Well, I survived but true to form I lobbed the bike on the second stage...
Got there at about half nine and had to park almost by the roundabout as it was so full. Got togged up and it started to drizzle a little. Met up with a few others, mostly on e-bikes, and pushed the ones without a motor up the hill. Did the second stage first as it was at the top, not realising that it was also the black run...
Set off down it without any drama but a few of the drop offs were (to me) quite knarly and high. Due to the sleet and mud, my MX goggles were not performing so half way down had to stop and take them off as I couldn't see where I was going, then I got mud in my eye so did half the run with one eye closed... I then did the e-bike stage (easy really, just uphill single track stuff), and the second stage. We stopped half way down and another e-bike came past us, pretty rapidly to boot - he was shredding the corners and was fast. Gulp. The competition had obviously upped it's game this year...
By now it was lunchtime and the race was due to start at 1pm. Into the cafe and after purchasing some clear glasses, a burger, hot chocolate, nachos and chocolate cake ensured that I was fully race fit and mentally prepared...not. Last time I had been on the bike was 3 months ago at the beginning of the year (work commitments precluded any time on it). I just wasn't feeling it, maybe the film (Logan) at midnight beforehand didn't mix with the early start...Anyway, it was now start of the race and sleeting...deep joy. I could just go to sleep in the warm cafe, especially as the e-bike category was the last one and we were due to line up at stage 1 at 15:45.
Of we set at half past, sleet now stopped but it made the course very gloopy. Did the first stage and I believe I was in 5th place out of a respectable 19 that were racing - I had caught the rider in front but red mist got the better of me again and I started messing corners up by diving in too fast and running wide into the scrub instead of staying on the (faster) track. The second stage was next, and I set off well, getting through the tricky stuff without too much hassle but as I came out of the forest and onto the very muddy section I was carrying far, far too much speed (for my ability anyway) and you know when you're beyond that point of no return and it all starts going Pete Tong...I was there and it was only a matter of time before it all turned to snot. One foot had come off, another drop off later and both feet were off, sat on the saddle being a victim of circumstance, the next dip nose dived me over the bars and I slid gracefully face first down the track. Everything was now covered in sticky mud, and after picking myself and the bike back up, I carried on - only to fall off immediately after getting back on...oh the shame of it. The wind was now knocked out of my sails though as I rolled everything to the finish line, what didn't help was the mud - my hands just kept slipping off the handlebars and I couldn't grip the bike properly. I cleaned up in a stream and with now clean but wet hands, I set off for the third stage. I had not practiced this section but others had said that it was arm pump city. The rider in front set off, the beeps indicated my turn and off I set. Nice single track all the way down, and again I caught the rider in front - he pulled over to let me past, but at the end saw that he only had about 120mm of suspension...the benefits of 180mm travel came into its own on that stage with just letting the brakes off and rolling it.
Back at the car, tired, elated and very, very muddy....
Next one is end of April it FoD, I recommend everyone have a go at a round at least once, they really are good fun. See you all at the start line for that one then...
Some photos below, note my "oh **, lift you bu88er.." face as I heave on the handlebars...that was the time in practice where I land on the up of the next jump, and feeling like I snapped the bike in half...video to follow shortly.
Bike performed flawlessly and stood up to the abuse again. Can't fault my Haibike and really enjoying throwing it about. In the end, I finished 11th as the crash on the second stage cost me, plus the up hill section drained me and my legs were like lead half way up, despite being on turbo mode...2 x batteries used throughout the day, each were down to one bar.
