Today's Ride

2 hrs city-outskirt ride with the Mrs.

First MTB ride since October and what better way to kick of the season than enter my first proper XC race (mayhem doesn't count) in over 30 years That memory burnt a deep scar and I needed to make some new, more positive memories and try something different.

Que yesterday over at Grammercombe Woods for round 1 of the SWXC series. Open vets, I made sure I started right at the back and gave plenty of space for the whippets who were churning out 16 mins laps to my 25 Slow and steady was my mantra, and most of all finish. Which I did, so super stoked about that. 17/21 in the category. The only way is up!

The course was excellent, lovely single-track, lot's of features, not too much climbing....but dear lord...the weather. Soaking. Absolutely soaking. The woods sit on flint so thank goodness for that but the earth turned into liquid mud/slop. Big up my new tyres which are incredible, barely any slipping over wood, rock and the slop. The only downer was a crash on the final lap that wiped me out sideways thanks to a hidden log in the slop. At least I game out better than the chap who stacked it on the 4th corner of lap 1

A sign of things to come, this was after the practice lap, and it wasn't raining at this point...



At the back where I'd happily spend most of my time bimbling along



Destroyed (me, not the field )

al-onestare said:

First MTB ride since October and what better way to kick of the season than enter my first proper XC race (mayhem doesn't count) in over 30 years That memory burnt a deep scar and I needed to make some new, more positive memories and try something different.

Que yesterday over at Grammercombe Woods for round 1 of the SWXC series. Open vets, I made sure I started right at the back and gave plenty of space for the whippets who were churning out 16 mins laps to my 25 Slow and steady was my mantra, and most of all finish. Which I did, so super stoked about that. 17/21 in the category. The only way is up!

The course was excellent, lovely single-track, lot's of features, not too much climbing....but dear lord...the weather. Soaking. Absolutely soaking. The woods sit on flint so thank goodness for that but the earth turned into liquid mud/slop. Big up my new tyres which are incredible, barely any slipping over wood, rock and the slop. The only downer was a crash on the final lap that wiped me out sideways thanks to a hidden log in the slop. At least I game out better than the chap who stacked it on the 4th corner of lap 1

A sign of things to come, this was after the practice lap, and it wasn't raining at this point...

At the back where I'd happily spend most of my time bimbling along

Destroyed (me, not the field )

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That was a bit of a trek mate. I was in Tiverton until about 2pm yesterday and the weather was beautiful, though we did drive through the mother of all hail showers, just after Exeter, on the way home

raidan73 said:

That was a bit of a trek mate. I was in Tiverton until about 2pm yesterday and the weather was beautiful, though we did drive through the mother of all hail showers, just after Exeter, on the way home

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Yep, it's the furthest away of the locations but I'm up in Exeter for work 2 or 3 times a month so used to it now. I even drove through all the rain on the way up, so I'm double stupid for cycling through it again

I look semi-professional here...if only it were true!

well done @al-onestare , really good to see the pics. Bike looks cool.

JCS said:

well done @al-onestare , really good to see the pics. Bike looks cool.

Click to expand...

The bike is top class. It was faultless in conditions when you'd expect things to stop working like electronics, shifting, braking, grip...

Old bike...new paintjob - 14.6% faster, may paint my legs tomorrow too, see if that works

not many outings during winter (felt too lazy... ) ...but now, spring at least!