The bikes started in waves of around 40 bikes (400 in total) with a short sprint lemans start.
I didn’t make the holeshot but I was 2nd to the first bend and about 10th by the time I’d rounded it!... But I like to think the Airhead surprised a few with it’s off the line traction.
It’s was tougher than expected though.
My first lap took 2 hours and 40 minutes where I encountered a small river crossing where the route then went right following the camber of the bank… I toppled the bike downwards and continued to roll head over heels followed by a spread eagle face down slide to the waters edge.
Getting the bike up was a power sapping task
The rest of the lap consisted off some step climbs where the bikes low down torque made up for my lack of skill, sections that I felt where a health risk if it went wrong (of camber stuff with rocks to fall on followed by 200kg’s) and some wet climbs that where stopping several bikes.
On the first I met rocks at cylinder head height and used the (promised push from Richard…Thanks) on the 2nd the airhead kicked sideways and took an age to free and all my reserves of energy. The 3rd required a sharp right through thick mud and had no run up and as I started on the slope the bike drop to one cylinder, I look down to see fuel pouring out and the float chamber missing.
By the time I’d got the bike down the chamber was no where to be seen and bikes where now ripping through the mud… With luck I found it when a bike uncovered it, repair done I was on my way.
Back in the pits I was completely finished…
What made it tough for me was the upper body effort required… Within the first few miles of a lap my arms would be pumped and I’d not have the strength to ride with the control I needed which led to power sapping mistakes.
I went on to finish the event doing 2 further laps taking 2 hours 20mins and 2 hours with a long break between the 2nd and 3rd!
7 hours riding in 12 hours
Summary:
The bike was great if rather heavy… there was nothing else like it there
My upper body strength needs a lot of work
Some skills would help but I think improved strength would help here
The skill and speed of the top riders was amazing
The Airheads torque and traction on the dry climbs was a life saver
The people where great
Recommended
I didn’t make the holeshot but I was 2nd to the first bend and about 10th by the time I’d rounded it!... But I like to think the Airhead surprised a few with it’s off the line traction.
It’s was tougher than expected though.
My first lap took 2 hours and 40 minutes where I encountered a small river crossing where the route then went right following the camber of the bank… I toppled the bike downwards and continued to roll head over heels followed by a spread eagle face down slide to the waters edge.
Getting the bike up was a power sapping task
The rest of the lap consisted off some step climbs where the bikes low down torque made up for my lack of skill, sections that I felt where a health risk if it went wrong (of camber stuff with rocks to fall on followed by 200kg’s) and some wet climbs that where stopping several bikes.
On the first I met rocks at cylinder head height and used the (promised push from Richard…Thanks) on the 2nd the airhead kicked sideways and took an age to free and all my reserves of energy. The 3rd required a sharp right through thick mud and had no run up and as I started on the slope the bike drop to one cylinder, I look down to see fuel pouring out and the float chamber missing.
By the time I’d got the bike down the chamber was no where to be seen and bikes where now ripping through the mud… With luck I found it when a bike uncovered it, repair done I was on my way.
Back in the pits I was completely finished…
What made it tough for me was the upper body effort required… Within the first few miles of a lap my arms would be pumped and I’d not have the strength to ride with the control I needed which led to power sapping mistakes.
I went on to finish the event doing 2 further laps taking 2 hours 20mins and 2 hours with a long break between the 2nd and 3rd!
7 hours riding in 12 hours
Summary:
The bike was great if rather heavy… there was nothing else like it there
My upper body strength needs a lot of work
Some skills would help but I think improved strength would help here
The skill and speed of the top riders was amazing
The Airheads torque and traction on the dry climbs was a life saver
The people where great
Recommended
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