August 28th, 2005
Beer For Breakfast
Merlinman
My first laps today are about 1 a.m. Or so some dodgy maths and Merlinman’s last time through camp are telling me.
I’m dozing fitfully under a fleece blanket trackside about 30 minutes before Merlinman is due in when Christina Begy (Maverick Bicycles) comes round looking for Tim. Her left hand pedal is coming off it’s spindle. A sign of shagged bearings. She has found the only person in the field who is both:
a) awake,
b) a Crank Brothers user.
There’s no way I can fix the pedal, but I have a spare pair of Shimano pedals I can use. I quickly get into my riding gear ‘cos I’m expecting Merlinman back at any minute and then swap her pedal. I’m still struggling to swap the cleats on my shoes when Merlinman rides past. He’s fifteen minutes before time, and must have flown round in the dark.
Jo
The night laps are brilliant. I’m dressed entirely in black, like a cycling ninja. I’ve greased my bushings and even my bike is silent. I love riding at night. The three arrow drop is definitely being avoided by the less confident riders now and I get a clear run each time before dropping into space. The 24-hour Czechs are no-longer offering beer at the side of the course. Damn, I knew I should have taken it while they offered.
When my laps are done I crawl into the tent. Our two dogs pay me no attention; only one of them can even be bothered to lift it’s head off her blanket and acknowledge me. So much for guarding things. It takes an hour to lose the adrenalin and drop off to sleep. There’s no question now that the air mattress/duvet combination is exactly right…
…two and half hour later and I need to get up. I’m due out in an hour, and I’ll need it to wake up and calm my stomach. I walk over to our trackside gazebo to find Tim wrapped up in fleece blanket. He’s been back too long. Things are going wrong. Turns out he had a nightmare single lap. His lights failed at the top of the first climb and he had to spend his lap riding by other people’s lights. I’ve done it myself, and it’s not easy. Merlinman has been out for ages and I’m due out in just thirty minutes.
Tim though is not a shouty team manager. “Go out when you’re ready,” is Tim’s advice.
Selby
I wander about the camp and find some breakfast and decaff coffee before getting ready.
As I start the lap I round the corner before the 24-hour Czechs. They see me coming and one of them runs off to the van before sprinting back with a beer. It’s better. I have a choice, Beer or Whisky & Coke. I know which I want. Beer. The Breakfast of Champions (TM). Jonathon riding solo behind me is left with an offer of Whisky & Coke.
I enjoy the lap, but I’m not happy about trying a double lapper. This is the most I’ve ridden in six months. Tim is also not arsed about riding much more (he’s my kind of team manager). It’s left to Selby and Merlinman to uphold team honour and keep the laps going until Tim does the last lap team honours.
I’ve had texts all weekend from steveM asking how things are going. Just after 2 p.m. I get one asking if I won.
“I survived”, I reply. I’ve not had a funny moment in the heart department all weekend. I’ve been amazed by how many people have ridden past asking how I am. Not that I can put names to all the faces. The mountain bike forums I inhabit tend to use nicknames to protect the guilty parties. So, if you were on of those guys, thanks for the support. I will see you at Mayhem 10, and 11, and 12…
Results
Results have now been posted at Singletrackworld.
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August 31st, 2005 at 9:54 pm
Oh what fun we had!
Make sure the tickers sorted for November - great pics, Nick - Chris particularly liked ‘The Ascent of Man’