Beer, bikes and barmyness...
Single Speed UK Race, Drumlanrig Castle, Scotland
Drumlanrig Castle
Report by Jess Hemming
Off Again
If you are into mountain biking and haven't been to a single speed race then you don't know what you are missing. These events are mad! We went up to Scotland on the May bank holdiay weekend to once again take part in a single speed race, well Ray did, I've yet to pluck up the courage to dispense with my granny ring.
What a Location
The approach to the event was down a long, gravelled drive where you could see the very grand Drumlanrig Castle in front you - our old bashed about VW Golf, stuffed full of mountain bikes, tools and kit seemed a little out of place in such surroundings. However, not for long.... the road finally veered off onto some pasture where there was a rapidly growing sea of tents, amidst a flock of sheep who were prudently keeping their distance.
After a good night of socialising, an uncomfortable night in the tent (Ray had pitched it on a slope and I spent the night rolling off my camping matress!), we were up bright and early ready to check out the trails before the racing the following day.
Cracking Trails
I went off with a group of girls (brave ones on single-speeds,...I was on my geared bike) to try out the red route, whilst Ray went with another bunch (quite a few from Ashton Mountain Bike Club) to do the black. One word - great. Lots of rooty, single track, which although, damp, was ridable.
About a quarter of the way round, the sun, which had been well hidden by grey cloud until that point, started to come out and I feared that Sam the dog, who I'd left in the car, was going to cook. I therefore, parted company with my riding friends and tried to finish the trail as fast as I could, not realising just how much of the trail still lay ahead! I was virtually on my knees with exhaustion when I got back to the car... Sam was fine though and by the time I'd recovered and had time to reflect upon the ride I was revelling in just how good it had been.
The barmyness Begins
Image link: Ray on the wonky pink bike - Image by Sheldon Attwood
Saturday night was Ceilidh, haggis, neeps and tatties night in the marquee, but before that, there was the serious business of "circuit racing", well a coned off area of the camp where guys, at various levels of drunkeness, raced each other on Penny Farthing Mountain Bikes. Then there were the other bikes to tear around the ring on, crazy bikes, like the pink girls bike with offset wheels - Ray took to the track on that one and that was a sight to behold! There was also a bike that you had to pedal, using the handle bars!
Image link: Me trying out the Penny Farthing MTB - Image by Sheldon Attwood
The Race
Such a serious event, deserves a serious start, er hmm. The riders all leave their bikes somewhere nice and handy and easy to remember then trot off, roughly 100 yards away to the start line, ready for the le Mans start. Whilst they are all stranded on the other side of the field, a few wicked individuals decide to make things a little more interesting and start moving bikes around and heaping them up! Then the race begins! Standing near the bikes and watching the stampede begin, was like witnessing and hearing the start of a battle, the ground almost vibrated with 500 feet charging our way, complete with battle cries! Then it all stops as everyone looks around in bewilderment, trying to locate their bike!
The race finishes once the first rider has completed three laps of the demanding forested course. One other aspect of the race that shouldn't be forgotten is the beer stand; part of the way round, those riders who stop and drink a pint of beer are then allowed to take a shortcut on that lap! What a fine way to race!
Image Link: Ray on a tricky section - Image by Sheldon Attwood
The End
The weekend culminated in a fantastic barbeque which included sausages and burgers produced by the Buccleuch Estate, followed by the handing out of the awards (categories a plenty!) and freebies. We were then treated to a cry from the bar of "Free beer", which caused another stampede, the like of which had been witnessed earlier at the start of the race. Finally, later on that evening, we were treated to a band - the dance floor rocked... especially when one of the guys charged in to the marquee on his penny farthing mtb, the damp knobblies skidding on the wooden boards....
Hats off the organisers for a splendid weekend!
Useful Links
Drumlanrig Castle - MTB Trails
http://www.ssuk08.com/