This is getting to be an all to familiar scenario, the reason for this weeks blog was the opening round of the Pearce Cycles DH series at Hopton. I'd only entered the 1 race as these races are a level up from the races I'd previously done and I didn't know how I'd cope.
Early signs were that I wasn't going to cope very well, the weekend before the race I found the nerves gripping as I took my bike for some brake pads at the excellent Plush Hill Cycles in Church Stretton. While chatting to Kate about the impending race, I could feel my stomach tighten. As the week progressed my sleep got more sporadic and after a nightmare week in work I felt far from prepared for the weekend ahead.
Friday morning saw me resort to 'comfort cooking' some people comfort eat, I comfort cook, which wasn't too bad as I had Lindsay and James camping at ours for the weekend and also bribed my parents into looking after my horse with a home made Lasagne.
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| Lasagne for all!!!! |
Friday evening guests had arrived and we headed to Hopton for a track walk. My first reactions were ARRRR at a small diversion at the bottom, but other than that I was pretty happy. My biggest fear was fitness, this track is a lot longer than any of the Forest of Dean mini DH tracks, not only did I have to do 2 race runs but also be fit enough to practice.
Saturday arrived with a cloudy sky and cold wind but dry, as we pulled up to the race HQ. Meeting up with our normal DH crew of Morris, Hannah and Hannah (yep 2 Hannah's) I signed on, and walked up the hill with Lindsay to check out the diversion bit, watching a couple of riders negotiate it somewhat uncomfortably. It was time to get on my bike for my first run down. Darrel agreed to ride down with me as we waited for a gap in the uplifts to give me as clear run as possible, this never happened Pearce uplift service is very efficient and I just had to go for it. Warning the guys behind to give me space I was on track. I missed all my lines, took some I'd never noticed, swore a lot and stopped where I could to let faster riders passed. Darrel waited for me before the diversion bit to lead me down it, and I was off. Now normally I'm really bad at new bits, I tend to slam on the brakes and have to build confidence up to ride them (this normally involves watching loads of people ride the section and several attempts to get the courage to go down it) however I trusted my ability and I went for it, as the bike lurched over the braking bumps I survived and headed down the lower part of the track over the jumps feeling strangely happy to have cleared the track on my first attempt. The rest of the day saw me slowly take runs down trying to get the confidence to go faster, but being unsettled by the massively faster riders who repeatedly got stuck behind me (all were really nice and thanked me for letting them pass), I was looking forward to my race runs and having the track to myself.
As the day came to an end I decided to try an alternative line down the track, maybe trying a new line on tired legs wasn't the best of ideas, it resulted in me coming off so determined to end on a positive note as soon as clear I pushed up and rode my original line again, coming down cleanly and with a hint of confidence. I'd survived practice now I just needed to survive 2 race runs.
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| Practice run |
After a horrible nights sleep, not helped by some neighbours having a fight at 3:30am on the street outside our home, I woke up with a headache and feeling sore. I told Darrel to go off and practice without me, I was happy to play on the higher sections of the track rather than push my fitness and do a whole practice run, I knew the track and just wanted it to myself. After 2 runs down the top section, I got red flagged on my 3rd run (where I'd intended to go further down) rather than waiting and wondering what ill fate had hit some-one I skipped onto one of the other DH tracks, rolling down happily without the worry of some-one flying up behind me. I then pushed back up and waited for my race run, actually wanting my race run. As the ladies were in the middle of the pack I had plenty of time to watch the other riders negotiate the top rooty section, as my start time drew nearer friends and Darrel arrived up the top and it was time to get ready. Due to my race nerves, and concern about being caught on track the starting team had kindly allowed me to start at the back of the masters men, therefore giving me a 2 minute gap before the ladies categories started. So after cheering Darrel off, I was putting my helmet on and pushing onto the start for my first race run, as the beeps dropped I heard the starter call Lindsay up, 2 minutes was not a big enough gap with Lindsay on my heels, inside I screamed as the lights went green and I was off. As I headed down the track I struggled not to look at the now polished roots on the top section, using the marshal's as a diversion I happily said hi as I rolled passed, stuffing up my lines as I pasted the speed trap, a little shocked to see a guy standing in the trees, I headed down to Simon (My familiar and friendly marshal of GAS racing fame) yelling a welcome to Simon as I headed down the track, I heard people cheering me, I got lost a bit missing my line but I just kept going on as I got to the rock step, I yipee'd as I let the bike go over the edge, into a tight section, being amazed at how nimble the Jedi is for a DH bike, now relaxed I was starting to have fun, after the forestry road crossing I headed for the jumps, though not confident to let the bike into the air I struggled to keep the Jedi on the ground having to kill speed and getting annoyed with myself over it. The braking bumps in this section had grown massively since yesterday and my now tired legs were on fire. As I came to the off piste section I hit all my lines and knew I was home at last happy to let go of the brakes as I took the two table tops at the bottom of the track letting Jed take to the air I crossed the finish line, my time was painfully slow 5:05 but I had loved every minute of it and Lindsay hadn't caught me as I cheered her and the other girls over the finish.
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| Image supplied by photo-bike.com |
There was a 2 hour gap before the next race run, this wasn't enough time for my legs to recover and I was concerned over whether I could manage another run, but I was 5 seconds off a 5 minute run and really wanted to knock those seconds off. So back up the top and again behind the guys I was looking forward to trying harder. My second run was more focused, I concentrated on where I'd missed my lines and cheered and whooped my way down encouraging my exhausted body to push harder, as I passed the rock step I could feel my legs trembling, my thighs were on fire and I knew I was carrying weight on my arms to try and support my legs. As I crossed the forestry I worried if I had enough in me to carry on, pushing deeper for any energy left in the tank, I was more and more relying on the bikes suspension to get me down, as I came to the now deep braking bumps I gave everything to hold my weight off the front, feeling the bike pitch as I re-joined the original track for a fleeting fraction of a second I thought I was heading over the bars, but the bike did it's job and in seeing the finish line I dug even deeper and stamped on the pedals to cross the finish, to hear the commentator say I'd made my goal, OK not as fast as the other girls but a 5minute run on a long track for me was great, I collapsed on the grass, exhausted, weak and ecstatic.
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| Image supplied by photo-bike.com |
The other girls came down, Ami having an unfortunate off on her final run still manage to hold onto her 3rd place.
In all my first foray into a bigger more demanding race was an experience I'll never forget, I loved my final race run and if I'd been fitter I know I could have taken more time off. I was miles more relaxed and was able to bring the focus and wanting from my last race onto the bigger track. And to totally top the weekend off I got my first podium, coming 2nd in the Masters Ladies, ok there was only 2 of us in the category but I felt I'd earned it, I gave my all and found strength I didn't know I had to get down that track.
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| My First Podium for Team Loeka / Fix Distribution |
I have to say a massive thanks to all the Pearce guys, I can fully appreciate why this series sells out in a matter of hours, they run a great event and I will be back next year. Massive thanks to all the riders who gave me space on the track, and didn't complain. Humongous thanks to all my friends for their support.
Loeka and Fix Distribution - I was so pleased to get a place on the podium for you guys, Dave of Fix Distribution brought me and the Jedi together and that bike has given me so much confidence in the 9 weeks I've owned it.
On a sad note however my off in practice had my beloved Loeka shorts, that I've owned since my first Morzine trip 3 years ago, get snagged on a branch and torn. I'm hoping my mum can repair them as they are so comfortable, but given the abuse these shorts have had I'm seriously impressed with the quality of them and they are a credit to Loeka who's gear is always so well made.
So Easter weekend will find me heading to the Forest of Dean for some uplift fun from Flyup Downhill, then it's back to racing on the 26th / 27th April with the opening round of the MIJ Taff Buggy Series.
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