Mountain Bike Challenge

MTB challenge.

If you would have said this time last week that I was signed up for race on a mountain bike I would have laughed at you, but it seems I AM signed up to race a mountain bike, not only race it but in Italy. Over 80k and 3200m of climbing. This is all rather concerning.

How did I manage to get myself signed up to such a race, well the power of persuasion from Laurence at Athlete Service. I wandered in mid week and he greeted me with, “ Do you fancy a free entry for the Maratona?” Well yes I do, but unfortunately it clashes with the TransAlps event I have signed up to do. He then attacks me with another question, “there is a race over 80k and 3200m of climbing, fancy it?” I said, “well yeah, what is the catch?” He is very good at selecting what he tells you, the catch was “Its in Italy?”. So I sort of said yes, but wondered what the real catch was....

So the catch as you can probably guess is its on a Mountain bike and off road. S**T!! Initially when he owned up that is was an off road race I was rather concerned. Then again, I had been told by the descending Messiah Andrea that I needed to get out on a mountain bike during the winter to improve my bike handling, I also have a lot of friends who have offered to lend me a bike for riding off road. So everything is set up for me to do it but I guess I needed to have a race/ride or target get actually get me committed to dong some MTB riding.

I doubt the race Sunday will be as dry as above.... I am hoping though....

So overall despite the initial fear I now am almost looking forward to the challenge. I am sure I will get out and be terrified most of the time, and get outrageously annoyed at how truly useless I am but I will get over that hurdle when I get to it.

To get the ball rolling I stupidly have entered an Enduro race next weekend, I think it is called “Brass Monkey” so getting on an MTB bike asap is critical I feel.... Might see some of you there, I will be the one at the back working hard for not much speed....

Thanks for reading, more updates to come.MTB challenge.