Author Archives Andy

Pickering MTBO 12/05/12

May 12, 2012

The sun was out for a change at today’s middle in Pickering. It led to a false sense of security with bone dry roads and forest tracks, turning into the wettest of forest bog you could imagine!
The route generally consisted of hammering along fire-roads then deciding the best way into controls to avoid too much bog snorkelling.

Before the event I did the school boy error of a new chain on an old cassette so kept to my biggest 2 rings most of the way round to avoid skipping gears. Makes for a high cadence! I also had an awesome over the handle bars- one of those where you can’t quite believe you’re not injured! A few difficult route choices had to be made and i think may have cost a couple of minutes.

All in all I was pleased the bike held up enough to actually race and pleased with a good result.
Results

Foxley Long MTBO 28/4/12

Apr 29, 2012

Its a slippery slope…

Foxley 1

Foxley 1

On Saturday we were racing in the British MTBO Long race, which is also one of the selection races for the British team. The race was held in the private estate of Foxley in Herefordshire.

The map was 1:10 000 scale, with a large ‘horseshoe’ of wooded elevation surronding central farmland. The route took us round the horseshoe, and made use of what could  have been fairly bland riding- this was anything but.

The route seemed to go up and then straight back down every hill possible- often climbing about 100m height each time, then storming back down another side. The red-brown soil I was told was clay and I have never raced on anything so slippery, it was awesome! You had to fight for grip on every turn of the pedals up hill, and the downhill was a lesson in body weight positioning and in finding your tires’ grip; with frequent back and even front wheel washouts when turning too sharply.

Everyone who came back in was smiling broadly, covered in mud, with bloodied ankles, and tired legs. I made a couple of mistakes, maybe costing 3 mins, but fortunately did just enough to come in ahead of Ben Plowman by a narrow margin. Everyone found the conditions difficult and made keeping a constant eye on navigation almost impossible, so I think mistakes were commonplace.

All in all it was one of those brilliant races, where conditions were so wet and slippery it made it really quite interesting and exciting. The MTBO races this year have been awesome and I cannot wait until the next round in Pickering, and also Lee and Crag Quarries sprint later in the year.

Results, splits

Foxley 2

Foxley 2

Dark and White Sheffield MTBO Score 26/02/12

Feb 29, 2012

A fast race around our regular trails in Sheffield!

The start of the 3 hour race was from Longshaw Estate on the edge of Sheffield in the eastern Dark Peak. My route began with a quick in and out at the estate, then continued with a great descent down Blacka and a quick tonk across Burbage with the wind behind me.

I then made a big mistake. I completely forgot about 1 check point and essentially went right past it! I’ve never done this before, and personally I blame A+E!

Completely fuming, once I’d realized my mistake, I continued around the rest of the course in familiar Rivelin, and Stanage ‘The Edge’ downhill, ending with some tough road climbs at the end coming in 13 mins early.

All in all a brilliant course and race, with an important learning point!!

Results

Strines and Froggat with Pete by Andydgg with Garmin Connect

Feb 22, 2012

Great ride, starting to get some speed back in those legs.
Hitting those hills hard!

Gilling Woods MTBO Medium course

Feb 22, 2012

On Sunday was North Yorkshire MTBO’s event at Gilling woods. It was a 25 control course through mixed pine and deciduous forest across some steep little valleys around the lake. It was a ‘medium’ course so was a good test of navigation and route choice along with a full-on cardio punisher!

I had a good race. Felt like getting some fitness back. Rode and navigated well, feeling strong on the speed of my map reading and map memory. Also felt more at home gunning some of the muddy downhills, doing my best Danny Hart impression on my scale.

The course was great with a few big climbs, some nice traversing singletrack and even the option of a downhill track between 2 controls.

Finished the day in 2nd on the A course behind winner Killian Lomas.