Brass Monkeys 2019 Round 2
First race of the year, new kit to show off and the weather mild and amazingly dry – I was looking forward to racing again. Two of us from the club for this one – Dan Robson was also signed up for the Junior race.
So the set up for this race is a time limit – as many laps as you can get in before the deadline, only completed laps count. I entered the 2 hour race (for old men) and Dan was also doing the 2 hr (Junior cat).
So we lined up in a massed start – all the 2hr cats together, which meant a very large start group. Dan managed to get up near the front in a great position, whereas my faffing meant I was further back, but not too worried as over 2 hours, time can be made up.
The hooter went and off we went – a long fireroad descent first, then across a field to spread the field out, before the first bottle neck into the singletrack. I was a bit held up here, but what followed was mile after mile of loveliness – loamy, bone dry trails – not much elevation, but technical and fast.
I completed lap 1 in 28 mins or so, and had made up a fair few places and not lost any, and already the mind games start – ooh, if I keep that pace up I’m going to be right on the cusp of completing a 4th lap, but will I make it? As the 2nd lap progressed, the bike developed a weird dragging and noise in the drivetrain, then the chain jammed. A quick check showed that the chain had come off the lower jockey wheel, which I’ve had before. This became an annoying theme through the race, as a jolt would send the chain off the jockey wheel again, causing drag, but would keep working (ish), then pop back on again! I learned to live with this – a few mins working well, then it would come off again, but was annoying!
Lap 2 completed bang on the hour – this was going to be close! I was working hard, but enjoying a great course, and by now the field had spread out, and I was left with one other guy right behind me. Lap 3 flew by, albeit with the dodgy chain issue slowing me a bit, and towards the end of the lap I caught Dan. I shouted encouragement as I passed, and he briefly stopped, which surprised me, but I pressed on.
A 31 min lap meant that I needed to go 2 mins quicker next time to make the cut off which left me thinking that I wouldn’t make it round in time, but after a quick conversation with the guy behind me, who said that a) it was good training, b) we’d paid for it, c) it was a great course, and d) we could do it (!) I was re-motivated and up for it.
So the maddest 1 lap time trial ensued – trying to pace it correctly was really hard – 4th time round meant I was learning the course and lines, but was ever more tired – was I quicker or not? At one point we got a bit held up on singletrack, but it was a bit of a welcome breather, then, once past, off again. I absolutely buried myself, but was disappointed to see the clock on my Garmin tick to 2 hours, just before the end of the lap. So , we ended up 2 mins 40 too slow and that last effort didn’t count! Hey ho, it didn’t really matter – I really enjoyed trying…
Because I’d gone on to the 4th lap and Dan hadn’t I didn’t see him again, but the great news later was that he had won his Junior cat with his 3 laps, so really well done to him – that’s a top effort. I finished 15th out of 66 (completing the 4th lap would have elevated me to 8th, but I’m not bitter!) And this old boy is satisfied that I just beat an 18 yr old by 1 minute – I’ll take that while it briefly lasts!
A really top morning of racing – can’t wait for the next one on 27th Jan (once I’ve fixed that Jockey wheel!) – any other takers????
Big Daddy
Dan said:
On Sunday the 6th of January me and Andrew both competed in the 2nd round of the Brass Monkey Series. For those who don't know, this is a cross country endurance event where riders try and complete as many laps as they can of a 5-7 mile course in a 2 hour time limit. The race begun with a mass start down a length of fire road with a slight down hill. I started in the second row and managed to get away with the lead group which allowed me to avoid the chaos caused behind when the single track started. This set me up pretty well for the rest of the race as I didn't have to work my way back up through the pack to get closer to the front. As the race progressed I slowly lost positions to a few riders steaming up from behind, including Andrew who passed me on the 3rd lap. I tried to hang on to him but he was flying.
I managed to win my category by beating the next place junior to a third lap by 13 minutes. I narrowly lost my 4th lap by going over the time limit by 6 minutes.
Overall I really enjoyed the experience and I am looking forward to racing the next round later in the month.
Dan R