English
Back in May 2009 Wiggle offered the opportunity to ride the Vatternrundan in Sweden. One lucky Winner and two accompanying riders from Wiggle went about tackling this challenge head on. We have three reports from each of the participants for you to read.
Here is the first installment. Enjoy!
The Vatternrundan – Rich Pearman
When Rich Land mentioned to me that I had the opportunity to ride an event in Sweden known as the Vatternrundan, I was very pleased as this would be my first trip to Sweden and also would incorporate my favourite passion – cycling. Rich soon explained that the event took place around a huge lake known as Lake Vattern and the event would start and finish in the town of Motala, which is situated on the Eastern side of the lake.
He then explained that the event would be run throughout the night and continues well into the following day and that the race distance would be 300 km’s. I immediately found the appeal and challenge of this event. It was not the distance that concerned me, but knowing that my first attempt at this race mean I will be cycling for at least 10 hours without any sleep, something I have not even considered before.
Thursday – Fiona Spotswood (Wiggle competition winner), Chris Chance, Adrian Bird (both from Nemesis) and my fellow work colleague Richard Land, known now as Lando at Wiggle, all met up at Standsted airport early Thursday morning. After all the introductions we quickly checked in, dropped off the bike boxes and bags, travelled through passport control and into the departure lounge where we decided to have a breakfast chit-chat in one of the café’s onsite.
The flight to Sweden took around 1 hr, 45 minutes and upon leaving the plan we were greeted by lovely warm sunshine and a very small airport. After walking quickly through Swedish customs our luggage was already waiting for us on the conveyor belt and within minutes we collected our belongings and walked out into the fresh air. Chris picked up the hire car whilst we all walked over to meet the van driver who would take the bikes to Karlsberg where we would meet our hosts for the trip.
Driving down to our base at Karlsborg (Brodit’s HQ, our Swedish hosts) I was instantly taken back by how good the roads are here. These roads are super smooth, clean and extremely traffic free and you start to realise that you are in cyclist’s heaven. As we travelled the 200 km’s to our hotel you start to understand why over 19,000 people had registered to ride the event. After meeting our hosts, we then drove the ½ mile or so to our hotel, checked into our rooms and chilled out for the rest of the day enjoying the lovely view over the lake.
Friday - I woke up feeling totally refreshed after the long day of travelling the day before. I looked outside the window and noticed that it was raining. Oh dear I though as this was a total change from the day before. Anyhow, after breakfast we drove back up to Brodit HQ as we had four bikes to build. We also met up with other guest of Brodit who had travelled like us the day before – some from Germany and a few others from the states.
Once everyone was happy that their bikes were all put together, tyres pumped up and all nuts and bolts tightened, lunch was next. Broadit took us to a lovely restaurant in Karlsberg where lasagne was the choice of the day. Unfortunately Lando’s pallet was unable to take the lasagne, so a healthy salad was his choice. Now, being one not to waste food I noticed that Rich’s lasagne was sitting on the table looking for a home. With a mammoth ride looming and no one else showing a keen interest on this delicious plate of food I ask if anyone else wanted to clean the plate. With no other takers I promptly took the plate, but sharing is in my nature so split this extra potion in half with Adi.
After lunch it was a quick trip back to the hotel to collect our race kit for the ride as we would not be seeing the hotel until the early hour’s the following morning. We then drove back to Brodit as everyone would be leaving together from here. Before leaving though one job was still left to do. Pack all 29 bikes into a fairly small trailer. With my knowledge of packing bikes into team cars/vans I said, with the help from Lando, that we would pack the bikes. After 3 attempts the bikes were finally and neatly packed and with our kit bags placed in the van/cars we set off.
After stopping for a short period of time for yet more food, spaghetti bolognaise, the final leg of the journey took us into the town of Motala – the start of the Vattern Rundan. The weather remained horrible throughout the journey to the start, but being used to riding in the wet it didn’t bother me that much. As long as you kept warm and had enough clothing on I would be fine. I also packed a spare set of clothes as we did hear that the weather the following day would be warmer and dryer. My plan would be to get to the 200 km mark, change into this set of clothing and continue onward to the finish.
After getting up at 8 am in the morning it was now 8 pm in Motala. The funny thing is though I was not tired at all even with the knowledge that our start time was at 9:28 pm and we had the prospect of cycling a further 10 hours throughout the night and into Saturday morning. I put it down to excitement and also the atmosphere here at the start. As our start time approached our 50 group was rounded up together like cattle, placed in a waiting area before being allowed onto the start line with each group having a two minute window to the next. Looking back at the large screen I noticed us looking at us waiting for the off. A final countdown from the starters and we were off. Brodit/Nemesis and Wiggle riders had started the event, but who was to finish?
The first few miles were dodgy due to a mixture of experienced and inexperienced cyclist’s moving around for position. As we left the town the Wiggle crew were together, but Fiona was on a mission and soon went forward with a faster moving group. As Fiona’s group moved further into the distance, Lando, Adi and I decided to take it steady. 300 km’s is a long way and we did not want to blow so early on in the ride. We settled into a large group with us on the front controlling the pace. I was suffering slightly after picking up a cold 6 days prior to the ride so sat behind Rich and Adi.
As the ride progressed my breathing was improving and came to the front to share the workload, but with the wind on our backs the pace was quite fast. As we roared along the road with the locals cheering us on, we noticed Fiona on the other side of the road fixing a puncture. We decided not to stop and continue on to the first stop.
The first 100 km flew by thanks to the smooth roads and within no time we descended onto the one of three big food stops. The time was now approx. midnight. The rain had stopped by this time, but everyone was wet. I changed my dhb baselayer as it was wet through not just from the rain but with sweat to. Leaving the food stop and with 100 km’s behind us we set us on the next 100 km’s.
This turned out to be the hardest part of the ride. The weather decided to get nasty again and with a continual hill seeming to last for km’s out of joncoping our spirits did get low. All I can remember though when climbing this bloody long climb was a long line of red flashing lights going into the distance. A sight I have never seen before. Hundreds of flashing L.E.D’s all attached to a bike with some poor sod grinding their way through the dark cold night. Some faster than others, but all battling with the elements.
Lando was looking not so good during this section of the course (the witching hour), but with constant words of encouragement and careful controlled riding from Adi and I we all came through the darkness to finally hear the birds singing as dawn was breaking. By this point though, Lando had decided that his time on the bike was over and at Karlsberg Rich stopped. Adi also decided that he had had enough and decided not to continue, which just left me to carry on.
As Rich and Adi climbed off their bikes, I decided to carry on and finish. I got my bag from the car and completely changed out of all my wet clothes, dried myself off, applied more Windose cream to my privates and jumped back onto my bike. I was all fired up and ready to do battle against with the last 100 km’s of road which lay before me. I clocked the time at this point and it was now roughly 7.30 am in the morning. The weather was improving dramatically and the threat on further rain was disappearing as the clouds fizzled away. Saying buy to Lando and Adi I was off.
My pace quickened and I was in Time Trial mode. Looking back I set off way to quickly, but all I could think about was finishing as quickly as possible by focusing on the job. I soon passed other cyclists and could see other groups in front of me. As I approached them though the pace they were setting to too slow so I had no choice but to continue solo for mile after mile. Eventually I started to slow down as keeping this high pace up was not possible. After stopping for a pee I reached the junction I was praying for earlier. Turning right at this junction would take me across the top of the lake and towards the final food stop.
With 20 km’s to go I got my strength back again and up’d the pace once more. My legs were now screaming at me to stop, but the next stop would be at the finish where I would most probably collapse. 5 km’s to go and I was dying. My strength was going rapidly from my body and as I approached the 2 km sign I realised that the last sixty miles I did virtually on my own.
Descending the hill with the lake at the bottom I was jubilant in the knowledge that I was about to complete a 300 km bike ride. Turning the left bend at the bottom of the descent you are then faced with a long straight road leading to the finish. With crowds of people cheering you on and the site of the finish banner you feel the pain just disappear from you. The excitement of finishing takes over and as you cross the line the relief is fantastic. It’s all over I though with my legs suddenly telling me to get of my bike and sit down.
Crossing the line I then think to myself “I hope Chris is hear as I can’t face another mile on my bike”, but with seconds of finishing I hear my name being called. I look around frantically then home in on the voices and spot Chris and Fiona. I go over, picking up my medal on the way and also stopping for some guy who wants to take a photo of me. He’s probably thinking “who or what is Wiggle” as I finished in my Wiggle kit, then stop and chat.
Both Fiona and Chris take me to a tent where I pick up some pasta, but I can’t get it down my throat. We walk over to the car, time now 10.07 am, put the bike in, then drive off back to Karlsberg where once their unpack, go to my room have a shower then get about 4 hours sleep before getting up again for something, but for the life of me I can’t remember.
You’re a hero Rich. Well done!