Great Weekend

Friday morning came round and Mick turned up nice early with Russ (our pit crew), and off we set to Newcastleton for the 12hrs of exposure championships. I like the endurance scene and I put myself down as a bit of an endurance rider so I had loads of butterflies because this was my race.

Anyway, skip forwards to today and everything I had set out to do I achieved. I came 10Th in the end which is what I had said I wanted in previous blogs, but the whole experience delivered much more. Honestly I love racing, but the mountain bike experience is much more than that, I have not laughed so much in ages. From the word go it was just daft humour. Russ used to mountain bike but now days he is a time trial and road rider, so it was inevitable he got the first lot of abuse, from then everyone was fair game.

Got settled in the digs and unpacked the 2 tonne of kit you take to these races, which we all agreed you will probably never need. Then around tea time we set off for a sighting lap. There was a slight bit of drizzle but it did not matter too much because the guys at Rock UK had worked hard on the course which stood up well to the damp conditions. The course pretty much followed last years with a few minor changes so all was good. Then after a trip to the village for some food everything was ready for the next days racing.



The start in Newcastleton is a great affair, you have to sign the entry board which gives it a tour De France type feel and is the closest you would ever get to feeling like a professional rider. Then it is a steady procession out of the village back up to the course and once the pace car leaves it is gloves off boys and girls.

For once in my life I listened to advice and did as I was told. Last year I blasted away at the start which cost me; this year I took it steady and warmed up into the race which paid off and got me my top ten finish. This looked unlikely when I looked at the line up which included Matt Page who won last years 24hr champs. This resigned me to a top twenty finish being good, that weirdly, might have helped because I was more relaxed.



Apart from the usual wobble 4 laps in when you question your sanity; the race went pretty much to plan. I came in for my last lap which only left me a small margin as to whether I would make the cut off. I was never not going to ride my last lap but words of encouragement from Russ to the effect of "get your finger out" saw me set off. This why I know my training is starting to pay off because I really could push on the last lap and was one of my quickest. This is a new experience as because normally my head wants to push but my body will not in previous endeavours, usually it is sheer will power that gets me round.

So in the short time I have been coached I have jumped 12 places from last years result, more miles completed and a feeling that there is genuinely more to come. I got home to my lovely wife and kids and a giant Sunday dinner and was thinking that life does not get better than this.

Mountain Biking

Ok, next Saturday I will set off for 12 hours of exposure.

For those of you who don't know "24 Hours of Exposure" and "12 Hours of Exposure" are the UK's first and only 24 hour and 12 hour mountain bike endurance races for solo riders only. The event also includes the prestigious title of UK & European Solo Championships, crowning the 24 hour and 12 hour champions.

So all the training is done, the bike is ready and my strategy planned (well sort of)

Anyway its here and so to let you in on what actually goes on; here is a video of the 2011 European Champs, courtesy of Josh Ibbett. , the course takes in part of the 7 Stanes and is the reason I love to mountain bike. I am not sure how I will go, but I will certainly will do my best.

Oh No

It is only two weeks until 12hrs of exposure, only 2 weeks! Where does the time go? This always happens to me, I think nothing is happening and then all of a sudden the races are here.


So am I prepared? Compared to last year the answer would be yes, I have trained, I have a good bike and accommodation and things needed to race are in place. Even down to our own pit man who is also looking after last years 2nd place veteran Mick Powell. So I guess I am ready, but I still feel like I am not.

It was the first national race at Sherwoodpines yesterday and it was great to be able to watch the top elites slug it out at break neck speed. Seriously quick people in all categories so I was glad to just be a spectator. This is my home race so I should have been on track really but I have done two xc races already. There is also my family who have to put up with me and this also puts time and financial pressures on a season’s race diary so it was thought best to sit this one out.

For now here is my first video post, a short film of Rob Upton in the technical part of the Sherwood track, enjoy.......................

Well it had to happen eventually

Round 2 of the Midlands xc series did not go according to plan.......

Had a good week training, did some quality road work mid week and had no warning of what was going to happen in the race. Warmed up, the sun came out for my race and I was sporting new kit and go faster white socks. When the gun went off I blasted away up the climb into the arena and took quite a few places. Then into the first bit of single track I got held up and things took a nose dive for me.



I could not get a rhythm and found it really tough, I had bike handling problems which caused me to fall off a few times and by the end of the first lap I was going backwards fast. I came through to start lap 4 and for the first time ever I had to call it a day.

So what went wrong? Well it certainly was not my training because that was going well all week. Chris (rider coaching), was watching and he said he could see I was not right, and put it down to a bug that was going around. I genuinely had nothing in me, and was a bit dazed most of the day. So it is rest time for me, and this is the great advantage of having a coach. Some top riders and people who have cycled a long time can sort themselves, but it is great to have someone who can tell you when to push and also when to rest.

There were also some other issues which contributed to my poor performance which I should admit. Having a 2.25 old racing ralph on the front with 40 psi in to keep it on the rim was probably the reason every root tried to kill me. And swapping pedals to have cleats that I knew needed replacing added to the dismay as I could not stay clipped in on any climb. This is entirely my own fault and I should know better by now, anyway a pair of rocket rons ust are on their way as we speak. A lesson learned I suppose, and at least my legs are not killing me today.

Week 3

Not much to report really. Still got some good training in and if you did not know already; I am using rider coaching to train me. I have round 2 of the midlands series coming up on sunday, so I will do a proper race report. Until then I have pictures of how my wife's car looks with new stickers on (she was so pleased).

Week 2

Cycling is weird, or is it just me? Most people would agree the latter who know me. A funny week, some really good training courtesy of ridercoaching, some good road miles under the belt and topped off with an altercation with a driver who was lacking in moral fiber and viewed his car as a weapon. I have to say when he got out his car to inflict more damage to me and my mate Rob I did think I had bitten off more than I could chew. He looked like a cage fighter.

Anyway I survived and we all have stories of idiots on the road whether biking or otherwise. Things are going well, will talk more in depth about the training but for now all I can say you should consider a coach if you really want to improve.


If you are really interested here is a graph of the elevation on my Matlock ride, nice and easy hill work.

Week 1

Had a pretty good week, good race, sold my old frame and got some decent training done. Not sure what to expect from having someone else planning your riding, but one thing is certain is that it will improve you. My measuring stick is guys who I know are on the plan have definitely got fitter and faster.

So it is up to me I suppose, I have a reasonable starting point, a new faster bike and www.ridercoaching.co.uk looking after my training. In the past it has been easy to look at what might have been (we have all done it) and put reasons for why I am not an elite rider with endless talent. It is simple in my book now, work hard and reap the rewards whatever they might be.

The first reward is complete 12hrs of exposure, in the top ten and then who knows what might happen. I have kept my goal realistic and not stated a podium is on the cards but I will definitely give it a shot.

So there you go; it’s out there for all to see, this is the first of my goals this year. Hopefully I will not make a complete idiot of myself, watch this space I have done on numerous occasions.

We shall find out in April.

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