Hi all,
Heading up to Margam Park on the 7th for Rd4. Let me know if you want a ride up there. I can take a passenger & bike.
Regards
James
National XC - Hopton Castle
Will, Ian and myself arrived early and bleary eyed at our chaffeurs house for the long drive to Hopton in Shropshire. Many thanks to Steve for driving nearly four hours each way either side of his race.
As we approached the fluttering flags and rows of camper vans, a huge menacing wooded hill loomed against the blue sky. From the line the course headed straight up this savagely steep climb, that had all the riders scrabbling for their lowest gears! It was a leg burning effort of about 10 -12 minutes with a couple of false flats that didn't really provide much respite. After the climb was a great section that resembled a welsh trail centre, as it undulated along the contours of the hillside. Then came the reward for all that climbing, a sometimes scarily steep, sweeping descent with stutter bumps in the precipitous braking zones leading into the bermed corners. It was a memorable course in every way - not all of them pleasant!
Will was first off, unfortunately due to delays with the previous races he wasn't able to complete an entire warm-up lap and when his chain snapped before the top of the climb his cycling was done for the day. Standing nervously by the start waiting for him the three of us started to fear the worst as we saw rider after rider coming through coated in dirt and blood after taking a fall on the descent to the finish.
Myself, Steve and Ian were all gridded for the final races of the day. Even on the first lap the climb was agonising and it felt as though I rode most of the race in my bottom gear! My single 32 tooth chainring only just allowing me to crawl upwards. I drank and gulped gels to prevent cramping which would have surely ended my race.
From his lowly grid spot Steve put in a stella effort to finish 6th. Ian was 23rd in the Grand Vets while I was 29th in Masters.
On the way home we raided the services M&S shop, sharing out Scones, Pain au Chocolate and Hot Cross Buns the rest of the way home. Sorry about the crumbs Steve!
As we approached the fluttering flags and rows of camper vans, a huge menacing wooded hill loomed against the blue sky. From the line the course headed straight up this savagely steep climb, that had all the riders scrabbling for their lowest gears! It was a leg burning effort of about 10 -12 minutes with a couple of false flats that didn't really provide much respite. After the climb was a great section that resembled a welsh trail centre, as it undulated along the contours of the hillside. Then came the reward for all that climbing, a sometimes scarily steep, sweeping descent with stutter bumps in the precipitous braking zones leading into the bermed corners. It was a memorable course in every way - not all of them pleasant!
Will was first off, unfortunately due to delays with the previous races he wasn't able to complete an entire warm-up lap and when his chain snapped before the top of the climb his cycling was done for the day. Standing nervously by the start waiting for him the three of us started to fear the worst as we saw rider after rider coming through coated in dirt and blood after taking a fall on the descent to the finish.
From his lowly grid spot Steve put in a stella effort to finish 6th. Ian was 23rd in the Grand Vets while I was 29th in Masters.On the way home we raided the services M&S shop, sharing out Scones, Pain au Chocolate and Hot Cross Buns the rest of the way home. Sorry about the crumbs Steve!
Southern XC Championships
Having enjoyed the experience of dry dusty trails over the past few weeks, it was probably inevitable that while much of the UK basked in sunshine, it was drizzling down in the New Forest for the Southern XC Championships. The moisture added a glossy surface to the trails, leaving riders with little confidence in the corners and sapping their strength on the climbs. Despite the weather it would have been a terrific flowing course, had it not been for a couple of what might politely be called ‘stream crossings’. In reality these were muddy ditches; the fastest method of navigating them was to jump off the bike and leap straight in!
Will 2nd Junior
Things started badly on my warm-up lap, I found Doddy lying in one of the ditches clutching his knee. He had slipped off a wooden bridge the taken out one of the posts on the way. The marshals were already with him so I was able to move on, which was lucky because I had a puncture. I presume from riding over one of the nails sticking out of the broken bridge.
Back at the car I met Steve who had pulled out, but when he described his recent schedule I am not surprised. The poor man needed some sleep!
Luckily some of us did make it to the finish line, although I think we'd all agree it was tough going.
Will 2nd Junior
Marc 2nd Open
Ian 6th Grand Vet
Emma 7th Elite
Ollie 7th Junior
Ben 21st Masters
Gorrick 100
Change of venue this year as some trail work was being carried out at Swinley, so off to Porridgepot Hill we ventured. The weather had been great all week and we were looking forward to fast dusty trails. The course at Porridgepot is usually around 7 miles for the popular Are You Tough Enough event so cutting in another 2.5 miles of racetrack must have been a worry for the Gorrick team but as usual they dished up a very good course.
Quite a few of us had a late night at Matt and Anna's wedding celebrations, so the 4 lap race which was a 10.30am start was inviting and gave us a little bit of a lie in!
We had a great turnout of 10 people in the 4 lap race and 3 in the 3 lap from both the shop team and club members.
Team riders Emma,Marc and Will had great rides coming 2nd,5th and 7th in their races.
This was most of the club riders first bash at the event and by the end we all had plenty of respect for a tough course, some a little disappointed that it wasn't much fun but a great Jim Barrow statement that racing is fun when it stops, otherwise you're not trying hard enough!
So on that ethos we must have all been really riding on the rivet as they say. Well done to everyone.
Gorrick 100 photo's
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| Emma 2nd Ladies 4 Lap |
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| Olive 7th Ladies 4 Lap |
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| Mark 5th Male 4 Lap |
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| Will 7th Male 4 Lap |
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| John D 29th Male 4 Lap |
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| Andy G 45th Male 4 Lap |
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| John R 49th Male 4 Lap |
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| Andy J 55th Male 4 Lap |
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| Kevin 60th Male 4 Lap |
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| Peter 71st Male 4 Lap |
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| James 7th Male 3 Lap |
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| Ollie 13th Male 3 Lap |
Southern XC Round 1
Despite the recent heavy rain the forest sections weren’t too greasy and a racing line formed in the drying mud. The warmer temperatures meant it was also my first outing this year in shorts! Although this does mean I had to expose my hairy legs to the smoothly shaved racer boys.
Elsewhere Alex was 16th in Open, I was 20th in the Masters and Ollie 10th in the Juniors.
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| The podium boy! |
Gorrick Spring Series Rnd 2 - Crowthorne
I think we should create a new rule: Team mates shouldn’t line up next to each other on the grid.
Alex and I were side by side ready for the start of the Super Masters race. The hooter sounded, muscles tensed, power was applied to pedals, chains took the strain. Shoulder to shoulder, elbows entwined we were off. To my right there was the unmistakable sound of a chain snapping, followed by a rider wobbling into the pack. Suddenly we were all squeezed, I was pushed and fell towards Alex. Obviously I never want to crash, but my worst fear would be taking out a team mate at the same time and ruining two races. Using all my Jedi powers of levitation I somehow managed to stay upright, Alex actually supporting me as I wrestled myself back into the saddle. We were sliding back through the field but we were both still in the race.
A technicoloured ribbon of riders streamed through the long flat singletrack section and into the infamous corkscrew. Having dealt with the challenging swoops and dips I emerged onto the fireroad. The front wheel skidded on the loose gravel and slipped out from under me. The “Force” was no longer with me and I hit the ground hard. I was quickly back up, but the bars were at about 30 degrees, so I was off again for a realignment. Pushing to catch up I repeated the same trick only 200 yards down the path at the next turn – I was panicking!
Despite my adventures Alex and I had a fun race long tussle finishing 17th and 18th in Super Masters. Mr D and Mr P had a similar ding dong battle in the Grand Vets to come home 4th and 6th. Like a fortnight ago, Will came powering past me like a train on his new Stumpjumper HT. Unfortunately he was just pipped to the win right on the line. Hard luck Will - next time! Oli was 27th behind Will in the Sport and James was 7th up against some quick riders in the Youth race. 
Gorrick Spring Series - Round 1
Every year the first round of the Gorrick Spring Series heralds the start of the new XC season. Alex and myself were the earliest risers as the fog lifted from the Tunnel Hill course. New start times meant I probably wasn't the only person to nearly miss their race! There was still ice on the puddles in the car park as the sun broke through and we set off!
Steve starting in the Super Vets had soon caught and passed me on his way to 2nd. Will was next, streaking through to finish 3rd in the Sport race. Also in the Sport category Ollie was 16th.
James, Ian and Martin were just setting off in the Grand Vets as I dragged myself across the line. They finished 3rd, 7th and 29th respectively.
Alex took a tumble and I was still recovering from man flu so we propped up the Super Master results!
Some superb results and plenty of early promise for the season ahead!
Ollie, Ian, Ben, Martin and Alex - great to see so many team colours out on course!
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| Steve |
The reward for the early start was a fun, fast course, making use of the army trenches to weave through the woods. The hills were less enjoyable, especially the painful back to back climbs towards the end of the lap.
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| Will |
James, Ian and Martin were just setting off in the Grand Vets as I dragged myself across the line. They finished 3rd, 7th and 29th respectively.
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| James |
Some superb results and plenty of early promise for the season ahead!
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