Team Meet and Brass Monkey

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BY: Donna Morris

Published: 8th January, 2014


Brass Monkeys Ranges on Ash!

With the festive’s over, illnesses past,it was time to get back on the bike!

The 5 weeks leading up to Christmas were a complete write off for me, I was struck by flu and it left me for dead, then Christmas week I began to feel a bit perkier, but still unable to get on the bike, due to gale force winds, which are never ending up in the hills of Llanwrytd Wells! I cannot hack the turbo, so leading up to the event I had been for the odd run and dabbled in the odd swim, with only one 40 minute mountain bike ride. (Which I ended up on the floor !!) So Race prep going well, I wasn’t really contemplating doing any good, it was just going to be a test spin out for my lungs and my little spindles!

The event was the focal point around our little team gathering, which involved a nice little catch up and meal on Saturday night. So myself and Phil, along with Rich and Hollie premier inned for the weekend.  Saturday night Phil decided that with the gritty, wet conditions his brake pads needed changing. This resulted in a lot of cursing and 2 screw drivers jammed in the brake pads for 2 hours!! Eventually he got them in.

Sunday morning was upon us, all be it a bit frosty, but dry. The Morris crew had their head screwed on when we entered!! The 2hour event started at 11.30, but we got to the event nice and early to cheer on fellow riders of the team. My gut was churning, I had no idea how many women had entered or who I was racing against, as the sign on is all out of eyes!!

I just got to the start in plenty of time and started to shake and shiver on the line! A little hooter and we were off, over 100 riders bolted up the road. I had a fairly good start but as expected on the flat road, the power legs went past and left me for dust! Nightmare/carnage I don’t really know how to explain the next bit, but it didn’t involve riding my bike!! The whole first bombhole section I was queued up and walking it! There was no other way, but to follow like sheep, eventually getting back on my bike, but definitely a few minutes had past and no doubt a few women had managed to escape the pile ups. I just raced my own race; I thoroughly enjoyed the course, although I have never really ridden anything similar before. Slightly a little bit too much fire road for me and I can’t ride berms or bombholes at speed, but I was pleased just to have ridden them. I loved the last section the most and only really disliked the exposed moorland on the top. It was a bog and each lap it got churned up each lap, my chain and gears where making noises like I have never heard before, and at times I thought I was going to be ending up finishing the race by foot!  Came over the line after my second lap, thinking I might not go out again, but everyone was shouting to carry on. The last lap was a little different for me, I actually thought I went faster and seemed to riding more smoothly and actually with less traffic about I managed to climb the horrible gnarly steep climb, which  even Phil ran every time!! But I must have spent too much time watching and cheering other racers, the likes of Ant and Phil!! (I’m told if I’ve got energy to cheer on people, I’m not pedalling hard enough!!
 
3 laps completed in 2hours 22ish, 5th women out of 13 and with about 40 men behind me. It was only when I looked at the results that I realised I had been racing against the likes of Maxine Filby a mighty fine elite rider and Louise Fox, who is a dam good duathelte. A pleasing result at this time of year and with my sever lack of riding my bike!! Hopefully the hilly welsh weather will improve and I have had my germs for 2014 early.

All in all my main aim was to enjoy it, not come last and not come a cropper! Mission completed! The rest of the team had some cracking results, Lou 3rd, Ant (on speed beans) White 1st and Phil came away with 3rd. Phil was pleased too and now the training starts!!

Thanks to all the organisers for putting on such an enjoyable day, and I must say the fan heater was heaven and the heated hand dryer in the toilets!!! Luxury.

Thanks also to all team members and to Mick, Matt and family for the support.

Get that bike fixed now Matt and we will see you and Mick on the soggy start line!!


Donna Morris

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Donna Morris

Mum of 2 cherubs, keen to get better mountain biker, wife of Phil and mini manager of XCracer.com team

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This blog post was written by a third party and their views do not necessarily reflect the views of XCRacer.com

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