Race Day
Woke up at 6:30, two beers the night before aided a decent nights sleep, but my heart starts racing as I remember what lies ahead. I'm not normally a morning person, but today (in fact any day I'm going out on the bike) I have no trouble rising. A quick shower, a dose of weetabix, load the box of food (enough to feed a small army) into the van (everything else was preloaded the night before), and we're off.
When we arrive at the start area, there's already a good atmosphere. The sun is shining, and most people have arrived, so we have to drive a distance from the start area to find a parking spot. Jay, a friend of ours who is also starting his first enduro season, has been there all night. He camped up and walked the special test to have a look the night before - now that’s dedication! We bump into loads of friendly faces that we've met at the last Hare and Hound race. It appears I am easily remembered, being the only female entered this year. Many people comment on it, and I guess part of me likes the attention, but part of me doesn’t like being singled out. I'm just here to ride my bike like everyone else.
First things first, get down to sign on. We've pre-entered, so we get race numbers 109 and 110, with the same start time. Eoin has to re-fix the master link on the new chain he fitted last night. We will have to do 2 laps of the course, with 4 stages in each lap. For each stage you are given an amount of time to get to the next check where they stamp your card. You are penalised if you arrive late, or early. 60 points per minute you are late/early. If you check in late, you must carry that late time for the rest of the day. Sounds confusing?
We fuel the bikes and bring them down for scrutineering, lights must be working, and apart from that it appears as long as you have 2 wheels and an engine, you are good to go. The bikes are left in Parc ferme and we cant go near them until 10 minutes before our start time.
We have ages before this, so I brew up a cuppa and make a few rolls with cheese and ham. We fill out our time cards, and compare them to make sure we haven't made any mistakes. After getting changed, we make our way down to watch the experts start. We've missed the riders briefing as we were parked so far away, but the others fill us in on the general regulations. A bunch of us beginners have gotten to know each other, and everybody is on nervous energy. Mixed up reports of what we're expected to do on the course, and general giddy banter ensues as we watch the experts take off followed by the seniors. We cheer on Andrew who is riding expert class as he starts. He stayed over with us last night to break the journey up, and we watched the '06 Erzberg DVD with a few beers. He is competing in this race in 2 weeks time, so today should be a walk in the park for him. The sun is beating down, and we still have about 40 minutes before our start, so I find a shaded area under someones gazebo to chill out. Its probably better that we don’t all wind each other up into nervous wrecks before the start.
10 minutes to go, I head up towards my bike. A quick check that I have everything, and a few final "good lucks" to fellow riders. God I could really do with a loo right now!
11:54 clicks over on the timeclock. We roll our bikes into the starting area. No starting engines until your start minute. Eoin and I shake hands and wish each other good luck. "see you at the finish!". 11:55 - our start time. Press the red button and the little 250 pops into life, push in the choke, and pull off. I had planned on letting Eoin go ahead, but he hasn’t moved off, so I'm not hanging around. We had agreed that we wouldn’t try and hang around to help each other, at least that’s what I remember the bargain was!
This is it - the enduro has begun. I tell myself not to take off like a lunatic and crash on the first bend, but I'm definitely going faster than I would normally for bimble in the woods. The first mile or two is mainly open fire road, and its nice to get eased into the race, and have time to relax and forget all the build up nerves. Then comes the first turn down into the trees. This is where I'm appreciating having put on brand new shiny tyres. Its all going well, until a downhill turn at the end before we pop out onto the road. Too hard on the front brake and the front wheel folds underneath. Pick up the bike quick before anyone sees me, out onto the road, and look back to see what had tripped me, and I see poor Eoin drop his bike in the same spot. I feel a tad guilty as he probably was coming down the hill and had to brake to avoid me!. The guilt lasts about 2 seconds as I open the throttle and take off down the road. I wasn’t to bump into Eoin again until after the race.
I was going quite well on the first section. No major obstacles that would hold me up. Fire roads interspersed with forestry trails. Some were deep rutted with slippy roots crossing at angles. On one particular section a backlog of people meant you couldn’t get up the momentum to carry you over the roots. Straight after that an uphill climb that would have been easier without a tired clutch hand! I pulled into the first check with 4 minutes to spare. Enough to catch your breath and shake out the body, then off again.
The next section I came in with a few minutes to spare again. It had a few show stoppers that I wasted time lifting my back wheel over. But the energy levels were still high. I confidently took off for section 3, which included a massive long straight climb over loose stoney ground to the top of a hill. There were some hill climbers who had spent most of the day getting up there, only to have their spectacular view ruined by some dirty noisy bikers! I arrived at check 3 with 14 minutes to spare. I think at this point I was getting a bit cocky. Sure this was a piece of p1ss! Stage 4 was to include the special test. This is a timed section where you get a point for every second it takes to get around. These points are added to any points you accumulate from being late at the checks, to make your final score. I hadn't planned on busting a gut over this piece. My aim was to come in on time for the checks, and hopefully not fall off on the test. On the way into the test we had to cross a stream. Not a very big or deep stream, but the exit at the other side was very tricky. Quite a crowd had gathered here to watch the carnage. My strategy was to open the throttle and at least get the bike up the bank, which it did, with me partly still attached. Quite pleased with my display, I moved on to find the special test. It zig zagged around a wooded area, with a few nice bumps and lumps to negotiate. A lot of tree stumps hidden under grass trying to knock you off. Lots of people were gathered here to watch as the race in general is not a great spectator event, so the special test is where you get to see the good guys really going flat out. I spotted someone with a very fancy camera as I was making my way through, so I was concentrating quite hard to look good. Only after did I realise it was probably Flash of the Gap! Further on I saw Jockser who had come down to show his support. I showed my appreciation by not hanging around for a chat. Sorry Jockser!
I finished the special test, and made my way down to the end of the first lap. Again with 5 minutes to spare, I refilled my camelbak and after going through the check, pulled in to refuel the bike. Andrew passed through and said hi as he waited for his check time. He was on his 3rd lap, and looked as fresh as a daisy. I was feeling quite good about myself at this stage, no carried time, things going well. But I knew I was tired, and the first check of the second lap would be long. The rate of bike drops raised and my speed fell. On one section where I should have stopped for a breather, I kept going. It was a downhill, so I figured I'd just let the bike run down the hill. Until I again was a bit heavy handed with the front brake and launched myself into the ditch. A few lads passed and asked if I was ok. I was, but the bike was starting to show signs of wear and tear. The front panel was bent back, handguard was hanging off, clutch lever was curled up and the start switch mount was hanging off. Oh well, motor on. I was starting to make mistakes on easy bits purely because of tiredness and my clutch had was losing strength. I came into the check 6 minutes late. After checking through, I stopped to take and energy drink. I needed something to help with muscle cramp and general energy sapping. The second stage wasn’t much better, and by the time I checked in, I was now 15 minutes late in total. I wasn’t the only one suffering though, as the course was getting tougher, with ruts getting deeper, the bog turning into a quagmire, and what were easy climbs on the first lap, had now been eaten out by so many bikes spinning up going over them. On one part where I had failed to get myself out of a bombhole, and was blocking one of only three exits, a guy behind makes a deal with me. "Ill go up the other rut, and help you, and then you are going to help me". Sounded like a good plan to me!
At this stage I was really suffering. My arms were knackered, picking up the bike was taking more out of me, and what technique I may have had, was now completely gone. After having picked up my bike for the third time in the space of a minute, I stopped for a breather. Another bike came along, and rammed his back wheel into me, making me drop the bike again. I must have shot him some dirty look, as he immediately dropped his bike and came over to pick mine up!
The third stage had been easy first time around, and while I didn’t do it as fast this time, I still made it in with plenty of time to spare. I was to learn my first big lesson of enduro next. I waited for the timeclock to click 16:08, and got my card stamped. Off I took and completed the special test again. The course was almost empty at this stage. I made it into the finish line with plenty of time to spare. I decided to check exactly how much time, and pulled out my time card. The last check had been stamped with 16:10! Another 2 minutes added to my time that I hadn't actually taken! I knew it was my responsibility to check the correct time was written in, but I could have cried after working so hard for each minute! I crossed the line, to finish the race thoroughly washed out. Physically wrecked, but delighted at having finished. I met Jay at his van, and having assumed that he had been ahead of me all day, was disappointed to hear his bike had blown up and he was out of the race. Along came Eoin a few minutes later, and I heard that he hadn't made the cut off time at the first check on the second lap. He had suffered out there, but had kept going until they wouldn’t let him go any further.
We could have sat chatting about the whole event all evening, but before muscle stiffness set in, it was better to pack up the bikes and turn the van for home. We bumped into Dermott as we were leaving so we stopped for a chat, then luckily Eoin did the driving home as I wasn’t fit to. The bikes won't get washed until tomorrow evening. It was all I could do to run a bath and soak in it without falling asleep.
So that’s it, the first Enduro completed. I can say now, that I thoroughly enjoyed the day, but I think if you had asked me somewhere around the 2nd stage of the second lap, I would have given a different response. The sense of achievement at having battled through the tough bits makes it all worthwhile! Sorry there's no photos. Im hoping Jockser or Flash might have one or two.
If you are tired reading this, think how tired we are after doing it!
-just after seeing the photos above! Nice one Jockser!
Woke up at 6:30, two beers the night before aided a decent nights sleep, but my heart starts racing as I remember what lies ahead. I'm not normally a morning person, but today (in fact any day I'm going out on the bike) I have no trouble rising. A quick shower, a dose of weetabix, load the box of food (enough to feed a small army) into the van (everything else was preloaded the night before), and we're off.
When we arrive at the start area, there's already a good atmosphere. The sun is shining, and most people have arrived, so we have to drive a distance from the start area to find a parking spot. Jay, a friend of ours who is also starting his first enduro season, has been there all night. He camped up and walked the special test to have a look the night before - now that’s dedication! We bump into loads of friendly faces that we've met at the last Hare and Hound race. It appears I am easily remembered, being the only female entered this year. Many people comment on it, and I guess part of me likes the attention, but part of me doesn’t like being singled out. I'm just here to ride my bike like everyone else.
First things first, get down to sign on. We've pre-entered, so we get race numbers 109 and 110, with the same start time. Eoin has to re-fix the master link on the new chain he fitted last night. We will have to do 2 laps of the course, with 4 stages in each lap. For each stage you are given an amount of time to get to the next check where they stamp your card. You are penalised if you arrive late, or early. 60 points per minute you are late/early. If you check in late, you must carry that late time for the rest of the day. Sounds confusing?
We fuel the bikes and bring them down for scrutineering, lights must be working, and apart from that it appears as long as you have 2 wheels and an engine, you are good to go. The bikes are left in Parc ferme and we cant go near them until 10 minutes before our start time.
We have ages before this, so I brew up a cuppa and make a few rolls with cheese and ham. We fill out our time cards, and compare them to make sure we haven't made any mistakes. After getting changed, we make our way down to watch the experts start. We've missed the riders briefing as we were parked so far away, but the others fill us in on the general regulations. A bunch of us beginners have gotten to know each other, and everybody is on nervous energy. Mixed up reports of what we're expected to do on the course, and general giddy banter ensues as we watch the experts take off followed by the seniors. We cheer on Andrew who is riding expert class as he starts. He stayed over with us last night to break the journey up, and we watched the '06 Erzberg DVD with a few beers. He is competing in this race in 2 weeks time, so today should be a walk in the park for him. The sun is beating down, and we still have about 40 minutes before our start, so I find a shaded area under someones gazebo to chill out. Its probably better that we don’t all wind each other up into nervous wrecks before the start.
10 minutes to go, I head up towards my bike. A quick check that I have everything, and a few final "good lucks" to fellow riders. God I could really do with a loo right now!
11:54 clicks over on the timeclock. We roll our bikes into the starting area. No starting engines until your start minute. Eoin and I shake hands and wish each other good luck. "see you at the finish!". 11:55 - our start time. Press the red button and the little 250 pops into life, push in the choke, and pull off. I had planned on letting Eoin go ahead, but he hasn’t moved off, so I'm not hanging around. We had agreed that we wouldn’t try and hang around to help each other, at least that’s what I remember the bargain was!
This is it - the enduro has begun. I tell myself not to take off like a lunatic and crash on the first bend, but I'm definitely going faster than I would normally for bimble in the woods. The first mile or two is mainly open fire road, and its nice to get eased into the race, and have time to relax and forget all the build up nerves. Then comes the first turn down into the trees. This is where I'm appreciating having put on brand new shiny tyres. Its all going well, until a downhill turn at the end before we pop out onto the road. Too hard on the front brake and the front wheel folds underneath. Pick up the bike quick before anyone sees me, out onto the road, and look back to see what had tripped me, and I see poor Eoin drop his bike in the same spot. I feel a tad guilty as he probably was coming down the hill and had to brake to avoid me!. The guilt lasts about 2 seconds as I open the throttle and take off down the road. I wasn’t to bump into Eoin again until after the race.
I was going quite well on the first section. No major obstacles that would hold me up. Fire roads interspersed with forestry trails. Some were deep rutted with slippy roots crossing at angles. On one particular section a backlog of people meant you couldn’t get up the momentum to carry you over the roots. Straight after that an uphill climb that would have been easier without a tired clutch hand! I pulled into the first check with 4 minutes to spare. Enough to catch your breath and shake out the body, then off again.
The next section I came in with a few minutes to spare again. It had a few show stoppers that I wasted time lifting my back wheel over. But the energy levels were still high. I confidently took off for section 3, which included a massive long straight climb over loose stoney ground to the top of a hill. There were some hill climbers who had spent most of the day getting up there, only to have their spectacular view ruined by some dirty noisy bikers! I arrived at check 3 with 14 minutes to spare. I think at this point I was getting a bit cocky. Sure this was a piece of p1ss! Stage 4 was to include the special test. This is a timed section where you get a point for every second it takes to get around. These points are added to any points you accumulate from being late at the checks, to make your final score. I hadn't planned on busting a gut over this piece. My aim was to come in on time for the checks, and hopefully not fall off on the test. On the way into the test we had to cross a stream. Not a very big or deep stream, but the exit at the other side was very tricky. Quite a crowd had gathered here to watch the carnage. My strategy was to open the throttle and at least get the bike up the bank, which it did, with me partly still attached. Quite pleased with my display, I moved on to find the special test. It zig zagged around a wooded area, with a few nice bumps and lumps to negotiate. A lot of tree stumps hidden under grass trying to knock you off. Lots of people were gathered here to watch as the race in general is not a great spectator event, so the special test is where you get to see the good guys really going flat out. I spotted someone with a very fancy camera as I was making my way through, so I was concentrating quite hard to look good. Only after did I realise it was probably Flash of the Gap! Further on I saw Jockser who had come down to show his support. I showed my appreciation by not hanging around for a chat. Sorry Jockser!
I finished the special test, and made my way down to the end of the first lap. Again with 5 minutes to spare, I refilled my camelbak and after going through the check, pulled in to refuel the bike. Andrew passed through and said hi as he waited for his check time. He was on his 3rd lap, and looked as fresh as a daisy. I was feeling quite good about myself at this stage, no carried time, things going well. But I knew I was tired, and the first check of the second lap would be long. The rate of bike drops raised and my speed fell. On one section where I should have stopped for a breather, I kept going. It was a downhill, so I figured I'd just let the bike run down the hill. Until I again was a bit heavy handed with the front brake and launched myself into the ditch. A few lads passed and asked if I was ok. I was, but the bike was starting to show signs of wear and tear. The front panel was bent back, handguard was hanging off, clutch lever was curled up and the start switch mount was hanging off. Oh well, motor on. I was starting to make mistakes on easy bits purely because of tiredness and my clutch had was losing strength. I came into the check 6 minutes late. After checking through, I stopped to take and energy drink. I needed something to help with muscle cramp and general energy sapping. The second stage wasn’t much better, and by the time I checked in, I was now 15 minutes late in total. I wasn’t the only one suffering though, as the course was getting tougher, with ruts getting deeper, the bog turning into a quagmire, and what were easy climbs on the first lap, had now been eaten out by so many bikes spinning up going over them. On one part where I had failed to get myself out of a bombhole, and was blocking one of only three exits, a guy behind makes a deal with me. "Ill go up the other rut, and help you, and then you are going to help me". Sounded like a good plan to me!
At this stage I was really suffering. My arms were knackered, picking up the bike was taking more out of me, and what technique I may have had, was now completely gone. After having picked up my bike for the third time in the space of a minute, I stopped for a breather. Another bike came along, and rammed his back wheel into me, making me drop the bike again. I must have shot him some dirty look, as he immediately dropped his bike and came over to pick mine up!
The third stage had been easy first time around, and while I didn’t do it as fast this time, I still made it in with plenty of time to spare. I was to learn my first big lesson of enduro next. I waited for the timeclock to click 16:08, and got my card stamped. Off I took and completed the special test again. The course was almost empty at this stage. I made it into the finish line with plenty of time to spare. I decided to check exactly how much time, and pulled out my time card. The last check had been stamped with 16:10! Another 2 minutes added to my time that I hadn't actually taken! I knew it was my responsibility to check the correct time was written in, but I could have cried after working so hard for each minute! I crossed the line, to finish the race thoroughly washed out. Physically wrecked, but delighted at having finished. I met Jay at his van, and having assumed that he had been ahead of me all day, was disappointed to hear his bike had blown up and he was out of the race. Along came Eoin a few minutes later, and I heard that he hadn't made the cut off time at the first check on the second lap. He had suffered out there, but had kept going until they wouldn’t let him go any further.
We could have sat chatting about the whole event all evening, but before muscle stiffness set in, it was better to pack up the bikes and turn the van for home. We bumped into Dermott as we were leaving so we stopped for a chat, then luckily Eoin did the driving home as I wasn’t fit to. The bikes won't get washed until tomorrow evening. It was all I could do to run a bath and soak in it without falling asleep.
So that’s it, the first Enduro completed. I can say now, that I thoroughly enjoyed the day, but I think if you had asked me somewhere around the 2nd stage of the second lap, I would have given a different response. The sense of achievement at having battled through the tough bits makes it all worthwhile! Sorry there's no photos. Im hoping Jockser or Flash might have one or two.
If you are tired reading this, think how tired we are after doing it!
-just after seeing the photos above! Nice one Jockser!
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will post pics as soon as i can a great days racing from what i seen sorry i did, nt get over to ya
did,nt know yer numbers an could,nt rec ye with yer lids on 
