Chris at CLIC24

As a few of the regulars know I have been training for CLIC24 which is in Cheddar, Somerset. The weekend started as a blustery evening as I struggled to erect my gazebo by myself, which I later took it down as it nearly blew away!

The other two members of my team arrived Saturday morning, as the storm clouds gathered. The first lap was a memorial lap as the event was in aid of Cancer and Leukemia in Children and also the organiser had recently lost his wife to cancer. The course started with a nice tarmac climb then a nice descent along the valley, then a super rocky descent, then the long climb back up valley, with a short super steep climb at the end which lead onto a section of marshy land, then another fast rocky descent back onto the road for the last mile.

The team got a good start and I went back out for my second lap, which went well until the last mile, when the heavens opened at I got a good soaking from the sleet and rain.

As the laps drew on the night set in and the mud started to ease, I’d recently purchased a head torch which was really handy and helped me keep up the quick laps.

As my team became increasingly tired the swift change over became a longer affair as I dragged them from their cars and got them riding, but as the sun came up we were in a good position and just kept going. I rode the final lap which felt really good and I was clearing hills in the middle ring where’d I’d been using the granny before, I squeezed the last lap in with 10minutes to spare, before the heavens opened again, soaking any spectators.

In the end we came 9th out of 71 teams which I think is good for a team of 3

Chris