Since my last message about the above event and being an event vet,I duly serviced my specialized FSR comp,(which is red).
On route to the event I noticed that the outside temp was -4.5*c.At least it was going to be dry.
With only 5 miles to the finish SNAP went the steerer tube between the headset and stem. Thankfully I was'nt going flat out downhill at the time.
Finally a BIG, BIG THANK YOU,to all the riders that showed their concerns for bike and me on long walk to next checkpoint.
THANK YOU again,
Phil BAKER
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 sh1t, how can a steerer tube snap?
dya think the temperature may have made it more brittle? or has it had loadsa abuse?
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 Hi Phil - I was the bloke with the knackered free hub at 24 miles.
I managed to finish pushing and scooting while waiting for the sag wagon to pick me up. It finally caught up with me about half a mile from the end. But there was no way I was getting in for the last bit!!
So no more manitous for you then?
Raymond
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 hi
I remember now, the really long slow climb, and passing you, and wondering how the hell you had managed to snap your steerer tube. It didn't look like a very clean snap either.
Was a really hard ride, my biggest problem was my feet were absolutly frozen, even with two pairs of socks, and got worse and worse throughout the race.
good fun though:)
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I couldn't make the race today due to an injury but came along to do a bit of spectating anyway. Perfect conditions - even though I scratched the car on a branch giving you all some room on the 'road' from Westbury White Horse!
Well done to all who finished or enjoyed trying!!! Wish I could have joined you - see you next year.
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 Just got back after doing the 38k. My riding buddies left me on the first hill and finished an hour or so before me. Unfortunately, I had the car keys, so they had wait for me to turn up!!!
Good event with good backup. We don't have hills round here, so I had to walk up most of the ones on the route!
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Hi all
I did the 50K today and really enjoyed it, I've only been riding 2 months so I'm really chuufed I did it all. Some of those climbes were a killer but I did the really long one (and nearly all the others)
Great day out. need to get fitter!
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 Hurray, it's Monday morning and I can feel my feet again!
Can't wait till next years, I may even buy some overshoes!
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 Ah, the owner of the broken steerer is revealed ;-). Nasty. And unusual. Thankfully.
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 PB - i saw you and your broken steerer stopped outside the chuckwagon after the event - this intake of burgers wouldn't have had any effect on your steerer misfunction would it? ;-)
Great event but I too suffered from frozen feet which turned into cramp just before the finish - ouch.
And those little frozen ridges which catch the edge of your tires and send you sideways...
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I followed loads of people who were having real problems negioting the ruts, slipping and sliding on the frozen ground. It seemed to help if you carried more speed through them. Fun stuff to watch!
The horror stories about 8ft deep puddles seemed to scare loads of people into riding around them, even getting off their bikes and pusing around them.
And did anyone ride that'MASSIVELY STEEP DESCENT' just before the half-way rest stop??
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Yes i rode it, but only by default. The guy in front of me went round the bend at the top, panicked and hit his brakes and slid down on his front.
I shot off to the right to avoid him, and too late to stop rode down the grass at the side. Just happened to be the best way down though :) That bump at the bottom nearly got me though.
Did anyone ride the last big descent just before the dark dark woods?
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Rather stupidly I tried it without a back brake, crashed half way down, didn't know I could do the splits!!!
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The descent just before the rest stop's fine as long as you don't try to slow down. I ended up behind a guy who was riding his brakes and inevitably stacked it. You've got to let it roll. Apologies to whoever was riding down the left hand rut behind me when I swapped ruts to avoid the faller...
The descent before the woods was similar. Too much brake and you'd be off. A gentle touch with the levers and keep it straight and it's no problem.
A key skill is letting off the brakes. If you lock a wheel on that stuff you'll go down, but if you notice it's locked and let go of the brake you'll be OK.
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yes, defintely carrying your speed through seemed to be the tactic of the day, hesitate and you'd be off your bike quicker than you can say 'bugger!'
The bit of singeltracky stuff through the woods at the end was the best part of the course, i reckon
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The single track was very dark after the bright sun on the plain. And the ruts were soft which was weird after all of the frozen stuff.
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My saving grace on the steep descent was that my V's wouldn't slow me down! The singletrack through the woods was the highlight for me though, that's the kind of stuff I usually ride on.... I'm pretty happy that I rode everything there.
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Does anybody know the results or where i can get a full list
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I did the 38K as part of Neil Ws team and found it a really good tough ride, some of the climbs were hard work as round these parts we have no hills to practise on. I managed to complete the course in 2:20 and cycled my very dirty MTB to work this morning!
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Thanks for reminding me of the best bit of the whole course.I only saw it from back seat of a Range Rover!
The quarter pound cheese burger helped cheer me up.
Hopefully see you there next year when i'm on my new BLUR or Turner 02 with Fox forx.
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