Thetford MTB Dusk til Dawn
2010 D2D was an epic endurance test of 9 hours rain, heavy rain so quite why I signed up again is a good question.
My reason? I gave in. To the rain, the mud, the attrition.
Not this time.
Apart from anything else it just could not be that bad.
I was partnered with Rob Upton's Dad Neil. I was paired with Neil Upton (Robs Dad). Now I can confess to being surprised a
tad. In 2010 Neil could not hide his err
surprise at turning up for a race. I
think he’d been sold one by his son. Rob looked on… avoiding his gaze. Apparently though Neil felt the same… unfinished business. We sign
on
Upton/Miller it was.
Preparation I think was OK events through the summer and in early September I did a100k event in and around the Dalby in 5 and half hours. 6 weeks to go and I should be fine if I continued training. This was plan A.
The next week, midweek ride ended as darkness fell and headed home, straight into a forest gate. I managed to ride home but 9 hours later... a fractured elbow specifically the radial head.
Plan B, was devised 4 weeks off to let the elbow heal; wake the legs in the week before the event; cross my fingers all would be well...
On arrival the blue sky promised a better ride. I pitched and saved space for the Upton's but they set up with Chris Rider et al. Did the lap and felt OK the sun was still shining. The 8 pad sets and a set of disks will do as spares another time. Ate some more, drank some more, slept some.
As darkness fell however the first spots of rain fell.
It was 2 hours until the start.
It still could not be as bad as 2010.
Set out for the start line at 19:30 as I was up for lap one.
The rain continued but not as bad as 2010.
The start of any race is exciting, chaotic and full of expectation and adrenalin. Doing this in the dark with 500 other riders with thousands of lumens of bike light illuminating the track and arena. Worth it for this alone. The riding was slippery but rideable. Some pile ups and stalling but tried to stay up front to minimise the stop start of last year. Saw a few boys on the trail. Graham Gee was hilarious as he nailed a short steep and slippery section where most were pushing and sliding. He cleared the way shouting some sort of banzai call. Riders dragging themselves to the side as he crowned the rise just as he lost momentum it at the lip tumbling left to take himself and a small stack of riders down the last few feet domino style. All taken in good heart with smiles all around in the true spirit of the race; XC it is not!!
Got back feeling good and Neil headed out on lap 2 whilst I found my way back to my tent.
I had prepared a ritual after each lap
1) Eat
2) Drink (pain killers)
3) Check bike
4) Rinse brakes and chainset
5) Sleeping bag
6) Sleep where possible.
7) New clothes if required
8) Pit
As I got in and as got out of the bag the rain continued...
Conditions not too bad after lap1
The rain went on.
Neil was great very encouraging as I came in off our lap 3. He set off into the rain on our lap 4.
I set off for the ritual.
The rain continued.
His 2nd lap was clearly harder, mud was causing plenty of offs and the going was tough for the entire lap. He was tired but we agreed this would be a hard lap. Probably 1am.
I went out with some trepidation but you just need to turn the pedals... Going was as described, very hard lots of riders all over the place and many sections getting washed out. I found myself remembering parts of the course now, looking forward to the single track hating the sticky fireroads smiling at Vivaldi blaring out in woods playing the Four Seasons but surprisingly I came through fairly quick and Neil was still in the Pines tents. I went up and gave him the good news, it was his turn again.
I returned to my tent and repeated the ritual, a change of pads was required.
The rain was worse
The next time in Neil looked absolutely knackered the course had again worsened. He wasn't sure he could make a 4th lap but he'd done a brilliant job keeping it going. I tried to encourage him to get some food and a good rest and see how it felt then. I think it was about 3.30am. I went out on my 4th and so our 7th. The course was awful parts of it were almost unrideable. Not just the bomb holes There was a section in the middle third which had started as single track with a rut but now was just a mud filled rut which as soon as the bike was off line the rear wheel disappeared from beneath me. Time and again I'd skid out. The gentle climbs were also painful. Mainly rideable but there'd be a dip full of sticky gloop and i'd be off again. Then I'd get to Vivaldi Four Seasons. Four seasons??
It was raining. Really raining.
As I came into the arena Callum and Ade were missing from there tent on the track side.so as I came back in it was QT very few on course and not many in the pit. No commentary and no tunes to welcome the (fool)hardy. I hadnt seen anyone I knew for ages in fact I hadnt seen many people at all. It was 5am thereabouts. Neil wasn't about so I went to the Pines tent. All was dark.
There was temptation to give in but I had the ritual.
Somewhere in the early hours
I returned to the tent and performed it one last time. I felt shit but made something hot, drank rinsed the crap off the bike for some reason.
I set my alarm again. 25mins.
It was raining
I shook myself out of the bag. Some clean clothes no more gloves though but then I was back out. Heading for the pit, wondering why, why was I doing this again. I enjoy riding my bike; I enjoy riding my bike I enjoy riding my bike. I'm shivering in time with the mantra as I back to the pit to start a final lap.
Still it rained I hadn't felt it for hours all I felt was mud, staying on the bike, turn the cranks and picking a line.
I knew there would soon be some daylight. Surely that would see a lift in spirits? As I set off it was still dark but within 15mins I thought I could see first light creeping in through the rain.
As I continued to turn ticking off landmarks as I went considering short cuts and dismissing them immediately. Not after all this pain am I going to do that. I was passed like I was a spectator by Andy Cockburn. Daylight began to illuminate the trail and I could turn off my headlight. A drier line appeared occasionally. Even the rut became rideable. Vivaldi had finally realised that there was only one season in Thetford for this event and given in.
From about half way I hoped the clock had reached 8 and the course was closed. If it hadn't I knew I couldn't live with myself if I stopped. Wishing for the end I could hear the music had started to be played again, the camp was waking from another arduous 12 hours. 8am had come and gone.
I began to look forward to the arena. I wanted to finish at the finish. In the rain.
I came up the final fire road and turned to pass my tent. Neil and Rob were just wandering to breakfast. It took a minute for them to realise (kit change) but a great cheer as I passed really made me push on to the line. Ade and Callum did the same.
The rain went on
8 team laps 5 personal and a finish of 19 out of 57 pairs. I wanted to finish at the end and I did.
It stopped about 8:45 in time for Andy Cockburn to receive his applause with an incredible 12 laps.
I had a brilliant time and will definitely do 2012 if fit. Neil was great and gave it all. Conditions were grim again. Not, in the end, much different to 2010. It
Registration opens in March... the rain? Can it be third time lucky or is Vivaldi really right.? Maybe a change of composer is in order, Water Music next year maybe?
