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Saab Solomn Mountain Mayhem, Eastnor Deer Park
The weekend of 26th of June was a memorable one for Team Chicken skin Handbags. ‘Mountain Mayhem’ what an understatement.
This year’s event had been moved to Eastnor Deer Park near Ledbury. The team should’ve known anything that close to Wales would be hilly. However it never crossed their minds, all the team could think about was the fact that they didn’t have to ride the worst field in Britain anymore.
Dave and Rachel were the first members of the team to arrive on site. They started the camp set up before the management, Dennis, Janet and Katie arrived shortly after. The sturdy team van did it’s job carting all the equipment to the camp.
Pete and Sam arrived early evening with Mick arriving shortly after them to have a taster of one beer before the event. Tim, not feeling 100%, had a good nights sleep at home before making the treck around London on the Saturday morning
The camp was on a massive grass field and was packed with all the usual teams, bikes and equipment stalls. One particular stall was interesting. It held the latest navigation system that can be downloaded onto any PC. That evening they had a 3D map of the course which was explained to the team in great detail. It didn’t look to bad on the screen. Little would the team know that one of the climbs was as monstrous as it was?
The team viewed the firework display before getting a good night sleep. At about 5am the rain started and the Mayhem began. Dave reconstructed the camp to keep it out so head chef could prepare the pre race meal.
The morning flew and before anyone could blink Dave was lining up on the start ready for the race ahead. The gun went and Dave set off on the run. He performed a good 800 metres before racing up the start to collect his bike, complete with luminous cabling, for the first lap of the race……….and the rain was still coming down.
To see the team Photos click here.
Pete and Mick watched Dave come through at the bottom of the monster climb. They were greeted by an angry shout of ‘I can’t get any gears’. He passed with a grinding and a clinking noise coming from his bike as his chain slipped again. Dave was not happy with the shop that had just fitted him a granny ring…………. And the rain was still coming down.
By the time Tim was ready for his lap a few hundred riders had passed over the course. It was getting worse by the minute. A good set of steady laps by Tim, Pete and Mick set the team up for the night stage.
Dave’s next lap was a burner. He set out pumping the bike as fast as he could. All the time the mud ridden course was sapping his strength and at the top on the monster climb he nearly bonked. He managed to finish the lap nearly collapsing at the finish……………and the rain was still coming down.
Tim attacked his lap with the same grit and determination before coming in with the same shattered result and a kaput rear brake. Mick then went out for the slowest lap of the teams’ race. Nothing seemed to be ridable and at one point running without the bike seemed a quicker option………..and the rain was still coming down.
Tim couldn’t go out for his third lap because of his brake. Dave had just recovered and the Team were nearly ready for packing up and going home. Wise words from the Manager perked the riders up and the Team troopered through.
The morning produced the first glimmer of sunshine and before the race was over the course was dry and each rider had a go at a good time. The course was actually a fantastic and when dry could produce a fantastic race.
Dave finished the race with the fastest lap of all coming in at 1hour 8minutes just beating Pete’s fastest lap. However the team shield goes to Pete with the best overall average time. …….. Well done Pete.
A solid team performance coming well in the top half. Bring on next year!!!!
For all the results click on the links below;
(28-06-2004)
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