Sunday saw Alan competing in the final round of the Working Week Series 8 Hour Race at Sparrow Hill.
There was a huge roll-up as usual for the end of series (about 420 odd), and the great riding that Sparrow has on offer.
A great crew arranged their gear under the Wild marquee - David Morgan and Ben McDuff (solo single speeders), Dan Isaacs, Mark Kitchen, Simon Johnston, Jason McAvoy (fellow solo nutters), Richard Bontjer and Steve Hanley (pairs) and a team of 4 fast boys from Swell Design hanging out nearby. Declan was there as my support crew. We had the best position for transition - first spot after timing. Perfect crisp morning for bike racing, blue skies, all good.
For some strange reason I entered solo... It is quite unlike me to do something that doesn't allow a generous amount of sitting around talking up my performances and enjoying a well earned coldie - but this is what I did, and I made it to the end without departing from my bike in unexpected fashion or lying huddled on the side of the track quietly sobbing.
I started out the treating the race like it was a three hour and went pretty hard. A crazy bunched up start made for an interesting kick- off and then we were off. It's always stressful on lap one, lots of jostle going on. I think I squeezed passed Steve Hanley on the first lap just before transition then Richard passed me shortly after, then he flatted, then passed me again. Morgs whipped by me in usual fashion on the second lap riding his new 1FG single speed, then later I passed him while he played with a flat tyre, then he passed me again I think. I saw lots of familiar faces during the day and it was great to be out riding with them all.
My pace was going OK till about the 6th lap where I started to slow up and lose my way. Despite drinking copious amounts of fluid and jamming as much food on board as I could, I started to hurt really bad and was on the cusp of withdrawing when Jason rode by me at transition (while I was futzing around trying to load drink bottles as my pit crew had gone walkies...) so I jumped on my bike and tried to stay with him to see if that would help. It took a while to peg him back, but I got there and we kept each other company for the next lap and a half. A couple of Ibuprofin from Jason at the next transition was to help greatly in seeing me recover enough to want to finish the race. Jason took off about halfway through the next lap, having decided his lap times need to be quicker (and being able to do something about it) so he could squeeze in an additional lap before cutoff. I tried to respond and stay with him, but no dice baby. My lap times stayed a consistent few minutes shy of those on the front half of the race. Liam rode up behind me on one of these later slow laps, had a chat to me, offered some gel and then resumed his pace and rode away. Nice when people do that, gives you a lift. I did manage to lift on my last lap to come in a minute quicker but there was little left in the tank. Track temperament was excellent again this year, lots of please and thank you going on. Nice to see.
12 laps and and 142km later I reach the finish very happy to just stop riding and happy to see it through to the end - it was a tough race.
Jason came 13th and I came 16th in solo overall. Ben McDuff 34, Morgs 39th (4 flats and a broken chain mind you!!!), Mark Kitchen 43rd, Simon Johnston 44th, Dan 65th (broke his bike), Richard and Steve 32nd in pairs.
I'm pretty pleased though, as I would have placed 2nd in 40+ were this a category - so i'm a happy camper for sure.
I'm sore though... pretty much everywhere.
Will I do it again?
Probably.
by Alan Vogt