself was a mix of terrains including fast and flowing tracks, some long tarmac road climbs and a couple of really tough boulder descents (well I found them tough). A brief stop in the pub was called for, to refill our camelbaks and for a cheeky pint (soft drinks of course, but the ciders looked good) and packet of crisps.

Some tracks were very overgrown, and we had no choice but to push, but the views were well worth it. I'll definitely have to go back.

That evening we had a barbecue and that cider we were due from earlier!

The day of the race dawned, another bright, hot day, the nerves were beginning to kick in. On hindsight I think that we should have done a recon lap of the course! We had breakfast and before the children's races (which one of the guys children were entered in) we worked out what order we'd ride in. Jon would go first, he'd organised the team and had ridden the event before, so would be better prepared for the hectic start, I'd go second, followed by the other two guys. We'd each do two laps before handing over, then as it got dark we'd think about changing this, though we all wanted to do some night laps.

We estimated that our laps would be around 45 minutes, based on that we could work out when we needed to be in transition ready for the change over. I got my ht ready for the race and headed down, the nerves were on edge, was I fit enough? was the course going to be to technical for me?  We all realised that we weren't going to in contention for anything, which took some of the pressure off, but we weren't riding to 'lark about', we wanted to try and do our best.

After about 30 mins waiting, I was there early and we hadn't taken into account that the first lap was a little longer, I saw Jon coming into the Start/finish area, it was to late to back out now. I made my way to the fence and waited to be tagged, one of the guys kids had decided that we should handover with the title of that classic Glee hit 'Don't Stop Believing'! so as I was tagged with this, it did lighten the mood and resulted in an odd look from one or two of the other riders.

The course weaved out of the arena, across the stream then after a short track though a field then up a steep hill, from there a section through the woods which had a few technical, but thankfully not to tough sections, then back down to the camp site via a fast rocky descent, which was really good fun. I did manage to clip my handle bars at the end of this section on a narrow bridge as we entered the camp ground. Sorry to the guys I held up.

From here the course followed the edge of the campsite and into some trees to cross the stream once more, this time resulting in wet feet, which in the heat of the day was nicely cooling. After the stream crossing and some rooty sections through the trees we arrived on a fireroad which climbed to a area which appeared to be of use for clay pigeon shooting. There was a whacking great boulder in the middle of the track which had to be avoided! then a fast farm track section and across the stream for the final time of the lap. Some more farm track to a short steep climb which levelled off until we left the trees and entered the arena via a fast smooth grass descent (30+ mph), and onto transition.

The heat took it's tole, two of the guys got cramp and couldn't continue after their second stint of two laps. I found that I really didn't have the fitness for the hardtail on the bumpy course, where I really needed to stay out of the saddle and use my legs as shock absorbers, so swapped over to my full sus. What time I lost on the climbs, I made up for on the rougher sections of the course. Myself and Jon decided that we'd do another night lap and then call it a day until 8am, when we'd start off again.

We managed a total of 22 laps of the 7.5 mile course, at a fairly consistent time of between 40 and 50 mins during the day over the 4 team members, and around 55 mins for the night lap.
We were firmly near the bottom of the tables, but we all enjoyed and even before the event was over we were discussing entering it again!

Wentwood 50K, Goshawk Challenge, 2014

What a cracking day! Warm sunshine and no rain. My thanks again to Robert Storey for his time during a hectic day. Had a good chat with a fellow photographer, who has had simular issues with their 7D and water ingress.

I'll be uploading my photo's of the Wentwood over the coming few days to my flickr site, please check it out http://www.flickr.com/photos/trackandtrails/sets/72157642113291905/
I've watermarked the images, If you'd like to have the high-res, unwatermarked image, please get in touch (you can also find me on Facebook), all I ask is that you make a small donation to my Tribute fund in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Please feel free to comment, I'd like to hear how the 'Wentwood' went for you.

Managed the 100km milestone!

My mind works in imperial - give me miles over km's! However, I think it's fair to say that 100kms is a milestone in anyone's distance, and a distance I would have never considered attempting this time last year. I attempted the Strava Festive 500 challenge (Christmas week), due to the nature of the challenge, long rides were required and a 100km ride seemed like a target to aim for - unfortunately, I never managed to reach the 100km - I managed 96km - but ran out of time and daylight.

Roll forward a few days to 2014, more rain and another Strava challenge. The wet December has been followed by an even wetter January, in fact the wettest January since records began. Since my New Years Eve ride I'd not used the bike, a new garden fence has taken most of my spare time. DIY mixed with the weather, I'd not thought about entering any of the Strava challenges and quite a challenge (for me) it is. The Gran Fondo tasks you with riding 130km in a single ride; motivated by a dry day off work, excessive competiveness (one of mates completed it on Wednesday) and a rush of blood to the brain, I thought I'd give it a go!

I maybe foolish, but I'm not stupid, well not entirely! I made sure I put some extra psi in the Nobbly Nics and picked a fairly flat route. I based it on the 96km route I'd used previously.

Making sure I had a full Camelbak and some energy bars (thought I'd try the chocolate orange Mule Bar), I set the Trance's suspension to climb and set off. After an hour I was 20 miles in, time to stretch my legs and take my obligatory photo of my bike at Mumbles pier.

Back on the saddle and time to weave my way past the people walking on the seafront cycle track, though been midweek and the cold wind meant for much quieter route than my previous weekend loop. Turning off the seafront, I headed up the disused railway line in Clyne, my target was the Loughor Estuary. As with most railway cycle tracks, it wasn't steep, just a steady uphill gradient, but at this point I really wasn't feeling my 'mojo'. Passing the Railway Inn, I was down to a snail's pace, thankfully the gradient was levelling and the going was getting easier. Soon I was heading downhill and left the trees and emerged into a housing estate. At this point I got lost and ended up in some playing fields in Gorseinon. The pleasant downhill section of cycle track, also meant a long drag uphill for the return leg. I decided that rather than trying to find the Estuary, it was time to head back to the seafront, but first, time for some Mule bar to boost the energy for the climb. Choc Orange, it was okay, but I prefer (I really like) the Apple Strudel version.

Four hours and 45 miles in and to steal a phrase - I was in a dark place! Shattered, hungry and a rear puncture, despite the incredibly wet weather, I couldn't find any standing water to try and find the puncture. I finished the mule bar and pushed up to the crest of the Briton Ferry bridge. From there I rolled down to McDonald's, I could feel the carcass of the wheel flexing, most off putting! A quick McD's and a hot coffee and I was feeling better. Time was getting short, so I drank the coffee on the move (when they warn you its hot liquid, they're not lying!) With some more air in the tyre I set off once again, I hoped that the puncture was slow enough that I wouldn't have to deal with it on route.  However, I was wrong, I had to stop a 2nd time to add more air, so decided that the best course of action was to get into Port Talbot and the Tesco petrol station. I could change the inner tube in a safer spot and use the air compressor there to inflate it. Amid calls of 'puncture is it?', I started to change the inner tube. Wheel stripped down, I got the spare out of my bag, only to find it was from a road bike?! WTF! I've never owned a road bike, so how/why did I have a spare inner tube for one. Ho hum, I guess I'd have to make the best of a bad situation, I knew at this point the 130km was not reachable, but maybe the 100k was possible.

I was 50 miles in to my route, cold, a puncture (very possible two now, as I couldn't find the cause of it and unless I was incredibly fortunate to put the wheel back together in exactly the same position, it could puncture again) and really, really tired. Choice, head home or keep going? Home was 6 miles away, I needed 14 miles for the 100k. 8 miles from somewhere. To fall short so close to completing the 100k for a second time didn't appeal.

I set off once again, the saddle wasn't a friend! Another disused railway line and I was going slow again, but finally I got to Rhyslyn. In the carpark, some other riders were fitting their lights and heading off. Time for me to do the same, lights fitted and tyre inflated again (and would need to be done another four or five times before I'd get home). By the time I was in Cymmer, it was properly dark and cold, I was really thankful I had the Hope Vision with me. I was surprised how busy the trails were, the glow of the lights weaving through the forest was quite eerie!

Home, and oh boy was I tired, but I'd done it, a 104km on my full sus.

Could I have done the 130km without the puncture or if I'd used more XC orientated tyres? (most of the route was on tarmac) I don't know, but I guess there's only one way to find out!

Galaxy S4 Mini - the brave new world.

Finally upgraded my trusty old HTC Wildfire, to be honest, I'd have replaced the battery and kept using it, except for the lack of memory to use Strava.
I took the plunge and went for the Samsung over the HTC one mini, 3 issues swayed the choice in favour of the Samsung:-

replaceable battery - if I do go bike packing, this could be useful.
SD Card - photo's, maps etc.
and no bink feed - really not sure about this feature of the HTC.

I like the Sense interface 'flavour' of Android, but I am starting to get used to the Galaxy, I have installed the Sense Clock widget!

My main gripes about the Samsung:-

The softest vibrate I've had on any phone I've owned
No notification LED
The stock browser isn't the best

Considering the price of the handset, I hope I can get the 3 years (and more) use out of it that I had from the HTC.