Well did I have a shock to the system or what? Got up nice and early ready to bimble on down to Alton for the start at 1400, decided to have a last minute check on the web site and low and behold Iv’e set my mind on entering the wrong catagory ie sport, this has an upper age limit of 29yrs so that screwed me, packed all the stuff into the car in the blink of an eye and charged off to Hampshire to try and make the open race at 1100
Arrived at about 10:45 to late to get myself sorted and register so my only option was the vetrans race at 12:30 hay ho never mind as it would give my the oppertunity to have a look around and see what the score was.
Plenty of hardcore bikes and riders on site with some serious kit to back them all up, team vans and all logoed up to the nines, it suddenly dawned on me I may be slightly out of my depth.
The course seemed real nice by all accounts listening in on the gossip from around the field so by the time the vetrans race was about to start I felt fairly confident. As we all lined up the shock hit me that these guys looked seriously fit, don’t think any of them weighed in at 15 stone like me so the nerves kicked in with only minutes to go, should i ? shouldn’t I ? well bollocks to it I was there so may as well race.
Started off bad and got progressivly worse, the course was amazing all credit to the organisers, long gnarly climbs and fast down hills, huge bomb holes with hefty sized drop offs that seemed to be almost vertical, these I was most at home with the old motorcross in me kicked in and I charged them no probs.
I was pretty much solo after about 20 minutes as all the others where miles ahead, that will teach me, I tought I was fit until I saw the speed these boys went.
Anyhow long story short I managed to finish the 3 laps in a blisteringly slow time compared to the others but at least I did finish, 31st out of 33 shocking display but it was a finnish.
May take a time out on racing as I now realise just how unfit I actually am, although I may look about for some less high profile races were I stand more of a chance.
Great experience all the same and will deffinately be racing agian in the near future.
Southern XC Series round 5 Alton
August 23, 2010 — smiddyslifeWell did I have a shock to the system or what? Got up nice and early ready to bimble on down to Alton for the start at 1400, decided to have a last minute check on the web site and low and behold Iv’e set my mind on entering the wrong catagory ie sport, this has an upper age limit of 29yrs so that screwed me, packed all the stuff into the car in the blink of an eye and charged off to Hampshire to try and make the open race at 1100
Arrived at about 10:45 to late to get myself sorted and register so my only option was the vetrans race at 12:30 hay ho never mind as it would give my the oppertunity to have a look around and see what the score was.
Plenty of hardcore bikes and riders on site with some serious kit to back them all up, team vans and all logoed up to the nines, it suddenly dawned on me I may be slightly out of my depth.
The course seemed real nice by all accounts listening in on the gossip from around the field so by the time the vetrans race was about to start I felt fairly confident. As we all lined up the shock hit me that these guys looked seriously fit, don’t think any of them weighed in at 15 stone like me so the nerves kicked in with only minutes to go, should i ? shouldn’t I ? well bollocks to it I was there so may as well race.
Started off bad and got progressivly worse, the course was amazing all credit to the organisers, long gnarly climbs and fast down hills, huge bomb holes with hefty sized drop offs that seemed to be almost vertical, these I was most at home with the old motorcross in me kicked in and I charged them no probs.
I was pretty much solo after about 20 minutes as all the others where miles ahead, that will teach me, I tought I was fit until I saw the speed these boys went.
Anyhow long story short I managed to finish the 3 laps in a blisteringly slow time compared to the others but at least I did finish, 31st out of 33 shocking display but it was a finnish.
May take a time out on racing as I now realise just how unfit I actually am, although I may look about for some less high profile races were I stand more of a chance.
Great experience all the same and will deffinately be racing agian in the near future.
Polar Stats:
Average heart:167bpm
Calories: 1971
Distance: 12.9 miles
Average speed: 6.9 mph
Ride time: 01:51:36
Alton round 5 the calm before the storm