Posing, podium and a Saturday night out

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BY: Katie Carmichael

Published: 13th April, 2014

This weekend got off to a great start on Friday when I took delivery of my awesome XCracer/Scimitar kit. I'd just finished trying it all on (fits a treat!) when I got a call from the picture desk of Edinburgh Evening News. Paul and I were entered into the Red Bull Hillchasers race to take place on the Mound in Edinburgh on Saturday and they were looking for a couple of photos. Back on with the kit and I was out with the photographer posing. We featured on Saturday in the 'picture of the day! '

Qualifiers for the Hillchasers took place on Saturday morning. I cycle the Mound every day on my singlespeed on my commute home so I knew what was in store. A fairly steady start then a kick up round a left hander. The course then sent us sharp right, towards the castle, onto a cobbled stretch to the finish line. I decided to give it a bash on my 29er. I thought my qualifier run was pretty slow so wasn't expecting to make the cut for the finals.

To my surprise I got an eamil to say I was through. It takes a lot to get me into town on a Saturday night these days, but the opportunity to race in a final against an Olympian and a pretty nice looking goody bag seems to do the trick. Shanaze Reade was racing on her bmx. Three of my friends from Hervelo were also through to the finals. There was quite a crowd lining the Mound and when we set off for our practice run I began to feel a little  nervous. I wasn't quite expecting this many eyes on me for my first outing in my new kit!

After the men's heats it was time for the female final. I was super slow off the start (I blame the big wheels - takes a while to get them turning!) and just managed to catch the main bunch by the first turn. My club buddie somehow managed to get her baggies caught in another riders handlebars as we made the turn, sending them both towards the barriers. She managed to extricate herself but I took the chance to nip by her. We raced to the finish line and I took fifth. Fourth, fifth and sixth place went to mtbs. Shanaze was a good ten seconds ahead of us, She's a powerhouse! I decided to give the after race party a miss and headed home to get my recovery tights on. Rock and roll.

Sunday brought round two of the SXC at the Commonwealth Games course at Cathkin Braes. I had two races here last year, the SXC and the British champs. I'd had a dnf at the SXC after a puncture on the first lap but a good result at the champs when I came third. I'd spent a lot of time on the course last year, and with it being manmade and not prone to change I was pretty confident that I knew it well.

After a good practice lap I was on the start line ready to begin my first race in expert. With no other masters pre-entered I'd taken the decision to step up
this year.

Lap one was the usual tussle for position, but I was pleased with my start. I have a habit of being left for dust but this time I was in the mix from the off and able to pick off some of the younger girls who usually get away a lot quicker than me. I had second place in my sights, but I wasn't really close so I
focused on my own ride, trying to keep some flow on the twisty singletrack through the woods and digging in on the climbs to make up any time I was losing on the descents. Lap two was a bit of a shocker. With the grand vet men coming through I let myself get harried through the descents and too much braking in the twisty sections made for a pretty slow lap. By the third and fourth laps I was much more settled so just kept it steady, held my place and enjoyed the ride.

I'm pretty chuffed to have earned a spot on the podium in my first expert/elite race for XCracer/Scimitar. The SXC put on a cracking event and I'm looking forward to the next one.

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More on the SXC Series 2014 Rd 2:

Event Calendar Listing