It’s always quite hard to write a nice up beat positive report when you didn’t finish what you set out to do but when I actually reflect on the whole experience it did actually have some areas I can be happy about. So hopefully without boring the pants off you, here goes with my own particular experience of (albeit only part of!) this year’s Giant Mountain Mayhem at Eastnor Deer Park.














The day before
We set up camp the day before in the solo area and as is quite usual for the day before this event, the weather was warm sunshine and the ground was baked hard. It’s at this point you’re potentially tempted to think that things are going to be OK and you won’t need your mud tyres and all that wet weather gear but as it pretty much ALWAYS rains on this weekend at this venue then those in the know bring everything anyway.

24solo virgin Lee set up next to us having brought a tent that bore no resemblance whatsoever to the “what it should look like when it’s up” instructions. This was a mini-endurance event all of its own and as I was trying to keep my stress levels to a minimum (that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it) I had to go and hide in Jo’s shop until he and Mr M had figured it out.

We did originally plan to walk the course but by the time we had piffled around, time was marching on and we needed to get back and pack up the van ready for an early start in the morning.







Race day
Jubilee drive was thick drizzly fog as we drove over the top of the Malvern’s to the race but we managed to unpack everything in between deluges and get more or less organised in what was to be our home for the next 24hrs. We set up behind the main solo tent and you could hear the usual “no, I haven’t been doing much really, no training as such, just doing some riding” - I do so love the pre-race psyche-out banter!

The hours before the start really drag. I just want to get going so I’m happy when it’s time to get dressed and abandon my lovely Soda to the mercies of the start funnel melee. It crosses my mind at this point to do some sort of start ritual like Valentino Rossi, maybe hug my SPD for luck or something, but I decide to do the usual and just stand there looking panicky instead.

We were soon off and this time I was supposed to be taking the run REALLY steady. So steady in fact, that it seemed like I was walking and by the time I’d cleared the campsite it was obvious that in hindsight this was a mistake as I ended up walking for most of the first single-track climb behind the inexplicably huge queues of stationary riders. The next lap was a joy though as there was much less traffic but there were definitely certain sections of the course where folks were struggling to ride already and this was even before it got dark, or (inevitably) wet….












Apart from one lap where I had a bit of sickness, I was feeling perky in the leg department, eating and drinking well and looking forward to getting stuck into the night shift and then hopefully would be in good shape for the final morning section. At the end of lap six I rolled into the pits to be greeted by the lovely Jo in full Gore paclite mode swishing her hair like a Charlie’s Angel for the baying paparazzi (aka Mr M) and after a quick hug and a feed I was off again into the darkness.

During the next lap I got caught in the rain deluge so had an extended pit stop to get out of my wet gear and into my beloved Gavia tights whilst downing some hot food! I couldn’t help wondering about the potential state of certain bits of the single-track after the deluge and once back out there again my worst fears were confirmed….

Lap eight was truly the lap from hell - worse than any I endured last year - I spent so much time trying to push/drag/carry my bike that when I finally made it back to the pit my back was shot and I didn’t even bother going through the timing tent to get a lap score. I guess maybe it’s because I don’t actually practice carrying my mud-caked bike for miles over off camber muddy single-track whilst trying to avoid getting run over by out-of-control riders but anyhow it meant game over for me as I didn’t want to risk further injury when I still have lots of other things I’d like to do this year.

In all my Mayhems so far I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many broken bikes and injured riders nor come to think of it so many folks sneaking under the course tape in the dark!

The aftermath

So there you have it, an 11hr or so training ride, followed by a couple of hours of weight training interspersed with impromptu bouts of bike tug of war! Not exactly what I was expecting but then at least my bike finished in one piece as poor Mr M was out the same time as me and whilst on a perfectly straight trail was brought to an abrupt stop by his rear mech burying itself in his back wheel, taking out a few spokes and mangling the chain. Game over for him then too :-o

I’m disappointed of course as I could only really do this 24 solo in 2008 with logistics and stuff, but I’m philosophical about it as (fingers crossed) I have plenty of years left to carry on enjoying new biking adventures. Lots more lessons learned so it’s all good experience and of course many thanks to Neill, Jo and all those that gave me encouragement but most of all, the long suffering Mr M who has to put up with me the whole year!

I’m now looking forward to our next outing as a pair for the ten-hour up at Kirroughtree in Galloway Forest Park. Once we get all the bits mended on Mr M’s beloved Soda and I can find somewhere to get hold of some of those anti-midge hat things we will be back up north of the border to hopefully enjoy some more of Scotland’s finest all weather trails!!

Happy riding :-D

photo credit - Mr Miles