Something different on the weekend

Pross
Pross Posts: 40,217
edited May 2011 in The bottom bracket
I took part in the CLIC 24 hour charity mountain bike ride over the weekend around a 10 mile lap in the Mendips. Riding as a team of 4 we clocked up a fairly poor 14 laps between us (due in part to one of the team deciding to go back to bed rather than do his night shift and not waking anyone else!). It was my first off road riding in over 15 years and although I'd never admit it on the MTB forum it was far harder than anything I've done on the road! Strangely, despite being the first one dropped on the climbs on a club run I was regularly passing people on the uphill tarmac sections at the start and finish of the lap and caught loads up on the flat and downhill stretches of road whilst holding my own on the non-technical uphill sections. However, my bike handling skills were seriously shown up as people hammered past me of the descents and technical sections of the course and I managed to fall off 3 times in my first lap :oops: The leading team were on target for around 30 laps over the 24 hours and the top solo rider was heading for about 20 when I last checked (the record is 25 on a slightly easier course). I have to admit it was 'fun' in much the same way as climbing the steepest mountains you can find on the road is 'fun' and I'll be back again next year. The event is very well run and the CLIC Sergant charity is an excellent cause (they funded my daughter's specialist nurse when she was having chemo). I can highly recommend it for anyone fancying a challenge next year and I have a new found respect for MTBers, especially those who were churning out 45 minute laps (my best qwas 1 hour 11 minutes) and clocking up around 200 miles.

Comments

  • Cleat Eastwood
    Cleat Eastwood Posts: 7,508
    great charity that, well done, but you need to have a word with yourself Sundays are for chillin n ale. :)
    The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
    momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,217
    I managed to sneak a quick pint of the local Butcombe ale after my Saturday evening slot safe in the knowledge I had at least 5 hours before my next turn. I chilled when I got home (fell asleep for 3 hours after turning the Giro on waking briefly to see the finish) :oops:
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    Pross wrote:
    I managed to sneak a quick pint of the local Butcombe ale after my Saturday evening slot safe in the knowledge I had at least 5 hours before my next turn. I chilled when I got home (fell asleep for 3 hours after turning the Giro on waking briefly to see the finish) :oops:

    I was given a keg of Butcombe ale for my birthday a couple of years back........... lovely stuff, but does have a habit of putting you on your a*se :lol:
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved