Big Results at the Big Dog!

 

The smallest contingent Redhill has sent to the Brighton Big Dog in years, the weather acting very threatening in the week running up- would this year be a bit of a washout? Well, we needn't have worried!

 

We had a motley crew racing- Mike and Jules soloing, two mixed pairs, a male pair and a team of three (I think!). Aled was racing the Onederdog hot laps, even if he was in Sheffield kit, we had Dandy and Lloyd from the Muddy Moles joining us for some company and Avanti were camped next door as usual.

 

The final run up to the race had been dry, the sun was out as everyone arrived and thanks to Richard Sterry we had a pitch nice and close to the course, so there were no excuses left not to have a good time (and hopefully get a good time too).

 

The course was a straight up repeat of last year, which is no bad thing, it being one of the better iterations, but those who rode last year will certainly remember that it wasn't kind on the legs. A drag out of the arena, a couple of fast bits of singletrack and then a steady height gain to the high end of the woods including a dead straight half mile with nowhere to hide, leavened with just enough twisty fun stuff to prevent a mutiny. The first extended height loss was a beautiful thing, a bit steep and sketchy, then a blast along before a horrid winch to get all that height back again! Surely, your legs ask themselves, the next long singletrack descent is heading back for the arena? But no, at the bottom, another turn skywards, looked shorter but felt longer than it was, then OK, this must be it! The advantage here went to those with a prior knowledge, as two short sharp 'drops and back ups' were the last challenge to knacker your legs. Once you'd made it past those though, it was the plummet into the arena and a chance to rest, unless you were soloing, in which case it was time to do it again...

 

It seems a good point to pass over the account to Mike here as he spent more time on the course than anyone- I apologise to him for trimming it a little, but as he claims he wasn't sure how fast he'd be over long distances and we all know the answer to that is 'very' I hope you'll forgive me. Suffice to say he was recovering from illness and wasn't sure about racing, which makes you wonder how fast he is normally when he really tries. Anyway, over to Mike, racing the Big Dog for the first time:
    

The course was in excellent condition considering the rain that fell down in the days before. The lap was intense with about 900ft climbing in under six miles consisting of rooty single track ready to catch anyone out who blinked at the wrong time, linked with some brutal sharp climbs and some steady, painful longer ones.
    

The first lap I felt like death. I could have filled up a bucket with the stuff coming out of my nose. Had a cheery chat with Mat as we approached the end of the lap before he handed over to Gilly. My glasses started to get sweat on them which lead to small mistakes creeping in on the roots and slick chalk/flint. With confidence dwindling I fell off on the steep, technical decent and so I decided to ditch the glasses. Confidence grew immediately. 
    

After about 2-3 hours the burn was kicking in and I was glad that I had held back a little at the start. I was already counting down the hours to go though. It was encouraging coming up to several RCC riders through out the course and exchanging words of encouragement. The first half of the race I was lapping around 34 minutes but in the second half I started to consistently lap nearer 37. My penultimate lap was just over 38 minutes.

 

If I got back after 6pm my final lap wouldn't count. All the way round this penultimate lap I was getting cramp and saying to myself "if I get back at 17:20 I'll go out again, any later and I'll call it a day, there's no way I can do a quicker lap with cramp." 

 

I crossed the start/finish line at 17:25.

 

I passed the finish line to start my 10th lap. I had under 35 minutes to do it. I had to do my quickest lap to ensure it was counted. I also wasn't sure how far behind the next rider was or how close I was to gaining a position. It was all to ride for and I wanted that extra lap. I decided to bail out at the top of the soul-destroying first climb if I got cramp. I didn't get cramp. Right, I'm gonna nail this. So I went for it.

The course was thinning out with riders at this point as many people were deciding not to go out again and so it was clear to get my head down. I overtook RCC's James on one of the climbs and he shouted encouragement (cheers James). This was the last lap, no need to keep anything in the tanks. But I also had to remain sharp as one mistake could blow it. The roots were attacking me and my legs were screaming.
    

At five minutes to go I thought it was all over. I'm not getting back. I plugged away.

 

At 17:58 I emerged from the woods at the top of the grassy hill above the finish arena and laid down everything I had left in me.

 

The fast, snake-like grassy turns begged my Racing Ralphs to slip and loose grip whilst I was leaning into the turns, but they held. Entering into the finish paddock and the final couple of turns with the crowd shouting and the commentator giving the time countdown gave a further huge adrenalin rush. I crossed the line having just completed a 33 min lap, my fastest of the race and five minutes quicker than the last lap.

 

The lap counted. I completed ten laps with 1 min 28 sec spare.

 

I was so chuffed as I found out later that only four of us in the solo category had managed to complete 10 laps. The winner, Ben Thomas, completed 11 laps and was in a league of his own. I ended up 5th and was on the podium, thirteen minutes off of third. I was over the moon especially as I was debating whether I should even race the night before. Fantastic course, expertly organised and super friendly. Highly recommend to everyone.

Basicaly, Mike absolutely nailed it. To be on the podium with Ben Thomas (who, by the way, is national MTB Marathon Champ) is quite the achievement.

 

Gilly and I had a good race, turning in some extremely consist times and making nine laps with not quite enough time to go out for a tenth (and having pedalled through cramp in both legs for the last three quarters of a mile I wasn't up for trying!), putting us in Fourth in the mixed pairs.

 

The highest result of the day though, goes to Zuska, who won First place in the Big Dog Bake Off!

 

I'd seriously recommend this to anyone and everyone next year- fantastic atmosphere and a good chance to test all that mid-summer fitness!

 

Gareth took some photos here- https://www.flickr.com/photos/garethashton/sets/72157657402909111

 

Finally, a huge, huge thanks from all the RCC racers to the organisers and marshals for putting on such a fantastic race!

 

Event / Article Type
Brighton Big Dog 2015
Mike on the podium!