Conquering Silverstone

Last Thursday I arrived at Silverstone Race Circuit in glorious sunshine and with a nervous excitement in my belly for the travail ahead: a race against other teams to do as many full laps round the slightly altered famous F1 circuit in a 3 hour period. All to raise money for the Meeting Needs charity.

My training had been far from spectacular: two training rides undertaken, the longest 30km, following 20 years of non-biking apart from the odd ten-minute hop on a Boris bike. I had been advised by Richard Waddington, my team captain, that if I could do 25 kmph I should be fine and my training rides had suggested, while not being a doddle, that I would be capable of it. A speedy bike was borrowed from a good friend and new lycra bought to ensure I looked a proper “Mamil” for the event.

The Silverstone team warmly greeted me and showed me their exceptional track racing facilities  A pit garage door was open revealing the pristine white surroundings the F1 teams set-up in. The room was largely bare bar two glistening Silverstone-liveried race cars and some exceptional examples of serious road bikes. It was already becoming obvious I was in the company of many dedicated, and some mildly obsessed, cyclists.

Silverstone’s hospitality continued upstairs where we were provided hot and cold snacks from mini-burgers to brownies. It was a pleasure to meet up with my team and competitors here, some who I knew some who had come together simply for this exceptional charity event.

After somewhat nervously fuelling up in readiness for the physical challenge ahead we were toured around the huge and extremely versatile facilities of the Silverstone Wing. This culminated in us having the opportunity to stand on the winner’s podium emulating Lewis Hamilton and past heroes. From this vantage point we could see the amazing race track, with a heat haze shimmering above it, snaking around us.

Following a trip to the lecture theatre for safety instructions it was time to prepare for the race: Lycra clad, creams applied, water bottles charged and back pockets stocked with jelly babies we mounted our trusted steeds and make our way to the track. With Chris, Chris, Paul and Richard we were ready as a team of five to go out and perform.

 With obligatory team photo opportunities taken we all cruised out of the pit land on to the wonderfully smooth track to the official F1 start line. Lined up in our teams the countdown start was done, gears engaged and we shot off as a group.

Well I say as a group however within the first ten turns of a wheel it was obvious that the rest of my team’s fitness and biking ability was far beyond mine. I tried to stay with them for the first mile or so but the pace being set was beyond me and should I stay I would be lucky to keep going for 1 hour let alone 3. They tried to be team players and help me but I knew I had to let them go.

With my mini-peloton sadly gone I was now going it alone for the remainder 2 hours 55 minutes. I would like to say at this point that the time simply flew by and the challenge was nothing but fun. Realistically going 7 times around a 6.6. mile circuit, with each straight looking erringly similar to the one before, it was as much a hard-mental challenge as a physical one.

 Jelly baby intake was spaced out to provide carrots to finishing a lap, or section of track, and though punishing to see my own and other teams’ pelotons flying round the track in the opposite direction to me the few seconds of human interaction relieved monotony. 

While my shorts were suitably padded the numbing pain down there was a sense I had not experienced nor one I am in any hurry to repeat. With every changing of gears, as I spun up and down the undulating track, came the slight ticking availed by chain against metal as gears were found. Over the three hours this started to have a similar effect to Chinese water torture on my mental state.

When I was on the verge of reaching my lowest ebb, I passed through the pit lane for the 6th time to be told the 7th lap would be my last. Very rarely have I felt such feelings of ovation as I realised the end was near and I was going to complete the challenge of riding three hours straight at a reasonable speed.

I started the lap with a smile on my face and as a team, snazzily all dressed in different hues of red lycra, came past me I found enough juice in my legs to join the end of their peloton and stay with them for most of the final lap. With the finish line and chequered flag ahead I did the obligatory Tour De France stage winner emulation of sitting up with arms in the air as I crossed the line a relieved man.

Having finished to much friendly applause from other cyclists I waited for my team, who already had lapped me, to finish their final lap. On completion there was much applause to all and shaking of hands for a job well done. I would like to say the ending was a gracious and uplifting experience however a fist-bump from Nick Grecian as he finished the race and my left foot still being locked in its callipers meant I completely lost balance and fell flat on the track.

With only slight damage to my pride, rather than my body, it was time still to enjoy the group sense of achievement & camaraderie, the further excellent and much needed hospitality provided by Silverstone and overall friendly banter between all teams.

Overall I had covered over 74kms in just under 3 hours at my expected 25kmph. My team members and many present managed over 94kms and I can only stress how hugely impressed I was by the fitness levels and professionalism of all the teams who took part.

It was a truly fantastic event seamlessly organised at a stunning location and I am sure it will be an even bigger and more competitive event next year. Congratulations to all who took part and should I return next year more practise will definitely be done, although I may leave it to others in team OTW to turn their wheels. 

A huge thank you to Richard Waddington for his reach out on Linked In, to Chris Foy, Chris McQue and Paul Southern for being encouraging team mates, Simon Burton at Exposure for putting the event together, Chris and all his team at Silverstone for hosting, Splento for the great photos and lastly to Jenny Jenkins and all team at the charity Meeting Needs whom I was delighted to represent and raise funds for their important work.

And to finish a few of my take-aways:

• Don’t underestimate the fitness of a 55 year old Mamil or Mafil!
• Silverstone is an amazing venue with a wonderfully friendly and passionate team
• Meeting Needs is a fantastic charity with some exceptional ambassadors
• You only ever get out what you put in: the training and dedication of others to cycling showed what can be done
• It’s good to take yourself out of your comfort zone as often as you can
• The end result is definitely worth the pain before
• We work in a really friendly and caring industry
• It doesn’t hurt afterwards - until you try going upstairs