Happy with Bronze

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BY: Melanie Alexander

Published: 31st July, 2012

The week after Kirroughtree I was racing with the fast team of Paul Oldham, Dave Collins and Dan Booth of Hope Factory Racing at Mountain Mayhem.  I had received an email on the Wednesday evening saying that Hope were looking for a lady. I was all set to support Mark in his 24 hour solo race but jumped at the chance to race as other good friends offered to support Mark. Dan's dad had the job of cleaning and looking after the muddy bikes and Paul's wife was keeping track of time gaps. It was extremely muddy making the laps long. The Hope men were extremely strong and we took the win. Best of all Mark took the Solo 24 hour win. I couldn't even pick his bike up at the end of the race due to the mud, amazing how he managed to pedal that round at the end of 24 hours. Very Proud.

 

Marks Bike at Mayhem

 

THE BRITISH NATIONAL CHAMPS

 

I was really looking forward to racing at Wasing, not only was it the National Champs but I also did well at the BMBS there last year. Not being the World's strongest climber I knew it was a course that would suit me and this gave me extra confidence in aiming to do well.

 

Following Mayhem I had a couple of hard training weeks with lots of intervals and this did not stop until a couple of days before the planned last BMBS at Longton Hill which was postponed . A very easy week led up to Wasing, I have never taken recovery so seriously, I got a little bored but it was worth it.  Practicing on Saturday with Scott and Mark I felt good. A Really nice meal and good night sleep at my parents' 30 minutes away and I was set to go.

 

I had a good start, clipped in and went, great! It was a fast start and did not seem to calm down - Nikki Harris was getting a gap, then there was Lee Craigie, Jess Roberts, Joanne clay and Me and I could hear riders right on my wheel snaking through the single track. Half way round the course on the muddy section I decided to jump off and run up, down and up the muddy hill. Lee took the A line, Jess took the B line and Jo and myself ran it. In doing so I hurt myself a lot but it worked - I jumped from fifth to second position. I shocked myself and was not sure that this was where I wanted to be as I tried to regulate my breathing again.

 

Joanne passed on an open track and she was a good wheel to follow as she smoothly rode the single track. Through the arena for the start of the second lap, Nikki was out of sight, But Joanne, myself, Lee and Jess had gained a small gap on the rest of the field. The flat fire road section followed and we reduced to three. Lee was in the lead by the top of the climb and I was determined to hold her. I yo-yoed on and off her wheel but I kept managing to pull it back. At the start of the third lap we were still together and I knew it was only a small gap back to Jess. I pushed hard on the flat aiming to extend the gap away from Jess and as the gradient kicked up Lee passed and dropped me by a few seconds but it was enough for her to start gaining a gap on me. I was determined not to lose third now, this is what I had been training for. I dug deep and I finished third. So happy. One minute down on Lee, 2 minutes 20 down on Nicki Harris and 34 seconds up on Jess.

 

This year has been amazing, I keep getting good results and the best thing is I can feel myself getting gradually stronger and more confident and I never stop love riding my bike and training. I am now looking forward to my next race, the last BMBS at Longton Hill.

 

Thanks as always to my sponsors:
Cyclopedia

Just Riding along

Mojo

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