MCC 101st Land's End Long Distance Trial 2025
- SuziePrevett
- 7 hours ago
- 21 min read
The day of the 101st Motor Cycling Club Lands End LDT 2025 had arrived, and the weather forecast was looking somewhat dismal to say the least. However, looking back to the Exeter and Lands End where it had been nice and dry, I didn't feel like we could really complain to much!
With the bikes all packed up and ready to go we set off to our usual very bike-friendly, adult only campsite, Resparva House Touring Park. There we would meet up with our friends and team mates, for which this Lands End Trial would be the first for a couple of them (Rod and Pete), having listened to us go on about it. Ha ha! What had they let themselves in for?!?!
One of my favourite things about this campsite is the Cream Tea on arrival, which we devoured in no time whilst we caught up with a few of the others. Pete, having arrived the previous day had ordered another one so he didn't get food envy when we arrived...I like the thinking! Cream teas done, it was prep time. Everyone was busying themselves getting bikes and kit ready, with last minute checks to ensure there would be no scruitineering issues. I swiftly removed the sun screen and shades from my backpack, as having briefly checked the rather dismal weather forecast with a yellow rain warning, I decided they were most definitely not going to be required, and some extra waterproof layers may be in order!
Sadly, on going to start my bike I found that the electric start was as dead as a Do-Do and the dash wouldn't come on until the bike was running. Bugger! Was it the battery? The bike had started on the button the previous day, having not been started for a few weeks, so it was unlikely to be a battery drain...but it was a bit late in the day for problem-solving. I didn't relish the thought of a trial without an electric start, however at least my bike does have a kickstart option. Small mercies, although I'm utter shite at kickstarting.
Rob, who had to withdraw from the trial due to back problems, had kindly offered me a lift to the start, as he was going to be giving my 'Coddiwompler' team mates Mo and Steve a ride up to Bridgewater in his van, however I declined as I was hoping that if it was a dead battery issue, the run up to the start venue would maybe bring the battery back to life. Also, I get horrendously car sick if I can't see out, so it was likely that being in the back of a van for any length of time would be a recipe for nauseous disaster...not ideal before being in charge of a motorbike for 24 hours, ha ha! Plus I'd not been on the Scorpa since the NDMC Exmoor Trial in Feburary, so I wanted to get a feel for it again and the last bike I'd ridden was the DR650. Decision made...a wet ride it was to be!
At about 2pm, led by Andy, Team Chicken Legs (Andy, Kelvin and Pete with Chicken Wing man Rod) and I took the 'traditional route' up to Bridgewater (normally one of the start point options is Bodmin just up the road), and the forecast certainly lived up to expectations! I was very glad of my high-viz, neon yelow jacket and helmet, especially on the sections of major road, as visibility was very poor at times. It was also a bit hairy when Andy's fuel tank breather pipe got blocked resulting in a sudden loss of power and an emergency pull over to the side of the motorway on the only section of the M5 we had to do. The traffic was zooming past in the poor conditions, but thankfully he got the situation resolved promptly, quickly realising the issue, and we cracked on. A big relief it wasn't a more sinister issue. It's so disappointing when a trial is over before it's even started after all the effort it takes to get there. Phew!
The plus side was, having done this initial journey I realised two things; my normal glove set up (very thick gloves over very thin gloves, removed only for sections) won’t work as the supposably waterproof over gloves were totally sodden, despite bar muffs, and also, my bike issue wasn't a battery issue. Therefore, I switched to just a pair of thinner Adventure Spec windproof gloves over some freebie plastic petrol station gloves, because the air temperature was ok, so manageable. I also sucked up the prospect of a trial with kickstart only. Kelvin and Steve had attempted to see if it was a main fuse issue, however having arrived at Bridgewater at 7pm after a 5 hour ride (including fuel and tea stops), getting through scrutineering, signing on and then having a quick dinner, time was against them and it just wasn't doable.
At 8.27pm I signed out at the gazebo and then set off with Mo and Steve to start the trial. We were off! It felt good to get going rather than waiting in anticipation, and I led the way using my preferred set-up of Tulip style roadbook that Kelvin had created for me using Rally Navigator software, and using my bluetooth controller to reset the partial distances. He'd also put in all of the key information from the official route card, including the QQ (Quiet) zones, observed sections (OS), speed tests (OT), fuel stops etc. It worked great!
First up was Felon's Oak (OS1), which was good and warmed me up, with a nice long lane to ride along after the main section was completed. The familiar big tree root that has caught me out in the past (most notably on my first LE where it ended up with me on the floor) seemed to be missing, and the restart went well, so it was a clean for me, and also the rest of the team.
The Barbrook stop for refuelling, tea and cake was up next after a 29 mile ride, and always one I very much look forward to. It was lovely and warm in the little hall overlooking the fuel station and it gave us an opportunity to catch up with Team Chicken Legs and a few other familiar faces. This is a time control, so we had to get our control cards stamped on entry, and also on exit after a compulsory 30 min stop. No hardship there as they had a fabulous range of cake options. I could have eaten a lot more as it all looked so good, but being a creature of habit when it comes to sweet things, I went for the ginger cake. It did not disappoint. Thank you to whoever is responsble for such a great spread!!
A very short ride on from Barbrook is the long-standing Beggars Roost section (OS2), manned primarily by the North Devon Motor Club, to which we are members. It was nice to see Chris Barham's familiar face at the entrance to the section, who kindly made sure that my rear number board was as vertical as possible. Thanks Chris! It wasn't a long wait until it was my turn up the section, and I managed to pick a good spot in the restart box, resulting in a slightly slippery but steady restart, and a cleaned section. Whoop Whoop!
It was 21 miles to the next section 'Riverton' (OS3), and it seemed to take a very long time! The tiredness was starting to set in a little, but once we got to the lovely long dirt track up to the section, it woke me up a bit. It was definitely on the muddy side, and I decided to go in the right hand track despite watching lots of people go left. I probably should go with the majority but I didn’t actually realise it was the restart I was seeing to begin with…I thought they were all messing up and that there must be a really challenging bit on the left! Doh!! As I set off I got to it and realised it was in fact the restart box and so stopped in the middle of it. "Earth to Suzie" I laughed at myself inside my helmet. With a bit of luck I managed to restart well, and was already on the right side for the sharp left hander that fortunately wasn’t as deep in mud as one other year. It was a long, long section, and just before the last corner I balanced the bike as I squirreled about looking for which way to go, and then saw marshal up on corner and also the end board to the right, so headed off in that direction for a nice clean finish. Another one in the bag!
The first speed test (OT1) came next, just a stone's throw from Riverton. It appeared quite straight forward as it was a straight line from start to finish, and you had to set off from line 'A' when the red light went out. I was glad I wasn't 'going for it' as it was quite a muddy and a slippery stop on line 'B', but I got there with a good firm stop astride the line, and then finishing astride line 'C'. Done, just probably a little slow I'm reckoning, however unless you're a contender for the top spots, which I'll never be, then it really doesn't matter. It's designed to allow the competitors to be put in order, so for example, if several people in a particular class earn a gold medal (i.e. no failed sections), then the one with the fastest speed test total will be ranked 1st, and so on, going down through the silver medalists (1 section failed), bronze medalists (2 sections failed) and then finishers (more than 2 sections failed).
The next road stint was quite lengthy to say the least, being 30 miles to OS4, Sutcombe. The river after the start of the section was flowing well, and the restart came a little lower than normal, which was a welcome surprise. It was still a tad slippery but I managed well and cleaned it successfully once again, plus my tired brain managed to remember to stop after the section end. Yey! Also, because we hadn't lost any time and were actually running a bit early, we had plenty of time to stop for cake at the wonderful makeshift 'garage cafe' in the village at the top of the section, with some very jolly ladies serving, plus they had a toilet! The lemon cake was great, although it was a huge piece and I ate it far too fast, giving myself immediate indigestion. Idiot! Ha ha! We left just as team Chicken Legs arrived and headed off to the next fuel stop.
We arrived after three miles at Bradworthy Wicketts garage for a fuel top up and chat with the attendant chap who was telling me about how he normally does the trial in his trials car and used to do it on a bike prior to that. This year though he was serving fuel for us all, and had dragged the family in to help, much to their delight I’m sure! Thanks to all of you, very much appreciated.
Not too long later was Darracott (OS5). It's one of those sections that I've never failed, however almost failed a restart once due to very poor positioning of my bike, but just about managed to pull it off. This year thankfully, no restart! It's a lovely long section again, somewhat bouncy, with some tight-ish bends snaking all the way up the hill, but I made it through nice and clean. Tick! Another one done and dusted meaning a clean sheet so far.
That clean streak was about to come to a swift end with a thud at Cutliffe Lane (OS6A). It's one of those super steep sections, which can be quite slippery at times, but one I've never failed before. This time it was very different. It almost felt like a totally different lane to me. I headed up the right and got a few metres from the top when it all went wrong. I was bouncing left and right and then somehow ended up the right bank, followed by being swiftly deposited on the floor with my bike on top of me. Well done Suzie! Three marshals came to my rescue and lifted us up. Myself and two others each tried to kickstart my little Scorpa but it wasn't having any of it. We just couldn’t get it going so the only option was a bump start back down the hill and out the failure exit. I then proceeded to get totally lost, having somehow taken a wrong turn and venturing off in the wrong direction about a mile out in to the countryside. Despite a very tired brain, I eventually realised I was going wrong and backtracked, finding the bridge that I had only just missed. Eventually Mo arrived, who had unfortunately also failed what I feel was the most challenging section of the trial, and then Steve who'd conquered it. Well done Steve! I think there were a good few people who came a cropper on that one this year from what I heard.
Next up was another control point where control cards needed to be stamped. It was about 20 miles away in a large car park above Widemouth Bay, however this year we weren't greeted by the coming of dawn or a moonlight water backdrop as in previous years. Despite that, the rain had taken a rest and several of the other competitors decided to have a rest or cat nap, waiting for other riders to go ahead to cut through the clay type mud that Crackington normally had to offer. A wise choice probably, but we decided not to stick around after the marshal said we were free to continue.
So...Crackington (OS7). This section for some reason always fills me with dread. I think because normally it's bouncy, super muddy and often lined with a good few spectators just waiting for you to fall off in the mud...although volunteering a wonderful cheer if you do, ha ha! My trepidation was wound up a notch this year as a dreaded restart had been added to the mix. I'd not done one before on this section I don’t think. Anyway, it all started well, and I got myself into the restart box to the right, avoiding the large tree root. Unfortunately, due to some very delayed brain processing, I managed to situate myself slap bang in the middle of the box so I then had my wheel pretty much up against one of the steps. Doh! Needless to say, it ended badly with another episode of hitting the deck, and another help up by the very lovely marshals. Having a lack of electric start and unable to kickstart the bike as the kickstart lever kept hitting the foot-peg, I bumped it back down to the start and then rode straight back up the hill, through the restart and right in to the middle of the thick mud near the top of the section. I managed to keep it going, then headed over to the left before managing to finally make my escape out of the top. Yey! Failed but I tried…I would say I tried my hardest but I really didn’t think about where I was putting my bike on the restart box…must try harder next year! However that’s what the challenge of this trial is…darkness, fatigue, mud, slippery rock, challenging restarts and nerves…and trying to overcome them all to make it through successfully.
On leaving the section I could hear something was catching at the front of my bike, like it was rubbing against my tyre. I quickly realised that one of the two bolts from my front mudguard had come loose, so the end was just catching the tyre. Unfortunately we didn't have an allan key of the correct size so I'd just have to hope that the second bolt would stay in place. Fingers crossed!
Continuing on we came across a fuel station at a Morrisons, so took the opportunity to on-board some fuel just in case. Another competitor and friend Nick Williams (13), who was just ahead of us, had the same idea so we followed him in and had a quick chat. With the small fuel capacity of all our bikes, we were taking every opportunity to get fuel.
Wisley Down, which was another time control, but also signified 'breakfast time', couldn’t have come sooner as I was seriously flagging! My concentration was waning and I was tired after coming off and having to be helped up on two consecutive lanes. We stopped to check in and get our cards stamped. It was almost two hours we’d have there as we were running well ahead of schedule (we obviously hadn't taken enough wrong turns). That meant there was plenty of time for an egg buttie, a couple of cups of tea, a much needed toilet stop and some pain killers for the shoulder and back pain (as usual) from having a loaded backpack on for hours on end. We also caught up with the others from Chicken Legs, as well as a couple of others, although I think I probably looked quite dishevelled and zoned out. Andy took the opportunity to have a good sleep being king of power-naps, plus he'd had very little sleep in the lead up to the trial so was running on fumes, and Steve got his head down on the table for a little while. Mo and I stayed awake chatting to the others and drinking tea, before we all headed out early to get the bikes ready and check everything was looking ok now dawn had broken. Also, I needed a help with kickstarting the bike by one of us holding the foot peg up and the other kickstarting it. Unfortunately the kickstart lever hits the foot peg before the end of it's stroke, which is a bit frustrating to say the least, so we'll have to rig up a little hook in the future in case of a similar scenario of needing to regularly use the kickstart function.
Our scheduled departure time was soon upon us, so we got our cards stamped and set off just down the road to a fuel station that was due to open at 7.30am. We got there at 7.26am and the place looked very closed and not like it’d be opening soon, but at 7.30am on the dot the chap came out and opened the gates. We fuelled up again, albeit a very small top up, but it was quite a long stint to the next refuelling at Perranporth so it would mean we could just about make it. Unfortunately, at this point for some reason my tablet stopped charging and the controller stopped functioning. Presumably there was something wrong with the electrics after all the rain it’d had to endure, so it was a case of manually scrolling the tulip road-book from then on and hope the 96% charge would last to the end of the trial...just another few hours to go!
Another nine miles or so and we got to the second speed test (OT2) at Ruses Mill. It felt like it was a bit higher up the switchback hill than last year, and I took it very slowly as it felt quite steep and slippery but I managed fine. So far, I've never managed to fail a speed test, but I have come close once or twice when it's been a bit slippery, however nice to keep the clean streak going.
It was a bit of a trek again to OS8, the infamous 'Warleggan' with it's slabby restart. It had sadly been cancelled at last minute last year due to a medical emergency, so I couldn't remember it at all, other than that there were some rock slabs at some point! This section had a slightly longer wait, and the orientation of the start meant it wasn't possible to see what was going on further up the section, so it'd be a case of "wait and see". As I started up the section I was feeling comfortable, and took the tight right-hand bend nice and steadily before getting a little further and then the restart box came in to view. I went as slow as possible without losing momentum to give my brain time to work out what I was seeing...rock slabs galore! I decided to go top right of the box, with the front wheel out the top of box, then somehow managed a good, smooth restart, so I was very happy! I'd had visions of another 'hit the deck' scenario so was pleasantly surprised how well it went.
Next up...the mud-fest that is Eddy’s branch line, and this year was split in two for a double challenge (OS9 and OS10). We were held at the top for a while, and Kelvin appeared with the rest of his team. Having forgotten to ask him about an Allen key earlier to tighten my mud guard, I thought now's the time as it's fresh in my brain given that it's been catching for ages again. He managed to find one and he tightened it up for me, and then the section was opened. It was a slippery entrance route as usual, down around the edge of a field, and I must admit my feet did a bit of steadying in places, ha ha. My excuse is that I was saving my tidy, controlled mud sliding for the actual section!
The first part had a more inviting start than last year, and after Steve had a little look he reckoned going left was preferable. I went left and I made it through well, and then very slowly and tentatively around the sharp left hand corner but managed to keep a little momentum, over the bridge, then to the end for a cleaned section. Success! Right, keep focus, part two is a mud pit, and the start marshal on the previous section had warned me it was exceedingly muddy. I headed off on this second part, which can lull you in to a false sense of security with it's nice, even track. Iwas on the right side, but last minute decided to switch to the left side and with a bit of squirreling around managed to get me and the bike cleanly through the section. I was well chuffed and I got a bit of a cheer! It felt good...I failed it within the first few metres last year but had cleaned it the year before where many failed, and I'd really wanted to conquer it again, so mission accomplished!
The last real road mile slog of the trial was next, which would get us to the Texaco at Perranporth and penultimate control point, and then we'd have the last few lanes all in quite close succession. When we arrived, surely all now running on fumes, it was a very welcome fuel top up. Then we went around to the control and got our cards out for another stamp. A quick loo stop then we were off again! I was starting to feel the butterflies a little knowing what was to come in about six miles time, but I tried not to think about it too much.
Before all that though, in just three miles it was time for Lambriggan (OS11), which was a fun little section this year, starting off down a bank, through a little river, with a very trialsy deviation bit down in to a stream and out again up the bank, before heading up the rest of the section. I did good to, managing to keep momentum on the deviation just about, but was worried I’d gone too slow at one point, however managed to keep it going for a nice cleaned section once again. Ok, bring on the finale!!
Blue Hills...the gem of the Land's End trial and owned by the MCC. As per usual, for me it was a real butterflies in the stomach moment as we came around the corner and the hill came in to view. I could see the usual big crowds hadn’t arrived yet thank goodness as we were running ahead of time. That suited me well, and although it's likely mean less photos, I was much happier with less onlookers for my attempt. Also, the sun came out, which was just a perfect end to what had been a rather challenging trial. As we made our way down to the start point of Blue Hills 1 (OS12) the competitor in front of me went straight on to the section, so I had a very short wait. Again, this suited me well as it meant less time to get flustered, and then I was off! I rode around slow and steady to the restart and decided bottom left was a good option. I pulled off a good restart, then emerged out the top to a sharp right and stopped over the end line as instructed. Yey, clean and done! Just one left!!
Blue Hills 2 (OS13...lucky for some) was nerve wracking to say the least, despite the smaller crowd. It always looks soooo steep from the start line, but at least I didn’t have to wait around. I tried to ignore the crowd and just chat to the marshal or look at the floor. Then, with a "good luck, off you go" from the marshal, I set off will a little bit of oomph up the hill. It was quite loose but I managed ok, then up slowly around the left corner. It felt much tighter this year but obviously wasn't, and then in to the restart box, again opting for bottom left. Another good restart completed and then I stopped astride the end line. I was relieved I remembered this last instruction despite the elation of having managed to get up the hill literally holding my breath, and manage a good restart!! I forgot last year after I’d fallen off in the restart box. I pulled up and got off the bike and took some photos of the scenery, which was just beautiful, and also a couple of pics of Mo and Steve coming up off the top of the hill. Mo was disappointed as unfortunately she'd failed Blue Hills 2, which was a shame.
All that was left now was a final ride to the finish trying not to splash people with water as there were lots of spectators making their way in and LOTS of puddles! However there were also lots of smiles and waves, and it does make you feel good, especially knowing the tough part was done and the end was nigh. We came upon a horse rider on the next dirt track so I held everyone back until she’d exited the track and then continued on. It was the second horse rider we'd met on the trial; the last one had been coming towards us and was very grateful of us all stopping and turning our engines off. We'd had a little chat and the horse passed by happily. Always good to have a happy horse!
Annoyingly my tablet ran out of juice just two miles before the end, so Mo took over with the nav to get us to the finish line. I was so glad to finish, it’d been a challenging one! I was utterly done and my brain was struggling to function. We went inside at the 'Inn For All Seasons' to get our final control card stamp, our finishers certificates and a warm, happy "well done" from the finish marshals. Thank you!
We made our way back to the campsite via the Cornish Pasty shop...well, it'd be rude not to given the location, and we were all in need of a lunch. The 20-30 min ride after that was much preferable to the longer ride back to Bridgewater, which some riders had to do, hence the choice to do the long ride pre-trial.
It was actually the hardest part of the trial, getting back on a dual carriageway, just following along at constant throttle…a recipe for feeling more tired and zoning out, but we all got back together and had a line up photo taken by Julie. I was so happy to get back and be able to get sorted to have a shower and sleep!!! My seat bones felt so bruised as usual...the downside of riding the Scorpa, but I love it! I was very glad my bike wasn’t any heavier given the need to pick it up a couple of times on slopes!
As a reflection, the navigation (tulip road book) worked well with my Arn Pro Bluetooth controller to reset the partial distance and shift the road book up and down as needed, plus the DMD2 software to run the Tulip road book in. It was just some water ingress in the Samsung Galaxy Active Tab that provided the main issue despite using the best connectors I could find that didn't have to be kept permanently in situ, but overall it functioned well until 2 miles from the finish.
Another plus point was that E5 was available almost everywhere, just not on every pump, but it was great to not have to put E10 in the bikes all the time. Also, there were toilets at almost each place we stopped (on the official route card), which was definitely ideal when it was chucking it down, particularly for us ladies...it's not so pleasant having to take your trousers down and hover in the bushes when you've got rain running down your back!! Thanks to the organisers for sorting that!
It was great to receive the results a couple of weeks later, as we found out that ‘Team Coddiwomplers’ came an amazing 2nd place in the bike teams, with Steve scooping up ‘The Field Trophy’, making this the 3rd ‘award’ in a row he’d won for being the best bike! Pete managed a silver. Myself, Mo and Andy earned a bronze each, with Kelvin and Rod coming in as ‘finishers’, meaning ‘Team Chicken Legs’ earned a very respectable 4th place in the Bike teams. Well done everyone!! Unfortunately, Kelvin who usually ends up in the medals, forgot to put his foot down on two occasions on a couple of the 'restarts', resulting in a swift deposit on the floor, and a susequent failed section. Oopsy! I think someone was a little tired this time around?!
Thanks to all of the organisers, marshals, volunteers, spectators, fuel attendants, cake bakers, tea servers and everyone else in between! Your time and support of the event is much appreciated so us crazy lot can go on a mini adventure, getting soaked and muddy just for fun.
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