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  • Amateur MTB Marathon: Rob Lee, Meet the Pro

  • I pinned down Cyclist No.1 blogger and pro endurance racer Rob Lee, to try find out what goes on in the head of a long distance mountain bike racer

Words by Gary Lake - posted 22/12/2009

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Amateur MTB Marathon: Rob Lee, Meet the Pro

As part of my amateur marathon series preparation, I caught up with Cyclist No.1 blogger and pro endurance racer, Rob Lee. I wanted to see what insights, tips and advice I could get from him - and seeing as he's won most of the top UK endurance events at one time or another, it seemed wise to ask! He's also coached several other athletes to 24-hour success, so if there's anyone who can prepare me for what I'm getting myself into, it is Rob...

Gary Lake: So Rob, how long have you been on the racing scene now?

Rob Lee: I started racing in May 1993, which was about 4 weeks after I started mountain biking and cycling in general! I've raced every year since, so 2010 will be my 18th season.

GL: A fair while then! What made you settle and focus on the long distance events?

RL: I was good at them! Well I say good at them, what I probably mean is that I was more suited to that type of riding than I was to going flat-out for a shorter period of time. I raced in the Elite category in XC races for 6 seasons ('96 to '01), and whilst I had some good days at regional level, I really struggled to make the breakthrough at National level. I was consistent throughout the season, and even finished 10th overall in the UK in '08, but I never had any real big wins as an Elite xc racer.

I then went away to New Zealand and their races were longer than ours - I did OK, but then enduro started to come about. I raced their first National Marathon Championships and finished 3rd! I came back home and raced regional and National XC for another season - mainly because it was what I always did. I then did my first 12 hour solo at Dusk 'til Dawn, just to see if I could ride for that long, and I won! Anthony White was 2nd, with Andy Heading 3rd - it was then that I realised I was in the wrong game specialising with XC racing. 

Rob Lee Endurance Rider

GL: Do you think endurance racing is something that anyone can be good at it?

RL: Not everyone is going to be suited to something, but I think that any fit individual with a bit of trail-riding skill can have a good crack at it. It depends on what you define as "good" I guess? Personally, I don't think Enduro racing in this country has reached what you could define as an "elite" world standard. I certainly wouldn't consider myself an Elite standard athlete by international standards, and I actually have a very healthy list of podium results to show for myself! Basically, the power profile of many of the successful UK enduro athletes certainly wouldn't suggest the level in this country has reached an "Elite" standard.

So maybe the question should be, "is there more chance of being successful at enduro than XC?" And I'd say the answer is yes. I think there are certainly enduro racers in the UK who have the talent to be world class, but because they don't need to be world class in order to be at the top of the UK tree, they continue to train 'how they want to' as opposed to 'how they'd need to'. That's not to say I'm unhappy about the situation; I wouldn't have won the races I have if the standard was as high as it could potentially go!

Rob Lee Endurance Rider

GL: OK, I'm doing my first 24 hour solo this summer and ­ the goal is to finish having literally ridden the whole thing. What have I got myself into?

RL: A world of hurt! Sorry! Basically you have got yourself into a mental battle in which your only real opponent is yourself. At some point it will start to hurt; at some point after that it will hurt enough that you will want to stop. From that moment on it is you against you. I don't now how else to explain it.

GL: So it's a mental battle, what are there typical phases you go through?

RL: That really depends on what sort of person you are? I coached two female athletes for a solo at Mountain Mayhem a couple of seasons back, and watching them race was amazing! They were so different in approach and mental outlook. Physically one of them finished where she should have, but the other athlete performed way above expectation. The difference between their actual results and their expected potential was entirely down to mental outlook and their approach to life. You can't predict a whole lot until you know that individual as an athlete.

I suppose the common phases might be: the realisation that you've been going too hard at the start, which could hit anywhere between an hour and 6 hours in depending on the level of the athlete. And the time realisation phase when the rider has been riding for longer than their longest ride, yet still has loads of time left to go and suddenly thinks "on my god! I've been riding for 8 hours, I'm knackered, I still have 16 hours to go". 

Rob Lee Endurance Rider

GL: Any tips for picking yourself up and carrying on when you reach the lowest point you can get to?

RL: It's quite rare to pick yourself up if you hit a low. I prefer not to consider a low a possibility. Know in advance that it could well be the toughest thing you have ever done. Expect pain and tiredness.

The essential thing to do is to adopt a simple strategy beforehand and stick to it regardless of how you feel. Don't allow yourself options or choices to make. Make a few simple rules and don't deviate from them, something like: always keeping moving, even if you have to walk, never in the pit for more than a minute, never sit down unless it's on a moving bike, eat every 30 minutes, drink every 15, smile at your pit crew.

Rob Lee Endurance Rider

GL: How important is having a crew and what should I be looking for in mine?

RL: Having a crew really depends on the type of rider you are, the event you are doing, and your expectations for the event. A South Downs Double attempt for a mentally strong rider, who's fit and motivated, and on a dry day - I'd say no pit crew required. Mountain Mayhem in the rain, with the goal of winning, then your only hope is a well-drilled crew with a jet wash and a spare bike. Your crew could just be one person if they are mechanically competent, mentally switched on, as motivated as you, and prepared to work like a dog! I've pitted more solo races than I've actually raced, and it's really, really hard work. There really should be a prize for the winning soloist's pit crew!

GL: Sounds fun! I seriously can't wait! Cheers Rob.

End.

2010 is going to be a very busy year for Rob, but very exciting all the same. He's almost there with his Seven Deadly Spins project (7ds) which is now nearing completion, just two rides left to do. He'll be making his comeback to 24 solo racing at Mountain Mayhem after almost 3 years 'in the wilderness', and he's making a film about endurance mountain biking with Reset Films. He's also putting the finishing touches on his first book.

His season starts with some low-key xc races this month. In April he'll be attempting a double-crossing of the West Highland Way as part of 7ds. His major races will take place in June (Bristol 6 and Mayhem 24) and July (Bontrager Torchbearer 12). And finally he'll be attempting to ride the 'X1' Lands End to John O' Groats offroad route, in ten days or less, in September. It should be an amazing adventure and he's looking forward to the Summer to arriving.

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