Anyone that cheated on that course is a complete and utter stroker.
FWIW, this was my first MM and I absolutely loved it. The only aspect that I was a little disappointed with was the lack of concurrent leaderboard, like they had at SITS last year, on scrolling screens. This was only a minor point though, as it’s a bit immaterial when you’re towing your tripe out just to jump from 241st to 238th or whatever, I suppose. Having said that, it did help with a bit of motivation in the hard hours at SITS. The facility to tap in your own race number was good though.
I thought the course provided exactly what an event like this should provide. There were elements within to test all your bike skills and it didn’t just cater for the point-and-shoot, out-and-out pedallers that have very limited technical ability/b0ll0cks/both, but have engines like Indurain. If there’s no technical challenge then it just effectively becomes a road race in a park and mountainbike events should reflect the difference more IMO.
I also echo some of the comments above about the ‘cobbly’ section, immediately following the first long, fast descent on the first side of the course. I actually got off my bike and checked my back tyre thinking I had a flat because of the way the back end was rolling around behind me. I was amazed that it was still inflated!!
My experience of both the banter and the cordiality of the passing riders was good too. I only held one rider up for a short time when he requested to pass me. I just said that it was awkward at that point but he could come through as soon as it was appropriate for us both. That spot happened to be within about 50 yards and he thanked me as he rode past.
The highlight for me was on my second of a double lap stint. About half way up the surfaced part of the Kenda climb there were a group of children offering riders some sweets. I don’t use either a camelbak or a bottle when I’m out on the course (I reckon that 15 and a half stones is penalty enough without add-ons) so I said ‘yes please’. The lad gave me a large fruit pastill and it was absolute nectar. What a lovely gesture!!
I also managed to ride the whole course every lap – apart from the muddy section in the wood on my second night lap during the rain (and the 10 feet of off-camber banking that I didn’t see anyone ride). Not bad for a pair of Maxxis Larson TT’s at 60psi the whole time.
I took the hard descent on my first lap and nearly canned it at high speed when I caught the edge of the left-hand rut with my tyre wall for a short time. Managed to correct the situation (fortunately) but then decided to take the ‘mincer’s’ route afterwards due to seeing everyone I’d recently passed sail serenely past as I was yomping up the climb back out. I also said at the time that the ‘mincer’s’ route would have been ‘fairer’ if it had been staked and taped to create the kind of zig-zag queueing system you get for rides at Alton Towers and such, making the time penalty much greater for the easier route.
That’s why I was a bit disappointed to find the really sketchy descent in the wood cordoned off in the latter stages. That was one of the areas that I was riding really well and gaining time on others around me. Once it went round to the left on the smooth path I lost any advantage. I appreciate (now) that injuries were happening there, but surely the less-confident should have had the foresight to walk it? Why is walking up the Kenda climb seen as more acceptable than walking a sketchy descent, cos plenty were doing? Again, if the course doesn’t challenge all elements of the discipline then certain groups gain a default advantage, and that can’t be ‘fair’. Or can it?
All in all I thought it was a fantastic event and my thanks and gratitude go to everyone that contributed, however great or small, to making it so.
