Margam Park NPS

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BY: Richard Jones

Published: 10th July, 2013

NPS 4 Margam Park.

What a contrast to round one of the National Point series last weekend turned out to be. I remember all too well looking at my Garmin whilst TRYING to warm up at Sherwood and it reading -2c. I shivered out of the tent and onto a snow packed course for a cold race. This weekend couldn't have been more different, I searched longingly for a small patch of shade and tried to stay cool as I loosened the legs before the race, this time with the Garmin reading 34.4c! That's UK racing for you. To be good in this game in this country you have to fair up to all weathers.

For me, Margam is a venue that I have had difficult relationships with. On paper the course suits me down to a T with its big climbs, rocky descents and fast corners. However I have raced there twice before, once back when I was racing sport and it was very muddy that race was awful and very little happened. Then I was back when I was racing Expert, just as I made a move and taken the lead by a small margin I ripped my front tyre off resulting in a DNF.  So you can imagine my anxiety returning to the venue for a third time. Third time lucky perhaps?

Margam House for Saturday recovery Ice Creams. 

The run up to Margam wasn't what I wanted it to be, as like most of us racers the past few weeks have been full of racing. However the week leading up to the race the numbers were on the up and I was feeling a lot more like me. 

Pre lapping on Saturday showed two things. 

1: ITS BLOODY HOT going up that first climb. 

2: Short laps (This isn't usually a problem up until you're in the same race as the guy who just a few weeks back one the first world cup, being lapped was a possibility).

So race day was soon upon us and once again the sun was showing its strength but this was a welcome change. We were quickly gridded and within no time the starting shot was fired. The start felt cramped as the group was squeezed through the arena barriers and round a 90° left hand bend. We soon hit the open climb and things began to open out. I began to work my way up through the riders with the encouragement that my legs were feeling strong and settled in just in front of Nick Craig. 

Things were looking good until the top of the 3^rd climb of the course. I grabbed a hand full of shifter to move my chain back into the big ring but instead my chain dropped off! I jumped off full of panic and fumbled the chain back onto the ring and set back of chasing riders that had passed me. 

Again the legs felt positive and I began to move through the group once again, the sun at this point was really strong and as we re-entered the arena I changed bottle and poured some water down my back in an attempt to keep cool. As I began to climb, once again my chain dropped off for the second time. Again I jumped off, dropped it back into place but it was clear something wasn't right. I could start to feel a creak and groan coming from the bike and this didn't fill me with much confidence. 

Thanks to Louise Bettles for this one! 

As expected my chain continued to drop off roughly 2-3 times each lap. I considered stopping however after seeing so many riders suffering mechanicals that meant they couldn't continue I thought it would be best to struggle on. 

With roughly 1 kilometre to go on my 6^th lap I heard the sound I had been expecting but didn't want. It was the leader of my race Dan McConnell. To anybody that didn't see this guy at round 1 of the world cup then go check it out. He politely asked to pass me (can't imagine the sun was affecting him that much) and so I moved out of his way. I tried holding his wheel as we rolled back into the arena for no other reason than the experience but as expected he soon left me. 

Dan passing me meant I would finish on my 6^th lap instead of going out on my last 7^th lap. This was a real shame however I am certain that if it wasn't for the repeated chain issue I would have been clear of the leader and able to finish my last lap.

So all in all I think Margam got the better of me again. I finished in the exactly the same position as my gridding at the start of the day: 26^th. 

A bike inspection after the race showed a collapsed bottom bracket resulting in some lateral play in the chainset, the chain was then coming off as I shifted gears. 

All in all it was still a fantastic weekend and one I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Richard Jones.  

XCRacer.com. 

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