Fat Lad’s Last Lap

SITS 2008, it was my sixth endurance event and despite putting my self through 132 hours of mostly mud filled hell I’d yet to swing the last lap. It might just be our crew of ragged trousered cyclists who hold up the last lap of an endurance event in misty eyed esteem or maybe pedallers world over hold it in special regard. When the fates decided it was my time to go out for the last lap my soul lifted and the last 23 hours of mud, heart ache and torture made way for weary, aching legged joy.


With Mick in from a storming lap, spraying mud from the back wheel in a fountain of dirt and effort he decided he was going out again too, Phil ditched his asbo tag and he too joined me out on the field of broken bikes and bodies. I like to think that words seldom fail me but in this circumstance the weary mix of emotions and exhausted limbs drained me of speech and I spun round the sticky humid lap with empty lungs and a heart bursting with pride, elation and the shear brilliance of sharing this moment with two of the best comrades any fella could ever dare to call friends.

Crossing the finish line I regret telling Phil to peel off and not confuse the timing guys, the three mud splattered amigos should have finished as we started. Mick and I crossed the line to grab a handshake from the big man of UK cycle sport and the grin on my face demonstrated a lost lap daemon well and truly exorcised.

Fat Lad

As always Mrs Fat Lads quite brilliant Photos of Sleepless In The Saddle 2008 can be found @ www.sarahshawphotography.co.uk

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