ticket2ridebc.com Blog

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Ben;
Heading up to fort William with the weather report set for heavy rain and wind all weekend, we were pleasantly greeted by warm sunshine and dry conditions as well as a pretty much full team. It was certainly good to see Al back out and racing. After the world cup had taken place just 3 weeks ago the track was the most beaten up that it has been for the last few years. Pot holes everywhere and ruts from the amount of rain in the past few weeks had torn the track up making the already rough track even worse. From the start the track went the usual way over the world champs boardwalks and then down over the bus stops and under the gondola. From here the track was very beaten up right down to the deer gate with loose gravel and new sections of the rocks being rebuilt which were blown out in just a few runs on Saturday.

From the deer gate the track had a few new lines with the corners being cut inside through what would inevitably be Sam Hill’s lines. This weekend was an NPS first; for me anyway. The whole world cup woods section was used and was of course ripped to shreds by the wet weather. The woods were rooty and had a lot of deep ruts which caught me out in practice. Dropping over the road and down past the big wall ride lead you into the red rock section and past the small wall ride. After here the section onto the motorway was new and went straight with a wooden kicker in the track. This made the run into the motorway a lot faster and more fun.

Round the big berm and over the hip jump was fast but the lander of the hip had a lot of bad braking bumps in meaning the faster option was to land on the inside and get your drifting skills out. Over the tabletops and doubles, which are getting easier to clear every race I go to, and then a sprint into the Tissot jump lead down to the final section. Keeping a road tuck on down the off beat wall and into the 4X and it was a few cranks of the pedals to send you floating down the triple and through the finish line.

In the seeding run I didn’t go for it and could have done a considerable amount more pedalling. I came through in a time of 5:39 which ended up being a good time even for the race runs on Sunday. This gave me 17th place for seeding. On Sunday I was ready and prepared at the top and was keen to put in a flying time. Out of the start gate and round 2 corners I cranked the pedals and my chain jumped out of the top. I was still keen to race and planned to do the whole track chainless. My plan was ruined when after the deer gate my chain jammed in my wheel and I had to stop for 2 minutes to try and get it back on. This didn’t work and I rolled through the line not even bothering to look at my time or place. Not a good way to end a weekend that was going so well.

John;
A couple of weeks on from the Scottish downhill association race at Aberfeldy and it is back on the track again to take on the might of Annoch mor (Fort William). Having watched the best in the world ride the track 4 weekends previous in the dry this was going to be a good test.
For me this is the most local track this year (90 miles from home), in past years has been one of the most visited tracks due to the Gondola uplift service. This year, with the injury the race was to be my second visit, with the first one cut short due to the strong winds.

The great thing about Fort William is that you can see the top of the track from several miles away, and as you drive those last miles to the track you know that you are going to have to ride what used to be one of the toughest tracks around. It is not tough because it is technically difficult from the top to the bottom, nor is it tough because it is tight and twisty, with drops and large wooded areas. This course is tough because it is long, very long, contains tight and twisty woods, a couple of drops, jumps, steep sections and flat out track that will test your nerve at speed. The track was taped the same as the UCI track from 4 weeks previous. All the fast lines were taped in, the full woods was taped in and the weather was not to bad either.

Practice went well, no crashes, and in the last 2 weeks they had repaired lots of the track. I have ridden this track for 3 years, and this is possibly the smoothest the track has ever been.
Seeding on Saturday was a nice safe run down the hill aiming for just under 6 minutes. I was finding the length of the track take its toll on my hands, understandable having spent 2 months off the bike recently.

Steve, Ben and Myself did a couple of runs down the track together, it was clear that Ben had the top corners dialled, but kept having problems with his chain jumping outside his chain device (a problem that would plague him all weekend). A week in Whistler had done wonders for his cornering speed.

Onto the Sunday and the weather was nice on the hill, practice went with no crashes again, so it was onto race runs. I set off the start gate and remember seeing the hole on the inside of the first corner had been repaired since practice. Superb, up 2 gears and into the first jump, over shot the jump but managed to keep the bike on the track, over the small rock garden and my jump overshoot bites me, I am 6ft off line riding though heather when I should be flat out into the nice bermed corners. Strange, I have seen many people do this, but this was my first time. Back on track and I go flat out for the rest of the track with no real mistakes. My hands hold up well and as I cross the finish line I check out my time. 2 seconds slower than last year on a track that is 10 seconds shorter. I think the lack of practice on the track has shown in the time. 10th place in my first NPS race is not to bad, but it should have been better.

John in the Bowl

Steve;
I was really looking forward to FW, the weather forecast was looking good and the new Maxxis Minnion 3C’s had been fitted. Talk that the course was going to be the full world cup course also had the enthusiasm juices flowing. Sat practice was just too chilled out and there appeared to be no atmosphere, with no queues on the gondola whatsoever. You could be up and down in 25mins no problem, so I found myself with plenty of time on my hands throughout practice, as I only ever do 4 runs up at FW as anything more leave me too knackered come race runs as the track is a real punisher and beats you up good and propper.

Come seeding run, I employed normal tactics and didn’t do anything silly and coasted most of the way, hitting the line in 6min 45secs – wtf!!!! Last year I did a circa 6.15 on a slower course so to see a time on the board of 6:45 was a real shock!!! I’d followed one of my closest rivals down on a couple of practice runs and was always catching him and he did a 6:20 in seeding, so I was at a loss on why I was so slow.

Race day came and again things were very chilled out with no waiting whatsoever. Three practice runs and I was ready for the race. This time I went for it and pedalled like a mentalist off the line, however on hitting the first hip a gale force wind hit you in the face and slowed you down like a brake, in fact the whole new section along the top was a major slog against the wind.

As I was off to the mega the following day, I admit I took things steady, but pedalled where I could, eventually hitting the line in 6:44!! I just don’t know where things went wrong but I have never been so slow down that hill in all my life. One consolation though I was in one piece and only a 900 mile drive now seperated me from the Mega Avalanche – ha!

Ben and Steve up top

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

* Or the anti-climax it turned out to be.

In a nut shell, brilliant 2 days of qualifying, apart from a few trails in Whistler I’ve never laughed so much on my bike. The snow sections were just mental but when you got the technique sorted you could fly. Second day of riding and my forks gave up, together with 2 other riders with me, Mr Lanzi warned me about the Marzocchi 55’s and boy was he right, they’re crap!!!

Friday was qualifying day and with only 80mm of travel up front I was a bit worried about the technical rocky sections, but hey ho, I was on the front row and therefore I only had myself to blame if I didn’t make the Mega or Promo as I would have let ~80 riders overtake me.
The crap euro pop music started and I’d previously sussed that the tape rose on a certain beat of the music, so I was ready with the elbows out in front of the two riders either side of me. 5th around the first left hander I was lining up for the RH hairpin when someone T-boned me on the inside and down I went – D’oh! I got up quickley and started off again, but no gears – aaaaaaargh!!

Me and Scott

As I spinned away merilly I watched in horror as the field powered past me. I pulled over to give the gears a check over but couldn’t suss out the problem – arse! I more or less coasted through the rest of the upper track and got severely stuck behind really crap riders that p1ssed me off even more. About half way down the track whilst trying to overtake a rider on the outside I lowsided and after picking myself up decided to call it a day, but wait…….the gears were working again. With power now available I hit the trail with avengence and must have overtaken 30+ riders through the technical bits as their poor little hands and arms gave up the ghost from all the excessive braking they were doing!!

Unfortunately the resurgance wasn’t enough and I missed the Promo qualifying by 14 places – arse!!

Friday night the thunder and rain came and curled up in my warm bed I made the decision to sack off the sat leisure ride down the track. Following the cancellation of the race from the top I was happy with my decision as it’s just not the mega withiout the mass snow start.
Roll on 2009, I’ll be ready for it next time.

Scott and Tim

Tim’s Bit:
Megavalanche was set to be a whistle-stop tour for Anne and me. Our plan was to leave home after work on the Tuesday before the race, drive through the night via the channel tunnel and arrive in Alpe D’Huez ready for some practice on Wednesday morning. We’d have Wednesday and Thursday to practice the two tracks, Friday to qualify, Saturday to race and Sunday to get home for tea and medals – easy! We arrived in Alpe D’Huez on schedule at 8 O’clock on Wednesday morning feeling pretty fresh. So checked into our accommodation, got the bikes ready and set off up the hill to practice the qualifier….Sh1t a brick! I didn’t remember it being that rough at the top nor that narrow and rooty lower down.

For Friday I had agreed to ride the Mega course with Scott and Steve. I duly arrived at the bottom of the lift at 9 am and met Steve and his posse but there was no sign of Scott. In the end Steve’s group set off and I waited for Scott to finish some critical optimisation (you all know what I mean!). The two of us finally got to the top in brilliant sunshine and got our first view of the descent from Pic Blanc…Sh1t a brick! I didn’t remember there being that much snow last year. It seemed to extend all the way down to the start of the single track – far further then even last year’s record amounts. We slipped and slid our way down with a grin and a prayer – it was brilliant fun.

Snow turned to singletrack and the single track just kept on coming – awesome! We got down to Alpe D’Huez in good time and good spirits so allowed ourselves a break. This also gave Scott a chance to discuss fork tuning and spring rates with the man at the SRAM workshop. Soon after leaving town to complete the rest of the course, I lost Scott on a newly cut section of singletrack; he’d taken a wrong turn and we didn’t meet again until the bus in Allemont. The rest of the track was as I’d remembered it and I savoured the chance to ride it without the clock or 400 other riders getting in the way of a good time.

Thursday night/Friday morning was crap! I must have enjoyed the day before too much to remember to drink enough water. The altitude and good weather conspired to leave me dehydrated in the middle of the night and I got no sleep at all. I caught a quick nap as 9am approached and left myself just enough time to drag my groggy head to the start of my qualifying race. Unfortunately just enough wasn’t quite enough! I got out of the top cable car just as the dodgy French techno music announced the start of my race. I joined on at the back as everyone took off down the fire road and started my battle to finish no lower than 95th out of the 200 riders. I did well to begin with and used my downhill bike to take more direct, rougher lines from those being taken by the majority on trail bikes, which gained me many places. However, the one major climb on the qualifier let me know exactly how crap I felt and I was reduced to walking/jogging to the top. To my dismay things got worse from there. I was riding OK but my Hope M4s were hopeless, I was getting nothing from them on the steep switchbacks and developed arm pump like I haven’t known since I last went sport climbing. I passed from one to two finger braking and eventually just couldn’t hold on any more. I was forced to stop three times or risk a high-speed crash on the very steep terrain and was passed by rider after rider each time. I got to the bottom in bits and had a bad feeling about my position. Sure enough I had finished 98th, three places outside the cut off for the Promo race. Gutted! As a non-qualifier I would still be able to ride the Mega course on the Saturday and record a time, but I would do so after the two “proper” races had departed. This was not what I’d come for but you take what you can get.

I had another disturbed night of sleep but this time I wasn’t alone – a huge electrical storm with torrential rain passed over at about 4am. I don’t imagine many slept through it. I packed Anne off at 06:40 feeling a little less troubled by my non-qualification – the race going ahead was by no means a certainty. I actually felt a tiny pang of guilt thinking of my wife out there in the rain and wind but it didn’t last long as I went back to sleep! I headed up for the lift at half past seven so that I could start my time trial directly behind the Mega Promo but as I approached the lift station things seemed odd. Hundreds of riders were milling around and the lift was stopped. After an hour things got going again but no one was going to Pic Blanc, the weather had forced the organisers to start the race on the qualifier. I got to the top and met up with Scott who was still waiting to start the Mega Promo, indeed the girls hadn’t yet started and we were able to see Anne and Charlotte off.

With so few riders having braved the conditions (and been arsed with the lower start) the organisers invited us non-qualifiers to join the back of the Promo. This was a bit more like it and I was chuffed to at least participate in a massed-start race. More importantly, I could see Scott and John just a few rows in front…

Having got this far I was determined to enjoy the race and straight off the start I put my head down and went for it. The top section (on the qualifier track) was totally mad with so many riders fighting for position and a downhill bike was again the right thing to be on. Having joined the Mega track in Alpe D’Huez I was amazed at the difference my tubeless tyres seemed to make to the speed I could pedal along the winding traverse out of town. I overtook many riders and eventually saw Scott ahead of me. Game on! There followed a ding-dong battle all the way to Allemont – we passed one another three times. His last move was just before the bottom of the singletrack when I was lying on the ground swearing at the XC monkey who had panic braked on some roots and got me up his arse for his troubles. However, I wasn’t going to let this lie. I pedalled for all I was worth, stalked him along the final tarmac run to the finish and sprinted passed him yards from the line like a man possessed. I finished 148th in the Promo and after all the problems was chuffed. Are entries open for next year yet?

Anne’s Bit:
On our arrival in Alpe D’huez we grabbed some food, prepared the bikes and headed straight up to practise the qualifier. Rather than tackle the top section straight off, we warmed up on the lower section of the track from the middle station on the DMC lift. To start with the whole concept of riding in the dry was a bit alien after weeks of riding muddy UK courses. Then switchback after switchback became a test of ignoring the steep, bottomless drops that awaited you if you were to slide off on the still damp roots on the narrow off-camber track. It was all a bit much after a night of driving. We got down to Oz where the sprint cup was in full swing and made our way back to the top.

Looking back right to the top of the qualifier, a few switchbacks, across rock and a drop onto the snow; Snow on the qualifier! I got a taste of what was to come. The top of the qualifier was the real test as loose, gravely fire road led to rocky boulder fields and loose chutes where going too slowly was severely punished by going over the bars or wiping out. I was not a happy bunny! After a few technical rocky drops and chutes this led to a faster rocky section where line choice would be important and a few switchbacks before we were back onto the lower section. I rode this well and got back my mojo before we finished back down a couple of sections we had ridden earlier to Alpe D’huez.

Thursday, I rode with Sarah from flowmtb. She had organised a girly practice of the mega course and after the shock of yesterday’s qualifier I needed some girly solidarity for the snow that lay ahead. When we arrived at the top of Pic Blanc the looks on some our faces as first timers said it all. Oh my god, how much snow, how steep is the start! Sarah passed on her wisdom of snow descent tactics and after a shaky start and speedy bum descent of the second steep piste I had the knack and was even enjoying it. Just don’t try to stop.
The first sections of singletrack after the snow had a few tech sections and patches of snow. It was good to discuss lines and alternatives for possible passing before the long steady descent to Alpe D’huez. Wow, what awesome riding and I was buzzing when we got to town for a much-needed lunch.

Lunch was followed by the inevitable query of “how far have we gone”? Perhaps best not to ask. However, we finally made it down to Allemont with only one major off in the group and a really enjoyable day had by all.

We had great weather on the day of the qualifier and the girls were the last starters for qualifying. After a hesitant start at the top, I started to pick off some riders down the rocky, tech sections. My race brain was switched on and I cleaned the sections that I had been a little shaky on two days earlier. I loved it and arrived over the finish line with a huge grin and hugs from the boys who were waiting for us. Qualifier down, just the mega to go!

Race day started with a lonely walk up the road in Alpe D’huez in the pouring rain. I was glad to see some friendly faces from my previous days riding as we headed up but we didn’t get far before the lift stopped. Another thunderstorm. As we exited halfway up the DMC, it became obvious that we had another long walk to get the lift up to the qualifier. I didn’t waste any energy and certainly didn’t need to rush, as the next lift wasn’t running. After a cold, wet hour, the mega boys were finally on their way and we reluctantly followed, wet to the bone and feeling a bit sorry for ourselves.

We watched the Mega start and were quickly lined up and off. I couldn’t feel my hands. The feeling didn’t come back till I got to Alpe D’huez after a dismal top section on the qualifier and I was ready to quit. However, the crowds in Alpe d’huez cheered my spirits and I set off after the riders in front with renewed vigour. All was going fine, even the newly cut switchbacks that were soooo slippy didn’t stop me. As I set off across the long traverse out of Villard Reculas the first riders from the Mega Promo passed me. Soon, the impossibly slippy uphill sections were complicated by passing riders. I was glad to get to the switchbacks where my downhill bike kept me on the not so straight and narrow before diving back into the forest for the final descent into Allemont. As I turned the corner on the road, I looked back to check on the progress of a recently passed rider and pushed to the finish even managing a last gasp sprint to the line. It was like racing back at home with friendly faces to welcome you at the finish line. Count me in for next year!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Ben;
As one of the biggest races for me this year I was prepared and had been training hard over the coming months. After walking the track on Friday night I was happy with my lines and ready to ride.

From the start the track goes over a series of bus stops which wind down the hill side round some flat out corners where letting off the brakes all the way reminds you of why you ride downhill bikes. Over the first road crossing you go round a set of switchbacks and round a long sweeping rocky corner into a step up and another drop. Over the second fire road, off a fly off jump on the other side and another small double leads you down into the first woods section. Here there are berms and drops with roots to throw you off line. Further in there are stumps to avoid and more ruts to wind around the trees. Doing a few small doubles and it’s a short sprint beside the fire road to the crossing.

Back into more woods where there are some flat corners and some high off camber lines. Keeping high round a final tight left hander and you drop into the open fields where you have to keep inside around some fast and flat grassy corners. Off a drop and through the muddy ditch leads you round some more corners and over two doubles and finally down to the big bridge before you cross the finish line.

On Saturday it was seeding and I put in a good time of 3:22 and 19th place. On Sunday the track had dried out a lot but I kept to my morals and stuck with the cut down spikes instead of high rollers. This paid off and railing the final corners I put in a time of 3:16 which gave me 20th place in junior. A sound result for the national champs.

John;
This year the national chamionships were to be held at Rynd-y-felin. Having never ridden in Wales I was excited about the prospect.

The only thing that stood between me and the race was the 950 mile round trip. Setting off mid morning on the Friday all went well until a blow out on the motorway 2 hours short of getting to Bala. I arrived at the camping ground, which was down one of the Welsh countryside’s thin and winding roads, before 2000, over 8 hours on the road and I was still fresh with the excitement of getting to ride somewhere new.

I had heard that the track was one of the best tracks in the country, steep and technical in places. As I walked up the track I wondered where the steep and technical sections were, this track was not steep and technical like Aberfeldy, but it did look like a whole lot of fun.

Friday night was interesting….. the weather had closed in and the rain was falling, along with some strong winds. I was sleeping in the car, positioned nicely behind Phils (Ben’s dad) van, so I could hear the wind but felt nothing. Come the morning and the story of a Gazebo flying around the camping area taking out power lines came out.

Saturday practice and the drizzle came down most of the day, making cut spikes the only choice for the field at the bottom of the track. The track was as much fun to ride as it looked. This was not a track for the technical rider, but one for the balls out rider. As Saturday went on the track got faster and faster to ride. I just wanted to get to the top as quickly as possible to have some more fun on the way down. There was even a couple of small drops on the track, all dropping onto fire road width tracks, so you could go for them knowing that you were going to land on the track.

Seeding on the Saturday was a strange one for me, there was a section in the woods that was taped real wide where for some un-know reason I kept getting lost, heading down the steep bit of the hill and not up onto the race line. Another day with no crashes, I am kinda getting used to this now, must go faster!

Sunday practice and it stayed dry for most of the day with the occasional shower, and no more getting lost in the woods. As the day went on the track got smoother and faster. Race runs were going to be fun. During the initial senior race runs the air ambulance flew in to pick up a rider that had gone down heavy at the end of practice, rumour was that it was Rachel Atherton and she was in lots of pain with a suspected broken leg. Luckily only badly bruised, I hope she gets better quickly.

The race run was possibly my 2nd best run of the weekend, with only 1 big mistake, coming to a stop on a medium speed corner when I braked to late going into it and overshot the entrance. Apart from that the run was without any big incidence. As I crossed the line, I knew that with one big mistake and a couple of little ones costing me precious seconds that it was not going to be enough to place to well. 11th place in a good field was ok.

John

Alan

Friday, July 4, 2008

Lynda;
The last round of the Caersws Cup and rumour had it that they were using the super-steep National track, fingers crossed for good weather then.

The weekend started well enough, it was the steep track but with some changes at the top to make it a little easier. Rain for the previous few days meant a wet and slightly greasy start, especially on the off-camber sections of the top section. However this soon dried out and by the end of the day I was ready to change from a spike on the front to a high roller …I was THAT confident! Weather forecast said no rain, the farmer said no rain …and farmers are always right, right? Wrong…. I was woken in the night by a noise, was it the wind, nope, it was rain. Dozed …woke …rain …dozed ….woke …rain, it was not looking good. Anyway, come time to get up and while it was overcast, the rain had stopped.

No-one was in a rush to head up the track and we left it to the young and enthusiastic ones to get rid of the top layer of grease. They did a great job and by the time I came to practice it wasn’t running too badly.

The race kicked off on time and the first few riders down definitely got the best of the conditions. Then it rained ….and racing was held up because of injuries …and it continued to rain. I headed up and found some shelter in the boot of the timing car, it was most welcome but the time came for my race run …sooner than expected due to the number of people who had wisely decided not to bother.

The track was a river although appeared to have disappeared altogether through the off-camber sections. I was only ever going to take it steady as had no idea what to expect but still crashed on the first off-camber and took 30 seconds to get back to my bike …I know this because Emma was next down and she caught me just as I was getting back on. I then followed her until she crashed at the next corner, I overtook and we rode down together…how girly!

While many people decided not to do a second run, I wanted to try and improve on my rather embarrassing time. The sun was out, surely the track would be riding better ….wrong, again! It was a muddy slippy mess, 10 times more difficult to ride than when it was raining. I did manage 7 seconds quicker but it wasn’t pretty and involved 2 falls (just spent less time trying to get back on the bike) and much paddling with the feet in a bid to stay on.

Third in women overall ….and now it’s off to the Mega!!!

Tim’s Bit
Round 3 of the Caersws Cup was also the Midlands Downhill Championships and therefore offered double ranking points. A good finish would see me meet the requirements for next year’s NPS so the pressure was on to get a result. As befitted the final round of the Cup and a regional championship, Chris Roberts chose a track that would challenge all comers (just read Ralph Jones’ report on dirtmag.co.uk) and the weather (as usual!) only added more spice. The track was based around last year’s NPS course with a few new sections cut in to make it slightly easier?!? Well that was the idea.

The best way to describe the course to any Ticket2rideBC regulars would be to think of 19th Hole in Squamish but, with the rain added into the equation, it would be no exaggeration to liken it to a mini Champery World Cup – mostly steep, mostly off-camber and brick-hard to ride. We tried walking it but gave up near the top ‘cos it was impossible to stand up…

A quick pedal off the start and you were offered an enormous step-down that no one seemed to bother with before a left/right flick threw you onto the first rooty, off-camber traverse. This was followed by a steep chute, into a traverse, into a steep chute…and repeat. The last of these chutes ended with a square, off-camber right-hander where everyone and I mean everyone went off at least once. More off-camber roots followed, connected by steep switchbacks. Those who survived this far were rewarded with the track opening up a little. A series of doubles led to three more steep chutes, a big tabletop and another big step-down before you were launched into the bottom field to entertain the crowd. Big, moto-style slides were the order or the day.

The track was hard to ride in the dry – a constant battle to keep the high line, but early on Saturday it was still damp and practice was frustrating for everyone with the track constantly blocked by fallen riders. As practice went on and the track dried more and more, and it became truly awesome to ride. By afternoon I was feeling great. I was hitting most of the high, fast lines and started looking to cut masses of time by hitting the big step-down at the bottom of the course. However, with one eye on the weather, it looked like all of Saturday’s hard work would be for nothing except entertainment. The forecast was for heavy showers all Sunday.
It did rain heavily overnight however, having got away with it at round 2, there was some hope that we might escape the worst. I got two practice runs in before racing started but, whilst the weather stayed dry, the track had got a soaking overnight. It was far more slippery than Saturday and many of the quick lines were already off-limits to punters like me. Waiting at the start for my first race run (and just before seeing Anne off on her run) the heavens opened. Getting down became an issue of survival rather than line choice and speed! Once on track I just couldn’t get off the low, slow line and spent a short while lying in the mud. The track was literally turning into a river and it was all you could do to follow the stream. I made it down in three minutes dead, which in the circumstances was pretty good.

It stopped raining in time for the second run and there was much optimism that the track would dry. 20 metres from the start that optimism was shattered – what had been a very wet track was now a gooey mess and the combined efforts of the rain and everyone’s first race run had blown the crap out off every berm and catch on the track. I slipped and fell my way to near the bottom before getting high-sided by a rut and flying down the steep hillside. As I tried to work out where I’d landed a large red object flew over my head…My Demo landed another 10 metres down the hill. By the time I’d climbed back to the track and finished my run the clock was fast approaching five minutes. Only very few of the best riders got near their first run times.

Despite the weather on Sunday it was hard not to have enjoyed the weekend. The track was brilliant in the dry and the racing was entertaining if a bit soggy. Most importantly, my 23rd place in Masters gave me more than enough points for next years NPS and National Champs if I feel that way inclined. There’s lots to work on in BC this August if I want to make that a reality, but what better place to get faster? Bring on Schleyer and Goat’s Gully!

Anne’s Bit
What can I say, what an experience, the best and worst of racing all wrapped into one weekend. First sight of the course scared me to death, it was pretty damp from rain during the week and so, so steep.

My first practice run was a complete disaster as I had a real sense of humour failure and really didn’t want to go up again. I couldn’t see how I was possibly going to ride the course. However, practice run 2 was a little more successful with only a small fall on one of the switchbacks in front of Tim! By the afternoon I pretty much had it nailed, apart from the infamous off-camber right hander and a section shortly afterwards, which I hadn’t been able to have a run at all day because of fallen riders. Even I was getting a bit frustrated. Considering how I had felt at the beginning of the day, I was well up for it come the end of practice. The thought of it raining overnight was the only thing putting a dampener on my enthusiasm.
Morning came and the wind was getting up, the only hope was that this would dry the damp track. Just time for two practice runs; I managed to leave the track on my favourite bend second time down and discovered how long it takes to get back up. Otherwise everything was OK and hitting a good line on the last switchback before the track opened out was giving me more confidence.

There were a couple of showers late morning but when I went up for my first race run it was OK. It didn’t last for long however and light rain turned to heavy rain by the time I was ready to start. I was drenched as I sat on the start ramp. On the first off-camber section, more and more roots had been exposed and whilst trying to hold the high line I had ridden previously, I was off and desperately trying to pick the bike up whilst arguing with a tree (I think this was the scene of many a fall during the day). Ending up on the low line without any speed, I again fought with a tree to get down the steep chutes. The off-camber and switchbacks went really well and I was clean all the way through and was just around the last really loose bend before descending down to the doubles.

I’m sure somebody shouted “Well Done Rider” but a second later I was down, heading towards the bank headfirst; I must have just lost my back wheel. I crashed hard and the next thing I remember was being a long way down the slope with my bike high above. It was so steep and wet I couldn’t get back up and the Senior Men were now on track. I eventually got back to the bike and slid to the bottom of the steep slope to get back on. The rest of the track was a blur; it was so slippery that I didn’t brake much and I was soon out on the field. The time was not what I’d hoped!! But everyone suffered with the conditions and few if any of the girls stayed on all the way.

I couldn’t make it up for another run (I was too beaten up, wet and muddy) but was glad I didn’t as most of the girls withdrew from the second run after so many falls. Finishing was the main thing, I was second in Masters, and in the overall series. Even better, I was 3rd overall woman in the Midlands Champs and 1st Master. Yeah, my first podium!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Tim’s Bit

I’d never raced at Rheola before but I was well aware of its fearsome reputation – anyone who’s seen Earthed 3 or heard of “Star Wars” and Peaty’s busted ankle from last year’s Nationals would know what to expect. When I saw it on the calendar, scheduled for the weekend of the summer solstice, I was chuffed. Maybe; just maybe it would be dry. How naive was that!

Anne and I had had a crafty look at the track the week before the race whilst out for an XC ride. The sun shone that day and the track was mint: fast and loose with little or no mud. My heart sank during the next seven days as the forecast got worse and worse. When we set off for South Wales both bikes were on Minions, but the Swampthings and Wet Screams were in the car…

The course is a classic and changes little each year so I won’t bore you with a detailed description. Suffice to say it’s long, steep, rough, fast, rooty and gnarly. The infamous Star Wars had received a minor makeover but this did little to smooth the passage for any mortal. We arrived on Saturday morning and immediately switched both bikes to Wet Screams. It was pissing down and the Extreme Medics were busy from the start picking up the pieces after many, many big crashes. It’s not hard to guess where they were busiest – the Force was weak in many!

For me, practice went OK. I wasn’t quick, but I was rubber-side-down all the way for three runs. With the number of people crashing, a clean run seemed like a good place to start for seeding. However, seeding did not go quite to plan. I went over the bars in…Star Wars and lost 10 to 15 seconds floundering in the mud before sketching my way to the finish with my gloves and grips covered in crud. As I filled my mum’s washing machine with muddy gear and washed the bikes that night, it took a big effort to remember why this is fun, but that’s a stupid question isn’t it?

Sunday replaced the rain with strong winds and the track began to dry out very slowly. The fast riders quickly started to switch from mud tyres to High Rollers but I didn’t have their confidence. I put in two solid practice runs and again made it all the way down without too much drama. I went up for my first race run still riding Wet Screams and had a crap, sketchy run – only 5 seconds faster than seeding. I’d run out of ideas for finding speed and, with half an eye on next weekend’s Midlands Championship and another half on my first run time (more than 10 seconds up on the next rider) I happily agreed with Anne when she suggested calling it a day whilst we were both still intact. I finished the first run 28th and stayed there. A frustrating result, but an amazing experience on one of the few British tracks that could hold its own in the World Cup. Anyone got a spare chairlift…

Anne’s Bit
My new Commencal Downhill Supreme arrived in the week before Rheola, whilst I was nursing a badly bruised thumb sustained whilst having a sneaky look at the track the week before. It was painful enough riding it up and down the street let alone contemplating going to Rheola, one of the hardest tracks I’ve ridden in the UK. However, come Saturday the Supreme was a revelation. Immediately, on my first practice run the difference was amazing: so much more stability and I was immediately able to pick up the pace.

Going into the trees the chutes were rutting badly with the wet weather and staying on the pedals became my main concern. Nevertheless, my practice runs were fairly uneventful and I cleared through Star Wars each time with the more conservative line down the middle and over the tree roots on the left. Not the quickest but the safest for me. After sorting out a couple of lines in the lower section, my last practice was really solid. Just seeding to go!

Not far into seeding in the fast corners at the top of the track, I nearly high sided myself and bent that sore thumb a bit more just to help me down. As I entered the section above Star Wars I heard a shout from behind… this was one of the Expert Men on the track behind me going somewhat faster than me. I pulled over and when I finally got to Star Wars I fell right at the bottom into the wet ditch to the left of the timber. Scrabbling to pick myself and the bike up from the mud, time was ticking away and I eventually got back on for the last section. I was down in one piece with my hand requiring yet another ice pack!

Most of our clothes went under the hosepipe that night before going into the wash and Sunday was that horrible experience of putting on wet leg guards. Just holding on was becoming increasingly difficult and I wasn’t convinced about Sunday but the other girls gee’d me up and I got ready for a practice. They both returned via the Extreme Medics, with one off to hospital…I was feeling better already!!! Not. The top was really sketchy but I was down ready for my race run. The wind was getting up and it was now a cold wait at the start.

First race run and the top was still really sketchy with some big boulders having been dragged into the track by earlier riders. I had a foot down moment as I went through the first trees before the fire road and then again through the next set…not good, but I was still going. I stupidly managed to wash out just before going into Star Wars and again the really sticky mud makes it difficult to get up quickly. However, I was determined to stay on the bike and get down finishing third in Masters. My hand couldn’t take another run and neither could my head so I called it a day whilst in one piece and with only bruises to show for my weekend. I don’t think I would have made it off the hill in one piece without my new ride – I owe Max a beer!

Thanks to Mike at downhill4bikers for the photo.