Dazzling downhill days

After an informative friday evening with Ric Jamieson, it was time for some of the Mavericks to meet up at Gawton Gravity Hub (http://www.gawtongravityhub.co.uk/) with Jay Williamson for a great day of coaching. Through out the day we mastered the two tracks HSD and Proper Job  with Jay showing us all the best lines and how to ride them properly. We pumped over lumps and bumps, flew over jumps (that were massive of course...), glided across roots, sped around berms and watched Kris go in to multiple trees! My race face pads (http://www.silverfish-uk.com/ProductDetail/8917/13323/Women-s-Khyber-Elbow-Guard and http://www.silverfish-uk.com/ProductDetail/8917/13325/Women-s-Khyber-Knee-Guard) helped me out and made me more confident when there were steep bits, thanks Silverfish.It was a brilliant day of coaching from a great rider, when watching Jay all of our jaws dropped! Thank you so so much for coaching us all and I would defiantly recommend it to anyone! On Sunday I was determined to us the skills from the day before in the Circus of Dirt and I think I managed to, a bit! After a day of rain, riding and falling off, my legs are quite battered but to say I didn't have a great day would be a lie! The courses were really fun and exciting and riding it in the rain made it more interesting and unpredictable. Thanks to Shred (http://shred.cc/gravity/) for putting on an exciting day and to Rockets and Rascals (http://rocketsandrascals.com/)for the great food to warm us all up afterwards! The Yeti was great yet again and it just shows that hard tails can be ridden on downhill tracks! Also, thanks to Alex  Law for the photos :)

Soggy 3 on the Yeti Arc Carbon and Stover road race

Leading up to soggy 3 I was really excited about riding my new Yeti that I got for christmas from my parents from Silverfish (http://www.silverfish-uk.com/- they have some really cool gear!). After only have ridden it at trail centres, I couldn't wait to be riding at newnham. As Lucy and I, on our new bikes, went on our practise lap with Patsy, Kris, Rob, Penny and my dad I knew it was going to be a fun race on the action packed course. During the race I felt great on the bike, except from still feeling a bit ill. Swooping through the woods, over bridges, up hills and even managing to fall off in front of everyone, it was m favourite soggy course yet! I was really happy with 2nd place not far after Patsy and it has now got me really excited about the nationals coming up. 

The Yeti Arc C was great, thanks for Silverfish for supplying them for the team!

This weekend I did my first road race, well second if you count the one I did in 2012 with converse and a parachute coat. To be honest I was quite nervous especially when I turned up and there were a load of experienced road racers warming up. During the first 10 minutes of the race, being a mountain biker, I was slightly confused about the whole thing of everyone staying as a bunch and going slower. After that 10 minutes it got more exciting as everything got faster! With one lap to go I though that I might try and go for the win and it worked! Yay! 

Thanks to Russ at Rockets and Rascals (http://rocketsandrascals.com/ - who make a great hot chocolate!) for putting super brakes on my bike! Also, to Gary for the training sessions on tuesday and the PYC coaches for the sessions on thursday :) Bring on 2014!!

A truly Soggy Bottom!

After feeling under the weather at Soggy 1,  I definitely wanted to do well in the second round. That feeling of not being smooth and finding yourself not going as fast as usual is horrible! For a few weeks now I have being going out with Gary and Charles on a tuesday for a long road ride and it has being great. It has boosted my endurance so much and when racing I now don't blow out as quickly! Thanks both of you!
On Saturday, my dad, his friend and I drove up to Haldon for a cluster session run by Justin Knox, when we arrived I got my vans on, raring for a morning on flats. My dad and his friend then rushed off to Exeter with some hardcore christmas shopping to do! For the majority of the morning we practised the skills that are at the inter regionals, trying to master the techniques needed for flat pedals. Patsy and I, being the only girls there, were of course trying our best to show the boys up but Harry was there and he had already acquired the techniques needed! After practising and practising we moved on to the 'pump track' where we practising our pumping, Patsy, Harry and I had, of course, already done this at our Maverick away weekend at Portreath, where we went to The Track (which is amazing by the way!) At lunch 5 of us (Max,Harry,Freddy,Patsy and I) piled in to the boot of Max's car to shelter from the gale force winds on Haldon Hill (maybe a little bit of an exaggeration...), we all soon ate up our lunch and then went to swap pedals for the afternoon. After Freddy and I tightening instead of loosening my pedals and strong man Harry coming to sort them out, we all headed out to the little loop that we would be riding around. We practised our starts with Justin giving tips on how to speed off the line. With 8 of us battling to get to the single track first, it was great fun! For the rest of the afternoon we were practising race tactics and just having fun riding! Thank you Justin!
The day of Soggy 2 had finally arrived! My alarm was set for 7 with an aim of leaving the house at 8, this, surprisingly, happened! When we got to Newnham the rain had already started, I signed on and got my second soggy stamp and keyring. It was then time to ride the course so off I set with Lucy, Patsy and Kris. It was such a fun course! With the long climb at the beginning, that was near enough all the climbing done and you weaved your way through speedy single track back down to the car park. It was a really great course to race on and the mud made some parts unpredictable, which brought excitement to it when riding it! After a 3 lap race I was unrecognisable, as I had giving my glasses to my dad after not being able to see and being covered head to toe in mud! I was really happy after taking the win in Juvenile female! Well done to Patsy for carrying on after getting a puncture as well.
Results - http://www.fullysussed.co.uk/results-and-media.html 
Thank you Maddie and Jay for putting on yet another great event!
Also, thanks to the Allan family for putting on a fantastic Maverick christmas gathering!

The Track - https://www.facebook.com/thetrack.portreath

Muddy Mega Minehead Weekend!

Friday night, Lucy and I piled all of our stuff in to Maddie and Jay's trailer and van, and then started our journey to the bunkhouse in Minehead. When we arrived, Patsy, Ruby, Fin and Kris had already explored the many rooms in the house and bagsied their beds. That evening lots of food was consumed and countless cycling videos were watched.
The next day started at 8'oclock as we all prepared for our morning run and Joe and Harry arrived. At 9'oclock we all headed off to the local park and began our first efforts of the day, with star jumps, burpees and piggy backs! We then headed back to the house and started to think about the second part of the day, riding! The crew then zoomed out and we made our way to the longest hill I have ever seen! We next started the pyramid sprinting up the hill,  followed by an individual time trial. It was then I released my cough and cold hadn't actually completely gone and I started to flag. After it was time for one more effects, followed by a gentle ride back up the hill whilst Lucy time trialed up after going the wrong way the previous time! Joe then showed us down some amazing down hill tracks and back to the bunkhouse, ready for fish and chips.. After the fish and chips, there were more cycling videos, vines, biscuits and even truth or dare!
The next day started with orienteering around Minehead! I was lucky and got put in a group with Joe and Ed Welsh, the local knowledge! Not surprisingly, we finished about 10 minutes before the others and got our prize of chocolate croissants! When everyone finished we all got ready for the rest of the day, riding! Ed then took us out on some of the many trails around the area, with some great downhills and long uphills! My new spiuk arm and leg warmers were great and didn't fall down, I would definitely recommend them! After a muddy ride we all headed back to the bunkhouse, washed our bikes, had a shower and then packed all up stuff up ready to go home. As we travell ed home Lucy quickly fell asleep in quite a strange position!
Thank you Maddie and Jay for yet another great weekend! Also, thanks to Joe and Ed for showing us some amazing trails! And thanks to Base Lodge for putting up with us muddy loud mountain bikers!

At the weekend I had a go on Maddie's specialized fate and this week I have got my hands on the medium sized demo one. After a ride on it today it feels great and I can't wait to ride it more next week!

Inter regional MTB champs and Oktoberfest

This year at Inter Regionals Team South West finished the weekend in 9th position after a fun filled weekend of endless competitions. It was a great experience with towel stealing, getting locked out of rooms and consistent eating at the hotel, and riding, racing and even more eating at hadleigh! Thank you to Justin and Rob for taking us all there. Also, a massive thank you to Maddie and Jay for helping us get to the level we are all at! Well done to everyone for doing brilliantly this weekend! 
Inter Regionals this year started on Thursday evening when my mum, dad and I travelled up to the Caines house in Yeovil for the night before going up to Essex the next morning. The next morning we met up with the rest of the team so the girls piled into one van and the boys in to the another. The journey for us girls mainly consisted of giggling, selflies and eating! When we got there it was time for the skills competition soon after we arrived. After everyone finished the South West finished the day in an amazing 2nd place!
The next day it was time for the Handicap and Dirt Crit races. I started the Handicap race just over half way up the field after finishing in the mid 20's in the skills. It was a fun snappy course and we did multiple and I managed to finish 25th. Next were the Dirt Crits after many sprints around a short course of about 500m and in the end finished 22nd.
On Sunday it was the main xc race, we pre-rode the course in the morning and I eventually brought my self to ride all of the A lines possible which made a great difference in the race.The race finally started in the after noon and we were off for 5 laps. For 2 laps I felt great powering around the course but then my energy slowly went and I dropped back in the field finishing 32nd.
It was a great weekend and I would love to do it again! Thank you again to everyone that helped me to get there and also to Gareth from Bikespace for fixing my bike again!

Oktoberfest 2013
Friday night, we picked up Lucy from her house and started our journey up to Ashton Court in Bristol. The journey contained singing, selfies (again!) and endless texting! When we got there we looked out for the Fully Sussed van and placed our camping spot next to them. That evening we all sat in circle and chatted whilst eating crisps, biscuits and celebration cake (thanks Maddie and Jay) as us professional Mountain Bikers do! 
On Saturday our busy day started when the Caines arrived and we set off for a quick pre-ride for Lucy and Patsy, as they had never ridden there before. I love Ashton Court and couldn't wait to race there. Maddie then started off our team race by doing the run up the grass climb to jump on her bike and race for to laps. When she finished her laps I set off for mine it was great fun! The course is so much fun with sweeping and flowing berms. I then finished my lap and passed the hair bobble on the Patsy. Throughout the day we relayed around the course. At 4.30 Maddie powered around the course for the team's final lap of the day and we then won the women's 8hr team event. Well done to the Maverick girlies for winning. Also, well done to everyone else that raced for doing brilliantly!

Dartmouth cyclo cross

A 9am start with the Allan's off to Dartmouth for the next round of cyclo-cross. As we turned off of the motor way there was yet another road closure in the south west, it must be me whenever we go to cyclo-cross there is a road closure, I must be living up to my nickname Calamity-Lane! When we got to the venue Lucy and I went for a nip around the course before my race adventuring through the sand pit and trekking up the grassy banks! 11.30 soon closed in which meant it was the beginning of my 30 minutes of riding. As usual Harry B zoomed off in to the distance and in the end winning the race (well done!). The course was really fun with slopes, curbs, steps and sand! The prize I got for winning girls was brilliant, a bottle full of chocolates! At 12.30 the other race started with Lucy, Charles, Penny, Matt and Jack in, they all stormed around the course with Lucy winning female, Charles junior and Matt 3rd junior. 
It was a really great race, thank you to the organisers and well done to everybody who raced. Bring on inter regionals next weekend! 
 

Did us girls really race?

To start with a positive, I'm now part of team Fully Sussed! Wooo! Thank you Maddie and Jay :) 

With two races this weekend I want to start my time with Fully Sussed hopefully getting podium places.
Saturday morning was an early start for my dad and I, 6am! It was nearly made worth it with the beautiful sunrise but 6am is 6am! We made our way up to Stroud with the company of Janner fm (Heart) commenting on how crazy everyone is getting up at this time. As we arrived at the location the satnav took us to we released that it wasn't the place we were supposed to be at! After some help from a kind local we rolled up in the event car park slightly later than the other competitors. 1 lap for us Juvys and Youths, 15minutes later we all had all finished ready to ride some more of the fast course, so that was what we did. Most of the under 16s went out for a fun lap and then watched the adults suffer their 1.30hrs plus a lap race! It was then the presentations, I was really happy because I had beaten the youth girl and me being a juvenile this was quite an achievement. As they gave the prizes out I released that they only gave prizes to the age group winner and not boys and girls, this was really disappointing especially when the girl I beat got acknowledged as the winner of youth. She deserved to get this recognition, I was just a bit upset not to get recognised for my achievement as a juvenile and not my first podium picture in my new Fully Sussed kit. This aside, I think it was one of the organisers first races and it was a fun course and suited me well being quite flat and having short steep hills. 

On to Sunday now, luckily the alarm wasn't set for as early as the previous day and today it was cycle-cross time! I really liked the course at Wellington with it being reasonably flat and not being too technical. This time there were more people in my race and even another girl! After 30 minutes of cyclo-crossing around the local rugby team I finally finished, nearly collapsing from exhaustion! It was the best cyclo-cross race I have done and I didn't get lapped by Harry so that was an accomplishment in itself! After the day before, I was hoping that as I had won I would get that photo on the podium in my new kit! The amount of boxes of Jelly Babies broke the news to me though, 1 winner for each category again! I didn't really mind about the Jelly Babies as I can't even eat them with my braces. I just wanted the recognition for what I had done and hope that at the next event the girls achievements get noticed too, as no girls under 16 were acknowledged.

Rant aside, thank you to the race organisers who put together really great courses and also again to Maddie and Jay for inviting me to team Fully Sussed :)