The Manx100 27.7.14
“Black Arrows in Red Boxes is all I dreamt about last night”
My next adventure would take me to the beautiful island of the Isle of Man where I would attempt to ride The Manx 100 mountain bike race. There is an option of either 100k or 100miles but for me the attempt would be 100miles.The ride was on Sunday 27th July departing from the TT Grandstand in Douglas at 6.30am. 60 Riders had registered for the event, an increase from last year as word had spread about this event. I had read top endurance rider Richard Rothwell’s article in Privateer that had made me think about it. The thought of riding 100 miles off-road and climbing 15,000 feet would be my biggest one day achievement as previously my biggest off-road climb was 7,000 feet.
Sunday morning breakfast from the Inglewood was enough to get me, Dave French, Adam Hooley and Iain Leitch up to the start line where several mountain bikers including top endurance riders Jason Miles and Andrew Howett would be doing the same event.
Nigel, who had created the race, briefly explained the usual safety rules and at 6.30am on the dot we were off with a police escort along the busy road, to the first off-road Honey Hill climb.
The 48 riders who had started the ride (not sure what happened to the other 12) were soon spread out and I found myself somewhere in the middle and felt great going along at a steady pace. The first 20 miles were covered in 2 hours so the average speed had me completing the race in 10 hours until I reached “OHIO” climb, which was torture, the rocks, the rubble, no line for you to follow, zig zagging your way up using even more energy to ride over the rocks and trying to find an easier line.
I didn’t have anyone pass me on this climb that just about says it all, “Tough”.
I was now ready for some food after 27 miles and Check Point 2 wasn’t far away but i had the moor to climb up to East Mountain Gate to earn my reward. Unfortunately my food bag was a sandwich short. The Marshall must have eaten it as I was sure I had packed it, (only kidding it was in Bag Drop 2).
After a brief rest and a chat with fellow rider Katie I set off again for some more punishment. After East Mountain Gate you are briefly on the TT road where bikes fly past you at 180 mph what an amazing sight.
The Marshalls at the side of the road had me turning right into a field that didn’t have a path and all I could see was a massive hill and a crumbled old wall. I could see a rider in front so I followed mainly pushing my bike. Having reached the top the views were spectacular and the descent at Snaefell Mines was steep almost vertical. It was a grassy descent with a plantation on either side and as I attempted to ride I didn’t get far enough back on the saddle so I was in free fall hurtling down the grass and then over the handlebars in to the plantation. I felt like Arnie in ‘Collateral Damage’ when he jumps into the plantation and free falls all the way down. My fall kept going but I didn’t mind, as it was a soft landing. Eventually I came to a halt reaching the bottom unscathed with a massive smile.
I was enjoying this epic adventure.
I had now reached the old mining road and bumped into fellow rider Katie who was a local. She shared some insight in to what was coming but most of it went over my head, as I was still thinking about my plantation fall.
The climbing soon started again up a road out of Laxey and fortunately Katie was chit chatting about the chances of doing the 100 miler and I knew it was going to be tough as my nutrition was messed up today. Having had a bad experience on the gels while doing the Crossing on the 11th July, I decided to stay well clear and only eat energy bars but the calorie counter was ramping up rapidly and this showed on the climbs as I slowed. The hill climbs were tough not only are they steep but also rocks, rubble and no real line as you weave your way through trying to find the best line.
I reached the 40-mile mark before the cut off and at St Lukes Church a smiling Nigel greeted me. I did say a prayer here hoping the St Lukes climb wouldn’t be too long and arduous but my prayers weren’t being heard today, as this was torture. I finally reached the top and thanked the Gods. Here I hit the road and the descent Ballaugh via the old End-to-End route. I had a chance to breathe and enjoy the free wheeling before the big climb known as ‘the Baltic’ This is a lung buster and whatever sins you did in your last life well you paid for them now up this climb. I had bonked and my idea of doing this without gels had back fired big time the energy bars just weren’t enough to get me through. I reached Checkpoint 4 with 2 other riders Lisa and a lad from North Wales (I forget his name) where we were thankful for the water The Manx had supplied. The descent from Checkpoint 4 was fabulous, in fact it was that good, myself and fellow rider Lisa had missed the Manx arrow for the left turning and we naturally followed the road round to the right. 54 miles later and we were hammering it along the road hoping Checkpoint 5, Bag Drop 2 wouldn’t be too far away and where I could refuel. We rode along the road for quite a while and then realized that this was definitely the wrong way as I approached Ginger Hall Hotel we stopped and both agreed it was wrong so a quick phone call to Nigel and he reassured me that we needed to come back on ourselves and turn left at the Cattery at Kirk Michael. Unfortunately we had gone that far out we were now going to miss the check-in times for the 100 miler. As I reached the Cattery and turned left, the climb back up to the Baltic was as painful as it gets. I think at this point you could have transported me back to my B&B and I wouldn’t have complained. The heavens had opened and Lisa had disappeared into the distance while I struggled up the climb running on empty. As I reached the top there was still plenty of climbing to do to reach CP5 Bag Drop 2 but further along I could see people in the distance with a vehicle. Lisa and 2 Marshalls who were fabulous greeted me, they handed me my food bag and I dived into it like a hyena tearing at the carcass of a dead animal.
My sandwich tasted awesome and the Alibi juice drink was just what I needed.
It was now 4.30pm and my only option was the 100k as the 100 miler was a distant memory. I was gutted that I had missed the arrows that had cost me over an hour downtime.
The ride from CP5 was a mix of fabulous trails 10 miles of ups and downs. I made my way back to the Grandstand enjoying my last few miles of what had been an amazing journey and an epic adventure for an average mountain biker like me who just loves to ride his bike. The scenery was brilliant the Isle of Man is beautiful and the people I met were awesome. The route is brutal and very tough and if you don’t like the rough stuff such as rocks, boulders motorbike tracks etc. then it’s not for you. As I approached the Grandstand my Garmin had showed 76 miles and 3,150 metres of climbing 10,300 feet that is the most off-road climbing I have ever done in one day so I was chuffed with that. The ride proved to be a tough one for most as approximately 25 had finished both 100miles and 100km 60 people had signed up for the race and 48 had started it on Sunday morning.
My epic journey had taught me to sort my nutrition and don’t get lost. I had thoroughly enjoyed this epic adventure meeting like-minded people who love mountain biking.
Nigel, Dave and the crew had done a marvelous job creating this event and with the correct exposure it could be massive for the mountain bikers who want to push themselves that bit further than the normal 30-40 mile sportives that exist.
Whichever event you do the 100k or 100miles you will find it tough but enjoyable and self rewarding climbing over 10,000 feet on the rough, tough terrain that Isle of Man has to offer because when you reach that finish line and receive your medal you know it will have been worth it.
• Would I change anything:
Yes an earlier start 6am or 5.30am for the slower ones like me.
More water stops along the way I will pay extra if costs are a problem.
A few more signs
I had no punctures or mechanicals
Technical info:
Salsa El Mariachi Titanium 29er
Fully Rigid Carbon Forks
SRAM XX1 1×11 32t-42t
Red Metal Fulcrum Rims
Shimano XTR brakes
SRAM XX1 Cranks
Tyres Specialized Renegade 2.1
Nitro Flat Pedals (I do not wear cleats!)
And lots of other bits
Weight of bike 21lbs 9.5kg
