Loosing your legs.

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BY: Richard Jones

Published: 18th April, 2013

It's safe to say that things this year didn't start just how I imagined them too. A mix of the wet weather, a touch of over training and the realization yet again that since last year I still haven't become the worlds next best XC racer resulted in some bad weeks! 

The first national came at the start of this bad patch. It was still a fantastic weekend and one I will never forget, as it really was an experience of a lifetime thanks to some dramatic weather conditions. My race performance was rather rubbish though and from the starting shot it was clear that I had very little to give, I felt tired and what little energy I did have was quickly used up. Rider after rider passed me and rode off into the distance, knowing what a special race this was there was no way I was going to pull out. I settled down and just accepted that what will be, will be. I finished 40^th after just shy of 2 hours of racing. 

It was clear after that weekend that it was time to back off and take some time to relax and enjoy just getting out and riding and that's just what I have been doing for the past few weeks. 

Things have steadily improved and last weekend saw another chance to see how things where going at Midlands round 2 in Birchall just outside of Chesterfield. Thankfully the weather had been kind and to my suprisement the course was remarkably dry. I was really looking forward to getting racing once again and a pre lap showed there were plenty of fun sections out on course. 

A small yet quality field of Elite riders lined up directly in front of a very strong head wind and a steady climb. The start shot was fired and Lee Westwood took up the challenge of leading out the start. The pace was remarkably fast and for the first few minutes I struggled to hold onto the leading bunch but I made it over the top and rejoined the leaders bunch's wheels. I could see that Dan Fleeman, Matt Dennis and Jason Boutell had pulled out a small advantage. 

My self, Dave Collins and Chris Andrews set about chasing the leading trio down. Half way through lap two Dave put a big effort in and managed to bridge the gap onto Jason's wheel. I was feeling a lot better than what I did at the national so also managed to get a small gap and go alone for the last 3 laps. 

The course was a mix of grassy climbs, steep technical climbs, off camber singletrack and a brilliant decent towards the end of the lap. 

I was 5^th by the end of the race, which given the quality of the field I was very pleased with. Yet again the race was brilliantly put together with a great atmosphere about the event. 

So this weekend coming is another busy one where I am going to be racing locally on the road on Saturday and then going to be heading to Essex for round 2 of the Eastern series. After that its down south for the next national in cornwall, let's hope the sun keeps shining!

Richard Jones. 

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