Quick update on the first round of the series, which isn’t too far away now. Looking at the xcracer site, with all the events planned for the weekend, the Nightrider 6 has had to be postponed. The night demo is going ahead though so still pack those lights I guess.
So to amend the previous post, the first round goes like this:
Mar 27/28 Sherwood Pines, British XC1 + night demo
I have some exciting news coming for the next season, going to mean an incredible and exciting journey for the year, which I hope you all will like. Stay tuned for a release very shortly…
Here it is…
Have a suggestion for the site, want to ask a question?
Leave a comment or email here.
After a few weeks of knowing but not knowing where we are going to be racing next year, I heard this morning that all dates and venues have been confirmed for the new series. Full details are listed over at the main site; http://www.britishxc.com
Mar 27/28 Sherwood Pines, British XC1 + Nightrider 6 + night demo
May 8/9 Porridge Pot Hill, British XC2 + Are You Tough Enough enduro
May 29/30 Margam Park, British XC3 + Big Welsh Weekend enduro
July 3/4 Dalby Forest, British XC4 + Great Yorkshire enduro
Sep 25/26 Newnham Park, British XC5 + Newnham 60 enduro
A great combination of races I think, some really good competitive course in the mix there. For myself, I’m waiting for a couple of more dates to be announced before I finalise my plans for next year, but they are already in full swing and going well. Once everything is confirmed, I’ll be posting my plans.
Keep riding.
A bright and cold morning marked the first Gorrick autumn classic of 2009, and also the first planned and completed short terms goals that lead me into the new season with a finishing position of 20th, from 50 starters in the 3 lap masters category.
The lead up to the race has been about doing lots of sub threshold work on the road bike, working on building up my ftp, which I analysis through the wko system and coach Travis. I had a great time out on the course, probably the most fun I’ve had at a race in a year, with its fast flowing singletrack sections, short drag like climbs, and almost bmx like like sections with bombholes looping round the almost 5 mile fairly flat course.
The aim of the race for me was to continue working on the ftp with consistent lap splits, without going into the red and test out my technical skills at a higher speed. No pressure, just a measured effort. Mission accomplished and a great way to hit my first mini target, building confidence.
The race kicked off with cold toes and a wide starting line leading across some fire road then turning into the first of many single track sections. Off the start I was hovering around 12th as I looked up to see a line of riders stretching out in front of me. I was with a group of about 5 or 6 around half way through the lap as we went through more single track and got a bit of a hold up. Some riders got through and made a gap, while I was on the other side of this and had to wait for an opening further down the course, by which point I had lost contact with the group and spent the rest of the race going solo. So just kept feeling each moment and pushing on.
Two more laps down, one broken saddle later I finished a decent day’s effort, just holding off 21st place and not quite managing 19th from a dropped chain. All in all a good day. As I was riding off to get a change of clothes another rider popped up beside me (sorry I don’t know who you were) and congratulated me on a good ride as he was using me as a carrot, describing me as a “white blob up ahead!”. I guess I can’t blame him and shows just how fast and open some of the racing was on a course that was just great fun.
Thanks to Jon and his crew for putting the race on, Joolze for the photography, and timelaps for the… well, timing!
Until next time,
Happy trails
Sunday is the first of the two races in the Gorrick Autumn Classics. Having been a while since I tested myself physically and mentally I am going to head down there and get familiar again. I’m coming off a block of sub threshold work and am keen to see how I go, not so much at full race pace but at a workload that is high but can be maintained consistently through the laps. Much like the workouts I’ve been doing but throwing in some of the technical skills of racing. I’m looking forward to it.
The venue is at tunnel hill, map is below but please note that nearest post code is GU12 5RR which is Keogh Barracks, when in the vicinity follow the MTB RACE signs to the vehicle entrance 600m to the east of here. Full details of fees and start times are over at Gorrick.
I look forward to the racing and say hi if you see me out there!
Happy trails.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=GU12+5RR&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Aldershot,+Hampshire+GU12+5RR,+United+Kingdom&z=14&iwloc=A&ll=51.287151,-0.709562&output=embed&w=425&h=350
So… How did the Southern XC race go? In short, it didn’t, as I decided to heed to rule one. Listen to your body. My preparations had been going smoothly during the week but I started to feel a little below par come Friday. Anyway, I woke up on Saturday morning in a pool of sweat and didn’t really have the energy to do much more than lay on the sofa. I should mention that I spent the previous week with a heavy cold and it looks like the final remains was rearing its head and trying to spoil my fun.
Sunday arrived and off we went up to the race to find a slimy course, a couple of changes of tyres to test out the right choice and off I went to do a warm up. During this time I spent some time riding just below threshold and felt like I was red lining it, again sweating like a nutter. It seemed to take me a long time just to do a lap and was knackered by that point. Obviously I wasn’t recovered so with only a few minutes before the last to make the choice. I went sensible.
Its a tough decision to make, I hate not racing, especially when the start line is in front of you, but I am convinced that had I raced, I would be ill now. So, I took the rest of the day off, had an early night, and will have a couple of easier days before continuing on with the plan.
On a separate note, the course which will be used for the National Championships in 2010, looks like it will be a great racing course if it stays dry. If its wet, it will be long and tough, and as always, if you don’t get to that first corner quick, its game over.
Coming up this weekend is the next round of the Southern XC series. This one also decides the south of England champion. Be at Chawton Park Woods, Alton, Hampshire on Sunday with racing starting at 10am for the under 12′s. Hope to see you out there!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoArRmDVUI4;]
Dried salt stuck to my bright red face, muscles aching so bad that even my abs hurt, limbs so heavy that I just couldn’t be bothered to move that much afterwards. That’s the price you pay when you haven’t raced that much and you line up for 2hrs 20mins worth of racing at Devizes for the fourth round of the Southern XC series.
The course was a great fun technical and hilly course, which there has been plenty discussed about, over at xcracer.com. My result and lap times weren’t stunning and I felt pretty rusty technically, as I rolled in in 40th place in the super competitive Masters category. Just goes to highlight how much mountain bike racing is as much about skill as it is fitness. The video by Paul Robinson does a good job of covering how the other races went.
This is the race that will go down as the turning point for my year. Up until now I’ve been struggling to fit in a consistent level of training between work and other commitments, but recently that has been making a change for the better and a base is beginning to form. I’m pleased about that as it will add up to improve my performances in the next season. But the think I am most pleased about in this race is winning the mental battle with the annoying voice that pops up every so often in a race. You know the one… its the little whisper that says “I’m in pain! This hurts! I can’t cope anymore! If you just slow down a bit that I’ll be better, I’ll stop moaning. What do you say?”
Gladly I said a big fat NO to it, and ignored it the first time. But it came back, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again. Each time… No way, I’m here to stay! I have to say, trying to regain some form of fitness that I previously held has been tough, but crossing that finish line completely knackered changed me a little. I stepped up a level, not so much physically but more importantly, mentally, the place where everything starts. And for that I am very satisfied with myself.
The next round of the series includes the one day Southern Championships, for the best regional rider in each category. Entries and information can be found over at the Southern XC site. Results from this and previous rounds can be found at timelaps.
Until next time, happy trails
This Saturday is the 3rd round of the regional series down at a new course for this year, in Pippingford estate, east sussex. It will be my first race in the series this year and am looking forward to testing myself out against the course. Speak of which, here is a little video taster of things to come. Directions are further down. Entries for the race close at Wednesday 5pm.
Have a good one all, I’m looking forward to my various interval sessions for the week, see you on the start line!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cFIiJKTrEs&hl=en&fs=1]
[googlemaps http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=TN22+3HW&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=20.804414,50.273438&ie=UTF8&z=14&iwloc=A&ll=51.063839,0.058537&output=embed&w=425&h=350]
This weekend is the final round of the Gorrick Spring series. Watch out though, don’t go heading down to Ash ranges, because no one will be there… except the army! All the fast and not so fast lycra clad army will be found at Tunnel Hill, Mytchett. Race info can be found over at the Gorrick site. Those in the hunt for points and overall wins can see the latest standings here.
[googlemaps http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Mytchett,+Mytchett+Place+Road,+Surrey&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=20.068519,55.415039&ie=UTF8&z=14&iwloc=A&ll=51.291929,-0.71497&output=embed&w=425&h=350]
This years National Cross-country series started up in Sherwood pines, Nottinghamshire on April the 4th. The series now run again my Martin Salt and his team, got off to a great start with over 600 riders entering. I was great to be back at a big race again, certainly feels better than the local ones, just that bit more entertaining!
I last raced up in Sherwood in 2005 (I think?!) and was expecting a pretty similar course but, not to be thanks to James Hampshires work. Pre riding the course on the Saturday I found it a very fun and fast course. Flipping between fireroad and short, somewhat tight singletrack sections. Nothing that would really test the technical skills too much, although some would say the log! I decided to conduct a little test out on course, with my iphone, and through the trails app, discovered that the course was 8.68km in length, with 254m ascention, and 209m descending.
My preperation for the race hasn’t been going smoothly this season, having been affected by several bouts of respiratory infections in recent months, the latest having been the worst only a week before, leaving me in bed for a week and on antibiotics. So I was feeling like I was just happy to be there to be honest!
Race morning started with a check over of the bike under bright clear skys, with a good coffee of course, then I headed out to warm up. A great way to start! I wasn’t expecting to puncture during the warm up, or loose the pivot holding my brake lever together! Don’t panic I told myself, no point… it won’t help. Lucky for me I was quickly able to head over to sherwood pines cycles where they happily helped my out by replacing the pivot. My spare tube sorted out the front puncture and was able to continue on my way without too much distraction.
Didn’t know the race numbers were going to decide your starting position so I was to begin from the 5th or 6th row! The gun went off and it was straight into the mad rush and scramble for position, as we all cut across the track and through the dust. Straight onto the first climb (the only climb really, if you can call it that) and I began to move forward having dropped my chain off the start. Into the first singletrack and the pace just dropped to zero as a big long line of racers squeezed into a small space. Not much chance of gaining a good place after something like that, especially on a fast course like this. So it was a case of riding smoothly, maintaining my effort, drinking well in the unusually warm day and seeing what kind of action you can get in on.
Having done my last race at the Gorrick, and seen my lap times gradually reduce over time, I was keen to start at a pace that I could at least hold, if not increase, as the race went on. And hey, I did! Lap one passed very quickly, those km’s to go signs where really useful. Second lap again no problems, feeling well within myself, considering my ill health, but with a strong gap ahead of me to any decent placing. Third lap and it was time to start pushing forwards more, testing myself to see if I could break my lap time… or it was until my rear tyre started to feel like a sofa… Having already used my spare tube on the warm up i didn’t have much options available to me other than put in a dnf. Very frustrating after feeling reasonably good.
Taking that long, shameful, rather depressing walk back through the woods and arena, I was silently cursing the new pair of racing ralphs, which had apart from those 3 (!!!! I had one on the Saturday too) punctures in a few hours, were good. Hmmmm, anyway, technical problems aside I guess I can take some positives away from the race, something I like to do and focus on. That being my lap times being consistent and my health seemingly on the up!
Anyone interested in racing the series can check out here, while those after times can go here, while another report and pics can be found here.
Happy trails!
Hey,
Its been another busy week for me so will update this report this coming weekend. I’ll also add a little something on race nutrition…
Happy trails
Latest comments