Another fun day in the sun at the Bristol Bikefest as some of the Rapids put down their DH rigs and donned skinsuits – yes I wore a skinsuit in public and wasn’t arrested (this time).

Last year, myself and a crack team of xc racers (well, biking buddies from Bristol) were assembled to represent the Rapidracers in the 12 hour Bristol Bikefest endurance race, and we decided to keep the A-Team together for another bash...

For those not familiar with the format, the Bikefest is a team event (or solo if you have certain lobes in your brain missing) where you have to complete as many laps as possible of the Ashton Court track in 12 hours. If you miss the 12 hour gun at the end – that lap doesn’t count! A par lap time was about 32 minutes around the excellent Ashton Court singletrack course. For myself and the other guys on the team, this is our local track only 10 minutes ride for the furthest away person – so we had no excuses for lack of course knowledge.

Oh dear!

Unlike Gummy who was competing in the ‘Competitive’ team event with the big boys, we had entered the ‘Fun’ team event, along with 90 other teams of four, and we were looking to improve upon our inaugural 8th place last year.

So how did we fair in the 27 degree heat? Well, preparation for this year’s event was a real mixed bag. Bruce had been in stonking form leading up to this race literally leaving everyone for dust on the climbs when out training. However, a lurgy in the week leading up to the big day was a blow for him. Dan had bought the perfect Bikefest bike in his retro specced Litespeed titanium (who said teachers were under paid?!). Webster hadn’t done as much riding as he’d liked due to the fact that he is living the DIY dream! I myself have been the Darren Anderton (aka ‘Sicknote’) of the cycling world this year, having just gotten over my 4th illness. But it’s all about what happens on the day, isn’t it…?

Steve Webster

First lap honours went to Mr Eastwood who nonchalantly jogged across the grass in the ‘Le Mans style’ start. Lots of bottlenecks ensued on the course but Dan held his position reasonably well and looked pretty fresh at the first change over. Me next up and a reasonably good lap with the field broken up I was able to pick quite a few people off and even take the odd shortcut due to my course knowledge (all legitimate I might add!!). However, I was sweating like Vanessa Phelps on a jogging machine and it was only 9:45am. Our secret weapon, Mr Kerridge was next up – but disaster! Maybe it was a spiked PSP22, or his delicate little tum-tum couldn’t take it, but Bruce had to pull over and spew on his first lap?! Manfully after this ‘tactical chunder’ he carried on, with sick on his glove! Webster brought up the rear (as always - snigger), and put in a solid lap. But more mishaps were to follow…

Bruce

Having expelled his energy drink, Bruce then showed his true colours by putting in the team’s fastest lap of the day, only to twinge his knee on the following lap when someone stacked in front of him. This twinge got worse on the next lap and the excruciating pain meant BK had to pedal the majority of his lap on one leg. Hero. However, the damage was done, and our anchorman had to pull out of the race. Webster then had his obligatory puncture(s), even though I’d convinced him to go tubeless at great expense! Again, manfully Big W finished his laps – once with a flat front tyre, and later with deflated/ ‘burped’ rear – Wheel milk anyone? Dan also had a stack, but his good looks remained intake despite putting a tear in his lcyra. However, ‘The Face’ chose to re-fuel himself with a Red Bull drink halfway through the race (silly boy), resulting in de-hydration and slower lap times. I kept myself topped up with energy drinks and bananas and my lap times remained pretty consistent throughout the day and my Intense 5.5 functioned perfectly.

Mackie

At one point in the race we got up to 4th place (out of 91 teams), but the culmination of mistakes and bad luck caught up with us as we finished 7th, 4 seconds behind 6th, and 4 minutes off a podium. Had the mountain bike gods been smiling on us we could easily have got a podium, and maybe even top-spot. There’s always next year, but we can’t keep saying that…