MTB Challenge Pt 1. Eve of "race"....

MTB challenge:

Part 1

We are now on the eve of my first MTB race. Here in the UK we are also a few days into the real start of winter. So what to wear, from my “training” rides this week I have learnt that you seem to do full on efforts anything like a climb, then the flats are hard work to just keep moving. Then you hope to relax and recover a bit on the down hill but actually (if you are me), you spend the downs being terrified and bounced about all over the show. So the full efforts get your heart rate right up and sweat. After the first 60-90 mins of these training rides I found myself getting cold at this point. So this enduro race is 4 hrs and with the likely heavy frost forecast for Sunday I really am unsure what to wear. Take lots and you can always lose it on the way round?!...

Of the training rides... So I first went out on my own Monday, I had been roughly pointed into an area where I could practice. The ride itself went alright, incredibly slow and had a few off’s but seemed to improve slightly after 90 minutes of mud and more mud. Post ride I discovered that I spend most of my ride in a private estate, who knew... Oops...!

The second ride I was guided by one of the Henley Practice PT instructors, Laura. She knows plenty of the local area from running and MTB’ing and was kind enough (and patient enough) to take me for a spin. Laura seems to have an obsession with mud, this was clear form the outset. We weaved our way around the countryside, I had no idea where I was as I was staring at the 6 feet of mud in front of me. Despite putting quite a lot of effort down plenty of the time with such mud you average 12-14kph...! Got a few tips and as thanks, tried to take out my guide once (oops), and despite thinking I wouldn’t I did have fun! :)

A picture of the race course during the week.... Hopefully it remains this dry.... Unlikely though...!

My last training ride was Thursday, this time with the Athlete Service bike mechanic Frank. He (similar to Laura) was very patient. We had slightly colder conditions on the Thursday, but again I think I progressed a little bit. I do seem to have problems with steep climbs weirdly as I only like climbing on the road bike. I seem to spin the rear wheel, it slides side to side and the next thing I know I am unclipped walking up said hill. Overall I have make progress... enough to finish the Brass Monkeys event Sunday, yet to be confirmed. Luckily we do laps so I might get a tiny bit of confidence each time I go round, but then again it is going to get more and more cut up each lap.

Looking forward to it... erm no.... There is plenty of fear for once, and for the first time in years I am nervous for an event as I have not prepared for it well. Yes I have done as much as I can but 6 days prep just isn’t enough. The knee has also been playing up with the MTB so I am a little concerned with that as the longest I have done off road has been 2 hrs.... half the race time.

We shall see how things pan out Sunday and whatever happens you will hear the story of despair here first...

Thanks for reading as alway. Enjoy the weekend frosts, stay safe on those saddles....!!