A few of my favourite things

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BY: Katie Carmichael

Published: 8th June, 2014

This weekend brought together a few of my favourite things - a Nutcracker race, Sheffield and sunshine. Round four of the Nutcracker series took me back to the steel city where I had a lot of fun in my student days. It's a bit of a trek from Edinburgh, but it's a good excuse for a trip down memory lane, and unlike some of the races I do up north, it's guaranteed midge free.

I went all out on nostalgia and booked a room in a former halls of residence which is now a hotel, then found somewhere good to eat nearby. I discovered that Balti King is still going strong, but having never before visited the place before midnight, I decided now was not the time to start.

Race day was a scorcher. As I lined up in my first Nutcracker as expert I checked out the competition. Two other expert riders. We'd be heading off after the expert and elite men but before the sport, so I knew there was potential for some blokes to come piling through. I managed to stick with the other expert girls for the first climb but then I lost them. I caught a glimpse of one of them as I came through transition the first time but that was it. I was on my own from then.

There were still lots of people out there to race though, and the course was an absolute blast. There's some fantastic climbing in woodland - nothing too extreme and all totally rideable, but definitely enough so that you know you are going up and you appreciate the downs. There are a few wee natural bits - some off camber grassy stuff at the side of a football pitch, some rooty sections, and a couple of short natural climbs that'll tell you whether you're pedal smooth circles or stamping. Then there's the descents - lots of fun berms that you can really find some flow on. Nothing too technical so those that can rail it round a corner can take advantage.

I did a skills session with Andy Barlow at Dirt School during the week and one of the things we were looking at was accelerating out of corners. Once I knew I was in a solid third position I decided to get some practice in, listening out for that satisfying crunch of gravel as your tyre bites and you shoot out a corner. I believe that when your tyre leaves a mark that’s called a cutty, and I created a few of them – stoked (or whatever the kids would say).

I was surprised to find myself only three laps in at the one hour mark. The heat must've got to me on the start line. I’d been thinking that with 100 mins in an hour, 20 mins a lap and 5 laps I’d be out for just over an hour. A re-calculation as I climbed to the finish of the third lap and I realized I’d have a bit more to go but I was enjoying myself.

There was one step up which I just couldn't get. What I needed to do was to manual it, but each lap I rolled in too slowly and my timing was all out. Third lap and the guy marshalling it said 'you can write about this in your blog'. Wow! Someone who isn’t family or friend is reading this stuff! I never made the step in the race but went back after to do it-couldn't go home defeated! Helpfully, Paul told me that all I needed was a bit of speed, to manual, and then to header (?) and I’d be over it, but I knew better. It was a bit of coordination and a well timed front wheel lift I was after, and eventually I got it.

I pushed hard to the end and had a strong finish. My lap times were pretty consistent, and the extra distance didn't feel too hard so all in all I'm pretty chuffed with how it went.

Anyone thinking about trying an XC race for the first time would be hard pushed to find a better event than a Nutcracker race. There's something for everyone - fun races of one or two laps to elite races were you can ride with the likes of Nick Craig (okay saying I was riding with him is a stretch, but he did go past me, twice) and see the super quick juniors who are topping the tables in the national series. The organisers pack a lot into the day, but somehow manage to create a very laid back, inclusive atmosphere. I love it.

Round five is next month and I'm looking forward to it already.  A new venue at Haggs Gill - promised to be awesome, and only three hours from home. In the meantime I'm off to Bike Village for a week of alpine riding. Happy days!

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More on the Nutcracker Altura XC Series 2014 Rd 4:

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