Thetford

Thetford

Saturday 18 May 2013

24hrs of Exposure 2013





2013 - 24 Hour Open Men
Laps
Time
1st Craig Bowles (GB)
30
22:50:16
2nd Michael McCutcheon (IRE) - The Bike Rack/Avanti
28
23:01:14
3rd Martin Smith (SCO) - Cotic/AQR Holidays
28
23:15:14
4th Jason Robinson (GB) - Four4th Lights
26
23:05:30
5th Rob Bradley (ENG) - Sherwood Pines Cycles/SRAM
25
22:53:40












So I came in at about five hours and was asked if I was ok and told to eat something. The conversation went

"what do you want mate?"

So I replied..............

 "a go bar will do"

 then after a second I was asked.......

 "which is it?"

So I told Tom........

"it is a go bar, it is a bar that says go on it, aka a Go Bar"

 
This caused much amusement in the pits, but why Tom didn't punch me is a mystery. This is the point though, 24hr racing is crazy and this being my first one could not have gone as well as it did without the help support and planning that goes into theses endevours.





Lots of incident throughout the night and stories of good and bad patches, but the turning point was the heavy rain that came down which played havoc with the course and ruined a lot of even the top riders races. I managed to get dry and keep riding which ultimately got me my result.




I have to mention the people who helped me................

Tom Allen ( the best pit man),

Michael Powell,

Pines Cycles

Graham Gee and the SPCC.

For a first attempt at a 24hr race I am quite pleased with my performance, also my preparation and the good freinds who help and support me.  I talk a lot about my little famiy which is awesome, and therefore I have to say that they are still awesome.  Doing things like this takes it out of the family sometimes but I am finding the right balance which is making my life the best ever at the moment.  I love my family, my job and mountain biking and all three are great.  

So what next?   Well I think I will do one again and I still feel I have alot to offer.  In a few months I will be a veteran rider and on this performance I would have been on the podium if I was in that category...........so watch this space because I am inching further towards a podium spot