After racing this solo last year I decided to enter it again, I didn’t feel as fit and this year I seem to have been ill a lot, but I remembered enjoying it. Somehow I seem to have forgotten all about the pain! Once again we travelled down on the friday afternoon after collecting my bike and the gazebo from the shop, thanks guys. We got a good spot and set everything up and then headed off to my sisters so I could sleep in a bed the night before. Getting back the next morning it was a lot busier than when we had left and seemed busier than last year. It is scary how quickly time goes and I was up at the front ready to run. Once again I went backwards but I only spotted a couple of solo girls going past me. On the bike and there was a little bit of queuing into the singletrack but nothing too bad.

Coming round from the first lap and the commentators annouched I was the first solo female, so all I had to do was hold the lead….not that easy as there was still 23hours to go. Fortunately I had a fantastic pit crew with Ali and my sister and for five laps I didn’t stop they just handed me bottles and food on the go. I was slowly building a gap. about four minutes a lap but I knew lots could happen.

Then it rained, anyone who knows Catton Park will understand what this means, horrible clay-like mud. After adding a layer I set out and ended up dragging my bike through some of the singletrack sections, back to the pits and out on the singlespeed while friends cleaned my bike. Thankfully the course had dried up again and I was back on the superfly for my next lap and the rest of the race.
During the night I slowed down but kept plodding on, morning came and no falling asleep on my bike moments this year. I think that may have been some to do with which body part hurts the most game my body was playing. I was tempted to let go of the bars on downhills, but fortunately realised what a bad idea that was.

I finished about five minutes after the 24hours with 20laps, this apparently is 155miles so no wonder I was tired. I kept the top spot throughout the race and needed some help up onto the podium.

I keep saying that’s enough for 24solo’s, but apart from the pain I felt stronger this time so maybe I’ll have to do another.

Ever since the cycle circuit opened in tameside I’ve meant to go over and have a look. They have a racing league on tuesday nights but obviously that is a bit too much for me. Then someone tweeted about a beginners women’s race and Ali decided to go, while at work I made the decision to join her. It’s only a short race so I knew I would be dropped but I thought it was maybe the only chance to ever try it.

Getting there and signing on it turned out there was eight of us in total, so not too scary. We set off and six of them left me, then one left everyone. There was a group of two behind her then three working together, I was holding the gap but not gaining. One of the three in front dropped off and I was gaining on her, then she crashed. I was now holding the gap on the two in front (one of who was Ali) but they were working together so although they weren’t getting away much I couldn’t do anything about it.

I was lapped by the girl in the lead, but not the others. In total I did 16laps of the 1km circuit. The race lasted just under 30miutes. Although I was on my own and being a wimp in the corners I enjoyed it.

There is one more on the 23rd August, all you need is a road bike. Get there for about 7:30pm and the race is 8:30pm. Anyone going to join us?

We headed to Eastnor Castle with a team of four looing to fight for a podium spot in the sport mixed category. By the time I got there we were a rider down and the next morning found us riding in the Expert Mixed category (as you only needed four riders for that category). None of us (myself, Shaun, Chris or Dave) particularly race cross country and definitely not at that level. Still we were going to do our best.

Shaun took the first lap and hence the run, which turned out to be a lot longer than expected. Handing over we were about 10 minutes down on the Hope and Scott boys but not in last place. My lap came round fast, the lads all managing sub hour laps on the bike, and I found the course hard. Very hilly and my time off the bike shows as I was struggling a lot on the downhills. Still I don’t think I could have pushed harder.

During the night we were having a close fight with the Salsa Racing Team and Colombia-Bikefood-Pronghorn Racing for 6th/7th/8th place. We battled hard but the boys were spent and I was sent out on the last lap. I pushed as hard as I could, but I was never going to do a sub hour lap.

Still 8th in the Expert Mixed and 22nd overall was a sucessful Mayhem. The question is do we go back next year and try and have enough to actually race in the Sport Mixed category?

Cookson Cycles are proud to sponsor the Racing Diva Category at the Brownbacks 2011 Hope Series XC Race based at Lee Quarry. The first of the series had eight competitors enter despite the cold and damp weather, with everyone completing at least four laps. The winner Adela Carter completed an impressive 6 laps in 1hr 37mins. In second place was Verity Appleyard with 1hr 31mins, and third place went to Susie Goddard with 1hr 33mins. Well done to all competitors – see you at the next one on Sunday 24th July!

The third Wednesday of the month saw another Guided Ride from the shop. Eight of us met for a 7pm start and headed out on the trails of Prestwich and over to Salford. After raining all day Shaun had sorted the weather and it turned out to be a nice evening, although the trails were a little muddy.

Join us for the next ride on the 1st June.

Ever fancy an easy ride in the lakes?! Have a go at the Fred Whitton Sportive – 112 miles of all the big passes in the lakes and at the 100 mile mark you go up one of the steepest climbs in the country: Hardknott Pass (1 in 3!).

Chris and I rode the route last year on standard double 39/53T chainsets – I cramped up at the 1 in 3  section of Hardknott Pass  and a nice photographer took some pictures of me on the floor in agony (and in full team kit!). I had to have another go otherwise I would never hear the end of it from Chris…

We set off on yesterday’s ride with some fast riders (it’s not supposed to be a race!) – I only just about managed to hang onto the group up Kirkstone Pass and by the time we got to Honistor Pass, we were doing an average of 20mph which was way too much for me! There was no way I could keep up with them going up Honistor – they were a lot stronger than me on the climbs and they broke away. Good job really as I could feel cramp coming on which I think was from a combination of pushing hard and the cold rain that was bouncing off my legs. I rode the last 65 miles or so on my own – took it easy on the hills and hammered it on the flats, trying to save my legs for Hardknott Pass. Got to Hardknott and I only just made it up to the steep bit, though somehow I managed to push the pedals round and ride to the top without stopping – not very elegant with a cadence of 35 RPM! I had pains in my legs which I’ve never had before which I’ve still got today!

All in all, it was a great challenge, I cleared all the hills and with a finishing time of 6:39 I managed to knock 20 mins off last year’s time. If I do it again I’ll make sure my lowest gear isn’t 39/23!

final times are here, http://www.fredwhittonchallenge.org.uk/results.php – I managed 27th quickest time of the day.