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!

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!

Strava Festive 500

Managed the 50% waypoint on the Strava Festive 500 challenge, but only just, 251km reached on the final day of the challenge. A killer 40 mile loop of the Gower, well it almost killed me, just edged me over the distance needed. I had my rear light, but not the front light. Cycling back on the road, in the dark, isn't full - and I would whole heartedly not recommend it. Lesson learnt.


A windswept Wormshead, Rhossili.

Brecon Beast 2013

This year I've decided to try and be a bit more proactive in trying to raise some money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association. My idea had been to enter a 12 hour enduro MTB race, fortunately the Dusky Valleys 12hour Enduro is fairly local to me. The race started 8pm Saturday night through to 8am Sunday morning, a real challenge and the opportunity to my AyUp's and Hope lights to the test. Sadly the event was cancelled due to the low number of entries. This left me in the position of having sponsorship, but no event!

I needed a substitute event, step forward the Brecon Beast. I photographed last years 'Beast, but it was time to set aside the camera and roll out the Giant Trance. It's always a tough choice between photographing an event and attempting to ride in it! (Wentwood 50k is a case in point!)

I'd missed the cut off for online entries, so it was an early start Sunday to get up to Brecon and join on the day. There was a choice of two routes, the short 67KM route or the long route - a leg aching 97km. For some reason I went for the long route, but you had the choice to swap routes at the split point.

I was riding with some other members of the Mynydd Du MTB club, having a few familiar faces and a laugh waiting for the start helped settle the nerves. The start was just after nine, it was a tight squeeze exiting the sports field, but once out on the road the race spread out and set a good pace down the hill an through Brecon. At this point I feel I should thank the drivers in the area for their patience as several hundred cyclists blocked their way.

Once out of the town and into the narrow country lanes the ride closed back up, with little space you needed to be aware of who was around you to avoid a collision. This was the case for several km, until once again the ride started to spread out. There was alot of tarmac riding, split up by short section of XC, until the we all turned left off Heol Senni and over the mountain towards the feed station and then Sarn Helen and Ystradfelte. At this point the guys (and girl) from Mynydd Du were out of sight, I'd dropped back finding that maybe I'd pushed to hard early on to keep up with them on the Heol Senni climb. It was a tough climb, the start line banter seemed along way off, so focusing on a point just ahead of my front wheel I gritted my teeth and kept pedalling - I find this helps on a long, non-technical climb.

The feed station wasn't quite at the top, there was around another 10 minutes of climbing ahead. I took the opportunity to top up my Camelbak, stretch my back - which was quite painful (must remember to adjust saddle) and have a bite to eat. Apple Strudel Mule bars are Heaven sent! There are really nice! Whilst at the feed station I meet most of Mynydd Du, who were just setting off again - one was awol however! Finishing off the Mule bar, it was time for a scenic pee (maybe to much info!) but despite the weather closing in, there were still some amazing views. Getting ready to set off again I found the awol member of the club - who had bumped into his brother and a mate on the route - small world!

Thinking there would be safety in numbers I waited for them to fuel up and then tagged along with them. Their fitness showed and I was soon at the back of the group for remaining part of the climb. As the track levelled out and then started to drop, I could stand on the pedals and stretch my back and legs again - a welcome relief. The pace soon quicken and the Marshall promise of a good downhill was kept! Starting to pick up speed I was faced with a rider going in the wrong direction - there'd been a crash, heeding his warning I slowed and passed a rider supporting his injured arm. He had a couple of other riders with him, so I pressed on down the hill. Passing bottles and inner tubes shaken from peoples bikes and packs and even some other riders, the climb was worth while - it was fun! I was surprised by the number of people suffering from punctures - the bane of many a ride recently for me. I easily passed half a dozen people changing inner tubes.

Rapha Rising: La Centième

I use Strava on most rides these days, it pandas to my 'inner geek', recording my routes and the distances, something which I used to do with a paper notebook and cycle computer in my younger days. It's also quite a good aid to training (not that I really do any proper training!), it gives me a bit more motivation to keep going when I'm feeling tired. Strava run challenges most months, I give some a go, with limited success.

This July they ran the Rapha Rising Challenge, basically the challenge to is cycle a total climbing distance of 7,235 meters in 8 days.

To celebrate the 100th edition of the Tour de France, and the mountains that have made it legendary, Rapha and Strava are proud to announce Rapha Rising: La Centième.
To quote Strava:-

"In the week which starts on Bastille Day (14th-21st July), Rapha is challenging participating riders to climb the combined height, from sea level, of the Peyresourde, Ventoux and Col de Sarenne, all of which feature in this year’s race. Just as the pros will have to scale Alpe d’Huez twice, Rapha is challenging riders to scale the Alpe once more, making a total climbing distance of 7,235m (23,737ft), the combined elevations of the Peyresourde, Ventoux, Sarenne and Alpe d’Huez from sea level to top."

I'm not particularly skillful or fit, but I am quite determined and (strangely) I do quite like forestry fireroad climbs. The challenge also had a set target - which I prefer to the open ended style of challenge (and you also get a woven badge - even more incentive!) So this seemed like a Challenge I could really give a go at completing. I'd be doing the rides on a full sus MTB, with all my routes been planned off road, I think my mates were pretty sceptical!

The Challenge started on the 14th July, and for a few weeks leading up to this I'd got a route planned out in my mind, roughly a 80km loop of the Margam and Afan forest fireroads, with some 9000 feet of climb. As the date approached, so the weather improved, to the point where it has been hotter here than it's been for over 8 years, not ideal of a chubby chap wanting to do a long XC ride!

The 14th was a boiling hot day, despite setting off early, it was far to warm for me. SWMBO was concerned for my health (aw bless), so I had to be back by 12 noon or face her wrath! At the half way point, I'd emptied the camelbak and a 750ml water bottle with an electrolyte drink in it. It was close to midday so called it quits and headed for home. With only been able to complete half the climb I'd hoped to have been able to do, I'd been left with a real up hill struggle (excuse the pun)

The hot weather continued all week, this left me with the choice of cycling in the heat of the early evening or waiting until later, when cooler but the midges were then out! I couldn't cycle any earlier as had to be in work for 8am. I chose the midges....


The nights had been difficult, the house to warm to sleep, most mornings I was awake in the early hours. So on the morning of the 20th, with some 45% left to do, I took advantage of been up at 5am and set off early. It was actually very pleasant at this time in the morning, and I made good progress, trying to pace myself, I certainly wasn't going to beat any speed records, but there was a long way to go! I needed to do the ride I'd planned for the previous Sunday.

Thankfully I managed to complete the ride, unfortunately, the battery on phone did not. It ran out some 6 miles before the end of the ride, this left me with a bigger ride on the 21st than had hoped. Thankfully the final Sunday of the challenge was a cooler day, but I still had to get out early to try and avoid the midday heat. I managed the to complete the challenge plus a little bit extra! I just waiting to hear from Strava about sending them my details for the woven roundel.

Thanks Strava and Rapha for a really tough challenge and for the roundel - which was extra incentive to keep going!

British Cross Country Series 2013, Round 4. Margam Park

For some of my pictures from the days racing at Margam Park as Round 4 of the BC National XC Series, please check my flickr site. I'll post more as I get time to sort through them (work & sunny weather allowing!). So please check back again in a few days.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14306776@N08/sets/72157634531071387/

Strava Challenges - The May Massive.



I've tried a few Strava challenges in the past, I usually end up pretty near the end of the table. The same is more or less true this time round, but I did manage to reach my target of 250km and get a 'challenge badge'. With only a few days of the challenge left to run I still needed around another 60km, I'd done a 60km ride last month, so I thought I'd try for a 100km MTB ride. That would get me to my target distance of 250km and also it would be a distance I would never have imagined riding.

It was a mostly dry day, but the wind was awful, with some sections having a brutal head/cross wind, I never seemed to find a tailwind though! In Margam Park, I took a slight detour to my planned route to ride a section of the XC route from last weeks WMBS race. I continued along the track (rather than turning left), the track zigzagged through the clumps of trees on the hillside to a steep descent back down to the main track. I've watched several MTB races at Margam, many of them have used this descent, and I've seen a lot of people crash or decide to carry their bikes down it. I was worried about the descent, I didn't consider the trail through the trees, as it turned out the section through the trees was tight and rooty and I found it quite tricky. I had second thoughts about riding the descent when I was at the top looking down, but thought I'd give it a go. The surface was loose soil and rocks, I was braking to heavily and the wheels locked and slid on the surface, releasing the brakes the bike straightened up, but picked up speed quickly. I managed to find the right balance and then I was at the bottom and back on track.

At about half way, my route took me over some moorland towards Cymmer and then Blaengarw, it was at this point I realised that I wasn't going to get to the 100km. I reached the top of a small hill, with views down to Maesteg and over to the Afan trails (where I was heading). The soft-ground, cold headwind and spits of rain sapped my strength, I thought it would be better to finish than ride past the point of no return. This was one of the few places on the route where I would have used the same section of trail twice, I turned around and followed my tyre tracks back to the relative shelter of the forestry road.

Once out of the wind, I fuelled up and set off again. My route followed parts of the old (but hopefully soon to reopen Penhydd trail) and the start of Y Wall - Alpha, Elevator and the fireroad climb. Rather than turning left up to Rhiwgregan, I continued onto Glyncorrwg where I had a rest and a bite to eat. Then back down to do Y Wall - where I had a brief chat with a fellow group of riders, I got the impression the thought the climb from the visitors centre to Rhiwgregan had got me to my current b****y knackered condition!

76.5km, just under 7000ft of climbing and 7hours in the saddle, not exactly a blistering pace, maybe I'd have got further, quicker with the Kona Kula (but she's in need of TLC). But if anyone asks, "Can I use the Giant Trance for a long XC ride?", my answer would be Yes!

This challenge, it seems to me like most of the Strava challenges, is very much road bike biased, my MTB 250km target for the month, is ridden by some on a single ride. It would be nice if they would have some challenges which have a MTB bias - though I don't know how they'd achieve this.

Welsh Mountain Bike Series, Rd 3.

Computer problems!! Struggling to recover my photo's from the day. Please check again in a few days, I'd managed to post one onto my new facebook page before the computer gave up.

*Update. I've put a few more on flickr

Strava, MTB and a sunny day.

It was a lovely spring day today, the sort of day that makes you think that winter might actually be coming to an end (and it's been a very long winter, especially as we pretty much skipped summer last year and went straight from spring to autumn). I've been trying to get out on the bike a bit more of late, I need to build some fitness as I'll be heading off to Scotland in a few weeks. Six days of mountain biking, with a group of mates who can cycle me into the ground!

As an additional motivation to get out there on the bike (and put off the DIY, work etc) I'd joined the Strava Spring Classics Challenge, basically it's to ride the....

"cumulative distance of five of cycling’s most storied races that form the Spring Classics, adding up to a monumental total of 1,319 kilometers or 820 miles."
(For the full details, check out the challenge page in Strava.)

That's a lot of mileage to get through in April. I don't ride on road (where I can avoid it), so they'd be MTB miles.
I'd got a plan of cycling to several of the 'trail hubs' in the area, Margam Park, Afan Argoed, Glyncorrwg and Bryn Betws, the route was more or less planned in my mind and I'd set myself a rough target of 40 miles. It would be a lot of fireroad, but it's the sort of thing my Kona Kula takes in it's stride, despite it really showing it's age. I'm also waiting for my Frameskin tape to arrive to wrap my new Giant in a protective cover (yes I know it's a bike and it's going to get damaged, but...well, you know!)

I've been using the Strava app on my HTC to record my rides, despite fully charging the battery - to my great annoyance - the battery ran out before I'd finished the ride. My route was lost, I checked the phone for GPX files in the hope of finding my route, but nothing. I knew my start time, and the time I got home, plus, I'd ridden sections of the route a few times before so I was able to log the route with a GPX editor to get my distance. But my times were lost, there was no way to be accurate or fair in retrieving these, more frustrating was that I knew I set some fair times on a few segments. I incorrectly thought that Strava needed a 3G signal (in addition to the GPS signal) to work, after reading the battery tips section on Strava, I now know I was wrong! I just hope we get a summer this year so that I can do the route again. This time with 3G turned off and I won't use the camera on the phone, so hopefully it will make the distance.

I surprised myself to be honest, I completed the 38.6 mile ride! It took me 6 hours, a pace that certainly wasn't setting the world alight, but I did set some quite good times towards the start of the route. In my defence, there was over 5000ft of climbing in the route, and it was more about completing the distance than setting quick times.

My aim now is to repeat the route, but with a few additions to top the distance up to the 40+ mile mark, and to do it in a quicker time.

**As a thought, when I saw that the battery was running low, if I'd stopped recording the route, then straight away started a new recording, would the first recording have 'survived' the phone rebooting itself? - that way I'd have only lost the end portion of the ride, rather than all of it. Or maybe I should just get one of those battery booster gadgets you see now.

Welsh Mountain Bike Series, Rd 1. Margam Park.

The historic Margam Park, in Neath Port Talbot, played host to the first round of the Welsh Mountain Bike Series today. Three weeks ago would have seen the course blanketed in a covering of clean white snow, unlike today, which saw the course swimming in a sea of mud! There's been no hiding the fact it's been wet here, very wet. To get some idea of where to watch the race, I watched the preview video of the route on the events website. Taking into account the weather I headed for the copse of trees - where Go Ape is located. Here the course wound it's way through the trees, so offered some shelter from the rain. The course was tough going, the ground was saturated, in fact it was literally a river of mud in places.

It was a constant battle to keep the camera dry and the lens clear of water, a battle which the rain was winning. I walked along side the track to where it emerged from the trees, here the track ran trough a quagmire which was criss-crossed with roots - a difficult combination. As well as watch the competitors ride, push, crawl, fly (I did say fly) and in one poor child's case, cry; I could see them climb to the lower ridge line at the top of the decent through the rhododendron.

Despite my constant struggle with the rain, the spot I chose turned to be quite a eventful one, the bog was a brutal wheel swallower, with over a dozen riders going over the handlebars, with various degrees of style! I wish I'd brought the strap for attaching my GoPro to a tree to catch some of the spills.

I've uploaded some (more to come) of my photo's from the event to my Flickr page, if you'd like to purchase a photograph, please drop me an email, with the photo number or comment below and I'll get back to you. I donate a percentage of any sales to the MND association.

As a side note, they say a bad workman blames his tools, but I'm constantly disappointed with the focusing on the 7D (especially when using the 24-70 lens).