Filling in the Blank Months - A venture into Enduro

I'm back!!!!! 

Here's a quick update of what's been going on at Reluctant HQ.  In June I had an operation which wiped out most of my summer.  The first week of August I was given the OK to ride my bike, good thing as 14 days later I was off for a 2 week trip to Morzine (I didn't lie to the doctors but I did neglect to mention the type of riding I would be doing) I had a great time but struggled on the bike.  Some DH tracks were ok but as soon as anything technical appeared I was stuck, having lost my core muscles meant I couldn't balance or adjust my weight so my holiday was limited to Blue and red trails but I had a great time and was touched when Jill at Riders Refuge presented us with our PDS goodie bags which she'd collected and kept for us.

After returning from Morzine it was very apparent that I need to regain the fitness and muscle that I'd lost so I was relegated to my trail bike.  Off the bike I was allowed to start Insanity training again which hurt but really helped and after just 4 weeks of Insanity I was able to stand on 1 leg and suck my tummy in a bit.

Jed also needed some TLC after Morzine, my lack of physical ability meant I relied on my bikes suspension more than normal and I'd killed my brakes.  Plush Hill Cycles came to the rescue, with Jed, fixing his broken spokes, servicing him and price matching CRC on a new set of Zee brakes.

October brought a tough personal period for me with the Organisation I worked for closing, this was mentally hard and a very bruising experience, leaving our clients without access to service and me without a job.  I was also in charge of the closure, which was a massive amount of work.

Due to everything that happened I decided to miss the Welsh Champs, I wasn't mentally or physically in the right place to race DH and decided to wait for the Mini DH races at FOD to return to competition.  However I wanted a fitness target so entered the Mini Enduro again at the Forest of Dean.

Mini Enduro

So I finished work on the Friday, had Saturday to recover (had worked a 55 hour week) before heading to FOD for the enduro.  My fitness was nowhere near up to the event but I was only doing it for a laugh with Louise (who talked me into doing the race).  The week before the event had been bone dry but Sunday night had brought rain and it continued to shower on an off during the day.  We walked stage 1&4 but I only managed a practice run down stage 3, and a slide down stage 2 both of which suffered from deep mud that was only going to get worse.  Come race time and due to the weather the event was cut down to 3 stages, this was a relief to me and my lack of fitness. Having never done an Enduro before I didn't know what to expect, Enduro riders are definitely a different breed to Downhillers, with Enduro riders taking the event very seriously.  I was relieved that the ladies group still had the same camaraderie that I have become accustom to at DH races.

Stage 1
This had a long pedally bit at the top through mud,  on this bit I caught up a chatted to 2 other women in my class.  My DH racing experience paying off rather than any skills.  The stage had a horrible off camber slime fest part in the middle,there was NO grip and I opted to get off the bike and stay as high as possible, it took me ages to clear this part.  After this the track dived down on a steep section through spindly trees.  I first tired this off the bike as the mud was 6inches deep but I soon realised that the best way was to sit on the bike using my legs as outriggers to brake and steer.  As I exited the bottom I was knackered.

Stage 2 
I knew this stage was going to be a nightmare, in practice this morning it was bad so after 300 plus riders had raced through it, I was dreading what condition it was in.  I arrived at the top dead on my time and after a quick rest started off down the stage.  The top section was again pedally and muddy, but I was able to stay on the bike and attack it, as I dropped off onto the forestry road I was cheered by the friendly marshals.  There was a quick pedal down the forestry road before dropping down the muddiest section of the day, I slid my way down but even my outrigger technique didn't work on this part and I soon came off the bike and given I could barely stand up in the mud I ended up pushing the last few meters of the mudfest dropping onto a more established track to continues the stage. without a hitch but very slowly.

Slog to Stage 3
So after trudging through the deep mud on stage 2 I was knackered but there was no time to rest I had to get back up the top for stage 3.  I pushed up the steep track, jumping on my bike to make up the time when it levelled out.  On the pedally bit across the top I met up with other riders and rode to the start with them.  I was cold, wet, muddy and rapidly getting exhausted.  So glad to get to the top and have a few minutes to rest.

Stage 3 
I'd been dreading this stage, my practice run in the morning hadn't gone well and with the track more cut up I was nervous and considered pulling out.  however my friends would be at the end waiting for me and I would be letting them down as well as myself if I failed to start, I just needed to get down.

I started at the back and enjoyed the top half of stage 3, as I was cold the effort needed to plow through the mud warmed me up and as I couldn't see the wet roots under all the mud I just kept plugging on.  I caught up with one lady earlier on and passed her, just before the hardest part of the stage I caught up with another lady and we rode to the technical part together.  Given the mud and track condition I opted to slid down this section on my bum with my bike in hand.  It was obvious from the marks in the mud that many had fallen off here so as I only had a matter of meters to the end I played it safe, getting down in relative ease.  I called to the other ladies who had gathered that I was down safe and give them encouragement as they made their way down.  As soon as the first one got safely down I wished them well and continued on the stage, singing to myself as I went, soon the woods opened out and I was pointing the bike down to the finish to cheers from my friend and Darrel.  As I whooshed out of the woods I was so pleased I'd not wimped out.

So I survived an Enduro, I'd not say they are my kind of thing.  Firstly the riders are so serious about the competition, more like XC riders that DH.  However I really enjoyed the challenge, especially given the weather conditions and mud.  I like to try new things and I'd probably do one again as the fitness aspect was good to make me focus on more than technical ability, the event also reminded me of what a great bike my Yeti is and how much my riding has progressed since I took up DH.

So now I was back to racing it was time for me to get back to racing DH.

Doing it with friends

For a change I'm not blogging off the sofa, instead I'm sat in the lovely setting that is Coed Y Brenin woods. Having spent all weekend driving me around and supporting me, Darrel's gone off to ride leaving me to write my blog and possibly play on the blue trails.

I'm tired rather than sore, oh and I'm really sun burnt with killer panda eyes from my sunnies.

So this weekend I tried something different, I raced 4x!

After last weekends disappointment I was really looking forward to this weekend. I needed to get back on my bike and simply have fun, which is how the weekend worked out.

I will admit, I didn't know what I'd fully let myself in for, Darrel had done a 4x race when we first started going out but it was very much a local race. My first 4x race was to be the 2nd round of the Schwalbe British 4x Series, nothing like jumping in at the deep end. Luckily my fellow Fix Distribution/Loeka rider Clare Curtis is a 4x rider and promised to show me and the other first timers the ropes, she even arranged for one of the elite riders to do some coaching on Saturday afternoon.

1pm Saturday, Darrel and I pulled up at Afan. The track was already taped and a few riders were heading down the course. After an excited reunion with Clare, her partner Jo and Sheena, Darrel and I went to walk the track. I was pleasantly surprised, unlike DH the track isn't out to kill you.

After last weekends crash I didn't know how I'd feel on a track, so for my first run I took the Jedi, and found after only the first couple  of sections that the DH bike was total overkill on the track, though the rocky section was lovely and smooth :)  I also discovered I'd broke my rear shifter in last weeks off so the lack of gears totally ruled the DH bike out.  Stupidly I was nervous about riding the Yeti, not because of ability, but because there were a lot of fast riders on Yeti 4x bikes and my XS ASR5 with saddle down looked too much like it belonged.  And in fairness after a twiddle on the suspension set up, the little trail bike felt very much at home on the 4x track.  After a few runs down I was starting to feel relaxed and had definitely got over my bad weekend, this was helped by the fact that 4x is very much more relaxed than DH racing.

Me and Sheena watching practice

At around 4pm we were met by our elite rider for a coaching session, working our way down the track being told about technique and line choice.  Again this was a really informal and fun session, with us looking at hitting lines through the rock garden and trying to pump the bike to keep speed up.  After this session came my 4x fear, the dreaded gate.  Clare took me up the top and we watched a few riders set off, and I noticed the gate was different to I expected with it falling away from the riders (my big fear was it being like the MX gates which fall towards the riders).  I was nervous for my first go, and clambering up on to the start block was awkward, my short legs and unstable ankle (old injury) not helping.  Once up I lined the bike up and opted for the 1 foot down start, the disembodied voice started and then BANG, the gate fell and off I went, the extra height of the gate giving a little more speed into the first lumps.  Clare was brill, she insisted I did a couple of practices before I headed home which I was grateful for, as I realised I was better not trying to clip in on the SPD until the first corner.  So it was home for some tea and sleep before race morning.

Sunday May the 4TH - Star Wars day
OK, owning a bike called a Jedi, I was sad that he was so out of place on the 4x track, but Sunday saw us at Afan Yeti unloaded and waiting to roll.

I went with Abigail to warm up in the small bike park at Afan and once feeling relaxed on the bike headed over with the others for some gate practise.  I tried a few different lines down, as with 3 other people on the track I didn't know where I would be able to ride come race time.  By now the sun was out and the party atmosphere had properly kicked in as race time approached.

For those like me not familur to 4x, it runs in Motos (heats) where you are randomly drawn against other riders in your class, so in theory you will ride against the different riders.  We got to ride 3 motos and the results from these would determine whether you'd made it into the finals.

My first Moto

My first moto was the scariest, still unsure about how I'd cope with 3 other people all trying to hit the fastest line, I didn't worry too much as I knew I'd be slower than the regulars so hoped that I'd get good clear runs down being at the back.  On my first moto, the other riders were gone in a flash, however as I approached the rock garden my line was blocked by a rider down, I switched happily onto another line and passed the rider, pedalling to make up lost time and crossing the finish in 2nd.  The motos run fast and it was straight back up to the top to wait for the next one, with only 30min max until it was back on the bike to do it all again, this time I was up against 3 seasoned 4x'r and the difference out of the gate was shocking, I pedalled and did my best to keep up, trying to keep the last rider in sight which I kind of managed and hit my line through the rock garden, loving the lower section.  Again it was a quick return to the top for my last moto, This time I had Sheena in my group, and as a fellow 1st timer I was determined to try and keep with her.  In practice I knew she had the edge on the top bit of track, which I was struggling to keep speed on.  As the gate dropped we were off, I pedalled and kept focused on Sheena, she was pulling away up the top as I expected and as we came to the rock garden I was able to maintain the distance between us, and holding it until the finish.  My moto results were 2nd, 3rd (only 3 in that moto) and 4th I didn't get through to the finals but was happy, I'd not come off, I'd ridden confidently and had fun.  I was also relieved not to have made it through as my bruises from the previous week were starting to ache by the end of my 3rd moto.

My first 4x Race

So what did I think of 4x;
If you are thinking about giving it a go, don't think do it.
Despite DH & 4x being classed as gravity events, that is the only thing in common and if I'd tried 4x before DH I'd probably have never taken up DH.  The tracks aren't as technical and there is a lot more pedalling needed, to me 4x was all about maintaining speed.

The gate isn't scary, it makes a lot of noise and it was hard to get on, but other than that it was fine.

The people are lovely, all the 4x girls were happy to share their knowledge with me and the other first timers.

It's very relaxed, although the motos came around fast, the whole atmosphere was chilled and fun.

Chilling in-between Motos

The rest of the racing

I have to put a comment on this blog about the racing.

Firstly my team mate, fellow Loeka lady Clare.  Clare was brill, she gave up some of her practice time to ensure that all us first timers had fun and to helped us out if needed.  She happily answered any queries we'd have over the racing.  Seeing Clare in her natural habitat was great, and her love for 4x is infectious.  But the cherry on the cake was she came 4 overall making it through to the A final.  I was so pleased for her and it was great to share in her joy.

Katy Curd - Katy also has to have a mention, Katy has been an inspiration to me and such a support in my attempts at DH.  Katy was also racing at Afan, but as she holds the Pro Tour title she was allowed to ride against the guys.  It was great to see her holding her own against the fellas, and she too made it into the A final, taking 3rd overall in the senior mens class.  




It was a great weekend and just what I needed after such a hard off the weekend before, so I've got over my crash, got a few bits to fix on the Jedi and then in 2 weeks I'm trying my hand at my first Urban'ish DH race, the Aberystwyth Cycle Festival Conquer the Cliff DH Race.

Team Loeka / Fix Distribution