My local evening series is back on in May.
https://my.raceresult.com/234099/registration
I'll be keeping up the rear as I did last year.
Managed top half, which was my aim.
Think I pretty much had someone in sight ahead and/or behind me the entire time. Which was quite a motivator.
Well done all, thought yesterday how good the weather must have been for the event.
Read this with interest as I don't think I have the body or equipment to do such a race but see that there's a fun category to get some experience.
Serious race face there bigdaddy.
And the undeniable evidence of not staying on my bike for the whole race! A lap 1 front wheel washout... Well done @ayjaydoubleyou and @villageidiotdan the next one is in two weeks time, just come and have a go, it's great fun...
<And the undeniable evidence of not staying on my bike for the whole race>
I thought was roost from you carving all the turns
@ernie Ha, not seen me ride then!!!! Good to hear that you're body is fixed and you're looking at racing again. I'm looking at some of the Southern xc ones, but some are a bit far for me...
Nice to see everyone in the mix. I'll be at the first Southern XC, you all will be a bit more match fit than me. I've two more hard 9hr Build weeks, a weekend off for my Birthday, another 9hr hard week then a taper week.
I'm expecting to have that "holy ****" look on my face during the first lap 😀
there’s a fun category to get some experience.
You can always just enter the fun category and pootle around to see what its all about, the Gorrick courses are usually quite good.
Natrix junior was on the podium on Sunday (proud dad content)
Glad to see the fields at Gorrick races so busy, it's getting to be like 'back in the day'!
If any of you are planning to race at Inside Park near Blanford Forum this weekend at the Off Camber Cycles XC race and were hoping to enter on the day it's not going to be possible. Due to more riders than expected preregistering the organiser has decided not to offer on the days. Details for the race are at https://my.raceresult.com/230592 and the pre entry closes at midnight on Thursday
I'll be there doing the chip timing so come and say hi, also feel free to ask any Q's about the Vittoria MTB Marathon or the TrailX eMTB Challenge while you're there.
Good luck
Took the tribe down to the Cannock Winter Classic on Sunday and it was a bloody lovey sunny if freezing cold day, as usual they ran a bit behind schedule.
The youngest went in the Rogues race, which really should be badged as U8 (to keep it a bit fairer for the little ones) and he did really well being only 6 to come in 11th placed after losing a fight with a bramble bush on the way out of the bomb holes.
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Next up the middle one went in the Storms race so effectively U10 and not being the most technically gifted little monster he got back and I asked him if he enjoyed it and he said "there was a massive climb that nearly killed me" turns out they took them down the B line descent from the National course up over the hump and then the draggy single track climb up to the arena!! He did really well to end up 11th too..
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The eldest went in the Sabers (U12) 30 minute long race which was 3 laps of at least half the adult / full course and he was got a good start, towards the end of the 2nd lap as they came into the arena he was in 6th about 30m behind the lead group, he then put in a proper effort and got up into the lead group and sat on for a bit, when they came into the arena for the finish two had got off the front and he was in a group of 4 heading into the finish straight and won the sprint taking 3rd by around 5 seconds! Turns out the winner was 14, the lad who was 2nd was 12 and my lad is 10 so the podium pic looks a bit funny!! After the sprint he proceeded to puke over his top tube and down his leg, so maximum effort was achieved!
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Me, I went in the end of the day, not expecting much as I haven't really raced since the Summer Classic last year and only one CX race this winter, haven't done any interval training and pretty much just ridden my bike for a bit this winter but strangely I went faster than I did in the Summer Classic, felt like it took less effort and scored a better finish of 28th in Enthusiast class, so if anyone has any ideas what's going on it would be most appreciated.
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Glad to see the fields at Gorrick races so busy, it’s getting to be like ‘back in the day’!
I'd been under the impression numbers were creeping back up too..
I popped over to the IOW for the 1st rd of the new WightMountain XC series. They put together a cracking course using the MTB centre trails which was short(ish - around 12 mins) and a mix of nice flowing technical descents and some punchy climbs. I'd post some pics if I could link to Instagram.
Being in such a compact space it meant that spectators could move around and heckle in different spots, which was really nice.
Finished 5th and 2nd in the Vet 50's. The WightMountain train was strong!
Next one's on April 16th. Would recommend if you're within striking distance of the south coast. They're offering 50% discounts on the ferries, which makes things a bit easier.
@villageidiotdan the next one is in two weeks time, just come and have a go, it’s great fun…
Cheers Bigdaddy. II'm still keen but front forks are bust. Saying that, i've clearly been riding them like that xc in Morzine so may just strap them back together and have a go. I sold my car so am reliant on my wife thinking it's a good idea mind you! 🙂
@steve_b77 Great story, I'm sure you dont need telling how lucky you are to have a full gang or racers to go with!
I’d been under the impression numbers were creeping back up too..
#makeXCgreatagain
I sort of lightheartedly predicted this a few years ago, with enduro becoming more "multi stage downhill" rather than "competitive trail riding on average trail bikes" and XC courses and bikes becoming more technical and capable...
Plus the rise of ebikes...
At some point soon the normal trailbike will coincide with pro xc race bikes (probably road about where "downcountry" is at the moment) and anyone still motorless through choice rather than budget will have at least a passing interest in fitness and regardless in their interest or not in pinning on a number, they will naturally gravitate towards the shorter travel, lighter more efficient bikes. And then XC becomes (once again) competitve riding on average trail bikes.
At least thats my hope, from someone who is too much of a wimp to be good at enduro, and too heavy to be good at road riding.
Back on topic, entered the next Gorrick this coming sunday. Eyeing up Southern Rd 1 the week after.
Agreed, great write up! I used to have a family crew, a long time ago, now I’m on my tod with it! Reminds me to book for the gorrick on Sunday…
What happened to xcracer.com?
Seems to have died around 2019.
Great write ups. So, what tyres for Matterly Basin…
I've got to go to Matterley this week to drop some stuff off for the first round of the SouthernXC so I'll have a look around and see what it's like. The surface there is usually pretty reliable and weather proof but the top layer can get slippy. I've never known deep mud there and it does drain very well. Typically something like a Barzo on the front the same or something a bit quicker on the back.
Thanks Adam, I'm wondering whether getting away with a Mezcal might be in order with the dry/cold weather of late. I will await your report.... 🙂
Thunderburts for Matterly!
Reminds me to book for the gorrick on Sunday…
Weathers looking good for it 🙂
FYI Gorrick have a new event up - Easter XC Classic 2/4/23 at Highlands Farm..
Nice little vid from GS Mossa about the last Gorrick round.
new event up – Easter XC Classic
Oooh, thanks for that I hadn't seen it. Gorrick need a new calendar i think, they're describing this weekends race as a Halloween classic............
God that hurt.
Thought I had a good (appropriate for my ability, as I’m starting to recognise people now) start. Held on with a group for a bit, we all got a nice little recovery behind someone who probably started too quick. Then people seemed to ride off and leave me pedalling in custard.
Final lap, was holding off/keeping pace with the guy behind for a while, then he passed me on the final big climb and upped the power. Must have got 50 metres clear in 10 seconds. That broke me mentally and as there was nobody else in sight I pretty much soft pedalled to the finish.
Still fun, but a bit demoralising when I don’t know what I did differently to be significantly worse compared with 2 weeks ago.
Still there’s a bonus extra race in April and I’m going to give the southerns a go.
God that hurt
Ha Ha well done. I’m enjoying yet at the same time in trepidation reading this thread. Having not raced XCO for three years I’m pretty sure I’ll be shoring up the back of GV next week. With a weekend off I have my prep ready in my head, just three sessions this week - short and sharp of course - with one being a Zwift race on Wednesday to try to prepare me for a god awful shock…. 😂
Looking at the forecast the Forkasters will be staying on, a change of tyres now won’t help me.
Well done @ayjaydoubleyou, I find this course always deceptively brutal at times. Its on the pedals all the time with little recovery. Mid field for me today in the grand vets, no legs today. Good to see aload of the very younger generation racing today. Xc racing is not dead.
I enjoyed it too, bloody freezing though! The course there is so full on, no rest, but great fun. Finished 7th in vet + so happy with that - a pretty lonely race for me for most of it, it’s hard to keep the pace up on your own!
this course always deceptively brutal at times
yep, checked Strava compared to 2 weeks ago, this one has more climbing, which was the opposite of what I thought. I guess there was no point where we climbed from the bottom to the top in one go without a little down in between which made it seem like less.
Definitely very little let up, and
Very few places to take a drink and I always seemed to have someone right behind me.
Kryton57
Full Member
Thanks Adam, I’m wondering whether getting away with a Mezcal might be in order with the dry/cold weather of late. I will await your report…. 🙂
Sorry I'm late with this. I was at Matterley on Friday and it was super dry with the top layer being a bit crumbley and will probably get quite loose, however since I was there is a rained a little with more showers forecast so while I very much doubt it will get at all muddy it will probably be a slippier - if you like the reassurance of grip stick a barzo or similar on the front, if you're happy to risk it a bit in the name of speed go for something like a mezcal front and rear - just don't don't blame me if it's a bit challenging...
The organisers have stuck a video up on they're Facebook page with a weather update.
SouthernXC Facebook Video
Thanks Adam!
I'm not sure if it's XC, maybe marathon, but it might not even be a race. Anyway... Looks like the Hamsterley Beast Will be returning - in May. Details on their facebook page.
NEXC now has a league up. I know we (Reifen Racing) are still looking at adding an event at Hamsterley - we wanted to do something a bit harder and more fun than Kirkley which we ran last year - no one wanted to spend days strimming the grass again either.
I'll be at Matterley on Sunday. First ever XC race, wimped out of sport and entered open. Going with Barzo front and rear.
Thanks Adam. I think the V1 Forekasters will be staying on, especially as I want to use them in Cannock the following week.
First XC race for me this weekend at Sherwood Pines. Bikes sorted, fitness is what it is…
My only apprehension surrounds it being absolutely b*stard freezing, particularly as I’m in the early morning open cat race!
What do I wear? I’m always cold anyway at the best of times. I’m going to freeze to death stood in a pen awaiting the gun… any tips?
A quick update re SouthernXC, I've just had a message from the organiser to say that it sold out last night so there will be no entry on the day
What do I wear? I’m always cold anyway at the best of times. I’m going to freeze to death stood in a pen awaiting the gun… any tips?
Put loads of layers on and leave them at the start area, just remember to collect them before heading home.
SouthernXC - entered last night. Mens Open. Sadly an early start being in Race 1 but if it's wet possibly getting better course conditions
Good luck AJ, keep us posted after the race with how it went 😀
Gorrick Easter Classic looks like being my return to the fray - hopefully with some semblance of fitness..
SouthernXC – entered last night. Mens Open
Waves, see you on the start line.
That was hard. Thought I was going ok considering but still best part of 2 mins a lap down. Nearly retired at the end of lap 2 when the kick into the start finish dislodged the crap in my lungs. Enjoyed it though and will be back for more.
