So my plan for last weekend was to practice DH riding at the Forest of Dean as I have been brought entry to the 661 Mini DH race on the 27th January as a Christmas present from my brother.
I've ridden (or pushed) down all the tracks at FOD bar the lower section of Corkscrew which is one of the tracks the race may run on, so needed to make sure I could ride it.
Saturday night Darrel decided to make some adjustments to the old Super 8. My nerves started to creep in, that little feeling of apprehension was stiring in my stomach but a glass of wine quench it before it gathered momentum.
| Darrel fine tuning my bike |
I went to bed fully expecting my normal 3am wake up, so didn't really sort all my cycling kit out as I thought I could do that in the early hours when I found myself unable to sleep. So was a bit unprepared when the alarm went off at 7am.
After a quick muck out of the stable and doing the horses 'early shift', we picked up a friend and headed to FOD, I was still unable to eat but more excited than apprehensive. Arrived at the Cannop Cycle Centre and as Darrel unloaded the bikes I was doing my legging it to the toilets (at least this habit gets me out of having to unload the bikes).
Having pushed up we used the top 100m section of Ski run to warm up on before heading over to Corkscrew. I've ridden the top section a few times before, but always from the perspective of just getting down. Darrel followed me while we did a slow run looking for the features that I was hesitant on. A set of root steps down and a berm corner with roots on the outside were the bits that I over braked for. After a few runs I was hitting the smoother line into the root steps and not even braking too much (though I'm coming in much slower than most riders). The berm corner just needed commitment, to hit the roots on the outside and trust speed to carry the bike round, commitment that I really lack. My first attempt I nearly bottled it but pushed myself and got round, realising the corner was much easier taking this line gave me the confidence to keep trying it and each time I was riding smoother.
One of my runs down the top section.
With the top section mastered, it was down to the lower section. The drop off the forestry road is pretty straight forward steep, but with a nasty hole wearing into the track, which each time I caught it made me shreek but isn't really as bad as my reaction makes it appear. The run through the trees is again straight forward, with one section where there is a chicken run to avoid 3 steep root steps on the faster racing line. This line is rollable but definately easier if you can jump. On my first 2 runs I took the chicken line, but as Darrel pointed out to me, this option might not be available on race day.
Having had a good look at the roots and watching a few bikes roll them helped, but my heart was thumping knowing I was going to have to give them a try. It started as a really half hearted attempt, but this was going to end in tears unless I committed so forced myself to put in a couple of much needed pedal strokes and down the bike went. I swore (a lot) then realising I'd made it cheered.
I rode down the steps a couple more times, once taking the wrong line but surviving. Sunday finished with my confidence built back up. I have to thank Darrel, Terri-Anne and Brian for showing me how to ride it and shouting encouragement. I really had no option to wimp out with an audience.
So I now know I can get down Corkscrew, all that left is to see what track the race is on.
My run down corkscrew.
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