[Closed] 2016 XC racing thread.

Racing with a pack on? Interesting choice!

I'm planning on doing mainly Midlands XC and Nationals with a smattering of FNSS rounds where they fit in. No real goals for the National rounds since its my first year racing them but I'd like to be consistently in the mid 20s for the midlands rounds.

It's going to be my first season following some structured training so I'm excited to see what I can do.

Run and Ride at Cannock in a couple of weeks.
Then Welsh XC1 at Llandegla.
I normally race the whole Midland series, but the first round clashes with that degla race, but I'll try and do the rest of them (although they've moved 2 rounds to a Saturday which is tricky for me).

I'll also be doing Mayhem and Torq 12:12.

Goals? Not getting lapped is always good! 😉

Mostly local Gorricks and the Southern xc series for me. First year as a vet, and I imagine mid-table finishes would be realistic. Came 23/52 on sunday at the first Gorrick. No real structured training - just trying to get as much in as possible, which isn't really much at all going by most racers standards I expect.

just on round the corner from that photo...

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everyone - Member

Racing with a pack on? Interesting choice!

Wont be for the main season - I did last year but its just too hot! I dont really see a reason not to beyond that though, while a touch heavier, it makes drinking easier assuming you don't have anyone to hand up bottles.

No real goals for the National rounds since its my first year racing them

It's going to be my first season following some structured training so I'm excited to see what I can do.

Nice shot Jambo!

Nice shot Jambo!

the rest of the official photos with me in are not so flattering...

still, I did have some fun on the downs even if I lost all the places back fairly quickly.

Adam@BikeWorks - Member 

Run and Ride at Cannock in a couple of weeks.
Then Welsh XC1 at Llandegla.
I normally race the whole Midland series, but the first round clashes with that degla race, but I'll try and do the rest of them (although they've moved 2 rounds to a Saturday which is tricky for me).

I'll also be doing Mayhem and Torq 12:12.

Goals? Not getting lapped is always good! 

Snap bar Torq, throwing in the marathon series too and Manchester Midweek Madness

It's my final season before turning Vet so I'll do a few more than normal this year, mainly Mids XC as quite a few are more or less on my doorstep. I'll probably be the oldest rider in the race so it'll be interesting to see how many youngsters I can hold on to 🙂

Great to see that there are some plans afoot and you guys are looking forward to the coming season.

Excuse the promotion but southernxc online entries are open and if you enter all 7 rounds before the closing date of the first round you'll get one free!! Just visit wwww.southernxc.net

I'm tempted to do the southern xc by Winchester as it looks a reat venue.

I notice a mention of Torq 1212 up there, the final round of the Southernxc is on the same venue a few weeks before so if you want a sneaky peek at a very condensed version of the endurance course come along - I'm sure the Gorrick guys will add some cool extra stuff that we would be able to get too due to course length but it'll give you a good idea.

If you are coming to join us at the Southernxc and fancy giving your fat bike an outing, check the fat bike box on entry and although you'll race in your normal category you lap times will be averaged and entered into results for just fat bike riders and then the fat bike series too!

I've started the year with the Mad Dash in the Park series. 4 races- really well organised, good venues, great tracks and cheap. Doing a few Ride It events, Scott Marathon Series, Wiggle MTB events and anything else that's reasonably close to me. Looking forward to dust and sun.

I'm planning on taking my racing a bit more seriously than last year - I was doing my PGCE, now completing my NQT year so a bit less pressure!

I'll be racing in the Expert category at most of the Midlands XC, doing most of the Nationals (really looking forward to Dalby!) and doing some FNSS, some Mallory Park crits and big goal is to try and podium at SSUK this year too.

Got some good winter training in the legs so should be good to see what I can do!

I'm the least fit I've been for years, but I'll find my way to a few Southerns im sure. CBA with nationals. They're all miles away and I'll get trounced. Doing a pair at 24/12. May do Torq 12:12 too. Generally just gonna enjoy myself.

Adam_Buckland - Member
I notice a mention of Torq 1212 up there, the final round of the Southernxc is on the same venue a few weeks before so if you want a sneaky peek at a very condensed version of the endurance course come along - I'm sure the Gorrick guys will add some cool extra stuff that we would be able to get too due to course length but it'll give you a good idea.

I'd love too but it's a 4 1/2- 5 hour drive for me, so a bit much for a non-overnighter!

Is the Manchester Midweek Madness on again this year?

Going to try my first proper season of MTB racing this year. Have done a few races in the past but got a nice bike last year so need to use it! Looking to do the Nutcracker Series and maybe some of the Scottish XC ones too. I'd like to find a couple of fast/experienced racers in the NE to train with if anyone fancies it?

Wife and I will be doing the Nutcrackers again, have done for a few years, very well organised and good courses. Few more marathons and possibly the first Midlands at Sherwood. Away for the Nationals at Dalby which is annoying...

Tempted to sign up for a few XC races this year, maybe Southern XC. Did my first XC race at one of the Gorrick Brass Monkeys rounds in November and rather enjoyed it. Race calendar for the summer already looking fairly busy though.

First race next week for me, just a small local event.
Will do Mud Sweat & Gears again, hopefully will do some longer races like Brighton Big Dog.

Racing with a pack on? Interesting choice

I ride with a very small pack. I find it easier to drink from a tube than a bottle (I launched one with slippery hands at a rider behind once....effective short term tactic, but left me without a drink for an hour or so)

I love the Gorricks and the Monkeys. Although had a heavy cold and punctured in the snowy one the other week...my worst race EVER.

I've entered the full Midlands XC series, racing in Open Male. First time I've raced XC in twenty years so it's going to be entertaining. Goal is just to complete enough of the series to score, stretch goal the whole series. TrainerRoad training plan on the go for a week now.

Mayhem solo, 24/12 solo, Kielder 101 and possibly Torq. Thats all.

Nutcracker and Midlands series for me, combined with the Cannock winter and summer classic, and not forgetting mayhem, which I'm looking at fat pairs. End of season usually do the Oktoberfest at Bristol, really like that event maybe influenced by getting on the podium twice 🙂

I'm trying to cut down on the XC a bit and do some more unique foreign races...

March 20 Battle on the Beach
March 25-27 VolCAT 3 day race, Spain
April 2-3 National XC1 Pembrey
April 24 Tiliment Marathon Bike, Italy
May 1 Roc Ardennes, Belgium
May 14/15 National XC3 Dalby
June Bristol Bikefest
June 11/12 National XC4 Fforest Fields
June 18/19 Mountain Mayhem
July 2 MB Race, France
July 29 – 3 August Epic Cymru
August 7 National XC5 Cannock Chase
August 13 Brighton Big Dog
August 31 Torq 12:12
October Bristol Oktoberfest

Plus probably a couple of southerns if it's sunny.

I'm trying to cut down on the XC a bit and do some more unique foreign races...

A quiet one there by the looks of it 😯

Well it's about 5 events less than last year...

cokie - Member
I've started the year with the Mad Dash in the Park series. 4 races- really well organised, good venues, great tracks and cheap.

Managed my first year of XC last year in FNSS and really enjoyed it, finishing 5th in GV. Plan for this year is the midlands xc series and a few National rounds.

Might manage down to some Gorrick events, did the last brass monkeys round and quite enjoyed it.

My aim is the Manx 100 again in July. Last year pulled after 100km in horrendous weather. Planning as many of Scott Marathon series as possible before then (including a local one - Exmoor!).

Nutcracker here, first season of XC so looking forward to it.

Can't commit to much this year due to my new addition. Hope to be at either torq or bbd and a couple of rounds of Southern xc and gorricks. Less fit than last year, but I've got a power meter and plan to be doing a lot of turboing and following a structured plan for the first time.

Mix in some midweek tts too.

Racing the G8 at Hadleigh on the 21st, just a warm and getting used to 1 X 11 & oval.

Then it's on to Mud Sweat and Gears eastern where I want to place around 15th Vet overall, Battle on the Beach where my only goal is to finish in front of at least one of our Clubs CX boys, , Beastway in that London where I want to finish better than last years 9th, Mountain Mayhem Solo which is a warm up to the Bonty 24/12 - where I'll be finishing 1st in Vets.

I might do Torq 12:12 as a pair, but I may be in Majorca getting fatter.

And I'm doing some TT's on the weekends that are free.

No pressure 😀

Wentwood 50 - for fun
Gorrick 100
BORS - for fun
Summer Monkey
Brighton Big Dog
Torq
Oktoberfest

Having only done a handful of races over the years but wanting to do more decided this year to try and do a race every month. Did the last Brass Monkey's in Jan, 4hr vet, enjoyed first 2.5 hrs, felt very weary for remainder. Really enjoyed Gorrick on Sunday, vet, 3 laps meant I didn't worry about pushing myself too hard, so was expecting a better result than 26/52 🙂 Need more hill training. Planning on completing the series. Signed up for BBD, 6hr solo, hopefully will have opportunity to put in enough training to get around without wanting to cry.

Not sure what to do between end of Gorrick SS & BBD. Travel is a bit of an issue so needs to be down South (unless I can slot it into a long w/e away with the OH).

Great idea for a thread!

I'm in a similar position to some above. ^ I've done occasional races each year, but this time I'm planning to do something much more structured. Road miles and Zwift over the darkness of January have helped a bit, but i did my first event last weekend, Gorrick SS, which was a comedy of errors- entered Veteran Plus, as I needed to be home early. (Mistake- it's not just a longer race category...!) Also, didn't taper properly in the week, so after 2 laps my legs waved goodbye... Reasonable learning experience though, my plans are;

Gorrick SS
Couple of Southern XC rounds
Gorrick Enduro
Summer monkey
Epic Cymru.

Those are the firm ones, I'll have a look at some others depending on progress: never done BBD, Okotberfest or any Midlands events. I'll probably look at some Southern Enduros and Red Kite events too to mix it up.

midlands, midweek madness, a few nationals and maybe a a few things like the sam houghton challenge.

hopefully will have opportunity to put in enough training to get around without wanting to cry

No matter how trained you are you will still want to cry. In fact the memory of the pain regularly makes me consider sacking all of this. Generally about week 3 of a 3 week training block (ie now).

It never gets easier, you just go faster!

Can't imagine the pain of doing a solo endurance style race. I want to die at the end of a normal XCO and it wipes me out for a day or two.

Second everyone on training, whats that quote - 'you don't train to make it easier on ourself, you train to make it harder for everyone else'

Need a bit of better riding conditions to get a proper feel for fitness, local natural trails are deep mud and fallen trees every few hundred metres and I always find trail centres flatter to decieve. Recovery week this week according to Trainerroads plan so will have a good crack at some better draining local trails on Sunday and see how the legs are with a bit of a week of rest. Recently felt slow, but think thats as a fair amount of fatigue and also wearing overshoes layers etc.

I'll be dabbling again this year. South Wales has two rounds of the nationals so I'll be doing at least one of them (Pembrey, not sure I can make the Builth Wells one) and finding out just how bad I am at XC racing.

Oh and a few of the Welsh XC series and whatever else I can fit in (does BOTB count?!)

finding out just how bad I am at XC racing

Probably significantly better than me, despite xc racing being my main interest in cycling 😳

Really enjoyed all the Pembrey winter series and the welsh xc race there last year so think the national at Pembrey will be excellent if a bit brutal on the heart rate given the lack of hills to recover on!

Couple of pics from Pembrey:
[url=

xc post[/url]

This drop was super hard for the Welsh round due to the soft sand and the dog leg after, been made bigger but looks straighter. I'll still probably be riding the b line 😳

A year on the sidelines for me in 2016, injury at the last MSG and a few stern words from the surgeon have seen to that means I get to don the BC hat at several MSG rounds, the National at Dalby and the Junior World Cup race at Hadleigh.

Good luck everyone, and if you're at Dalby see you there.

This drop was super hard for the Welsh round due to the soft sand and the dog leg after, been made bigger but looks straighter. I'll still probably be riding the b line

The drop had worn away quite a bit over the year - so its been braced and hopefully won't slip back any further.
The turn is still there, but the drop into it is a little further back and is around 2ft drop.

B-line will still be in place. More (new) technical sections like this will be included as well.

Did around 20 XC races last year, will do around the same this year.