Gorrick enduro

[Sylv]

Today was the Gorrick enduro in Swinley Forest with a choice of anything between 1 and 7 laps of the 10-mile course. I had originally planned to do 7 as a start to the Cristalp training, but as I’m doing a NPS round next weekend and hadn’t done a fast, 2h mtb race in 9 months picked the 3-lap option instead, which would work out at a bit more than 2h just (I hadn't checked the weather forecast at that point) to make the trip worth it. Glad I had pre-entered and paid the fee as this morning the temptation to watch the pros race at Houffalize on the internet rather than ride myself was ... substantial. Rain didn’t stop during the 1h drive. Getting to the course via a 1-mile of the worst off-road I’ve ever driven was tough (some climbs were barely cleared, some cars had to try a few times to get over). I was beginning to think my bike choice was the right – this morning I couldn’t be bothered to change the latex-filled tires on my geared bike for mud tires, so fitted them to the singlespeed instead – no gears or suspension to go wrong, but v-brakes which are not the best in the mud .. or are they?

Saw Marcus B back from only 1.5 laps of his planned 5 with a DNF due to disc brake pad wear, he was up there at the front until then. Then saw Ian Leitch with the same story which robbed him of a chance to win the 7-lapper, and the list goes on it seems. Mmm I wondered how my rim brakes would fare. At the start were also Nick Onslow and Serge’s mate Jon.
Start of a 70-strong field and about 4 of us got in the lead, don’t really like to get at the front so early as I have a tendancy to veer off-course in the heat of the action. The first section was the worse in terms of mud spray especially when riding in a group, you literally had eyes full of mud and i wondered how it would ever clear. Things settled a bit and I got in the front and started riding at my pace, which got me a gap. As always in races with thin mud I started enjoying myself, my good old (5 years?) Schwalbe Jimmy tires perfect for the conditions, so safe that I could often glide in control to steer myself. After a while I lost sight of the others so started focusing on a good steady pace. There were some great singletrack sessions, I recognised most of the track from last time I did the race two years ago. A fair bit of climbing with three hills that I had to walk (would have taken some skill on a geared bike) , and another three that I could just about clear, at snails pace, and that really hurt the legs.

End of lap 1 just under the hour, speaker confirming i was in the lead. Same thing over if only a little slower, and end of lap 2 they say I’m now 2nd – but no-one had gone past. Just an error I think to myself, but several people in the pits go “come on you can have him”. Only way this is possible is that someone has cut the course, but as it goes I start having doubts – has someone gone so fast from the gun that I didn’t even see him? Were my eyes so full of mud that I didn’t see him overtake me? I was looking forward to a fast last lap in the lead, but now I can’t really be bothered – why try chase someone who’s cut the course. So I carry on at the same speed, which is good cos I’m getting pretty tired. The rain has stopped, which doesn’t mean the course is any less muddy. There are a couple puddles that are bottom-bracket deep. I’ve forgotten my Garmin so have to keep checking my watch under my long-sleeve. Not long to go, and whatever the result will be will be. Cross the line in 3h04, please to hear the confirmation that I’ve won our race. No brake issues whatsoever. Only 12 of us did 3 laps. It looks like they’ve had to cut the 7-lap race down to 6 due to time. And that 2nd place's 2nd lap looks suspiciously fast .. I don't know where I overtook him again though!

3 03:04:14 328 Sylvain Garde Addiscombe CC - Addiscombe CC 00:58:59 01:01:46 01:03:28
2 3 03:11:36 00:07:22 342 Richard Lister Team Endura - Team Endura 01:02:08 00:55:22 01:14:05
3 3 03:17:59 00:13:46 351 Nick Onslow Pedalon.co.uk - Pedalon.co.uk 01:00:47 01:04:59 01:12:13
4 3 03:26:40 00:22:26 374 Stuart Harvey Ultimate Fitness - 01:01:43 01:04:05 01:20:51
5 3 03:30:47 00:26:33 331 Julian Grundy Rock and Road Cycles - 01:06:41 01:10:16 01:13:49
6 3 03:35:40 00:31:26 368 Jon Moyse Progression Fitness - 01:07:14 01:12:47 01:15:39
7 3 03:45:42 00:41:28 326 Patrick Ferguson Team Chunky Whippets - Team Chunky Whippets 01:09:10 01:14:16 01:22:14
8 3 03:54:35 00:50:21 376 Joss Miller London Phoenix - 01:07:35 01:16:14 01:30:45
9 3 04:40:37 01:36:24 399 Martin Langston L & M Brickwork - 01:26:13 01:36:01 01:38:22
10 3 04:42:33 01:38:19 360 Craig Thomas Nun - 01:22:37 01:35:25 01:44:30
11 3 04:50:26 01:46:12 316 Adam Campbell - 01:21:22 01:32:29 01:56:35
12 3 04:50:28 01:46:14 365 Mike West - 01:21:08 01:32:45 01:56:34

[Keith]

Cool, well done Sylv.

[kieran]

well done Sylv, what commitment as well given the awful weather, wet and cold. (maybe a bit mad as well??) I didn't leave the house until 3pm today.

[Andrew G]

I was going to say you're mad as a box of frogs Sylv, bit perhaps I shouldn't .

Well done on the win, you clearly fancy taking ownership of the Hernia Trophy again.

[Toks]

Wow Sylv, 3 hours racing on your lonesome and you win too. Fantastic

[Sylv]

Bit of tlc needed

[img]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4575659740_90b3c027e7_b.jpg[/img]

[EdO]

Well done Sylv. Looks like you've got some cleaning to do

[Mulberry]

Sylv

That Endura rider definitely cut a corner somewhere as there's no way he would have done his 2nd lap 7 mins faster than his 1st aside from the fact you dindn't see him pass you! The course marking was a bit tricky to spot at times and the front group had to back-track on our first lap a few times to stay on course. It was the cold at the end of the race which was nasty - I was fine whilst racing at least.
As for the state of bike & kit. I rinsed my kit and left it to soak for a few hours then washed it on a long wash later on. When i hung it out to dry there was still bits of sand on it. Likewise washed the bike with brushes sponge, muc-off etc. Rinsed it off then wiped it down and STILL found sand on it!! I think I'll have to rewash the kit and maybe even do the bike again. I think I've remembered why I do more RRs than MTB races

Having said that I did enjoy the course, The labrynth with all the bermed corners is wicked and that swoopy uphill and downhill section which you could pump the bike thru.

Marcus

[Sylv]

I let the mud on the bike dry for 24h, just managed to muster the energy to wipe off the chain on the day to avoid it going rusty. Then scrubbed everything off last night with brush and toothbrush which only took about 15 min.

Clothes and shoes had so much mud it was a matter of rinsing and rinsing them again in the bath with the shower hose until the water stopped being so brown. Didn't see that much sand though?

Yes course was great, I saw last night long discussions on singletrack about whether they should have cancelled or not due to the damage sustained to the trails in those conditions - hadn't thought of that until then.

If he cut the course unwittingly (two years ago a group of us did miss a turn on the first lap) looking at his own lap times he should be able to work that out himself!

[Marcus]

Great win Sylv Your determination, skill, endurance and courage shone through

Should prepare you for a win a Palace tonight

[Mulberry]

[quote="Sylv"]Yes course was great, I saw last night long discussions on singletrack about whether they should have cancelled or not due to the damage sustained to the trails in those conditions - hadn't thought of that until then.

[Sylv]

Photos by Joolze Dymond

[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3315/4588664423_fe9ed53cc2_o.jpg[/img]

[img]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4588664279_957c456912_o.jpg[/img]