2
Crowthorne Spring Series Round 3

07 March Crowthorne Spring series Round 3

After dabbling in a couple of enduro style events over the winter period I though I would give the old school style XC race a go and decided to tackle the second round of the Saddle skedaddle spring series at Crow Thorne Wood . The week leading up to the event was not the best with me feeling under the weather with a swollen and sore throat but with Wiggle being very generous and letting me use a 2010 Focus Raven Pro and Ben and Doug from the workshop joining me for the race and for once the weather gods smiling on me I was looking forward to giving my best shot.

Race day arrived and with all our kit and bikes loaded into Ben’s van we rolled up to cold and icy Crow Thorne wood but the sun give a us some warmth. With registration and the usually pre-ride faff sorted we had a quick pre-ride of the course which gave me a time to try and get some sense of the course and my first real off road ride of the Raven. The course was great with not many climbs but loads of twisty and techy single track to get your teeth into.

Start time soon rolled up and all the pre-race nerves started to slip away and unlike me I found myself near the front of the bunch on the line. We set off at a fast pass but by half way round and a few technical section done I settled in a good rhythm and started to passing riders at a steady pace. First lap over and things where going well I was staying with people that I was comfortable with pace wise and when the time was right pushed on harder. The second lap went past very quickly and before I knew it I was on the last lap still feeling surprisingly good and boasted on by Ben’s cheering kept up my steady pace unfortunately ¾ of the way round I crashed letting riders go by that I had just passed.

I quickly jumped back on the bike and chased them down coming in to the last climb before the finish. I dug in and give it my last burst of speed and passed the rider I had been tailing for last few corners crossing the line in 26th place out of the 78 starters which for me is a great personal result.

Next race will be a the first round of the Southern XC series which for me is the next step up on the racing ladder so hoping for a reasonable result.

Del.