In a muddy field, far, far away....

Well it was about time I pulled my finger out and did my last update...sniff...as the race was some weeks ago now. This time Juliet was kind enough to come along and Aggy joined the party too. So I finally have a few pics of me on the day.

The weather was some what changable with rain followed by sunshine. The course conditions, therefore, followed suit and changed from thin runny mud to porrage.

The saturday practice went well and in the wetter conditions the race was fast, but very long! I left feeling confident and managed to complete all obsticles in the course.

The sunday came along with the sun which although provided some rest bite from the wet, caused the track to partially dry and turn the riding conditions into a real slog.

The actual run itself was not so great. I spent some 45mins at the top of the course in the bitterly cold wind waiting for my run. this ment going from frozen solid to full throttle, the outcome was getting to the bottom of the course, hyperventilating and seeing stars...with a time that can only be laughed at.

At the end of the day, and with the race being my last for this season, I am still smiling and thats what its all about really. Now the evenings are drawing out I will be able to get out more on the local tracks and look forward to the oportunities of next season.

The blog has been good fun and I hope you have all enjoyed it...so maybe watch this space for next year! Enjoy the pics...

Snow stops play

Only a quicky as I never got to race the final round in the winter series. This time it was the weather that caused me to miss out. Saturday practice was great. The track was a lot dryer than expected...I had gone fully prepared for a mud bath, however on the day my standard tyres where the preferred option.

The track was great and include many sections that I had ridden previously. While still very tiring I felt that I was setting decent times, which was backed up by the addition of my bike computer on this outing.

Sunday came and I set out nice an early to get in the normal couple of runs before the race. However as I neared Ludlow I found the snow... I was taking the back roads, which had not been gritted or cleared and had much delight in rallying my way south. There were a couple of times when I thought I was going to get stuck as the snow had drifted to 6 inches in places...But a calm approach and sensible throttle control saw me reach Ludlow. Once in the town I stopped off at the garage as I already new what was ahead. My suspicions where confirmed when I spoke to a fellow racer, who stated the race was cancelled.

Due to the vast majority of drivers that where out on the roads that day, it took me till 11:30am to get home again! Anyway the organisers have allowed me to transfer my entry fee to the first race of the Midland Super Series. This will be on the 2nd April, and looks like it will be my last due to finances.... I will be sure to make the most of this opportunity and will of course pass on the results after the event.

I should also have some decent pictures too and Juliet and family are coming along for moral support.

Best to all.... Just off to check the long term weather forecast!!!

Round 2

The view was stunning as I pulled up at a muddy Bringewood, Ludlow, for round 2.... The mist in the valley made it seem like we were above the clouds...

As for the biking...Boy was on form. With the appearance of the sun I seemed to find my (limited) talent once again and the bike was behaving for a change. The course was long, with muddy roots ready to grab your front tyre given half a chance. The preliminary run of the day provided a smile or two as some of the course I had ridden previously and ensured the throttle was held wide open through these parts... The only ''harsh'' parts of the track, were two jumps. First, one half way down after a pedally stretch leading to the edge of the woods. Jumping into the darkness and with no real landing to speak of. The second, at the finish line, seemed to through ever rider off in different directions and at different trajectories..

Practice day was great, smiles a plenty and only one high speed wipe out. Of course this was down to me not paying attention, having a break and sitting down. To add insult to injury this was the flattest, straightest part of the course. I was enjoying the short break from the intense concentration required for the remainder of the course as I face planted the right side of my helmet into the ground....On the upside, as this was the only part of my body to meet the ground, up to the point I became stationary, injury was avoided!

Race day came, along with the mist. This added to the already low light levels in the wood ensure only one race run on the day was possible. The norm is two.

Two practice runs later, early that morning saw, little improvement on the previous days runs. The jump at the finish did however go one up, as it launched me into the biggest nose dive of my biking career, culminating in me getting winded and feeling like an accordion! My merriment was had by the spectators...

The race run finally came round, and it was all down to that few minutes blitz... Managed to avoid all peril's on the way down and set a time of 3.28, 47th out of 83 and 45 seconds off the leader.

I was happy to have finally set a time, gained the experience, and now know what is expected at round 3, (12th Mar). The bike is running and great, so its just my head, and brakes slowing me down. Hope to leave the fear in the car for the next round.

Will endeavor to get more pics of the action for the next posting....

The End is Nigh

So... Having double checking the tyre pressures to ensure another punchure would be avoided, I jumped on the trailer for the third time and hoped for a clear run.

I was surprised to see Scott Beaumont, a famous national downhill rider and appears in downhill DVDs setting off just infront of me... Great... Now I get shown up by following him down the course... Anyway, Things were going great, good speed, getting used to the muddy conditions and starting to learn the course. This was until my rear derailleur decided it had had enough and tried to shed some of it components on down the track. So it was yet another stop to try and undertake a tempory fix.... Having set off again it was only another few hundred yards when the rear of the bike started to act like a bucking bronco and I realised something serious had gone wrong with the rear suspension.

I fumbled to the bottom of the course. On dismounting I realised I no longer had any rebound damping on the rear shock.... If you pushed down on the saddle and released it quickly the seat would fire upwards and the momentum would almost lift the rear wheel from the ground....GAME OVER!!

The shock will have to be sent away under warranty for repair. So there was little else to do that pack up and accept defeat. The organisers were kind enough to refund the race entry fee.

So I am left looking forward to the next race in Feb and pray for better luck.... You win some you loose some...That's racing...

Will get the bike in perfect condition for the next race....Oh, forgot to mention, I got over the crank issue by purchasing a new set...A session with a vice and hammer did nothing for the bent old set...

Why do I bother???

Well we are the other side of the race weekend and it is with gritted teeth and furrowed brow that I write this. I never got to race day! I barely made it through practice... Why? You may ask... Well all was going swimmingly, the sun was out and John and I arrived in good time on Saturday morning, full of antisapation on riding a new course. Having got ready we rode the few hundred meters to the tractor and trailer posed to take up to the top of the hill for the first time. It was indeed a treat to be taken to the top for a change rather than spending the best part of an hour pushing to the top.

The first run went well... As well as it could as this was riding the course blind. The course was long, wet, and ran from the dark depths of heavy forest before breaking out into a cleared area before once again plunging into darkness with trees aplenty. The highlight on the first run when, on swinging round a tight, off camber, rooty blind bend, was being confronted with a 4 foot vertical drop with a inclined landing.... As stopping to consider my fate was now not an option, a deep intake of breath, a huge pull on the bars and the grace of God saw me decent the cliff in a manner that can only be compared to a sack of potatoes being dropped from a window... I continued on my merry way wondering what other delights lay ahead...

The bike felt good and my riding was ok.... Perhaps I would be setting times somewhere in the middle of the pack...So with high spirits, I was ready for another up lift.... This would be the last time I smiled that day... It only took until a third of the way down on the second run for things to start to go wrong. A rear blow brought things to a halt. The only solution to get me back to the car was to tie a knot in the inner tube before re-inflating the tyre ( pump provided by another unlucky biker who had experienced to the same fate) and taking a steady approach to the rest of the decent. Having got to the car I changed out the inner tube for a fresh one and munched down some refreshments... Surely the next run would be more satisfactory.

doh!!

Well it is with a tear in my eye that I come to update you guys on the latest. I managed to get out on a practice ride at the weekend, a good opportunity to used to the mud again before the race. However, having set off on the first run of the day, I was only a third of the way when disaster struck... Going from feel good and expecting a healthy first run, I clipped a stump while accelerating out from a corner. The force of the impact was only realised when I went to commence pedaling again and found my right ankle having to work overtime to stay aligned with the pedal...The up shot of this is that I have bent a crank!! NOT HAPPY!!

I spent the rest of the day trying to get used to the alien movement of one foot and try to ignore the fact the bike was no longer perfect. This is of course something that one must expect while undertaking in such activities... Doesn't stop it being a pain in the arse though!

I have put some lines on the picture to show the new position of the pedal. I will strip it down and put the crank in the press at the farm... See if 60 tons pressure can bring it back to the straight an narrow!

In other news... I have received my new goggles (picture on the way) which have clear lenses, essential in the dull light this time of year. I also have to fit the new chain and cassette.. Will update soon with pictures of new shiny stuff...

What Time is it??!

Here's Matt showing some style having crashed out on the previous run...Respect!



Matts poor watch having experience the rath of Cornish granite!!

On Cornish Turf

On my recent visit to the homeland I was able to get out on the old downhill course we used to do as kids... Although the course has come along way since then and some of the locals have really put in the shovel time to turn it into something a bit special.

In typical Cornish style the weather ensured I know I was at home and rained for most of the day! But Matt P and myself had a great time, well, that is until Matt decided it was time worship the dirt and took a long trip off a short jump. But in typical Matty style he was straight up again and showed some great style completing the jump. This was not the only time he was to 'take a tumble'' and the second time his watch was to take the brunt of the impact....How I laughed!!