Here we go….after a really busy week fight stunting for CBBC and stunt co-ordinating for a Corporate film I was off up North to be racing in a team at ‘Sleepless in the saddle’ – a 24 hour mountain bike race. I was a last minute substitute for my friend Anne- Louise who injured her foot whilst out playing on her new full suss bike a few days before.
Still donning my lovely red nail varnish left over from my previous days stunt doubling on set (didn’t have time to get the nail varnish remover out) before setting off with camping kit, food and clothing for the next 2 days. Thankfully it was a glorious and sunny day and we arrived ready to race!!
My first encounter was to realise that my tyres had dirty great holes in them thro all that hard racing over the year, so had to make a quick pit stop at ‘Maxxis’ tyres, 2 new tyres later and I was off on my first lap. I felt good, wasn’t sure how technical it was until the muddy down hill hit me and I was off!! Slid down head first, nothing broken as it was a soft landing . Fine I thought and I was off again. I knew I had around 8 miles to get round so tried to get a good time. The mud was very gloopy and very slippy, but managed to ride thro most of the tricky bits. Some nice hills to climb up too!
I loved being in the team as we supported each other thro the day/night. We had lots of food (I couldn’t believe we could get thro it all) and we had a sports masseuse and cook this was the set up, complete with table and towels (in a special massage tent) FAB!
All was going very smoothly, we had no expectations on where we were going to come, (there were 57 teams in the mixed catergory). As the night drew in the tempertature dropped and we all were putting layers on and wellies. The mist came down and then our lights were put on the bikes. I had never done a night ride before and I was a little nervous …so I put on the armour. And went off at around 11 pm and LOVED it! I don’t know why but I never came off and felt much quicker and easier ( prob due to the fact u couldnt see what the state of the mud was like and glided thro)
I came back to camp elated. Did a good time too for a night ride, 53 mins. I grabbed a quick hours kip and I was in my way again at 3.30 am.
This time my lights were failing and I suddenly had just a head torch to rely on for light. That slowed me down somewhat. The batteries only lasted an hour and a bit . I had a funny encounter with someone who was tailing me when I passeed him . All I could hear was the click click whirr of the gears following close up whilst we both doddgedi in and out of the trees and the wheels slicking along the narrow muddy trails. His heavy breathing getting louder and more vocal and suddenly silence followed swifltly by ‘ OUCH… UH’!!!! I shouted are u ok? I heard him moan yeeeeeees ( He certainly didn’t sound it) I continued until I again heard him behind me after only a few moments. I said is that you? He answered yes, I said he could pass me if he wanted and the reply was ” I only wanted to stick with you cos I have only this F***ing head torch and I cant see a F****ing thing!!! I had to laugh.
Lap 5 was my last , I was fading fast, I had no more adrenalin left by 1pm. The previous massage knocked me for 6. I felt sick. BUT when it was my turn to perform the adrenalin kicked in again. I powered my way throught the course in my “last lap” gear with extra armour, That meant no falling off. 
This was my last lap and the mud had almost gone making the going faster and better.
We were pleased with how we did as a team. 12th -not bad for the first time. Even beating the RAF boys!
The state of play at the end was not pretty, OK OK I was wasted and I JUST wanted to sleep. All in ALL we were blessed with 2 warm and sunny days and the conditions were perfect, it was the lack of sleep that was the killer.
I will be back next year, we are already planning it- 3 teams and maybe doing ‘Mountain Mayhem’ aswell to add to the madness!!
Sleepless -24 hours later:
‘Hopeless and helpless’ :0)
