I've done, and been crap in, loads of XC races over the past 15-20 years. Now 'retired' as realised 10th in the fun race at QE Park during the MTB Tour of Britain is going to be my best result (Rory Hitchens came 9th I believe).
First race was at Stanstead Park - my mate persuaded me to do it by lending me his rigid Cannondale (although we didn't call them "rigid" as there was no suspension bikes!).
I did ok, and enjoyed it, although couldn't pee enough times before getting on the start line. The start line nerves never went away over the years, no matter how much I told myself I was just doing it for a laugh.
The race went ok, I think I came 12th, crashed in a bomb-hole, so proudly finished with blood dribbling out of my elbow.
Bike Forum
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tell me about your racing experiences
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Posted 1 year ago #
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trickydisco, i loved it
The first 12k was exciting - my group was averaging 34kph - but i couldn't hold that and fell off the back. Sadly there was no-one in front/behind me for the bulk of the race - the group in front was flying, and the group behind was a distance away and i didn't want to stop to wait so i rode on my own for the bulk of it after that, but in a way i don't mind as now i know what i can achieve on my own and what i need to work on for the next one. hels, i did the lakes apr, 40 women took part in it so it was quite a big field
Posted 1 year ago # -
wkd dirtygirl! fair play. Was it a crit or road race?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Posted 1 year ago #
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Bit of an update.
After last weeks race-based depression, I was up early to drive the 2 hours to Shrewsbury to race again on Saturday morning. Arrived early and watched the E12 race first then made sure to get a full 30 minutes warmup out on track. Before I knew it, the clock was showing race start imminent. I finished my warmup lap and rolled up to the start line.
I had words of wisdom from team mates and forum goers from Bike Radar ringing in my ears as the whistle blew and we all struggled to get clipped in whilst hurtling into the first corner. I fought to hold onto wheels and made sure I made up places when opportunities arose. The racing was close and the bunch was 3 wide for the most part. If anyone's raced Shrewsbury, it's a purpose build bike track and quite tight in places compared to a motor circuit.
I soon found myself in the zone and wasn't worried about riders inside or outside. We were just working as a unit together. I looked down at my computer and we were at half distance already! I'd stayed with the bunch for 30 minutes and felt fine. I should be here for the duration it seemed!
Now I was inspired to move about a bit more, I took a dive down the outside when the group sat up at the same point on every lap, and had a look at the front. Club mates were holding their positions nicely. I moved right to the front but took a poor line into the hairpin and dropped back a few positions. I sat back up in mid pack until the 5 laps to go sign went out. Time to strat thinking about position. I had 5k of racing left and only a couple of good overtaking points per lap.
The pace picked up naturally and spread things a little thinner which gave me room to move around the bunch easier. 2 laps to go and I was well into the top 1/3. I closed down the odd position here and there and going into the last 500m I could see the leader ahead. We were all widing it up to near 100% now and I knew I'd not get into the points but sprinted as best I could as there was plenty of space to take around 13th on the line.
I'd not only completed a 3/4 circuit race but stayed with the bunch and finished in the sharp end of it. I was ecstatic. All I wanted was to be able to compete and actually race. Getting shelled all the time was killing me, but now I knew i could do it. Results were out today and 1 - 10 were all 3rd cats bar 1, so that made me feel even better.
25MH average, 34MPH max
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/73839848After a 2 hour drive home I went straight down the pub for the 6 nations matches and some Peroni based recovery. 6 pints later I cabbed it home to get an early night, Sunday is another race day and I'm not passing up the chance!
So after a poor nights sleep, partly due to an early night, partly due to pre race excitement, it was time to get on the road again. Another 2 hour drive, this time down to Llandow Motor Circuit near Cardiff. This was a cat 4 race and only 36 in the field on a very open course which is pretty much a rectangle with a chicane which they pull out for the final 5 laps. Should be faster and smoothing I thought.
We lined up on the line and I got clipped in first time for once. I put a few good pedal strokes in and realised there was nobody around me. Had I false started? A glance behind me allayed my fears, I'd just led out the race into the first corner. I held onto this lead for a subsequent 4 laps, even gaining a gap of around 30M on the front of the bunch at one point. Eventually I sat up and the bunch came flying past. I jumped on a mid pack and took it easy for a while. Not sure what the bunch was up to. I'd not been tanking it along, and the bunch was averaging a higher speed now than when I was on the front.
2 primes came and went. I'd not been bothered with these as I was saving my legs after my turn on front. I still thought I might have something for the sprint. However when 2 laps to go came around I knew I only had so much left in the tank. I used this in the only way I knew how, to launch a massive attack on the bunch on the back straight. I swear somebody in the bunch cracked up laughing at this point. Probably thinking my futile attempt was hoping to stay away. I knew it wouldn't, but it did spread things out nicely for my club mates who got positioned and took 3,4, and 5th positions in the sprint. A GREAT racing experience for me and points and prizes for my mates. Brilliant day out.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/74085692
Shrewsbury again next Saturday and I'm almost gutted I'm doing a Triathlon on the Sunday or I'd be back down to Llandow again for the 3rd and final race in the series. I can almost smell the BC points now.
Posted 1 year ago # -
The Kielder 100 - I can't seem to buy a place! I go to the sip-events site, follow the link to the xcracer site and go round in circles
Am I being daft?
Posted 1 year ago # -
My first race was in a park in Ealing sometime in the late 80's. The course was probably closer to a cyclo cross course than what we'd now consider a mountain bike course. Anyway myself and a friend lined up with about 70-80 others and sprinted away at the start. First corner, first place. Second corner, still first place. Approaching the first hill, change down, but the gears don't engage properly. By the time I had a non slippy gear I had lost a lot of places. Still carried on and finished in the mid twenties.
Second race was last year. Entered a 5 lap sports category race of about 50 riders. Decided not to fight for initial position but rather pace myself through for the duration, so came out of the first corner in a more or less deliberate last place.
For the next three laps i gradually overtook enough people that i was somewhere in the middle ground and quite enjoying it. Lots of little overtaking tussles some of which I'd win and some not, but there was always someone to catch or to get away from, it was a good laugh.
Then shortly after starting my fourth lap the elite category riders started, most of whom seemed to be taking it very seriously. On a relatively short course consisting of mostly singletrack it was carnage. I lost track of my position and who was in my race, all the little battles that had made the race fun evaporated within a couple of minutes. I rode back to the start of the final lap, got off and handed in my number, DNF.
Posted 1 year ago # -
The Kielder 100 - I can't seem to buy a place! I go to the sip-events site, follow the link to the xcracer site and go round in circles Am I being daft?
Were you half asleep?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Well done Surfr. Are you cat 3 or 4?
Posted 1 year ago # -
have only ever done one event (2003 salisbury plain challengeas it was known then)in january.i did the 50km route.was actually great fun (especially at the start with over 1500 riders blocking the main road
would definitely like to do more events (i don't race as such) am aiming to start training to attempt a 12 hour solo spam biking event for next year (have just decided to do it just this minute :-)good luck with your event Posted 1 year ago # -
Then shortly after starting my fourth lap the elite category riders started, most of whom seemed to be taking it very seriously
Elite athletes taking things seriously? No way
Generally elites set off ahead of sport, you were being lapped. Agree though that can introduce all sorts of pressures! Youv;eve just got to get used to it though, you can't always get a clear track, in fact you'll almost never get a race totally free from back markers, either being one, or catching one.
Posted 1 year ago # -
muppetWrangler
My first race was in a park in Ealing sometime in the late 80's. The course was probably closer to a cyclo cross course than what we'd now consider a mountain bike course. Anyway myself and a friend lined up with about 70-80 others and sprinted away at the start.
Elthorne Park?
I raced there in 1990 or so on my Ridgeback 600 STI. It was a cross and MTB race I think.@TrickyDisco 4th cat. 0 BC points so far.
Posted 1 year ago # -
That sounds a nice little circuit, wait until you get out on the open roads you'll love it.
You'll need to recce the course, look out for climbs, key corners and landmarks that'll tell you youre about to hit them.
You'll feel like a proper old pro with police outriders riding along side you.
Jealous of your enthusiasm..Posted 1 year ago #
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