HD's Hit The NOrth 2010 roundup.
homers_double
Posts: 8,427
So I rode Hit The North in Manchester on Saturday 17th of July in the solo male category, first solo enduro race which was a mixture of cyclocross and MTB.
It's a fairly small event which Team Cake rode as a four, two years ago.
The start:-
A few of the event:-
I finished 39th out of 59 and managed a measly 7 laps of the 7ish mile course.
lap time total time
1 00:56:24 00:56:24 Richard Kershaw
2 00:48:54 01:45:18 Richard Kershaw
3 00:49:49 02:35:07 Richard Kershaw
4 01:08:14 03:43:21 Richard Kershaw
5 00:56:13 04:39:34 Richard Kershaw
6 01:27:30 06:07:04 Richard Kershaw
7 01:22:23 07:29:27 Richard Kershaw
Lap 1
Running start down a hill, along a fire road, down a hill, through a stream, along a field, up some steps and onto the bike.
Wooded sections were slippy as it had rained for the previous week and was raining as we set out, I wore my jacket so as not to get soaked on the first slow lap.
I got lost, along with 12 other riders, on a climb as we rode past a marker on the back side of a post which was out of sight and supposedly a marshall point as it was the entry the berm section. Probably the best section of the course and trailcentre worthy with lips and berms etc.
The first lap was fairly busy as everyone set off at the same time.
Lap 2
Got to the timing/ change over area and dropped my jacket in the car as the rain had stopped and I was getting hot. Car was parked about 20 yards away so pretty good access.
Got back on the bike for a reasonable lap, course was quieter but the mud was getting worse.
Lap 3
My plan was to ride 3 laps, rest rinse and repeat so after the 3rd lap I pulled in. About 3/4 of the way around lap 3 I started getting the same footbed pain I get when skiing, and the only way to relieve it is to take the boots/ bike shoes off. Finished the lap and pulled up to the car to warm up some ravioli and rest the toes.
Lap 4
Timings reflect a rest on this lap, the course was getting quieter all the time and conditions were improving.
Lap 5
Went straight through the timing tent and had a 2 minute rest on the grass as the bum cheeks were aching. Carried on and about half way through dropped a gel... bad idea, as soon as it hit my stomach I had a massive sugar rush (allegedly the same feeling as taking something you don't buy over the counter, allegedly) follwed by 20 minutes of hairs stood up all over my body, then a massive headache. Got a good soaking 3/4 of the way round as well!
Pulled in to the tent and stopped again and got changed with the plan being to have a small rest, ride a lap, rest and ride a last lap.
Lap 6
Rode lap 6 and the course was getting pretty good by this time, barr a few sections which really could have done with being taken out. ie ride along a path, turn left 90o and struggle up a 45 degree incline with 12" of thick mud (no joke) ride for 10 yards and ride back down the same hill to the original path [?]
Go to the car and rested whilst packing stuff away.
Lap 7
Blue skies and an empty course, passed by a load of cross riders shouting "come on keep going", in my mind I shot them in the back with a handlebar mounted crossbow.
Got the the end and was glad to stop. Mentally I had another lap in my as I finished 30 minutes before the bell but my legs were dead.
I'm sat here now thinking one more lap and I'd have finished 34th!.
If I see some actual riding pics along the way I'll add them.
EDIT:- Ride pics as I find them:-
It's a fairly small event which Team Cake rode as a four, two years ago.
The start:-
A few of the event:-
I finished 39th out of 59 and managed a measly 7 laps of the 7ish mile course.
lap time total time
1 00:56:24 00:56:24 Richard Kershaw
2 00:48:54 01:45:18 Richard Kershaw
3 00:49:49 02:35:07 Richard Kershaw
4 01:08:14 03:43:21 Richard Kershaw
5 00:56:13 04:39:34 Richard Kershaw
6 01:27:30 06:07:04 Richard Kershaw
7 01:22:23 07:29:27 Richard Kershaw
Lap 1
Running start down a hill, along a fire road, down a hill, through a stream, along a field, up some steps and onto the bike.
Wooded sections were slippy as it had rained for the previous week and was raining as we set out, I wore my jacket so as not to get soaked on the first slow lap.
I got lost, along with 12 other riders, on a climb as we rode past a marker on the back side of a post which was out of sight and supposedly a marshall point as it was the entry the berm section. Probably the best section of the course and trailcentre worthy with lips and berms etc.
The first lap was fairly busy as everyone set off at the same time.
Lap 2
Got to the timing/ change over area and dropped my jacket in the car as the rain had stopped and I was getting hot. Car was parked about 20 yards away so pretty good access.
Got back on the bike for a reasonable lap, course was quieter but the mud was getting worse.
Lap 3
My plan was to ride 3 laps, rest rinse and repeat so after the 3rd lap I pulled in. About 3/4 of the way around lap 3 I started getting the same footbed pain I get when skiing, and the only way to relieve it is to take the boots/ bike shoes off. Finished the lap and pulled up to the car to warm up some ravioli and rest the toes.
Lap 4
Timings reflect a rest on this lap, the course was getting quieter all the time and conditions were improving.
Lap 5
Went straight through the timing tent and had a 2 minute rest on the grass as the bum cheeks were aching. Carried on and about half way through dropped a gel... bad idea, as soon as it hit my stomach I had a massive sugar rush (allegedly the same feeling as taking something you don't buy over the counter, allegedly) follwed by 20 minutes of hairs stood up all over my body, then a massive headache. Got a good soaking 3/4 of the way round as well!
Pulled in to the tent and stopped again and got changed with the plan being to have a small rest, ride a lap, rest and ride a last lap.
Lap 6
Rode lap 6 and the course was getting pretty good by this time, barr a few sections which really could have done with being taken out. ie ride along a path, turn left 90o and struggle up a 45 degree incline with 12" of thick mud (no joke) ride for 10 yards and ride back down the same hill to the original path [?]
Go to the car and rested whilst packing stuff away.
Lap 7
Blue skies and an empty course, passed by a load of cross riders shouting "come on keep going", in my mind I shot them in the back with a handlebar mounted crossbow.
Got the the end and was glad to stop. Mentally I had another lap in my as I finished 30 minutes before the bell but my legs were dead.
I'm sat here now thinking one more lap and I'd have finished 34th!.
If I see some actual riding pics along the way I'll add them.
EDIT:- Ride pics as I find them:-
Advocate of disc brakes.
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Comments
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Or the person who was just going around the old rwd car hoping that traction control could replace driving skill
Oh yeah, also the driver with the leg that's meant to move the clutchy bit not bending.0 -
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Har! He's just feeling ratty because he's not had his nap and his buttocks are chafed.
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Well done! Having been in Bury all weekend, I am aware of the precipitation! And my parents were sayin it had been precipitatin it down for a good week, so it looks like the course was similar to 2 years ago.
Gutted I didn't enter this year to be honest, though I don't miss the mudfest, it makes things so much harder.
Well done though It takes as much courage to have tried and failed as it does to have tried and succeeded.
Join us on UK-MTB we won't bite, but bring cake!
Blender Cube AMS Pro0 -
Has it tempted you do do other events solo?0
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Yes and no.
My pre race training of eating, drinking vodka and watching TDF didn't exactly = speed, so thats something to think about.
As for entering one again? on the way home it was a deffinate no, whilst on sunday morning itwas a "what if..."Advocate of disc brakes.0 -
homers double wrote:My pre race training of eating, drinking vodka and watching TDF didn't exactly = speed, so thats something to think about.
Substitute vodka for tea and hobnobs and you'd be pretty much spot on with my training schedule.
However, due to my age (and cronic illness), I've also suplimented this with also watching:
Tour of California
Giro D'Italia
Paris Roubaix
Leige Baston Leige
Fleche Wallone
(plus a few other one day classics)
Obviously after watching all of these, my imaginary awesomeness levels far outweight any actual talent I may have on a bike. 0 -
Well done Rich, very well done.
I'm still intending to be able to do an endurance event well, and I'm getting closer to it. D2D last year was my best so far, I felt like I could have ridden all night until I crashed, which put an end to it all. Maybe I'll enter again this year, or I might just wait and really go for everything next year.0 -
Me and my brother did it as a 2man team and it was tough. we did 6 laps each so doing 7 solo is good going"I get paid to make other people suffer on my wheel, how good is that"
--Jens Voight0 -
Looks like HTN has bit the dust with the organisers deciding enough is enough.
Ed, where abouts were you parked up? I was opposite the timing tent.Advocate of disc brakes.0 -
homers double wrote:Looks like HTN has bit the dust with the organisers deciding enough is enough.
Ed, where abouts were you parked up? I was opposite the timing tent.
No it looks like it's survived and someone else is running it next Feb.
Lap 1 00:48:19 00:48:19
Lap 2 00:41:44 01:30:03
Lap 3 00:40:40 02:10:43
Lap 4 01:02:16 03:12:59
Lap 5 00:47:28 04:00:27
Lap 6 00:47:39 04:48:06
Lap 7 01:11:00 05:59:06
Lap 8 00:40:42 06:39:48
Lap 9 00:53:33 07:33:210
