Keys to the Kingdom - POSTPONED

Y'all had probably guessed by the lack of info, but the Keys to the Kingdom ride has been postponed for now, this is due to things.

 

Apologies for the lack of official notice. Will try to get something sorted for sometime in May / early June.

Red Bull Hillchasers.

Several weeks ago, VC Moulin riders Marty Savalas, Chris Savalas and drjon Savalas confined themselves to the 'Moulin training facility with one goal in mind.

Total domination of the Red Bull Hillchasers event in Edinburgh.

It was clear that the uphill, cobbled sprint played to all of their strengths. With just the right tweeks to their training regimens, podium places were a sure thing.

During the day they spent their time dead lifting, squatting and pressing huge weights. All the while the team nutritionalist was helping them imbibe colossal amounts of sugar, taurine and caffeine. During the evenings the team spent their time channeling Felix Baumgartner and visualising Forstermann's thighs. They left no stone unturned. Brian Jacks was drafted in to give the final polishing needed prior to the big day.

There was no need to alter the team's bikes - singlespeeds all the way. The TSPC overalls were dusted off and they arrived brimming with confidence on the start line on a frigid Edinburgh morning.

All told, things didn't exactly go to plan. An explanation will be forthcoming, but at present the team members are working with the VC Moulin psychologist to tease out the exact nature of the mal-performance. Needless to say: they'll be back!

In the meantime, enjoy the pictures and video.

dig in is dead, long live dig in

Allegedly the last ever episode, surely not!

I think I speak for all of the Scottish cyclocross community when I say, thank you for the good times and sweary banter.

We look forward to the next chapter, whatever it may be.

Oh Mallorca how I miss thee

No Mallorca for me this spring.  Still, these fine short films from the Madison Genesis team have reminded me how very special the riding there is.

Madison Genesis 'Bikes, cameras, action' from Cyclevox on Vimeo.

MadisonGenesis - Race Day "Behind the Wheels" from Cyclevox on Vimeo.

How we do?

So the delayed champs have happened, the season is over. 

How did it hang for you?

It would be fair to say the conditions were fairly hostile, a pre-race walk of the course was the most I could muster up by way of a warm up, it looked slippy, cold and straight forward, very much an up and down course. The up was particularly unsettling for someone carrying a lack of fitness into the race but hey, it was only 40 minutes, how hard could it be? It wouldn't take long to find out, more later.

First up for the Moulin were our two awesome Queens of Noise, Maddy and Lyndsey who have been true stalwarts all season, we could all take a feather out of their big bunnet of enthusiasm. The women got the rare privilege of not racing with the men which allowed them a lot more freedom to express their inner wrath and express it they did. No surprises on the winner, Eileen Roe has been in pretty electric form all season, straight from the gun, nice work. Maddy fought out a hard race and took a well deserved 3rd place and a step up onto the podium, awesome job as she also collected 2nd for the series, another great season, but hey hey its not all Maddy, what about that 4th place for Lyndsey! Awesome work sisters, truly awesome. 

Lyndsey Carson, focus and attack. 

Maddy persisting with the white kit

A quick word for Rory Mellis, who is at least related to VCM, a good strong ride in a tough U16 category to take 3rd, stick at it young un.

Right, the Veterans, up front all the usual suspects, this is one gnarly category and the racing throughout it is tough. A lot of no shows gave a false sense of hope for a reasonable ride and that was pretty much were it stopped for me, not a single lap did I feel any love for that climb or what followed, it just didn't happen for me. Moving on, a return to the start line for the Mighty Simon Muir, I haven't seen the big fella for quite some time and to be honest he was the only ray of sunshine on that start line. Anyway we were off, the pace as befitting a national champs was frantic, I lost sight of the race very early on and plugged away to at least finish, meanwhile that old devil Mr Muir was shuffling his way into the top 20, more awesomess. Russell Stout completed the VCM veteran skinny old dude line-up and he put in another strong ride for a sound 30th, good stuff mister. 

The Beast is back. Simon Muir.

Despite the brakes, another solid ride from Russell

Seniors next, a depleted field for VCM but Addy Pope wasn't going to let that stop him having a fine race, in fact in light of the pace at the front of this race finishing 8th sandwiched between Paul McInally (Rock and Road) and Steven 'Becks' Turbitt (Glasgow United CC) so a big tip of the hat to Addy, another rider who has had a totally solid season, next level son, next level. Whilst on the subject of the seniors race it would be rude not to mention Rab Wardells' ride, that was a mighty formidable performance, lapping the whole race up to 4th place. And before you know it, it was over. 

Two wrongs seem to make a right, baggy shorts and disc brakes for Addy.

Well done East Kilbride RC for the excellent organisation in particularly nasty conditions, pat yourselves on the back, a big boo boo to Scottish Cycling for not making much (if any) effort to have a presence at this a national title, the podium photos tell the tale, despite this it was a good event and a fine mark to the end of the cross season. 

And so to this year. . . 

bunnet

Big thanks to Martin (naegears) Steele for all the pics.

worlds

2013 UCI World Cyclocross Championships from Gizmo Pictures on Vimeo.

nutteloze ruiters

you've got my number. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

How we doin?

2013 Minnetonka Ice Race–Wipeouts and Close Calls from Freewheel Bike on Vimeo.


Just checking. 

Keys to the Kingdom

 Sorry, late change of plan for Keys to the Kingdom - rescheduled date to follow.


The Fife Monument is back for 2013 with Keys to the Kingdom. New route, new date.

100km to 125km long and back for some race or other on telly and cake. Pace social, coffee stop possible, 30s to be contested. Holler if you're in.

Let's get ready y'all.

End of the season

As I write this I probably should be working warm up balm into my legs getting prep'd for the final round of the North West CX League. But I'm not. I'd never planned to race the final round & even though a good ride there would possibly push me further up the overall standings, I've switched off mentally & started thinking about the upcoming season. And it's a bit grim out. That might sound a bit lame, but it's been a great season for me with a good bit of progression.

My last post took us up to the round 4 of the series with an uncharacteristically awesome ride, where I took 3rd on the day. Here's a brief run through the rest of the season's races I made it to...

RACE: Yorkshire Points, Brighouse
RESULT: 5th
I'd had to miss the next two NW races, but not wanting to waste this strange run of form I dragged myself along to Brighouse. Nice to race on a course new to me, against some new faces & catch up with a few folks. Pretty brutal course with two horrible long run/crawl ups, rewarded with techy descents. Had a good battle with some guys at the front end of the race, getting the better of a couple of guys on the final descent, breaking away to finish 5th.

RACE: NWCCA 7, ST Helens
RESULT: 7th
It rained all week, making the going extra tough for a race held in an already boggy field in St Helens. Another big run up cut the course in half with some nice fast trails in the first half of the lap and proper sloggy sections in the other which ended up quicker to run than ride. Managed 7th in that one.

RACE: NWCCA 8, Geoff Bewley Memorial, Otterspool Park
RESULT: 20th
And then the wheels fell off. I usually like this race. It always gets a great quality turn out and usually delivers a killer course. But I left my legs in the van. Started fast (even led for a short while) but then dropped back. Whenever anyone came past I had no response and kept losing place throughout the whole race. Ended up 20th. Not great, but I put it down to an off-day. Surely I can't lose form that quickly.

RACE NWCCA 9, Horwich
RESULT: 12th
Back on track, but hindered by equipment. The running theme of wet races continued which as a one bike racer, didn't help me. Once again my start was good. Felt comfortable riding up in 3rd/4th spot, attacked out of corners, rode fast down the big (for cross) descents & even coped with the long run up ok. But as the bike clogged up, got tonnes heavier, the gears stopped working, I inevitably slowed up. Others around me were switching bikes and nailing it away from me. I know a bad workman blames his tools, but I finished 12th although my legs were good enough for 6th.

RACE: NWCCA 10, Stadt Moers
RESULT: 7th
Wet again! Really wet though so less issues with clogging. More issues with finding traction. Ended up running my tyres so low in order to get traction that it came at the expense of the ability to steer properly with tyres flopping about all over the place. Massive fun though, not had as much fun in a race in years. Finished 7th with a big grin.

RACE: NWCCA 11, Rhyll
RESULT: 4th
Wales is in the North West, right? I shouldn't pick at the geography as I achieved my second best result of the season there. An interesting course mixing up long tarmac stretches with some good tight off-road turns & soul destroying quagmire-like fields. For once a poor start meant I missed the front of the race & rode the entire thing on my own. Strong throughout though & managed 4th.

RACE: NWCCA 12, Clitheroe
RESULT: 14th
This didn't go well. I was on a two day long hangover after work's Xmas do. Drinking til the wee small hours, then not managing to eat anything much the next day meant the tank was pretty low to start with. There was an indication of form for the first lap (was running in 4/5th spot), then I ran out of gas & crept round the rest of the race. 14th - should've stayed in bed.

RACE: NWCCA 13, Maccesfield Supacross
RESULT: 15th
Supacross always gets a top class turn out. Its proximity to the National Champs guarantees a quality field. In the past I've never got on well here. Its proximity to Christmas usually guarantees I've given my liver a hefty battering. Not this year though. Finishing 15th was actually a cracking result bearing in mind who turned up. Lined up with the likes of Paul Oldham, Dave Fletcher & Nick Craig puts it into perspective. I beat all of them off the line too. I've come to accept that over half a lap I'm pretty much as quick as anyone in the country. It's the other 55minutes I've got to work on.

So overall that left me 7th overall. If had bothered going to the final round the best case scenario would move me up one place. Likewise, the worst case would only see me dropping one place too. That's not really the point. I've ridden better again this year, the league has been more competitive too. I've had loads of close racing with some good guys & had a laugh (most of the time).

Time to getting plotting a race schedule for the Spring & Summer.

Plan.

Bit quiet on here- what's everyone up to? 

Keen to crack on with some training but unsure exactly what to train for thought I better note down a few events to attack in 2013. So, after some thought, here's the plan;

2013

• Whinlater XC Enduro - 24/03/13
• UK MTB Marathon Champs - 14/04/13
• Dyfi Enduro - 05/05/13
• SXC 3 Cathkin Braes - 12/05/13
• Glentress 7 - 01/06/13
• Selkirk MTB Marathon - 08/06/13
• NPS 4 Margam Park - 07/07/13
• UK XC Champs Cathkin Braes - 21/07/13
• Brighton Big Dog - 10/08/13
• NPS 5 Hadleigh Farm - 18/08/13
• SXC 5 Kirroughtree - 01/09/13
• Kielder 100 - 15/09/13
• 3 Peaks Cyclocross - 29/09/13
• As many cross races as I can handle Sep-Dec

Not too mental, an average of a couple of events a month with the focus towards events I know are worth spending a few hours in the car for. The two targets for 'results' are the GT-Seven and 3 Peaks, good results in other events would be a nice bonus but really it's all about the last weekend in September- I'm not going to be challenging Jebb or Craig but behind them, who knows, lets see what's possible! Besides the above there will be a few fell races, hopefully one or two of these MTB Enduro jobs and a trip to the Alps for a big week on the mtb.

Be good to hear what plans others have for the year, racing or just plain having fun. If anyone will be at any of the events mentioned above, get in touch- always good to have a brew after the race get someone else's take on events. 

Any suggestions for classic/savage/fun events missed off the list please say- it's always good to have some fresh ideas too! 

what's up dock?

 Dig In at The Dock 6-1-2013

Lyndsay tastes the lovely sea air

pic by Steve McG

Cross racing after Christmas for the second year in a row, thanks to Dave Hamill and John McComisky and before I get into my inglorious tales of pain and suffering a big raise of the glass to the pair of them for a splendid exhibition of initiative followed by an even greater display of execution. Right and onto the day.

Turning the pain on fellow mid-lifers or vice-versa

pic by Steve McG

Having ridden this event last year I kinda knew what to expect, flat, fast and exposed, no rest, no place for the weak, just why I thought this would be a good idea I have no idea but if this course proves one thing, you don't need gradient to make a super fun and great race. Arriving sharpish it was great to see so many folks already on site and a real buzz in the air which just grew and grew. And it was a pretty handy field of riders that made the effort, a great warmer for those doing the British Champs the following week and for the rest of us just a pleasure to move away from the festive spirits. 

Anyway after the obligatory blethers and a splendid double espresso from Steampunk Coffee it was finally time to line up and face the music. 

Addy about to get a whipping

pic by blackpuddingonabike

Bang, we were off to the clatter of bells and the shrill of Jammy on the commentary it was all a fairly heady experience, from the wrong side of half way down the starting grid it was frustrating to watch the race disappear in front of me but I was here to race so I better get on with it and see what was what. The usual melee of a first lap saw all the usual faffing and stopping and starting which by around the end of lap two had sorted itself out and we all tried to work out who we were racing with. One of the good things of racing in a mixed 'open' category is you never run out of people to chase or be chased by.  Chase, pass, be caught, get lapped, repeat and that is pretty much the way it went for the next 50 minutes, having not raced for quite sometime i was pretty pleased to finish in with some of the guys I usually finish with, not particularly impressive but it was a race ridden and finished something that has been a long time coming.

A great day out and a super way to ease yourself out of the New Year slumber. See you next year.

Hamill and McComisky relaxing post race

Happy New Year. (belated)

Scottish Cycling Cyclocross Championships

DSC_5888, a photo by martysavalas on Flickr.

The 2012 Scottish Cycling Cyclocross Championships have been rescheduled for 10th February 2013 after being cancelled due to dangerous, icy conditions in Strathclyde Park.

We're glad to say that Scottish Cycling have re-opened entry, so if you fancy some CX action in February, then get a entry in pronto and get your cross on before Valentines Day.  Entry open in all categories until January 27th 2013, hup hup.

The Dudes of Hazzard This is Enduro Now Enduro

This is Enduro Now, so it was.




Mix up some mop-haired mountain bike shredders and the No Fuss Event team and smear liberally around a November weekend in Lochaber, sprinkle with some socialising by the ice climbing wall and serve with a pony petting zoo on the side.

You now know the ingredients for The Dudes of Hazzard "This is Enduro Now" Enduro.

It was wet, it snowed a bit, we had hail and a surprising amount of sunshine. The 'dampness' helped keep the dust down... nobody likes dust.

2 ride-up liaisons from Kinlochleven race centre at the Ice Factor past Mamore Lodge towards the lochs - about 800m all in. And back down against the clock to near sea level via three classic KLL trails - you know the sort - steep loose rocky and heaps of fun.

Moulineers Lyndsey and Grieg were joined by almost 300 riders from all over and from further away to make this a pretty special event - hopefully the Dudes and Dudessas will put this on again - the subtle grimness of November in Lochaber has appeal : )

Moving pictures from MTB Cut & Pinkbike...

is it salad season yet?

Its been very quiet on here, I know you are out there racing and riding, epic, not so epic and just for the sheer joy of it. I can't say i have been leading by example, in fact on the contrary, 2012 will be remembered as the year of sporadic cycling, ironic really in light of it being one of the most memorable years in the history of the sport and who knows what other revelations will unfold before the end of the year. 

so here is a lovely little film about a summer we never had. 

Auchentoshan.

Embarrassed to realise its the first cross race for ? two years ?

Ulp.

Recent rain, but dry and sunny. My baby girl playing with the leaves and puddles. Exactly what i aim to do.

Classic course, familiar faces. Nervously get ready after struggling with the light and my point and shoot for the vets and womens race.

No warm up, too unfit to benefit.

Gun goes off and a bunch redlines round the grassy field and into the barriers.

Form showing, some smooth, some stuttering. Slide around the roots and bomb holes much more than in years gone by.

Thick mud and the drop through the stream tricky.

(Lyndsey in fine form. Photo: from my flickr set here)

Never easy, the climb out is a task. Follow by a run up a greasy slope and slog through the mud before popping some air down a grass bank and pumping the big meat up.

Round the grass again completing the loop and a quick shimmy with some squared off corners gunning it out again.

Repeat.

Taste blood. Keep the pace high, thighs burning.

Half way through and digging very deep.

Near the end and a shout to a dancing Andy W as he cruises by, super relaxed. Apologies as my flailing leg catches and momentarily slows him. Reflect on his poetry in motion....sooo beautiful to see a fine rider showing me how it is done.

Finish after a couple more laps, smiling as Jammy calls out my fluoro green socks as 'trendy'.

Hey! i come correct.

Another call out from an old friend 'return of the mac...!'

Maybe, maybe not. So good to go out and hurt yourself on a cross bike.

 
Mark Morrison - Return of the Mack from Gilach on Vimeo.

North West CX League So Far...

It's been an improving picture through the first four rounds of the NW CX League.  It started pretty badly for me at the opening round in Preston and then got substantially better.  I'd only come back from that trip through the Pyreneese two and a half days earlier, so in hindsight I shouldn't have been expecting great things.  Over 700km of long, mountainous miles in the legs the week before certainly isn't the greatest prep for cross.  That and it was bloody cold and wet & I'd grown rather fond of nice hot weather.

We had a big strong turn out with it being a Cat A event at the start of the season.  Paul Oldham won and made everyone else look pedestrian on a pretty challenging course - very wet, with lots of off camber bits and loads of turns.  Far, far behind Paul my race was a bit crappy.  I started ok, but then drifted slowly backwards seeing the guys I know I should be competing with pull away from me.  I couldn't respond and found it hard to get into any ryhthmn.  I finished a slightly grumpy 22nd.

After that I made the mistake of panic training.  It took a couple of days for me to stop digging myself an even deeper hole and take it easy for a bit.  Had to remind myself that the first race is always the hardest and I was bound to get sharper with a couple of races under my belt.

That theory was proven the following weekend at round 2.  Another Cat A event, another big field of about 150 and another good course near Bolton.  I've enjoyed racing at this venue before and found myself getting stuck in at the pointier end of things from the off.  Feeling a lot more like I would have hoped for the first two thirds of the race, I was in a good position.  I did tire a bit towards the end but only dropped a couple of placings.  Nick Craig won this one.  I ended up 11th, which by my maths is twice as good as the first race.

There wasn't a race the next weekend, so I nipped out and won a little local hill climb up (the easier side of) Mow Cop.

Similar pattern for round three of the series: Cat A, 150ish starters, good course and a better result.  This one was held in a park around the back of the Manchester Velodrome, which I had no idea existed.  On the day the sun was out and the temperature was unseasonably warm, but during the previous week it'd rained loads leaving the course really muddy and slimy.  It was a very short lap, could have done with being twice as long, but I liked it.  Found it all rideable even the steeper, more techy sections that many were running.  My start wasn't great, but I soon worked my way up through the field and had clear sight of the course ahead by the start of the second lap.  Nick Craig was again the winner on the day, I was the last of the riders to finish on the same lap crossing the line 7th.  Later on it was pointed out to me that I was actually the first senior finisher (1-6 being either Vets or U23).  So I'll count that as a win!...  Of sorts.

Roll on to round 4 at the fantastically named Boggart Hole Clough.  I've always liked this course, always seems to suit those with a bit of MTB background - a good bit of up and down, plenty of roots and the like.  The place lived up to its name, being badly affected by the nasty wet summer and the downpours of the previous week.  On pre-riding it I thought it was horrid, all claggy and boggy and wet.  Once the whistle went and it was hit at race pace it came to life.  Loads of squirming all over the place and fighting to keep the bike going in roughly the direction that you had planned.

Moving up through the field on the two start loops and then into the lap proper I felt good and strong.  I got into some of the boggiest sections before the bulk of the riders, had to do some running but at least I wasn't being held up.  I squeezed passed a couple more riders then realised I was up to third place.  Quite an unfamiliar place for me to be. Another technical section down and I'd managed to close in on Paul Bethell.  More rooty and slidey bits and I'd got a bit of a gap. I was in second spot with a little room.  I didn't know what had come over me!  Towards the end of lap one I even got up to the wheel of eventual winner Giles Drake.  That didn't last long though as he cruised off into the distance.  Paul caught me again by the end of the opening lap and I started to think I'd gone off waaay to hard and was going to drop back stone-like.  But I stayed with him for the next lap chopping and changing positions a few times.  Eventually he proved much stronger than me and pulled away.  Another strong looking guy passed me on the next lap.  Still 4th though and I was hanging in there.  Then I briefly dropped down to 5th as one of riders I've had a few close races with got infront of me.  This time I was able to respond and attacked straight away establishing a good gap again.  

Mid-race my bike was so heavy with mud and my gears with jumping all over the place being completely clogged.  But without the luxury of a spare bike/pit bitch I plugged on, grabbing handfuls of mud out of the bike whenever I was having to shoulder the bike.  With two laps to go I spotted the chap in 3rd spot on the side of the course trying to poke mud out of his bike with a stick.  Ha! Third again!  Every corner I checked over my shoulder for chasing riders, but every time there was just clear space.  Emptied the tank on the bell lap, nearly came a cropper on a number of ocassions, spending lots of time sideways or dragging my limbs through brambles in the undergrowth.  Stayed upright all the way though and secured 3rd place.  By far my best cross result to date.  Quite chuffed really :)

Big Day out in Yorkshire.

Three Peaks Cyclocross. September 30th 2012. What a fantastic event. Very (very) wet, windy and the sort of day I'd normally want to stay inside. Waking up at 6 am though, the last thing I wanted to do was stay in bed, I was itching to get out and have a good day on the bike. Long before getting to the start line I'd made up my mind this would be a fun day. 

For me the race was pretty uneventful, as is often the case when you have a good day, little went wrong and I just got on and pedaled/ ran/ stomped as hard as I could round the three hills. Part of this must be attributed to having a crack support team. It's more than possible to get round this event with a pack and some spares but having some helpers is invaluable and was particularly welcomed on such a foul day so cheers guys! Also thanks to James and Christine for the Chocolate Croissant pudding (double helpings on Sat night definitely paid dividends on Sun) and pictures in this post. 

There were some amazing performances at the 2012 Three Peaks but the biggest shout must go out to John Rawnsley and the many volunteers who made the race run faultlessly despite appalling conditions. Obviously it's been said many times but it cannot be underestimated the level of commitment these people put in. The race was organized by a man aged 75. One of the marshals on Ingleborough was a local lass of 83. The oldest competitor in the race was 77. More than enough evidence to prove that the people of Yorkshire are a different breed- properly hard. 

These two pictures sum the race up nicely. The second being a 'still' doesn't highlight the fact that within minutes of finishing I started shivering like a mad man- those orange bags really aren't overkill- I'm just glad I didn't need to stop out on the hill.

Long may the Three Peaks continue, I hope I'm still able to get round at 77!

Trans-Provence 2012

Waking in the darkness, usually before the alarm as the  incremental cacophony of sleeping bag and tent zips being un- and re-done triggered the first blush of consciousness.

Wriggle into todays riding clothes and bung on a jacket  grab tooth brush and shuffle off through the campsite to breakfast, past the some dark and some blue-glow tents with other racers getting up and at'em.

With Breakfast done and the first fingers of light replacing the head torches the daily miracle of herding the first wave of 35 or so mountain bikers from campsite to uplift drop off begins.  Timings are a little loose on some days but it always happens, and no one and no bikes are left behind. Not always the same happy outcome for timing tags or lunch baguettes...

Wave One - mainly the 'amateurs'- we get a brief briefing from Race Commander-in-Cheif Ash.  He usually points out any pertinent danger-of-death aspects of the day's liason or race stages and bids us bonne chance as we commence the bike or foot based climb to the first stage of the day.

Some days the first stage is a few short km away, and these can be difficult to hit cold [in all senses].  Some take the best part of 3 hours of portage and amazing remote, undulating alpine ridgeline riding before arriving at the first mountain balise [balise: a marker, or station in French and the name given the SportIdent dibber stations used to bracket the stage timing].

Despite the internal chats and pep-talks before a timed run to 'take it easy', conserve bike and body, The Beep! of the balise immediately triggered the red-mist and each rider sets off on an wild ride ITT for the next few kilometers [sub 2km was the shortest to the 8km+ of Donkey Darko]. It was a wild white-knuckle ride of red-line heart rate and gambling on what will be around the next corner [and whether you can brake in time or survive it if you decide to let it run]. All until you spy one of the mountain staff [Ed, Shaggy, Phil & Rich] who will put themselves in the way of a speeding mtb-er to try and get your tag registered on the Valley balise.

The riding was truly amazing - superb high speed, high quality, high intensity, high penalty, high reward singletrack. The Racing aspect make the rider attack the trails - sometimes the gamble did not pay off, especially on the last day when  a few folks succumbed to tiredness, treachery of the conditions or just bet all on red, when black won.

Oh, and there were switchbacks.  So, very many switchbacks.

All riders are different, and each enjoy different types of riding so some of the special stages polarise opinion like marmite, some stages drew universal praise [or fearful dislike]. For the 'amateur' riders it was heartening to hear that the Pro boys & girls sometimes found the same bits of trail just as challenging/fun/terrifying, even if they found them so at much higher speed...

To get a flavour of the trails check out all the videos.  To understand them you would need to get out there and ride them.

One thing that shone strong through the week was a true sense of camaraderie - from the riders, the mountain staff, the camp staff, masseurs and the glowing fuel-cell of the week - The Caterers. Not in the sense that it was a full on love in - there will always be little bumps, grumps, cliques and freaks at any gathering of humanity. Yet irrespective of any noise there was a relentless energy, a pervading sense of keep calm and carry on (fully pinned), and don't forget to bloody well enjoy it.

Life affirming.

The amount of work put in by all the race staff is immense and deserves special mention for keeping a very challenging show on the road and on track for the week.

Also, the tech support offered by the Mavic guys and by Paul & Amy at Fox Mojo was much appreciated and kept a lot of wheels rolling through the week. Oh, and Paul is a star for letting me have his lunch the day I left camp sans baguette...

This years edition had a couple of twists mainly provided by Mother Nature.  There were two days of monstrous, roaring, hariy-arsed thunder and lightening storms that were way more terrifying than most folks would care to experience.

Most of the Wave 1 riders narrowly missed a dowsing by the Day 2 storm by arriving at the lunch stop just as a two hour long horror-show kicked off. Minutes earlier we had barely wetted tires crossing a dry creek to dib out of the 2nd stage of the day at Shaggy's Valley Balaise.

Check the day 2 video for  what it looked like around an hour later...

Little by little the shellshocked ghosts of the second wave of riders shlepped in and hid in the Mojo Fox van, under the Mavic Van canopy, or in the glamorous municipal bin-hut bringing with them tales of genuine terror from being on a bare 2000m+ hill top in the storm cloud with lightening sizzling and thunder booming around [whilst holding a big metal thing]. Last years winner was in such a rush to get off the hill he had a massive crash which ripped his trousers off. Really...

Day 7 started wet but but by midday turned sunny until most folks had beeped off the course at the last Valley balise manned by Mr Oxley [of Great Rock, and greater beard].  We also found out that the Monegasgue Polis had decided in their infinite wisdom that a bunch of grubby, bleeding, stinking and relatively low-net-worth ; ) mountain bikers were not welcome on their patch and would arrest anyone who dared cross the border. So we would drop down to Menton next town along the coast, and where the final campsite was, anyway.  As the assembled throng firstly removed race numbers from bars and started down the switchback trail to the road the heavens opened. Thunder rolled and roared around the hills, the temperature dropped, so very much  rain shot from the now steely grey sky and the lightening started zapping metal things on our ridgeline - like the power pylon about 30m away from where I was hunkered down trying to get my waterproof on.  There was an immense noise and white flash even with my eyes tight shut. A couple of other members of 'Team Scotland' were riding just below the pylon when it was zapped and commented later that it was 'quite exciting' or words to that effect.

The storm put paid to any ideas of a swim in the sea, too - there was a 5 foot swell smacking into a steeply shelving pebble beach that did not look too inviting.

Almost everyone made the finish in one shape or another , although one unlucky soul - Sven Martin - had to make use of the helicopter extraction feature of his insurance to get off the top of the last days first stage with concussion and a bad arm break - leading to slightly subdued feeling at the end of the day.

The last 100m of the final stage also claimed a couple of others - a bit of ankle twisting damage, a leg-brace and a pair of park-tool blue crutches for SRAM's Jon Cancellier and a likely fracture for Jac's scaphiod.

The rest of the week had been relatively incident free, much to the appreciation of the race doctors. A few riders had narrowly avoided a nasty eye gouging from a branch early on, and one of the Brits had an unfortunate tumble on a day two liason which he survived unscathed until his bike landed on him cracking a couple of ribs and ending his race.

All in all testament to the skills, strength and determination of all riders that stepped up to take part.

Again?  I am happy to have done it. I don't have any demons to slay with the race. At least once each day I felt like doing a Moitessier and removing the number from my bike and continuing the ride which, I think, was kind-of the point, anyway.  : )

Kit chat:

Bike was a Transition Bandit 29 - pretty much bang on for the job.  An upgrade to bigger disk rotors stopped me overshooting every switchback... Everything worked. Only breakages were a small cut in the back tyre and I  broke off the wee clutch lever thingy on my rear mech... and a few rim dings but no punctures.  All day comfortable and totally happy on the descents and climbs, and not too much of a burden on the portage sections. Reverb dropper post was a boon and blessing.