Having toyed with the idea of racing the 12 hour this year, we decided against it due to lack of fitness…! So instead we returned armed with the now legendary Pedal Progression ramp, to watch, cheer, heckle and make loud noises! Here’s how it went down.
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We arrived at Ashton Court to find the warm morning sun, blue skies, Matt Carr in a pimping white blazer and banging tunes being pumped from the back of a Vito Sport. With a slightly different arrangement to previous years, the finish line and event village was in a corner of Bristol Cathedral Choir School field. Soon we had found the ideal spot for the Pedal Progression ramp; a fast grass straight, with a slight downhill gradient, and quickly sweeping into the last corner of the lap. The deckchairs went up, and fresh batteries loaded into the megaphones ready for 12 hours of heckles, encouragement and laughter.
Sitting next to rowdy Welsh club ‘Half Way Up’ proved to be good fun, with banter flowing, as well as fluids (see the main picture). MB Swindon also had a great crew of riders at the event, including one of our clients Tom Stickland who was making good use of his new skills on the Pedal Progression ramp throughout the day.
As the sun burned brightly, the race action was heating up with battles being fought and mistakes being made. The final corner was claiming many victims (we counted 7) as the grass started to wear in, with one rider ending up in a tent pitched on the outside of the bend! Each man down was welcomed with cheers in good nature as the festival spirit prevailed.
There were a few unfortunate mechanicals spotted, with one rider carrying his frame and forks in separate hands (pictured) and to the amusement of many, a back wheel falling out as the poor owner lifted his trusty cycle over the transition gate after seemingly completing a lap with no QR fitted.
Sam and I put a stop to various cheats, as some of the faster riders tried to cut corners where they could. Names will remain a secret now, but if it happens again next year we WILL tell on you! Haha!
Bubalu entered a team of riders donning our logo on their bright green race jerseys, and found some unfortunate luck early on with their fastest rider picking up an injury on his first lap.
All in all it was a great day, and perhaps next year we’ll find the legs to have a crack at the podium? Watch this space.
Well done to all who got involved and thanks to Paul Newman and Mike Wilkens for putting on another great event… and to Matt Carr for entertaining us all throughout the day! Roll on Oktoberfest!
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