me on the 4th lap (note the 29er wheels)

Share on Facebook  Share on Twitter

BY: Matthew Lewis

Published: 26th September, 2010

I felt like death warmed up today on my 4th and final lap at the Forest of Dean Enduro. I blew up/cramped up massively and was convinced that I wouldn't see my next birthday never mind the finish line.You'd think I'd have learnt, by now, to take it easy at the start and to PACE myself. Fat chance though. I elbowed through to the front and got carried away and tried to stay there.

I spent the first lap sharing the lead with a handy looking fellow in full Felt kit and a classy looking Felt bike. Mixing it up in the front group were also Ben Dale (climb on Bikes) and Ed Mosley. I only realised it was Ed at the end of the race. Both pretty handy Masters riders. Behind them was a long trail of riders of all shapes and sizes with all sorts of aspirations. I was still feeling pretty good for the whole of the 2nd lap and I was shocked to be at the sharp end of the race since I haven't been out on the Superfly since (and i'm ashamed to admit this) Torq 12. It's been a bonkers term here so far and doesn't show signs of letting up this side of xmas so bike riding has been virtually non-existant. Crap eh?

Anyway, the third lap began and this was when those first stirrings of the dreaded cramp were making them selves felt. Thankfully, plenty of fluid and Accelerade gel was keeping it at bay and going into the 4th and final lap in 3rd place I was determined to hold on to it. Bugger me though, I had comedy cramp about a mile into the lap. I say comedy cramp since if anyone was watching they must've burst out laughing. It was the sort of cramp that caused me to yelp and the instant it struck I veered off the trail into a tree. By this stage of the lap/cramp I thought that was it. Three riders easily took advantadge of my pain, the swine! I limped around the course and was so relieved to hit the final awesome, and new, descent at the end of the lap. 6th in the end.

Thanks to all the marshalls, they were brilliant. The course was a cracker and It seems that it is going to be permantantly waymarked soon. The final descent was ace.

Another great course for the Superfly, shame about the rider's legs and dodgy feeding strategy. Well done to Phil who finished 2nd overall in the BMBS series!

Matt Lewis