Grizedale Mountain Bike Challenge 22/09.02

This weekend I managed to find an event in Cumbria and did not have to go anywhere near the M6! The Grizedale mountain bike challenge was held in Grizedale Forest and was not a race as such but 35 miles miles using nearly all the great tracks in the forest in one great big loop.

There were about 170 pre-entered competitors all taking the challenge. There was a shorter option of about 25 miles but this was still no easy option.

We all lined up at 10:45 a.m. on the firetrack behind the visitors centre and charged up the hill. This first hill went on for almost 2 miles before dropping back down again. I had a bit of a lead already at the top but as we descended I tried to jump over a ditch but landed badly on my rear wheel when resulted in a puncture. I stopped to fix it, removed the tube, blew a bit of air into the new one, put the tyre back on then started to pump it up with my mini-pump. Normally in a race I would have a gas-bomb which would inflate the tyre in seconds. The mini-pump seemed to take for ever. I kept thinking just a little bit more, just a little bit more. I did not want to have to stop again. For a change I did have two tubes though. I was soon joined by a couple of other riders who must have done exactly the same thing!

In some ways the puncture was good as now I had some company for the rest of the ride. I was soon passing other riders and at about half distance I had reached 3rd place. As we reached Parkermoor, a high track that over looks Coniston Water, I caught the lead rider. On the next climb I opened a gap on him. He came charging back up to me on the long descent soon after. I was being far more cautious after my initial puncture. I opened a gap again on the next climb. There was a hard, steep climb that I was forced to walk, then I reached the point were the short course headed back to the finish and the long course did another loop. I soon passed the 10 mile to go sign, but it seemed to take a long time to complete! This included a climb up to the Fox statue. The last 3 miles were the same as the first but this time they were much slower! I crossed the line in 2:55hrs., quite a big day out.

It was well organised and I would like to say thanks again to GMBC the oragising group.

Check out their website www.gmbc.co.uk