Post by johns on Apr 27, 2014 22:21:42 GMT 1
It was a toss up between doing the SSEC or the 1st round of the NPS in Slade Valley in the end I decided on the local option. Having heard the stories of fancy dress and I dug out the most outrageous top I own so as not to look to out of place. Running late as usual I arrived with 15 main left to sign on, but I needn't have worried as it turned out this was more of a gathering of crazy people with bikes than a serious race.
The fun started with a parade lap of Castlewellan then we had to leave the bikes on the grass and return to the courtyard beside the carpark. The race started with a LeMans style start with a run to the bikes the only problem being the organisers had been up to their antics, hiding bikes removing wheels and even joining bikes together. I was one of the last to find my bike which left me near the back of over 200 riders. Not having done a warm up lap I didn't know the course how long it was or what technical bits to expect, but I set off passing numerous supermen, Vikings, Captain Americas, Leprechauns and many other crazy outfits some of which have left me scared for life. There was also a tandem and 2 madmen on unicycles who proceeded to ride the red trail better than some on 2 wheels.
The race went as well as could be expected with 4 laps of what turned out to be a good challenging course with a nice mix of fireroad, man made trails and some natural trail which took in the famous waterfall descent. I seemed to pass a good few riders every lap but as most seemed to be there for the fun and were stopping to take pictures and have a chat, a lot of riders pulled out in the 1st 2 laps opting to get started on some liquid refreshment early. Which meant there was less traffic on the technical bits of the trail which increased the fun and meant they could be ridden without the fear of wiping out superman or some other random superhero.
After 4 entertaining laps I have no idea of where I finished but glad to have taken part in probably the strangest bike race I'll ever take part in unless I decide to take part in next years race in Sicilly next year.
Pics here www.industryimage.com/portfolio346835p2.html
The fun started with a parade lap of Castlewellan then we had to leave the bikes on the grass and return to the courtyard beside the carpark. The race started with a LeMans style start with a run to the bikes the only problem being the organisers had been up to their antics, hiding bikes removing wheels and even joining bikes together. I was one of the last to find my bike which left me near the back of over 200 riders. Not having done a warm up lap I didn't know the course how long it was or what technical bits to expect, but I set off passing numerous supermen, Vikings, Captain Americas, Leprechauns and many other crazy outfits some of which have left me scared for life. There was also a tandem and 2 madmen on unicycles who proceeded to ride the red trail better than some on 2 wheels.
The race went as well as could be expected with 4 laps of what turned out to be a good challenging course with a nice mix of fireroad, man made trails and some natural trail which took in the famous waterfall descent. I seemed to pass a good few riders every lap but as most seemed to be there for the fun and were stopping to take pictures and have a chat, a lot of riders pulled out in the 1st 2 laps opting to get started on some liquid refreshment early. Which meant there was less traffic on the technical bits of the trail which increased the fun and meant they could be ridden without the fear of wiping out superman or some other random superhero.
After 4 entertaining laps I have no idea of where I finished but glad to have taken part in probably the strangest bike race I'll ever take part in unless I decide to take part in next years race in Sicilly next year.
Pics here www.industryimage.com/portfolio346835p2.html
