Richard Mcguire (the creator of this illustrious blog and in the photo!) & Joe Spencer both racing for Big Bear Bikes were on the start line, & ready for battle. In front of us were lots of fast looking racer dudes & dudeses with their 'race faces on' that said they were ready for blood. '3-2-1-go'! was the cry from the starter and away we went. I set off like a house on fire (well smouldering) & Joe was the same. The thought half way up the first climb was 'how the hell are we going to do another 30 miles like this.' Luckily there was a slight bottle neck at the top leading into the first part of singletrack. 'Phew, a rest I thought.' Away we went again and the further into it the more comfortable it became. I was in around 50th place at the half way stage with Joe just a little further back. The hills kept coming and coming and with no granny ring & the rain get into the surface more and more the task of holding our places became harder. after several gels, bars & carb drinks supplied by Big Bear Bikes the fatigue started setting in after about 26miles,and the harder i pushed the worse it got, then the brick wall was about to be hit for a few miles. At around this point I went A over T straight off the edge of a bloody big wet fat root. And that was that. After a quick dusting down, and several peoples passing me I carried on in true couragous style. Joe at this point was seamingly getting stronger & passing people for fun after hitting a flat spot spot around the half way stage.
About two miles out my legs came back a little but by this point it was too late the damage had been done. Guess I'm not quite as fit as I thought I was.
In the end I finished in the race in 74th in a time of 3hrs 16mins. Joe finished in 142nd in 3hrs 54mins. Upon reflection fairly respectable for a first attempt on a demanding course with so may competitors - 476 doing the full enduro as we were. A great day out on a well set up & run event. More to come from both of usin the future I'm sure. RM
