Information:
Intro:
Salisbury Plain Area Mountain bikers are responsible for the organisation of The SPAM Winter Challenge coming up on 30th December,
the Lavington BLAST in September, and new for 2008 a Summer 12 Hour Enduro.
We also enjoy regular club rides in and around the Salisbury Plain area as well as further a field.
Photo Gallery:
Link:
spambiking
Misc:
We are planning to enter some of the SPAM events next year. Check the forum for more details.
Member Comments:
A thoroughly enjoyable XC ride. I only did the 35k which in hindsight I
wish I would have done the 50k instead. The weather on the day could
not really have been any better, however the rain we had had in the
weeks running up to the event had left a fair amount of puddles and mud.
We all met near to the registration tent for the briefing, then were lead
from there to the start, which we were told was on the main road. Been
the first event I have ever done with a mass start, I was unsure as how
the start would take place. As we rounded the first corner and started
the first mile long climb I guessed we were already underway.
I believe there were approx 260 starters for the 35k and around 400 on
the 50k (which started 15 mins prior to us) and the 25k had around 85
starters.
Near the top of the first climb the tarmac turned into
gravel track and we continued with a gradual ascent until we came out
into the open. This was then nearer to the Salisbury Plain I know.
After a short respite on the flat we then turned onto grassy tracks
which zig-zagged their way up and down and to and from the gravel track
we had left. With a few good downhill blasts, a steep slippery section
through a small wood and a few very tough climbs (one which seemed to
beat most people) we were covering a fair few miles. By this time we
were also starting to get mixed in amongst some of the 50k riders.
After the final climb of this section we then returned to the tarmac
covering a few miles before we came across the wartime training ghost
village of Imber (takes me back to my Army Cadet days.)
Having my computer on my bike and working out that 35k was about 22 miles we
were now at about 14-15 mile mark, I knew we were into the final
stages. Knowing where we were at this point and knowing I only had
around about 7 miles to go I started to pick up my pace a little. What
I didn't know was the slight diversion they would have us do down a
steep tarmac hill towards Bratton, (40.9 mph recorded downhill) however
what goes down must come back up again, only problem was that is was
steeper going back up, with a few ghost summits thrown in for good
measure.
Finally we were back at the top fairly close to where
we started, my immediate thoughts are we are going to use the same
route back to the finish, but no! one more turn sends us on a gravel
downhill trail onto a singletrack through the woods with the car park
in sight, but still a few more small climbs, drops and not so small
puddles to go. At the sight of a marshal stood at the end of the trail
and turning us onto a very slippery chalky rutted track before the
final couple of hundred meters across the grass to pass under the
finish line.
My time for the ride was 2h22m which I was quite
pleased with, looking at the times of the others taking part puts me in
the top third, I now have a time to beat next year.(although I will
probably do the longer one)
Any one up for Team "themountainbikers" next year.
There have been a couple of comments about too much tarmac which I do find a
little unfair with over 700 riders passing over, it would have been
stupid conditions. My gears were struggling by the 15 mile point as it
was.
Congratulations to Doug for getting round, and also to Reb
and his wife who did the 25k. Also to anyone else who rode.