Last Thursday night I received a Twitter DM (Direct Message):
cyclosport: Hi Mark, you've won our Cyclosport competition for BikeRadar Sportive entry.
I had been conscientiously, yet with a fairly absent mind Retweeted (that is an actual word) the regular Cyclosport competition Tweets, not really expecting to win. Cyclosport were generously giving away 3 entry tickets to Bike Radar live and the Cycling Plus Sportive. So, when that message came through it was a really nice surprise – the excitement and build up surrounding this event made it something that I would have been very disappointed to miss!
Saturday arrives and the alarm rings out for 05:00 – I am not an early riser at the best of times, my bed is one of my favourite places and the backs of my eyelids is my preferred view any time before 07:30. I drag my tired carcass out of bed and make my way down stairs. Like a teenager I slump onto my sofa and promptly fall asleep. 2 hours later a delicate hand and the soft voice of my girlfriend...“shouldn’t you have gone by now”! The realisation dawns that I’m not going to make it to Brands Hatch in time to register for the Sportive, IDIOT...I kick myself and slowly get my stuff together.
You can read Howard Johnson’s excellent Review of the Cycling Plus Sportive event here.
I arrive at Brands Hatch at 10:00 and pick up my entry ticket at the gate. Tent pitching had to wait for the time being – I was going in!
A festival atmosphere greeted me on entry; Brands Hatch already busy with people and bikes EVERYWHERE! I take a glance at the event programme and map that was thrust into my hand as I walked through the entrance gates.
Talks and interviews; mechanical advice and workshops; bike demos; circuit races to watch and take part in; Mountain Bike Dirt Jumps and Dual Slalom; Exercise classes, yoga, pilates, kids street dance; Dirt Jump master classes; cycle active skill courses – so much to see and do, the list was endless.
I headed down for a wander amongst the commercial stands to have a look at all those things I could covet but not buy. All bike riders catered for and for roadies BMC, Cervelo, Shimano, Sram, Scott, Eddy Merckx etc. I was most impressed by Cooper Bikes who are based down in West Sussex with their fixed wheel and single bikes – the workman ship immaculate, these bikes were beautiful right they way up to their Brooks saddles!
I came across the main arena stage, which sounds quite grand but in actual fact it was just a large tent set up for the talks and interviews, where I caught a fascinating conversation with Robert Penn, Author of ‘It’s All About the Bike’ – read the Guardian piece here of better still go and buy the book. The man’s passion and story of his quest to build the perfect bicycle was just mesmerising.
By now it was midday. Qualifying rounds of the Dual Slalom were in session so I thought I’d go and check it out; closely followed by MBUK practice rounds for the Dirt Jumps. I have never seen anything so amazing; the daring of these riders is just incredible. Stunts and moves with names like the 360, the superman and other things I forget. They seemed to spend most of their time in the air anyway!
By now the first of the Sportive riders were just returning, their matted hair and that general look of utter exhaustion written all over their faces telling the story of a gruelling and hot bike ride in deepest darkest Kent! Again I kicked myself for the surreptitious slumber I had on the sofa earlier in the morning that made me late! Stoopid idiot!
Off to get a coffee from the Rapha Citroen Van – if I lived in London I’d be hanging out on the Clerkenwell Road nearly all of my spare time! The coffee was expertly delivered and delicious!
So much to see, so much to do! I was joined later in the afternoon by my Dad and together we explored everything else there was to see - watching the knock out rounds of the dual slalom and heat 3 of the Dirt Jumps and catching some of the HotChilee Circuit racing of the Brands Hatch race track before making our way out to the campsite in the early evening to set up camp and sort out something to eat. Setting up the tent, sadly this meant that we missed the Human Powered Vehicle Race...
In the evening there was a DJ and live Band who I think called themselves ‘Deluxe’ (I might be wrong) – they were alright, they seemed to go down well with their cover songs...did I hear some Status Quo, I can’t remember. Beer and then some films. Wheels for Life was a documentary about Hans Rey, former Mountain Bike world champion and his project work to deliver bicycles for transport to developing and third world countries. A worthy cause if you are thinking of a beneficiary for any charity money collected on those Sportive rides. More beer and then an excellent film MASHSF!
A bit more beer and then bed...
Day 2.
Breakfast and then the Animal Relentless Bike Tour at 10:45 – see the camera work here. This is what you missed if you weren’t there! Amazing, the strength and control of the riders (who’s names I forget) is just terrific. Well worth catching, I am sure they will be in a town near you soon if they haven't passed through already. They will be at the Eastbourne Extreme festival this weekend if you want to make your way down to the coast. I am hoping to see them there! Tour dates and information can be found here if you want to catch the display.
I was looking forward to the Grand Final of the Dirt Jumps and the highlight of the weekend for me the HotChilee Elite race circuits. 1 hour and 45 minutes and 5 laps of racing which turned out to be a very interesting spectacle ending with a win for Yanto Barker closely followed by Alex Dowsett!
It is promised that this event will be bigger and better in 2011. For me I had a brilliant time and I sincerely thank Cyclosport.org for the entry ticket! I will definitely be there in 2011 as I am sure there was plenty that I missed. I hope this mess of a blog inspires you the reader to get involved too!
I hope they get the weather next year!
Thanks for reading
Ciao
Mark |