UK RACE SCENE - THE NUTCRACKER SERIES R1

This month the plan has been for Ian and I to spend our mountain biking days exploring Ian's long forgotten local trails in and around Nottinghamshire and also to take part in local regional races in the UK, not only to get my ol' legs up to race speed, but also because I love testing myself against the UK mountain biking elements....and my golly gosh did last weekend test brain, legs, skill and my lovely Cotic Soda in the muddiest of ways. BUT all good plans never go according to plan, which makes Potter life never boring, but at times mightily frustrating, especially when it means I can't ride my bike....I'm moping right now, but more of that later.....

 

Following Round 1 of the British Mountain Bike Series I was still not quite back to 100% following a bout of kidney stones as explained in my last blog, but knowing finally what the pain has been all these years I can finally do something about it. Although I still get a tad paranoid about the pain returning, at least I know what I should and should not do to some extent, YES IAN I KNOW I NEED TO DRINK MORE....he is now moaning at me every day to DRINK, DRINK, DRINK....it's his way of getting back at me for all my past moaning days when I was suffering with the pain.

 

So after a much happier race at Sherwood Pines than I expected, I was full of enthusiasm to get back into the local woods and play, but also to start hitting those really fun intervals that make you feel a combination of intense pain and then pure buzziness once you have conquered them.

 

I'm really fortunate to have some great training partners here in Nottingham, and not just Mr Potter all the time, because with two such competitive Potters training together 365 days of the year, it's not always good for the marriage, especially when one of us is having an off day. So last week I rounded up the boys for a tough training session at Bestwood Park. AQR Holidays Team manager James Dymond is now being coached by Ian and I, and I thought it would be really fun if we invited top Aussie elite racer Andy Blaire who is racing for TORQ this year and Ben Murray from Totally Dynamic KTM to really make James, Ian and I suffer....hee, hee, hee (bad attempt at evil laugh) :)

 

After alot of rain I knew it would be perfect conditions to test tyres and pump them up extra hard....a little training exercise that Ian thought would be a bit of a laugh....and there was alot of laughing on Ian's part as I kissed mud on many an occasion, but then I was grateful for that old saying 'what comes around, goes around' as Ian did the most fantastic sidewards drift that really should have left him down and out, but somehow he held it....lucky sod :). After a while I got to grips with the lack of grip on the really slick sections of off camber trails around Bestwood Park, but I was loving the fast flowing and fairly technical single track, that included some ace steep shoots and drops offs to test ourselves on. After some little hilly interval challenges that I thought everyone really enjoyed (you can probably hear the boys in the far distance yelling NOT!), I was left to my own devices on the final hour where I continued to practice riding the slippery mud at race speed and making the most of the wet roots and muddy corners that made up my figure 8 practice race loop. I was wet and muddy, but loving the conditions. This was such an ace work out as I haven't ridden UK mud for a long time....I'm sure I used to get sick of it when I lived here permanently, but after time away from it, even with all the bruising that goes along with muddy tumbles, well I actually had ALOT of FUN!!!!! So bring on UK race number 2....

 

...Sometimes I really should learn to keep my muddy mouth shut, especially when the weather Gods can hear every word I say.

 

Ian and I headed to the first round of the Nutcracker Series at Camp Hill. I like to use racing as part of my training, so what better way to get a good work out and practice my skills at race speed by entering a race. I also wanted to race some local events to support the UK racing community who put alot of hard work and effort into organising race events for those of us who are addicted to riding single track as fast as we can without worrying about anything else except enjoying the ride.

 

There had been alot of rain the night before, but Easter Sunday at the glorious hour of 6am, when most sane people were snoozing or eating Easter eggs, started out bright, and it looked like it was going to be a sunny day, not warm mind you, but at least there was a hint of spring in the air. When we finally found Camp Hill, after too many wrong turns and the wrong directions (I blame Mr P of course), we found the race venue.

 

When we arrived everyone was super friendly and even at this early hour there was a really welcoming atmosphere. Sometimes I really hate the pre race moments when everyone is bottling nerves and trying to stay focused, I'm just as bad, but I always look forward to just cracking on with the race as that is my favourite part, and then just chilling out and discovering that I do have a social life after all. This pre-race warm up was different though as I caught up with friends and elite racers Paul Oldham and Dave Collins from Hope Factory Racing, and forgot all about warming up as we chatted away about racing and cyclo cross and bikes......

 

.....But soon enough it was time to line up for the start of what was going to be a 5 lap race for the elite women. I focused on the elite men's back wheels, as the first section was on a long fire road before the single track commenced. I hoped to sit in and see how long I could keep them in sight. We all took off, well I meant to take off, but couldn't clip in and was having one of those really clumbsy moments with my left foot, but got myself together in time and managed to catch up to the back of the elite men. 

 

Then the real training session began as we hit the single track and I knew it was going to be one punishing race for all bikes and bodies out on course. This course had amazing single track............BUT the huge downfalls of rain we experienced last night turned this fast course into a mudfest. I have never raced in such sticky muddy conditions, but I wanted to be challenged, so I was not going to complain, Every pedal stroke felt like I was doing 100 leg presses. It was hard to judge what sections were slippery and what sections were quicker to run. I also had to think about making sure my Cotic Soda survived this race, and tried not to change gear too often. In fact as I'm keen to improve at cyclo cross, I was in my training element as I jumped on and off bike and tried to improve my running style...yes it needs work :)

 

I managed to get round the first lap without any tumbles, but in great KP style, grace and elegance I might add, I started the second lap with almost a 360 degree tumble just as I left the start/finish area. It's probably best to use Ian's thoughts here, as he said to me later that I looked really fast riding into that slippery corner, faster than anyone else he had seen I might add :) and these were the sound effects had you been standing nearby....'ooh, ooh, ahh, oops, hee hee hee hee hee hee....I have never heard Ian laugh so much in my life.' Such a supportive hubby at times :) BUT KP was down and out, but as I was also very embarassed it helped get me back up to speed rather quickly.

 

The race was super tough. I forgot all about racing my opponents, because I had to ensure I finished the race, so in many ways I was competing and testing bike and I against the course. I kept expecting the elite men to zoom by at any time, especially as Paul Oldham and Dave Collins are cyclo cross racers, but found out later that these two stopped at some point to use the lake to clean their bikes....why I didn't I think of that? They still went on to finish first and secong respectively. I had one more lap to go as I headed towards the start/finish area and I have never been so thankful that the commissiare stopped the race one lap early. I managed to take the win, but to tell you the truth I think everyone was a winner that day just for surviving the elements. I still enjoyed myself, but the aftermath of a muddy race is always just as hard as there was going to be alot of cleaning to do this afternoon...hey love? Don't worry I'm not that much of a Diva and did share the work load, but KP never forgets when people laugh at her, so Ian ended up rather wet during bike cleaning duties :)

 

After this race I had some more hospital/doctors appointments to sort out my kidney stones, but I was also going into my hardest week of training. Perhaps I should have upped my daily dose of garlic or worn a mask when I was surrounded by so much coughing and spluttering, but since the swine flu does not make headlines anymore I didn't think anything of it. BUT I noticed all the signs of illness the last few days, from very high resting heart rate to a strange fatigue in training that was different from the fatigue you naturally build up when training hard. On Friday I tested myself on the hills, and power was down significantly and chest was very tight, with more effort to breathe even when chilling out. I tried to convince myself it was only hay fever as I wanted to race this Sunday at the first round of the Southern Cross series. The weather as most UKers know has been amazing, and I was looking forward to catching up with friends......but I have been beaten by what I hope is just a cold. I still thought I might wake up on Sunday morning and feel miraculously better, but now I'm back to moaning with bottom lip out and shoulders slumped. Ian has locked the bikes up so there is no temptation for me to train. With only 2 weeks to go before the Dalby World Cup and the start of our European race travels, it's rather inconvenient that I catch a cold now, but fingers crossed my 10 garlic cloves a day will do the trick and after a restful few days I can get back into training and preparing properly for the hardest racing block this year.

 

I always believe 'things happen for a reason...so reason better show it's face soon!'. I hate feeling less than 100% so I apologise now if this blog has come across as a moaning rant. As soon as I'm back on the bike again I will write a really happy blog, full of cheer....but for now I'm not cheery and am being a royal pain in the toe nail, well so Mr Potter thinks :)

 

Just a quick apology to the organisers of the Southern Cross Series for not making it to the race on Sunday, and hope everyone had a fun weekend of racing or riding their bikes....and made the most of the brilliant weather...fingers crossed it will stay this way for the Dalby World Cup.

 

Cheerios for now

KPxo

 

 

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BRITISH MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES Round 1, Sherwood Pines, UK 2010.

My second cross country race of the season has been one of mixed feelings and a whole load of relief, in more ways than one. Two weeks ago I raced in Italy and after a brief stop at home in Luchon we had planned to head to Spain for a race as part of my training to get these ol' legs up to race speed again in time for the first bock of world cups and European racing in May. However as always the Potters plans didn't go according to plan....at the end of the day when do Potter plans go to plan, but this little problem I could seriously do without and can't even make a joke about it right now as I feel like I have wasted alot of time, money and have been seriously peeved off with myself these past two weeks.

For the past 5 years I have had a niggling issue which I have struggled to find a cure for and over the years it has become more frequent and a whole lot more painful. During training, racing and even just sitting around my stomach would suddenly go into crippling pain that could last anything from an hour to half a day. After visiting doctors in both the UK and Oz I was left feeling like it was all in my head or stress related because as soon as I told them that I was a mountain bike racer and guide in the Pyrenees and that I love being active then of course all that physical strain is most likely the cause, no hint of bitterness there eh?

 

I remember countless races including my first cyclo cross world cup in Belgium last October when I spent the whole time trying to pedal, although I thought I was going to pass out from the shooting pain or my last 24hr race when the pain was there and I swore that would be my last 24hr solo race as I was certain racing ultra endurance events was contributing to the stomach cramps. But the race that really springs to mind was at a world cup race in Andorra two years ago when I had fantastic form and in a great position for my first year of world cup racing and then suddenly the knife splitting pain came along and all I could do was lie down on the side of the track and make a fool of myself as I lay their feeling like my insides were ripping apart. I was humiliated because it was the first time I had been reduced to tears on a race course and that little competitive voice inside my head started ranting and raving about how weak minded I am....because it is all in your head of course.

 

Since then most races I have had what I thought was stomach cramp, and at times I have been forced to back off the pace to ensure I at least finish the race. I love racing and the adrenaline rush I get when testing myself against other competitors, but there have been alot of races when I have felt so disheartened because instead of racing at 100%, I'm forced to survive at 60%. I have spent time working on breathing exercises and pilates in case it was a nerve problem. I have tried to find out information on the internet, but the symptoms were characteristic of so many health issues that I would give up in the end and just remind myself that it's all in your head and to stop fretting.

Anyway after our little racing adventure in Italy once again the pain came back with a vengeance and a few other symptoms which meant that Ian was not going to be talked out of taking or rather dragging me to another doctor for a second or rather third opinion, so we returned to the UK earlier than planned. I have to admit I felt like a goose sitting in the surgery room with other patients who were coughing, spluttering and obviously ill, when I actually felt fine now that the pain had ceased. In fact I almost walked out because I thought the doctor would think I'm going crazy and just tell me it was all in my head again....if I hear that one more time!

 

However after tests it appears I have kidney stones...I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. In some ways it is a huge relief, because now I can do something about it, but I wish I had found out sooner, say 3-4 years sooner would have been nice.

 

The doctor insisted I start drinking water all the time and no strenuous exercise for the time being that could cause dehydration....but I want to race? No answer!

So I guess I wasn't best prepared mentally for the first round of the British Mountain Bike Series, although legs were raring to go. Two nights before the race I spent most of the night with the symptoms and felt completely washed out on Saturday during practice. I decided to do some short efforts and if the pain came on during practice then I wouldn't make the start line. All was good, so I wasn't going to miss out on all the racing fun. But I could have done without the clocks going forward as I had another restless night sleep not from pre-race nerves, but pre-race stressing that the pain would raise it's ugly head and whether I was being stupid for not listending to the doctor's advice. When the alarm went off at 6:30am, I insisted on another 30 minutes shut eye. 7am and I still needed another 30 minutes pleeeeeeease. I was shattered and already feeling battered and I hadn't even left the house.

Fortunately I have my Mr Potter who knows me better than anyone ever will, and knows how much he will suffer ear ache if I miss this race. At 7:30am for the first time in KP history I was force fed coffee and treated to breaky in bed. I have never tried coffee and can't understand why so many people like that horrible tasting drink that I'm sure I won't get addicted to anytime soon, although Ian said he has never seen me so wired....but methinks I could get used to breakfast in bed, so might have to make that part of the pre-race routine in future, hey love? Again no answer from the hubby.

So by the time we reached Sherwood Pines I was well behind schedule, but feeling alot better about racing. I love the challenge of racing cross country. You are tested in so many ways, physically, mentally, technically, tactically. Sherwood Pines has always been loved and hated for the same reasons. It can be hated by those who regard themselves as mountain bikers and in it just for the technical riding, while it can be loved by cyclo cross racers and roadies for the fast pace, action packed bunch riding that the course often suits. I don't think there is a course that every racer at one event will love as we tend to love courses that suit our strengths, and the great thing about mountain biking compared to most sports is that every course is completely different, and there will always be some element of the sport that challenges us. It certainly keeps me motivated as every race shows up weaknesses, but also areas that I know have improved since the last race. In saying all that I think course designer and organiser of the Midlands Series James Hampshire did an incredible job creating a fun filled bumpy ride that showed off some of Sherwood Pines best single track, as well as some interesting extras that kept you thinking all the time, but still included sections of fast paced riding that was good fun if you had a wheel to follow...and if not well a darn good training session if you gritted your teeth and kept going for gold.

 

I guess I should start writing about the elite women's race from my perspective, although I'm sure there are alot of stories to be told after this race, but here is my version. Firstly in true KP fashion I almost missed the gridding as I took myself off on an Aussie walkabout or rideabout as the case may be....sorry. Mr P, who I was told almost had heart palpitations when I wasn't at the start area, tried to look as chilled out as possible when I raced over, but me knows he was not quite so chilled as that :) .

 

It was strange suddenly feeling part of an old generation of regulars lining up for the first round of the British Mountain Bike Series, with both Jenny Copnall and Jenn O'Connor missing from the line up, but at the same time great to see more elite women lining up than ever before, as that can only be a good thing for cross country racing in the UK. On the start line there was Commonwealth silver medalist Rosara Joseph, and of course UK favourites Annie Last and Lily Mathews and my good friend Mel Spath who I knew would be tough competiton on this course. I had my race plan and knew today would be a training race for me, as I didn't want to get disapointed if the pain set in. There are alot of important races ahead and I had to remind myself that my goals are different this year, but you can't help wanting to win every time you line up for a race....that's what drives us all to do our very best, and there is nothing wrong with that.

 

So we took off and I managed to lead the girls into the first section of single track...I couldn't help singing to myself 'here come the girls', a song I heard on a mtb dvd. At this stage I was comfortable, had time to breathe, and just waited for the attacks to come fying by as that is the nature of this course. Soon enough Annie made her move and our group lead by Annie, included Rosara Joseph, Lily Mathews and myself split from the rest of the pack and for the first couple of laps we all stayed together, with Annie and I swapping the lead every so often. I kept to the front to avoid any mistakes in the single track that could cause a break away, as I still have fond memories of that happening to me twice at this race last year. The course had log jumps, dual descents, off camber banks, a roller coaster single track ride that was ace, and this brutal steep climb that turned into a steepish descent....it was a hard course physically and technically, but I loved it!

 

Four riders changed to three at some point leaving Annie, Rosara and I at the front of a chasing field, but on the third lap I had brain fade. Legs felt fine, but I suddenly got this wave of tiredness that I couldn't shake off just when Annie made her move and attacked over the log jump. For about half a lap I really struggled to focus and I started making little errors in the single track. Rosara managed to bridge the gap Annie had made from her attack, but it was like the caffeine hit from this morning suddenly wore off and I was ready for bed, even though legs felt fine. So I battled on without a wheel to follow and when I could I grabbed a Torq forest fruits gel from Ian that I hope would at least help me get through the final lap as there was still time to catch up if I could get my head into action. I could see the two girls out in front and was told by alot of people that it was only a 10 to 15 second gap. But I wasn't gaining on them until the end of the fourth lap, suddenly brain had come back to life and I could see them much closer now and I was making some lost time up on them both. As I headed into the arena with one lap to go I tried to go harder, and was more focused now, but still lacking the extra zip I needed to really get much closer than I had. I didn't stop trying, but halfway around the last lap I could only see Rosara now and I told myself to just see how close you can get with 1km to go. I managed to get down to a 4 second gap between Rosara in second and myself in third, but Annie had a storming final lap and took a well deserved win, with Lily Mathews in fourth and Lee Cragie in fifth position.

 

Well you have no idea how thrilled I was today, and although exhausted am pleased with how the legs are feeling right now. I'm still shocked I even made it to the start line, so although I have areas to work on, that will be addressed over time. Right now I just want to get myself back to full health and get my racing head back on so I can start training harder and hopefully pain free now.

 

As always thankyou to everyone who were cheering me on and who came over to say hello, it was really lovely to catch up with everyone again.

 

Plus as always a very special thankyou to my team Cotic Bontrager, and all the team sponsors who continue to look after Ian and I and give me the opportunity to race at this level. Also a very special thankyou to Tony Barton from Magura who gave up his time last Thursday to do some suspension testing and teaching with me. Last but not least thankyou to Mr Potter for coaching me, supporting me and dragging me to the doctor....yes you were right....this time :)

 

Photos will be up shortly...promise or just check out www.joolzedymond.com for all the weekend racing action.

 

 

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COTIC BONTRAGER RACING, RIDING & GUIDING ADVENTURES

THE RACE – INTERNATIONALIA D’ITALIA R2 MONTICHIARI, ITALY

This month is all about reminding one’s legs how to suffer and go hard. I have had a great season of winter base training and strength work, and fortunately no major colds or health issues that have kept me off the bike...only a minor collision with a car that left me shaking in my shoes, but luckily no major damage to body or bike.

 When it did snow then it was great fun to get out in the mountains surrounding our little Luchon home. Ian and I enjoyed many a snowy mountain bike ride this winter, but also made the most of the days we could go snow shoeing which is not only a fabulous work out, but believe it or not you can get quite an adrenaline rush on the way down, especially when you head away from the main tracks and find yourself on your butt sliding from one switchback to the next. But now I’m itching to become faster on the bike, the fitness is there and I’m stronger than last year, but there is no point being fit if you can’t go fast. So now it’s time to hit the races for my favourite type of training....RACING!

Racing makes you fast, and very quickly points out your weaknesses. It’s not always about fitness and there is so much you can learn by just getting out of your comfort zone and racing the best mountain bikers in the world and of course the best mountain bike courses in the world. I love competing against other racers, BUT I actually get more of a buzz testing myself and my lovely Cotic Soda on different courses.  So this month I planned a Potter training and racing camp in Italy, which would also coincide with my birthday.

I do realise I babble on at times, so have tried to condense my writing by turning this blog into a diary, before the race report begins....I just hope that one day when I’m old and knackered I can look back on these adventures and be transported back to this time in my life when I’m fortunate enough to be riding a bike for a living....a living that is not about material wealth, as mountain biking will never pay the bills, but a lifestyle that enables me to BE ALIVE, and not stuck in a concrete jungle suffering from the stresses of the world and CSN....more about that soon!

So here is a little diary of my first week of the 2010 race season....

THURSDAY MARCH 4 – mini bus starter motor stops working AGAIN.....arrive at Ian’s dad’s place at the wonderful time of 10pm after 14hrs of driving. I have finally learnt the art of bump starting a vehicle after countless attempts between southern Spain and northern Italy. My alter ego ‘Veronica Stress Head’ also comes out to play and decides not to speak to Ian for 14hrs because I think he has forgotten my birthday....

FRIDAY MARCH 5 – ...MY BIRTHDAY!!! Ian hasn’t forgotten...oops! I am presented with some wonderful presents and am reminded that I’m the one who likes surprises, so there was no need to ignore Mr Potter for 14hrs was there? Well he shouldn’t pretend so well that he has forgotten my birthday. I had a wonderful day walking dogs, dining on the edge of Lake Bolsema with family, and discovering some urban biking action around the streets of Montefiascone.

SATURDAY MARCH 6 – Discover some great off road on my training ride and the most amazing single track whilst being chased by dogs...legs were truly put to the test today.

SUNDAY MARCH 7 – Another day out on the bikes, but this time Ian and I ride around Lake Bolsema with a goal to beat 3hrs....2.5hrs later with two wrong turns!!! Really pleased, but then my brain tells me that it really wants to do 3hrs, so make Ian keep riding around in circles even though he has blown J

MONDAY MARCH 8 – A huge lunch before we embark on our travels again. This includes the biggest cake I have ever seen. Ian decides it’s time to throw his diet to get down to ‘XC race weight’ out the window and focus on becoming faster downhill with his little saying “FAT IS FAST!” The Cotic Bontrager Race Team now head further north to Lake Garda for the first race of the 2010 mountain bike season. ...YAY!

TUESDAY MARCH 9 – We are staying in a lovely little apartment on the edge of Lake Garda that was very cheap for some reason.....wind, rain, sleet and snow follow the Potters around on their 3hr mountain bike training session. My hope to swim in the pool and bask in the sunshine is not to be as the pool has frozen...DOH!

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10 – The Potters are snowed in and the only English channel on TV is CSN. I’m truly frustrated and depressed by the ongoing news and state of this world we are living in. I’m actually pleading with CSN reporters to report on something happy for a change, surely there is something to smile about, something to keep our minds of the horrors and disasters that confront mankind every day..... ‘Veronica Stress Head’ raises her ugly head once again, but this time I take it out on the turbo. After the most intense interval session that I hope will cheer me up, I’m left hobbling as legs have been truly hammered.

THURSDAY MARCH 11 – Recovery day and I’m banned from watching anymore CSN!!! Snow has finally melted and the sun is shining. It is time to explore the area. Only an easy spin today, but we see so many cyclists riding around the lake that I’m truly tempted to scrap the recovery day. Ian locks the bikes away just in case. By chance we come across a gorgeous old fort on the peninsula where we act all touristy and buy postcards.

FRIDAY MARCH 12 – PRE-RACE TRAINING!!! Time to check the course out....Where is the course Kate? What time do we register? So many questions, but not knowing any Italian I say we just rock up and hope for the best. Although Montichiari is not on our map, I see a sign after 20 minutes of driving around in circles and then we spot mountain bikers. Who needs a map eh? When heading to a mountain bike race in Europe, just look for bikers, caravans and concrete steps and you can’t go far wrong. The course has kind of been marked out and we simply follow other mountain bikers and enjoy the single track which I might add is super steep, super muddy and oh so much fun, although grip is an issue on the climbs. I’m also suffering from severe leg pain after training on Wednesday, the DOMS effect (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) has well and truly raised its ugly head. Perhaps choosing to use a double chain ring on a steep course such as this is not the wisest decision, but I remind myself that ‘PAIN IS AN EMOTION AND EMOTION IS TO BE ENJOYED!!!” (gulp) . Plus with the amount of mud on this course I decide to risk more leg pain rather than chain suck. Then we see other riders appearing from nowhere, and we’re not too sure where they have come from. I spot riders heading into what looks like a castle...we follow them inside the castle and next minute we are descending down a long set of steep steps that are inside the building. We are actually racing inside part of this amazing looking, centuries year old castle....I can’t stop giggling as I doubt health and safety in Oz or the UK would approve, but I love it!

SATURDAY MARCH 13 – RACE DAY!!!!

OFFICIAL KP RACE REPORT

Legs are still hurting from that ‘wonderful’ training session three days ago, but I’m really excited about racing on this course. The drive to the course takes about 20 minutes and in that time we notice there is still patchy snow around, and although very sunny, the temperature remains chilly.

There is no opportunity to check the course out today to see if the steep sections, both up and down have dried out, so I choose to have lower tyre pressures and mud tyres. I know I’m going to regret this decision if it dries out, but that is the risk I take as I was out descending and climbing Ian yesterday simply because his tyres were too hard.

I still don’t know where the start loops is, and take myself off for a little exploring on the road sections and through the castle, and of course up and down all the steps that make up part of the race loop. I avoid any mud as the bike and I were a state after yesterday’s practice ride and there is no bike wash close by. Finally gridding starts and there are girls everywhere. It is just like a world cup with some of the world’s top racers here. I find myself on the second row and when I look behind me I can’t see the back of the grid, which is awesome. It is so cool to see how many female mountain bikers have entered not just the elite category, but other categories as well. More than 50 in every category....COOLIO!!!!

So the countdown to the race start begins. I know my legs are not race ready, but I also know this is the start of a long race season which won’t end until October. There are 30 seconds to go as a guy calls out ‘trenta’, and as I pull myself into my start position........suddenly half the field have taken off, including the very front row of past world cup winners and world champs....as if they need any more of a head start. We are called back, so I stay calm and wait with one foot clipped in, but then so many girls have continued forward that the organisers shrug their shoulders and that is my signal to get a move on if I want to race.

So I attack this very long steep tarmac climb with every ounce of energy and mentally scream at my legs to stop complaining. From the back of 50 girls I managed to pass riders and end up around 15^th by the time we hit the off road single track which is fast and flowy, and oh so much grippier than yesterday. I realise pretty quickly that I should have more air in my tyres, but remind myself that ‘PAIN IS AN EMOTION AND EMOTION IS TO BE ENJOYED!!!’, This is a training race after all and it is good mental and physical preparation for what is in store this year.

There are virtually no rest spots on this course, as the descents are not very long and always lead into another steep climb. There are so many steps to ride, including a dozen drops offs all in a row and a long climb up a set of steps would you believe that are just spread out enough so you can ride up them.  I’m with a group of 5 racers and we are all working at 120% to try and drop one other. By lap 3 I’m fighting it out with one girl now, who just keeps attacking and attacking, but never quite getting rid of me. We soon find ourselves passing other riders who have blown, and I have moved forward to 11^th position according to Ian when I start my own series of attacks. I move into 10^th position by the final lap and Ian warns me that 9^th was struggling and not too far out in front. I am chasing hard and finally catch 9^th going into the final piece of single track that begins steeply, before some very tight switchbacks, and then continues on like a roller coaster....one minute you are going down, the next using all your might to climb the short sections without running and then going down again. We end up stuck behind a rider from a different category and both of us are forced to slow the pace. I try to speak French for some reason, hoping she might pull over and let us pass, but perhaps my strange aussie/french accent in Italy came across all wrong as I’m completely ignored would you believe J

At the end of the single track we drop onto a long piece of tarmac, and I remain on her back wheel thinking about where to make my attacking move, but the cobbled streets are narrow and I’m pushed into the barriers by some very aggressive elbow action from Daniela Veronesi who takes 9th by 1 second. I’m shattered, but buzzing from head to toe because that race course has to be one of my all time favourites.....so many steps, a castle and the steepest single track that will keep me smiling until the next mountain bike race challenge comes my way.

SUNDAY MARCH 14 – An early 5am wake up call, although I have been awake all night as I’m still buzzing from the race adrenaline that is a natural part of racing. I close my eyes and I can still feel myself descending down all those steps. Ian and I pack Mini Blue and head home to Luchon.....just 13hrs to go.....now I’m really tired. Poor Ian is going to have to chat to himself again J

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BLOODY KNEES!!!!!

I have just completed my second big build of training for the 2010 race season. All is going to plan and I'm rather pleased with the way I feel right now...............except that I have a huge hole in my knee.....OUCH!!! I have knocked it again! Why do I do that?!?!

 

Now as mountain bikers we can't escape the odd scratch, the dirty tumbles and the occasional injuries. It's all part of mountain biking.....every so often we misjudge a trail and the trail wins. But ever since my mother said "I'm so pleased you started riding a bike because running will destroy your knees......".

 

....NOW time after time whenever I take a tumble you can be certain my knees will take the full force of the battering. When mother dear said those fateful words I bet she didn't touch wood, I certainly didn't and should know better. Ok I admit I believe in touching wood, because it works for me, and for that reason I advise you all to touch wood or be cursed, because my knees have been cursed I tell you!!!

 

6 years ago I put that phone receiver down. I didn't see any wood to touch, and thought nothing of my mum's comment. It was time to start work. Time for another glorious day of mountain bike guiding on Lefkada Island....10am turned into 3pm and there was one more descent to go down. Soon we would all be back at the resort for an afternoon swim. It was my turn to descend first so I could mark the bottom of the trail for the safety of our guests (a trail I ran up every morning as my pre-ride warm up, so I knew it well), Ian sorted out the jeep and Mark remained at the back of the group. Next minute I see a cute donkey in the corner of my eye (first time I have ever seen a donkey here)....I feel a rope around my waist (oh! OHHH!)...and I'm flung in the air (I'm seriously high). There is no time to search for a soft tuft of grass, this is Greece after all, where the terrain is like a cheese grater. The full force of my body comes crashing down and my right knee takes the battering. OUCH!!!!! And it hurt......ALOT! (gulp)

 

So I was bandaged up and rushed to hospital....a greek hospital. Now we knew some greek, but at the time the doctor was more interested in leaning towards his nurse rather than listening to my pleading cries, "Do Not Cut THERE!"

 

He continued to look lovingly into the nurse's eyes, and it was only when I hit him that he realised his scissors were cutting into my wound. I won't go into detail, but the look on his face when he took the bandage off my knee said it all.....In fact when he made those Universal sounds of UGHGHGH!!! I didn't need to know any Greek to understand what he was saying. Yes It was ugly. 

 

However me being me, I was determined not to let my bloody knee stop me from moving, but then the swelling and infection were pretty serious, and the leg was not very flexible, ok I admit it didn't really bend at all.....And I know I did myself no favours trying to walk/run/hop (kind of) around the resort a bit lopsided (when Ian wasn't looking of course) as I was bored out of my brains and no amount of pain was going to stop me from doing just a little bit of exercise....ok I admit I would not reccomend this to anyone, but you have know idea how bored I was, and me being me...yes I'm my worst enemy, enough said!

 

Two days later Ian and I headed to Chamonix, French Alps to continue our season as guides for a few months. I was back on the bike, but I still had an infected knee that I had to try not to hit or knock in anyway, but me being me, I always seemed to knock it.....the pain was like a knife going through my leg. Everytime I went mountain biking I was reminded about my Mum's fateful words "I'm so pleased you started riding a bike because running will destroy your knees", and the fact that I did not touch wood...oh and the fact that I'm unbelievably clumbsy at times didn't help. Why do I keep banging my knee on the handle bars?!?!

 

I put up with that pain for weeks on end. But one day I woke up, banged my knee as I did at the breakfast table each morning, and for the first time in weeks there was no shooting pain up my leg. Today was going to be a good day. I was cured! From this day forth, no more knee pain.....and guess who forgot to touch wood?

 

Later that day my bike decided to miss some bends out on a trail, it (not me) it missed the bends! I just had to make that clear.

 

IT, the bike, wanted more excitement, and took off down the fall line of the mountainside. Now this is Chamonix, not a gentle slope in the Nottinghamsire Alps (that's for Steve if you're reading). I suddenly realised my brakes didn't work and very soon the fall line of the mountainside would be sheer. So I jumped and landed very heavily on my left leg.

Another OUCH moment and this time a dislocated knee. The doctor said 8 weeks off the bike...I said DEUX! And incase he didn't understand my aussie accent I stuck up two fingers, but not in a rude way mind you....that was to Ian who said I couldn't do anything for 8 weeks.

 

So I hobbled down to the Chamonix pool every morning to get the leg moving. It was a 10km off road hobble (each way) with crutches that Ian went mad at me for when he found out. But I did what I could to be back on the bike two weeks later....and to the doctor's amazement it was looking good and he actually gave me the OK thumbs up sign to ride my bike on gentle trails....in Chamonix? I couldn't run or walk very well mind you, but I could ride my bike and that was all that mattered to me at the time. Ian called me 'Hop along' when we walked, but I called him 'sloth along' when he didn't keep up with me on the hills....I just had to throw that one in :)

 

Now let me fast forward to 2010 and to a little biking training session I did with Mr Potter a few days ago. We were doing a specific drill where I had to follow his wheel and sprint past him as fast as I could, knowing that he was then going to counter attack me straight away. We were focusing on my peak power and I was also trying to beat Ian, because I like beating Ian, and it's quite funny seeing how competitive he becomes when his wife is having a good day :)  

 

On this particular day I kept seeing the number 13...then when I looked at my watch it was 13:13 when we started the training session. Maybe I should be a little more superstitious, but at the time I thought nothing of it, and touched wood as I usually do. We were half way through the training session....going for gold I was....and hopefully a higher peak power wattage than the previous sprint....when a car suddenly reversed towards us and appeared to have forgotten to look in both directions (GULP). When this happened I was beside Ian and accelerating swiftly. On my Cotic X the brakes weren't going to stop me quickly enough to miss the car. For some reason the car stopped still and didn't accelerate forward, but I was still accelerating, although brain was in defence mode by this time. Brakes were on, wheels locked up, and it was either hit the car or fall into the loving arms of my beloved husband (well I hoped). I was forced to hit Ian's back wheel. Next minute I'm in the air, sliding along gravel and hugging a wall. I'm in some shock thinking the worst has happened to Mr Potter, and not quite knowing why I'm hugging a wall. Somehow Ian has managed to stay on his bike, but is qickly beside me. He informs me straight away that his beloved titanium Lightspeed road bike is fine and that he prevented her from crashing (mmmmmm, methinks I should be a little jealous) but he is back in good books as he performs first aid treatment on his battered and wall hugging wife, yes for some reason I kept hugging this wall....maybe Ian should be jealous.

 

Once the shock had died down and I looked myself over properly I realised how lucky I was. I slid quite a way and came off better than I could have done..............EXCEPT MY DARN KNEE!!!!!

 

NOT AGAIN....

 

I suddenly feel the shooting pain from my right knee as Ian treats the bloody hole and grazing. Very strange as I didn't recall even sliding on my knee at the time. Yet another scar to add to the other biking memories written across both knees. It makes me realise that perhaps I should be thankful for both lovely knees rather than thinking that they have been cursed because although they cop a beating from my biking antics they have saved me from worse ordeals on many an occasion.

 

The only problem now is that Ian only married me from my ankles upwards because he thinks I have hideous feet or rather that I have hobbit feet. Mr P doesn't realise that every little mark on my toes or on the soles of my feet tell a different life story or event from my running adventures.

 

Now he thinks he can just divorce my knees because they look cursed and definitely won't make the front page of any beauty magazine...but as far as I'm concerned, and after some deep thought I have come to the conclusion that they are not cursed at all, but an important part of KP biking history. I will show off my tale telling feet and knees when I'm 80 to my grandchildren and tell then about all the biking and running antics I enjoyed in my younger years.....Ian just thinks I'm cruel, not cursed.  

 

So respect your knees and they will respect you. OUCH!!! I have knocked it again! Why do I do that?!?! Or just keep touching wood and hope for the best :)

 

 

 

 

 

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XMAS...POTTER STYLEE...and yes we were humbugs!

I have always believed that where there is a ying there is a yang. To appreciate the highs in life you must face the lows. I used to hate winters....cold, dark, SAD sucking misery months even in Oz....well sometimes....J. But actually Ian and I have just returned from the most exhilarating winter mountain bike ride that has left chilly tingles down my spine. I admit it was cold, and a tad damp in places...well to be honest I’m soaked to the bone. However I haven’t wiped the muddy smile from my face since returning home, and once I finish writing this blog I will be rugged up next to our little wood burning fire feeling all tingly and buzzy, knowing I have earnt my extra portions of homemade soup and crusty french bread.

I have been hoping to write a festive blog to coincide with the festive period, but suddenly it is the something of January....I don’t even know what day it is. So I hope it’s not bad luck that I’m still going on about Xmas. I was told by my Mum once that on January 1^st all decorations and Xmas trees should be packed away...mmmm...all I can say is ‘oops’ because our little tree remains in place and here I am still going on about Xmas.

I love Xmas!!! When I was growing up Xmas meant running along the beach, surfing (well trying to), tennis, touch football, more swimming, but this time in the platypus filled creek at my nan’s place....and in between playing sports and swimming, eating cold salads, tropical fruits, cold meats and on occasion my family would overdose on prawns and seafood (Urck, I kept to the salads). There was also the occasional festive BBQ...have you ever tried a barbied banana....now that is a Xmas treat, especially with some raisins on top.

Mr Potter on the other hand sees Xmas as one day of well deserved slothfulness that includes a DVD 12-24hr marathon session, depending on how many mid morning and afternoon siestas he treats himself to. Exercise, even mountain biking I’m afraid to say is banned in the Potter household at Xmas, well so Mr P reckons! Now they always say that opposites attract, but when it comes to Xmas day opposites argue, whine and at times suffer wifely pouting sessions or in worst case scenario the dreaded silent treatment....until one Potter gives in (and we know who that should be J ). Well that is what’s supposed to happen in KP world, but on Xmas day Ian is always at his most stubbornness....’bah humbug!’

Now because I couldn’t persuade Ian to join me in my own idyllic version of a KP Xmas in 2009, I decided we would go hiking on Xmas Eve and that the 24^th December would be my Xmas day (In fact going by Aussie time it kind of was Xmas for me on this day anyhow). The Potters were to share 48hrs of Xmas festivities together....YAYAY!

KP’s XMAS 24^th DECEMBER - Ian hates hiking, but I decided that was how I wanted to spend my Xmas day. Why does Ian hate hiking? Well we have a bit of a habit of finding amazing single track whenever I drag Ian off into the mountains, single track with a zillion switchbacks to play on....and in true Potter hiking fashion on KP’s Xmas day we came across a trail so good that Ian and I started acting like 8 year olds as we pretended to ride our bikes down this piece of heavenly made trail (we were even making sound effects). I was having so much fun!

But soon the bike pretending stops because Ian starts grovelling that he hates walking good single track and then without meaning to I suddenly have BLISTERS and can’t walk as fast as Ian would like me to...8hrs later and we are almost back from our little Xmas hike...well almost. By now the silent treatment has started (well and truly) as we Potters watch the sun disappear over the mountains that overlook Luchon....you would think for many couples this sounds like quite a romantic little Xmas evening...BUT...

Ian makes it quite clear that he is now HUNGRY (Ian does not do ‘hungry’) and does not want anymore of my rubbish ‘bird seed’ that I took for us as a snack to eat  J. But I remind Ian that it is my Xmas at the moment and I want to watch the Xmas lights twinkling over Luchon and listen to the church bells before going home. I also say in a firmer voice (like my mother’s) ‘no shivering or hunger pain sounds allowed Mr P! I don’t care if it’s now minus 10 degrees!’ So the two Potters glove to glove, shiver to shiver, watch the glowing Luchon Xmas lights....then to cheer up Mr P some more I start singing jingle bells as the church bells echo across the valley floor and Ian's lips turn a shade of blue....and no I don’t care if I sound like Kermit the frog this is my Xmas night and I want to make the most of it.

IP’s XMAS 25^th DECEMBER – Ian wakes me up with this truly evil laugh. He announces that it is 'his' Xmas day now....DOH! I have this horrible vision of watching 12hrs of Star Trek on what is a glorious sunny day in Luchon. “Why can’t we go mountain biking?” Ian almost looks torn between mountain biking with his wife or making his wife suffer after KP's Xmas he endured the day before. Mr P decides to stick to his Xmas marathon DVD plan, but firstly he thinks some fresh air would do us some good. I’m gobsmacked and so pleased , but before I have a chance to change into my running wear and trainers, Ian announces that ‘I’ will be getting dressed up for ‘his’ Xmas day walk....groan....I’m forced to wear boots with heels, stockings, a skirt and even lip stick. This is my worst nightmare. Then I realise that every step I take causes me more pain than you can imagine. My blisters have quadrupled in size and even I’m starting to wish the marathon DVD session had started now as Star Trek sounds far more appealing as I hobble down the main street....grrrrr.

Finally we return home and Star Trek commences, I refuse to join Ian in countless servings of chocolate pudding he bought himself the day before as a Xmas treat. I’m not even allowed to cook as Ian wants to see me completely relaxed and doing nothing for ‘his’ Xmas day. What he doesn’t realise is that doing nothing is complete and utter torture for his Mrs, but then I’m reminded that it was my Xmas day yesterday and that he was forced to go hiking.....but that wasn’t torture? J

Now it’s time for another Sci Fi/fantasy movie, but this time ‘Terminator 4’. I can’t do this anymore and I threaten to walk out, well hobble out, unless I can at least ride my turbo trainer during the next film. Ian decides I have been tortured enough and so I’m actually allowed to ride my bike (well kind of) for the next three hours. It might not be a trail, but at least I can imagine myself on one.....with sound effects and all.

THE POTTER’S BOXING DAY 26^th DECEMBER – Finally, we Potters are back to ‘OUR’ normal ways, as we head off into the mountains on our trusty Cotic steeds to play on some awesome single track. Now that ‘OUR’ 48hrs of Xmas together can be laid to rest and the torture forgotten about for another year, it is time to rip each other’s legs off up those climbs and giggle down those descents, whilst fully appreciating the time we share together every day as man and wife, except Xmas time the only time of year we would rather not 'appreciate' the time we endure together :)

All the best biking adventures for 2010!!!

 

 

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Mountain Bikers Helping One of Their Own

Well I was on one big racing high after competing at my first cyclo cross world cup and have been trying to find a spare moment to write about my brief little cyclo cross adventure in Belgium, but bigger issues, personal and family life have taken priority right now....it has been far more important for me to stop and smell the roses before I get caught up and carried away with all the mountain biking and racing adventures that are already in store for me in 2010.

 

I have had a string of bad news lately, but it can only get better, and to tell you the truth when you think you have problems then there is always someone else out there with bigger issues.

 

When I represented Australia at the World Championships I met a young, up and coming junior ountain bike racer who had been diagnosed with cancer. I didn't know who he was at first because all the Australian juniors were always smiling and giving training their best shot, no one stood out as suffering anymore than the others. When I realised who Brendan was I was inspired by his dedication to mountain bike racing and his smile that remained the right way up the whole time, although in alot of pain.

 

Mountain bike racing is a hard sport physically and can be quite dangerous. Brendan refused to give up his place on the Australian National Team, although he would be needing every ounce of energy he had inside him for a life saving operation not long after the Mountain Bike World Championships. While we mountain bikers nursed injuries and complained of sore legs post race, Brendan was preparing himself for another battle, one that would require even more strength and determination than any mountain bike race could offer.

 

Sometimes I think it's all too easy to forget what sport and the Olympics should be based on, and who we consider role models in this day and age. Sport brings people together and that was what the first Modern Olympics was supposed to be be all about. With the amount of commercialisation that surrounds professional sport and the Olympics, it can be easy to forget for example why we actually started riding a bike in the first place....sport at any level can produce gold medal winning performances from a sporting community, especially when LIFE is concerned.  

 

Australian mountain bikers have joined forces to help Brendan Johnston..... 

'Own a piece of Australian mountain biking history and support Trekky’s cancer treatment.  Up for auction on ebay (item 150397647262) is an official Australian national team jersey signed by members of the Australian mountain bike team that raced the world championships at Mt Stromlo in September 2009. 

The shirt is a brand new medium sized Santini jersey with MTBA logo as worn by our national team.  Most of the team has signed the jersey including Beijing Olympian Dan McConnell, national champions Rowena Fry and Lachlan Norris and many more including Katherine O’Shea and Paul Van Der Ploeg. 

All proceeds from this auction will go to assist Brendan “Trekky” Johnston in his fight against cancer.  Brendan was diagnosed with cancer just before the World Championships this year; he had urgent surgery to remove the cancer and amazingly was able to get back on the bike to race the championships and finish 50th.  He is now at the start of a long road of chemotherapy. You can read more on Trekky’s website at http://www.keepingtrekkyontrack.com/. 

So help us help Trekky, and score yourself some unique Aussie sporting memorabilia.  Bid now at http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150397647262.

 

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A POTTER SEASIDE CX HOLIDAY....

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION TO CX

Well my 2009 CX days have finished for now. This year I wanted to taste a little bit of cyclo cross to see if I enjoyed it. Nothing too serious, just a few races to entertain me in the early days of the mountain bike off season as I unwind from all the racing and travelling I have faced in 2009. I have spent the last 8 weeks riidng the Cotic >X< at every available opportunity as the bridleways and farmers fields surrounding Ian's family home aren't very exciting on a mountain bike....BUT on a cyclo cross bike it is a different story altogether. I have loved the experience and have looked forward to racing not once, but twice most weekends. It has been great only travelling down the road to race a Notts & Derby Race or spending no more than an hour driving to a race elsewhere in the UK, such as a West Midlands race or to a race in Lincolnshire. I have met some great people along the way who have all taken the time to advise me on areas of CX racing that I never knew, and really needed to know more about....like that you really do need two bikes for CX racing, even though I told Ian I could get by with one cross bike this season...I didn't want to go to too much hassle you see..and there is only so much space at the inlaws for our road bikes, commuting bikes, mountain bikes, race bikes, and now cross bikes when we stay with them in the UK. But luckily Ian insisted we do things properly....

 

CHAPTER 2

Well when it was time to face my first National Trophy in the UK after only 4 weeks of CXing under my lycra belt. I was looking forward to a hard race. I wasn't bothered about the result, but I like being competitive with myself and feeling as though my legs have had a good work out....it helps me to relax....as I can be way too hyper for my own good sometimes. The mud on course was thick and not very friendly, but there were plenty of bends and little fast drops, as well as an energy zapping climb that looked like it would be best to run...well for me plod up as I could do with some extra length in my thighs. There were close to thirty girls on the start line and I took my position at the back as expected. When it was time to be let loose I surged forward and by the first corner was sitting comfortably in fourth ready to face the muddy fields at the furthest point of the race. Then I sank...literally....My tyre had gone down completely....DOH! I had only been racing for less than a couple of minutes. I tried to ride on the rim, but knowing we had no spare wheels and a bank account that couldn't afford to damge these wheels we were using made me think that was race over. I tried to ride smoothly....which ended up being very slowly, so then I ran in places....but that wasn't too fast either. By the time I reached Ian I was out of the race in last position, but luckily Ian had managed to build the second bike minutes before the start of this race, so I wasn't out of the race altogether...just a very long way behind. Oops I needed a proper kick up the back side now as I tried to chase down girls out in front. I was having a great time though and was really getting into it when I heard the bell go for the final lap.....I couldn't believe I only had one lap to go after only 28 minutes of racing. I was hoping for at least another two laps. I finished 7th in the end, 1.29min behind the winner Hannah Barnes, which I wasn't disapointed with, but it just finished way too quickly. I felt like a 5 year old who has been told the party is over and it's time to go home....yep bottom lip out and plenty of foot stamping! :)

 

CHAPTER 3 - A WEEK TO REMEMBER or NOT TO REMEMBER....that is the question.

Now I know it took me a few years before I headed to my first cross country world cup. But the rate that I improved by throwing myself in the deep end was the best investment I have undertaken in all my riding and racing years. My Coach Neil Ross, the head Australian national coach and previous Canadian Cyclo Cross national Coach encouraged me to take part in a UCI training camp for newbies such as me to learn about cyclo cross, and as part of the camp we would be facing the best cyclo cross racers in the world at a world cup being held at the end of the week in Koksijde, Belgium.....golly gulp....but I was excited about the experience.

 

The Potters headed to Dover to escape the wet UK weather and stay in an area that we were told is supposed to be the sunniest spot in Belgium.

This trip would also be a nice little break for Ian and I as husband and wife, rather than business partners as we have been working full time on the paperwork and accounts lately which is not our favourite AQR job, but one that always seems to mount up at this time of year. So we were using this trip as a little holiday as well. At the same time we had to move house again for the 4th time as we had all the AQR stock for the season, furniture, loads of suitcases full of Ian's clothes...he really needs to learn how to pack light and of course 12 x 2kg bag of oats to keep us fed for a month or two :)

 

We were ready to roll at the glorious hour of 5am and gave ourselves plenty of time to head to Dover for our ferry crossing....but the traffic Gods had other ideas. 20 minutes into our journey and we were at a standstill for well over an hour. Luckily we arrived in Dover with a few minutes up our sleeve, only to be told there was over an hour delay anyway. The woman sorting our tickets out gave me this weird expression that I interpreted as meaning...YOU ARE IN FOR A ROCKY RIDE. The winds were howling and deep down I actually hoped the ferry crossing would be cancelled as the waves looked treacherous and my stomach has never been a good ferry traveller. I found a lounge area for us to lie down in and I got myself in my anti nausea position and thought happy thoughts. I hugged Ian tightly as Ian is a much better traveller than I am and by burying myself in his warm protective arms...I knew he would be my saviour. The boat seriously rocked from side to side and the waves came crashing down on the windows making me jump every time. Ian couldn't have been more loving..."WILL YOU STOP JUMPING and YOU ARE SQUASHING MY LUNGS!" I was ready to argue the point that as my husband one should be more loving when wife is feeling distressed. Next minute Ian is throwing up in a cup....oops Ian had turned a shade of green. I had a quick look around the lounge area and there were bodies on the floor and alot of sick people running to the toilets or just putting head between their legs..need I say more. It was rather chaotic and all I could do to prevent myself from the same green faced fate was to bury my head into the side of a chair and sing a Kylie song to block the noise out.....I should be so Lucky...lucky, lucky, lucky...mmm"

 

This little ferry crossing was the start of an adventurous week, when you just think WHY ME? When we finally arrived at our destination at 6:05pm, 5 minutes after we were supposed to have checked in, we were told we were staying elsewhere as we must have arrived too late. An hour later and we finally found the hotel after driving up and down the same street trying to work out the one way road system. Luckily the owner found us a lovely hotel we could stay in that was actually closed up for the winter, but we were welcome to make ourselves at home. Then it was time to park the mini bus and trailer. Now this was a comedy act in itself and rather than go into great detail let me just say that a broken trailer and a flat tyre later we had finally parked up.

 

The next day gale forced winds made the training ride....interesting. I enjoying some flying moments on and off the bike as did some of the other riders. One memorable moment was when I tried to glue myself to a back wheel to be protected from the high winds, suddenly I found myself on the ground with my front wheel trapped in another wheel as a few of us fell down like dominoes. Then it rained and rained and rained and rained....need I say more.

 

Then it was time to sort out that flat tyre....the tyre was only a couple of weeks old so we were hoping it wouldn't take long to fix......mmmmmmm!?!?!?!?!

 

PROBLEM 1

The bolts are stuck!

 

PROBLEM 2

It is my job to get hold of the spare wheel....those bolts are stuck too!

 

PROBLEM 3

Ian has packed the wrong nut thingy that goes on the other thingy tool to take bolts off...I accept my weakness when it comes to knowing tool names and mechanical thingies....so I was not responsible for this little problem we were now in as we could not remove the nuts from the wheel.

 

PROBLEM 4

5 shops later that were in walking distance and we still don't have a nut thingy for the other tool thingy to get the nuts off....BUT there is a shop a little less than 10km away.

 

PROBLEM 5

IT IS VERY WET & WINDY & COLD....but we pedal onwards and try not to get blown away by gale force winds and the horizontal rain. We cannot hear each other, so let's just say it wasn't a very social ride, but at least we survived.

 

A RESULT - 2 days later the wheel has been sorted and our marriage is still intact. So our little holiday has consisted of training camp and fixing a tyre before WORLD CUP RACE DAY arrives.....now this is another story in itself, so I shall leave it there for now because I have some video of the course that I want to show you and I'm still trying to down load it etc etc.

 

A LITTLE RACECREPORT SNIPPET - Just so you know the course was really tough, but FUN!!!! Just ANTI FUN when stomach and back go into spasm on first lap when you are trying to race hard!!!!! But I promise to be really upbeat about the race because I made a little bit of Aussie cycling history last weekend, so I have been told. Apparently I am the first Aussie lady to represent Oz at a cyclo cross world cup...and it won't be the last time either as I'm hooked!

 

Cheerios for now

KPxo

 

A Quick Release Holidays
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