Summer Racing updates

A few other summer races i've missed

Southern XC Rd.3 Expert - Wasing

First time racing in the expert category, the course was good, technical and fast with little climbing. For once I got a good start and kept in touch with a few fast guys, but this only last so long as a few fast masters caught me on the second lap. The next 3 laps felt pretty good and I finished strongly in a sprint finish, 13/21, not a bad effort but room for improvement.

Are You Tough Enough 6 hour Solo- Surrey July 7th

Super steamy hot 30 degrees, most singletrack on a course I have ever ridden, which lead me to chase hard for the win, but ultimately loose out, 2nd was great, and the training was useful, recommended event.

Well done Rich Penning

Brighton Big Dog - 6hour Solo

I used to live in Brighton so I love returning for Brighton Big Dog every year, this is the 3rd visit to the trails of Stamner, I've done well here, 5th the first year, 6th last year, but checking the entry list before the race shows that Big Dog is going Big time, most of the top marathon and endurance racers in the country were racing solo!

A practice lap on friday was slippery due to the early morning rain, but the course was familiar and the extra hills suited me, it also caused my guide to dislocate his finger in a crash!

Strada Wheels Race team, with some extra's

Race day was bright and sunny, the course had dried out really well and I was now keen to race. I got a good start, cleared the steep climb and early singletrack to avoid all the first lap carnage.

I settled into a maintainable pace, slower than the front runners but I always try to keep my lap times consistent for the whole race, instead of blowing up mid race.

The laps were great, hilly but enjoyable with fun, twisty single track, passing slower riders took patience but I try to be polite.

Laps were ticking up and I moved from 11th up to 8/9th, near the end of the race I lost a bottle on some single track, lucky the laps were short and it didn't effect me too badly.

I started what I thought was my penultimate lap, feeling good I rode safe, heading back into the arena I managed to pass a solo rider, moving me up to 8th, checking the time I wouldn't manage another lap, which was a shame but I was happy to finish 8th in such a strong field.

Thanks for the help from the Strada Wheels and Brighton MTB crew, always nice to get cheers along the way. I'm now 5th overall in the Endurance Series, with one more round I've changed from 6 to 12hours at Torq 12:12, a good race might see me grab a podium in the series!

Bontrager Twentyfour12, 12hour solo

Newnham Park is an ace venue for an endurance race, the campsite is in the middle of the course, so you get two visits to civilisation each lap, which is nice, but last year it was horrendous, 12 hours of solid rain ruined my chance of enjoyment. This year it was back and luckily, so was the crowds.

For 2013 and after my disappointing ride at Exposure 12, Twentyfour12 was my next big races of the year, and after a surprise 3rd place 12hour solo male in 2011 I knew the course would suit me, long climbs and nice flowing single track. I was racing 12hour solo again, but the competition was tougher this year with reigning 12hour UK and European champion Tim Dunford and Elite XC racer Stephen Hodge a good result was going to take a battle!

Come race morning I felt refreshed, but nervous and I wanted to get riding! after my overly fast pacing at Exposure 12 back fired I knew that I needed to reign my pace in, despite a few fast riders in the 12hour I had to pace my own race and let them go and ride my own race pace.

Almost front row, queuing starts early

I rode a few medium fast laps and felt comfortable, pacing was consistent and I was having fun. I was up into 4th, but it was early days!

After 5hours I had to swap onto my spare bike due to suspension troubles, no matter, the lack of steep hills suited 1 x 10, pacing stayed consistent. Next lap back through the pits Dad tells me i'm in 3rd after Steve Hodge of Mondraker had a mechanical, it wasn't long before he caught me again, but we still had  over 4 hours to go. Over the next few laps we had a fun battle, trading places a few times, Steve riding away, but I could catch him ok without changing my pacing too much. After I saw him dive into the pits for lights I needed to make the most of the gap.

As I started what I thought was my last lap I made the most of the fun course, until I rolled round to the finish line at 23:45pm, bugger! Back out again then, luckily the first half of the lap was the toughest, that out the way I put the hammer down still feeling strong.

I finished well and secured 3rd! I'm really pleased my hard work had paid off, Dad was a great pitman as ever, i'm sure he enjoys the races more than me sometimes! Chapeau to Tim Dunford who won by 2 laps over me and Ajay from Torq who was 1 lap clear, it wasn't till after the race I found out he was the XC champion of Nepal and twice Yak Attack Marathon champion! I was just glad the weather stayed nice and it showed how great endurance racing can be!

Mixed or Solo? 

Thanks to Darren and Jonathan from Strada Wheels, the Mulebar guys, I really can stomach their gels for a whole race, Finely Tuned Ride for ongoing tweaking and Francesca Bennett for her coaching expertise.

Next up Brighton Big Dog, more a social than a race.

Italy Cycling Trip

At the beginning of June I was lucky enough to go on a cycling holiday to Bormio, Northern Italy. We took both xc and road bikes, which was a luxury! I took my trusty, although budget road bike, borrowing a set of super speedy carbon tubular wheels from Strada, having never ridden tubs before I didn't know what to expect, they seemed to roll faster and feel much nicer than clinchers, but the roads in Italy aren't riddled with pot holes!!

First XC ride, Bormio 2000 Trails

The week had many highlights, one was riding the Stelvio pass. Bormio is at the foot of the pass, so the gradient ramps up very quickly! The climb last 13miles and gains 5,000feet in altitude, I rode it twice whilst we were there, with a best effort of 1.5hrs, which was almost quick enough to get me on first page on Strava, 27 out of 630, only and indication, but a good ride.

Stelvio, Bornio side

Summit descent

The only way is 

The cross country riding was also good, technical, but I could ride within my limits, I had borrowed a dropper post and I was amazed how much difference it made when riding technical descents, being able to get over the back wheel with no obstructions gave me much more confidence.

Since returning I have improved on my 10mile TT personal best, hopefully I can carry this form onto the next round of the Southern XC at the end of June.

Erlestoke Twelve - 6 Hour

I have great memories of Erlestoke 12, it was my first win a few years back when I surprised myself by winning the 12hour single speed race, a few years on and I had intended to race the 12hour solo again, but on my geared bike, but after Exposure 12 my head was feeling fragile and I couldn't face another 12hour so soon, so I decided on the 6 hour singlespeed race, then a few days before the race I discovered my frame had a crack in the frame, checking the 6 hour entries I wasn't sure I'd fair that well in the geared race so I considered mixed pairs, I finally settled on 6 hours solo geared and decided to see what happened.

The weather gods had been kind again, 98% dry and dusty wiltshire single track, which all seems familiar and fun. The start was casual, the only way SPAM know, starting at 11:53am, I didn't mind, I was ready and on the front row. I knew the start would be fast, but I need to get used to that. George Budd and Single Speed Singular Al shot of the front, never to be seen again! I kept in contact with James Braid from Team Wiggle, I caught him on the hills then got dropped on the single track, this went on for a few laps, quick changes of bottles wasted no time, but the gap to James grew.

Thanks Duncan @ www.mbkphotos.co.uk
for the photos

Three hours came and went, I still felt pretty good, legs felt strong but the fast starts do jade me after  racing single speed for so long. I was unsure on my race position, but that was ok, approaching the end of my 7th lap I lost the front wheel on a loose corner, I was fine but I had twisted the bars slightly, quick swap onto my spare bike and I was away.

The 8th lap felt good and I knew I could only manage 1 more in the time left, I was starting to feel good again after a lull and could have carried on if needed, just as I thought this, George lapped me!

I finished 3rd overall in open male, happy and surprised! I know I need to work on my speed but i'm slowly getting there! I have a break from long races in June, I best try and get faster!!

Exposure 12- 12 Hour National Championships

After a good result at Gorrick 100 I felt in good shape for Exposure 12, held this year for the first time at the Wasing Estate in Berkshire.

Dad and I arrived friday afternoon, good job I have a van now as the amount of stuff I take seems to grow every race! I went for a practice lap friday afternoon and felt a little disappointed by the course, the laps felt too short and the some of the trails were very fresh, but I knew like most endurance races the course improves as it gets ridden in. The rest of the evening was spent catching up with fellow racers.

Race kit, race bike & silly grin

Race morning arrived and I felt pretty calm, I went through my usual race routine, and headed over to the start line. I was “seeded” second this year which meant I was officially called up to sign on, it also meant I could start at the front, which meant the 3rd row by the time i’d rescued my bike!

Race sign-on

The start was fast, I didn’t want to lose touch with the front group, but I didn’t want to go into the red so early! I settled quickly and found a good rhythm, first lap was over very quickly, no need to stop I carried on, the first few laps carried on this way.

I felt ok but was concerned I may have been stretching my gel stops out too long as my lap times increased slightly, I quickly seemed to lose my head, I usually go through a rough patch but it happened much earlier than I was used to. I took on more food on my next stop, but still felt bad, I hate it when I can only “plod” round, but a plod was all I could manage! I wasn't used to this happening! I was still in 5th but couldn’t see this lasting!

At around 6pm there was a torrential downpour which had been threatening all day, luckily on the previous lap I had put on a gillet which prevented me getting too cold, but on the next lap I added more layers, strangely the cold rain woke me up!

Soon enough it was dark, the course was quite muddy by then, but I still had plenty of grip in most parts but it was quicker to walk a few sections.

The last few laps went quickly and I finished 6th open male at 11.30pm, slightly disappointed that i’d not given it my all, but happy enough with the result, I guess it's taught me racing a 6hr race six days before a 12hour race is still too much for me.

Big thanks to Strada Wheels for the race jersey and spare wheels, Rob from Finely Tuned Ride for running the pits and keeping my bikes in great order and Dad for pushing me on through my poor patch

Next Stop Erlestoke 12 or 6?,single speed or geared? I'll decide the week before.

Gorrick 100 - A lesson in getting on with it

After last years disaster where my Gorrick 100 lasted 3 minutes I was keen to have a better race! Despite the race being 1 week before Exposure 12 I went for the 7 lap category, as it is part of the Endurance series, the Endurance series has been setup to recognise the riders who specialise in longer races which in the UK, which aren't noticed by British Cycling.....

After a long training week the previous week I cut my riding by and concentrated dialling-in my new race bike in the run up to the race, despite this come saturday I was still feeling tired.

After a very early start we arrived at Porrigepot Hill, a venue I know well having raced there plenty of times before. Lining up at the start the usual fast faces were in attendance, no matter the longer races are meant to suit me. The start was fast and I had very little in response, dropping away from the front group, along fireroad sections I knew well I had no real speed and couldn't make my way through the pack.

Over the next few laps I plugged on, making it up into 12th place, but not making any time up on the guys in front, but I wasn't losing time or places either, despite a few minor off's on the loose loamy trails and enjoyed the course, with the majority of the lap made up of singletrack it was physically demanding course, with little time to eat or drink. Gradually my legs switched on and I passed a few 7 lapper's, but I still didn't feel great but I made myself drink one full bottle & one Mulebar kick gel per lap.

The last 2 laps felt better, and by the final lap I was on the chase of the riders in front, making up a few places. In the end I finished 8th out of 77, happy with the result considering it wasn't my best day, but I glad I made the distance without having to dig too deep, but I know I could have done better.

Next race is Exposure 12, Saturday 11th, so less than 1 weeks recovery, but i'm comfortable with that