» » » 24 hours in the Lakes: Open 24 2011

  • 24 hours in the Lakes: Open 24 2011

  • The Open 24. Something a little bit different. And just a little bit hard as nails.

Words by Fi Spotswood, Photos by Open Adventure - posted 07/08/2011

24 hours in the Lakes: Open 24 2011

Adventure racing is a bit of a mystery to mountain bikers. Some argue that it's not 'real' mountain biking, so doesn't count. Others say it's too hard because of the running and kayaking involved. A lot of people shun it because you have to navigate. But if you want to put your mountain biking ability to good use and try something different from lap-based cycling events, then why not give it a go? Features Editor Fi raced the Open 24, a 24 hour adventure race in the Lake District, and reports on what all the fuss is about.

First and foremost I am a mountain biker, but adventure racing has always held a particular attraction for me, because of the combination of physical endurance, wilderness roaming and camaraderie it involves. The Open 24, in its 6th year, was one of the finest races I have done and it is unlikely that any mountain biker would fail to enjoy its balance of superb Lakeland mountain biking, foot-exploring, paddling and extra adrenaline-activities. Many cyclists also run and as long as you can find yourself a nifty navigator to team up with, adventure racing is a must-try.

The Open Adventure series (which also include a 5 hour and a 12 hour race) attract pairs of racers from all over the country. Although they move about, this year saw ‘the 24’ starting from Park Foot near Ullswater in the Northern Lakes. The start this time was a mass start in the kayaks on the shores of the lake and we raced on the beautiful water, under the towering steep sides of the surrounding fells, sweat beading under our buoyancy aids and our sunglasses steaming up. It was already hot and the sky was cloudless.

After an hour and a half of frantic upper body work collecting checkpoints round the edge of the lake, we ran aground at the Outdoor Centre at Howtown. Our transition to the first mountain biking leg was pretty slow. I managed to trip over the rudder of our kayak and Andy was trying to eat jelly babies whilst also putting on waterproof trousers and a top ready for the first ‘special stage’ – the tunnels. These were tight underground tubes which we had to wriggle through, in pitch darkness. When we eventually emerged back into the daylight after 5 very long minutes, we were raring to strip back down to our bike kit and get away on our wheels.

Breathing in the fresh air, we started pedaling hard up the road climb to Martindale and then we turned onto the tracks which took us up over Boredale. The mountain biking was fast and fairly dry, and having not used our legs yet, we were fresh and moving well. After a steep out and back to Bedefell Knott which involved a bit of hike-a-bike, we grabbed a checkpoint on the ridge, with stunning views of the Lakeland fells either side. Our efforts were rewarded by the first of many technical descents right the way down to Patterdale. We had caught up with another of the ‘contender’ mixed pairs up here, and Barbara and I enjoyed leading the descent, our men working hard to keep up. This was Lake District mountain biking at its best. Impossible rocky drop offs, steep sided valleys, scar-thin singletrack and stunning sunshine-drenched views.

All too soon the first bike stage was over and we were back on foot and slogging up a steep stepped climb. We passed another mixed team, who shouted encouragement at us and we wiped the sweat and suncream from our eyes and pushed on hard, legs slowly adjusting to the change of pace. After a short time and some lovely running, traversing around the valley, we reached the scrambling stage at Pinnacle Ridge just to the East of Grisedale forest. Roping up and putting on our multisport helmets (which are ugly but mean we don’t have to take bike and climbing helmets on these events), we headed to the base of the scramble. It was steep and exposed, with stunning views down the valley. I was grateful we had been on a via ferrata holiday last summer in the Alps.

The gorge scramble was ‘timed-out’, so we took our time and enjoyed the physical challenge and shared a bit of banter with the climbing ‘techs’ who were making sure we followed the right line. Once we had reached the ridge, the pace increased again and we were running down across Deepdale to a sheepfold and our next checkpoint. The valley was hot and smelled of hot grass and drying bogs. There was complete silence.

After climbing back up the ridge again, we had to drop down the other side to Grizedale Tarn where we drank in the clear running stream, quenching our thirst, and refilled our bottles. The climb back up over Fairfield started as an easy run, but gradually got steeper, before we were tip-toeing over the top, calves aching.

Somewhere between the top here and a cheeky checkpoint at the ‘priest hole’ cave high up in the crag-side, we lost a compass. The spare was whipped out after a bit of cursing and our pace quickened as we dropped down to a little lake at Scandale Head before a final climb and a long run along the ridge. We took in High and Low Pikes and some more stunning views before reaching the next transition.

This was the moment I was scared of; the Rydal Gorge Scramble. Gorge scrambling in Open Adventure Races normally means getting drenched from head to foot and jumping off cliffs into freezing plunge pools. The first time I did this, two years ago, I cried. After a bit of practice in other events, I know to look at the horizon rather than down when I jump and they have become easier, and sure enough I tackled the first with a sufficient amount of grace. But the second of the Rydal jumps was in a different league. It was huge and you had to jump out at an angle through some foliage. I steadied my nerves and thought ‘all I’ve got to do is jump’. I did, and several seconds later I plunged into the cool water and swam ashore, clambering out just as I heard Andy hit the surface.

Now we were clean (ish), refreshed and with a complete change of dry clothes on, we were back on the bikes. Immediately we were rewarded by a fast out-and-back along hard packed bridleway and then we dropped steeply down and picked up the track around Loughrigg Fell. We completed a circuit round the fell, picking up checkpoints in vast caves and at various points along the terrace. This was classic rocky riding and excellent fun, despite our by-now weary legs. Just as the sun was fading we began to see hobbling competitors of the Montane Lakeland 100 mile ultra marathon coming towards us in small groups. Cheering them on took our minds of our own aches and we were so grateful we were mixing up our sports rather than doing the same thing for 24 hours straight.

Talking of different sports, it was time for another change and in Ambleside we were back on the water, this time in open top sea kayaks. It was pitch black by now and we had four checkpoints to collect on the shores of Windermere. A few were tricky to find, and the banter between us died down for the 90 minutes it took to complete the course and return to our bikes. Andy was using every navigational trick in the book.

Having been drenched completely on the lake, Andy was shivering (also due to a spot of sunstroke from the blistering day) and we dug out our emergency kit bag so he could change his base layer and sling on a windproof. But soon we were pedaling again, enjoying the quiet back lanes and the flickering moths congregating in our torchlight.

We headed out through Waterhead and High Skelghyll before dropping down to Troutbeck. Briefly we saw some other competitors on the out-and-back to Dubbs Reservoir but during the long ride along the lanes through Grassgarth there was no-one. That is, until we saw Planet Fear racer Ant lying on the ground at Croft Head, legs in the air, eating a pasty. “I’m just having a little rest”, he mumbled. Giggling, we pushed on past him up to Sawmill Cottage before heading to Staveley. We were now in the Southern Lakes. This was a big race.

We knew the smooth, fast riding couldn’t last, and just after a startled badger scuttled down the lane in front of us, our number was up and we were hike-a-biking up a steep bridleway, through boggy grass and tough bracken. But the descent was fantastic – rockier and more treacherous than we would ever try in the daytime, but at night, with race-adrenaline nipping at our heels, we let the brakes go and danced our way downwards to Sadgill and onwards up the valley.

The horrible pushing wasn’t over, however, and there was a big effort up and over Gatescarth Pass, but again we were rewarded with an amazing descent to the southern end of Haweswater for transition. Just as dawn was breaking, we changed into fresh socks and tied our sodden fell shoes tight. The final monster foot stage was upon us.

Some early smooth and runnable paths up over Kidsty Pike broke us in gently but soon we were trudging up a steep hill once again. The climb went on and on up onto High Street. The weather was warm but inclement; a thickish mist clinging to the fells. Visibility was poor, and Andy took a few moments to scour the map before we started the orienteering special stage round Angletarn Pikes. We were running with Ant and Alex from Planet Fear/Hagloffs now, and switching the lead as one or the other team took a better route, shaving off a few metres or picking a shallower gradient.

Leaving the orienteering together, the four of us headed along Bedefell Knott, on the ridge up above the bike checkpoint we had bagged the previous day. The checkpoint was nowhere, and the control description did not make sense, so we decided to leave it and run over Place Fell up to next one on the large crag known as The Knight. Then with burning quads, we edged our way down a steep drop to a sheepfold, and as Andy and I de-jacketed, we watched the boys running off into the distance. Having stripped off, we hotfooted it after them, following the track round Sleet Fell before popping over the ridge and edging our way down a sheer bracken covered slope. Once back on a flat path again, we started gingerly running, willing our legs back to life.

Then I was on the floor, knee in my hands, blood oozing between my fingers. I heard a wail; mine. Pulling my fingers aside, Andy and I gasped at the large gaping gash in my knee. More stitches. Composing ourselves, we set silently to work. First aid kit. Bandage. Painkiller. Chocolate. Then we were moving again. We knew the 50 pointer we had been heading for on our way into to the final change-over was out of reach now, but at least we would finish the race.

Back in Howtown we squeezed our way into our kayak and paddled around the corner to the final special stage – a rocky traverse on the lake shore of Ullswater. I moved slowly and gingerly, my knee throbbing under its bloody wrapper. Twice we had to jump into the water; once backwards and another time forwards from a fair height. The water was cooling but not sharp, and it was refreshing, but half an hour later, by the time we had finished the paddle, we were both shivering a little with tiredness and cold. Dragging our kayak onto the shore where we had started 24 hours previously, we hobbled up the final slope to the finish.

What you need to know

Adventure racing is a multi-disciplinary sport, involving mountain biking, running/trekking, kayaking and navigation. There are often elements of other adventure sports like climbing, coasteering or scrambling. All races vary in discipline and length, but most are ‘score’ events meaning you are time limited and choose your own route, collecting as many checkpoints as you can in the given time. A good place to find events is www.sleepmonsters.co.uk. If you like the idea of adventure racing but don’t think your navigation is up to it just yet, try a multisport event instead, like the Trailplus series (www.trailplus.com) which are run-bike-kayak but on a signed off road route.

Kit

As long as you have a decent bike and a pair of trainers (and a compass) you can take part in an adventure race. However, adventure racers like their kit and there are brands specifically dedicated to these endurance types, making tough but super light weight gear. OMM (www.theomm.com), for example, make lightweight rucksacks which can take a bladder or bottles but are minimalist, comfortable and have features like side pockets for stashing bars and gels (and checkpoint descriptions).

Most adventure racers ride light weight xc full suspension bikes due to the long distances covered in many of the events. Navigators will have a map board to make navigating on wheels easy. A favourite is the Axis Gear AR-2 360 map board. Some teams will also attach a ‘tow’ to the fastest cyclist’s bike, to even out the effort. This will consist of a bungee suspended over the rear wheel by a thin plastic pipe, or alternatively a retractable dog lead cable-tied to the seat post. Towing is a key part of adventure racing and used by all the top teams to make the most of everyone’s strengths, give weaker members a rest and keep the team together.

For more information on the Open 24, and other races by the same organiser (Open Adventure), including a 5 hour run-bike series and longer multi-day races, visit www.openadventure.com.

Comments

blog comments powered by Disqus


Back to top

Get our Newsletter

We don’t share our list and will only mail you regarding content on cyclist no.1...

Join us Facebook

Cyclist No.1 on Facebook