All the gear and wanting an idea...

So I now have no excuses not to be closer to the pace of the other ladies...

I've got a great bike, I'm gaining experience... Just need to work on technique and speed

On my Super 8, I got into a lot of bad habits, partly due to the type of bike he was and the fit of him.. So before I continue with these bad habits on the Jedi I've booked myself in for some coaching.

I choose Katy Curd, over other recommended coaches for a few reasons.  I've done events and raced against Katy so she knows me, she's got some idea of my attitude, strengths and weaknesses.  Katy also seems to like a challenge, of which I know I will be.  Her racing credentials speak for themselves, so she must be doing something right and most importantly to me I respect her as a rider.

So I thought I'd write this blog prior to my coaching as I'm getting a little bit nervous so hopefully it will calm me down and also I can see how the day matches my expectations.

So what do I hope to achieve....

My totally over the top wish would to be able to hit one of the drops on GBU but I don't think this is realistic! Katy's got 3 hours not 3 years. 

What I'd love is to boost my confidence, and get my speed up. 

I'm very slowly catching up with the other ladies at the FOD races, but lack of confidence in my ability means I'm still off the pace and I think I'm letting myself down now.

A day of looking at what I'm doing wrong I know is going to be emotionally hard, no-one likes criticism but I'm never going to improve if I don't critique my technique.

The more I'm writing this the more nervous about friday I'm getting, a 1-1 session means there is no-one to hide behind and I don't like being in the spotlight.  What if even after 3 hours coaching I'm still just as slow... What if I can't ride down the stuff Katy wants to coach me on... What if I fall off and hurt myself, I've got to drive the 2 hours home as Darrels in work. What if I really shouldn't have brought a DH bike and stuck to MTB marathons...what if after 3 hours I simply don't improve...

OK I'm really panicking now.  Maybe that glass of wine wasn't a good idea.  But honestly, I watched some videos and read a couple of blogs on Hopton DH race and I'm panicking about that as well and that's 6 weeks away not 36 hours.

So, might as well drink another glass of wine and stop being so silly... I just hope Katy knows what she's let herself in for...

In a forestry far far away.......

So having wanted this weekend to come quickly (which it didn't, the prior week just had to drag its feet like a reluctant child), when it actually came I had changed my mind. 

In the week I'd made a very rash decision to buy a British Cycling Racing Licence, to go with my new bike and not so reluctant attitude to DH.  OK so in theory, it's a bit of paper with my picture on stuck between to sheets of plastic!  Wrong, it means I just got serious, I'll (hopefully) be collecting points, and if  I ever get my skills up, I'll be able to race in the British Downhill Series. 

The new bike also to me meant I'd be expected to go faster. 

The course had been released as Corkscrew, which to me is one of the least technical tracks, it's not tight or twisty and the bottom has limited lines, it's just rough and rooty. I also thought it was the best track for my first race on the Jedi, I wasn't used to him and being unsure of how he handles a point and go track was in my favour. 

So I was up the top of Corkscrew on my lovely shiney new (to me) Canfield Brothers Jedi, ready to roll down for the first time.  And it went fine on the top section, I was feeling comfortable on the bike, and even starting to lay of the brakes a bit.  So after a few runs down to the road getting my lines sorted , we decided to go for lunch, as the bottom half of the track was still busy I opted to roll down another DH track which I enjoyed and relaxed on the bike a bit more.  

We had a relaxed lunch break and as riders started to thin out, we made our way back up to practice the lower rougher section.  Pushing all the way to the top to warm up our muscles, as I rolled down I was just filled with dread at the thought of the rooty lower half, I really don't know why, I can ride it all.  As I started the root steps down to the forestry road I unbalanced on my bike as my muscles tensed.  As I crossed the road I slammed on the brakes... I just couldn't do the roll into the lower section.  No reason, other than my own stupidity... 

I pulled over off the track and sat with the other riders watching them filter off to the lower section.  One of the best things about DH is people help each other, no-one laughed or criticized my stupidity, and Ami and Rachael even offered to ride with me sandwiched in the middle to help me down.  Forest of Dean guru Ieuan (4 seconds behind Danny Hart) Williams offered to lead me down, even offering to go slowly.  I had a hissy fit at my own idiocy, the numbers dwindled and I calmed.  Ieuan got ready to start and knowing I'd have a clean track in front of me I nipped in behind him with Darrel on my heels.. I honestly don't know what I panicked about, the Jedi was brilliant, absorbing all the bumps and despite my tense and bad riding didn't send me unceremoniously sprawling across the mud.  After getting to the bottom, I actually wanted to ride it again, this time not so tense, so I pushed up and rolled down, working on looking up, not at roots, and getting used to how the Jedi acts on the rough.  After a few runs I was even getting my lines naturally.  As it was now 4pm, and I did need energy for the race tomorrow we decided to head home.  

Nick Morris (AKA twiglet) posing in the car park

Sunday 5:30am came way too soon, and despite a good nights sleep, I woke up with a massive feeling of dread.  I loaded the dishwasher with last nights dishes and even made Darrel a mug of real coffee (grinding beans etc..) to try and find some solace in mundane tasks.  It wasn't working, I felt sick and just full of impending doom.  All the kit was loaded in the van so it was just a case of picking up the items like my knee pads and SPD shoes that I had worn home last night.  I put my knee pads on to make sure I didn't forget them and my SPD were next to my trainers by the door.  As we drove down the road, the horrible feeling that something was going to go wrong got worse.  We approached Crickhowell (approx 1/2 way) it clicked.  I'd not put my SPD shoes in the van, we pulled into a lay-by and a check revealed me to be correct. It was too late and too far to go back home, I was going to have to ride flats, which I've never done, like ever.  I took up MTB'ing on SPD's, and being clipped in is 2nd nature to me and stops me doing stupid things. Oddly I relaxed, that feeling of impending doom melted away, I was annoyed at my stupidity, but all I could think is I knew something was going to go wrong and forgetting my shoes was not as bad as slamming into a tree flatout :-) 

Jed, number board on and ready to race

As we waited for the bike shop to open, Darrel decided, if they had a pair of nice SPD's in my size he'd get them for me, and take the cleats out of his.  So after my normal 2 visits to the ladies, I was walking alongside Darrel, who kindly pushed Jed, up the hill to the start in a nice new pair of 661 SPD shoes, to go with my new bike.  I wasn't expecting my first run down to go well, normally it doesn't so as I rolled down the top section to warm up I was please to hit my lines and feel relaxed.  After a couple of runs on the top half, I was feeling happy so with a cheer to Simon the road crossing marshal I darted into the lower section, feeling confident on the Jedi as he gripped to the churned up mud.  As I went down I failed to notice that one of the roots had hollowed out the other side more, as I popped over it, the bike washed out to the side, rather than recover I let the bike slip off the track, so I could have a look at where I'd gone wrong and let 2 faster riders have a clear run.  It was a simple fix, I'd normally dropped to the left to land on the flatter part of the track, but this had worn and now the root needed to be taken more to the right.  Happy and confident that Jed and I could do this I continued down, getting my lines and feeling happy.  I was made even more chuffed when a random guy came over and said I was looking a lot more relaxed on the new bike today, and starting to let it do it's job... With a massive grin on my face I pushed Jed up to the start.  

Now, I'm not going to say I'm not nervous, but I'm not going to bore you with it either.  Starting a DH race will never be easy, I'm sure even the pros would agree this.  But it's a fact of life that you got to start to race to race.  So once again I was on a start mound waiting for the beeps to drop.  Then I was off, I stuffed up my start, changing down a gear instead of up, annoyed with myself I looked ahead to find my line to the right onto the table top, letting the bike go in the air this was quickly followed by root, corner, brake, jump, braking bumps, root corner jump it all seemed to speed by, I cheered to Darrel and Simon as I over braked off the forestry road, still no 100% trusting Jed, as I hit the roots, concentrating on the one I needed to stick left on, as I dropped over it the bike stayed on track, hitting my lines over the other roots and over the corner, I could hear the commentator calling my name as I was on the short home straight.  Pedalling across the finish line, my heart was thumping so loudly I didn't catch my time.  I was just happy, the bike was amazing and I was down in 1 piece.  Nick came over to ask me what time I'd wanted to beat, 1:50 had been my previous, Nick informed me I'd done a 1:46, on such a short track 4 seconds was great, new bike, less grippy track it's hadn't been in my favour to beat last years time. Darrel came down with some food and we sat relaxing watching the guys come down.  

Me and Jed on our first ever race run together

Relaxing in between race runs

1:30pm and I was back at the top, yet again waiting for the beeps.  I'd put in a great first run, so no pressure on this run as I heard the start I was off, this time I know I was faster on the top section, everything felt smooth and comfortable as I headed down the track, I over braked on the large root drop I needed to keep left over and off balanced myself, as I headed down I missed a marker, and instead of going on the line I'd been practising I found myself on a middle line into the largest of root drops, I didn't mean too, however I must of cursed myself out loud 'S*$t I'm on the wrong line' in reply I hear a guy yell back 'don't worry just keep going your doing fine' so I did, dropping off the roots I pedalled to try and make up the lost time, hitting my line and letting the bike head down I knew I was going slowly and let off the brakes, making the turn onto the now very slippy finish straight pedalling again as I crossed the line, I was so happy.  1 second off my first race run time, it doesn't sound much but to me it was.  

It's no all about the racing :)

We stayed to watch the rest of the race and enjoy the atmosphere. 

So my review of the weekend and why I got so stupidly nervous.  

A) New Bike, I'd only really had 1 proper days riding on him and that was with the too soft forks.  I didn't know how he behaved on different terrain and with the new spring in the forks he again acted totally differently. I didn't know where the bikes strengths are, or weaknesses.  Also Granddad has been part of my identity, know one was ever going to take me seriously on a 15 year old bike.. Now I'm on a bike that says I mean business... 

B) Putting pressure on myself.  I now had a really good new bike and a racing licence, so I should be fast and competitive 

What I've learned is: 

The Jedi is an amazing bike that I'm going to have a great time on, it's way more competent that I gave it credit for and I love it.  

Having a racing licence means nothing, other than I have a number after my name on entries and might gain some points.

Racing DH is one of the best sports ever, and I really love it.

So my exciting life doesn't stop here, I've got 4 days to recover then the bit I'm really scared about.  I've got a training session on Friday with World 4x Protour Champion, DH rider and Haribo lover Katy Curd.     

Massive thanks to Loeka for my lovely kit, Fix Distribution for supporting me and getting me and Jed together.  Everyone at Naked Racing for putting on such an excellent event and to all the riders and spectators who made the weekend so great.  Special thanks to Darrel for not racing to support me on my new bike and for buying me some lovely new SPD's

Grateful thanks to Mark @ Photo-bike.com for supplying me with these images from Sunday. Gotta love my facial expression on the bottom one :)  

Image supplied by photo-bike.com

Image supplied by photo-bike.com

Image supplied by photo-bike.com

Image supplied by Scott Kendall

Trying to feel the force....

So, after the excitement of buying a new bike Wales was hit buy some of the worst weather in years. 

Torrential Rain and High Winds meant I wasn't able to get out for a sneeky mid week ride on the new bike other than a ride up to my parents farm and back, which is uphill all the way.  So it was another long weeks wait until I could properly try this bike out on the trails at Forest of Dean (FOD). 

Valentines days was a romantic afternoon listening to Darrel cursing as he swapped my Muddy Marys over on to the Jedi.  I have a fair bit of confidence in these tyres and they would act as a control to see how the bike handled. 

Sunday came and for the first time in ages the sun was shining, as I very excitedly arrived at FOD, Darrel had to put up with me clicking at him as I was eager to get up on the trails and see what this bike could do.  

First thing I have noticed about the Jedi is it's easier to push uphill than my old DH bike, it just rolls way better.  This is a massive positive as most of our DH days are push ups. 

First runs of the day were down the top section of Corkscrew, this is a nice trail with a couple of jumps and some rooty drops.  Yet again, my first 2 runs the bike felt so strange, I over braked and was pulling it to the side on the jumps, I was doing the equivalent to driving a new car and stalling it at each junction. 

As I settled on it I then started to notice the speed, the fact the brakes worked (1 finger braking is a whole new world for me) and that I could move around on the bike.  Once settled I wanted to try Ski run, the track I normally avoid.  Darrel decided to follow me as I rolled off the forestry road and headed down.  I really didn't know how the bike would act on the rooty & rocky drops of this track, which had cut up a lot more than when I last rode it.  Going slowly to make sure I could judge what the bike was doing I rolled down.  It was so uneventful, no that's the wrong way to describe it, I'm not sure how to... 

Basically, I was in control... no bike trying to run away with me, no being forced into taking a line I didn't want to, where I pointed the bike it went.  But the biggest difference (other than lack of noise, lack of me screaming and lack of brakes) was I could move around.  I could put weight over the front wheel and over the back where needed.  This bike also loves the rough stuff, it's nimble and just seems to love roots... 

After lunch, James seemed rather keen to take me down one of the unmarked trails, it's a techy little number, not as well marked as the others.  I didn't settle well on this track, still not 100% sure of the bikes reactions, I had a stupid moment on a root step, after which you have to take a sharp left on roots.  I rolled over it and panicked a little as the bike came down, using a bit to much front brake the bike noised dived through all it's travel.  I rolled back up but this time couldn't see how to do the turn and on the advice of everyone (unanimous decision) left this bit be.  Both James and Darrel felt my forks not being set up for me hadn't helped, and to try once I'd got the right spring in them.  I personally feel I just need to get used to a bike that's more capable than I currently give it credit for.  

By now I was tired, but determined to finish on a high, I suggested a push up and come down the lower 1/2 of Sheep Skull, the track was still very fresh in my mind from the last race, and I wanted to compare how Jed responded to the track.  I started of cautiously, normally Granddad tries to ping me off into the woods on the drop down off the road, Jed however held the line like a tightrope walker.  I over braked as I approached the first roots,  again expecting to be thrown around, again Jed just rolled over them smooth as chocolate.  I was now loving it as I pedalled on to make up for my over caution.  The little rooty bits down here just disappeared, and as I got further into the track I was getting more confidence in the bike, even the flat pedally part in the middle was fun as the bike responded to me, the berms however were the scary highlight, I entered the first berm and before I knew it had run out of corner, not quite knowing how or when I made the switch to the 2nd berm I was hitting the jump into the 3rd corner.  It had all happened too fast for me, as I turned down the rough straight (ish) heading out of the woods, the bike was flying, I was smiling and wondering why I'd not had this bad boy for the race 3 weeks ago.  I know I was faster, and I wasn't even racing.... 

So next weekend it going to be a baptism of fire, as it's the 3rd round of the Mini DH. 

I'm hoping my spring arrives as I really do need to firm the forks up.  And I'm hoping for Cork Screw, firstly as it's a track I know and have raced on, secondly I think Jed will love it.. 

So for a 3rd week in a Row, I'm waiting for the weekend.... 

    

OMG I brought a DH bike

Big News at Reluctant DH HQ.... 

My much beloved Super 8, which started me down the scary road of riding DH, is 15 this year. This bike has a massive history with me and my husband Darrel but although the frame is still solid everything else is showing a lot of wear and he needs repair after every DH race.  

It's time for Granddad to put his wheels up and retire! 

I'm going to be really sad to do this, I've learnt so much on this bike, we've been through a lot together.  So it was always going to take something special to tempt me away from him... and that's what's happened. 

It all started last Monday, when my lovely sponsors Fix Distribution posted an advert for a small DH bike on their facebook feed.  I'd looked and shared it, not giving much thought.  I knew the Canfield brand but had never looked into their bikes as over my price range.  Dave however sent me an e-mail saying he felt the bike would be ideal for me, I looked into it a bit more, still on the presumption that like a lot of small DH bikes it would still be a bit on the large side.  That night Darrel got the tape measure out and compared sizing to my Yeti and other bikes... the Canfield was tiny.. I did the normal watched You Tube videos, read reviews, even asked the gurus on Pink Bike what they though and all i got back was positive comments. 

I spoke to Katie the owner of the bike loads on face book, she happily answered my questions and agreed to meet us 1/2 way between our homes at Cannock DH tracks

So after a very long week, waiting for the weekend to come.  Sunday arrived. 

My plan had been to ride down the tracks on Granddad and see how he responded then try the Jedi, however after sitting on the bike in the carpark, it felt such a perfect fit I was too keen to try him.  

The first run down the red track was slow, the track had some steps that until you got close it was hard to tell if they were rollable or not.  

2nd Run I really noticed the bike.  Fit wise it was perfect but how it moved was unusual, not in a bad way but in a what the hell just happened way.  I noticed that the forks were a little soft making pumping the bike harder, and tyres didn't like the odd sandy tracks. 

At the bottom Dave played with the suspension for me, setting it up as best we could track side to match me.  

3rd Run, I was sold.  The difference in this bike to Granddad is amazing.  Granddad responds best to me either going with him or man handling him.  My 3rd run I committed to one of the small steps, pumped the bike and it flew, I landed totally noise heavy but rather than fly OTB I was able to move my weight back and felt the bike spread under me and keep forward momentum. Unlike Granddad, the more I worked the bike the more it rewarded me, pumping it into jumps it would ping happily into the air, off the steps it simply floated.  

So I now have a new DH bike, one with brakes that work and that fits me. 

I am going to be sad not to be riding Granddad, but would like to introduce you all to: 

Jed - My new steed 

Since he's arrived home we've changed the bars, 780mm were way to wide for me and Monday I suffered from sore shoulders.  So he has some nice carbon bars up front, and hopefully soon a new spring in the forks. Will be fitting my faithful Muddy Marys on him before heading to FOD on sunday for a play on familur ground. 

Would like to say a massive thanks to Dave from Fix Distribution for e-mailing me about the bike.