Cateye Moonride 2012

5mins before start time

This year I decided to enter the Moonride 24hr Solo event, so that I could cross completing a 24 hour solo MTB race off the 'bucket list'. I had no real expectations (results-wise) and just wanted to last the whole distance. Not knowing what to expect or how my body would handle rotating the pedals for that long. I did know I would have to pace myself and start slower and find the right rhythm and also determine what works best nutritionally.

The start hooter went off at 9pm in a chilly 5 degrees, a few other solo guys hit off the start line like they were only racing 6 hrs so I let them go thinking if they can maintain that pace for the whole race, they deserve to beat me. I hadn't done any laps prior to the race so the first few laps were exciting in the dark, with slippery mud making the track fun. First few laps were pretty uneventful, apart from having a silly crash around a slick corner. I had made it up to the front 3 guys at the end of lap 1, with one mad ex-pat South African riding a single speed rigid bike. Riding behind the other solo riders I worked out that they were a little bit slower on the downhills and boggy flat mud sections, allowing me to ease up on the uphill and catch them again on the downs. Eventually I worked my rhythm out and went ahead of the others, with Jared Scollay coming with me. We traded places a few times in the next couple of hours. After about 4 hours he had a reasonable lead on me and I went through a bit of a dark patch, running low on energy. I fixed this by chewing back lots of sugar and getting some protein in me. Eventually I made it back up to Jared after 6hrs and moved into first place as he pulled off to have a pit-stop. The next 6 hours felt like 2 and things were going well, I was a clear 1 lap and 7 minutes ahead of 2nd place and 2 laps ahead of Jared who was now in 3rd. I had found my pace and was sticking to it, trying to keep my lap times consistent and refuel stops short.

10hours in about to ride the track in daylight for the first time

12 Hours in also coincided with the 12 hour race start, and another 200 people joining us 24 hour racers on the track. At first this was a blessing, with the added wheels on course drying up some of the boggy sections. However after only 2 hours this blessing turned to a curse and inexplicably the course turned even boggier. Already we had been having to push our bikes up the main hill but now we had to push further and longer and some of the sections that were ride-able were now very hard to ride and taxing on the body's energy supplies. I now hit another low patch just as my knee was starting to give me some niggles. I did some stretching and that alleviated the pain a little.
At about the 16hour mark, I had regained some energy and was ready to pick up the pace a little. Unfortunately this didn't last long, after a toilet stop in the bush, I went to get back on my bike and my IT band had completely seized up on my right leg. I stopped for about 5 minutes giving it a good stretch and it felt much better so I got back on the bike and carried on at a good pace. A lap and a half later, after making it up the hike-a-bike hill, my IT band returned to the same state as before. I was only 1km from the tent where my dad was supporting me so I carried on in pain. By the time I got to the tent, I was creeping along not able to put any power into the pedals and in real discomfort. I sort of collapsed on the ground asking for voltaren and my dad gave me a quick massage with deep heat. Unfortunately this hardly had an effect but I decided to carry on and see if I could carry on racing. I got about 500m and realised, it was getting worse and I needed to do more to solve the problem otherwise something would end up tearing. I cut off the course and made my way to a medic who gave me ice and sent me to the massage tables. After a 30-40 minute massage (providing little to no respite), and some consultation with my Dad we decided it would be best to stop my race at 35 laps and 220km. This was a heartbreaking decision as I was winning the race and still felt energised and motivated. Fortunately there was some consolation for the 16 hours 46 minutes I spent on my bike, making the podium in third place, despite finishing over 7 hours early.

Coming past the tent for the 2nd to last time

Massive thanks to my Dad who didn't miss a beat feeding me, charging the lights and cleaning my bike. Equally a big thanks goes to Nigel from ENDURA cycle-wear for the support and providing me with top quality clothing. Endura is the only cycle-wear you should ever consider wearing for bike riding. GU energy for the gels and DZ-Nuts for doing it's job like no other chamois cream can. Thanks also to Specialized bikes, no other bike brand can compare.

The Set-up

I still taste the bitter taste of defeat now but I learnt a huge amount nutritionally and I will be able to take some of this new found knowledge into the Mulit-sport races I plan on competing in the next few months.
Also... I can't exactly cross riding 24 hours in one go off the bucket list, so might have to do another one. Give myself a chance to do things right...