Soggy Bottom Round 1

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BY: simon ernest

Published: 12th November, 2011

I can't believe it has taken almost a week to sit down and write a short report of the Soggy Bottom held on November 6th, I guess this is what happens when you have a baby demanding your time and not just a bike. And a wife.  But here it is:
Lady luck was smilling on me when I booked a long weekend in Devon.  Martyn had also organised a mtb race on the very weekend I was on holiday and only 20 miles from where I was staying.  It would be rude not to I thought, the wife also gave me the green light and I made sure not to ask her again and legged it.
Untypically of November the weather was actually really nice.  Must be all the global warming, I guess there are some advantages.  I completely failed to be prepared in any way, shape or form.  The night before my race preparation began in true Ernest fashion with the ernesttaper (5 pints of Black Sheep ale).  I pulled the bike out of the car and after checking out other bikes coming in from the morning race decided Maxxis Crossmarks were probably not the best suited tyre.  The tinkering began:
Sauserwinds were on - done,
Shock pressures checked - done,
Gears checked - fail
Mech hanger was bent.  I resorted to physical persuasion to get the gears (sort of) working again.  Attach the number plate, quick spin up and down the road and I'm ready to race.
I lined up on the front row of the grid in the expert/elite field (total five riders) and stifled a yawn.  I was ready to race.  Before we knew it the gun  went and we were off at rather a brisk pace.  We hit the first climb and my legs blew.  I tried to settle into a nice rythmn and began to feel better over the following four laps.  During this time Luke Eggar and Llewelynn Holmes had bolted and over those four laps pulled out a bit of a lead on me.  On the last lap my legs started to wake up and I made a late charge, reducing my deficit from 1min 40s to under 20s to roll across the line in third.  Luke rode to a fine win after battlling the entire race with Llewlynn.
Was my bottom soggy? Yes (one cold river crossing per lap).  Was I happy? Yes.  Do I wish there were more Soggy Bottoms races? Yes.  Do I wish I lived closer to Newnham Park? Yes.
Massive thanks to Martyn and his crew for putting in the effort, great race, great atmosphere and see you at Bontrager 24/12.

Thanks to spodge360 for the picture.