Rad am Ring 24 hr team push bike race.

Last weekend I did a little cycling at Rad am Ring, the Nurburgring cycle event.

So me and a few guys on Northloop entered this again, 24hours of cycling round the Nordschleife and the Nurburgring Sprintstrcke (short GP track) in a team of 4. So that's a 25km lap with plenty of hill! Note a lot of the photos are from other team members so I can't take credit.

We had a preevnt meal in the comfy corner on Friday night, along with supporters, team managers, sponsors and general riff raff.



Some of the others had set up our preliminary camp/pit/change over area at the end of the start finish straight already.

Saturday morning and it was a case of up early to sort stuff. Like putting bikes on the back of a Hilux, lots of people required for this:



Team shirt and friendly sponsors:



Most of the team, a couple were missing whilst going back to the cars etc:



It was soon race time and our two team starters set of together (affectionately known as the fast team and team mong):

So the race was on, over 1000 4 person teams in the 24 hr event, along with the other events (6 lap individual, 24hr individual, 24hr MTB, etc!)

After 20 minutes we had a phone call, not good news for us in Team fast, Rory's chain had come off going up Kesselchan and had got jammed in between the frame and his bottom chain ring, there was no way he could get it out. Luckily I was semi kitted up, 30 secs later and I was jumping on the bike, heading out to meet him and grab the transponder off him (it was this that records the team position with various traps round the track). Luckily I was heading out as the peloton of the mens 6lap race came passed, just starting on their 2nd lap.

I tucked in and probably behaved very improperly, pushing my way to the front on the initial slight downhill sections, and dropping to the back on the light uphills. By the time we got heading down to Schwadenkreuz I had pushed to the front again, leading into Aremberg and using circuit knowledge to lead down the foxhole, and regaining the lead again into kallenhard, into Miss-Hit-Miss, through Wherseifen (no brakes for the brave) down to Breidscheid bridge. They all came flying passed me though up Ex-Muhle and on the drag through Bergwerk towards Kesselchen. I saw Rory ahead and did a transponder change over (it was wrapped round a water bottle) woth only a slight dip in pace. I then continued for the next few kms, onwards and upwards, a real gring on my double chain ring, no small cog to drop down to. the heat was verging on 30 degrees C and the tarmac was reflecting more, Angst Kurve was sheer pain.

Once passed Hohe Acht it was a case of draught wherever possible. I returned for the change over, although my rushed departure meant I'd forgotten my phone, but the other Tim on our team was soon out and pedalling. First lap 54 minutes, not bad.



It was then a case of chilling in between sessions, our camp was nicely setup, plenty of pasta on tap, brocolli soup, litres of water, time to soak it all up:

Tim came in from his lap, he'd enjoyed it:



So then Garry went out, looks hot doesn't it:



I sorted my speedo battery out, I'd been without it the lap before after having to leave a little earlier than expected:



Garry returned, then Rory was out and soon back:



So it was my turn again:



With some good draughting and a nice speed up the hill I managed my best lap, a 52:45, and the fastest of either of our two teams for the event, I was chuffed

Meanwhile other members kept refuelling on the athletic food known as waffles:

I headed back:



And had obviously enjoyed my fast time:



Although some powerade refuelling was required.





It was soon time for some Broccoli soup:



The team was running through smoothly:



Evening was soon approaching,



So it was time to start sorting out the lights:



And help out team Mong with running adjustments:



The sun soon started to set:





So the lights were put on, time for some night racing:





As always I draughted like a bugger, racing in the dark is ace, especially the down hill section, although the heat had still to subside.



Towards the end of the lap I noticed a few clunks coming from my drivetrain, but I was too busy concentrating on the hills to be concerned. I noticed it a little more on my cool down so investigated, it appeared my frewheel had started to catch, not ideal with 50+mph downhill frewheel sections. These were a new set of wheels, cassette and chain, luckily I had my old rear wheel back in the car so I headed back and changed wheels over, transferring the cassette. After a brief test ride this seemed to cure the problem.

All of these running repairs and trips back to the car meant I had little time to get some rest, I managed an hour snoozing in a chair before getting up at 1:20am for my next shift. A bit of food and then I was ready, heading out on track before 2am. By now the track had cooled a little, small pockets of cooling mist were felt in places, a welcome relief. Charging through the foxhole in the dark was something else, if only at just over 50mph, this feels fast on two contact patches the size of your thumb and no suspension!

Up at the top of Hohe Acht burning logs had been lit, the Nurburgring felt pretty special.

It was back in for a change over to the only other team mate awake, eat some food, try and rinse off the adrenalin of racing and into a tent to try and grab a couple of hours kip.

Up at 5:30 am ready for the next shift, the sky was lightening in the east, I decided to remove my head torch and front lights, ready for lap 5.



The sun came out whilst i was lapping. special between the pain to say the least.

Some of the team freshened up:



Some of the supportes were less than impressed:



I tried to chill and keep hydrated:



Into the morning and discussing tactics, or how many poos we'd had, one or the other:



we got word from Garry on our team that he'd also had a chain problem, somehow it had come off the big ring at the back and into the wheel, taking out two spokes as it went, leaving the bike unrideable. Garry didn't give up, he walked up Hohe Acht with the bike on his shoulder until a mechanic van came round. luckily they had a spare wheel which they lent him, although he had to fit it himself which he says was a little tricky, as by this stage of the event his hands and arms were shaking from exhaustion. True grit, he carried on to finish the lap, only 10 minutes down on his expected time.

Out again for the 6th and final time, getting a PB down the Foxhole of 59mph

Finally both teams joined Garry for the his very last lap to cross the line together:



An awesome event, 23 laps by our team (even though me and rory both did a 1st lap the transponder only did one when I rescued it off him), and 21 laps for Team Mong, stirling efforts. We finished in approx 394th place and 475th place, not bad out of over 1000 starting teams!

It was then time to retire to the Blaue Ecke for a quick nap and then some team food and beers:




And some pratting about with the presents from our sponsors:



A top weekend. Photos and my words fail to explain it. I'll be back.

Looks like a super-fun yet physically hard weekend Tim.

Some great pics there, I like the one of you all finishing together!

Men in lycra