Hit the North 2013

Well what is there to say about this race except how much fun it is. I had been looking forward to it as I have been over to Phillip's Park to ride the new trails a few times recently. I however knew I wasn't particularly fit and had rode home over Parbold Hill on friday since it was such a nice evening. So with the excuses out of the way onto the race!

Ali didn't fancy riding over so we drove down, I kindly put her bike on the car so I would have a spare! Once there I was chatting away so much I was nearly late to the start, oops! Lining up with friends it was only as we set off I noticed it said Elite start. We headed uphill and I worked as hard as I could, still a fair few people went past me. Into the Berms and it was hard work with so many people around me but I held my place, then back up the hill to do the Berms again. I couldn't help but smile my whole way round. Even the Field of Despair didn't reduce me to tears as I knew the Berms were straight afterwards. In fact my only problem was the race was too short, I wanted to keep riding.

Thanks guys for an amazing race!

I finished 4th female and 95th overall.

Hit The North

The night before Hit the North basically involved people telling Ali she was racing, she wasn't so keen on the idea but eventually decided to give it a go. So on Saturday morning we both lined up in Cooksons kit (after a rush to get Ali's shorts dry as me being helpful had washed them that morning!) Ali was also rushing off to Grimbsy for the football after the race.

My first lap felt like a parade at walking pace, I made the odd place up on the bits linking the singletrack in the purpose built section and rode the berms slower than I ever had before but it was fun and I was able to chat. Ali was somewhere behind me having started with Pauline and probably chatting as well. On the second lap I had more open track, not that I could ride a lot of the muddy stuff. But I was enjoying just going round, I have to admit that I maybe could have put a bit more effort in, I did however want to ensure I didn't fall off as I was still pretty battered and bruised from Thursday. This lap I could see Damien (also racing for Cooksons) ahead of me so that did help with motivation if I did slow down at all.

The course was a mix of very muddy sections, steps or slopes to steep to ride up and the lovely blue route at Prestwich. I enjoyed the course even with the amount of walking I was doing and on my fourth lap I was starting to get into it. I could no longer see the girl who had been on my tail for quite a while but I was hoping to get back just in time for a 5th lap, as it turns out I missed it by about 30seconds.

Still 2hours of riding, average heart rate of 174bpm, 15.5miles covered and 555m of climbing. Oh and I managed to win the race so I got to stand on a car tyre. It was the first race on the new bike and it was brilliant, in fact at times I thought I was probably annoying it by braking as the Superfly certainly wanted to go faster.

Some Thanks:

• To Jason for organising the event - it was awesome!
• Chris for putting my pedals on before the race and then washing both mine and Ali's bike after the race
• Cookson Cycles for helping me out when it came to purchasing the Superflyand gernerally just being great
• To my Mum for finding a race I had mentioned in passing and buying me a bacon butty at the end of the race.
 

3/30 - Hit the North Preview

This morning I headed over to prestwich for the Hit the North preview ride (get yourself entered). I was a little late, couldn't resist the berms but that was fine as I wasn't the only one. A lap of the course and we all headed for the local costa coffee, not sure they are used to muddy mountain bikers, still the hot chocolate and cake was appreciated.

Then six of us headed off for another loop and this time I rode the downhill I had wimped out on earlier.

After this we spent ages making plans for food before heading to the Strawbury Duck, Greg and Pauline in the van and Chris and I rode (Damian joined us as far as Bolton). Getting there and it was packed, no tables and no food orders for at least half an hour so we headed down to the Rose and Crown in Edgeworth, where the food was fantastic!

After this Ali let me ride home via holcombe moor with Chris, which hurt! But it was great fun.

47miles in total, 3 days complete only 27 to go!

Pictures thanks to Chris as my camera batteries had died!

Hit the North

Glands up since Wednesday meant that despite my best efforts at resting I wasn't able to race. I was really tempted but when you can't really swallow racing is going to be difficult. Imagine my suprise though when Ali sugested that she took my place! So saturday morning we headed down, changed the name on the start sheet and she was lining up for the run instead of me. I have to say that my Cookson Cycles kit looked good on her. She was first through of all the female soloists and continued to hold that lead all day. There were moments though, she won crash of the day for her fall off a cliff into a stream, luckily for her Shaun was there to fish her out! After four laps she decided that she had stopped having fun so she was going to stop, a bit of encouragement and she was back out. After that the motivation of winning kept her going. Although unlike me she lurked on the last lap so as not to have to go out again!

As for me, I discovered how stressful being Pit Crew is. I should have brought the white board, remembering when she was due in and what she wanted was hard! But hopefully I didn't do too bad a job and I was there everytime she came in, even in the torrential rain!

I was so impressed with her, 9 laps of about 7miles, at least two set of steps she had to carry up and a constant smile. I think I might need to get worried now though, she enjoyed it!

I also wrote some blurb about the race here

Commuting, wildlife, smiles

I woke up silly early after not really sleeping well, there was only one thing for it. Leave early and ride off-road to work. I took the cross bike and loaded up with a sleeping bag (I'm lending it to someone at work, I wasn't planning on sleeping on the way there!) I headed off. Through Moses Gate, over to Route 6 near Radcliffe. I missed the diversion for the closed trail and ended up doing a bit of scrambling with my bike - probably good training for saturday! Down the berms at Prestwich I then knew that I had made the right choice, a big smile on my face. I saw lots of wildlife, a fox, a bunny some cute ducklings. Onto the road through Salford then on the canal out to work. It only took a bit longer, but I am now bouncing round.

Hit the North Preview ride

A chance to preride the course for next months Hit the North race meant I was riding again tonight. A slower commute on the way in due to a silly low gear meant I could ride my singlespeed round the course. The start time meant I could ride there straight from work with no stress.

After the ride I spun back to radcliffe with Chris before heading home.

27miles in total. Hopefully I will start to get fit again.

How much mud?

I persuaded Ali to join me on the hit the north preview ride today. After ages sorting out her brake, yes at last she can use her own front brake and I can keep mine on my bike. Its my fault for not getting the part for it sooner! We headed over on road, getting there to only a few waiting in the car park. We headed off and soon were enjoying the mud and slippy slippy cobbles! Round once, with a couple of wrong turns when we could no longer see anyone in front, before heading off home. This involved more mud as we took in some of the trails and a couple of Chocolate stops to get a tired Ali home!

A prize from Hit the North 1.5 arrived today

Hit the North 1.5

Today was Hit the North 1.5. Ali and I cycled over which was a good warm up for my legs. We got there and I took off all my lovely warm layers and got ready for the brass band to start us all off. A good start but I kinda ruined it by going the wrong way at a corner and watched about twenty people come past. It wasn't long before I was in a bit of a duel with another girl. We were swapping places, the cross bike faster in parts and her mtb in others. I got away on a climb that really suited the cross bike, almost tarmac. But I was aware there wasn't a big gap.

2nd to last lap and I went down a steep slope with no brakes, very scary, I worked out that the bar top levers pulled more cable though so I could stop with them, they just weren't as stable. Last lap after scaring myself I ran most of the downhills. The steps that lap felt huge and my bike was gettign heavy - I was glad it wasn't my trek I would have been barely able to lift it!!! The last lap the girl passed me just before a steep downhill, I ran it but couldn't see her at all. I pushed round the lovely dry fast singletrack but was beginning to think that was it! On the last climb I got her and took advantage of the cross bikes speed. Onto the finish straight it was head down and hope, I think she was 10seconds behind me with the girl in 3rd 10seconds behind her. A great race!!!

Getting used to the cross bike

Today I needed to take Ali's wheel into the bike shop as she had broken a spoke. So I put the cross bike on the roof and after dropping it off at Cooksons went over to pre-ride the course for tomorrow. Half of it was marked out and half not, so I at least know I rode half of it! Anyway half of it will be muddy, half fast should be fun!

Then K8to came up for a ride, me on my cross bike her on her orange 5 we must have looked a right pair!!! Up to the Strawbury Duck to find there was no food today, back was scary lots of ice and it had got a lot colder!

Now time to get ready for tomorrow and then off to bed!

New shoes, wildlife, broken cleats

Today was the preview ride for hit the north 1.5 so I plotted a route using an OS map and google earth - very effective as its turns out I had a great route that was nearly all off-road. It was the first outing for my new winter boots (thanks to Ali's mum what a great Christmas present!) Halfway there and my foot got stuck in the pedal, I worked out that the cleat was loose so I took the boot off. After lots of twisting the shoe came off the cleats. Loosing the cleats and a screwdriver got that out and I put the cleat back on, they will be checked regularly now!


Then it was on to Prestwich to meet a crowd to preride the loop. It'll be muddy as it was muddy today in the cold, but should be fun! Some pushing and carrying but I'm looking forward to it. The new boots loved it!

After that is was a quick ride over to my mums in Middleton, once again mainly off-road. Including going through Alkrington woods, its changed since I used to ride there on a fully rigid as a kid, I would be a lot better if I had kept riding!

A fun day followed by nice food and charades - Ali loves it - at my folks.

25miles @ 9mph
618m climbed

"I liked it when I had to slow down to wait for you"

This is what Jon said near the start of todays ride. I have no idea what he was talking about I spent every hill trying to just keep the dot ahead in sight! He says he has lost fitness but he still seemed very fast to me. Anyway kindly he had offered to take me round the long legbreaker route as I had only done the short route on the day since my legs were so sore after Hit the North. After a little detour to get to the start we were on our bikes at 9:40am. This ride didn't disapoint with lots of hills, we went through flash which is the highest village in England lots of nice car free roads and even chocolatecake halfway round. I'm very tired now and don't seem to quite have my long ride legs back yet.

82.29mil @ 12mph Av HR 137bpm

2700m climbed

It's very humid out there

Today I needed to drop Ali's bike off at cooksons for a new bottom bracket so I put my running kit on and cycled it there. It was hard work with the saddle too high and no cleats but still it is mainly downhill (or so I thought!). After chatting about Hit the North with the mens solo winner, Shaun, I headed off to run home. I wasn't sure how I'd get on but I could always walk. I took it easy on the whole and it was only near the end I started to feel my legs. Maybe next time I'll try and push a bit harder.

As it turns out there is only about 10m difference in the elveation of where I live and the shop, so both ways involve a fair amount of climbing.

Bike:
6.9miles
Average Speed 11.9mph
Average HR 127bpm

Run:
6.9miles
Average Pace 11:00min/mile
Aver HR 140bpm

Hit the North

Okay then I'm now very tired and sore but I have found some pictures of me and think its time to put my thoughts down. We arrived in plenty of time on saturday and actually managed to squeeze our car in next to the track, made it easier for Ali! After my usual faffing and finding out kate (uber-fast friend) was riding solo as well it was time for the start. First lap went well, very little queuing. All three of us arrived together. Ali was now pit bunny for the three of us so was very busy! We headed out again, it was a little muddier, but I could push my bike and get round it fine. On this lap Ollie came past me, but I was riding at a comfortable pace. Next lap seemed muddier and my brakes less effective, lap 4 basically no brakes. I also passed ollie again, we were riding very similar lap times. So I stopped, changed clothes brake pads and back out. My aim before the event was 10 laps, at this point the conditions were making that look impossible. The first section I could barely push my bike, how I would have managed the chicken run to avoid the bombhole without the marshalls helping me with my bike I have no idea!

Lap 5 was where I came off, on an easy section but I skidded a fair way, arm was a little sore and bike was fine so I carried on, at some point I pass. This time in ali cleaned my arm put some dressing on the worst part, back out and it was getting better again. You could tell the soloists from the amount of mud, and lack of anything else! Another lap and it seemed to be getting a bit better. I came in and Ali cleaned the bike and it was back out, 7 laps done. Lap 8 was the hardest, the first section was nearly impossible to push the bike, it was so clogged up! Back through and out, it had got worse!!! No chance of me getting round before 10pm, I could barely move my bike, getting out on tarmac it took me ten minutes to get my wheels moving! I rode this lap with the lad from ssuk who had taken his trousers off for a new frame! It was nice to just chat my way round a lap. He was also a soloist, on his 7th lap.

As you can see I was a little muddy at the end, but pleased, I had finished 3rd female soloists. I could get one of my shoes off for ages (thanks Mr NBT) and took ages to warm up. Kate finished as winning female in typical Kate fashion!!! Apparently on one lap she came in and said "I've broke my fingernail" the lads next to us didn't know what to make of her!!!

We headed straight off and got pizza, bed just before 1am, time for just over 4 hours sleep before attempting the legbreaker!!! More on that tomorrow!

I've definetly learnt a lot from this race, first I like riding a 12hour solo! I could have gone faster! But where I lost my time was the bomb hole as I didn't even attempt it, I was losing at least 10 - 15minutes a lap. So I need to work on my technical skills!!! Kate rode it every lap and said it was definetly the key!

9 lap, 75miles, 120km

Hit the North

Back, tired, 9 laps, 3rd female, lots of mud!

More to follow!

I'm scared

Okay I've been down, got my number (256) and I rode a lap of the course with Ollie. It was muddy and some bits were just scarey as I slid down them out of control. I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy 12 hours of this and I'll be walking a lot of it!

Remember to cheer for me if you see me, I have trio on my name plate!

Ollie's here!

Well ollie has arrived so I have him hard at work fixing punctures. My bike is at the shop, lifecycles to the rescue again! Hopefully I am ready for tomorrow, I'm hoping for 10 laps, but wondering if that is a bit optimistic in the rain?

Getting my bike ready

Right forks are on bike, steerer needs cutting down so they look silly but they work! New grips on, look silly but comfy! new shifters, yay I can change gear! But can't get my old pedals off to put new ones on, my pedal spanner appears to be rounding off.................help!

Hit the North

Well I made a decision and I've entered, not on my singlespeed though. Everyone thinks I'm mad, but Ali has offered to come and be my pit bunny so I only need to concentrate on the riding!

Hit the North preview ride

Last night I decided to ride down to Whitefield to do the Hit the North preview ride. Now this event is the day before the legbreaker and I am at a concert on the friday night so I am trying to ignore everything in me that is saying I want to ride this event. So I headed off to see what the course was like. It was a 7.7 mile ride down to where they were meeting and since I had only decided to definetly go at the last minute I had no time to look at maps so I just headed down on the road. Turned out there were only five of us, I was the only girl and the only one on a singlespeed, I was wondering if I'd ever keep up. But everyone was really friendly and were happy to wait as I went round at my pace. I got the course to be 8 miles and I rode it at an average speed of 7.8mph. I liked the course and going in the rain was a good time to see it. Only two bits really worry me. I didn't ride the bomb hole, after watching two of them skid down it and I really didn't think I'd get out of it on my ss, but I'm not sure about the chicken run either, it takes you round to the base of the bomb hole where you have to push your bike up - thanks guys for grabbing my bike off me, I was slidding back as quick as I was getting up - I can just see carnage as some people ride it and some people are pushing. The other bit was the wooden boards, they were very very slippy! But a powerwasher might help as I think cleaner ones would have been nicer. Otherwise the course was fab with some great singletrack sections.

All in all its left me confused. Do I enter, can I afford to? It's the first year of this event it's on my doorstep! But I am riding the legbreaker the next day! Help me decided and vote in my poll --->

In total I rode 89.8 miles yesterday, time to rest for mayhem now.