Having a bit of fun!

I'm not having quite the season I imagined having way back in December, I think I can be honest in saying I'm having a rather frustrating struggle in 2013. I don't seem to be able to tap into the performance I know I have in me. I have a fantastic coaching team and they have come into their own these past few weeks. People think you measure a coach by how many athletes they get to win, they are successful if they get you to win. That is true but I also think that a great coach is one that is able to pick you up when you feel close to throwing it in, dust you down and remind you why you started riding in the first place. Not get cross with you for not performing but find out why and put some fun back in to all which of course is the reason we all do this crazy sport, it is good fun. There is nothing like the buzz of conquering something you thought was impossible on your mountain bike; I could be considered odd but I enjoy frightening myself and that feeling of overcoming your fear of a section of trail. With this in mind I decided to miss the recent round of the British Mountain Bike Series and head to Exmoor for the Mondraker Gravity Rally for some scaring myself fun! 

The format was that of the Gravity Enduro discipline, two timed stages on the Saturday and three timed stages on Sunday with a 30km loop. I was invited to take part by my great sponsors Whackjob Jim, you've probably seen me in their t-shirts and hoodies as I practically live in them! They're a great bunch of people so I knew there'd be a few a giggles as well as great riding. Even the weather was set to be fantastic; I couldn't help but have a big grin all weekend. The first two stages on Saturday were short flat out descents, we had a couple of practice runs so I knew what to expect. I completed each race run well, shaking at the bottom having never gone so fast on bike! They were both loose, fast trails with rocky sections. It was a comprise between having your tyre pressures low enough to give you grip but not too low you'd get a flat. As I'm lucky to have Schwalbe UK as a sponsor I was running their new Enduro tyre Hans Dampf, the bike felt like it was running on rails and I could corner like a demon! 

Sunday dawned with more sunshine. The stages on the loop we couldn't practice so would be riding them blind something I was rather nervous of. I do crash a fair few times finding my limit so as the saying goes I was either going to bin it or win it! The first stage had a gentle descent to start with leading into a rocky pedal section which then turned into the amazing long descent. Not knowing what was coming played on my mind but also knowing I was being timed over ran it and the red racing mist overtook any doubts. It was great! The second stage required far more pedaling with a couple of short sharp climbs which came as a bit of a surprise, my legs were screaming at me and lungs burning it was a short hard effort but adrenaline filled. The transitions between the stages could hardly be called easy either, consisting of long hard climbs and a few tricky sections. It was an action packed day. The last stage was the first stage of Saturday repeated only this time I was feeling rather tired, I tried to stay as smooth as possible and finish in one piece! It was a great event and one I'd recommend if you want a bit of change. It has wetted my Enduro appetite and I've even entered a few more! 

Photo courtesy of AEPhotos.  

As well as mixing up my mountain biking I've been having a go at Crit racing. I really enjoy the atmosphere and flat out racing. I seem to pick ones that have the superstar riders in though, bad planning! This one was no exception with Olympian Jo Rowsell and the in form Hannah Barnes on the start line. I knew it be a fast one. The circuit looked tough with a cobbled climb up to the start/finish line and a tricky corner off the back straight. Not surprisingly the pace was high from the start, I wasn't in great position on the start line but tried to make it to the front group I never quite got there and was stuck in no mans land on my own for a little while. This meant I was working double hard and I was paying the price with my legs beginning to complain. I was caught by group half way through still working flat out to stay with them I began to pay for my efforts not being able to hold on to the wheel in front of me. I finished a respectable 11th, I think I need to work on my tactics a little in these races and conserve some energy to be strong to the end. They really are great fun though and the races are fast and exciting. 

As always a huge thank you to my sponsors, without them I couldn't have so much fun: XCracer.com, Velocite UK, Firecrest MTB, Mavic, Schwalbe UK,  Sponser UK, Whackjob Jim, Ana Nichoola, Scimitar Sports, Exposure Lights and Working Bodies. Also a special thank you to Caroline Stewart for being a fantastic mechanic and keeping me calm! 

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