Cash Converter

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BY: Rob Smith

Published: 24th March, 2011

I might be paraphrasing here but there's an oft quoted saying "Don't write cheques with your mouth that your body can't cash" younger views might remember it or something very similar in that seminal work of testosterone and power ballads, Top Gun. 

 

My last blog set it out; I'd been training, had a skills course I'd written the cheque and the last Soggies was where we'd see if my body have sufficient funds or would it be refused and I be left wondering was it all worth it?

 

Off the start I'd got into a reasonable position going past the café when a bad choice of line allowed a good half dozen riders to get through on me.  The first lap like so many others was a case of head down, pedal and try to regain the lost positions. Towards the end of the second lap I'd caught and passed the Elite Velo pairing and was making progress when I had one of those crashes that happen so fast you don't actually realise anything is wrong until you hit the ground, roll to a halt and the bike is coming to rest on to of you.

 

Whilst I collected my thoughts and the contents of my pockets (I'd had to borrow a multi tool and gas cylinder so couldn't leave them) the guys from Elite Velo plus a few others passed me for a second time. As I rode through the start finish with blood running down my arm Jay announced I was back in 13th. 

 

I'd hoped to finish the last Soggy in the top ten so I had little choice but to keep riding hard and see if it was possible to make up lost ground. The last two laps consisted of sight a rider, cycle them down and try to pass, didn't matter if they were a master, Vet, Sport, Male or female they were all riders to be ticked off.  And as the flag dropped on the final Soggy XC (for now) I'd managed it, tenth in Masters one minute up on 11th and two minutes down on 9th.  

 

OK my improvement might not trouble the Olympic selectors but last year I finished nineteenth and this year I finished third! Ok this year there wasn't quite the depth field there might have been in previous years and being held over only three events it helped to be able to attend all the rounds. Perhaps consistency is the key? 

 

And now the first round of the BMBRS is looming! Only days away from the traditional start of the season, a little way up the country in Sherwood Pines. With a full start line in both the main and afternoon support race, plenty of continental pro riders peppering the Elite field and a shorter 7km lap it's going to be a fun filled day of top flight racing. 

 

Racing I'll be able to watch as they come flying past me!  It's going to be fun, see you there.