Got held up in a ton of traffic so didn't get there to help set up the course, sorry Sylv, but still very early to race so allowed me time for a couple of sample laps (seemed to be all uphill
) and plenty of chit-chat .My first ever MTB race and I'm an Expert
. My category based on my age, but this did mean I was in to start with some rather quick chaps, some in skinsuits 
. What's going on here, I'd put my baggies on for the occasion 
.The start of the lap was a long(ish) straight grass uphill, the worst bit for me each lap, so I just kept it in a low gear and spun up it and let the rockets blast off to contest the victory. In to the woods next for a load of switchbacks, twists, ups, downs, a couple of off camber downhill bends, and my favourite bit - the log bunny-hop
. On one lap George had moved in to the woods to this bit to try and coax people to "give it some" over this, so I did my best to get as much air as possible .On the first lap someone flicked a bit of branch up a bit which got stuck inbetween my rear wheel and the derailleur cage so I had to stop very briefly to yank this out, fortunately it was at the bottom of a climb
, thanks to Mike for shouting, "run" at me which was the sensible thing to do rather than try and get going from a standing start there, so I ran up the hill and lept back on at the top.On the second lap a twig snuck in to my rear wheel (teach me to try and dive through the undergrowth to cut get passed someone) and I couldn't pull it free on the move so had to stop briefly by George to rip it out. A bit further on and my chain jumped off after bouncing over some roots so off I was again
to flick it back on.From then on there were no problems though and I was now properly warmed up and in to the flow of the course. I know nowt about MTB courses but I thought this one was great. Lots of variation, a nice flow to it, a couple of nice jinky bits.
I was steadily catching and passing people, although a few were passing me too, notably the rockets who must have had motor on their bikes the speed they were going at. The thing is I have no idea how well (or not) I was doing as there are so many categories - expert, master, singlespeed, vets, women, juniors that I think I know of - and some were set off at different time intervals, but thought I did okay. The truth will out when the results arrive though
.PVT was also racing racing on an even more retro bike than mine. Mine's about 10 years old, his is about another 5 and solid front forks! On my last lap just entering the finishing twisty bit on the grass I saw Paul and just caught him, but as a vet he had started about 5 minutes after me I think.
Oscar type rambling speech - A quick thanks to the lady organiser who gave me some magic cream for the insect bites I'd picked up on my sample laps, Paul for lending me his long sleeved jersey to avoid a further gnawing from the little so-and-sos, and Allboy for his foot pump after I'd been a bit too enthusiastic in letting some air out my front tyre, Graham and Sylv for the organisation, and the marshals for all the shouts on my way round.
Chatting to Paul on the way home he hadn't really enjoyed his foray in to MTB racing so expect the bike to be put away again until the antique roadshow visits Croydon. Me, in case you hadn't gathered from the above
, I really enjoyed it. The thing I like about MTBs is that it's basically distilled arsing about on a bike like a child. I'm very childish, and always arsing about anyway, which probably explains it. Reminds me of being a kid and doing endos on my BMX. 
. I think it's safe to say I ballsed up the category I chose, due to not having the faintest idea what any of them were, as the other 3 Experts were 1st, 2nd and 4th overall - come on Sylv what did I do, try and jump straight in claiming to be the equivalent of an Elite?
