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Event :
Notts and Derby League Rd 1 & West Midlands League Rd 1 (Cyclocross)

Preparation :
Nowt!! The Notts race was the first time that I’ve sat on a cross bike since last season, so in terms of prep for the race I had none. Obviously I’m pedalling a lot these days as I’m getting fit for the last few mtb races of the season, but this was one of the reasons I decided to do these cross races… to aid my training for mtb. Also with the Notts being a Saturday race and the Mids being a Sunday, it was a good chance to have a weekend away racing with no pressure to perform… just give it a good healthy slam!?

Biggest Challenge :
Always strange going straight into a race on a bike that you’re not too familiar with. Ok, so it only takes a lap or two to get back in the swing of things, but it’s by no means the best way approach an event. It’s also quite different to a mountain bike race where you have suspension, fat tyres and good brakes so getting used to the handling of the bikes on the first few races of the season can sometimes catch you out, which I found out on the first lap of the Notts race…

I tore into an off camber bomb hole section thinking I was still on my mountain bike and the skinny tyres folded underneath me sending me spinning 180 flying off my bike backwards in what can only be described as a backwards swallow dive with a bike… you know… how all the elites do it!?!?

Top Tip :
Ride the bike you intend to race on a handful of times before the event as you’ll find yourself wasting time and effort during the race and there’s no point being at a disadvantage before you start!

Result :
Notts & Derby – Made hard work of getting up to the leading 4 or 5 riders on the opening 3 laps, making silly mistakes, crashing and what not, but from the third lap on I managed to start pulling a gap on the chasers crossing the line almost 2 minutes clear of 2nd place. Good Race

Read the British Cycling Review!

West Midlands – Bit more prepared from having done yesterday’s race I managed to get on the front on the first lap and start pushing the pace from the word go. On a completely opposite course to yesterday’s (Notts – Flat bumpy grassy farm fields. Mids – Wooded hilly single-track course with surface grease for some drift action), I managed to work hard up the climbs, however having company for the opening 3 laps, but again I managed to start pulling a gap crossing the line again nearly 2 minutes clear. Another good race.

Read the British Cycling Review!

Highlight of the Race :
Good weather for both races, as it’s not often you get to race cyclocross on a warm sunny day, taking two wins in two days, and the West Midlands course was more like a mountain bike race which suited me down to the ground.