Thursday, 30 April 2020

SSRT Teknikdag

SSRT Teknikdag för Tjejer 30 maj 2020


En heldag att utvecklas och boosta dig själv i härligt sällskap och underbar omgivning. Ingen förkunskap krävs utan vi anpassar grupper efter er förmåga. Ta tillfället i akt att inspireras av andra. Vårt mål är att du efter dagen ska ha blivit ett med din hoj, d.v.s. du vet hur du ska positionera dig på cykeln för att ta dig igenom olika typer av terräng med inslag av diverse hinder. Du har börjat utmana dig själv vad gäller att våga dig på tekniska svårigheter och du har fått lite bättre inblick i vad du själv kan göra om du får problem med din cykel.



INFORMATION

Var: Genarp (exakt info till de som anmäler sig)
Tid: 9:30-15:30
Förkunskapskrav: Inga
Pris: 400 SEK (återbetalas om något med eventet ändras eller om din status ändras)

Vad ingår: Detta år har vi beslutat att göra ett annat upplägg pga Covid 19. Vi kommer att köra alla aktiviteter utomhus och det kommer inte ingå någon frukost eller lunch utan var och en får ta med mat själva. Vi kommer dock att bjuda på en lättare fika som avslutning på dagen. Till lunch kommer vi att tända en grill om någon vill grilla något. Det kommer att finnas vatten att fylla på flaskor till eftermiddagen.

Att ta med: MTB, ev. ryggsäck med cykelkläder (extra ombyte att byta till vid lunch rekommenderas) inkl. ett varmare lager, regnjacka, hjälm, slang, ev. mindre verktyg, ombyte, handsprit/våtservetter då vi bara har tillgång till dass (vid parkeringen samt vid vindskyddet).

Anmälan och ev. frågor sker till: singletracksistersraceteam@gmail.com
Saknar du någon utrustning (kanske t.o.m. cykel) går det säkert att lösa om du säger ifrån i god tid.

Max 24 deltagare så först till kvarn!

PROGRAM:
09.30 Samling i Genarp
Vi tar oss till vindskyddet där ni förvarar era grejor. Det tar 4 minuter att cykla dit. Väl där blir det en presentation av oss och er och vi går igenom förhållningsregler osv. Efter det delar vi in oss i 4 grupper med ca 6-8 per grupp.

10.00 Träning på bana/hinder

I direkt anslutning till vindskyddet tränar vi på ett några byggda hinder där ni erbjuds hjälp på individnivå. Målet är att förbättra balans och positionering på cykeln samt bygga ett självförtroende så ni vågar attackera stock och sten. Det blir även träning på stigar runt samlingsplatsen.

Ca 12.00 Lunch
Äter medhav lunch och då kan man även passa på att mingla runt, knyta nya kontakter och fråga gärna ut oss ang. utrustning, träning, tävling, satsning i kombination med arbete/familj etc.

Efter lunch: Guidad runda
Beroende på deltagarnas nivå delar vi in oss i grupper och ger oss ut på en guidad runda där vi ska försöka ha med det vi lärt oss från morgonpasset. Vi kommer även då att stanna till och träna på vissa svårigheter.

Ca 15.30 Avslutning med fika.

PS!! Och självklart följer både vi och ni Folkhälsomyndighetens rekommendationer och stannar hemma om vi känner oss det minsta sjuka eller tillhör någon riskgrupp.

Saturday, 29 December 2018

Race report Dusk Till Dawn 12hr solo

Grävde fram en gammal race report från mitt första ordentliga försök på en 12 timmars solotävling för tio år sedan där jag lyckades somna på cykeln.

D2D 4th October 2009

by Malin Tindberg

Ever since I did my first 12 hr solo at the ‘Hit the North’ race in June 2008, I thought I should give it another go. Although I found it pretty boring doing lap after lap, I realised I could probably be quite competitive. As a beginner to the sport, I just came along for support, but having done only 2 races ever up to this point; one being an open Gorrick cross country race and one a 6 hr pair; I was obviously keen to do some more racing. So when I was informed on the day that there was room for another racer, even though it was a soloist, I didn’t hesitate at all.

With ‘Hit the North’, and the rest of the 2008 endurance races for that matter, ending up being proper mud fests, it’s become a big concern when entering these long distance races. This year it was looking pretty dry the days before the race, but when arriving to the Dusk Till Dawn race venue on the day, I wasn’t too sure it was going to stay this way. It was really windy, and the clouds looked threateningly dark. Going out on a practice lap a good 6 hours before the race started, I quickly realised that no rain in the world could make this course get muddy, so when it started to drizzle, I wasn’t too worried.

Thetford has always been a favorite race venue and although most people think there’s no place to rest and it’s generally know as a ‘back-killing’ venue, I’ve never found it too bad and the courses here normally suit me. So did this year’s course of Dusk Till Dawn. With the pre-ride out of the way, I focused on fueling up and getting mentally prepared for the challenge. I’ve got to know quite a lot of people during this year of racing and it was good to catch up with a few of them. The strategy for the race was to go out on a couple of quick laps to get a good lead in, as we knew I would probably be quicker than my competitors. With multiple 24 hr solo winner Sally Daw and solo endurance specialist Lorraine Staley in my category, I was worried their experience would be my downfall. 

With my new set of Ayup lights firmly attached to my bike and helmet, it was finally time to get lined up at the start line. I was desperately trying to find Sally in the crowd, as I thought I would be chasing her, but when I didn’t see her I decided to ride my own race. Having had Trevor from Ducati holding my bike near the front of the group, I was one of the first riders out off the venue when the quad took off. It’s hard pacing yourself with all these quick riders around you. I knew I wasn’t giving 100%, but I knew I was going pretty quick. Coming through the arena after my first lap, the plan was to come off the course and ride via the Ducati tent to get a bottle and indicate I was going through. This was almost impossible due to the amount of spectators gathered around the pit area. I got really stressed, as I felt I lost a lot of time asking to come through, and once I reached the tent, nobody was there. However, just seconds after, both Trevor and Keith was there handing me a bottle and helping me get people out of the way to get back out on the course. With that incident I decided I wouldn’t go via the Ducati tent the following lap. Putting in another quick ish lap and going out on my third without changing bottles, I started to feel a bit tired. This wasn’t good as I normally don’t get tired after just two-three laps. What I’ve noticed this last year doing mainly XC races, is that when I’ve finished racing, I’m not tired and feel I can continue doing a couple more laps, so feeling tired at this point was definitely not a good sign. I knew I had to stop in between laps three and four for battery changes so was quite looking forward to this even though I, at the same time, was worried losing time compared to my competitors. At this point I didn’t have a clue where they were and was afraid Anne Dickins from Cloud9 was leading, as she was in front of me on the start line. 

Solo Woman leader :-D

When coming in from my third lap, I was pleased to hear I was leading, and that I, after my first two laps, had 15 minutes on the rider in second. Being told to slow down was exactly what I wanted to hear. Putting in two pretty consistent laps, and chatting with Ant from Cloud9, the entire fifth lap, helped. Trevor had cooked pasta for me after finishing my fifth lap, which was, at this point, more than welcomed. After a good 10-minute food break, it was time to go back out before I got too cold.

During lap six I started to get seriously worried I would get caught. This fear was based on my lack of energy. It just didn’t feel like I had it in me this time. With a few 12/24 hr pair races this last year, I’ve started to recognise signs, and today was just not the day. With work being very busy at the moment, I haven’t been getting much sleep in this last week, which probably played an important role in my performance. From this point I started taking breaks after every lap, and after lap 8 I had another ‘long’ break. Having changed clothes and had some food I went out on what would be my slowest lap. At this point I was so sleepy I couldn’t keep my eyes open. Several times I woke up by hitting a three or coming off the bike in the bushes on the side of the course. I would not be lying if I say I had my eyes closed for more than 50% of that lap.
Reaching the climb out of the second bomb hole from the end, Lorraine had caught me and she was asking if it was me, saying that from the nicest possible way that she didn’t want to see me as I am always kicking her butt racing. I told her I just didn’t have it today and that she should go for it. She said she didn’t want to, she just wanted to finish her last couple of laps.
Coming out on the flat section I went into a higher gear as legs felt strong, and I heard L behind me saying ‘see you later’. I was now wide-awake and had started to realise what was happening. Reaching the pit area I told the crew L had caught me, but was calmed down by the fact that she’d stopped in the feeding area. That was all I needed to hear. I was off. The last 10 hrs had been too painful; I was not going to lose this race.

Although I was desperate for a wee at this point, I was more desperate to win the race. I knew that, even though L had told me she only wanted to finish her last laps, I knew she was going to go for it. Who wouldn’t? With the sun now coming out I felt stronger and stronger. Just above an hour and the crew were surprised to see me back already. ‘Gel and Ibuprofen’ I shouted. The Torq Guarana gel normally does the job and I really needed the painkillers as knees were extremely sore. Waiting for the Ibuprofen I heard Keith saying ‘we will do it!’ and I thought ‘yes, you’re damn right we will do it’!

7 am and just one more lap to go. I was hoping I’d made up some time during my last lap, but could not be sure so there was nothing else but to go out 100% for this last lap. One third through the lap I was told I had managed to get a 5 minute gap to L. At this point I knew I was going to do it. Almost flying round the course I started to worry about what I would do if I reached the finish line before 8 am. I would do another lap if I had to, but I didn’t exactly feel like it. Could I assume L was so far back she would not be able to go out again?

Constantly turning around during the last 2 – 3 miles, but with no sign of L, I finally reached the finish line at 8.02. Once again I’d finished a lap in much shorter time than the crew had expected, and had to make them aware I’d finished already. After this point I found myself on the ground, laughing and screaming with happiness. I was knackered but so pleased I’d done it. Several times during the race, I’d thought I was not going to make it, but here I was, first back of all the solo women. I’m not sure I’d enjoyed all of it, but I certainly enjoyed this moment. With this years XC Masters field having been so competitive, especially for a newbie like me, there can be no better way of finishing the season and/or joining the new team.

Made it to the top step with Lorraine Stanley 2nd and Anne Dickins (Usher) 3rd

Thanks to the Thetford people for another well organised event, to the Timelaps guys for always smiling and cheering me on, and to all the random people for cheering me on in the middle of the night. However, my biggest thanks goes to my new sponsor ‘AKO Ducati Womens Cycling Team UK’ for feeding and looking after me and for never losing faith in me. I have never been as spoiled before and I hope I made you feel you’ve done the right thing having me in your team.