I’ve done this event solo for the last couple of years so as part of my ongoing plan to do things a bit different this year, it was an exciting change to be stepping out with Mr M in the rather hotly contested mixed pairs category.

I’m not quite sure exactly how many weather websites there actually are but I am sure that I looked at damn near all of them in the week leading up to this event weekend and they all said the same thing for Sunday - HEAVY RAIN!!!

What I clearly missed in the small print was that an entire day’s worth of rain would actually fall all in one go barely an hour after the finish – how much of a great escape was that huh?!

The forecast meant that we packed everything remotely waterproof as the parc ferme rules mean that unless you are on course you are stuck in your pit for the full six hours come rain or shine and clearly the former is not a terribly fun option without being properly prepared! In the end the only thing I wanted for was suncream, which of course I haven’t even bothered to even buy yet this year…..




Mr M (sort of) volunteered to do the run and first double lap and then unless the heavens opened the plan was for me to double lap next after which time we would single lap to the end and job done.




Here are the usual “bikes waiting for riders” and “riders waiting for bikes” shots before the off……










You might think that racing an event, as a pair is easier than racing it alone but it isn’t really - it’s just different. You have the higher pace and hanging around issues to deal with together with the paranoid clock watching so that you’ll never be the dork who’s not ready when your team-mate comes flying in!!!
The Provelo organisation was as smooth as usual and the course this year flowed pretty well (apart from the couple of horrid plasticine sections) with the descent through the wood awash with the now trademark Enduro6 bluebells. Even in these days of a packed out race calendar this event remains many peoples favourite season opener and there were certainly quite a few famous names to be spotted on course!




The last time I rode here was at SITS 2007 when I was doing my third 24hr solo in just over seven weeks so tackling a six hour as a pair was a welcome change of pace! There were no real race glitches and 11 laps later we were packing away and receiving the bad news from Jo that the batch of sugar bombs she had made were not set before she left. Bummer.


Anyhow here are a couple of final shots of my trusty steed taking a well-earned breather in the pits and my other trusty steed looking a bit spannered after the final lap!!

Next outing as a pair is up at Fort William at the end of May for Ten under the Ben which I am REALLY looking forward to. The last time we rode there was for the National XC Champs a few years ago and as I was a bit of an MTB newbie then, I can remember it being an absolutely terrifying experience. Fingers crossed I don’t break any essential parts of my body I might actually need for Mountain Mayhem!!