My Off Season

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BY: Melanie Alexander

Published: 7th December, 2011

2011 for me has been a great year of racing. I had a few disappointing races but I definitely had some good races in which I achieved more than before and I feel I stepped up my performance.  The year began with a couple of the Welsh XC series and Sherwood Pines where I struggled with the pace. Following these however I had some great races, with rounds 2 and 3 of the BMBS at Dalby and Wasing being highlight for me. Finishing 6th at Dalby was the first time I had got anywhere near the podium and then to have a close race and finish 4th at Wasing just a minute down on 3rd was unreal for me.  Other highlights were the Sudety Mountain bike challenge and Tour of the Himalayas. Newnham on the other hand was a disappointment as I had had a really good race in the Himalayas the week before and was feeling confident about my form but unfortunately got Delhi Belly on return. That combined with not racing XC since Margam left me feeling sluggish for the last round of the series, although I wasn't too disappointed as the course was brilliant and a joy to race on.

 

 Finishing 3rd overall in the British mountain bike Series

 

After Newnham I had a couple of weeks off the bike. This has been followed by six weeks of non-structured training with plenty of mountain biking at the weekends. I have been mountain biking a fair amount both on my single speed and with gears, some rides more social, some more technical and others at a much harder pace.

 

 Forest of Dean with Xcracer team.

 

 

weekend of riding with Sally and Dave at Afan and local trails.

 

The Real Ale Wobble at Llanwrtyd Wells was the final event of the year but this was not to be like the ones preceding it, with a weekend of beer and bikes - the perfect way to close a successful year of racing.

Rich Holmes on the muddy trails at Real Ale Wobble.

 

 

A week's holiday with Sally at the end of November, the first half of the week was in the Peak District with long rides over the Peaks on our mountain bikes, followed by a day's coaching with Neil Donoghue at Llandegla, then finishing off the week in South Wales working on our skills.

 

 

It has been a lot of fun. Technical riding and the Coaching from Neil has pushed me on and given me plenty to work on. I am enjoying practicing skills and when I get my timing right it is great.

 

Now time to start thinking about interval training.

 

Thanks to Xcracer, Gateway Cycles, Mt Zoom, Exposure Lights and Accelerade for their sponsorship this year.