Neil Wragg competed in one of Europe’s toughest Mountain Bike Races at the weekend but whilst he was on form, the weather had other ideas…..

Hyperthermia was a reality for many competitors on the Austrian Salzkammergut MTB Trophy even though on the day before Saturday’s race it was 32 degrees and blue skies. It shows how quickly mountainous weather can be lethal and with most riders in summer racing kit the 114 kms mountain bike race was cancelled with two thirds of the field not even reaching the halfway point.

 

A freezing storm  had been in full effect since the night before and was now bringing snow and zero visibility to those riders reaching the mountain tops.

Results were published for all those riders who did reach the final checkpoint of the shortened race in the treacherous conditions.
Neil was the 2nd British rider and the 181st rider overall to get to the cancellation point out of 584.
1500 riders started the race at Bad Goisern but two thirds quit when body temperatures plummeted after the freezing rain at the start turned into snow over the initial 1400 metre summit.
“I wanted to continue but they wouldn’t let me, my plan was to ride the first half

conservatively so I was just getting warmed up!” said Neil. “Actually I wasn’t getting any warmer no matter how hard I rode so the organisers probably made a very wise decision for me”.

Neil Wragg is pictured here in the recent Army Cycling Mountain Bike Enduro Race.   Dry, dusty days in the saddle seem to be typical of 2009 and this race was no exception with all the racers finishing the 4 hour event looking like they had just emerged from the pits!

If you fancy riding in the dark, in the woods then check out some routes we do on a Wednesday night at http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/7175426 

 

 

High Wycombe CC has many members who are both recreational and competitive MTB riders. In fact many of our road and TT riders originally came from an MTB background.

In typical MTB stylee HWCC runs mountain bike rides as and when we feel like it! 
We know the Chilterns well both on and off road and run mountain bike rides in the evening and weekends, just not on a regular basis like the Sunday morning club runs.   If you want to know when the next off-road ride or event is then join the club and stay in touch on the Message Board.   Regular off-roaders are Neil Wragg, Nick Calkin, Toby Cappell, Kev Holloway & Paul Morrissey so grab one of them if you want any help.

Alternatively our local bike shop and club supporter Cycle Care know all there is to know about riding off road around the Chilterns and might be able to hook you up with an organised ride.

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Trail Break are a fantastic company, personally recommended and provide a great way to ride your bike, hassle free!   They organise various events such as way marked trail rides in great locations, navigator style bike orienteering events and cyclosportives.

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All the photos from the trip can be viewed on the High Wycombe CC website here……..

http://thesprocket.co.uk/transgermanypics.html

Finally got around to updating the blog after the final day.
What was expected to be (relatively speaking!) an easier day turned into an epic, with just 1600 metres of climbing and 80 kms of riding I wasn’t too worried about completing the 2008 Trans Germany and getting that rare finishers jersey.
But nothing should be taken for granted. At about 50kms we could see a storm ahead and Chippo said ‘that looks like big rain’, an under statement.
The temperature dropped and then the heavens opened with, first, freezing rain and then hailstones. I was drenched and freezing.
Then again, with just 5 miles to go a hoooge thunderstorm sacred the bejesus out of us. Massive claps of thunder right over us and lightning either side to freak us out!
As previously mentioned we will not surrender and a slippy, slidey mud caked last few miles took us to the ultimate finish line!
We hit the beers, got our jerseys and finished about 160 something out of 220 starters!
Phew.
Thanks to all our donators and supporters.

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Wow , its over on what had to be the strangest of days ( weather wise).
Stage 7 started off in 30c heat and as per usual a 400m climb. We the hit lots of single track and rooty knarly forest which was superb until the heavens opened. We rode through heavy rain and hailstones as big a peppermints which made the forests rather muddy slippy and horrid.
The last 20k went up ( as usual ) but we headed up into a large storm that enveloped you in lightening and thunder (the whole time we where on the climb ) it took an age to get off the mountain and it was terrifying , lightning either side if you as you went up and deep thunder that you could feel deep in you core .
On the final downhill I fell off 4 times as the tracks and grass where so slippy ( sometimes its best to just not use your brakes) no damage done we just wanted to get this stage done.
On the run into the finish we unfurled the union jack and rode over the finish line to get our medals and get interviewed, an awesome day , an awesome week. We didn’t come last neither so a rather big bonus that.
We are going back for more next year and this time we will have a bigger team.
Bring on trans germany 2009

Chippo

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Happy Birthday to my gorgeous wife x

Neil

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Didn’t sleep much last night, too excited plus worried about the bikes that were locked up outside. Some teams had their bikes stolen from a hotel garage so couldn’t start yesterday.
But it’s sat morning and they are still here so no excuse!
We have had a team strategy this week… I go ahead on the climbs and learn about some German culture from our new friends then go back to Chippo and take his mind off the climbing with some education…
or some singing if I have a bigger audience!
Our knees are competing with our butts to be our biggest pain but a lot of teams are quitting due to knee problems.
Last day today , and it’s all downhill. Apart from the final 9 miles, which are, of course, all up hill! Wish us luck, it’s been line to us so far. Just need enough for another 80kms, that’s all.

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Tomorrow is the final stage and if the last week is anything to go by then tomorrow we will be rock and roll stars! The crowds have been as amazing as the scenery, especially all the kids who come out before school and give you high fives as you ride along. Today we finished in the highest point of Saxony, East Germany and there are views that in for miles. I’ve seen plenty of riders stop and take photos!
The organisation has been tops and go out of their way to look after every rider, even the back markers when they finish by giving out free beer!
Who’s up for it next year? We are taking names already!
Tomorrow’s final pasta party should rock, everyone’s already on a high for getting this far. The shuttle bus laid on to take the riders back to their hotels doesn’t start running until midnight and stops at 2am.
Rock on.

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