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Time Is Just A Number (n-duro Race 2)

Posted by: Geoff Acethorp
Tuesday 19th June 07
1,754 reads

So race 2 of the Winter N-Duro series is over, and it went terribly for me, if I were bothered about little numbers after my name. Thankfully I pay no attention to those little digits, and as such had a great time.

I was recovering from a week of the horrendous head cold. For the first few k’s I was hoiking up large green congloberations and depositing them trackside. After reaching the end of the first climb, my nose and lungs were at least partially cleared, and I could turn my focus to riding. But the hills were long, and me being not in the best shape, and on a SS, this left much time for thinking. My musings on slow grinds are well known to those that know me well. To the rest of you they are just ramblings.

I was having a pre race conversation with a real ‘racer’ prior to this event, and the difference between ‘competing’ and ‘competitor’ came up, with relation to this event. Many people ‘compete’, knowing that they will not be ‘competitive’, yet still they do .. .. .. .. why? Well I’m one of those people, and during the race I thought about it quite a bit. First off, I’d like to change the term competitor to ‘participant’ when referring to these people. I participate in race events, I do not ‘race’ or ‘compete’. So why do I put myself into the racing environment if not to compete?

I think the N-duro is racing old skool styles, friendly and long loop; rather than competitive multi loop events. This ‘1 loop’ ethos lends itself nicely to those of us who aren’t at the pointy end of the field. We don’t get lapped, and we don’t slow the fast riders down. We also have no idea how far ahead of us the real racers are, so are ‘free’ to wobble along at a pace that is comfortable to us. It also makes it very social, as out of the pointy end, everyone knows that the person beside them is of relatively equal ability (rather than being a pro who is lapping them) and conversations come easy (when not struggling for breath). I’ve had great chats at N-Duro races, and met many a fine cyclist.

Events also give the opportunity to go to new places and ride new tracks. This event was the first time I had ridden Billy T, and Chestnut link. Billy T was was a nice change from the uphill, but not my cup of T (pun intended). Chestnut link is a track I shall return to, I just loved the flow. I also had probably my best run down Rollercoaster ever, following a local and learning new lines. So even ‘old’ trails become new again at these events, its all about putting them in a new context and/or linking them up with new trails etc.

So this style of racing is pretty much why we all go riding, its places and people. Its just at events you get out of your normal place and people experience, and mix it up a little. It just so happens that someone is sitting at a computer waiting to give you some numbers at the end of it all. If you like the numbers, great, they are there waiting for you at the finish. If you like the people and place, also great, they too will be waiting for you at the finish.

I got some numbers after this race, but I haven’t even looked at them, I have no need to. I got to ride my bike in the sunshine, with friends old and new, along some of the countries best single track. I got to have a beer with them afterwards, and talk tihs about how the next one would be better.

So if you're like me, and just like riding, but haven’t considered entering an event. Why not think about it now? You could do a lot worse than trying the next N-Duro, short or long course.
{Double Thumbs Up}

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