A serve of Rice: The Scott 24 hour MTB Race 2012

Team Raceline10 had its first appearance this weekend in the Scott 24 hour. We finished with 18 laps by midday on Sunday and we were all pretty much spent.

While we all lined up for a 'Le Mans' style start to the race (running to our bikes), we had no idea where we were supposed to stand and when we were supposed to start as there seemed to be no race marshals to look to for guidance. Maybe 50 or so of us all looking at each other wondering what we were meant to do, when 12 noon rolled past someone seemed to just break free in a sprint out of the blue and the rest of us, just like sheep in a herd, ran after him. The race had begun.

Rich and I ended up doing 6 laps each while the girls were very impressive doing 3 each, Jem even coming out to experience what night riding was all about. After the first few laps some of the track had turned to a quagmire of sloppy mud from all the rain we have had over the past few days. During the Saturday afternoon and night, it eventually became unridable in some areas. By 2 or 3 in the morning when I was struggling through my last couple of laps I had hit rock bottom, feeling like I wanted to burst into tears and wondering what the hell I was doing. The mud at times was so bad it was up to your chain, which was making my bike make some very horrible crunching noises like you were pedalling it into an early grave. It stopped my front and back deraileurs from moving leaving me with 3 gears at one point, making for a nasty climb.

It was an amazing experience being on the bike for that long in what turned out to be very tricky conditions and racing alongside some of the best 24 hour riders in the world.

My memories -

Seeking out and finding my physical limit in a very long day of riding and some trying conditions on a bike. Seeing Jason English repeatedly turn back for yet another lap amassing an incomprehensible 31, by himself (more than 400kms over 24 hours!), was something I will never forget. The set up along 'pit lane' with all the marquees, tents and shops was a great atmosphere. The vibe from all the riders was that of enthusiasm and excitement and everyone on the track that I passed or passed me, were all so nice. Standing in Simons marquee trying to warm up in front of the heater late Saturday night with steam coming off every part of me. The sight of Stromlo lit up with lines and lines of insane riders snaking their way up and down the hill at midnight was stunning. Sitting in a tent wrapped up with 2 jackets, gloves, a beanie and cold, horribly wet and muddy riding gear next to Rich who was falling asleep in his chair, while Jem was out in the rain at night. Riding around a corner on the Blue lap to be stopped by 5 riders stuck shin deep in mud pulling their bikes free to continue the lap. Falling asleep in the tent at around 3.30am with freezing feet that when I tried to warm them, most of my lower half went into cramp! But the best memory was riding down 'pit lane' from just completing an awesome lap on some of the best trails (all be it trashed) in Australia in the biggest 24 hour race in the world, to high five your team mate as they went out. That was the one memory I will take away and cherish.

Yesterday I didnt want to ever see another single track again. Today I cleaned my bike and rested my aches. Tomorrow the trails will be calling.