The Race Diary of Keith Evans aged 39 and 3/4

Some of you may have undertaken 6 hour individual enduros, 12 hour pairs and/ or 24 hour races as a team of at least four. Now let’s take it to another level; let’s take the pairs category and throw it in the mix with 24 hours of racing – this is a whole, different world of pain, physical and mental! If you thought going out to ride at three in the morning messed with your head whilst riding as a team, then think about how it feels when you’ve just returned from your lap, knowing that in just over half an hour, when you have barely had time to eat, drink, clean and lube the bike, you have got to go out again for another maximum effort. Oh boy this is mental melt down time!
Of course we had done this race last year so we knew what we were letting ourselves in for? However twelve months is a long time, and the euphoria of winning last year goes a long way to pushing the pain and suffering to the back of your mind where it can be duly ignored.

As I headed south on the M5 on Friday, the weather reports coming through on the text from Keith were not fantastic, but I refer you back to the reference above - “mental suffering”. Doing a 24 hour pairs race is not about just being physically ready (although it does help), it is about being ready in the head. It’s no use turning up to the race expecting the sun to be shining, this is Britain – it rains, get over it! Plan for and expect it to be wet, and then when it is blowing a force 10 in the early hours you will not be disappointed – negative thoughts don’t win races.

Arriving at Newnham Park, mid afternoon, it was clear that after last year’s rave revues the popularity of the event had expanded. I parked up. Keith had got us a great location very close to the main arena and more importantly the transition area. Another tip – don’t be wasting time riding to and from the camp site when you only have a short time before your next lap. I pitched my new tent before heading over to register. Now before I carry on can I just say to all of you who passed comment as you walked by my tent and stated the bleedin’ obvious – yes it is a small tent, but then I am a small person! It fits me in a sleeping bag perfectly, needing to do no-more and no-less. It serves a purpose very well and then it gets packed away before the race starts. There’s no need for a canvas palace, the gazebo gives ample shelter between laps. End of mild rant.

I digress; we set out for a practice lap. The course had been modified from last years, and I also believe it had been tweaked a few days before the weekend of the event to allow for the appalling rain in the previous weeks and hopefully provide a course which would hold up if the bad weather continued. The course at Newnham is great, I love it, there’s a bit of everything. The “Cottage Returns” descent was just as quick and flowing as I remembered and the split descent from last year had been transformed into a root strewn, off camber climb with a similar, technical downhill back from the top. As for the Clif Bar climb, well that was sure to be an absolute delight after a few laps!

Saturday morning – had my weetabix, fettled the bike, the sun even came out a little. It was the usual few hours hanging around in a field waiting for the start of a race. In some ways a little boring, in a way it is a bit like waiting for Christmas Day when you are younger.
When the clock struck twelve the usual melee ensued but it’s great to have a 24 hour bike race that actually starts on the bikes; running sucks! Keith put in his usual storming first lap. Let’s face it we expect nothing less now. I think we finished the first couple of laps in the lead, and then it was a case of following our detailed and meticulous race strategy i.e. get the lead, keep the lead. It’s a simple plan but it works.

And that’s how things panned out. Darkness fell, we plugged on, grinding out laps, trying not to think about how long was left; just think about the lap you are on. It’s when you pass the midnight point that mentally you can start ticking off the hours and laps left. Soon enough breakfast on Sunday morning came and went and it really is the home straight when you get to that stage.

I came in to complete our thirtieth lap at 11.00 a.m., which meant we could get in two more laps. Our very confused minds then tried to calculate whether we had enough of a lead which meant not going out again, the rules of TwentyFour 12 being you do not need to ride up until the 24 hour mark. It is quite difficult trying to do simple mathematics on a cocktail of no sleep and strenuous exercise. Eventually (it was probably only a few minutes but it seemed an age) we concluded that we could stop without fear of relinquishing first place and given the rain that followed this was maybe a wise decision.

A celebratory feast at Quavers catering followed, trying to offset the calorie deficit that my body was complaining about, and then a slightly damp presentation ceremony. It was fantastic to win and to finally stand on the top step of the podium again.

Respect must go to everyone who competed in the 24 hour pairs. We don’t seem to have warranted much of a mention in the various reports on the race, believe me, when I say it is hard work, but it’s bloody good fun; see you there next year.

EDs NOTE
As Keith says, they stopped an hour early and still won by a lap, another truly outstanding performance from the Back on Track duo, it’s a shame the 24hr pairs race seems to get forgotten about in the multitude of results from all the 24/12 categories. The 24hr pairs race has to be the hardest and most intense race, as you are giving 100% effort every lap, with very little rest, solo 24 is very very hard and the guys do more laps, but the effort and intensity has to be lower to last the distance.
As usual many thanks to Giant UK for the Anthem X bikes, Magura for Durin 100 forks and Marta SL brakes, and Joolze for the photos.