February started with the third Open 5 Adventure Race in Haworth, Yorkshire. It was great to be back racing after the Christmas and New Year period, especially racing as a pair with Neil Hamblin again. The mid weekend was spent improving on some weaknesses by participating in a mountain bike skills course with the help of Cyclewise, Whinlatter. The month then finished with two mountain bike orienteering events in the Lakes and a fell race, all developing fitness for the up coming open endurance series.
The Pennines are famous for their unpredictable weather and for the first weekend in February they delivered just that, with the tops being clouded in mist. The choice was to mountain bike first, enjoying the challenging riding, which worked out well apart from a diversion in the mist which cost us additional time and taking too long for too few points. Arriving back in transition after three and half hours we set out on the run, trying to make up the time lost in the mist. The run woked out well and we managed to time our finish with a couple of minutes to spare. Despite not having the perfect race we were pleased with our second place.
The course at Cyclewise at Whinlatter was based on improving your core skills on the mountain bike, riding more and pushing less. I never thought I would learn so much in one weekend, learning basic skills such as wheelies and track stands and better bike position and cornering. The course allowed for time on the trails trying out our new skills with the expert eye of the coach giving excellent individual feedback. By the end of the course I found not just my riding faster but more controlled and consistent
My first trailquest of the month was a West Cumbria event in Ireby. The three hours flew by as I took on the area on my own. I enjoyed putting my new found skills and style into practice in a race environment. The following weekend I paired up with Neil again for a Epic Trailquest around the Sedbergh area. With snow still lying on the best of the riding we managed to cover over 30 miles, gathering lots of controls, but all at small value. However we were pleased to be out riding as a pair and getting some miles in prior to the next adventure race in the area next weekend. Neil really towed the pace, as the day before had been the High Cup Nick fell race, Dufton. This nine mile race is over fast running ground, and with the snow reducing over the last few weeks on the North Pennies it was always going to be fast paced. I found the pace hot but it gave me a really good opportunity to race some top fell runners in a local race. I was pleased with my twelfth place over a fast course and the cycle home helped to strech the legs. Roll on spring…
The Pennines are famous for their unpredictable weather and for the first weekend in February they delivered just that, with the tops being clouded in mist. The choice was to mountain bike first, enjoying the challenging riding, which worked out well apart from a diversion in the mist which cost us additional time and taking too long for too few points. Arriving back in transition after three and half hours we set out on the run, trying to make up the time lost in the mist. The run woked out well and we managed to time our finish with a couple of minutes to spare. Despite not having the perfect race we were pleased with our second place.
The course at Cyclewise at Whinlatter was based on improving your core skills on the mountain bike, riding more and pushing less. I never thought I would learn so much in one weekend, learning basic skills such as wheelies and track stands and better bike position and cornering. The course allowed for time on the trails trying out our new skills with the expert eye of the coach giving excellent individual feedback. By the end of the course I found not just my riding faster but more controlled and consistent
My first trailquest of the month was a West Cumbria event in Ireby. The three hours flew by as I took on the area on my own. I enjoyed putting my new found skills and style into practice in a race environment. The following weekend I paired up with Neil again for a Epic Trailquest around the Sedbergh area. With snow still lying on the best of the riding we managed to cover over 30 miles, gathering lots of controls, but all at small value. However we were pleased to be out riding as a pair and getting some miles in prior to the next adventure race in the area next weekend. Neil really towed the pace, as the day before had been the High Cup Nick fell race, Dufton. This nine mile race is over fast running ground, and with the snow reducing over the last few weeks on the North Pennies it was always going to be fast paced. I found the pace hot but it gave me a really good opportunity to race some top fell runners in a local race. I was pleased with my twelfth place over a fast course and the cycle home helped to strech the legs. Roll on spring…
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