Life of Riley: Mont 24 Hour

Sunrise over the transition area- Mont 2013

As I place my helmet onto my head you can’t get the smile off my face, which is kind of strange, since it is 9 o’clock at night and I’m about to go out for a double lap of the 20 odd km Mont 24 hour course after already having pushed through three laps during the day! There’s lots of numbers there and they all add up to some pretty tired legs, a tight lower back and the start of some serious bum issues (I really need to spend some decent money on some top quality and bum friendly cycle shorts).

So why the smile? Well, it’s the simple things as they say, and this simple thing was a gas heater that we had pumping all night. Not only did it keep you toasty in between laps, but it also dried out your gear after a lap. So instead of putting on a wet and cold helmet (as I did lap after lap of the Scott 24 hr, sans heater) your helmet and gloves were like a warm blanket on a cold night.

And the night wasn’t that cold either. In fact the 24 hours of riding around a big loop on 2 wheeled machines along with around 3000 thousand like minded people was held in perfect conditions. Warmish and bright days and dry and relatively warm nights. And the attitude of those riding added to the warmth as well. ‘Rider, whenever you are ready’. ‘Just up here on my right’, ‘Thanks mate, have a great ride!’ These simple, pleasant conversations at 4 am help you get up that next little hill just that little bit faster. That and the fact you want to see how long you can keep up with the fast little whippet who just passed!

Team Mad Kow Racing, AKA Ricey, Joe and Myself entered the four man category for the event. Now you are questioning how I can throw all those numbers at you in the first paragraph and then only give you three names for a four man event? Well, there were four, but a broken elbow and not knowing anyone else who understands the joy of riding around the bush in lycra for 24 hours meant that we were going in a man down. Strangely enough, we did not hold podium ambitions. Instead our aim was a simple one, to keep on riding. We would always have someone out on course for the full 24 hours, whether it was 3 am or 2 minutes before the 24 hours was up, a Mad Kow would be turning those pedals. At times, it may not be very fast, but they will be turning.

Lap after lap went by. In your first lap, you are learning about the trail, which line to take, where that tough climb is, where the sweet downhill sections are located. By about the third you have it pretty dialed. For this course the tough climbing was in the middle part. Nothing hugely long, but enough to hurt, especially with over 50 km in your legs. With about 7 km to go, You enjoyed some great, flowing trails. Well, for a while, until the traffic of the event meant huge braking ruts through the corners formed. So it was a case of holding on tight and enjoy the chattering of your teeth. I ride a 29 inch full suspension and I felt like I didn’t have enough travel. There were some guys out there on rigid fork single speeds! In fact, there was a guy out there riding a unicycle. Although, I passed him a few times and not once did I actually see him cycling. on each occasion he was standing on the side of the track with an expression on his face that told the story of an idea that in practice wasn’t like the idea appeared in the mind.

There was also the guy wearing some kind of suit with his face covered in a mask. ‘Hot in there mate?’ ‘Sh#t yeah.’ ‘Hope they give you a decent prize for the costume.’ ‘They better!’

There was a guy dressed in a cow suit (if we keep our name, we may have to have a lap in one of these next time), some pirates, the tutu brigade, live music on an improvised stage half way around the course, an amputee team, student teams, Australian Champion racers and heaps of every day punters all out on the same course, all enjoying testing themselves, having a laugh, enjoying mountain biking.

Mad Kow Racing completed 21 laps in total, or just over 420 km of riding. We didn’t stop, transitions were seamless and we enjoyed no mechanicals the whole race. It was a blast, good chats, challenging at times, beautiful trails, and great atmosphere.

What I love about mountain bike endurance racing is how much you learn each time. The food you eat, how much liquid to take on board, bike set up, how to flow through that corner, how to get into a rhythm during a lap, what you need to be saying to yourself half way through a double night lap to keep you motivated and happy.

And that during a cool night of a 24 hour race, heat is your friend.

Helmet on, on the bike, time for another lap.

Smile.