But the energy isn't there and everything hurts in varying degrees when I move, in fact I don't need to move as my chest feels tight when I breathe, and my throats is a little on the sore side. This sounds like a moan but honestly is isn't. I've got that odd feeling that is becoming somewhat familiar to me, the one of feeling like hell but contented and happy about it.
Now the reason I feel this way is because I raced, my first one since I damaged my shoulder at Llangollen, and what a cracking weekend it was.
It started off manically and didn't stop until Sunday evening, the whirlwind DH legend that is Hannah Escott started off proceedings with a Friday afternoon dash to Hereford to pick her up, tea and board games (yep, us extreme sports people know how to party), Saturday morning was the normal half asleep loading gear into the van and driving to Taff Buggy, non of us had been and I wasn't sure what to expect. I'd watched videos on youtube but they never do a course justice and this was very true of Taff Buggy.
It's a lovely place, a proper south wales hill farm with views over the industrialised and densely packed A470 corridor, yet seemingly other worldly. The race epée centre is at the top of the course, which seems odd for a DH race as most have the hub around the finish, how ever it works really well.
The course was great, started with a gentle slope down start field with the track weaving over a old hedge line then through a gate and the first of many options kicked in. Every drop had a roll-able line, and there was plenty of options for line choice (with a few exceptions of course), the lower section of the course was great, a fast flowy finish through bracken lined berms and jumps to the finish and uplift pick up. The course was great for me with bits to test my nerve and bits to force me to let go of the brakes and bits that just made me smile.
However it didn't start that well, race nerves properly kicked in at 3:20am on Saturday morning, at the venue I got on my bike and was so tense, my body was ridged and I simply didn't let the bike move under me, every muscle was locked.. My first ride down was terrible with me getting Darrel to carry the bike down one section and not being able to ride the rock garden I limped down to the uplift. Back up the top Lauren kindly offered to lead me down, but I was just so stiff, the suspension on the bike was trying to work but my leg muscles seemed to fight it and block it moving, Hannah suggested I session a smaller section, which helped me physically relax but the mental block was properly down. The big sticking point for me was the rock garden, it's not that big and the rocks were surprisingly grippy in the morning but I couldn't see a line and every time I tried to ride it I slammed on the brakes or put my foot down. I watched riders (that normally helps) but couldn't get it. I got angry with me, Darrel (who was on ground helping) got frustrated with me... I ended up riding down the rest of the track in dismay. I was tired from being tense, emotional from my lack of confidence and I'd fallen off more times than I could remember.
Up the top again, Hannah came over to see how I was getting on, it was now 2:30 and I was running out of time to nail the track. Hannah is the most upbeat person ever and simply said, follow me. I tagged on and as I weaved slowly and in dismay behind her I approached the first technical bit and with massive encouragement from EVERYONE, I let go of the brakes and rolled to the bottom, it felt so good to ride down it, I jumped off my bike lying on the grass nearly crying with joy, all that remained was the darn rock garden, so with my confidence creeping back up I followed Hannah downwards. At the top Hannah, as promised, rolled it as slowly as possible, then stopped at the bottom shouting at me, Darrel was at the top encouraging me and as I rolled in I stopped on the top rock, paused, let go of the brakes and was off... heart in mouth, mouth swearing and cursing as the bike bounced and pedal hit granite. But I survived and after a small celebration I followed Hannah to the uplift, getting the star treatment of a lift in the Tractor cab rather than trailer.
The next practice runs were great, I felt my confidence building, even an off after the chute didn't bother me, it was a silly off and caused more from my tiredness than ability. My tenseness lifted and I was moving with the bike not fighting it. I finished on a high...
Watch this Taff Buggy Video by Alex Cottam
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