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Had a blast at Sherwood yesterday.
First race and only fun class, but I really enjoyed it and don't think I've rode that fast for an hour ever. Some of the early single track was pretty torn up and sticky on the second lap, hate to think what it was like in the afternoon.
Was hoping for mid pack (probably way to ambitious!), but ended up 17th of 25, so not quite where I wanted but pretty good for a big unfit bloke!
I'm looking forward to my first outing at this Sunday's Wentwood 50.
Ill 🙁
great course at Sherwood - midpack 23rd (room for improvement :wink:)
Results out for the Welsh xc, 11th out of 19 in sport so mid pack, though I was aiming for top half. While the guy in tenth was only a minute ahead, 9th was 10 minutes ahead so a bit of work ahead. I got caught up behind a slow moving vet in singletrack on the first lap and lost sight of the people ahead of me, though struggled myself in the more technical single-track. Good course in general, though I didn't like the first section of singletrack. Looking at lap times only one guy overtook me after the first lap which is encouraging.
Can't remember which thread it was that suggested taping gels to the bike, but tried that and it worked a treat. Way better than reaching into back pocket.
Really looking forward to Pembrey now, be great to be the first group off rather than last and having to deal with back markers of other races.
Had a blast at Sherwood yesterday.First race and only fun class, but I really enjoyed it and don't think I've rode that fast for an hour ever. Some of the early single track was pretty torn up and sticky on the second lap, hate to think what it was like in the afternoon.
I thought it was ok, and I had the Elites, Experts, Junior, and Sport plough through before me 🙂 There was one really sticky bit that was a bit of an arse, but mostly fine, just a bit soft. Much prefer that to 'wet' mud, if you know what I mean. At least on that type, the tyres grip and it's actually quite fast if you get the line right. Just slippy on the roots, but we all avoid them, don't we 🙂
Sport cat for the first national entered 😀
How much of a step up in ability/speed are national events compared to regional ones? Just hoping I dont get lapped!!
tubs?
how do you find them? ive got a set of tub wheels at home and need to find a reason to keep them
I absolutely love them, one of the best things I ever bought. As long as you can glue them yourself, they are great. However changing tyres just is too much of a faff, so I'm planning on leaving them until they're bollocksed and then replacing.
I would like some Rhinos to go with though, the Fast Birds are capable but get overwhelmed in the mud.
Should say this is 650, haven't tried 29er tubs.
Wanted to add that Sunday was OK for me, 15th Expert, despite a bout of food poisoning a couple of days before.
Blog post about it here:
http://www.paleoracing.co.uk/index.php?itemid=243
Interested in experience with mtb tubs too. Love them for 'cross & have a spare are Remerx wheelset that would be perfect - was looking at Tufo who do a very fast looking 2.0 & a slightly grippier looking 2.2.
Will be dabbling in some of the longer events this year on a singlespeed Swift for Singular, more as prep for the ' cross season.
I've only run Dugasts so far, but heard good things about the Geax and Tufos.
Nutcracker rd 1 at Whinlatter this Sunday, weather looking good. Should be a fast course with plenty of elevation 😀
Who else is racing this weekend then?
After my appalling showing at the first round of the WMBS I made the knee jerk reaction to enter the second Run and Ride event at Eastnor.
Anyone else heading there?
I am doing the Southern XC at black park tomorrow! First time racing open for me....little bit nervous I am usually pottering round at the back of fun!
As long as you can glue them yourself, they are great
whats it matter? i can tape, never tried gluing
do you run any stans inside them?
are your fast bird 50 or 52s?
so many questions
got a pair of SRAM Rise XX cheap thats the only reason i ask 🙂
After seeing far too many rolled off, I have no confidence in just tape, so wanted to glue to be sure. You may have more luck!
I have had one puncture in the front, so that has some PitStop in it now. Rear has been fine so far.
And yep, they are 50s but would probably get 52s next time.
Nutcracker Rd1 at Whinlatter was an awesome course, cant think of a race with a tougher climb in it.
Last day to enter round one of the Nationals at Pembrey. Had a bit of a mosey round today, not sure if I have the course 100% right but the bits I'm sure about are epic. Super fast, my average speed round a lap was 20.5km/h which is fast for me! Will be a tough race, pacing needed as little clear cut recovery sections. The new drop Matt built is nuts, much scarier in the flesh than in the photos on Facebook. I'll definitely be b-lining, but it will be a good challenge for those with the skills!
I've just got back from a 3 day stage race in Spain. It was brilliant. Report up here:
http://www.xcracer.com/stage-racing-in-spain--yes-please.html
We enter many events in Andalucia, Spain that are promoted on http://www.andaluciaciclismo.com/pcalendario2016?temporada=2016, http://global-tempo.com/ and http://www.cruzandolameta.es/carreras/proximas/. If you see any event that you are interested in let us know, and we will arrange everything, entry, transport etc. http://bikingandalucia.com/bike-and-duathlon-competitions-and-event/ refers
Pembrey will be my first ever round of the Nationals. Looking forward to it, I think, assuming I survive the charge off the line with 50 other overexcited sport riders and make it into the first corner intact.
See you on Sat - I'm getting way more excited than a grown man should 😳 ! Your gridded nice and near the front (start lists [url= https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/mtb/20160402_British_Cycling_MTBXC_R1_Start_List.pdf ]HERE[/url]). I'm right at the back 😥 Really wish I'd bought a race license last year to have a better placing as I always seem to end up finishing about where I start. I was hoping having a few points from the first welsh round would help my gridding but hey ho.
Although i guess its safer being the one trying to do the mowing down rather than having over-frothing incompetants snorting behind you 😆
Having never been gridded before, I'm not sure whether the best tactic is to try and make up places in the intial sprint (and if thats even possible starting right at the back) or just hold ground and then make up places in subsequent laps as the race goes on.
I did open at the fforest fields one last year and really enjoyed there being a bit more of a buzz, mildly nervous about doing sport and the increased speed and frothing though.
I've been riding at Pembrey a bit over easter. Make sure you do a practise lap and have a look at the a-lines - one of them (far end) is very difficult to my technically deficient mind (theres a pic on my strava but it doesnt convey the steepness).
My goal is to get in the top 30 and get a point to try and help my gridding for the Fforest fields round - fingers crossed.
Make sure you do a practise lap and have a look at the a-lines - one of them (far end) is very difficult to my technically deficient mind (theres a pic on my strava but it doesnt convey the steepness).
It looks quite steep enough in the picture! I don't think I'll be having a go!
Same rules as cyclocross for the start: make up time if you can but don't go too far into the red.
It looks quite steep enough in the picture! I don't think I'll be having a go!
Glad I'm not the only one! I have a feeling (hope) that a reasonable proportion of sport wont be riding it. If the weathers good I'm going to head back on Sunday with a video camera to watch the Elites sail off it
How did you go David? I had an enjoyable but average race ended up five positions up from my gridding number which given it was a national I was happy with! Had an ok start, but then there was a crash in that first muddy bit I got caught behind. Made a few places in the wider bits of the first lap and then got in a bit of a train for the second lap and half the third till cramp struck due to a stupid semi-crash and I had to stop and stretch it out. By the time I'd recovered I rode the rest of the race alone.
Enjoyed the course. Hope all the a-line injuries from practise are ok.
Anyone else race Pembrey today? Good luck to everyone tomorrow.
Yeah went alright. Got a great start, about 8th into the first corner making the one everyone with more confidence in the mud was having to avoid as I tiptoed thru it. Couple of folk crashed in front of me in the first couple of minutes but got round them without too much bother. Slid backwards down the pecking order on lap 1 - was a bit too tentative in places on the drying course and wasn't really giving it everything on the pedally bits. Felt better as things went on though, and spent the last lap defending about a 10 second lead on a pair of guys trying to chase me down kept me honest.
Reckon I was about 20th but haven't seen the final results yet.
Bad luck with the cramp - sounds like you did OK still though.
Nice one, I've not got back into the race aggression yet so like you was a bit tentative. Thats the joy of the welsh cx league, racing every weekend you get used to the riding in very close proximity, need to get that back.
Went and watched the elites yesterday, crazy fast, though I was disappointed they had to modify the one aline for safety reasons. Got some footage, will link here when its on you-tube.
Guess with your wedding timescales you wont be at the showground race?
Coffee break viewing from Pembrey:
Well the London Beastway series starts tomorrow. after finishing 9th this is /was a target for me this year. It has the added fun of Regional A first and last races book ending the Reg c Wednesday night races.
Not really sure how to play it after recent heart palpitations and before the scheduled tests. Conservatively I guess.
Phew. A good day on a very challenging course needing 4 X bike clearance stops! So with no vo2max to call on, I managed 6th vet into the first corner sprint and finished 9th vet overall. Happy with that!
Bloody hard race at Cannock today at the Midlands XC. Damp course on the rutty muddy slide no-grip bits meant 5 laps was seriously hard work. Finished 13th Expert so happy enough with that.
Kryton - what heart arrhythmia have you got?
I'm diagnosed already with eptopic beats at rest but won't know what this is until I'm tested next week. Could just be a one off of course.
Here's a little vid from Beastway rd 1, including your's truly looking like puking at 8:30 (red shirt white helmet):
lol you look like you want to give up at that point.
The guy commentating = sound off
Are you racing Henham on Sun?
I've been having a mediocre time health wise lately and despite the video that section of the course was pretty much the only bit which wasn't claggy mud so hard going throughout. I was also chasing on the two guys in front as I'd dropped my chain half a lap ago, and they'd come past me. And its more uphill than it looks - thats snaking up beside a 12% road climb 🙂 Oh, and I always look like that 🙄 😳
Re Henham, nope. Its a 200m round trip for me so I tend to leave that one out as one of the 2 races I don't need to score with.
Looks like a cross race at the start with that off-camber turn!
Round 2 of the Welsh xc series today at Builth RWAS, great course and a nice sunny day for it. Very raceable course given the venue.
Had a really fun race and a really bad race at the same time. Was having a decent race against flattyre off here and had got a bit of a gap on him when I dropped my chain, by the time I'd got it back on he was a fair way away, managed to reel him back in, overtake and get another gap, when I dropped my chain again, he shot past me and it was back to chase mode. Unfortunately this time it was the last lap and I was pushing too hard to get back to him and crashed going over a rocky section.
So bad in that if my chain hadn't dropped twice I'd have beaten flattyre and he got me in round one, but also good in that dropping the chain twice meant it was a more exciting battle overall, otherwise I think we'd have both been riding round on our own for the later laps.
At least you enjoyed it, I hate getting stuck on my own neither going forwards or backwards.
Round 2 of MSG Henham was much better after the disaster of round one.
Was gridded 28th, was aiming for a top 10 finish, smashed it off the line was in 2nd by the end of lap one, suffered for it on lap 3 and dropped to 4th where I finished best result I've had and was great to race from the start to the finish trading places back and forth.
I hate getting stuck on my own neither going forwards or backwards.
Yeah I agree, why I really enjoyed the national at Pembrey, big enough field that for 3/4 of the race was in close proximity to other riders.
Looking forward to Plymouth assuming can get bike fixed OK!
Bike fixed, gridding is out and I'm gridded mid pack which is pleasing as being right at the back at Pembrey was a bit of a pain. Getting mildy excited and pretty nervous: too much talk last Sunday about how scary bits of Newnham are and how even the b-lines are hard
Anyone else racing on the w/e? And more importantly anyone raced last time and want to explain how scary some of the A-lines are? and what sort of time penalties the b-lines have?
Well, that was an education at Newnham yesterday, amazing course, well out of my league on the technical stakes but great fun, lots of line options even beyond the a/b lines. Brutal climbs too. Great Spectator support with loads of horns etc. and great atmosphere in the arena. Had a reasonable result given that I was mostly b-lining it which probably lost a minute and a half per lap. Didn't have the best race prep either, was so concerned about technicality I did a course walk before the course was open, then did a lap and 3/4 practise, then warmed up for 45 minutes and got to the start already knackered!
The only thing I found frustrating was the queues round the course on practise, I kind of think the first hour of practise should be reserved for people racing on the sat, as it was some a/b splits I had to b-line because there were such queues I couldn't get to try the a-line and looking at number plates most were Sunday racers.
Hope whoever was being put into an ambulance on a spinal board is ok.
Gorrick Kawasaki 100 on Sunday. First race of the season (illness,family, cancelled events etc), lots of training but no race head and feeling rather mojoless. MTFU required etc.
I'm doing the Gorrick 100 Sunday too. Quite looking forward to it having enjoyed the Spring series this year (vets cat) and fancied something a bit longer. I'm doing 4 laps - which my estimations suggest I'll manage around an hour a lap (using my avg speeds from the spring series and the 12.5km lap length) but who knows. Hoping my fueling strategy will leave me much better prepared than I was for the Brass Monkey in January.
Yep, I'm doing the 4-lap too. My first MTB [s]race[/s] ride since December. I'll be the one having a coronary 200m from the start, then hitting everything in the singletrack.
Gorrick was great today, lovely flowing course as usual. Well off the pace but happy given that I haven't raced for longer than an hour for quite a while! A lot of fun following the locals & trying to hang on!
Was in the Singular kit in the 4hr.
Was in the Singular kit in the 4hr
Passed you on the 3rd lap I think - you were riding just behind Lou Robinson (I was in black/yellow Beyond MTB ki). Great fun, nice to be on the MTB again! It's actually dusty too.
I did the 8 laps today and was surprised how good my legs felt, despite most of this year's riding being based on the turbo trainer, and no long rides for a few months. Ripped the sidewall on my rear tyre on the 2nd lap, which lost a bit of time, but apart from that all good. I thought it was about as good as mtb racing will get, sunshine but not too hot and dry singletrack, but not too dusty.
John, my wife (Lou) made a comment when we got home that someone in Singular kit had said she must be local as she knew the singletrack so well. I guess that was you.
Chapeau Jason, 8 laps of that would've been tough!
The time went really quick, it was a fun course to ride which helped a lot. Although I was counting down the short sharp climbs on the last lap.
8 laps and 15th - woohoo! Arms and body feeling it a bit now.
Had a lot of fun riding following and leapfrogging friendly groups and riders. A bit ragged at times as racecraft was rusty but I'll take results over style!
NJee - your massive sponsorship list means your results stick out rather!
It's actually dusty too
Yep, awesome levels of grip! Slinging the bike into the corners at all sort of speed - it almost didnt matter how fast you were going..
Managed 14th in the 2 hr male - not bad for a bloke with only half a quad tendon on his left leg & a 2 year layoff!
Jason/Nick - yup that was me, was a lot of fun following Lou; although that bloody last fire road did for me every lap - spinning like a loon & trying not to cramp 🙂
Looks like I finished just behind you Nick.
I'm still gaining experience racing, and I always feel I'm putting in good effort and toward the end my expectations start rising, but always face a reality check at the end. Yesterday at Gorrick was no exception, finished just outside top 50% on the 4 lap. Great day though, enjoyed the racing 🙂
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.
MSG at Thetford today. Boy was it hot - the car showed 28 degrees. My results won't be good, I forgot to turn my Garmin on, a bloke dithered in front of me at the start (I'm not gridded so already 20 places down). I took a first few places on the first lap then picked off more then on lap 3 I found my self in no mans land approx 1/2 a lap behind the leaders with no one in sight behind, passed a few sufferers on the way to the line.
Had a good ding with a CC Cambridge rider until he sliced a tyre on some Flint in front of me, very unfortunate for the bloke.
Knackered now, but not surprising as I woke up not wanting to bother and uncharacteristically had a few beers last night after a couple of weeks of food / booze related debauchery. 1 week to go and I'll have a kitchen back for sensible food prep!
Had a mare today at the Welsh round at fforest fields. Been dry for ages but torrential rain turned the course into an ice rink. The steep descents were unridable for my ability (I wasn't the only one) with no grip. Crashed on the first and ended up running down the descents. Because of that I basically lost interest and struggled to motive myself to the push on the hills. Ended up getting lapped and pulled with a lap to go. Really pissed off with myself, just wasn't mentally there. Feel like I'm fit enough to get a decent result but it's not coming together. A shame as I love the course in the dry and had it pegged as a race I could have done well at.
Well that was my first proper xc race. I only went in Fun category to see how it went. Like Ferrals I had set up for dry conditions only to find the course wet and very slippery. No grip from Racing Ralphs. Crashed on a sighting lap and now have a very good egg on my right leg. Decided at that point to run the descents in the race and carry the bike, good enough for CX, good enough for XC. Paced myself on the climbs and managed to pull a couple of places back on the final lap.
Will I do another one? Dunno. Western league summer cx starts next week so will crack on with that.
Anyway, nice to see you again Ferrals.
Good to see you too mate
Was hoping to concentrate on some long distance riding for the next 6 weeks but also to do Beastway to remain race sharp. Given the state of my legs yesterday through not resting from the Gorrick 100 I'm going to have to modify this as I had to watch the pack disappear into the sunset. If I'm not careful I will do less long distance and bimble around an XC course so slowly as not to get much benefit.
What do you ride at Beastway adsh? I might see you there next Wednesday.
Good question re what do you ride at Beastway...
I would love to come up and have a dabble. I am not in it to win it or anything like that but I do fancy giving it a go.
My possible bike choices are a 29er Enduro or a rigid mtb I have just built for gravel/adventure/touring.
I should be good to 650b+ that by then to soften it up... I am not young and have plenty of aches and pains i'd rather not make worse.
I meant what is he riding for recognition purposes. But to answer your question go with the rigid 650b+. It's not a technically challenging course, more leg busting & cardio really. Having said that, when the ground hardens it's a bit of a bettering on your back as the ground tends to dry to "horses hooves". I prefer 100mm Fs 29 due to that.
Ah... I see.
Thanks, i'll plus the rigid if I am going to make it, off to have a quick butchers at the website.
Torq orange Whyte 29C. Blue Rides on Air kit. Luckily I'm colour blind.
Midlands yesterday for me, great course but really hard work in the heat. There weren't any real opportunities to rest either!
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.
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!!