24 hours of Exposure
My first experience of 24 hours of Exposure was a good one. Oh yes, there was that weather, but ... you know? I packed waterproof stuff and, if I'd been organised, would have booked into one of the excellent cabins at Rock UK.
The village centre sign in ceremony and ride out was a great spectacle and in the true spirit of our sport, inclusive and fun for all. Pole positions given and a proper tour stage feel. After all the entourage had left, I overheard a mother talking into her phone, 'yeah, it's like the European ... no World championship mountain bike race ... yeah, people have come from all over the place!'. And she was right, not just over water or in a plane, but, for me, 400 miles.
I was here to work though. Rob Lee, the man behind Extreme Endurance and Seven Deadly Spins (amoung other epic adventures) has written a book and I was here in Ernest Press mode. That and to do a bit of pitting and chatting. As it happened there was more pitting and chatting than working but hey!
As Rory was heading out on a lap, I turned and 'woaw, Rory, stand under the Rainbow!'. The obvious reply was that he rode through it. Ever the pro!
Lee, Oli, Phil and Fraser had entered the 12 hour event and it was Lee who would shine - tapping round and staying constant. Half way through, cramp set in but he drank more and rode through. It was Fraser's turn for bad luck, three snapped chains and a ripped tyre. Oli and Phil had an 11 hour catch up on Uni days:o)
Rob started the 24 singlespeed race well. Sitting a solid third, he soon moved to second place and was maintaining a steady pace, either on or near his 1:09 lap timing.After around 10 hours of consistant laps, Rob came back shaking and looking 'wrong'. He had taken a two metre, head first tumble off a bridge and was clearly in shock and pain. Two slipped vertebrate and it was race over. I first saw Dan Treby in action at Mountain Mayhem last year and he was on fire then, as he was this weekend, taking a convincing Singlespeed victory and 5th overall. Watch out geared boys at Mayhem, indeed!
Possibly the most unlucky man of the event (year?), Vet Male Winner Mark missed his 19th lap counting by 30 seconds ... that has got to hurt!
A big up to Sara and Paul of SIP and Rock UK - next year I plan to be fit enough to race the event.
And, you know? A Road trip of around 800 miles can be a real ballache, but in good company and nature lending a helping hand, it can be a pretty good time.







