Welsh Cross RD3+RD4

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BY: phil Morris

Published: 17th October, 2011

Mansel Lacey was the venue of the third round of the Welsh League. The sun was out and the course was bone dry. The course was a mixture of bumpy tracks through the woods, a few drop offs and a couple of tarmac sections. I had taken 2 bikes my cross and my mountain bike as a spare. I headed out for a couple of practice laps and decided to do one on each bike. Being a firm mountain bike rider, to me on that course the mountain bike was my choice for the race. The cross bike stayed in the pits as my spare. On the line up I was on the second row, off the start I went hard up the tarmac straight, which on my mountain bike was damn hard going. Going into the first bit of singletrack I was in about 4th place. The top positions remained fairly similar for the whole race.

But the main excitement for my supporting crew was the last few laps. I gave it my all and tried to close the gaps. Andy Baum and myself were changing positions most of the race, then he had a mechanical which lost him a bit of time. From then on I just pushed hard to get away and hunt down Joe!! I didn't think it was possible, as he had a good lead, but I wasn't too far behind and I began to see him in the distance. I pushed on and couldn't quite do it but finished a pleasing 13 seconds behind in 2nd place. Overall, a very pleasing race for me, especially as prior to the race I was hesitating whether to race or not as my chest/sniffles was still not 100%.

I'm glad I used my mountain bike, the wooded sections it was riding nicely and I seemed to make up time through them but the tarmac sections were a struggle and i felt like they were never ending and took all my effort!! Whilst the cyclocross bikes, just glided along! So I am told by my supporters!! Excellent race and set up by the organisers, well done!!

This Sunday was the next round at Brecon, unfortunately I was working days, and despite trying desperately for somebody to cover for me, nobody could. And crewing was down, so I couldn't take any leave either. Gutted and p****d off to say the least, especially after my result last week, I was keen to continue, knowing that the there was going to be a few top riders missing, as they were up at the Rapha supercross.

I didn't make it but I had a step in for me, "Hali-Rae Morris" she had decided that she was going to race. So Donna took her along to have a go.

 

(Picture taken at Hali-Raes last race in Newnham) 

On arriving I'm informed that she said,

"Mum, where's sign on? Because I need my number!! " Well travelled little racer!!

Her race was at 10.30 for 12 minutes. She was one of the youngest riders taking part without stabilisers and although mummy ran around behind her, she did very well. She was determined to keep going, despite 9 and 10 year olds flying past her!! The race finished and she had completed a big 3 laps!! And mummy too!!

Well done racy Rae! I can't wait to see some photos now, as I have been told she had a big grin on her face all the way round!

 Just annoyed that I couldn't be there myself to watch her and to have taken part myself, but that as the ups and downs of working rolling shifts I guess!

Next up will be the Merlin Knights cross at Carmarthen this Saturday, which I'm now looking forward too.

Thanks to everyone who supported me at Mansel Lacey and to those who gave encouragement to my little girl on Sunday.
Thanks to Clive Powell for helping me out with all things cyclo cross!

Thanks to my sponsors
Xcracer.com
Gateway Cycles
Accelerade
MT Zoom
Exposure lights

Phil Morris