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So I've just entered next week's event at Clayton Vale, there are only about a dozen names down on the enthusiast list though.
Anyone else up for an hour or so of XC pain?
I'll take that as a no then.
Hope to do at least 1 or 2 this year, but away for the first couple so can't make CV.
Clayton Vale was good last year - tight all along that top half so need some friendly but forthright riding to pass folk.
Im hoping to do them all again like I did last year.
Clayton vale is a great little course! There always seems to be a pretty good turnout, quite a few enter on the day I think.
i might do the leverhulme park one in july, seeing as my gf lives right opposite the running track and i could do with exploring the park a little...
Yep will do them all.what else to do midweek?for all nonracers go get involved in the enthusiast category. Its a friendly affair. Nothing too serious.
I'm really keen on doing a few this summer but away on holiday for the first one, will try go make the others though
for the first time ever I can do all of them this year. chuffed!
I'm really looking forward to them. Im also doing the Nutcracker series this year too.
I hope Chorlton is a little less muddy this year....
So I now have a job interview an hour and 45mins before kick off.
I'll be the one on a red Trek, in a suit and tie and SPD shoes.
Should also be doing Sutton Manor and Leverhulme rounds.
Should be doing all of them. Did them all last year apart from Chorlton. They're really good fun, very friendly and non-serious. Great way to get into racing. Was in the enthusiast category last year so doubt I'll get away with that again.
Well I really enjoyed that - so thanks to the organisers.
Nice trails and good atmosphere, thought passing might be awkward but everyone was cool about it.
Think I did OK, went off near the front and didn't get passed by too many riders.
Anyone know when to expect results? On the BC site I guess?
Results normally on Facebook within a day or two and sometimes make their way onto BC.
I had a woeful start but made up a ton of places. Overtaking was tough at times so had to give it full beans up the climb after the long straight. My lap times were over a minute quicker than last year and that includes the additional jaunt around the field at the end of each lap! Very happy about that!
Were you the ritchey rider who came steaming past?
And btw how did my bike get covered in mud when the trails were so dry?
I was on a Cannondale Fsi (lefty). Just watched a video of the start that my wife took, I'm normally near the front into the first corner, I was 30th last night :-s
I think we were very lucky with the rain but the trails were saturated and slippy as hell!
Were you in the racer category?
I think you guys splashed all the water of the trail before the rest of us came through.
I thought it was really grippy!
Yep I was in the racer cat. Was like having a mud shower for the first lap
Were you the ritchey rider who came steaming past?
that was probably Terrahawk!
I was convinced that I only had to do 5 laps. I fought like hell to keep someone behind me only to cross the line and find out I had another lap! Didn't manage to keep the guy behind me for long after that but didn't loose another position after him.
Chorlton next. Last year was a mudfest, hopefully it wont be this year. Looks like they've changed the course a little too.
If you enjoy these races check out the nutcracker series.
Had a bit of a nightmare. Was in a decent position after lap 1 and then blew up somewhat, lost tons of places on lap 2, then spent the rest of the time surviving. Felt a bit better towards the end but then got lapped by the leader just before the end so that was that. All good fun though, and a great way to find out just how unfit you are 🙂
that was probably Terrahawk!
wasn't me - I was on my old SS last night. Had a shocking start (ended up at the back of the grid due to being a dozy git) and spent the race spinning at 1000 rpm 😉
good fun though. Ace course.
I was gonna say I don't think so unless he's grown a flowing head of hair and beard and entered the enthusiast class as a ringer.
The photos are up, can't decide whether I look awesome or horrible...
http://chrismeadsphotography.zenfolio.com/p545261083/h48199c01#h48199c01
terrible race for me - dropped chain on steep climb - spent the rest of the time chasing back on (hard course for over taking) - head wind on long road back. got knocked off by back-marker with 2 laps to go. new pads meant I couldn't get rear wheel back in...so went home and licked my wounds. fast fast race
Me in my new matching, colour coordinated gear. Fashion makes you fast....?!
http://chrismeadsphotography.zenfolio.com/p545261083/h48199c01#h48190fd9
Average speed was 12.5mph, i've done slower road rides...
Results on BC now...
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/127916/Midweek-MTB-Madness-Round-1#results
Breaking into the top 10 in enthusiast is good enough for me.
Average speed was 12.5mph, i've done slower road rides...
It was fast, but maybe partly because the trails were so well designed and there was hardly any braking.
I somehow managed to claw my way from 30th to 11th in the racer cat! Happy with that, will be aiming for solid top 10 from now on.
I'm hoping that lap times will end up on roots and rain. There is a great lap / position chart on there.
Anyone race at Chorlton last night? Faaaast pace
I was helping out doing the timing last night.
Hope you had a good time.
Great weather and turn out, was a good event.
Ye, enjoyed it, bit dusty though and a dropped chain cost me about 4 places 🙁
Bolt
P's thanks to the Marshall etc
Results on Facebook. Managed 8 / 49 in the racer cat. Chuffed with that!
I popped over to watch, looked great. Creative use of the space by Kenworthy too (near end of lap), made me want to go explore there more.
Sutton Manor next week. Hope its as good as last year, that was a great course
Sutton Manor tonight. Anyone else signed up for a world of pain?
Yeah I'm in for enthusiast again.
Had to skip the last one as I was on holiday unfortunately.
Well that was fun... in a manner of speaking.
Not so much neck-and-neck racing as at round one, only managed to reel a couple of riders in - and just managed to scrape in the top 10 again.
Seemed like a really fast course, first time I've wished I'd had some XC rubber instead of my chunky AM tyres. Also having idle thoughts about lowering my fork from 140mm to 120mm. Am I catching the bug?
Thanks to the organisers, marshalls and spectators.
Haha sounds like me. This year my wheels grew from 26in to 29in, my rear shock vanished and front travel shrunk from 120mm to 100mm!
I had a great start as usual and went backwards from there! Managed to hang on to 11th in the racer cat but had some damn good racing throughout.
Was good fun last night. Those turns were super grippy!