Blogs
Mon, 4 Oct 2010
Ella checks in after the 3 peaks
By Ella Sadler-Andrews - Horizon Fitness Racing Team
With a week to go to the Three Peaks Cyclocross race, I had my first ever mountain bike race – Grizedale Mountain Bike Challenge covering 30 miles. 30 miles may not seem a lot, but on a mountain bike and in the conditions of the day, it felt an eternity. The week before I had been praying for good weather but as always, my wish didn’t come true and it rained non-stop Saturday, Saturday night and all through Sunday. There wasn’t one single second (I’m not exaggerating) where it didn’t rain.
I tried not to let it faze me, but there is nothing worse than starting a bike race cold and wet, being cold and wet for the duration, then finishing cold and wet. There were around 500 starters, but I had no aspirations. I’m pretty poor at off-road stuff, but seriously love it! I did it in preparation for the Three Peaks. It was mad to begin with, but with a big section of fire trail spreading everyone out. Despite not being particularly fit at the moment, I seemed to be going past quite a few people!
Things were going well; I was enjoying myself, having some good conversations with people around me, plus I hadn’t punctured! However, halfway round the last lap I got serious trapped wind (not very glamorous I know. Andy avert your eyes…) I haven’t had it for years, but when it happens, it’s crippling! Once on a road section I ditched my bike in a hedge then hitched to the finish! It was either that or crawling back. My conclusion to why it happened is that having four gels in three hours is not good for me! Despite it being an extremely horrible experience, it taught me a lesson that would be vital to me completing the Three Peaks.
The week following was a taper week, but despite the low load, my knee was giving me some serious grief. It wasn’t looking good for Sunday… As always, the day before the big race it was a mad rush to get everything ready. I didn’t have a whistle, I still had to tweek my gears to mesh with my HUGE 32 cassette, as well as getting used to a new bike position which Sticky (also doing the Peaks) had recommended. I was bricking it. Despite the long list of jobs to do, I got everything done and managed to get into bed for a reasonable time, ready for the early 6am start.
The first thing I did when I woke up was look outside and check the weather. Yes! It was going to be a bootiful day! To add to the nerves on the journey, the car started to play up. It’s been broken for a while, but Paul hasn’t had chance to take it to get fixed. I was getting ready to hop on my bike and get a good warm up enroute to the start, but thankfully it got us there. I was so excited! So excited that when I went to sign on, I walked away without picking up my number and then got shouted at… BUT I DIDN’T CARE! (Apologies, divergence – who else thinks that the guy out of 3oh!3 looks like Andy Schleck? Tall, skinny with that slightly emaciated look?)
On the start line I was basically pooing myself. Well, weeing myself. I was desperate, but I just couldn’t justify squatting right there and then in the middle of 600 people. The need for a leak quickly went as the race started. If anyone has seen/been up Simon’s Fell, you will understand. I sweated so much that there was no fluid left in my body. For those of you who don’t know Simon’s Fell, imagine the steepest, longest grassy bank in the world. And then times it by 100. The lead up to it isn’t easy either. Jostling with 600 hundred other riders to get somewhere near the front before it reminded me so much of Belgium. Carrying a bike up something so steep proved extremely difficult. No matter what position you put it over your shoulder, it was always banging against the ground in front of me. Which meant very nearly falling backwards many times. Not to mention the slippery ground making it impossible to get a decent foothold, and the very strong Northerly wind pushing me into the wall. Needless to say, I survived and got to the top. Well, what I thought was the top. No-one bothered to mention that once you crawl up the ‘tough’ bit, it carries on for some distance. There are some downhill sections, but also a stile you have to climb! Lucky for me some spectator carried my bike over for me. Ah the perks of being a girl…
Going down was awesome. You could ride most of it, but had to be careful not to ride into a muddy bog. The road section to Whernside was easy (I say easy now, but I’m pretty sure I was on my knees). I got into a little bunch and managed to do no turns. Yes! I knew Whernside would be the hill (or is it a mountain?!) to crack me. I’d walked up it twice in the previous weeks and it just seemed to be very steep for a very long time. Carrying the bike so much gave my back a lot of grief. As soon as I could, I rode. The top is relatively flat, but then comes the stupidly hard descent. A lot of which is unrideable.
There are these huge paving stones which someone clearly made a botch job of because there are gaping gaps between them. I was so delirious I thought I could ride them all. However, when it came to a gap that not even Jebby could conquer, I tried to stop but my brakes were slightly unresponsive and I went head over heels into a dirty, muddy bog. I reappeared, slightly dazed but in one piece, and from then on I carried my bike. Whernside descent is pure puncture territory, something which I was dreading. Somehow, despite some very heavy rear wheel landings and sluggish bunny hops, I got down puncture-less and in one piece. What a relief it was to see Jean and the checkpoint! It was all downhill from here…until I slammed my groin into my stem and was momentarily paralysed with pain.
Going up Penyghent I felt fab! I had ridden quite a bit of it in preperation and knew that most of the start was rideable. The crowds were really supportive. The ascent and descent of Penyghent use the same track, meaning that you have riders flying down towards you whilst you slog up. I saw Paul and some others coming down as I sweated up but I didn’t mind as I knew it was nearly finished. Coming off the top was such a good feeling. Such achievement! I think I smiled the whole way down.
I had calculated that I may have a chance of getting in the top 15 women, meaning a prize. On the final road section I was zooming with this sudden second wind. Crossing the finish line was emotional, all my hard work had paid off! I had finished! Yea! I didn’t get a good place, but I seriously didn’t care. Having not raced all season, I had been focusing on this since my op. Plus, with X not being my forte, I was pleased to have improved my skills enough to complete such a monstrous race. Positive I had finished in the top 15 women, we waited for prize giving. I had actually finished 16th! Oh man I was gutted, but am now VERY determined to do much better next year. I did win the U23 women's section and now have a very nice pair of Scott sunglasses, somewhat redundant due to being sponsored by Oakley… but anyhow, Ebay! Paul and I also got 3rd in the generation prize and ironically won two big buckets of Muc Off (our local club bullies us as our bikes are quite often dirty).
I slept like a baby that night after a yummy tea of Linda McCartney pies and jacket potatoes. The next day was spent analysing my splits…Compared to the female winner, I basically lost a few minutes on every section, meaning that I was generally ok, just slow! I will however come back next year more prepared and fit off the back of a successful road season.
I would just to like to mention that without the help and support of my coach Colin Bachelor, local Lune-ies Sticky, Trevor, Leanne and Dave, it would have been so much harder (and the arduous training boring)! Plus of course Paul and Jean, as always.
Also, the Thursday before the Three Peaks, I went to Kendal and visited the ‘Anything Technical Ski and Leisure’ shop to get me fitted with some new orthopaedic show insoles. Andy, the shop's owner kindly offered to sponsor me them. I can’t wear my cycle shoes without them and they have really improved my performance. I seriously recommend that anyone, any level, and any sport should get them. They help prevent injuries and make shoes more comfy to wear as they are individually moulded. So, thank you Andy at ‘Anything Technical’ – when I become World Champ I’ll be able to publicise you even more.
This weekend I head to Kielder, mountain biking with my dad’s youngsters' club ‘Cog Set‘. Chances are I’ll get my head kicked in by 15year old boys who can actually mountain bike… I just cross my fingers for good weather.
Other updates in the world of Ella include selling my Beetle, yay! I also have a new car, yay! One that can go over 60mph and doesn’t cut out on me when coasting.
I am slowly but surely saving my pennies for Australia, so if anyone wants to donate, call me and I can give you my bank account details.
Next weekend I am going to London for the bike show, something which I am very excited about! I love London and bikes. What more could I want? I look forward to seeing some of the team there and catching up. As well as one messy night out in London town with Simpson…
I’m pretty exhausted now – time for a little siesta before the drive to the North East.
Night night, Ella.
Ps – I forgot to mention that the weather was perfect for the Three Peaks. If it hadn’t of been, there definitely would have been tears.
For more information about the Horizon Fitness Racing Team, visit www.onthedrops.com.