So, who’s going to be there Sunday, and what category are you racing?

Looks like it may be a damp one..

Yep, I’ll be there in the Vets.

Not sure what to expect as it’s my first Southern XC. Any different to the Gorrick in terms of rider level or generally the same?

It’s also my first Southern XC, so i’m new to it like you. However, I believe that the categories are harder than the equivalent Gorrick. So an Open category at the Southern XC is more like the Sport category at the Gorrick.. if that makes sense?

Looked at the results and there were only 37ish entries over 5 rounds of the Sport category which i’m in.

Good luck to you mate, i’ll be in a black and yellow jersey that says PMR@cing/davehayward.com and the black and yellow specialised prevail helmet if you spot me!

I’ll be in black and yellow but with white too. Looks like we’ll have his n’ hers matching Prevails on as well. 😀

I had a glance at last years times and they do seem fast compared to the Gorricks. Still, if you don’t race with people above your means then you’ll never improve.

Looking forward to it but a little apprehensive too.

No super vets at SXC, so add them to the vets result. Course is harder. Checkendon in the wet is err… Interesting. ‘sadly’ my forks aren’t back from service, so I’m not gonna make it!

Mulletus.. did you do the first and second gorricks? Got a funny feeling I know who you might be!

Is this you on the left?

That’s not me. Did the first round but missed last weekend. I ride for Behind the Bike Shed. Mainly yellow and white kit.

Aah ok, well that’s me on the right so you know what to look for. POssibly see you down there then, hopefully not in the rain!

hmm cant remember if ive been to checkendon or not..is it the one with a steep climb with loose slippy mud the odd sharp flinty stone and roots thrown in for good measure and err some serious off cambre mud?

anyway had some really good sxc and imo coming from an open cat perspective i dont think the level of competition is harder but usually less people in the cats from what i recall.

That’s the one! It’s a course with very distinct sections: flat and twisty, off camber muddy and flinty, and flat out fields.

Where is this race? And do you need a BC license?

Checkendon, about 10 miles north of Reading. No license required except for expert and elite.

So very similar to the gorrick ones then? Does anyone know how long a lap is? and can you get to the course by bike, may get the train down…

It’s a reasonable ride from anywhere on a not very nice road (A4074?) but I know people who’ve ridden it.

You dont need a licence for Gorricks at all. Course is tougher than a Gorrick with smaller, more competitive fields. They’re excellent events. Lap will be c4-5 miles, just as a Gorrick.

yeah, i think i’ll give this one a miss, there aren’t any stations really nearby.

Thanks for the help njee20.

Sort of looking forward to it. Racing in Open, wearing a black and red Four4th Lights top. Funnily enough I have raced Sport in the last two Gorricks, but the 11am Open start time fits in better with my plans this weekend. Not sure how I will do as I have been off the bike for the past few days with some sort of bug, hopefully I will feel slightly better by Sunday – if not it will be an slow easy 3 lap ride. I will be the one coughing at the back!

Rocket Rons what ever the weather. The way I feel at the moment tyres will be the least of my problems.

Njee, I am starting to think that you deliberately sent your forks off to miss this race 😉

gaberin, I have never raced there before, but it will be a 4-5 mile lap. Goring train station is about 5miles away.

IMO its the least fun course, but to be honest that’s prob just because I’m crap at it!

How did you all get on.

Me, I had a split sidewall on lap three so game over. Really liked the course, especially the climbs. It was extremely slippery which made it very technical but I really enjoyed that. 🙂

Njee, I am starting to think that you deliberately sent your forks off to miss this race

No truth in that in the least Jason 😉

They needed doing after Black Park, and with Sherwood next weekend it had to be today that I missed, wasn’t complaining though! Looked like the weather was better than forecast, nice sunny road ride down here!

I enjoyed it. I managed 14th in Open, which considering how I felt at the start I was pleased with, slightly dosed up on Sudafed with seemed to help keep me breathing for the 3 laps. Sorry to the guy that I ended up in a sprint finish with, I had ridden fairly smoothly for the most of the race, but the red mist came down a bit in the last mile or so.

I actually enjoyed the course, most of the venues Gorrick use are right on my doorstep, so it is nice to go somewhere else and ride a course with some different challenges – in this instance slippy mud and short steep slippy climbs. Looking forward to Pippingford now.

Jason, 14th is my usual finishing spot in open from last year. Not racing this year due to back problems. I was there in spirit though. Video of elite race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DehgCRCgp0
[video] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DehgCRCgp0%5B/video%5D