Monkey Business on Hungry Hill

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BY: Louise Robinson

Published: 22nd January, 2012

My first race as a XCracer team member, 2 hour ladies at the Merida Brass Monkeys Enduro at Hungry Hill, and my preparation went according to plan (there's got to be a first time). No stinking cold, no kids with D&V overnight, no mechanicals on the start line, oh dear - no excuses.

The course was fabulous, as we have come to expect from the Brass Monkeys organisers, with a toxic mix of hill climbs and twisty single track. The first lap was carnage however; with the course becoming technical almost immediately from the start line the queues were almost inevitable. Luckily for me, the first 6 in every category were gridded at the front so I was spared the worst of the wait, but even in my position we quickly caught the 4 hour back markers and bottle necks soon formed.  The first of the hill climbs quickly separated the men from the boys (or something like that) and we started to string out. 

All in all I had a fairly uneventful race (again, first time for everything) without any mechanicals or falls.  I managed three steady laps and held off my good friend Hannah Bussey who crept up silently behind me.  It was also nice to tussle with Gorrick stalwart Paul Howard up the final climb on lap 3. He was really rather jaded and generally suffering as a result of "newbabyitis ". Unfortunately for me the moment we hit the last bit of single track he disappeared in a cloud of dust, but you have to take your victories where you can!

 I have recently switched from a triple setup to 2x10 and the difference was amazing. I ride an On-One Whippet, which is designed for a 2x10, but when I bought it I didn't have the funds to upgrade my drive chain as well. Apparently I was a very good girl last year and Father Christmas delivered me a new one.  With my new drive chain fitted by the best mechanic I know (my loving husband) it was faultless.  After my chain suck issues of the first two rounds of Brass Monkeys, todays ride was a refreshing change.  I also never ran out of gears (which I was worried that I would) and neither did I ever spin out or miss my granny ring.

Thanks again to the weather gods - three rounds in the winter with not a drop of rain, we didn't manage odds that good in the summer!

Well done to all those who raced today. The course was tough and doubtless there will be a few sore legs tomorrow (mine included).  First place today gave me first overall in the series and a bespoke, locally made trophy for the mantle piece.

Louise Robinson

XCracer.com

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