Sara Burdon at home in the Alps
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The race every mountain biker has to race! Well that's what it's billed as but it always seemed a little terrifying to me. I've watched the videos, seen the photos and read the stories. It sounded cool, but also like it might be just a little beyond my reach, a step past what I'm able to ride. This year, however, I found myself signed up and registered for the event, I arrived in Alpe d'Huez at our very swanky chalet on Wednesday evening.
We're lucky enough to have the DH racers Petra Wiltshire and Emily Horridge staying with us and helping out, and they offered to take me out to ride the course the next day. Suddenly it dawned on me there really was no getting out of it. I think it's here where I should mention that I'm not really a downhiller, but an XC rider, with about 4-5 years riding experience and a few goes on a DH bike. However, I have a Dianesse jacket and 661 leg pads, a brand new 661 full face helmet and am lucky enough to have a Santa Cruz Bullit to ride for the weekend.
So after padding up, we headed for the lifts, me on my bright green Bullit, Petra on her sparkly Trek Session 77 and Emily on a Mountain Cycles Sin. DH bikes are shunned in favour of shorter travel lighter bikes due to all the climbs on the race route. Well, shorter travel bikes to these girls, but a big hefty bike compared to what I'm used to! At the top of the lift a short rocky section leads you to the glacier and lots of snow. There Petra gave me some advice and we set off. I was terrified, wondering what I was doing on a bike on a glacier. But then I realized I was having more fun than I have had in ages. It was great. You see there's a technique to everything, and we found it to be sitting on the saddle with legs sticking out in the snow. Might not look so cool but worked a treat! Then find a rut and just stay in it. Surprisingly easy! I had a few sideways tumbles and lots of slides, but nothing serious - snow's nice and soft to fall in. Then we hit a steep section. Petra's advice from having ridden it last year was to stand by the side of the bike and slide down on your heels. She looked pretty good so I gave it a go. Soon I was sliding on my arse, but overtaking Petra and all the other blokes trying to get down. Result! So that's my race tactic sorted. Feet and bike can act as brakes and the only downside is chilly legs. Soon we were down the steep section (and it felt pretty good to be the one waiting at the bottom for a change!) and after a bit more snow we hit the rocky section.
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So, lots of big rocks, some loose rocks, plus some singletrack across the mountain with an exposed steepish drop down to the left, all scary stuff to me. However, with a bit of help from Petra I was soon down most of it. Riding with Petra was great for me, partly as she's such a skilled rider, and partly it was good just to have someone to work out lines with and that I knew would be waiting for me. I'm not ashamed to say that I walked some of the steep technical rocky sections, but it was no big deal. Plenty of blokes also pre-riding the course were walking sections and the worst bits were all short so over fast. I was pretty chuffed with a lot of the ground I got over and soon felt so much better than I had on leaving the chalet. We met back up with Emily and carried on along a mix of gravely singletrack and swoopy dirt sections. There were a few climbs thrown in and a short section of muddy singletrack before a nice fast grassy descent into Alpe d'Huez.
At this point we decided to ride the full route today and stop for lunch after. The section after Alpe d'Huez is a lovely gentle traverse across the mountain with some stunning views to take in, then a short steep push up the hill. Once up it's singletrack once more, but nothing too technical, the only issue being a step drop to the left. The answer I learned is to look at the trail, not the drop, and before you know it you're sailing along. Next up is a short tarmac section followed by a drop into the woods for a rollercoaster ride. This was great fun, not too tricky but fun and fast, except for the climbs!
Next up were some tight rooty switchbacks. Petra and Emily flew down them while I followed at a more steady pace. As I got more used to the Bullit and what it could take I gradually got faster and better over the rougher ground. We also saw multiple winner Rene Wildhaber who really showed us all up. Getting out of the way for faster riders wasn't an issue as there was plenty of space to pull over out of the way. A flat undulating bit was followed by a road crossing and then more tight rooty switchbacks. All done beautifully, except for a momentary lapse of concentration that had me tumbling through the undergrowth.
Petra Wilshire
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So, this morning I was terrified, thinking I shouldn't be here riding something a big as the Mega. Now I've ridden the route I'm looking forward to the race. I know the mass start and having lots of people around will add a new dimension, but I also know it'll be fun, and I don't need to worry about it. My advice if you're going for it…definitely pre-ride the course and take a mate with you, preferably someone that's a better rider than you, but who will wait for you and ride with you. Petra made the perfect companion for me and riding with her helped me get down lots of terrain I might not always ride. But I realize not everyone's lucky enough to have her expertise, so just find another girl and set out ready to have fun and not take it too seriously and you'll have a laugh. On the glacier I forgot how much better she is than me as we laughed and slid around together. Now that beats macho competitiveness every time! And just go for it, there's no shame in walking sections and you won't be the only one doing it.
This year out of over 1400 entries there are only 59 women entered. Better than last year, but there should be more of us. We have our own start so instead of 300 men lining up at once there's just two rows of women heading off and next year I want there to be a proper mass start for the women. Let's hit 100.
Sara Burdon of www.flowmtb.com
Gayle Hammond
