European Singlespeed Championships

Share on Facebook  Share on Twitter

BY: Melanie Alexander

Published: 22nd April, 2010

Last weekend I took part in the European Singlespeed Champs held within the Forest of Dean.
 
Around 300 riders participated, many of whom had made the journey from overseas. Fancy dress was popular amongst the riders with some wearing some frightful skin suits. The participants varied from riders who compete regularly to those who had borrowed a bike for the event.
 
The event started Le Mans style. For extra entertainment bikes which had been so carefully placed by their owners in order to be easily found were moved and placed hanging from trees and over fences, so not an event you could take too seriously as your bike could be at a bottom of a pile. I was surprised how quickly people managed to find their bikes. It took me a while but I spotted my seat and set off.
 
The riding in the Forest of Dean is vast and brilliant. There was plenty of climbing which made the legs pump, then followed by flowing single track which was bone dry and fast. I enjoyed riding my 29er single speed which has been abandoned since receiving the Superfly. It was a four lap race for some or until the fastest rider finished for the rest. Matt Page finished first in a fantastic time and I finished as first woman.
 
Well done to Sheldon and his helpers. A great deal of work had gone into making the whole weekend festive and entertaining. Bands were playing, a fantastic hog roast replaced all the calories burnt, plus roller racing, bike throwing and bunny hopping competitions had people entertained whilst chilling out in the sun.

The prize giving was particularly entertaining where the rider who could eat the most chilies or play air guitar the most enthusiastically would win. So if you did not mind getting laughed at in front of 100s of people you were in with a good chance to win some nice toys.
 
I really enjoyed the day. Tomorrow I am packing my bag and bike in the van and driving up to Dalby for a completely different race, my first World Cup.
 
Melanie Alexander
XCracer.com/29ers
 
Thanks to Martyn and our sponsors: Gary Fisher, Exposure Lights and Accelerade