I promised myself I’d be packed, I’d be packed, prepped, primed, preened and perfectly prepared! All by WAY before my flight leaves right? Then why am I looking at a bike that is in 500 pieces, have a deadline driving me crazy and a presentation with a disagreeable client looming like a vulture ALL the while my sleep diminishes and my diet crumbles?! Upon hearing I was about to head off to race my MTB across the Alps the initial response from my manager was ‘Can we do everything just much quicker?’ not ‘Hey that sounds amazing!’ or ‘Wow! What’s the name of this crazy race?’ Nope, they just wanted to know their very important timeline was not under any circumstances going to change, ‘caring’ is not their strong point possibly? Of course I can understand, my joy should not be their pain, for every boardroom meeting and conference call all I can think about is big mountains, amazing trails, a bit of suffering, a bit of adversity and a massive chunk of adventure. While the sullen faces quote facts and figures I’m mentally checking what’s next on the never ending list of things to do, wondering just how tough this years race will be and silently humming ‘Highway to Hell’ the unofficial theme tune that used to mark the start of each day at Craft Bike Transalp. My commitment to work was waning rapidly, but my prep panic escalating!
Stu’s mess – can it all fit in the bag?
Every year it’s the same, every year I promise myself that the work pain will only make the racing better. I can’t quite explain the relief I feel once I’m on my bike rolling to the sign on, partner in tow. That is the single most perfect moment in stage racing. You’ve landed, the kit made it, you made it, your partner made it and now all the preparation transforms into action, from here on in you are racing!!
Bridgey and Stu post race in 2013. Once you’re in the race, the rest of your worries subside.
I’m immensely stressed and excited right now, my eyes are bloodshot and the ‘tapering week’ is looking more like sprint intervals to every bike shop in Britain but I know the minute me and Naomi take the first pedal stroke to (hopefully) the Angus Young’s face ripper all this nonsense will be forgotten and the real fun begins!
Naomi Hansen summits the Idjoch in 2012 – the race climbs out of Ischgl again this year.
Follow our progress at the BIKE Transalp here and on our Twitter feeds @toomuchstu and @doc_gnomes. I’ll be doing my best to harass the pros for interviews, the organisers for stats and most importantly get my mitts on any handy insights that will help make your next stage race incredible.