I rode the Eastbourne Rovers open 10 mile TT this morning, the weather just about held up ok although it was quite blustery!
My legs wernt fantastic after a weeks walking holiday in Wales (great time) but came in 4th although i was well beaten!
1st Pete Tadros - In Gear Rt- 20.19
2nd Ben Instone - AC3Gr - 20.29
3rd Nick Dewey - Lewes Wanderers -21.29
4th Simon McNamara - Southdown Bikes - 21.59
5th Christian Yates - In gear Rt - 22.45
Given the prep, i was quite pleased with my ride :)
Simon Mac
Ian and Matt get XC Racer mention
Here is a link to the Gorrick Saddle Skedaddle Round 6 race report by Joolze Dymond (sadly no mention of the team name).
Congratulations to Ian and Max for great results at the w/e. Good luck to Andy and John for the Set 2 Rise on Saturday and anyone else racing at the w/e.
Congratulations to Ian and Max for great results at the w/e. Good luck to Andy and John for the Set 2 Rise on Saturday and anyone else racing at the w/e.
Southern XC – Pippingford 23rd May 2010
Back in time (more than 20 years ago) my first MTB race was a Southern Area Mountainbike race (SAM series) and I have been supporting the premier southern series ever since. In the old days there use to be up to 200 riders in some classes. The numbers slowly dropped until a few years ago when Steve Jones and a new team became more involved and now it is re-establishing itself with good courses and attendance.
Sunday was a hot day and at 27C and the SXC organizers were pulling riders off the course if they considered they were suffering heat stroke.
For those who haven’t ridden at Pippingford, if it wet it’s horrible, if it’s dry it’s good.
And good it was with new sections including steps, drop offs, ditches, roots and the fantastic top gear decent with burms all waiting to catch you out. The organizers admitted they set a challenging course, but that suits my 2009 Specialized S-Works Epic perfectly.
In my race I was seeded 2 from round 1 but after my poor race last week at Gorrick (caused, I think by overtraining and DIY) I was very cautious about rushing at the start so slipped into 5th place and didn’t rush for the first ½ lap a policy that really worked; by the end of lap 1, it was 4th, lap 2 it was 3rd and at the finish 2nd. I am very pleased with the result as I was several minutes ahead of 3rd and 4th places.
Southdowns Bikes team member Max Filleul also won the Sport class on his Specialized.
Southern XC Rd 2 Pippingford
Well done to Max for a great win in the Sport Male category and to Ian for a splendid 2nd in the Grand Vets to keep him in second place in the series ! , This week John and i will be off to Earlstoke for the Set2Rise twelve hour nite Enduro which was an awsome event last year.
Ian at his best !
Well done Ian , i thought you were taller or do they let Grand Vets sit after each race !and i thought it was 2010 !
Gorrick Spring Series Rd 6, Frith Hill
16th May 2010On Sunday Ian Petherbridge, Alex Taylor and I (Matt Knight) made the trip to Frith Hill for the final round of the Gorrick Saddle Skedaddle Spring Series. Going into the race Ian was top of the Grand Vet rankings and looking to close out what could be a maiden series victory.
The course lived up to Gorrick's excellent course building reputation with plenty of fast technical single track.
Ian was up first and despite puncturing and having heavy legs on the pre ride made a cracking start taking the lead straight away. However, he couldn’t shake the following posse and struggled on the short sharp hills which normally pose no problems, crossing the line in a disappointing 6th place. Reflecting afterwards Ian was annoyed having beaten all his rivals in a strong category throughout the series.
Due to a no show from His closest rival 6th place proved enough for Ian to be confirmed as series champion! Congratulations!
Alex and I started at one. After the usual hell-for-leather start I was in the top 10 with Alex in the midfield. During the first half of the race I managed to pick off the riders at the front and was in the lead going into the final lap. However, I slowed during the final lap and was caught by the second place rider. Having been out sprinted by our own Alex Davey at the Goodwood Spring Challenge I was determined not to let it happen again. With about a mile to go I put the hammer down on the penultimate hill and managed to build a 13 second gap by the line.
Alex had probably his best race in Southdowns colours. Having been caught on the second lap by a group of three riders he latched onto the back and regrouped. During the final lap he found the strength to pass them and push on. It was great to see him buzzing at the finish.
All in all a great event for Southdowns and congratulations again to Ian
Results.
Surrey League Barcombe 2/3 Sunday May 2nd
Steve Atkinson, Richard Sale, Tom Marchment & myself (Simon McNamara) rode the Surrey League 2/3 RR at Barcombe on Sunday.
The weather was awful from the start, with the bunch splitting as much on the downhill sections as on the ascents. Richard & Tom both punctured before half distance but looked strong up til that point, the race was domininated by a 3 man break that eventually split leaving Chris Holmes (Norwood Paragon) out front on his own, he did a great job in staying away for the win, hanging on to win by 5 secs when it seemes certain he would be caught but with no one willing or able to close the gap from the bunch. Steve Atkinson suffered in the last 1 1/2 laps being so cold he could not get any food or gels from his pockets! & finnished 28th.
I contested the uphill finnish to take 6th but my legs were pretty poor from the SCA 10 the previous morning (6th also)
It was good to be at the race with the Southdowns Bikes team & believe we will work well in races together in the future.
The weather was awful from the start, with the bunch splitting as much on the downhill sections as on the ascents. Richard & Tom both punctured before half distance but looked strong up til that point, the race was domininated by a 3 man break that eventually split leaving Chris Holmes (Norwood Paragon) out front on his own, he did a great job in staying away for the win, hanging on to win by 5 secs when it seemes certain he would be caught but with no one willing or able to close the gap from the bunch. Steve Atkinson suffered in the last 1 1/2 laps being so cold he could not get any food or gels from his pockets! & finnished 28th.
I contested the uphill finnish to take 6th but my legs were pretty poor from the SCA 10 the previous morning (6th also)
It was good to be at the race with the Southdowns Bikes team & believe we will work well in races together in the future.
Local Time Trial - Tuesday May 4th
Brighton Excelsior TT - Tuesday May 4th 1845Looks like there is no Surrrey League at Goodwood Tuesday so anyone riding the Excelsior TT on the GS982 ? Its 16.5 miles and starts at 1845. Starts and finishes near Steyning .Check the web site for details- www.brightonexcelsior.co.uk. They have been getting full fields so worth getting there early.
Gorrick Enduro 100km - 2nd May 2010
Gorrick 100 - The wet and grinding one!
Should we stay or should we go. That was our dilemma outside the shop this morning. Grey skies and a damning forecast would be enough to put the off the hardier souls but with positive minds we headed north to Swinley Forest. 10 miles into the drive the rain started and got considerably heavier as we neared our destination.Arriving we were a little slow to get out of the cars and as the 7 lap riders were lapping next to us their mud splattered faces and kit made us think again. We dithered for about 20 mins whilst looking at the lap times on the Timelaps screen at the finish line where a 1hr 20min lap was looking like the average. I(John Davies) having already entered (1st mistake) decided I would ride, quickly followed by Andy and Emma, Alex wasn't too sure but signed up anyhow. So leaving it to the last moment the 4 of us hurried over to the start line with quite a diminished field 57 in the men’s and 6 in the ladies compared to 103 and 10 last year.
The 10 mile lap was great, some smooth singletrack, a few killer climbs and a only one poor section across an adverse camber which was all but unrideable. The lap was brutal on our trusted steeds though and by the start of the 2nd lap my brakes were all but shot after the last 10 miles of constant grinding (2nd mistake, always fit new brake pad before a Gorrick event).
So by the time I reached the Deer Stalker descent 3.5 miles into the lap I was down to the metal, as were nearly everybody else's. After some nasty scares on the remaining downhills I decided that it was time to call it a day after finishing the lap. Alex had the same idea after a nasty fall and we half expected to see Andy and Emma at the finsh line. But no they are made of sturdier stuff (or had new pads on) and carried on. Emma winning the ladies and Andy coming 6th, respect to you both.
Quote from Emma:- Thanks for your congrats, you might have been more sensible! 14 miles with no brakes! Went through pads and metal,couldn't feel fingers,blistered and bruised hands+damaged frame! Prize of silver platter, shorts and jersey nice though. Experience will be charater building I am told?
Andy also said that pushing downhill was a new experience for them both and he was only passed on the last lap by someone who had stopped and spent 15 mins changing his brake pads, a lesson to think about for future events.
Emma with her 1st place trophy Gorrick 4 Hour
Quote from Gorrick:-
There were many tales to tell with the overriding one being "my brake pads have worn away", rapidly followed up with "but what an excellent course, great fun and no need for mud tyres.
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