Sascha Wells - 24 hr Solo Novice...
Sascha Wells is one gutsy lady, this will be her first taste of 24 hr riding solo and not only has she little experience at the whole enduro thing but also to make matters more complicated she’s doing the event on her trusty singlespeed. Not one to back down from a challenge she has literally put her money where her mouth is after a bit of banter on a popular forum and is now using her own personal challenge as a means not only to prove all the soothsayers wrong but to also raise some money for 2 worthy charities: Marie Curie and Normal Birth Fund. If she fails her goal of achieving at least 12 laps she herself will pay up £50, if she does succeed hopefully all you lovely people will have contributed to a great cause, oh and she’ll get her partner Rich to cough up £50 as to be honest he has a lot to do with Sascha doing this ride.
Okay tell us a bit about Sascha the person…
I am a generally happy, fun person who loves a thrill and adrenaline buzz. I just enjoy life as much as possible as I believe it is what you make it and there are some people who really have a bad life, there is always someone worse off than me. I don’t like people who take life for granted and believe the world and everyone in it owes them something. I am a Midwife, a job which I love and am very passionate about, I see some really sad and bad stuff in my job but what makes it is the sheer honour of being present at such a life changing and joyous event for most people.
I love riding my bike as this gives me time to clear my head, put things into perspective and enjoy the beauty of nature around me and the sheer simplicity of it. you see nature at its most beautiful on your bike.
Have you always been into mountain biking?
I did little bits, but I guess it wasn’t until I started dating Postierich (her partner Rich) that I become more enthused thanks to his encouragement. Mind you on our second ride out, I broke my arm, but I managed to ride to my car then drive back to my place, went to bed before starting a night shift and was only when tears were streaming down my face with pain that I thought I would get it checked out. Result plaster for 6 wks! It didn't put me off though, I just got more determined to get it right next time!
Mayhem is a big under taking, have you done much enduro racing before?
No not really, I’ve done a couple of team events, and I managed the 6 hr solo at Bristol last year but nothing else. I rode SITS at the last minute in a team of 21 yr. olds but after my first lap for them, which I really enjoyed I had to throw the towel in as I wasn't very well. I made a poor excuse to them but really I had no feeling what so ever in my saddle area to the point that I couldn't pass urine etc. and had been that way for two days by that point but it seemed to get worse with riding. Five days later I was in the back of an ambulance being blue lighted to the Neuro Department at QE Birmingham hospital for suspected cord compression! Thank goodness it wasn't, what it was ,was from an innocuous fall two weeks before, had caused such severe bruising and damage to the nerves in that area that they had just shut down! Took nine months to get full sensation back, all cool now!
Why did you want to ride Mayhem solo and what are your goals?
It’s just something I want to do before I get too old! A personnel achievement really. I rode last year in a mixed team, which was tough because it was so muddy, so I thought this year I’d go it alone and hope it doesn’t rain!! I’m aiming to do at least 12 laps for my own personal achievement, to help raise money for the Marie Curie cancer care fund and for the Normal Birth fund at work and mainly to prove Postierich wrong!!
Lastly a big goal for me will be crossing the finish line in one piece knowing I met my other goal and having Postie and my Daughter there to see it and share that moment with me.
So you want to raise some money for charity, why have you chosen Marie Curie and the Normal Birth Fund?
Well my Mothers sister died of cancer as did Richard's father. My mother is in her 7th year of remission and I have two close friends currently undergoing treatment.
I would love it if people donated to Marie Curie for each lap I did, that would inspire me even further. I am getting my colleagues at work to sponsor me per lap to raise money for our Normal Birth fund, to help pay for equipment to help women have the active birth they wish for and deserve.
Why choose to ride 24 hr's on a singlespeed?
Well last year at Mayhem, I rode in one gear all the time even though I had 27 because it was so muddy and hilly that my rear mech. was getting stuck, even before that the gears weren’t changing into my granny ring anyway so I thought “why not?” Also I don't loose concentration over tech stuff worrying about what gear I should be in.
Is your other half supportive of your ambition?
I believe he is supportive, he definitely won't want me to fail as he will see it as a bad reflection on him!!! However he does know that I am very stubborn and if you give me a challenge I will take it on, STUPIDLY!
What bike will you be riding at Mayhem, so everyone can say hi?
Just my Cotic Simple and no there won't be a spare not unless someone donates me one!
How’s the training going?
I have been riding on and off round Wales and Cannock Chase when I can but lately I have been out on the lanes getting the miles in on the ss pulling Imogen in the trailer. I have just got back from a week in the lakes and Scotland and took part in the ssuk race. the course was tough but great fun. I Plan to carry on just riding as much as I can, run a bit too, and also my job is very physical so that keeps me fit. I have given up the fags too,( I had a little slip after ssuk but I’m only a social smoker really!)
I love the camaraderie at events like these and the social side, I have met so many people and made many friends through these events, its great!!
Mayhem last year was awful in the mud, but hilarious too. I just wish I was more skilled and capable of riding through anything really. But it was fun in the end! I figure that being able to push myself like this just and being apart of something so good and so much fun and hopefully benefiting others in a small way is pretty amazing.
Will you be adapting the scientific approach to your ride?
Doubt it, it’ll be more Heath Robinson; lots of jaffa cakes, lucozade sport, cups of tea and pasta. /Richard (Postie), Imogen and her carer Hannah, and Hopefully some friends from work too will be there to keep me on the straight and narrow.
Tactic wise, I think I will ride hard to start and then easy through the night, a good rest and then again at sunrise go for it. That could change though dependent on the course, weather and my mental state! I’ll defiantly have my Ipod on, absolutely! Lots of dance music, 80's music, Gun's and Roses, Bon Jovi, Killers and Shadow Puppets etc.
Towards the end if I am on schedule there might even be some alcohol!
What do you think will keep you going when things get really tough?
I guess what will keep me going is Richard and wanting to reach my goal for the charities, also the thought of lots of champagne at the end if and when I get there!
If you had to choose one tune that you think would sum up your challenge, what would it be?
Oh that has to be Bon Jovi, “Living on a prayer”, because lets face it I will be!
If you’d like to help Sascha reach her target and support her worthy cause pop over to:
www.justgiving.com/saschawells
and please give generously!
We’ll update you after the event and let you know how she got on! meanwhile Good luck Sascha we’ll be cheering for you out there!
And lastly here’s Sascha’s Mayhem profile in a nutshell!
Used to be unfit. Wants to achieve this goal and prove postie so wrong!. Wishes it was going to be sunny but not too hot!. Likes shoes, oh my, Love em,
cant get enough I have over a 100 pairs! Thinks way too much. Loves Richard and the fact he introduced me to this madness and is a brill bike mechanic for
me Hates getting it wrong in anything, but I will accept eventually!!! Misses does this sound bad? nothing? Most famous for my wild party girl days and my
work as a midwife. the two were always kept separate!!!! and still are!.