Let me start with an admission. I had grossly underestimated (MTB) Cross Country. I guess as a roadie and crosser at heart, I'd arrogantly assumed a bit of "been-there-..." attitude so figured that, apart from a bit of bike handling adaptation, this MTB thing would be pretty easy.
So I arrived at Crowthorne for a round of the Gorrick MTB Autumn Series feeling fairly optimistic, if a little apprehensive about the weather. It was peeing down, and had been for much of the week before, so I knew it was going to be slippy, but it was also exceptionally cold. But how much harder could it be than a cross race? The race start was delayed by about ten minutes which meant standing around in the cold drizzle, not good. Eventually our the small group of 15, the "Sport Male" (4-lap Seniors) category, were sent off.
I was careful not to ride too hard from the off, but on the first open section of the lap through fire roads I found I'd got into a nice rhythm and was starting to easily pass other competitors, good I thought.
But then came the first sharp corner that took me a bit by surprise, cue full use of the 180mm disc on the front, a really bad line and not flicking to a smaller ring before losing a lot of momentum. Then the single track.
On the first lap, I was exceptionally clumsy through the single track section. I nipped the handlebars on trees, clipped roots all wrong and generally made a hash of it. Worse, I used loads of energy doing it and come the start of the second lap I was feeling it. This was odd for me - usually the technical sections in cyclo-cross are where I pull an advantage. Now I had to try to pull myself back into contention on the fire road sections. According to the PA announcement I was running 7th, so I started thinking that 5th would be my target - and so I slid back on the saddle and spun up some pain on the big ring.
The second run through the single track was much better, and I started to feel far more at home. This was also hugely helped by the 1.5 section Conti Cross Country mud race tyres I'd been given by Andy L. The cornering grip levels were otherworldly in the mud and, even up the mushiest climbs, the rear wheel traction was solid. So into lap 3 I'd picked up a position and was about to grab another two, but then into the single track the cramps hit and I was hurting. I lost my hard earned 5th.
And then, on the final lap, it hit me. The bonk. I hadn't eaten enough before (technically with a, 14:15 start, I'd skipped lunch) and I had no gels with me. Daft. There it was, the dreaded wall. I hit it full on. Suddenly I just had nothing in me, I could barely muster keeping moving. And the cramps kept hitting my calves. "How could it all be going so wrong?" was all I could think.
6th slipped away, then 7th. Then I stopped caring because simply getting to the finish would have been a result. In the end I managed 10th, which I'm still not sure how I managed given the state I was in at the end. It does annoy me, but mostly because my form wasn't bad and with proper preparation a better result was in the offing.
So I look forward to taking another shot at XC racing, though I might wait for better weather and rather spend the rest of the winter concentrating on cyclo-cross. I think (just) an hour of pain, and not changing brake pads after every event, sounds like a far better proposition.
Saturday 20 November 2010
Monday 25 October 2010
Afan Raid
My road racing friends Andrew and Stu invited me to join on a mountain biking weekend in the valley. I couldn't wait and was counting the days - but little did I know that it would so massively exceed my expectations.
Firstly off, I could not have asked for a better group of guys - and, apart from battling a little with names, I felt at home from the start. Then the trails, just totally sick. I don't know if I've ever used that term before but it just makes sense here.
Despite leaving Bath to glorious sunny skies, Saturday morning in South Wales was bleak; heavy showers threatening to make a misery of any riding. So we procrastinated. And it paid off - the rain abated and so at least we didn't get rained on. But the trail was extremely wet - brilliant conditions for me to become reacquainted with this whole mountain biking lark!
So we set off up White's Level, a great up and down course. The climb gains 525m through nice single track - a few little technical sections but mostly just straightforward, flowing trail with a few hairpins - the MTB feels like a tanker compared to the crosser! Then from the top the trail cascades back down the hill to the trail centre; the Energy section being particularly brilliant with the table tops and some rocky banked turns.
I need to grow bigger balls - I found it difficult to resist confidence braking into corners, only to realise I could have carried a load more speed! I'm sure it will come with time, but I still feel a little out of sorts come the descents.
So I wasn't too surprised when I managed to clip a rock the next morning and then put my wheel off the edge of the trail. I emerged bruised, still not entirely sure how I did that, but learning that perhaps over-thinking is my enemy. Later I got happier to just let it flow; not that I quite got the knack, but thanks Steve for constantly nagging me to leave the brakes!
Speaking of brakes - goodness - the Welsh mud is vicious! One set of pads (front and rear) after two circuits of White's on Saturday! Madness.
And apart from the crash (and the annoyingly stiffening knee that resulted), Sunday we hit W2 - a combination of White's and a trail ominously named The Wall. It was a good day on the bike, but hard. Not that I could complain: Simon, who had done zero exercise in the last 6 months, let alone having ever ridden an MTB, gamely took it on and finished it. The dude was simply mega.
So overall, a totally awesome weekend. What I've described of the riding is just the tip of the iceberg. More so, I've hardly talked about the group - suffice to say that they are just stellar bunch. I couldn't have asked for a better crew to ride & hang out with, talk bike-geek stuff, stretching techniques and ponder 21-year-olds.
Ace! Thanks guys!
Wednesday 6 October 2010
The Hotel Gym
Being outside and getting exercise is fun, liberating, exciting. Gyms are just boring. The only diversions are good looking women who tend to look back at you like a sad loser if you're caught appreciating.
So I don't usually do gyms, but my sub-standard performance in recent races, and stupid schedule have driven me to using the most dreaded of all gyms; the sad, deserted confines of the hotel gym.
But all in all it was actually quite a good experience. A good half hour each of running and cycling, looking at flashing lines on the screen, managed to feel particularly good today. I was training! A rare occurrence, I know.
So, hopefully I'll be able to keep up this good habit. Bring on the weekend!
Sunday 3 October 2010
Purdown - Western League #3
I'd been dreading the possibility of "heavy rain" as forecast on all weather sites. I don't mind getting muddy, and I don't mind getting a little wet, but drenched sucks. So I was massively relieved that it was warm (if overcast and windy) and not raining when I signed up.
Probably because of the forecast, it was a fairly small field. The venue at Purdown is like a park, but with a big garage in it that looks like it might have once been a fire station or something. And the hill disappears up on the west side. Ominous!
So, a lap of the course: It starts on a grassy field just before the big garage, heading past the long west wall, then turning right to briefly skirt the north wall before plunging down the slope, around a slippery, open hairpin, and then back up the hill. Near a little cluster of trees was a nasty little transverse groove in the hill that was just enough to mess up your momentum before kicking up a little on the run up to the really nasty bit between the bushes. This bit was pretty much unrideable, slick mud and really steep.
After "The Hill" as I called it, the slope gradually levelled off and became grassy again, providing some traction - time to remount. Then a short stretch to a hairpin and a gentle downhill run (into the evil southerly); then doubling back at a hairpin to climb the gentle slope again. The course then turned left again to skirt the field; an interesting little left-right-left - a short blast across another little grassy field, a nice fast, slippery left hander, then a deceptively hard and bumpy climb up out of the little field, then a steep left hander into an all-too-brief stretch of single track before a tight right, then left-left back to the start.
Altogether it was a very hard circuit for me; certainly not suited to me - there weren't many properly technical sections where I could get some advantage back and I am simply in bad shape. And "The Hill" simply murdered me every time; I'd battle to walk up it, let alone jog. It was awful. Second lap up it I was nailed by everyone. I couldn't believe my form was so bad, but hey.
Of course, that was briefly followed by trying to think of good excuses to abandon, but I kept on. Slowly the mud started getting more and more churned, and I found that I was starting to find more of an advantage in the tricky sections - as sparse as they were! Plus I found that I was catching riders ahead even on the hard pulls into the wind. So I slowly started picking riders off and making up places. And I started having a ball; drifting the bike completely sideways into the increasingly slick corners as riders ahead were tip-toeing with one foot out for security - it felt great. Sure, the mud-specific tyres and disc brakes helped, but it still felt great.
I was slowly pulling in a Dynamo - the London Dynamos were Dulwich Paragon's arch rivals (Dulwich being my London club) - and I was becoming increasingly determined to pass him. Bell lap came and I had 50m to make up. Up "The Hill" I was lapped, a good opportunity to grab a wheel into the wind. I took it, made up the deficit and then made my move and caned it for the last 500-odd metres - putting a huge slide into the steep left hander into the single track but taking a lot more conservatively to the line once I'd worked that I'd put in a good gap.
Afterwards I felt pretty good. The legs were good but my lungs were a bit shot, being a fairly fast circuit it was big-time cardio.
Yeah, I need a lot more training to get anywhere near the form where I feel I should be - but the racing certainly is doing me good - if nothing other than helping me learn the limits of my body and honing my bike handling.
Next week is Stroud. Lets hope for a nice, seriously muddy race!
Cowbell - where is the cowbell!?!
Probably because of the forecast, it was a fairly small field. The venue at Purdown is like a park, but with a big garage in it that looks like it might have once been a fire station or something. And the hill disappears up on the west side. Ominous!
So, a lap of the course: It starts on a grassy field just before the big garage, heading past the long west wall, then turning right to briefly skirt the north wall before plunging down the slope, around a slippery, open hairpin, and then back up the hill. Near a little cluster of trees was a nasty little transverse groove in the hill that was just enough to mess up your momentum before kicking up a little on the run up to the really nasty bit between the bushes. This bit was pretty much unrideable, slick mud and really steep.
After "The Hill" as I called it, the slope gradually levelled off and became grassy again, providing some traction - time to remount. Then a short stretch to a hairpin and a gentle downhill run (into the evil southerly); then doubling back at a hairpin to climb the gentle slope again. The course then turned left again to skirt the field; an interesting little left-right-left - a short blast across another little grassy field, a nice fast, slippery left hander, then a deceptively hard and bumpy climb up out of the little field, then a steep left hander into an all-too-brief stretch of single track before a tight right, then left-left back to the start.
Altogether it was a very hard circuit for me; certainly not suited to me - there weren't many properly technical sections where I could get some advantage back and I am simply in bad shape. And "The Hill" simply murdered me every time; I'd battle to walk up it, let alone jog. It was awful. Second lap up it I was nailed by everyone. I couldn't believe my form was so bad, but hey.
Of course, that was briefly followed by trying to think of good excuses to abandon, but I kept on. Slowly the mud started getting more and more churned, and I found that I was starting to find more of an advantage in the tricky sections - as sparse as they were! Plus I found that I was catching riders ahead even on the hard pulls into the wind. So I slowly started picking riders off and making up places. And I started having a ball; drifting the bike completely sideways into the increasingly slick corners as riders ahead were tip-toeing with one foot out for security - it felt great. Sure, the mud-specific tyres and disc brakes helped, but it still felt great.
I was slowly pulling in a Dynamo - the London Dynamos were Dulwich Paragon's arch rivals (Dulwich being my London club) - and I was becoming increasingly determined to pass him. Bell lap came and I had 50m to make up. Up "The Hill" I was lapped, a good opportunity to grab a wheel into the wind. I took it, made up the deficit and then made my move and caned it for the last 500-odd metres - putting a huge slide into the steep left hander into the single track but taking a lot more conservatively to the line once I'd worked that I'd put in a good gap.
Afterwards I felt pretty good. The legs were good but my lungs were a bit shot, being a fairly fast circuit it was big-time cardio.
Yeah, I need a lot more training to get anywhere near the form where I feel I should be - but the racing certainly is doing me good - if nothing other than helping me learn the limits of my body and honing my bike handling.
Next week is Stroud. Lets hope for a nice, seriously muddy race!
Cowbell - where is the cowbell!?!
Monday 27 September 2010
38th Bleugh
Lydiard Park, Swindon - 26th Sept.
I was horribly out of shape, but decided to give it a shot anyways. At worst it would be a really hard training ride, at best I'd feel some glory.
Within the first 100m it became painfully clear that it would be the former rather than the latter. In true cyclocross style, by lap two I was well into the red trying to think of excuses for giving up. Four laps in I started to wonder what the hell I was doing in Swindon on a cold and windy Sunday afternoon when I could otherwise have been in bed reading Arthur Miller's short stories.
Then the riders who had passed me earlier in the race (I started near the back of the pack, so by this stage was was just about last) started coming back. The bumpy stretch up the hill started feeling easier. The lines through the forest started feeling more natural and I found I was eating tens of metres into my opponents through the forest alone. I started getting into a good tuck into the wind, but keeping an easy spin, and so started picking off the riders ahead one at a time.
There were some moments to savour; passing a stubbornly fast dude through the forest, then power-sliding out of the only muddy corner (yes, on a bicycle), taking a dude through the running section over the gates and out sprinting a challenge at the finish line.
But then again, it was pretty dismal. 38th of 46 is pretty rubbish and I will certainly need to up my game dramatically. I don't enjoy being so far off the pace, let alone being lapped. Yep, some concerted training will be required.
Watch this space!
Saturday 17 July 2010
Just want to get cross
Middle of summer. It has been a mess with my marriage and so my life falling to pieces all around me. It sucks but things like this either kill you or make you stronger. I'm still here so I guess I'll be stronger.
I haven't raced at all, but my form isn't too awful. I will be doing the opposite of all roadies and trying to get my base in over the summer in order to hit late September fresh and fast. We're contemplating a production cross frame - so I might have something special to race in later in the season.
Annoyingly I missed the entry for the 3-Peaks - but I have ambitions of doing well this season in cross. I just need to keep my health in check and keep my chest clear. If i can do that, I'll be able to keep my form and kick ass. Perhaps it doesn't bode well that I have a chest infection as I type this, but it is exceptionally mild and I'm kicking it.
Roll on Autumn.
I haven't raced at all, but my form isn't too awful. I will be doing the opposite of all roadies and trying to get my base in over the summer in order to hit late September fresh and fast. We're contemplating a production cross frame - so I might have something special to race in later in the season.
Annoyingly I missed the entry for the 3-Peaks - but I have ambitions of doing well this season in cross. I just need to keep my health in check and keep my chest clear. If i can do that, I'll be able to keep my form and kick ass. Perhaps it doesn't bode well that I have a chest infection as I type this, but it is exceptionally mild and I'm kicking it.
Roll on Autumn.
Monday 1 February 2010
Farewell London League
For the 2009/2010 London Cyclocross season anyhow.
What a classic course for the send off. It was a muddy, technical treat at Herne Hill. The course included the ramps, hurdy gurdys, hurdles and mud. Lots of it.
The race itself was very sore. The slippery surface was difficult for everyone; it certainly helped me to the deck a few times. Plus it was hard racing. I was determined to beat my regular competition, and maybe get a bit higher in the order.
A lap into the race my lungs felt ready to burst, after two laps my back started to ache; and then it just got harder. With two laps to go my entire body was hurting - by the end the pain was irrelevant, all I cared about was not being passed.
Which I am proud to say I managed. I got ahead of my rivals and used my pace through the tricky outfield to put air between us. Then I knuckled down hard through the infield to maintain the gap. This was pretty much the pattern of the entire race - the only developments being increased fatigue and the bike getting heavier and heavier from gathering more mud.
I was nervous to see the results, so I was quite chuffed they were published very promptly. In the end I came 24th. Of 82 finishers.
Yeah, happy with that. Very happy.
So that wraps the 2009/10 'cross season, nearly. In two weeks we have the Team Champs, which should be a lot of fun and a nice way to end the season. Then it will be looking forward to criteriums in the road season for the summer.
Yeah, I'm really looking forward to those long evenings of Speed! Bring on Summer!
Wednesday 27 January 2010
A lot of speed
The last few days have been pretty busy. Sunday was London League cyclocross at Wilmington in Kent, and then Tuesday I ran in our company running club month-end race.
The cross race was mad as usual. It wasn't too wet, but the mud was very slick and traction was very poor; with even moderate inclines being unrideable. There was also a very tricky section through the woods that was very narrow and felt more like what I'd expect of an MTB course rather than Cross.
The race itself was hard. On the first lap I was trying to think of how I could bail out but still retain my dignity. Realising that was impossible, I then started wondering how I was going to survive the next hour. And it seemed to take forever. The dismounting, running and remounting took their toll, as did the very frustrating slippy near running-on-the-spot sections up the hills. I had a few silly falls too, the "best" being riding straight into a tree on the last lap at near walking pace (I blame fatigue).
As usual, afterward it felt great. I had a fun ding-dong with a club mate, Kevin Ball and also managed to keep a few riders that I recognised from previous races at bay. I'm really enjoying this cyclocross lark - it is just such a pity that the season is so short.
Then to running; my new commute means that it simply is not fiscally possible for me to take the train (and so include a ride in my commute), so I've returned to running to try to keep fast and in shape. My first run was last week, and frankly I battled and was broken afterward. I really wasn't expecting much for the lunch time race.
The organiser, Zoe, stuck me into the fastest group despite my protestations. I really thought she was having a laugh and roundly expected to be the slowest of the group and jog into the finish dead last (it is run on a handicap, so the slowest runners would be well down the road before the fast group starts).
So after lots of waiting we set off. I start gingerly (for the first 20m or so), then realise I feel pretty good, so ratchet up the pace. Probably a bit too quickly because up the long hill to the park I'm starting to feel it. Into the park I'm staying with the leading group (bar one) of fast runners, but hurting already - only about 1.5km in! Then I notice my shoe lace is loose. PREPARATION! I have to stop to tie it up and so immediately loose touch with the group.
I try to close the gap after that but they pull away steadily. I keep up a good pace but am really hurting. I wind up the pace on the way in, purely out of pride and not wanting to be overtaken; I manage to be passed only by the fastest runner (Ian Mc' for those who've followed this blog for a while) who gave himself a further, self imposed handicap of a few minutes! My time is a smidge over 25 mins. Not too bad, but I do have quite a bit of work to do.
I was broken totally by the run, and had to drag myself to the local Tesco to grab a For Goodness Shakes (my new favourite). It helped a bit but honestly I was too stuffed to be useful to anyone.
A day later I am still sore. My legs from the run, but my shoulders and core still have traces of tightness from the Cross race. All good stuff. And to be repeated this weekend with another Cross race at Herne Hill.
Rock on!
The cross race was mad as usual. It wasn't too wet, but the mud was very slick and traction was very poor; with even moderate inclines being unrideable. There was also a very tricky section through the woods that was very narrow and felt more like what I'd expect of an MTB course rather than Cross.
The race itself was hard. On the first lap I was trying to think of how I could bail out but still retain my dignity. Realising that was impossible, I then started wondering how I was going to survive the next hour. And it seemed to take forever. The dismounting, running and remounting took their toll, as did the very frustrating slippy near running-on-the-spot sections up the hills. I had a few silly falls too, the "best" being riding straight into a tree on the last lap at near walking pace (I blame fatigue).
As usual, afterward it felt great. I had a fun ding-dong with a club mate, Kevin Ball and also managed to keep a few riders that I recognised from previous races at bay. I'm really enjoying this cyclocross lark - it is just such a pity that the season is so short.
Then to running; my new commute means that it simply is not fiscally possible for me to take the train (and so include a ride in my commute), so I've returned to running to try to keep fast and in shape. My first run was last week, and frankly I battled and was broken afterward. I really wasn't expecting much for the lunch time race.
The organiser, Zoe, stuck me into the fastest group despite my protestations. I really thought she was having a laugh and roundly expected to be the slowest of the group and jog into the finish dead last (it is run on a handicap, so the slowest runners would be well down the road before the fast group starts).
So after lots of waiting we set off. I start gingerly (for the first 20m or so), then realise I feel pretty good, so ratchet up the pace. Probably a bit too quickly because up the long hill to the park I'm starting to feel it. Into the park I'm staying with the leading group (bar one) of fast runners, but hurting already - only about 1.5km in! Then I notice my shoe lace is loose. PREPARATION! I have to stop to tie it up and so immediately loose touch with the group.
I try to close the gap after that but they pull away steadily. I keep up a good pace but am really hurting. I wind up the pace on the way in, purely out of pride and not wanting to be overtaken; I manage to be passed only by the fastest runner (Ian Mc' for those who've followed this blog for a while) who gave himself a further, self imposed handicap of a few minutes! My time is a smidge over 25 mins. Not too bad, but I do have quite a bit of work to do.
I was broken totally by the run, and had to drag myself to the local Tesco to grab a For Goodness Shakes (my new favourite). It helped a bit but honestly I was too stuffed to be useful to anyone.
A day later I am still sore. My legs from the run, but my shoulders and core still have traces of tightness from the Cross race. All good stuff. And to be repeated this weekend with another Cross race at Herne Hill.
Rock on!
Wednesday 13 January 2010
Chapeau Madam!
So, I'm blasting back home from work along Victoria Embankment. Whizzing past the usual train of commuters (not everyone thinks it's a race I guess...) I notice a flashing red light ahead that is making short work of the bike traffic (not to mention the car traffic, but that goes without saying). I'm hardly making up any ground, so I dig a bit deeper and start giving chase.
A few hundred metres passes, and I'm not making as much of a dent in the gap as I would for a typical "quick commuter" - clearly this guys is giving it some beans, so if I'm to catch up before Parliament Square, I'd better light them burners.
And so I do, we're now on the stretch to Big Ben and I'm getting close. We both dispatch a guy on a carbon superbike, but I have bigger fish to fry. Or should I say smaller. This rider is diminutive! And it is a her. Her legs are pumping relentlessly and her speed isn't letting up.
I keep the taps open and pass - eventually. As I pass, she looks back. Now, I know people in good shape who take good care of themselves can easily look 10 years younger than they really are - this lady looks to be in her mid-fifties, your guess is as good as mine. I was amazed.
I hope that I'm still riding that quickly on the commute when I'm in my fifties!
A few hundred metres passes, and I'm not making as much of a dent in the gap as I would for a typical "quick commuter" - clearly this guys is giving it some beans, so if I'm to catch up before Parliament Square, I'd better light them burners.
And so I do, we're now on the stretch to Big Ben and I'm getting close. We both dispatch a guy on a carbon superbike, but I have bigger fish to fry. Or should I say smaller. This rider is diminutive! And it is a her. Her legs are pumping relentlessly and her speed isn't letting up.
I keep the taps open and pass - eventually. As I pass, she looks back. Now, I know people in good shape who take good care of themselves can easily look 10 years younger than they really are - this lady looks to be in her mid-fifties, your guess is as good as mine. I was amazed.
I hope that I'm still riding that quickly on the commute when I'm in my fifties!
Sunday 3 January 2010
Herne Hill Results
Image courtesy Londoncyclesport.comCrazy crazy crazy! I am beaming ear to ear. 27th. Of 93 finishers. Rock on!
Sloppy Herne Hill
On my first (recce) lap of the circuit I realised that the 'cross races so far were just a taster of the real thing.
I was a little nervous this morning; it has been a long time since I'd raced; I'd been kept off the bike first by a bruised hand from a fall on icy, moss-covered paving in early-Jan and then from a battle with a nasty cold that ended up taking out pretty much most of the family that was staying over. The good news is that I didn't get the customary chest infection, so my asthma meds are doing the trick!
Back to today - it was very cold (around 2°C), but sunny. Rain and snow from previous days had made the ground well soaked and bit of the course I could see looked pretty squishy indeed. There had also been a New Years Day madison event on two days before, so the circuit was quite cut up. I'd arrived with good time, so I was able to sign on and get my kit sorted without a rush before heading out for an easy recce; this is very important for me.
The mud was very slippery indeed, and some off camber sections needed good line picking, but also solid pedaling to get through. Some of the faster corners were a little daunting, but later proved a treat (provided the bike was set-up nicely into the corner). A bit of ice, and frozen, furrowed mud was quite scary and, after very nearly stacking it on the recce, I decided it was best avoided. What struck me most about the course was the crazy climbs and near drop-offs and the number of obstacles that demanded a dismount. The bits through the trees also offered up many technical challenges that initially made me feel completely inept.
So I felt pretty daunted as I took up my place on the start line. Soon enough the whistle went and it was the usual charge to the first corner. I wasn't feeling that strong, so I didn't go all out, but I found myself around some familiar faces to I guess it must have been a reasonable start. The first foray into the tricky wooded section was crazy; I found myself getting into all sorts of trouble by making the same mistake that I had previously made in the cockpit of my Class C Fiat - following the guy in front, and in so doing effectively having him ride my bike. I forced myself to focus on the trail, looking past the rider ahead and picking my own line.
Into the second lap it was feeling a lot easier and into the third riding in the mud felt like second nature. I found that, in the group I was in (roughly 6-7 riders), I was being held up quite a bit through the technical wooded section, but onto the flatter open stadium section I was losing ground - my lack of fitness from the time off the bike telling. But the problem was, sitting at the back of the group I was being held up where I had the advantage, then burning up through the infield to stay in touch. Time to make a move then. With a few bold moves, including an outbrake into a steep downhill, I got ahead. I had to work hard though, so into the infield I felt like puking and was repassed.
Next lap our group was split by a fall and I attacked to try to get a bigger advantage. It almost worked, and I left the infield section only having conceded a place or two to the group. On the next lap, I made my move. I charged hard up the the steep climb, with the bike on my shoulder I sprinted as hard as I could up the muddy slope and did my best impression of a running remount (which, I must admit, needs a lot of work). Apart from a few metres gap, crucially I'd got "track position" on the group with a fair proportion of the twisty wooded section to go. I rode it as hard as I could, even came off once (but managed to save it with a quick remount). Then, into the infield I tucked down and rode as hard as I could. It paid off. Coming out of the stadium exit corner, I saw the group still a distance from the corner. Spot on.
The rest of the race was a fight against fatigue and the lack of a rear brake. Not sure what happened (my guess at the moment is a cable that I hadn't tightened properly), but my rear brake stopped working in the second lap which left me with only the front - quite a liability, especially with all the sharp corners at the bottom of descents. As I became more tired, mistakes crept in and I would lose my advantage through the woods.
So the 2 laps go couldn't come soon enough. The pace started to escalate, and I knew the riders behind would be chasing. Summoning up all the energy I could, I tried to ride as neatly as I could, only to tumble over the bars on a descent. I needed to stay calm and keep it smooth, but it was difficult. I was also starting to encounter a few back-markers which made things even trickier. I couldn't afford to lose time through the twisty sections but this was exactly where passing was difficult. Fortunately the etiquette of most riders was exemplary and it was generally easy to find a way through as long as you weren't too impatient.
Heading through the stadium section for the last time I took a peek back and saw mostly empty track. One of the riders from the pack, a Mosquito rider, had caught and repassed me on the last lap but I'd managed to hold off the remainder. Still, no time for taking it easy. Big ring all the way to the finish (well, almost).
Not sure where I finished, but I had an absolute ball. The bike was caked in mud and felt a good 2kg heavier after the race, crazy.
So, I think now I get 'cross. Fact: It is the most fun you can have on a bike.
I was a little nervous this morning; it has been a long time since I'd raced; I'd been kept off the bike first by a bruised hand from a fall on icy, moss-covered paving in early-Jan and then from a battle with a nasty cold that ended up taking out pretty much most of the family that was staying over. The good news is that I didn't get the customary chest infection, so my asthma meds are doing the trick!
Back to today - it was very cold (around 2°C), but sunny. Rain and snow from previous days had made the ground well soaked and bit of the course I could see looked pretty squishy indeed. There had also been a New Years Day madison event on two days before, so the circuit was quite cut up. I'd arrived with good time, so I was able to sign on and get my kit sorted without a rush before heading out for an easy recce; this is very important for me.
The mud was very slippery indeed, and some off camber sections needed good line picking, but also solid pedaling to get through. Some of the faster corners were a little daunting, but later proved a treat (provided the bike was set-up nicely into the corner). A bit of ice, and frozen, furrowed mud was quite scary and, after very nearly stacking it on the recce, I decided it was best avoided. What struck me most about the course was the crazy climbs and near drop-offs and the number of obstacles that demanded a dismount. The bits through the trees also offered up many technical challenges that initially made me feel completely inept.
So I felt pretty daunted as I took up my place on the start line. Soon enough the whistle went and it was the usual charge to the first corner. I wasn't feeling that strong, so I didn't go all out, but I found myself around some familiar faces to I guess it must have been a reasonable start. The first foray into the tricky wooded section was crazy; I found myself getting into all sorts of trouble by making the same mistake that I had previously made in the cockpit of my Class C Fiat - following the guy in front, and in so doing effectively having him ride my bike. I forced myself to focus on the trail, looking past the rider ahead and picking my own line.
Into the second lap it was feeling a lot easier and into the third riding in the mud felt like second nature. I found that, in the group I was in (roughly 6-7 riders), I was being held up quite a bit through the technical wooded section, but onto the flatter open stadium section I was losing ground - my lack of fitness from the time off the bike telling. But the problem was, sitting at the back of the group I was being held up where I had the advantage, then burning up through the infield to stay in touch. Time to make a move then. With a few bold moves, including an outbrake into a steep downhill, I got ahead. I had to work hard though, so into the infield I felt like puking and was repassed.
Next lap our group was split by a fall and I attacked to try to get a bigger advantage. It almost worked, and I left the infield section only having conceded a place or two to the group. On the next lap, I made my move. I charged hard up the the steep climb, with the bike on my shoulder I sprinted as hard as I could up the muddy slope and did my best impression of a running remount (which, I must admit, needs a lot of work). Apart from a few metres gap, crucially I'd got "track position" on the group with a fair proportion of the twisty wooded section to go. I rode it as hard as I could, even came off once (but managed to save it with a quick remount). Then, into the infield I tucked down and rode as hard as I could. It paid off. Coming out of the stadium exit corner, I saw the group still a distance from the corner. Spot on.
The rest of the race was a fight against fatigue and the lack of a rear brake. Not sure what happened (my guess at the moment is a cable that I hadn't tightened properly), but my rear brake stopped working in the second lap which left me with only the front - quite a liability, especially with all the sharp corners at the bottom of descents. As I became more tired, mistakes crept in and I would lose my advantage through the woods.
So the 2 laps go couldn't come soon enough. The pace started to escalate, and I knew the riders behind would be chasing. Summoning up all the energy I could, I tried to ride as neatly as I could, only to tumble over the bars on a descent. I needed to stay calm and keep it smooth, but it was difficult. I was also starting to encounter a few back-markers which made things even trickier. I couldn't afford to lose time through the twisty sections but this was exactly where passing was difficult. Fortunately the etiquette of most riders was exemplary and it was generally easy to find a way through as long as you weren't too impatient.
Heading through the stadium section for the last time I took a peek back and saw mostly empty track. One of the riders from the pack, a Mosquito rider, had caught and repassed me on the last lap but I'd managed to hold off the remainder. Still, no time for taking it easy. Big ring all the way to the finish (well, almost).
Not sure where I finished, but I had an absolute ball. The bike was caked in mud and felt a good 2kg heavier after the race, crazy.
So, I think now I get 'cross. Fact: It is the most fun you can have on a bike.
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