The Gutsibikes Blog: Singlespeed Sand Racing at Battle on the Beach

New Year's Eve is an odd place to start a beach race but that is where this one starts. Wannabe racers need to have their index fingers poised at midnight, credit card in hand to stand a chance of bagging a place in the always oversubscribed Battle on the Beach race. Some may have celebratory champagne in hand as they scrabble to register before the event sells out, I did, but reactions need to be quick to get registered before the entries sell out. That otherwise serially underwhelming evening is fortunately in stark contrast to the excitement on the start line at Pembrey as hundreds squeeze behind metal barriers into the natural funnel between sand dunes in early spring each year.

Start Line at Battle on the Beach photo © Stephen Smith

Arran at Bike Park Wales

Stadium Riders were fielding a good turnout this year and most of us had enjoyed an exciting day of riding at Bike Park Wales the day before. We were amongst the first to ride the new blue trail 'Popty Ping' which was well worth the climb, even for Arran on his single speed. We camped at Pembrey Country Park on Saturday night in a field of camper vans and tents between the woods and sea, the weather was perfect and the company good as we shared Saul's trademark 'go faster pasta' under starry skies. Earlier Claire, San, Saul and I had raced the 'Battle on the Dark' night time trial which used a shortened version of Sunday's full race lap; six miles of full throttle torchlit effort. The sunset was stunning, the sky painted blue, pink and purple for the thirty minutes that we queued up by the beach waiting for the darkness to fall, and the race to begin.

tick tock, tick tock © Stephen Smith

This time trial is unique, the first half is spent chasing down lights on the beach and in the case of the singlespeeders maintaining a cadence more suited to roller racing until the feint flashing lights further down the beach are hunted down and the exit into the woods is reached. Dismount and a short run up a soft sandy dune leads to the return leg through the woods. Twisty singletrack gives way to forest road and sandy double track, occasional steep climbs gain the rider ten metres of altitude before plunging back down into the woods. It's not long before I can hear the music and tannoy of the finish line and we can return for some food and a peaceful night's sleep on the camp site.

Track stand off

Most races start early but this one leaves plenty of time for fretting pre-race if you are that way inclined. Fortunately a beautiful sunny morning and plenty of activity at Camp Stadium Riders left little time for worry. San, Arran and I took a spin down to the beach to take some photos and make the most of the glorious weather. We left it a tad late to return and the thirty minutes after we returned were hectic. Last minute bike adjustments, something to eat and drink and packing of the vans to enable a quick getaway post race. We rolled down to the start line for 11.30am, thirty minutes to spare notionally but any later and you'd be at the very back of the funnel of riders on the start line. I was lucky enough to have been seeded so I slipped though the queues and down to the very front of the start line, up against the barriers between two of the fastest riders here: last year's winner and George Budd (winner of last year's Dirty Reiver gravel race). I'm a bit out of place on my steel singlespeed amongst the skin suits, shaved legs and sponsored riders and these riders all seem to know each other, masking nerves with banter and chat about the new season. There's still a good variety of bikes down here at the front from fat bikes to skinny cross bikes, there's not obvious choice for this race although last year's winners are on mountain bikes with skinny bars and taped bar ends.

Meanwhile a DJ pumps out '90's hits and our compere builds the excitement in the start funnel. Fifteen minutes, five minutes, two minutes, one minute... and... FOGHORN!!! A frantic scramble throught the soft sand to the hard packed beach where speed can be attained. Easily a hundred riders pass me as I leave it late to mount my bike and get going. Once spinning I concentrate on maintaining that cadence. Frequent heart rate checks ensure that I'm not overcooking it at this early stage, it's like a motorcycle track day where I'd watch the tacho, you can't stay north of the red line for an hour and a half. There is a tail wind down the beach this year which the single speeders can't really benefit from, I remark on this to Charlie the Bikemonger as I pass him, he's smiling whilst I spin furiously in an attempt to catch the riders in front before the singletrack through the woods. Towards the end of the beach a few riders are already flagging, others are busy shouting at anyone who passes a bit close. I've got my race head on now, eyes down focused on what's ahead. The sections back through the woods seem less congested than last year and by the second lap I get a clear run at most of the hills. It doesn't lessen the amount of grunt needed to climb them on my 34T x 15T gear. Marshalls shout much appreciated encouragement and by the second lap slower riders are happy to move over to let faster ones though.

lap 2, before it started to hurt © Stephen Smith

The third lap splits left at around seven miles on to a wider track through the woods to give us a chance to battle it out with our peers. I can see one guy a hundred metres ahead but I can't catch him on the flat. The finish draws closer and I make a last effort over the timing mat. I catch my breath on the grass overlooking the finish, Saul is in a few minutes later followed by Claire and Gary. San is nowhere to be seen, we wonder whether he's stopped to take some photos but it's his low singlespeed gear that has held him up. Its good to have finished the first proper race of the year, after much hanging around I find out that I've won the singlespeed category so swag and a framed award are presented, podium photos snatched and then back to the van for a long drive home.

A Cycling do a great job of organising the event (as well as others through the year) so if you haven't yet raced it I'd certainly recommend giving it a go. I'm sure we'll be back as Arran wants to race next year, the only question is what to ride...