3 peaks Cyclo Cross 2017

Mid Season/Summer and its that time again, time to decide if you feel you could drag your bike and body around the 3 peaks and boom before you know it your have filled in the form and hit send, well it is probably best not to think about it too much anyway. Then follows the wait, am I in.. will I even get a place, what about training, I should have started months ago, is it too late now?

On a personal level I wasn’t particularly ready for the event and shoved it to the back of my mind until a few days before, I did make a small effort at a bit of hike a bike training but by far not enough to warrant a good time. I was also struggling a bit mentally and the Wednesday before the event I felt so bad I truly thought I would never be able to ride a bike again, but after giving myself a mental slapping I went on my local MTB ride with The Trails, Tribulations & Cake gang (on my CX bike of course) and realised all was going to be fine.

The forecast for the day was pretty good, dry and not too warm, mountain rescue were debriefing as we arrived and the air was full of excitement and anticipation. The event organisation was on point and we were soon waiting for the off. The start was fast and it wasn’t long before we turned off for the bottom of Simons Fell, I think the best tactic here is simply to not look up.. or down, I had forgotten not how steep it was but maybe how long and I have to admit I had a little wobble halfway up, panic set in and had to have a good hard word with myself. My song for this event ended up being “Every breath you take, every step you make, and you’ll soon be there.. not correct and those lines over and over but it seemed to work and before I knew it we were at the summit of Ingleborough & 1 down. The descent that followed was interesting and the wet summer we have become accustomed to this year brought with it big peaty bogs and I was able to embrace the bog… head first over the handle bars. After a nice slice of road and a steady climb Whernside was in view, we dismounted for the water point at the bottom of the bridle way, I had told marshal “Keith Belgium” beforehand to make sure I took some water however I didn’t quite mean in the face! At least it took my mind off things for at least a few moments.

After Ingleborough I had stupidly got it into my head that the hardest climb was out of the way putting myself under a false pretence, and as I approached Whernside my heart sank, again one step at a time and each step a step closer to the top. The descent was pretty uneventful, in places quite fast and a bit bumpy as it was better to stick to the path with the grass being so wet. As I got Ribblehead in my sights I knew there was a long steady road stretch back in to Horton, my legs were tired and as I looked at my watch it was 1pm, nooooo I wasn’t going to make it within my personal target. Gutted I ploughed on as fast as my legs would allow, Pen-y-gent looked so far away. As I approached the turn off the road there was no time to think & we were straight on to the long stretch of rocky bridleway, the faster riders were now thundering past on the way back to the finish. The final climb was long and steady and not quite as steep as the others, I had no other female riders in sight so just had to keep plodding on, we reached the new steps at the top and dragged our way forward, 30 more to go someone was shouting and at this point a lovely lady walked alongside me urging me on with kind words and a drink of water (I will be ever grateful for both).

Gemma Towell (All Terrain Cycles Ride in Peace) heads to Pen-y-Ghent summit

I had made it, all I had to do now was make it off Pen-y-gent in on piece, we were rerouted due to the new steps and had a few more bogs to embrace before a grassy descent, I was doing well until I panicked a little and managed to throw myself off the bike towards a rather large cluster of rocks, some how I managed to put my hand down and stay on my feet. By this time I was just happy to be on my way home and jumped back on taking a steady descent back to the road and the final push over the finish line.

Gemma Towell (All Terrain Cycles Ride in Peace) descending Pen-y-Ghent

Although I was a little disappointed with my time and the fact I didn’t have the ‘Hike a bike’ strength, my descending on the bike had improved 10 fold. So who knows, better strength and another improvement in my descending and I might get under that 5hrs.

Thank you to all involved making it another great event, organisers, marshals & spectators. It was great having people shout out your number and words of support along the way.

Special shout out to my long suffering Pete, All Terrain cycles, Iain Harris Physio Solutions, the TTC family, Timothy Taylor’s, Riders Cycle Centre & Whitakers Chocolates.

Dirty Reiver 200 2017… Still learning and back to face my Demons!

Never say never again were my words after I had finished hyperventilating on the finish line of the Dirty Reiver 200 2016…. and true to my word here I am on Friday evening sat eating fish and chips on my way to Kielder Forest yet again! I had booked the event late in 2016 but after doing the Kielder Chiller 24 in February I really wasn’t sure if I was ready to go back so soon, I still wasn’t sure right up to the Thursday before when John one of my regular cycling buddies gave me a nudge and even offered me a lift, and so my arm was twisted.

It was late evening when we arrived at the campsite and we quickly threw Johns tent up. I was sleeping in the back of the van with the bikes so rolled out my sleeping mat and sleeping bag and headed off to sign on, 20 minutes later we were sat in the warmth of the pub grabbing a quick nightcap before heading back for a few hours kip. After 7 hours of broken sleep my alarm woke me at 5.30am, my blurry sight caught the light on the ceiling of the van and the glisten of something that looked cold, I reached up and ran my finger through what was then confirmed as frost! An hour later my 2 pork pies are safely stashed, we head for the start line and our final brief of the day, I couldn’t help wondering what time everyone else had got up as we headed to the back of the line.

At 7am those at the front started out in waves and 10 minutes later we were out on the trail and trudging towards the start timing station, my stomach churns as I know what lies ahead and the knowledge that I haven’t really done any extra training or preparation hangs in my head, however its not long until the initial dread starts to subside as the first few miles disappear and I tell myself I just need to go with the flow. Its not long until we pass the first riders that have succumbed to the rough terrain and are at the side of the trail fixing their first punctures of the day or until my own little issue with the bike come to light (I really should have checked my bike over a few weeks ago.. (who needs jockey wheels anyway!)

As we start to get some miles under our wheels, riders find their own pace and the crowds thin out, I am thinking that it is quite nice setting off with a buddy (a novelty for me) and even though our strengths are different they seem to compliment each other well as we alternately fly by one and other. Around 30 miles in we reach the first food station which is situated in the community centre at the tiny village of Stonehough and the community spirit is buzzing. After a couple (it is still early) of brews and a slice of freshly baked cream cake we are on our way for more hills, more gravel, a big ford and a long bumpy down hill before we reach the halfway point and our next pit stop at 60 miles. Here we made the most of the good weather we had been blessed with and sit a while in the sun, catching up with Stuart from Riders Cycle Centre and the Paceline Cycles gang.

At this point last year I was already broken, physically my shoulders and back were wrecked from carrying a heavy rucksack and my water bladder, this year minimal was a must! Don’t get me wrong my shoulders were still sore but I could at least stretch it out. The next 10 miles were tough being a slight incline or pretty much flat so there was no letting up, however it was not half as bad as I remember it being last year.. which according to last years blog was “hell”. The following miles to the 3rd and final food station at 90 miles were pretty much the same with a nice 5 mile descent to a very welcome pit stop with hot potatoes and cheese and more coffee, needless to say we spent a little while lounging about next to the fire pit.

As we set out for our final 30 miles I knew that we were heading for a hilly one and as we crested the first hill and looked up the sight ahead although beautiful was not what we wanted to see! Yes there in the distance a lovely big dominating climb. I was now getting tired, my legs were screaming on the climbs and it was all that I could do to push out of the saddle and make the wheels turn, eventually we turned a corner and I could see the lake and the bridge down in the valley that I would soon be crossing. I had now lost John and decided to push on with 15 miles to go. The 12 miles of smooth trails around the lake were still as undulating as I remember and as I reached for the final few miles I was again thinking that it would never end, I caught up to 3 lads from Ashfield Road Club and they kindly listened to me moan my way back to the finish. Stuart’s friendly face was there to cheer me up the final hill and I had made it, in a much better, not as broken (mentally or physically) way than last year!

So I had made it, it hadn’t seemed as quite as bad as I had remembered and I was able to enjoy my finishers badge, free beer and soup. I think it did help having someone to share the journey and experience with, and I feel my Demon has been faced, however I do not feel the need to visit Kielder Forest again any time soon.

Big shout out to John Sedgwick & Peter Towell for helping to make this happen. To the Dirty Reiver/ focal events team, Sport Sunday and the Stonehaugh Village Community! (The feed stations were awesome) thank you for an amazing day of pain! #funhurts! 

allterraincycles.co.uk

 

 

 

Kielder Chiller 24! (24hr Mountain Bike Race)

Wow… Not sure how But I survived the weekend! 
It was a brutal course to have to do over and over, I’d say 50/50 of single track & fire roads & 1000ft of climbing per lap, the conditions were not nice and after 9 hours I was soaked to the skin and about to give up! The course was taking its gritty toll on the bikes, I had no brakes, my gears were not working right and I sat shivering in the dark freezing rain waiting for the guys to try fix my bike wondering what the hell I was doing! At this point my mate John who was also riding and had just snapped his rear mech got us in his warm camper, eating pizza & suggested we should get dry and some kip for a few hrs before heading back out! 
This was a good plan as my cold body wanted me to bail but my head was telling me that quitting wasn’t an option but I just didn’t know how I could carry on! After a few cold broken hrs of sleep my alarm went off at 4.30am but I didn’t get back out on the trail until about 5.30, the rain had stopped and had turned to light snow but the wind at the top of the forest had picked up! 
Although this event was a “race” I was out for the challenge and didn’t think I would ever be in contention for a top 3 spot and at this point I thought I must be running last for the solo’s so I trudged on and told myself it would all be over in a few more laps! John stuck with me for the first few morning laps as it was dark, but I could see him visibly shivering as he was riding at too slower a pace and as dawn broke I sent him on his way . 

At about 8am it was taking just over an hour for me to do a lap so I told myself 2 more and I could stop, Pete & Phil (my awesome pit crew) told me I was in 2nd place but the next rider was only half a lap behind, I told them to stop messing with my head as I was already in a bad enough place but apparently it was true, how? Why? The front runner was way ahead and safely out of reach but could I keep 2nd? It was a close call with 3 of us fighting for 2nd & 3rd, on my 2nd to last lap I was passed by one of the lasses… that must be 2nd place gone as she was flying and would easily get another 1 or maybe 2 laps in! 

I got to my pit and the guys were pushing me to go for another, I didn’t want to I was tired, cold and hungry.. I sulkily picked my bike up and trudged back out! As I got back I was sure I must be heading for 4th place my last lap had taken 1hr 18 and there was only 1hr 19mins left to go, if I didn’t make it back in that time it wouldn’t count, I was starving and needed desperately to refuel so reluctantly called it quits. 

I wearily made my way back to the pit where i was told that I was still up for 2nd place, I couldn’t believe it.. I stood and watched my now only contender for 2nd come in and set off for another lap but something happened on the first hill out of the timing tent, there was a bit of commotion… she had snapped her chain! Game over!  
I was very lucky to have been able to pit at the bottom of the trail near the start/ finish line as my mate had earned a spot by being one of the first to enter… some guys were at the top of the trail in the snow and wind and a good half an hr away (by bike) from the start. 
If it hadn’t have been for John & Wendy, Pete & Phil I don’t know what would have happened! Bloody mindedness would have helped.. but not as much as moral support, team work, a warm camper and the whole reason I was doing this… to #RideForRory and kick cancers butt! ❤ 

http://www.justgiving.com/JustGemma-Towell3

JOGLE Thank you’s

After cycling John o Groats to lands end in 9 days solo carrying all my camping kit there are a few BIG shout outs I would like to do! ( full blog to follow) 

Starting with a big shout out and thank you to Whitakers Chocolates, All Terrain Cycles & Fat Lad At the Back for kit, the media support & all all their support before, during and after. It really got me through the tough times. And to Rob Whitaker for coming out to Kendal to see me on day 5.

Big shout out to Lesley & Richard who had to spend a few days with me whilst getting me, my bike and kit to the top of the country so I could start my adventure.. For feeding and watering me and for the emergency bottle of Jack Daniels, which did get cracked open on my 8th day whilst trying to get through 12 hours of pouring rain! 

Big shout out to Tom, Suzanne and Kids for feeding me & drying my clothes after a very wet 4th day cycling over shap summit, the rain got worse the higher I climbed and trying to ride down the other side was slow and painful as the rain hit my face, to Tom for riding some miles out of Kendal with me, and to Fearne & Archie for their wonderful banners.

Big shout out to Kevin & Ellis for feeding me a quick kit wash and their hospitality at Chester after a long day navigating through a few urban areas and some big climbs! 

Big Shout out to mates Phil & Debs from Pedal North who really pushed my cause on social media & came out to meet me. Phil rode with me on day 5 and part of day 6 covering an amazing 160 miles, the company was great after a 4 days chatting and cursing out loud to myself! 

Big Shout out to David & Simone for lots of support throughout and who came out to meet me in South Wales from Stamford at the end of day 6 and took me for some creature comforts and fed me up. 

And a big shout out to my family and friends for their unconditional support, I know I cause a lot of worry and stress on my little endeavours. To Tina my colleague for a daily morning text and at times reassurance.. To Rachel for the amazing homemade flapjack packed with so much energy, it really was a lifesaver when I found myself not sure when I might come across my next meal and one little piece kept me going for miles… And to Pete & Ashleigh my long suffering husband and daughter for everything. 

And to everyone who followed my journey and to all who have sponsored me so far! 

What a wonderful welcome home too 🙂 THANK YOU! 

http://www.justgiving.com/JustGemma-Towell3

Fat Lad at the Back up North Sportive May 2016.

Sunday 8th may & it’s my birthday, Saturday was full of food and fizz and all of a sudden it’s 5.30 on sportive day! Today I am privileged to be chaperoning some of the 75 milers around some of Yorkshires finest roads, climbs & scenery.

I rush out of the house at 6.30.. For some reason I have decided to cycle the 13 miles to the start, it looks like it’s going to be a scorcher so I get sun cream applied to the legs and face and we are off. I am soon on the start line with a great group ready to set off for the exciting day ahead. 

We made our way along the first 25 miles, up and down dale, through some immense countryside, the guys were in awe of the beauty and we had only just got started. It was now time to enjoy the long descent in to Grassington and the first feed station to restock water and grab cake, nuts and bananas to fuel our way down to Arncliffe. After quite a few tough climbs at the start, the road from Grassington to Halton Gill was pretty steady and gently rolling which gave a nice rest bite. But not for long, we turned out of Halton Gill and started the beautiful climb up towards Malham, passing Pen-y-Ghent and grinding up an unexpected brutal climb to the feed station where I’m guessing the guys manning it were glad of the fantastic weather! We were definitely spoilt at lunch where Locally sourced pork pies, sausage rolls and scotch eggs were on offer not to mention the huge pile of various sandwiches and sweet treats, it definitely went down very well. #Event Cycling had done well! 

We refuelled and got on our way to malham, I didn’t want the guys to miss the cove so prepped them to take the descent steady and stop to take it all in, we were now a good 50 miles in and could afford a little time to soak up the views. We rolled down in to Malham, where I think every man and his dog had gone to also enjoy the view! The ride down to Rylstone was undulating and the day was getting hotter.. Or was it just that we had come off the hills out of the cool breeze? We were all getting a little worried about running out of water but were greeted by a water stop a few miles down the road. 

We were getting closer, the road now took us along the stunning single track route down the gated road in to Bolton Abbey, where we only had a few miles to go.. After a cheery greeting from the Beautiful Arty Farty Lass and Creative Director Lynn at the last marshal point, we were on the road home, no more big climbs just a rolling single track with a nice decent to roll back to where our epic day started! 

So finally a big well done to the Fat Lad at the Back and Event Cycling team, the route was awesome, the feed stations great, the signage almost there, the inspirational messages epic and the weather amazing! The Lads & Lasses that had come from afar were in awe of the beauty of Yorkshire and I’m sure they will be back to enjoy more of it, Also thanks to the guys who I got to spend the day with, you were awesome.  

Well Done FLAB Guys, Richard & Lynn, me on the other hand… If you go back to the beginning of this post you will notice I only sun screened my legs and face!! I had already put my arm warmers on and was too lazy to take them off, apply the cream an put them back on again!! Lesson learned? Probably not.. But seriously, please use sun screen 😎 

Ooh and a quick shout out to Pete my husband, Bob & Kaye my bro & Sister in-law who did the epic 50 miler & my mum and dad for bringing Ashleigh (our lass) down to meet us at the finish!

FLAmbassador Gemma xx 

Dirty Reiver 200 2016, A learning curve & a half!

A learning curve and a half!

Don’t think about it and it’ll be fine…

So you get your arm twisted in to entering a 200km gravel grinder an a cross bike, the biggest distance you have done on this sort of terrain is 60 miles with a nice chunk of road thrown in, what can go wrong?

Well the first thing that can go wrong is that you decide to carry a rucksack with a huge water bladder and all your spare kit in it, but more on that later!

Its lunchtime Friday 15^th April 2016 and I am heading up to Kielder, as we approach Tebay for Coffee and Pies the heavens open and the sickly feeling in the pit of my stomach gets a bit stronger, however I needn’t have worried as when we arrived at the campsite and started to put the tent up it started to snow!! As the pub was on the way back from check in we thought it would be rude not to call in for a bit of Dutch courage, warmth and wifi to let everyone know we had arrived safely and they probably wouldn’t be hearing from us for at least another 24 hours.

4.30am Saturday 16^th April and I am trying my hardest to grab another hour’s sleep, thankfully we manged to stay warm through the night but its bloody cold outside the winter duvet! At about 5.30am I drag myself up, put lots of layers on and manage to force some breakfast down without making myself feel too sick and all of a sudden its 6.30am and I really need to be setting off for the start line. I make my way to the back of the already growing queue and have a nosy about at the different bikes, set ups, kit and faces… no one seems to look as worried as I feel!

 7am and we are set off in waves, by 7.20am I am across the start line and we have a few km grace before we have to start our timing chips and to be fair the first half of the day was pretty fast flowing, with some decent climbs and descents, putting me under a bit of a false sense of security. At 40km I am hit with a puncture and stupidly thinking it was a pinch flat I shoved another tube in got on my way and headed for the first pit stop at 60km, this was in a little community centre where the locals were running about trying to ensure there were clean mugs for hot brews and the ladies had baked some amazing cakes… I was very impressed. Unfortunately after leaving here it didn’t take long for me to have another puncture, obviously my presumption of a pinch flat was wrong and I found a rather large thorn through my tyre!

 Heading for the 100Km mark and I am starting to feel it already, I am now coming up to the most miles I have done on this kind of terrain. My rucksack feels heavy and my back and shoulders are suffering! At the pit stop AlpKit have put up a tent with a fire pit and some beanbags, I didn’t venture in as I probably wouldn’t make it back out, so I sat on the path, eating my squashed butties before venturing back on to the trail, The next 10 Miles were hell! 10 Miles of rough terrain and a hardly noticeable climb meaning there was literally no letting up, this little section also consisted of a ford, however at this time of year it was more like a raging river and after watching a guy fall at the hurdle I didn’t ride across. With another 30km ish to the next pit stop I am now feeling it and literally just plod on, thankfully 10km from the final pit stop there is the most amazing 10k of swooping descent.

 150km and we are at the final pit stop, I want to cry! The guys are desperately trying to keep a kettle boiled for hot brews, I grab a handful of sweets, some gels and a tepid coffee… at this point I don’t care, a few of us summerise that we must have done most of the climbing and the next 50Km will be kind! Oh how wrong we could have been.. 40km,30km we were getting closer, I hit a boggy single track and mooched on, bumping in to the guy I met at Clif Cross a few weeks before, unfortunately he had snapped his rear derailleur and couldn’t get single speed so was pushing his way back to civilisation. He also told me I didn’t have far to go, it wouldn’t be long until I was making my way around the reservoir which would be undulating but quite flat! (smooth may have been the word) at this point the terrain and views were lovely but there were far too many very short hills for my poor legs. 15km – I just didn’t think I could carry on and as I turned the corner another climb, more res, back in to the forest, I was now really beginning to think it was never going to end and I wasn’t going to make it.

 We hit a road section and turned in to a headwind, 2 guys shot past, nooooooo, how… how did they still have the energy to be going so fast! Another turn took us back in to the forest and I kept them in sight for a while eventually loosing sight of them. Kielder castle 1 mile… the longest mile ever, I thought I may die of a heart attack and not make it, one last corner and I see Pete, I want to cry, just one more hill and I am there!

 The look on my face must have said it all and I got a hug from Paul, I had to pass my bike to someone and I dropped to the floor head between my legs hyperventilating, (sorry guys) a few minutes later I had recovered and was staggering to collect my badge, eat soup and a burger and grab my free beer.

Will I be back? Never say never again!!

 www.justgiving.com/JustGemma-Towell3

 

My Clif Cross 2016

My Clif Cross.. Hebden Bridge Aprox 6800ft ascent! 
At 8AM on Easter Sunday After being floored by a virus and off the bikes for a week I was still trying to decide if I should go and give the infamous Clif Cross a go! With 2 routes to choose from.. The original 27 miles or the new 42 miler I dragged myself out of bed totally unprepared, made myself a peanut butter sandwich and grabbed some glorified cereal bars. I was rather late setting off and didn’t even know if I would make the start. 

Make it I did with 10 mins to spare, just enough time to change my shoes, grab my bike and camelback and head for the start line! 

At this point we were given the usual pre event “chat” apparently we had been given 2 maps Which I then realised I had left in the car And I was hoping all the bright pink arrows were still in situ as I don’t have a bike nav like most sensible ppl.. Whats the worse that could happen? 
Still not sure which route I would take and with a new setup on my CX that I hadn’t ridden on anything really hilly we hit the first BIG climb, the sun graced us with its presence and my winter cap seemed like a bad idea, lungs bursting and legs burning I made it to the top wondering what the hell I was doing! 

Fortunately what goes up must come down and the downs were just as epic as the ups but Emma had made sure that there was a big price to pay for every descent! The sun continued to shine, the blustery wind was warm and the trails tough on the body and mind! We hit the first timed climb at Widdop a few miles from the half way point of the short route, I remembered it well and I tried not to look too far ahead. ( I missed the Easter bunny whilst trying not to die!) 
I now wasn’t far from the spot that had previously taken my rear derailleur so I ploughed on with caution, and even chickened out at attempting the ford on the bike! Just over the hill there was a smiley face and a hot brew waiting at the pit stop, not hanging around too long as the wind was picking up and now a bit cooler I grabbed some sweets and nuts and set off again on the nice road segment which was soon followed by a climb off the bikes and on to a fairly technical stretch. I stopped where a guy was checking his bike over.. It wasn’t good as he set off on a very buckled rear wheel limping along until he could find a way back to civilisation… The Yorkshire trails strike again! 
Up n down hill n dale we went, by this point I think I was on the long route and somehow a couple of us missed one of the bright pink arrows and on the lovely big windy descent I said I hoped we were going the right way, But as luck would have it we had to make our way back up the hill, what’s a few more ft in the equation? 

A few miles on and we hit the second timed climb, this wasn’t a ridden climb and it was time for me to carry the bike, we were soon at the top and a nice swoopy ride down to the road followed. 
Following a nasty little farm track and drag back up high I was caught by “muddy boots” and we trudged on together, I was glad of the company as the storm rolled in and we were hit by gale force winds, hail that stung like hell and to top it off thunder & lightning. 

We inched forward and made one last turn on to a bridle way to head for home, my brakes were shot but with just a few miles to go I wasn’t stopping now.

At the top of the final steep descent Muddy Boots had to stop to sort out his break cable and I carried on cautiously down the hill back to civilisation! 
Pulling in to the car park I was wet through and cold with ice and very much looking forward to the nice hot pork sandwich that was waiting for me, and of course a smile from the day’s host Emma! 
( I did fall off at some point, Couldn’t tell you when or where but I certainly felt it the day after!) 
So if you like a challenge.. This is one for you 🙂 
JustGemma xx

Exercise Winter woes.. It’s enough to send you bonkers!

Well I must admit like most people I do find the beginning of the year a bit of a head f&@£ and this year is no exception!

It’s dark, cold, wet, the fat fairy has visited and I have no motivation. I have however already worked out that by the end of February it will be just coming light at 7am and still just light at 5.30pm.. Sad but a self preservation tactic!

So why is it that at only a few weeks in to the year we are mentally punishing ourselves for not being fit enough, for finding cycling or running hard work, When maybe we should be cutting ourselves a little bit of slack, praising ourselves for just getting out there whether it felt good or bad, whether you felt it was far enough or not, because you still did it, you battled the elements, the headwind, the cold and the rain. Then comes in social media! You watch what seem like Super enthusiastic friends and acquaintances heading to the gym, taking on dry January, eating up the miles on the bike or going for what seem like hellish long runs and you slip ever deeper in to the dark mental abyss! But is it all just a front, and do they really just feel the same as us? 

All that said we battle on regardless, tear ourselves out of bed, make the wrong clothing decision (you should really ignore that weather app!) and propel ourselves that little bit closer to spring where our winter endeavours will not have been in vain, the pain in the legs, the lung busting chill, the relentless push in to the 360• headwind will soon turn to smiles and relief that we didn’t give up and we are all the more stronger for it!