19th
October
2011

The Bristol Oktoberfest is less a drinking festival and more a mountain biking one. It has the oompah music and beer but the main event is an eight hour race around the Ashton Court trails. Andy was looking to put a team of four together for the event to help promote MyLifePT, a team I wanted to coin ‘Andy’s All-Stars’, but that fell through and I was left with my indecisive self. I was contemplating doing a solo ride, since I like a gritty, long race and don’t really get the chance with racing throughout the summer, but eight hours is a long time to race around a 25min course. 

I was left looking for a partner or probably copping out. Friday - the day before the race- my partner was realised in Doug Hall; fresh from the Xterra scene, although with good weather his swimming abilities weren’t required. 

After a crappy start (corner-cutting, where is a UCI commissaire when you need one!), my main mission, Simon Richardson, had a good head-start on me. It may be a fun race but I’m competitive and couldn’t let the reformed roadie beat me, off-season or not, and let the mtb side down. I caught him mid way through the lap on the second climb and pressed on. Foolishly, I took a longer line in one of the singletrack sections giving him a gap and also somehow popping one of my spokes. I brought him back and guilefully moved to the front on the last climb, allowing me to lead us to the arena and satisfy my chipper mind.

The rest of the race presented no real hiccups. Doug and I moved to double laps so I could get the spoke replaced in my wheel and decided to stick with it as it worked well. Towards the end of the race, Doug also had wheel problems, so I was sent out with the option of a getting a double in within 50min (laps were around 25.30) or calling it after one (we were a lap ahead of our rivals). I love the challenge of trying to make the time cut so mission no.2 of the day was accepted. My first lap was just over 25, not good enough, but with the course clearing and determination setting in, I was able to pull a 23.52 (top lap-time) out of the bag and finish with 4s to spare. 

Overall it was a fun day out without any real pressure and am glad Doug and I came together and that I ended up doing it. I’m now going to have some real off time to freshen the mind, legs, and hopefully allow me to keep on top of finally being a final year.

Other things which have been happening in my life include presenting a video on basic bike mechanics. Trevor had the idea after the usual freasher club ride involving bikes falling apart, people blowing their doors clean off and nobody bringing tubes for the 1million punctures. 

Here’s me, looking like a dork, in my usual wanna be bike rider self: