MTB

Calling all budding Youth Mountain Bike Racers

If you think practising technique is unimportant then check out the YouTube clip below…

New MTB XC Stage Race for Youth & Juvenile Racers!

After the massive success of the UK School Games 3 day MTB event last year, The SW Youth Development Group have teamed up with the Regional Talent Development Coach; Ric Jamieson & Regional Events Officer; Andy Parker and are holding a 3-day XC Stage race for all youth & juvenile racers.

The event will not be just XC racing but will feature sprint eliminator heats / finals along with skills trials. If you read the latest articles on the British Cycling website, they all show that these type of skills, i.e. the Core Skills are what make great bike racers, couple this with speed and you’re on the way to becoming the best you can be!

Stage details are as follows:

08 June: Sprint Eliminator heats & finals at the Mount-Batten Activity Centre opposite the glorious Plymouth Hoe, get to race in front of crowds of spectators as the sun sets over the water, they’ll be a real party atmosphere to this!

09 June: MORNING -Time to put all those core skills sessions you’ve been working on into practice, Saturday will see skills time trials. Each skills station will be set out with 3 progressively harder skills to test your handling skills, balance & concentration. For your parents or coaches think Junior Kick Start from the 80’s, for you racers, have a look at this link to get an idea of what to expect http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv811TTIhU4

AFTERNOON: The Combine! – This will see an XC race with start positions based on your times and penalties from the AM session and included many skills already done so, if you finished first with no penalties, you’ll start on the front row, 5 seconds of penalties will give you 5 seconds deficit on the start, 30 seconds equals 30 seconds deficit etc etc.

10 June: Time to RACE XC! There will be races for each category on a full on cross-country course at the famous Newnham Park, the spiritual home of XC racing in the UK! The course will be a maximum 3.5km but featuring all of climbs, technical sections and fast fire roads you’d expect to see in an XC race but condensed to give faster racing, just the way we like it!

Right, you’ve got the idea, let’s get out there train and work on those skills!

For further info, please contact Ric Jamieson at ricjamieson

@GroundWeaver3d on Twitter for up to the minute updates as and when they happen!

Mud, Sweat & wished we’d had Gears

 
Six Flyers ventured out yesterday despite the bleak forecast of torrential rain & weren’t they well rewarded for their efforts?

The sky was grey, cloudy & light drizzle fell upon the four starting out from Kings Cliffe riding up Wood Lane & onto Top Lodge, Fineshade where they met the other two riders. Moving forth & within minutes they were at the start of trail in Wakerley Woods where the real fun would begin.

The trio of youth riders, Harry, George & Thomas, shot off down the ‘easier’ route missing out the slippery tree rooted descent & subsequent tree rooted climb. Already there were shrieks of laughter, oohs & aahs as Peter’s less than knobbly tyres were reluctant to stay in contact with the tree roots. Regrouping the youngsters set a rapid pace & we were soon at the switchback climb.

A shool boy error of not looking were you want to go saw Alison hit the deck as she rode towards the brambles she was looking at all too late to rectify her mistake. Harry thought the climb would never end & Paul was suddenly regretting the lack of gears on his single speed MTB. As with all good climbs the reward was a descent, albeit a muddy one. A muddy pool of water greeted them at the bottom almost catcthing Harry & Peter out. The shrieks & laughter continued.

Someone seemed to have cotton wool between their ears when everyone was cautioned prior to riding the dodgy off-camber, tree rooted, small ditch section edged with barbed wire topped fencing. By the time we returned to the cafe the ditch would be redefined as the ravine that George nearly fell into.

The real adventure was about to start as we headed onto the newly formed tracks missing out the tiresome long draggy fire road. The climb up on soft, loose mud was playing havoc with Peter’s bike as he slid around & by the time we’d reached the descent he’d found a get out route to the adjacent fire road. George was the first to descend…but not for long…another rider down… & another…& another…& so it went on all the way down. The usual smooth flowing slightly bermed section was just impossible to ride. Instead the bikes were just getting clogged up with mud & sliding around haphazardly. Regouping at the bottom Thomas was going nowhere as his bike wheels were firmly cemeted in mud. The rest of the bikes weren’t looking too good either & everyone was filthy.

A few Haribo sweets shared out, mud cleared & we were off again for more. The final giant berms were upon us & adverturer George wanted to have a go at riding down. And so he did until the penultimate corner when,  ”Aaargh. oooh”. We’d all followed & were echoing his shrieks & laughter as we found another unrideable section.

All too soon we were at the end of the trail & heading back to Fineshade cafe for hot drinks, cakes, & choclate ice cream aplenty. As the sunshine begin to shine we recounted the experience which would no doubt become an epic tale in years to come. A great day was had & all agreed another adventure should happen soon. Watch this space!

Alison Lilley

Go-Ride Racing Results, Bikes to borrow, Thanks & Wakerley Woods

GO-RIDE RACING SUMMER LEAGUE

A series of 5 events were held from May-Aug this year enabling our younger riders the opportunity to have a go at racing in a familiar environment. Over the series 24 different riders took part with ages ranging between 8-13yrs. Run as an omnium each event had a different theme to replicate the standard cycling events, e.g. road, track, cyclo-cross.

Round 1 was won by the Flyers’ Thomas Spain with newcomer William Riddington taking 2nd place. Spain managed to hold on to the series lead in Round 2 despite Cody McVItty taking victory in this round. Late to start in the series, George Baker, won round 3 from Fenland Clarion’s Ieuan Williams although Spain was still top dog. Aaron Wills only managed to get to Round 4 & duly stamped his authority on the event winning against Spain who picked up just one point in this round. Every point counted in Round 5 as the overall win was not clear cut. Spain, McVitty, Baker, Wills could all take the overall & Poppy Wells or Billy Slater could move into equal 3rd overall so everything race counted. In the end Baker won the day & the overall series with Slater second. Spain dropped his lead to take 2nd overall in the series with McVitty 3rd overall.

RUTLAND CYCLES (FINESHADE) & WAKERLEY WOODS

In case you didn’t know there are now 5 kilometres of MTB trails which are improving week by week in Wakerley Woods. This is in addition to the new trails in Fineshade Woods. Now, Rutland Cycles has approached the Flyers as they wish to team up with us to organise an initial mountain bike race followed by a winter/summer series. This is a fantastic opportunity for the Club. British Cycling’s Regional Events officer is keen to help start something too. If you are interested in helping develop the MTB side of the club please contact anyone on the club committee.