The results are up… don’t really want to look though!
http://www.nofussevents.co.uk/event/10-Under-The-Ben/1805/
For those who rode, you know what it was like! for those who didn’t – good decision! In short, cold, very wet, windy, mud bath, leaky tent, long draggy climbs… will I be back, for sure! lessons learned – pack for winter, forget shorts, careful where you put your tent, buy a coleman awning (cheers Ross), book the curry house early, eat less energy gels and more proper food and get narrow tyres and spare disc pads.
A big pat on the back to all the lasted the pace, especially Single Speed Simon and Lindsey who fought to the bitter end in some less than fun weather.
Despite the rain, mid and occasional chain suck it was a great weekend.
Looking at the Pair results early indications look like respectable laps times for me. Looks as though there was 173 pair teams with a mixture of Sen, Vets, male and female. No medals for Alan Linstead or I as a pair, but no surprises there!
After Alans le mans start for the half 1st lap(about 5 miles)
Alan Lap 1 – 44:45
Ross Lap 2 17th out of 173 – 54:51
Alan Lap 3 – 1:07:21
Ross Lap 4 16th out of 173 – 55:45
Alan Lap 5 1:13:29
Ross Lap 6 19th out of 173
Ross Lap 7 28th out of 173
Finish – we both had enough of the rain and I no longer wanted another lap of Chain suck.
Ross
Lap 2 – 17th p
Note to self…do not use WordPress app on iPhone to post articles…it’s as crap as the spelling and formatting!
How wet and cold we all were by the end of it. I’ll add ‘bring every pair of gloves you own with you’ to the lessons learned. I paid the price for wearing shirt and lycra shorts for the first four laps by never getting warm in the last part of the ride even when clad in merino and goretex. Delighted to finish 4th in class – but I wouldn’t have caught the 3rd placed rider on a motorbike.
Single speed Simon
I am happy enough with times given the weather – full lycra seemed a good idea at the time…
Lap 1 – 47.45 Kenny (shorter lap)
Lap 2 – 1.04:15 me (major mechanical – damn 10 speed chainring on an 8 speed setup! got going after losing 2 mins and took over about 25 riders but it was a struggle in the tight techy bits)
Lap 3 – 1.10:45 Kenny (rain started to get biblical, Kenny had cramp – not good)
Lap 4 – 1.08:10 me (feeling good so far, not as many riders to get by as it was spreading out or folk’s bikes were failing, muddy stuff became a walk)
Lap 5 – 1.25:30 Kenny (happy face back on and feeling good!)
Lap 6 – 1.13:37 me (happy face now gone, freezing so chucked it at around 4.30!)
Race all done at 8.30pm
I am annoyed as I felt strong enough to ride much longer – just far too cold and wet to care!
Stephen
Despite the forecast of the world ending and the biblical weather – Snow, Hail, Rain and wind, it was still an ‘enjoyable’ event. You always say that after the event though don’t you!. I was trying to pace myself for my laps (read as slow!). The laps descended into wet fireroad climbs and very muddy single track. The decision, for me, to chuck in the towel, was after having something to eat and getting a fresh, dry set of kit on was sitting down to put my shoes back on – sodden wet shoes. (Putting it in nicer terms, I thought Bugger it!). So not happy about going home without a scratch, during my laps I decided to get an inch cut on my shin, taking a tumble on the boardwalk after hitting a bit that was chicken wire free with my front wheel, then trying to shoulder a tree out the way. So a few more 10 under mementos..
It was a good weekend , especially within the GMBC camp, despite the hellish weather. Will I do it next year – Hell yeah!
Well done to Lyndsey for her podium, and commiserations to Simon for just missing out – great effort by both! – Great effort by all – lesser people would have left on the Friday!!! :¬)
Ask Ross to show you his video of the Gondola ride down on the Friday night!
Well done everyone that took part. Has anyone heard from Barry and Graham? They’re not stuck in some mud somewhere are they? 😉
Well……that was fun! I’ve never felt so shit after a days cycling! That was my 1st go at 10 Under and to be honest I will be giving it a bash again next year. Although, I’m not camping again as I reckon I got 2 hours sleep before the race due to the weather trying to relocate my tent further down the campsite.
I am well impressed with our times, as we haven’t been training except for the normal Tuesday/Sunday rides with the club. So next year I’m gonna get more competitive (not drink the night before, get a good nights sleep and making sure my bike works on the day).
One of my high points was on my first lap where I passed one of the elite cyclocross riders I saw at Mugdock last year, although she was only about 15 but I’m still calling it a victory. Thanks to all the GMBC riders who attended and made it a great day despite the weather, and well done to Lyndsey and Simon for their class positions. It was great to get together at the end for a good curry too. A big thanks to Graham for putting in another lap, keeping me awake, helping with the tent & a loan of a camelbak.
Roll on next year for more wet, muddy, freezin’, cramped up, fire road climbing fun!
Barry, just loose a few layers of cloths next time…you must have lost 6lbs in the first lap!!!
Like you, most folk didn’t get much sleep either…next time, must remember to take ear defenders!
As you say, great event , but it wouldn’t be the same without a beer or two 🙂
Indeed – well done to all who suffered through the conditions on Saturday! And a big thanks to Lyndsey for some chat on the final draggy climb of my sodden, last lap!!
Lap 1 – Barry – 00:41:33 – positioned himself at the front of the grid for the Le Mans start – a good piece of riding on the opening shorter lap!
Lap 2 – Me – 01:03:15 – the course is in fairly decent nick but the jacket I’m wearing is unneccessary. No major bottlenecks and a clear run at everything. Finally the new pads are bedding in!!!
Lap 3 – Barry – 01:04:42 – great lap from Barry who seemed a bit surprised at how different it was to the first lap. A quick changeover then……
Lap 4 – Me – 01:07:18 – ditched the jacket and the rain starts getting heavy! Pete Morgan blasts past me on a fireroad climb shouting encouragement! Pretty wet by the time I get back to Camp GMBC.
Lap 5 – Barry – 01:22:36 – heads out for his 3rd lap, in increasingly wet weather, and as the minutes tick by I wonder what’s happened. Barry returns, soaked to the bone. Looks like it might be his last lap for the day. He’s done 3, my turn to step up and do my 3rd too …….
Lap 6 – Me – 01:40:35 – what an absolute hoot! sliding about all over the place – 2 near crashes, sealskinz give up working and become like a wetsuit but the energy gel I took has kicked in and I’m loving every twist and turn of the lap. Start wondering that it’s a shame to call it quits when I’m having so much fun. I decide to do a 4th lap but before I cross the timing strip I stop off for another gel, some fig rolls, some fresh sealskinz and a quick clean of the chain (thereby adding some time onto the lap).
Lap 7 – Me – 01:21:07 – what a nightmare! the gel I took doesn’t agree with me, my lower back is in agony going up the long draggy fireroad climbs, the muddy sections are hell and I’m done in – this is definitely the last lap!
If I’ve read the results correctly Barry and I finished about halfway through the Senior Male pairs – not the best and not the worst or “could do better” (as was always on my school report card!!!)
Despite the conditions it was great to have a squad of GMBC’ers there to share the experience with and to swap tales & banter over a post-ride lamb bhuna! Will I do it next year? Yeah, for sure – but only if Barry brings the Winnebago!!!