BMBS R1 - no pressure, fun racing :)

Well with 3 races in 4 weeks it has been a busy period already...

The first round of the BMBS was preceded by R3 of the Gorrick Spring
Series and the Black Park XC races. Both of these races were on flat,
twisty courses and so were great preparation for Sherwood Pines. At
the Gorrick, the field was impressive - around 25 riders - with many
strong riders in attendance. I ended up 7th or 8th, I can't remember!
I got a bit isolated off the start as I slipped on a piece of
singletrack, such is the nature of the course at Crowthorne simple
mistakes like this get ruthlessly punished. At Black Park, the field
was even stronger - with Jody Crawforth, Scott Forbes and Luke Smith
all racing the event as a BMBS warm up. It is great to see the West
Drayton MBC event growing every year. This year's course was dry and
fast, with some very tight sections between the trees! With not even
a hint of gradient, it was a 2hr flat out blast. This race really
took it out of me - I tried to do some efforts the following week and
was really suffering. I decided to just ride easy for the week and a
half before BMBS R1 and try to recover and trust that my winter
training had been worth it.

My strategy at Sherwood was to hold back from the pack at the start -
I was gridded on the back row and was dead last (50th or so) going out
of the arena. My decision paid off, as one rider took a big fall
going up the first fire road. I chose this opportunity to sprint
round the outside of a number of riders and made up a lot of places.
the first singletrack section was a pile-up, with riders barging pats
one another to gain an advantage. In retrospect, I was perhaps rather
too polite here and lost a few of the places I'd just gained. I also
lost sight of Phil (Lenney)....

It took me 4 1/2 out of the 6 laps to catch Phil again - having passed
a lot of riders I'd expected to lose to in the process. I felt ok -
the legs were still fairly tired from the previous races. Catching
Phil gave me the added drive to keep going - the last lap was a game
of cat and mouse between the two of us as we continued our battle from
last season. Phil slipped out as we turned onto the final fire road
and I took full advantage, accelerating past him and sprinting the
last 1/2 mile to the line to claim 25th place by a few seconds in a
replay of the 2009 Expert finish.

I couldn't quite beleive that, after 5 months training and the
occasional ride together, Phil and I are still the inseparable couple
of MTB racing. If all the races are this close between us, we have a
great season to look forward to!

I'm sure Phil will be along in a minute with a report of his race - he
rode a very strong race pretty much on his own to get 4th place -
unfortunately the riders in 2nd and 3rd rode together and pm a cousre
like Sherwood this makes catching them very hard indeed.

George

Me sandwiched between two giants at the BUCS MTB champs!

The facial expression corresponds with the pain in my lower back!

BUCS MTB Champs

Hi folks, just a quick update....

It was the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) MTB champs this weekend (20th/21st) at Ae in Scotland. I travelled up from Manchester with my fellow students on Thursday evening ready for the downhill practice on Friday ahead of the race on Saturday; the XC race was to be on the Sunday. Thankfully the weather was kind to us and I spent Friday and Saturday twiddling around the XC course and supporting/laughing at the downhillers! The XC course was not what I had expected from a 7Staines centre; it essentially consisted of the blue route (flat fire road followed by one major fire road climb) and then the first part of the red route but ridden backwards (not possible at speed due to the tight nature of the switch backs); it didn't suit my strengths at all! Still, I looked forward to racing and was of a positive frame of mind.
Unfortunatley this didn't last for long once the gun went on Sunday afternoon. I am obviously not hardy enough to race after three nights camping in the cold - my back, which I have suffered with a lot in the past, was having none of it and decided to cramp up and not let go! My race was therefore somewhat hampered and I had to settle with eighth, a position which I am disappointed with. Having said that however, the women's championship race was a top class field and it was great to see so many girls riding, even if they were wooping my bottom! Moreover, I now have an XC race under my belt this year and a hunger for racing so I am very much looking forward to the first of the national series this weekend at Sherwood Pines. I am certain my preparation will be somewhat more comfortable so fingers crossed for a better result!
TTFN :)

National Cyclo Cross championships - Imogen on her way to 6th

National Cyclo Cross Champs - Anna on her way to 10th

Half Term and Surprises

I knew Nicky had been planning something for a very long time - since
last July - but even a week before we were going wherever it was we
were going I still had no idea what the plan was. She said I'd need
my bike and plenty of kit, so it sounded like a great weekend was in
store! We set off, me driving with still no idea where we were going.
Nicky gave me directions as and when I needed them. We arrived at a
lovely farm house on the Gower in South Wales at about 7pm. Two of my
non-cycling friends were inside, hiding. SURPRISE! It was indeed, as
later that night more friends turned up and we had a great time
catching up. The next day, after a bit of a stress with a wheel, Si
Ernest arrived to drive me to Afan. We got there to find Ben, Nick
and Phil waiting to go for a ride! Fantastic. Lovely girlfriend :)
We rode all day, 40 miles. The evening was much the same as before -
dinner in the local followed by a long night. Great fun and very
interesting to see my non-cycling friends drinking loads and cycling
friends drinking nothing! Sunday was another ride - this time at
Brechfa. We did 2 laps of the black then headed back to the cottage.
The black was a great loop - really fast and flowing compared to the
rough rocks at Afan. Nicky did a yummy roast for everyone on Sunday
night. Mmmm. Monday was going home day. Nicky and I walked around
Rhosilli Bay. It was very beautiful and a very nice end to the
weekend. I'm a very lucky boyfriend.

This last week has been half term, so I've been riding with Ben a lot.
3hrs a day, up and over the Downs on the road. 3 rides so far, 2 of
them in pissing rain. Nice. Bought some decent gloves today after my
fingers stopped working again which seems to have helped a lot. The
rest of the week pans out as the Davina DVD tomorrow, then long 4hr
rides Saturday and Sunday. probably on the MTB. The weather is
forecast to be crap all of next week, so it's looking good for the
blinglespeed at Tunstall next weekend...

GB

National Cyclocross Championships - Anna's perspective

I left my university halls at 6.45 on Saturday morning (exchanging confused glances with homeward-bound ravers, presumably concerning lifestyle choice!) looking forward to spending the weekend with my family rather than racing; I had only been on my bike once in the preceding fortnight and wasn’t expecting to go very well. Indeed, I had a wonderful day cheering on Dad and Imogen and did remarkably well in forgetting about the inevitable!
Having pre-rode the course early on Sunday morning I began to prepare for the race; kit, food, number etc. Unusually I wasn’t feeling nervous, probably because I had no real expectations or goals for the race.
And so 11.30 came and the gun went. I had decided to have a relatively conservative start in order to test my legs, lungs and the competition. I settled quite quickly and soon felt strong enough to push the bigger gears and attack the short, sharp hills. I passed about five riders on my first lap and, as always seems the case, found myself in no-mans land. It wasn’t too long however before I was joined by Hannah Bowers, in much the same way as at the last round of the National Trophy at Rutland earlier in the year. Experience had taught me that I was stronger technically but lacked the advantage in power. Hannah and I tussled for at least two laps but I knew I needed to get the gap before the finish as, though my sprint is strong, I’m not sure I could have held the wheel on the long drag up to the line. I managed to eek out a small lead on the last lap and pushed hard through the technical copse section in the middle of the course and over the hurdles to create as big a gap as was physically possible. As I accelerated onto the tarmac for the last time I had a safe advantage and crossed the line to finish 11th overall.
It has been a really enjoyable first season of cyclocross for me and the National Champs was a fitting end. There is nothing quite like a fast and furious 40 minutes of racing on my sublime little Salsa green machine followed by that pleasantly exhausted feeling, a roast dinner and Larkrise to Candleford!
What am I going to fill my weekends with now? Oh, that’s right…mountain bikes! Can’t wait.