Before the race: Really relaxed, no stress, no warm up - who needs to warm up when your about to ride for 24 hours, it is such a waste of energy. I got on the front row of starters as it always helps if you get a good clean start so you can settle into your rhythm early.
I started well somewhere in the top 10 riding a good solid tempo. At the end of the 2nd lap Kate gave me my first update - i had 7mins on Bell and Bailey after the first lap. I had gone around in just over the hour and wasn't sure wheather to slow down and do 5 laps before the change to the night loop or head out on a 6th. By change over time i had over 25mins lead but must have done a bit extra in the change over because my lead went back down to 15mins. This didn't bother me but at the time i must have been a bit dehydrated cause i had a thumping headache.
About midnight my headache seemed to disappear - i am not sure if it just went away of if i just stopped noticing it. Things started flowing well again. When this happens you have to roll with it and really take advantage of it as you never know how long it is going to last or if it will return. This was also the time i realised just how much light i had (1500lumen's). Instead of feeling tired i was pumped and flashing through the forest. I think the adrenalin kicked in because it felt like i was on a roller coaster between 2am and 6am. It was a moment i will never forget and one you probably can only experience when things go well during a 24 - a time when your mind forgets the boundary's and your body is in perfect sync with the bike and terrain.
The change to the 3rd loop came and i was caught halfway again but i just kept moving forward. By this stage i had gained a lap on the field and all i had to do was keep it together and pretty much just ride around for the next few hours untill the time ran out. During one of these laps i was chatting to a young rider out on course who said to me quite seriously that his seat was too hard. After riding for 21hours straight this made me laugh for the rest of the race. 11am came and i had a 2 lap lead so we decided not to strain the body any more.
Special thanks to my wife Kate who stayed up all night looking after me. To all those helped her clean and sevice my bikes, many thanks. Special thanks to Danny and Sue who packed up all our gear for us (will have to get together for a MTB ride over Christmas break). All my sponsors GIANT bikes built to last. NIGHTLIGHTING more light than you can handle. GEAX fast comfortable and hard wearing tyres. DIYMTB enduro bearings and longer lasting seals.
Will be posting some photo's shortly.
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2 comments:
Great race John, I'm constantly amazed by what you do. You were the bear on the weekend. Speaking to you after the race though, I'm surprised you actually remember any of it.
Congratulations on a great result!! Bring on the Worlds.
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