Right, time to take stock a little of the past season, what i'd like to achieve over the winter and goals for the next season...
Okay, not as much racing as I'd have liked, but my youngest son was still fresh out of the wrapper so little time to train or to actually get out and compete. I'll list the races I did and then I'll summerise my performance/winter goals.
April: MucOff8
Over priced and the course was bollocks due to the weather ( a recurring theme for the season ). In the dry it would have been ace but lack of fitness and preparation meant I didnt do that well. Raced as a pair with common tag team partner Guy, didnt do too badly ( relative to our own goals ) but better prep would have been an idea.
July: Bontrager24/12
My first attempt at a 24hr race, and i did it in a team of four. I've been racing around newnham park for over a decade now and even in the grotty weather the course was a lot of fun. I did pretty well but succombed to my old nemesis; my dodgy back which threw a wobbly around midnight. The team where ace and cracked on and we all put in a decent showing - 4 laps each and 5 for Sally. Definatley the high point of the year.
October: Dusk till Dawn
Later time i came to thetfors for the D2D race its rained, this time it poured! by the second lap it was like riding through porridge and not fun at all. Fitness wise I was feeling pretty good, a last minute massage and acupuncture helping my back too. The real issue was bastid chainsuck that dogged my entire second lap, this beat my physcologically as much as the rain. I probably couldve bodged a fix but the lure of a warm sleeping was too great. I was really dissapointed that for the third time this year, a great course was buggered by the rain.
Over all, my performance and fitness came in leaps and bounds at each race and i'm hoping to maintain a decent level of fitness over the winter months. In a few weeks i'll be taking my driving test and fingers crossed i'll pass as it'll give me the means to travel a bit and not have to ride the same trails time in and out - huge motivation points. I'll try and complete my camping kit too as i've found having that sorted takes alot of stress out - i wish i'd taken my bigger tent to D2D as i would have had room to change and been able to keep my bed area seperate. A few more little bits like a decent lamp and a chair are also on the list.
I'm hopefully moving onwards to a full suspension bike for the new year too, this will give my back some much needed protection, not sure if i'll replace the stiffee or supplement it, we'll have to see.
The important thing is my fitness, and touch wood i'll be able to get into a routine and make some decent ground on that front, a plan to by a turbo trainer for the grotty months is on the cards too.
Finishing my day job at 1300hrs also means i've got some day light to play around with too, something to capitalise on! A return to regular wednesday/thursday night riding too is a plan, what day depends on the weather!
First of all though, a week off as the wife is revising for her end of year law degree exam so no bikes till the 12th atleast! gives me a chance to replace some cables and tweak the bike a bit!
Goals for next year? a few, I'd like to do the goodwood spring challenge, a traditional xc race held in May, another crack at 24/12 and D2D again ( im determined to get another dry race out of that place! ) If it doesnt clash with Dylans second birthday, the Brighton BigDog is on the cards too. Guy and I have also targeted the exposure southdowns way race - from eastbourne to queeen elizabeth country park ( about 80 miles ) in the dark. We'll see about that one!
Ok, I'll update in a week or two as I have 100 miles to hit in 3 weeks this month! till then, tara!
Jim.
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