SITS
There was a lot of anticipation abouts SITS this year, mainly down to the weather forecast, having raced SITS last in 2008 when it was a mud fest any really wet weather would of made riding tough!
Luckily we were blessed with great weather and an extremely mild night too.
This was also the van first outing, "making do" with a futon mattress and duet, the small time we spent sleeping in it was very enjoyable.
Team name: Dottys Crew
Running order: Aimee, Dave, Mark, Kelly, John
Aimee kindly volunteered to start.
Go Aim, go!!!
My first lap came round quite quickly even though it wasn't till about 6 ish, off i went to the transition area to wait for Mark to finish his lap. The course was great fun, no real hard climbing but enough to keep it interesting and some lovely wooded sections that i looked forward to on every lap. Most of the route either ran through fields or wooded sections which by the end of the race were like little dust pools, imagine what would of happened to these if it had rained!
Some of the wooded sections were quite tight, and required lots of concentration +1 on the night laps.
Most riders out on the course were kind and considerate, only had issues with one salsa rider who though that everyone else on the course should make way, ggggrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Unlike past 24hr events i managed to log every lap on the garmin and one with the iphone.
Cyclemeter route
My second lap was scheduled to start 8ish so lights were prepared and attatched to bike and helmet, first proper test of the modified lumicycle lights was impressive, but my cheap chinese helmet light wouldn't stay on, and annoyingly flashed on and off through out my lap.
During this lap i thought i had cramp in my right leg as i felt a sharp pain in my calf while attacking a climb in the woods, my thigh and calf seized and i stopped briefly to stretch but i think now i must have slightly torn a muscle as it is still very stiff and sore.
The routine during night laps changed slightly to allow other team members enough time to catch a few hours sleep one lap on one lap off, so bed after lap 3 - just after 11pm ready for my 3am knock!
Heading into the night we were in 12th position.
The dreaded knock came just after 3am, leaving me 45mins to prepare.
Night laps are great fun, lonely, spooky, the course seems so much different at night, sections you remember riding in the day completely disappear! I'm also sure I saw a lunar eclipse?
Lovely views around 5am it was very misty as my lap finished just as the sun started to rise.
Its strange stuffing your face at 3.30am and 5.30am in the morning, god I was looking forward to a bacon sandwich.....6.43am time for another lap.
My final lap finished 1pm phew!
Dottys crew were now in 11th place, keen to keep that position we decided to get in as many laps as possible and Aim said she didn't mind doing the final lap. It was a bit touch and go wether she would get out again but Mark steamed back with 2 minutes to spare.
Final lap count
Aimee - 6
Dave - 6
Mark - 7
Kelly - 6
John - 6
Team name: Dottys Crew
Running order: Aimee, Dave, Mark, Kelly, John
Aimee kindly volunteered to start.
Aim on the start line
Go Aim, go!!!My first lap came round quite quickly even though it wasn't till about 6 ish, off i went to the transition area to wait for Mark to finish his lap. The course was great fun, no real hard climbing but enough to keep it interesting and some lovely wooded sections that i looked forward to on every lap. Most of the route either ran through fields or wooded sections which by the end of the race were like little dust pools, imagine what would of happened to these if it had rained!
Some of the wooded sections were quite tight, and required lots of concentration +1 on the night laps.
Most riders out on the course were kind and considerate, only had issues with one salsa rider who though that everyone else on the course should make way, ggggrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Unlike past 24hr events i managed to log every lap on the garmin and one with the iphone.
Cyclemeter route
My second lap was scheduled to start 8ish so lights were prepared and attatched to bike and helmet, first proper test of the modified lumicycle lights was impressive, but my cheap chinese helmet light wouldn't stay on, and annoyingly flashed on and off through out my lap.
During this lap i thought i had cramp in my right leg as i felt a sharp pain in my calf while attacking a climb in the woods, my thigh and calf seized and i stopped briefly to stretch but i think now i must have slightly torn a muscle as it is still very stiff and sore.
The routine during night laps changed slightly to allow other team members enough time to catch a few hours sleep one lap on one lap off, so bed after lap 3 - just after 11pm ready for my 3am knock!
Heading into the night we were in 12th position.
The dreaded knock came just after 3am, leaving me 45mins to prepare.
Night laps are great fun, lonely, spooky, the course seems so much different at night, sections you remember riding in the day completely disappear! I'm also sure I saw a lunar eclipse?
Lovely views around 5am it was very misty as my lap finished just as the sun started to rise.
Its strange stuffing your face at 3.30am and 5.30am in the morning, god I was looking forward to a bacon sandwich.....6.43am time for another lap.
My final lap finished 1pm phew!
Dottys crew were now in 11th place, keen to keep that position we decided to get in as many laps as possible and Aim said she didn't mind doing the final lap. It was a bit touch and go wether she would get out again but Mark steamed back with 2 minutes to spare.
Final lap count
Aimee - 6
Dave - 6
Mark - 7
Kelly - 6
John - 6
excellant review kel, very jealouos. i can't wait to do another mad 24hr race again.
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