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Hi guys, just a quick write up about my first race.

Not raced a bike for over 30 years, smoked for most of that time and little time to train.
Objective to learn as much as possible.
Went with Bob (Thankyou) unfortunately we arrived late to the venue, parking was miles away and little time to get registered, picked up my no and rushed back to change , rushed back to start line with the one minute call, no time to get nervous or think, but no warm up, and not even dresses properly.
I didn't have a clue what I was in for on this race, no clue on the course or direction, so perhaps starting at the back was a good idea.
I chose to use my old Marin rigid, within 100 yds def the wrong bike. It was cruel on the arms and directional control harder with some massive jolts in some areas,
300 yds and straight into the first climb, ouch, hurt like hell with no warm up, the course carried onto more firebreak track then dived into the woods, not a clue what would be round each corner, the woods went into single track and deep ruts, and one dip after another, some 2 ft deep but one after the other, some close together and others further apart, focus to keep the bike online was hard, but how the hell do you ride this terrain, never ridden anything like this before, I out the saddle was hard, in it was better but often the timing was wrong and the saddle pounded your arse like a pile driver, the rigid bike was hard work, every dip, bump ridge was felt, then the faster guys came through, their passing both sides and all want to get pass, that was hard work, often having to take the crap line to let them through, one rider passing got caught out by a stump and flattened in front of me, went down hard and badly winded, mmm painful, another learning curve, don't have happen what he just did. Helped get the bike off him and out the way, a full carbon bike and at least 2/3 Ed's lighter than mine, did think he's not in a position to argue if I borrowed it.
Back out the woods and more fire tracks, then back into more short and deep dips, managed them all ok and kept a good pace, was starting to feel more warmed up and relaxed, all I could do was run my own pace, getting to the last 3rd of the lap and a surprise bomb hole, no probs, fastest is been so far, a nasty little 90 deg and climb back out, tyre choose ok and plenty of grip, more fire track and into some smaller bomb hole that were a little muddier, ok with them but 2 hard steep climb outs, could hear the music playing from the start line, great, end of lap. Noooo another dive into the woods for more dips and troughs away from the finish line, felt like a mile but back out and pass the line,
Great, I now knew the route ahead, all went well, even through the single track, managed to pick better lines and a lot faster, the faster guys coming through worked well and no
Probs, got to the bomb hole and some good speed and split second everything was upside down, the front wheel deflected off a sml route and the bike went under, bit of a head bang, but the bike folded over me and my foot didn't release from the peddle and bent my leg the wrong way pulling my ham string, like a dead leg that carried on being dead, bugger things had been going ok up to then and had got past a few riders, painful now, rear dralier playing up after crash, it has bent and twisted, only 3 gears to choose from, past the finish line and lap 3 I had to stop a few times to try and straighten and re tighten the back wheel as it was out of shape and running the rear fork, lap 3 was a struggle and the pain in my leg getting worse.
I didn't want to bail but lap 4 wasn't going to happen
I enjoyed it and learnt a lot and achieved what I wanted, a clearer picture of what I need to do. What xc is about and never again use a rigid bike lol
Enjoyed and back for round 3 with a clearer picture of what I need to do , and thanks to bob for the tide and help.

Cheers Darren

(Apologies for the spelling, auto correct and not wearing my glasses.doh)

Sound great but don't sound like XC Well done carrying on after crash.
What was the miles of each lap?

Edit:

There's no right bike for those dips at thetford, best race i had there was earlier this year in the bone dry and semi slick tyres on a full suss 29er, but even then i had the bum slapping moments over those dips.
Most of the fast guys there use rigid 29ers so you was half way there.
Hope your not in too much pain and the bikes not too badly damaged.

Thanks, I did notice those guys and think a couple of guys were on single gear set ups, but their knowledge was far greater than mine.
Bobs very kindly lent me a specialised hard tail to run in the next race, my Ridged was extremely heavy, so it allows me to gain some more knowledge before I spend on a decent bike.

Just normal aches and pains today, so not to bad, achieved what I wanted and the next race achievement is simply to do better on the next race, def enjoyed and itching to get back on the bike.

Did like those canon dale carbon lefties, but just can't warm to the price tag

Bob will write something up for his race when he's back near a computer,
How did your race go Pash.

Cheers

What you need is a Beyonce.

Sounds like you had an eventful race Darren. Mine was ok overall but have to admit I found it hard work over the dips. Couldnt get any sort of speed unless I stood up and pumped the bars down the dips whilst trying to sneak in the odd pedal turn. Worked ok but so tiring. Had a moment myself at the bottom of the first bomb hole, I got carried away following some faster guys so let the bike run down full speed and where it turned slightly both wheels decided to slip, I shat meself and hit the brakes which made the back end come around, my feet slipped off the pedals (flats) and a hefty dab allowed me to miss a tree by a couple of inches. Gave the guys round me something to chuckle about and one guy helpfully told me to lock the forks next time as he reckoned it was the rebound that caught me out. seemed to work ok with a touch of back brake the next time. Only managed 3 laps in the 2 hours which was a bit slower than I had hoped especially as the leaders did 5. I learnt a lot and did enjoy it so will have another go in January. SPDs next time though I lost count of the times I slipped off the flats and have a lovely chunk out of my shin to show for it. Better keep them loose though I would certainly have binned it a couple of times had I not been able to dab a foot.

Laser, think it was 7.1 miles per lap, my strava app showed me as 21 after the 3 laps, like the bike, is it carbon VW, go on tell me the price tag,

Good one pash, you did a better time than me, looks like we all had some bother with the bomb hole, Bob did the identical to me in the bomb hole, think he come of worse than me, I'll let him explain.
I wished that my spd"a had been looser, good job staying on your bike

Dazz I'll be selling her in the new year, looking for £1200 but she is very light strong and fast.

Its a nice bike VW, like it. But not sure my piggy bank has enough in it yet, I'll see what Xmas brings

Photos are up on the chevron site

http://chevroneventphotography.co.uk


This one for you Bob

http://gallery.sussexsportphotography.c ... 0429984474

Hi all,
Well done all in the race the weekend.
I have now finisshed going to hospital and strapped up nicely .
I will go into it all later when I get a bit more time.
managed 4 laps 1 hhr 2 min 1hr 2min 1 .06 min 1 .12 min
Pretty consistant and one handed not to bad .
came in 32 in cat.
Not sure how they work the placings over the serries though.
Bob

How light VW?

Its just over the 12kg with the dropper post, and the AM wheels.

I looked at the photos, some good ones. Bob I saw your big wipeout at the bombhole, I was in the queue waiting to drop in. Looked nasty and a few concerned faces around until you were moving again. I dont remember seeing Dazz on the way round.

Hi ,
The trouble started in the run up to it in the woods single track.
I was taken out by a couple of two hour lads.
Hurt right hand thumb (extended and battered like a fish ).
This meant I could not do the gear changing needed (thumb push.) also holding front of the handle bar not the rear .
So wrong speed no control add to that two stumps couple of feet down drop with gap in the middle to ride through .
Pressure from PASH waiting and the chappie at the top saying go on go on.
Hence hit the stumps no grip no control front wheel away with the fairies and tree hugging back slam and bike going flying . ended up on back winded and thinking I am in the Alps again.

But once that was over it was just slowly slowly to the finish line .
Surprised me to see the times pretty well even on the laps as with the fall on the first , no stops for water etc .
Good fun and the bomb holes made it challenging to say the least and not a xc course in any shape or form.
(Going 50 miles out of our way to get there did not help. )
CHATTING to much.

Bob

Fair play to you for getting back on and riding for 4 hours. At least no bomb holes in January.