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bensales - Member
Midlands XC round three at Harlow Woods today. Good event and an enjoyable course, well done to the Sherwood Pines mob. Proper hard work with the heat though.Beginning to think I should have entered Sport this year. I seem to over take a bunch of the Sport cat who go off ahead of Open Male, but get comprehensively dropped by the rest of Open Male.
I was there too.
I really liked the course and the weather was amazing!
Just wished I pushed a bit harder - I did the Vet's race in the morning, and finished with quite a lot left in the tank... so much so I was close to entering the open race in the afternoon too!
I'm fairly sure that Nick Popham rode both the vets and the open yesterday! Managed to just about get a whole lap in before he leaped lapped me.
The mans gas, that's for sure.
Luckily my better half talked some sense into me, so we hung around cheering everyone up the ramp into the finish field instead! Hopp Hopp Hopp Hopp!!! 😛
National at Dalby is next for me. Does anyone know what the course might be like? Mildly concerned that it's going to be something horribly techy.
Me too, so also interested to hear peoples take on the course. what cat are you racing? After this past weekends shambles I'm looking for personal redemption so quite fired up already!
I've never been there but I was talking to someone about the course yesterday and apparently it is technical but is a lot of surfaced trail centre type stuff.
From the research I've done,(a.k.a watching youtube) it seems there are three a/b splits, but an article on UKXCnews suggests that two of them wont be used for the national? There is a full preview of the WC course on Extreme, they are describing the course as untechnical, but then they are world cup racers!
I'll be racing sport on the Saturday then being pit bitch on the Sunday for my mate in expert.
I'm not really going in with any massive aims/expectations since its my first national. I'd be happy with not dead last and I'd be really happy if I could be mid pack(ish) like I am at midlands rounds.
I'm in sport too. I've done two nationals now, much prefer them to the regionals a real buzz about the place and tighter competition. I find them a lot harder though, I'm normally mid-pack in the regionals, 3/4 back in the nationals.
We [i]might[/i] be racing then! I'll be riding my Ritchey P650b (you can't miss it, it's got a lefty on)
Another one that raced Harlow woods yesterday, great course really enjoyed it, didn't get off the line over well which was not a good thing on that course. But was excellent, the a line was great with a nice launch pad.
Tsk. Time laps is back up and... 34 of 69, average 20kmph! Leaders finished 15 mins ahead in 1.31, some very fast race.
Ok I guess in the circumstances (hangover).
@ Everyone, black and (luminous) orange scot scale, blue white and lagoon jersey. I'm be hammering it uphill and cautiously tiptoeing back down!
Ferrals, now you're just taking my race strategy as well!
but an article on UKXCnews suggests that two of them wont be used for the national?
Maxine's article? She complained they didn't use them in the Nutcracker, I'd be surprised if they left them out of the national.
Worry Gill is ok - it's just a steep roll in. Lean back, you'll be reet. Medusa's Drop is harder, I took the B-line last time, too much chance of screwing up for my mediocre skills! The rest of the course is tough, but not unduly so. Lots of trail centre rocky stuff, few board walk bits, quite a bit of climbing!
Yeah thats the one, she says in it they'll probably be left out of the national. Funny medusa's looks well doable in video whereas worry gill doesnt.
@Everyone, sounds like the race is on!!
I guess what you find easier - Worry Gill is very binary - you crash or you don't (most don't), it's mainly a brave pants thing. there's plenty of scope for just screwing Medusa's up and losing time. I recall someone getting it wrong and actually going quicker on the b-line last time I was there.
Its the bravery that will let me down on worry gill! looks like the worry gill b-line is minimal time penalty from the videos? Got friday off so can go up and give them a crack with a pair of knee pads on!!
Kryton57 that was tough lap yesterday, very fast was really for the big power riders. My arms are hurting today more than anything.
I guess what you find easier - Worry Gill is very binary - you crash or you don't (most don't), it's mainly a brave pants thing. there's plenty of scope for just screwing Medusa's up and losing time. I recall someone getting it wrong and actually going quicker on the b-line last time I was there.
Medusa is deadly in the wet! (or at least it was)
It's somewhat rooty!
Think I might have to try and find the key to my briefcase of brave for the weekend then!
Is worry gill as steep as derriford drop at Plymouth?
Dalby course preview below- looks good. Also looks like I wont be doing the worry gill a-line 😆
Kryton57 that was tough lap yesterday, very fast was really for the big power riders. My arms are hurting today more than anything.
True. I'm not a power rider, but although I regularly place about 30th-33rd I really wanted to be in the late 20's this year after a lot of effort through the winter.
Looks like the Elite Men's race could be interesting on Sunday at Dalby.......
Can't wait.
Gutted I can't hang around to watch.
Dalby national series sports cat today. Weather turned out lush despite threatening to rain before the start. Great course and a great vibe about the place. For the sports race neither the worry Gill or medusa a-line were open. The medusa a-line was open last night so not sure if they had a change of heart or if it'll be on for the elites.
I had an awful start (as seems usual) despite being in the second row, then a bloke in a Scott mtb marathon jersey decided to push past (while running) on the first steepish climb to gain places and in the process hit my back wheel knocking me of my bike. Sh!t happens, annoying but hey-ho its racing. What winds me up is no quick 'sorry', if I obstruct anyone I always apologise, manners maketh man and all.
In the end managed to beat my newnham result by a couple of places, which I was pleased with but then it was a smaller field. Over analysing things, I just checked time behind leader and I was 5 minutes nearer than at newnham (still a long way away though!) so that progress enough for me.
Good long chat with 'everyone' afterwards too. Plus I had the nicest fish and chips in a long time for supper. All in all a good day 😆 😀
I had a great day see the nationals today. Had a storming start after being gridded right at the back and then proceeded to let all that hard work go to waste as I tried to manage my legs cramping on the climbs.
I ended up 24th and finished on the leaders lap so I'm really chuffed with how I did.
Was really good chatting with you ferrals, I always enjoy seeing what other people think of courses and how their races went.
Bring on the racing tomorrow, I'm just gutted that my view is only going to be of the feed station!
Ferrals, think that was me that was overtaking you - sorry if you didn't hear my apology at the time (I remember you "chatting"!), don't know if you saw me get taken out at the start but suffice to say I went from 5th to last fairly quickly when I got shoved into a tree by a guy barging in on the first jump. Wasn't in the best mood after that. As a point of clarification I actually buzzed your wheel when you stalled on the climb - I guess still my fault but knocked me off hence why I was running. Anyway all good fun - great course, need a camper van - tents too cold!
Currently so tired not sure 4 days rest will have me ready for Beastway. Couldn't manage z2 on my long training ride yesterday.
Tom, no didn't hear you but no worries. I didn't actually stall just had to slow slightly to avoid hitting the guy in front of me who'd stuttered, anyway is all part and parcel of racing. I need to learn some of your agression really, If I'm caught behind slower riders I tend to just sit in the train till its definately safe to pass by which time a massive gaps appeared in front of the slower riders. Don't know why as I'm fully happy to be aggressive racing cross but can't translate the killer instinct to mtb.
I did see your crash, or rather you lying on the floor. I was almost surprised there wasn't a bigger pile up over that little roller. One of the reasons for my bad start was I'd mentally thought 'there'll be a crash over that bump' so wasn't pushing as hard as I should have done for position going into it.
Currently so tired not sure 4 days rest will have me ready for Beastway. Couldn't manage z2 on my long training ride yesterday.
You and me both. I've returned from working in Germany fatter lethargic and alcoholic. I wanted to smash a Saturday morning ride but defaulted to a social in Epping forest. I'm hopeful that a hrs session of short intervals on the turbo tomorrow night will wake me up.
I also have MSG at Lee Valley next Sunday - are you riding the ADSH?
Raced in Grand Vet today - my first national event and came in 21st which I'm not unhappy about - was pleased to get round intact as more opportunities than I'm used to to hurt myself!
Kryton - no - need to get miles in. The Ridgeway calls.
Anyone seen any photos fom the Sat. races at Dalby? Seen some good ones of the sunday races but nothing from sat.
There's this [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishcyclingphotos/albums/72157668355063836 ]album[/url] although I couldn't see any pictures of me when I had a quick look through earlier today.
Edit: Actually I think that's more Sunday pictures.
That was the album I saw, nice shots but Sunday only. I'm convinced I saw at least one photographer when racing (by the pump-track-esque bit back off the field) hopefully they'll appear in due course
ADSH did you race Beastway tonight? How hard was that! Obviously it had dried out earlier leaving cracks, ruts and a "horses hooves" surface across the grass areas, then todays rain showers only penetrated the top surface, leaving it as slippery as ****! As I'm a "confidence" rider so I didn't expect to be fast.
I had a weird race. I found my self leading the sprint of the line, then the lap. Thats never happened before and I thought, "WTF do I do now?" I was taking all the defensive lines to keep the other vets behind me as I was pretty sure I couldn't hold the position for long - I could hear the heavy breathing so I assumed I was holding them up, then the front end slipped down a rut about 3/4 of the way around and that was my moment of glory finished as 4/5 riders passed. It all just seemed hard work after that, with loads of frustrating running & walking around tight rutted slippery corners (should have taken the 26er).
I think there were only about 15 Vets so I'm hoping for a top 10...
Excellent racing with Mud Sweat & Gears at Lee Valley today - the new Eastway circuit. It was fast and furious. After leading then blowing up during last Wednesdays race, I took it easy on the start only to get pushed into a barrier and lose places.
I decided to moderate myself and wait for the later laps to get on the gas, all a big mistake compounded by a painful faceplate on the gravel on the penultimate lap which has left me with skin off my knee and elbow and thigh with a cricket ball sized swelling on my thigh also. Much blood at the time. Finished 25th of 31, but I did enjoy the ride, if not the stinging shower afterward. Made worse in a way by a club colleague who, coming back from paternal duties has put on 4kg and hasn't ridden for a while finishing 10 places above me. Sigh.
MSG Lee Valley was a great lap, i wasn't sure about it on the practice but at race pace it was really good, I took it easy off the start i didn't want to get into the lead but I got held up behind the younger riders and there were a few off's so lost places and time happy with 13th though. A fair number of numbers with gravel rash after that.
Ill, sodding ill, no training for 11 days and can't see being able to do anything till after the weekend.
I'm still ill, bored and suffering Kryton racing post withdrawal. How did Beastway go?
No idea, worked stopped play for me but I see by the results the rain kept a few away anyway.
In other news, I'm busy putting on 1lb a week in flab, no idea why... Perhaps I need those long weekend Club rides back instead of races!
And get well soon ADSH!
So I plan to ride a 30k approx z2 later as a pre tomorrow's race spin to loosen my legs, when I noticed on Instagram Nino Schurter did the same yesterday. So I popped on Strava - 81k! Although it was only 18kmph I'm pretty sure if I did 80k pre race it would be detrimental.
Mere mortals etc...
Good luck and thanks.
Hope all goes well tomorrow - we expect details.
Here is Torq's pre race warm up:-
[i]"work slowly up from Z2 to Z4 over 15minutes. Spin lightly in Zone 1 for 5 minutes. Then perform one 5minute[/i] (I tend to limit it to 3minutes) [i]bout at race pace. Spin lightly in Z1 for 5minutes to finish"[/i]
Ensure you drink carbohydrate immediately after.
My last race was 8th May, the next is 12th June. It feels like a big gap but it's allowed me to be a bit more consistent with weekly mileage, 100+ miles for past four weeks, on the HT mostly along country lanes & light XC. Next race is a local 1hr race, with a 4hr entry at the Gorrick Summer Monkey the following weekend. Building up distance/time/hills in prep for 6hr solo Brighton Big Dog.
Watched replay of La Bresse the other day for some inspiration. Must be interesting riding in front of mental crowd like that 🙂