Race round up

It seems ages since I last blogged but in fact it is only been 3weeks!
First up was the 3rd round of the BMBS @ Margham Park, always a good course for me for some unknown reason as the big climbs and rocky singletrack bear little relation to my local trails around Ashford! After my mechanical @ R1and missing R2 I wasn't gridded so started near the back but I knew the climbs and blistering heat would take their toll and pacing would be the order of the day. The course was a little different to prevoius years and broke the climbs up a little, this received a mixed response from riders but as usual its the same for everyone. In the end I was happy with 8th but felt I could have given a little more and paced myself maybe a bit too much on the 2nd lap, (hindsight is great!) Thanks to Jason for turning up and solving my bike problem! Also have to thank Nat for feeding me and Ian throughout the race.

1 week on and it was round 3 of the Southern xc series @ Pippingford East Sussex, prob the most local race of the year for me @ 1hr 30mins drive away! The course here has great potential with a large height gain, great views and large car park/camping area. I practised the course around midday and with dry condition tyres on it was seriously dodgy! Lots of off camber singletrack that was slick with the overnight rain and some deep muddy climbs didn't inspire me, however a change of tyres, Maxxis ignitors and some sunshine got me to the line in a positive state of mind. The race went ok, I can't say I felt that great from the gun as the pace was furious, although I enjoyed the 1st mile long downhill, berms and drops were taken at max speed, great fun! Although I seemed to lack any zip to pass people I must have been doing something right as I managed to make my way through the field on the steep and seemingly never ending climb that finished the lap. Laps 2 and 3 followed in a similar vein but with the course drying rapidly it started to speed up and definitly rode better. Up the last climb I was catching the rider in front but he saw me coming and my stealth attack was seen off easily in the end, 4th and just off the podium was not a bad result and see's me 3rd overall in the series.

Next up I have a few weeks to regroup and recover as 3 big races in 4 weeks seems to have taken its toll, I now start building for the National Champs in July with R4 of the national series along the way.
See you at a trail soon