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This was my first mtb event: 12 hours pairs back in 2010. Since then I've regularly racing. This Saturday I'm doing 123 hours solo.

It's Bank Holiday, any Essex Herts MTB riders out there?

http://www.erlestoketwelve.com/

Mixed feelings at this event.
Saturday morning and thinking of not starting as the rain poured. I didn't even dare to leave the sleeping bag. But I started to prepare 'just in case' so after breakfast got my number plate and timing chip.

At midday and not raining (that helped) the 12 hours solo, pairs, teams and mixed started. 6 hours race started at 1pm. The course had tons of singletrack, not very rooty with some fun bombholes. There was a 1km time trial within the course which added more entertainment. But the rain had made some parts of the course unrideable, pushing bikes and clogging wheels to everyone's annoyment. After 3 hours course settled, became less cloggy, faster and more enjoyable. At 8pm I took the lights and went fopr the last 3 laps. Furst one went fine and had plenty of time for the other 2 but the rain showed up and course became a bit spicy towards the end. Second night lap it ws raining a lot and I crashed several times so decided to push bike on the now nasty bombholes. Still finished fine and left for the last one without cage bottle. When I returned at 11:42 I couldn't even smile. Took me 30 minutes to stop shivering. Need to invest in some waterproof clothing

I didn't like the timing at all. We never had any idea of our positions, lap times or any information at all. That's room for improvement. Other than that I'll return next year unless is raining badly.

Good going mate sounds a tuff 1!

That sounds like one heck of a race. Character building stuff, good effort.

Sounds like a mans race good stuff and nice report

12hrs......I am aching just thinking about it. Great effort, especially in that weather.