Welsh xc

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BY: Matthew Lewis

Published: 5th March, 2012

 

A lot of people's drivetrains suffered out on that windy hill in Powys but mine is trashed beyond repair!

There has been plenty of 'chat' on the forums about the Welsh xc and despite the doubt that surrounded whether or not this event would go ahead the 4th March finally came around and I, like many others (plenty of others) found ourselves at the windiest albeit prettiest race venue in the whole country surely!

Anyway, despite it's stunning location it's the race course itself that we were there for. The circuit was only 3km in length but it was a punchy little circuit made even more so by the weather. In fact if they could find another couple of km it would be a cracker of a venue. It started with a climb and then threaded down onto a steady, long fireroad ascent. that dropped you off at the top of the loose technical downhill. I rode this like a right fairy and I don't mind embarassing myself by falling off but why do I always have to do it in front of people I know? On my 2nd lap this is exactly what I did in front of Mark Spratt. Mark usually laughs and enjoys a crash but on this occasion even he asked if I was alright!

By the end of the 2nd lap the my chain was in a right state and the only way I could get around the course was by sticking the chain in the big ring since the inner chain ring was well and truly knackered. I knew I should've changed the drivetrain over but my tightness was always holding off replacing it until the last and the worst of the weather had been and gone.

The above diagram is making my drivetrain tightness look almost scientific. Excuses aside though even if my drivetrain was working I would've still struggled on that course. I was squriming all over the plae on the descents and despite my best efforts on the climbs I was having to resort to pushing far more than others. The course was mainly a straight up and down affair and it has some potential. By the end of the 2nd lap my inner chain ring was dead and by the start of the 6th lap my outer ring was also knackered and the sound of the chain grating on my chainstay was enough. I decided to call it a day and sat on the touhline with George Rose who also had only managed a handful of laps before having to withdraw. A tough course and the weather was trashing bikes. Hats off to those who raced around in those conditions. The overall winner raced around in sub 10 minute lap times. Pretty impressive.

As for me I am now having to put my hand in my pocket and fork out a brand new drive train. On the plus side at least I don't have to worry about cleaning the bike since the drivetrain is all heading for the bin!

Matt Lewis

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