Back after Summer Recess

From Petronas Towers KL July 2009

It's been a while since I last blogged, including travel with work, so wanted to get back online...

Summer has had a larger effect on people being available to ride this year and running out of cash hasn't helped either. But since the last blog I've started riding with the local club in Wakefield, Bad Brains MBC and I've sent off my entry to my first ever mountain bike race - Hope Race Series 2 at Lee Quarry. Hmmmmm!

The local club ride on Tuesday and Thursday each week, rain or shine. Tuesday's is a slightly more leisurely pace, maybe a few extra stops along the way compared to Thursdays, but each ride tends to be 12 - 16 miles rides, give or take a few. Starting to ride with them in high summer was helpful as no lights were required even at the end of the ride at 9.30pm, but now (mid-August) lights are needed especially through the woods, so an investment is imminent. (actually tried some lights last night and they were fantastic, riding in the dark is a lot of fun!). Here is a link to the web site: Bad Brains MBC and also a link to the forum where they post the rides for the forthcoming week. Ride bikes, drink beer, eat cake - such a good motto!

The bike race is at Lee Quarry (near Rochdale), a place that the Singletrack magazine use for the Singletrack Weekender amongst other things. The basic race format is 1h30m and complete as many laps as possible. There are three classes, I entered the Weekend Warrior, but the options were: Elite Racer - (BC racing licence required); Weekend Warrior - experience of bikes and riding with reasonable fitness; and finally Have-a-go-hero - New to it all, but lots of enthusiasm to try it out.

I've no clue as to whether the bike will be good enough, I'm sure the Stumpy FSR can handle it, I just mean that I saw photos from the last race series and everyone who seems to be quick, is on a hardtail (I need to get Stumpy HT ready!!). The rest are on full suspension but maybe short travel versions, like the Specialized Epic, Cannondale Rize or Scott Spark. My Guess is the people on full suspension are Weekend Warriors, making the most of their rig and racing it. So, we'll see how it goes. I'm used to taking sandwiches when I go for a full day out on the bike, so that'll be weird not eating half way round. Don't guess that's the spirit of a race anyway. I am quite excited but apprehensive too.

Race dates are Sundays - Sept 6th, Sept 27th, Oct 18th and I hope to hear I made it onto the entry list soon.

I'm trying out Sherwood Pines this weekend, should be easy-ish trail riding but that's good to try another trail centre and get others to come along too. Aiming at the XC Singletrack routes and not the family trails of course :-) I'll see if I can get TrailGuru working on here too.

Sunday's ride is also posted on TrailGuru, see link here: Newmillerdam

Ride at Temple Newsam in June: Temple Newsam