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Southern Cross Series

30 seconds in and my legs are screaming, my heart is going mad and my head is of the opinion that now would be a good time to slow down or maybe even just stop, chill out and take in the scenery. Yes its that time of year again. The first race of the Mountain bike season and Im heading in a mass sprint for the start of the very first singletrack section at round 1 of the southern cross country series, Wasing Park. Im Shane Banks and work in customer services for wiggle and am now a member of team wiggle. For this season Ill be writing about my experiences at various races around the country.

Its always with a sense of apprehension that I line up for race one of the season.The questions of have I done enough and the quality of training through the winter gets answered in the next few hours. Based on the previous seasons standings Im fortunate to get a grid position. I have a certain ability to do my very best to propel myself forward at high speed during the start sprint while seemingly all those around me pass me by. For this reason Im glad Ive got this grid position. every little bit helps as they say. With the start whistle sounded the race and my mountain bike season is officially on! The frenetic first few minutes of the race give way to a more manageable pace and I settle in for the next 4 laps. Im very pleased to be going through to lap two at the back of a group of three riders in 21st place. Not too bad I think to myself. From here if I can maintain the pace I may move up a few places.

Thats the plan. For the next few laps I find myself gaining a few places, then losing a few so yo yoing around the top 20. Going into my final lap Wiggle pro rider Lee Williams breezes past with a cheery hi as he storms into his 5th lap. How do they go that quick!? Lap 4 is a bit of a struggle as fatigue sets in and my pace drops off. The pack has stretched out now so I end up riding the lap pretty much on my own at my own pace with no one to pass and no one passing me. I cross the finish line suitably knackered in 21st place.

Overall Im pretty pleased with the race as a first Mountain bike race outing of the year. It always takes a few races to really get a feel for the race pace again and theres certainly time to build up for races later on in the season. After a long winter of cold, dark and at times snowy training rides it was great to blow away the cobwebs, mix it up with fellow competitors and get in race mode again. Next biggie is our very own Wiggle Enduro Six where Ill be teaming up with my brother Leigh for the pairs six hour race. Hope to see you there for some fun racing!