Frostbite40

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BY: phil Morris

Published: 26th January, 2012

Frostbite 40- sounds interesting!!! Well I decided to enter it, to get a bit of ride/racing before the early race season kicks off. The race was at Llansawell and would incorporate the Brechfa Trails. Having only been to Brechfa once before I was keen to re-visit as it was great riding.

The event consisted of a 40k enduro with three timed sections, one downhill section, one mixed and finally a climbing section. The race was a rolling start, so I just got out as early on as I could. You signed on, picked up your band and off you went! This spaced the field out a bit and by getting off early I didn't have to hang around waiting at the timed sections. The last event like this I did was the Kona Mash Up- which it has to be said I did pretty poorly!! So I didn't have great expectations, I'm the type of person that needs something to chase after!!

Out on the course I had about 40-50 riders ahead of me. My plan was to ride at a good pace for the whole event, including the linking sections, as it would be good training. I past quite a few riders on route to the first timed section, and I approached it with a clear run. This was the downhill section of the race. (My big pitfall!!) I started off quite well, but after a couple of near misses I decided to take it steady!!

It didn't seem long until the next timed section, which went ok, until I somehow managed to crash, on an uphill!! Other than a dent in my pride and 20-30 seconds lost, I had no wounds!!

With another great linking section, with loads of great flowing single-track, I reached the final timed section. I took off hard, and tried to maintain it. It was a funny old climb!! A flat climb!! (If that makes any sense). It didn't really suit me, I like hard steep long climbs. However, come the finish I thought that section had gone quite well.

All that was left was the final leg back to the finish. The whole ride for me was completed in just over 2 hours and I can say a very enjoyable 2 hours riding!

After a shower and sorting myself out, I decided to hang around to see how I had got on. Come the presentation, it was actually quite exciting, as nobody had a clue how they had got on.

My final position was 4th, which I have to say was not what I had hoped for, I was hoping to make the top 3 but I have to say I think I need some sessions in down hilling or grow a bigger set of balls!! Or bring back my bigger wheels!!
In consolation I had the fastest climbing section time. Overall, I had really enjoyed the whole event and think I did enjoy the format better than I did the first time at the mash up.

Hope to see this again next year!!
Thanks to all the guys who put on the event which ran very smoothly.
Thanks to my sponsors:
Xcracer.com
Accelerade
MT Zoom
Exposure lights