SUCCESS AT MOUNTAIN MAYHEM FOR THE ROYAL NAVY’S MOUNTAIN BIKE SQUAD

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines’ Cycling Association had a resounding success at MM 09 where two of its teams competed in the ‘Mountain Mayhem’ 24 hour endurance mountain bike event, held at Eastnor Deer Park in Herefordshire.

Now in its 11th year, Mountain Mayhem is the UK’s toughest endurance event and attracted racers from all over the world.  The event saw 2,351 riders (450 teams and 150 soloists) compete around the nine-mile circuit in teams of up to ten, or as solo riders, while a 15,000 strong crowd of spectators stormed the grounds to cheer the riders through the mud.

The Navy entered two teams into the Open category and the Services’ sub-category (both the Army and RAF entered three teams respectively).  The RN A Team consisted of Major Steve McCulley RM (team captain), Major Andy Plewes RM, Surg Lt Cdr (D) Alistair Lovell RN and PO(AET) Simon Parker, and the B Team had WO2 George Arey RM (team captain), Capt Dan Pyke RM, WO2(ET)ME Paul Clarke RN and L(LOGS) Rob Smith.

Starting the race Le Mans Style

At two o’clock a Le Mans style start meant that the two riders nominated to lead the teams out had a three quarter mile run before getting on the bike and tackling the nine mile course.  In a show of ‘leading from the front’ both team captains volunteered/were nominated to take the honours.  The RAF were first to make it back to transition with Major McCulley and WO2 Arey well placed within the leading group.

At around the hour mark it was the turn of the next riders to take the baton, with Major Andy Plewes going out for the A Team and LLogs Smith for the B.  Major McCulley was first back having completed his opening lap in 54 minutes (including the run) and followed soon after by WO2 Arey, putting in a solid time of 58 minutes.  And that’s how the next 23 hours continued.  The A Team lapped at between 43 and 53 minutes and the B Team consistently lapped around the hour mark.

There were a few dramas along the way, and mainly befalling Surg Lt Cdr Lovell: in his first lap he fell and broke his rear derailleur less than a quarter of the way round, so he finished the lap by running the hills and flats and free-wheeling the downhills.  Incredibly, he still managed to complete the lap in a stirling time of 63 minutes.  Surg Lt Cdr Lovell said ”I was descending a steep grassy section when the rear of the bike disappeared from under me!  The derailleur must have hit something and it broke.  I knew the rest of the team would be relying on me, so I just made best pace on my feet for the rest of the lap.”

Surg Cdr Al Lovell prepares to leave. (photo courtesy of Stuart Brookes)

Surg Lt Cdr Lovell’s next set back occurred a few laps later when one of his pedals broke.  He said “I still had the pedal shaft, but the cleat that attached the shoe to the pedal was useless.  Luckily it didn’t affect me too much and we managed to source a replacement pedal when I returned to the team camp.”

Eight o’clock came and it was time to fit lights and look forward to a few dark laps.  All competitors were required to have two separate lights, which proved a fortuitous ruling as when WO2 Arey went out for his first night lap his main light failed.  He said “I was about half way round the course when I lost the main light, which left me with little more than my normal head torch for the remainder.  Let’s just say the rest of the lap was interesting!”

WO2 George Arey during a rest period

It was during the night that LLogs Smith put in his fasted lap and recorded a top speed of 37.9mph.  He added “I really enjoy riding at night.  I think it’s because you can’t see so many of the obstacles.  After the rain on Friday the course had started off a bit wet and sticky, but as the day progressed the course dried out.  Prior to that quick lap I changed from mud tyres to a faster semi-slick tyre.  When I got home and downloaded the data from my Garmin watch I was a little surprised to see the top speed was so high!”

The night passed with no more issues or mishaps and by morning the routine of ride, handover, eat, prepare bike, relax (if possible), handover and ride again seemed the norm, and then it was two o’clock and all over. Royal Navy B was first over the line with 24 laps in 24 hours and 7 minutes followed 5 mins later with the A Team having completed 29 laps.

POAET Si Parker in "night mode"  (photo courtesy of Stuart Brookes)

Once the dust had settled after more than 24 hours of racing, the A Team finished 6th out of 97 in the Open category (this would have given the team 4th out of 229 in the Sport category), 15th overall (including the Elite teams) and 2nd in the Services’ category; only one lap down on the RAF’s A Team and 10 minutes in front of the Army’s A Team.  Each rider had consumed well over 5,000 calories and collectively they had travelled 253.75 miles and ascended from sea level to the height of Everest.  Meanwhile the B Team finished 24th in the Open category and 4th in the Services’ category.

Maj Steve McCulley in action

Major McCulley said ”Events like this help to raise the sporting profile of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines during a very busy operational period.  All the team members gave up their own time to compete in this event, but it proves that there is more to the forces than just exercises and deployments away from home.  Hopefully we can overhaul the RAF next year!”

RN Recruiting Stand Life Without Limits....

In addition to the race, both the Navy and the Army had substantial recruiting stands at the event and CPO Ray Harris of AFCO Gloucester said “It was great being at an event like Mountain Mayhem, and having two teams of Navy and Marines racing for 24 hours helped to raise our profile.”

Front page photo depicts LLogs Rob Smith courtesy of event official photographer Rob Crayton www.robcrayton.co.uk