The rain from the previous week made clear to everyone that it was going to be a wet one . The ground was as a mud bath and riders and spectators were sliding around all weekend. Did i hear Glastonbury?
As i rolled up at 9:30 on saturday morning i knew i was going to have a fun time, the ground was wet and i was interested to see what the track was like. As i started to change into my race gear it started to rain. Not that i was too bothered as i knew it wouldn't really affect the conditions too much as it rained constantly the week before.
So as i got on the uplift it continued to rain and rain and rain....for most of the day. The new uplift trails that are used are alot better and the guys at Pearce's have got it sorted. There were rumours of a new top section, which many people questioned about when the ruts got bad. Why not use the old section?...Im not quite sure but it was all fun.
Ok then heres a run down of the track. From the start the track dropped into the new soft and loamy section which became hell by the time racing started on the sunday. The track then joined up to the older top section just before the road gap, although not many people wer bothering to attempt it as the run in was so bogged down with mud. After crossing the first small fire road the mud was alot thinner which meant that more speed could be carried through this section, i think that most people enjoyed this section as you didn't really have to pedal to carry speed....time for a rest....After this the deeply rutted switchbacks appeared which were alot harder to carry speed through but it was more of a case of staying on the bike. The "bomb hole" jump was awful all weekend and i didn't see many people attempt it, it was alot safer just to roll it and keep traction on the soft and squidgy floor. The next section dropped into a little bank and down a straight with a few roots starting to appear. Hop over the roots and slide into the right hander and try and keep on your line for the left hander that followed. A very tight right-left corner was next which also involved some very slippy roots. Over these and into a "V" shaped part of the track. many ruts appeared over the weekend which made it hard to go in the direction you wanted to... Turn one way...and go the other, i was a bit puzzled. the main aim for me in this section was to flow down it (well at least try to) and not fall off. I dont think i got it but it was all good fun. Round a few more tight corners and into the last section. I found this bit the best as you could pump it a bit and carry more speed without the need to pedal. Round a few tight corners...over a few roots etc and into the last few corners, the tight and steep corners were rode slowly by me all weekend. Round these and then to the little drop before the bottom table top, over this and a sprint to the finish.
Sunday was quite a bit different to saturday. The track became alot more rutted at the top and on peoples second runs we saw them running down the track. Looked quicker but why not ride?....Thats what we are there to do(Y) I think most people didnt really want to race and took it steady in parts. That was my view anyway, just to stay on the bike...i still didn't manage that. Ohh well.
Some people gave up and went home after the first run....Shame on them as the second run was so much drier than the first. Although it was drier my hopes of getting my top 20 were still not high. I managed to cruise down the track without pedalling too much. This stopped me from falling off which i think paid off in the end. I crossed the line about 45 seconds faster than my first run, i was well pleased. As i watched the faster boys coming down i knew my place would drop a bit. In the end i ended up 12th /40 with a 3:47 i n the junior catorgory. Joe Bowman came down the track with a 3.59 and came in at 19th place in the juniors...he claimed he had a bad run, im not so sure...u sure joe? I guess i beat him then but im not sure if il keep doing it haha. Hard luck, youl beat me next time.
Although it was a muddy weekend i think that everyone really enjoyed it and would have fun cleaning up all that mud. Thanks to Pearce Cycles who put on an excelent show as always no matter what the conditions and the new timing clock above the finish was good to see what everyone got.....:)
Tom
