Togoparts 11

An 11 hour enduro race..... it sounded like a good idea for us to get together for an all-day race at an easy peasy pace....

It was tough recuiting victims, but we finally got together a Team of Old Cocks (Eric & Ming) and Spring Chickens (Ling and Angela). Team Mingloid-Merciless-Birdman-Sotong. Spasticism of epic proportions for an epic race. It was going to be fun.

All our plans for an easy race became toast when Dirtraction and Adidas stepped in with sponsorship and support. So that's how team Team M.M.B.S. became Team DirtAdidtion "A" (which Togogopaparts had tremendous difficulty pronouncing).

DirtAdidtion "B" comprised of riders from the international siongalingam MTB circuit :

Lai Thutt (Himachal Pradesh Mountain Marathon),

Yew Weng (New Zealand Enduro),

Collins (China to Tibet Epic),

Yu Seung (Malaysia Jungle champion).

Oops... even before the race starts... news of the first Cock-up!

Cock up #0 - Angela forgot her shoes!! Yikes!! Her darling Wayne rushed to get them and made it back before her turn!

The race started with a 400m run to the bikes. Easy for us adventure racers... let's rush to the front of the pack and stay there for the 1st lap!

Cock-up #1 - Our plan to blitz the first lap was shattered when we found out that mountain bikers can run. Fast! We ended up way down the field.

The mud in the forested area was simply amazing... varying in consistency from Mushroom Soup to Clam Chowder to Rice Pudding. It was as unappetizing as wet cement.

Did I say MUDDY?

Lucky Break #1 - The fantastic support crew who kept the gears shifting, hydration pre-mixed and the energy food on the table. The only thing Wayne, HM, Jason and Ken didn't do was to peel the bananas for us.

Team A's average lap times was 30 mins. Team B consistently nailed sub 30 lap times, with some sub-25's, thanks to YS and Collins.

Lucky Break #2 - Team B was doing better lap times, but Team A had girl power (think 1 1/4 laps for every girl-lap).

Cock-up #2 - Ling had chain suck! Twice! Luckily she un-sucked herself and turned in a respectable lap time.

12 noon, time to start our 7th lap and also the games! Teams were divided into 3 groups, and we raced against each other, threading the entire group through a 26" tyre.

Lucky Break #3 - Team B got a 2 lap credit and Team A got 1 from the game!

1.15pm, time for the 2nd game. Sudoku! Yikes! Thanks to helping hands and Team KNN, we managed to hand in the Puzzle after 20 Brain damaging minutes. Kudos to Angela who still could think after just emerging from that mud!

Lucky Break #4 - One lap credit each for Sudoku! Yee ha!!

3pm, 6 1/2 hours into the race and 13 laps done. Time for the last game, and we sent Eric.

Lucky Break #5 - Last man standing! Eric nails if for the Trackstand competition. 1 more Lap credit!

6.30pm... Ming leaves for his lap. Ling to ride next, and she has to make it back before the 7.30pm cut-off, so that Angela can go for a last lap.

Chances were slim, considering our lap average was 30mins, and darkness was falling. Ming was considering taking his time, but Yu Seung pushes him hard (till cramping point!).

Lucky Break #6 - Ling rides the last lap at lightning speed in the dark and makes it back at 7.28pm! She rode like she saw a ghost! She even looks like one!

Angela get's the chance to finish off the race! Go Angela!! Go!!!

Its tough enough riding the 1 foot wide trail in the day. Seriously, I don't know how Angela did it in the darkness (and overtake other guys too!). Brave effort, Angela!

DirtAdidtion took 2nd place, behind the invincible Team Hammer. Hehehe.. not a bad outcome for a bunch of wacky weekend warriors. That's us holding on to the loot!