Battle on the Beach 2016

[Chris Clague]

Last year was chicanes all the way, but it was warm, dry and sunny. I fear this year may be a little cooler and/or wetter.

[Steve Hanks]

So I guess everyone has their pre race email?

So, being an "agile employee" I don't have a printer so I'm suddenly in need of someone to print my park tickets for me. Can anyone help out?

Ta

[BruceMackie]

It's confirmed that Cal's off with his team to Brecon for the first round of the National Road Race series plus a friend is unable to attend due to work so if anyone is after a place I have 2 up for grabs and the tickets include camping.

Steve, send me your email link and I can print them off for you

[Steve Hanks]

Thanks Bruce - turned out Mrs H was visiting MIL and was able to do this for me.

So, does everyone's pre-race rituals preclude a social meet at Hotel LP or could we aim to meet for a bite to eat maybe? I'm hoping to be there from 5 after pre-registering so I can have a lie in on Sunday.

[Steve Hanks]

All - Wales are playing in Cardiff at home Saturday so the M4 there is going to be an issue. Suggest the a40 up around Gloucester then across via the Valleys road past Merthr to rejoin the m4 at Neath.

[BruceMackie]

We're camping so hopefully see you all there. Good call re the Rugby Steve, kick off is 2:30 so provided you're passing later (but not too much later) should be ok.

Any last minute takers for the 2 places I have otherwise they'll be going to waste? Give me a call on 07831 230090

[WillBeresford]

So then. How'd you all do?

[Chris Clague]

Was fantastic as ever but I failed to finish as I was in too much back pain. I somehow blagged my way onto the second row at the start which meant there weren't so many groups ahead to jump across. I picked up Damian on the way forward and we hauled our way up to Bruce's group. At this point we were in sight of the lead group so I buried myself to try and help Bruce bridge. Damian dropped off the train so there were two of us in no-mans land and Bruce so nearly made contact - I think he reckoned he got to about 5m off the back of the group. Must admit I was a bit fried already but it really was enormous fun. After washing my entire groupset through the massive puddles I started to have shifting problems so for a some parts of the lap I had only about 3 but as it dried out they'd largely return. All the bouncing around at the far end of the course left me in quite a bit of pain though, but I couldn't resist going round again and offered a taxi service up the beach to about a dozen MTBs next time round. They demonstrated their gratitude by dropping me almost immediately on the singletrack, but it was ok. As I got to the end of the second lap (of 3) it just hurt too much and I'm going skiing on Friday so I bailed. Only at that point as I sat on the grass did I realise just how far ahead I was of so many who'd normally kick my butt at CX races. I probably should have carried on after all...

Am sure Bruce will be along when he gets home to tell how close he got to a podium.

[Steve Hanks]

No idea of my results yet.

But my god, what an awesome event. I've never seen beach which is so wide you can't see the sea.

I was a bit down in the mouth at the start as I rode all the way to the end of the beach with Chris (8km) only to have a shell slash my tyre so badly the sealant wouldn't work. I ended up jogging for 45 minutes back to the start (not the most ideal warm up), to visit Mr Schwalbe with my wallet expecting to be royally shafted. He then announced here was there for display only, an couldn't sell me a tyre. AAARGH. But as my bottom lip started to quiver he took pity and GAVE me a top of the line Racing Ralph, Tube, sealant AND mounted to for me! Thank you Schwalbe!

Because of the delay then I ended up at the back, but once we were off boy did I feel good. I cant describe what an awesome view seeing hundreds of riders strung along 8km of beach looks like. Moving from peleton to peloton riding and being sucked along at 30kph - on an MTB - along the sand, what a feeling! The single track was awesome and fast also but causing some issues for the CXer's the MTB were able to pull back some space. On we went, and I seemed to spend all three laps catching and passing people I felt very strong today, what a shame I could have started at the front. In fact I would have happily ridden a 4th lap, so perhaps I didn't go hard enough on the 3 allocated.

All in all I put 3 consistent laps in at 43mins for 15k each, and have driven 250 miles home with a massive smile on my face. Definitely going back next year!

[BruceMackie]

No podiums but perhaps close. Nearly bridged to the lead group with Damian and Chris on the first run up the beach but just came up short. Changes to the course made the initial section off the beach more difficult for a cross bike, then the subsequent run through the dunes also favoured a 29er. Course was somewhat trickier than last year with lots of deep water, mud and sketchy descents. Ben Spurier crashed badly on the first run up the beach and we had to take some drastic avoiding action. Didn't see him afterwards but had beer with one of the Vicious crew at the finish and apparently everyone got up and finished.

I'd hoped my hybrid mutant Specialized Crux with 2.1 section 650b front wheel would give an edge but I think I should have wheeled out the 29er again. It looked like most people thought so too as cross bikes were in the minority. Anyway, travelling back with Simon Pemberton, hopefully make it home in an hour or so but already planning next years crack at it.

[Steve Hanks]

Results out. 75th of 195 Vets for me in 2:10:59. Considering I started 195th I'll take a top 100 any day

[BruceMackie]

Results from assorted Phoenix plus some former/2nd claim Phoenix riders are:

Overall-Name Finish time-Lap 1-Lap 2-Lap 3-Category position-Age category

70 Bruce Mackie 01:53:24 00:33:17 00:39:24 00:40:42 4th Grand Veteran
83 Simon Pemberton 01:55:25 00:36:09 00:38:29 00:40:46 30th Veteran
93 Damian Robertson 01:56:41 00:33:59 00:39:47 00:42:53 46th Open
154 Matthew Webber 02:05:04 00:45:15 00:38:45 00:41:03 52nd Veteran
203 Steve Hanks 02:10:59 00:43:04 00:43:45 00:44:09 75th Veteran
227 Kevin Carter 02:14:20 00:40:55 00:44:55 00:48:29 87th Veteran

[Damian Robertson]

Great event and favourable conditions. I was pleased with my result in the TT 'night race' ; at 7pm Saturday evening - a slightly shorter lap of the course. Came 14th in that (to Matt's 13th and Crispin Doyle of CX acclaim for reference in 10th), majorly on the rivet with freezing air coming into the lungs, hacking coughs afterwards. Set off every 15 seconds Matt closed me down on the beach so I sat on his wheel. Thought I'd take my turn towards the end of the beach and there I stayed to the finish taking the course well. Subject to full recovery thought I might do well on the actual BotB.

A melee of a start saw much craziness as we all got into big pelotons. Once rolling I didn't find tip top power - couldn't get the hyper space working! It seemed to come every now and again but I had to rest on wheels. After a brief rest in the second peloton I rode off the front (foolish) to try and bridge with Chris and Bruce, but it wasn't long before the gas ran out again. The subsequent rides along the huge distance of beach were made working with others or at least one other while several sat on our wheels. On the last lap I worked well with a mountain biker with two ladies in tow. Yep, at the end of the beach they passed by without a word and rode off. I said to my workmate 'our work is done!' to laughter. But yeh as described above the mtbs ate up the next sections more easily. Will take my 29er next year. Not sure why I'm down as an open male - thought I'd entered as a vet. Towards the end of the last lap thinking some race leaders were on a 4th lap (or something?!) I stood aside only to realise I was allowing rivals to go by including Simon. Think I'd have been 35th vet ish.

Well done everyone else! A pretty unique event with many great features to the course. Cor, the deeper sand on my last lap took me down at speed much to the amusement of the many spectators! Pembrey sands - a large and very popular resort with all sorts of activities going on. Now to return to the Fred training.

[Steve Hanks]

Little bit of a video here:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i-xKGnlZvpw

[BruceMackie]

love the music!

Pembury Parks posted a video from the end of the beach, I think it's me there not getting to the back of the first group…

https://www.facebook.com/PembreyCountry ... 905392717/