Red Kite Final Round!

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BY: Donna Morris

Published: 17th March, 2013

After 10 days off the bike, due taking boss man to Scotland for physio on my tod, I eagerly wanted to ride my bike. So Phil  got me entered in the week to the final round of the Red Kite Series at Coed Trallwm, Abergwesyn. ( Near, Builth Wells).

After Coed y Brenin a few weeks back I made the decision to look for a new seat. After making a few enquiries I opted for the Fizik Airone Donna. Not only was it reviewed highly by women, but it has got my name on it!! Pretty smart I think! So with no chance to really try it out, apart from on the drive. The race was my first real sit on it, not ideal you may think, but fair play it was super. Really comfy, lightweight and it gets top marks from me.

Nannie arrived and we departed, unsure of what weather we would be greeted with in the hills of Abergwesyn. Snow had caused havoc in a few places not far away. But thankfully there was only a dusting on the very top, fire road. The usual race events, have a chat, get signed on, kit on, bugger the warm up and get to the start.

Not feeling overly positive after a few conversations revealed a very technical course and hope the ambulance is on standby!! Great, after I ended up in one the last round! Next little knock, was Phil told me literally as I hoped n my bike to go the start, that he had put his pedals on my bike and swapped mine on to his! Not a big deal, hey but boy they took some getting used too! Next time dear, don't do it just before a blooming race!

There was 4 other woman riding, and at 10.45 we were off, killer draggy climb to the top of the forest, I had a good start and just paced myself, knowing that there was going to be some serious gnarly bit in the first section, so I wanted to make sure I at least got the first lap completed! After the fire road you went into the same rooty, muddy section down through the woods, the place where I came a cropper last time. Mental note-must not do again, thank fully I made it down there riding all 3 laps and even the drop off down to the road. Next was the new section, reminisce of Margam for me. Wheels clogging up, no moving wheel, completely jamming up!! The first lap was the worst, not thinking to stick to the edges and try to minimise the mud, but still for the next race a little job for Phil to put some skinner tyres on! Please! Apologises for any black words, from my mouth, but really frustrating. There was quite a bit rideable then, just tricky with stumps etc everywhere and then after lots of puddle and mud a completely un rideable even for the best steep bank. Run up there then try to ride as far up the next section, until spin, spin, off I get again and run, pull the bike to the top. Next the fireroad, where you doubled back on yourself to the next fun section, down through the woods and a drop off descent, which I have ridden before but today with all the mud already clogged in my wheels the heap of mud at the bottom, looked like a trap awaiting me! So I ran down it. Next was a section although very hard, it pushed me mentally and physically, but I'm really pleased that I rode three quarters of it. A bit more muddy churned up road then on to the most enjoyable section for me, a twisty, fast single-track through the trees, down into the café area and under the bridge. Swoop through the woods, through the river, climb to the top and then another fun descent back to a fire road climb and finished off with the enjoyable single-track back to the start. I was in first place and just for the next 2 laps got better and better at all the sections, and think I will have got quicker too. Can't tell though until the results come out! Although this caught me out, because the finish was a little different this time and involved a short steep descent and a twist through a few trees back to the café. I did 3 laps ! 2hours of riding and won the women's. Although very technical, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't wait for next year and hope the series continues to grow! Thank you to everyone involved and well done to everyone who completed or even rode a lap!

 Pat on the back Deb Rowlands, (Cycle-Tec) and the other 2 ladies.

Well done to the boys too, old and young! Phil came 2^nd place behind Jonny Pugh (Cycle-Tec) and 3^rd place went to David Evans (Cycle- Tec).

Thanks as always to our sponsors, with whom without we could not race.

Thanks to Roy Bevis for the pics

Donna and Phil Morris

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