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
Tel: 0845 1304824

http://www.aquickrelease.com

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KP's first movie making experience....titled 'KP VRS THE BOYS'

This is all a bit of an experiment as I have never made a movie before. In fact I have no idea if this will even work...but at least it gives you a little bit of an insight as to how much I'm loving and hurting from cyclo cross...if it works, hopefully it will otherwise this blog has been a bit wasted really.

 

Cyclo cross really is super fab, and such a great winter work out....and quite a bit of a laugh really when there is so much mud to muck about in....certainly improves the KP complexion and hopefully kills any winter bugs that may be lurking as well, as I have tasted dirt alot lately.

 

I am now in Belgium preparing for my first cyclo cross world cup this Saturday....I thought it best to throw myself in the deep end after only 6 weeks of racing and riding CX. It's just the boys I have been racing at the Notts & Derby local league have been far too nice...fancy apologising to me for thinking they have got in my way....look boys I'm used to elbows, terrible language and even some punches in the back side....but if you do that Ian might not be happy :)

 

Anyway I will write a report very soon...it's just I keep entering races, and I now have a backlog of 7 reports to write, plus this world cup this weekend, plus this awesome training camp I'm on right now....so here's the deal I shall write a report with chapters in case I go on, so that you fully understand just how cool this cyclo crossing lark is and hopefully it may entice you to taste some winter mud too.

 

Right must dash...it's food time.

 

Cheerios for now

KPxo

Message from kate potter:

Click on a video below to watch it:

	Notts & Derby R8 KP vrs the boys :) Video Length 2:49 Click here to watch

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KP....A mechanic in the making...well maybe :)

I love mountain biking, road cycling (when there are no cars around) and of course my new addiction to the Cotic >X< . What I don't like is feeling stupid and completely out of depth when it comes to the mechanical side of mountain biking, road cycling and now cyclo cross. I just don't seem to remember biking related jargon and this is very apparent when trying to explain to Ian who has always been my mechanic that something just doesn't feel right. Even though I have only been riding a bike for 6 years, In those 6 years I have probably only had 6 days off the bike and I know, I really do KNOW (well I think I know) when something just doesn't feel like it should. But the problem is I speak my own unique biking jargon, that only Ian is starting to understand after all these years of togetherness.

 

I will quickly fill you in on some KP bike babble that I can certainly call my own, firstly the one word that has really stuck in the Potter household and that even Ian doesn't mind using from time to time (when not in the company of biking friends of course), is what I like to call the Tyre Digger, instead of the tyre lever.Then there are all the little thingies that twist, the knobs that need adjusting, and the thingy-me-joggles that need to turn....and that squidgy feeling is there again, when it should feel like a spring-a-ding...of course I include plenty of hand gestures too so that my biking jargon is fully understood to those of you not on the same biking planet as moi. But the problem is when Ian isn't around to interpret my language to the outside world, I end up totally tongue tied and lost without a clue.

 

Now this year I have had some mechanical challenges which I have had to overcome all by myself. I have been thrown in the deep end on more than one occasion and forced to start thinking mechanically rather than relying on Mr Potter. I admit there have been times of stress and freak outs, like how you might feel when in a foreign country and nobody speaks the same language as you...you just want to be understood and accepted. It can be mighty frustrating and a tad lonely, but no one is to blame. You either learn the language and life becomes more bearable or continue to live feeling isolated and not part of the community.

 

Therefore I, Kate Potter, have taken it upon myself to become a mechanic and actually learn a thing or two about my bike, rather than just admiring my Cotic Soda's beauty and being the only person (apart from Mr Potter (sometimes)) who actually knows what I'm going on about. As I said before from a rider/racer point of view I do know what my bikes should feel like, or rather how I like them to feel, but I need to learn how to solve mechanical issues myself or at least explain in proper biking jargon what needs sorting out or tweaking....so I can be fully accepted and understood as a Mountain Biking Brain.

 

I was over the moon and around the mountain when Tony Barton from Magura UK offered to teach me how to service my forks and bleed my brakes, as well as spend time working on my suspension settings and finding out exactly what works best for me on different types of terrain. This was the start of my New Year's Biking Resolution, a tad early I know, but I need every head start and extra day I can sneak in if this resolution of mine is going to be successful.

 

Tony Barton from Magura gave up two days of his time to help me take those first steps into the mechanical world of suspension and brakes. Tony is an expert in this area, and also a wonderful teacher who actually interpreted my KP biking jargon by reading my facial expressions and watching my body language as I felt the forks and brakes after different adjustments had been made...but more importantly by also looking closely at my forks and brakes and knowing straight away what needed work and what didn't. If only I could do that :)

 

DAY 1 SUSPENSION

Within 5 minutes of meeting Tony the little problem that I couldn't sort out for the past few months was fixed and I realised how unlogical my brain is and probably always will be. It turns out the valve was completely undone, and all I needed was to turn it with this thingy-me-tool...I forgotten the name already, and voila all is sorted and ok. Grrrrrrr! If only I had taken it upon myself to learn more about my bike a year ago. But as they say through mistakes and problems you can only become a better biker, so long as you take it upon yourself to LEARN...and in my case REMEMBER what the experts teach you....this doesn't count if your husband thinks he's an expert because as a wife it can be so easy to switch off and forget those things he has taught you :)

 

The rest of the day involved LOTS more biking (which I can say I'm an expert in or perhaps just addicted to) and working out my suspension default setting and rebound. I then tested the Soda with different settings and realised that I could feel the exact air pressure that suted me and what rebound I liked best...which only confirms that I have learnt a thing or two over the past 6 years....I just didn't trust myself to sort it out and always needed Ian to check it in case I was wrong.

 

DAY 2 BRAKES

I have finally learnt how to bleed brakes. I actually did it MYSELF...very slowly I might add, but I did it. I also realised I know more about brakes than I first thought I did. But as they say the more you learn, the more you realise there is to learn....I guess that is why most people can only be an expert in one area, because it takes time to become an expert and you have to make mistakes along the way in order to progress.

 

Anyway I have made my New Year's Biking Resolution early this year because I'm determined to go into my third year of world cup racing with a mechanical head on my shoulders, one that talks the talk, walks the walk and does her darnest to be a real mountain biker with a biking brain to match....just need to learn some proper mechanical words that don't start with 'THINGY'

 

THANKYOU TONY (MAGURA UK)....really appreciate all your help!!!!!

 

I have some >X< Rated racing reports that will be live soon....I have raced so much in the last few weeks that haven't had the time to write any racing reports just yet....but let's just say I'm addicted to CX and will have such a lovely complexion soon with all the mud I have been riding around in....promise to have them up to read by end of week.

 

Cheerios for now

KPxo

 

 

A Quick Release Holidays
Tel: 0845 1304824

http://www.aquickrelease.com

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An Outing on the >X< and other blogging news...

I hoped that my next blog read would take off from where I left off after saying goodbye to 2009...yes I know I'm two months early...so you will have to read my last longish blog to know what I'm going on about. But every time I find the time to sit down and let you all know what's happening in the Potter's bike about world, something else biking related happens so I end up with this back log of biking related thoughts, ideas and nonsence brain babble waiting to be blogged about. So a quick one sentence summary of what has gone off in the last few weeks.....before I reveal some >X< rated news -

 

KP BIKE ABOUT NEWS OCTOBER 2009

 

October 3-4 AQR End of Season Weekend - Literally flew around the Peak District on the Cotic Hemlock riding in 70 mile winds. I was so fast....until I turned around :)

 

October 8-11 2009 London Bike Show - Cotic Soda 2010 WOAH!!!....it looks extra fizzy. Cotic >X<, WOW! It's bright!!!! Great to catch up with so many of you who could make it, although I'm sent home early due to fatigue (sorry), Ian stays put and hopefully caught up with many of you....Afternoon drama Post Cycle Show when we almost lose the 2010 Soda when thiefs strike on Sunday night. Thanks to those who stuck around to help Cy, Paul and Ian out. Plus special thanks to Kelvin for saving the Soda.

 

October 17-18 AQR Potter Skills Session with MTB Club 'Beyond 9 to 5' part 1 - IP and KP head down to Afan where we coached 8 lovely bikers who were A plus students if I do say so myself :)

October 17-18 AQR Potter Skills Session with MTB Club 'Beyond 9 to 5' part 2 - KP learns that perhaps she shouldn't call out 'IAAAAAAN' when IP is demonstrating how to fly through the air...

October 17-18 AQR Potter Skills Session with MTB Club 'Beyond 9 to 5' part 3 - IP needs to practice what he preaches, 'where you look, is where you go', whilst flying through the air...

October 17-18 AQR Potter Skills Session with MTB Club 'Beyond 9 to 5' part 4 - KP, completely innocent & cannot be blamed for IP imprinting himself on a tree...IP should have been looking where he was going....we can laugh about it now though hey love :)

 

AND THEN THE >X< ARRIVED AT AQR HEADQUARTERS....oh my golly gosh! I was hoping the Cotic >X< prototype I will be testing for Cotic might be slightly subtle in colour considering I have never raced cyclo cross before. I'm always concerned that I'm going to embarrass the cool Cotic brand name when trying something completely new....especially when it involves using my feet in more ways than one, as I'm known for my clumbsiness. BUT it looks so sweet! It definitely stands out in a crowd and brightens up the greyest of winter days. But there is a problem when a bike looks this good and you want to do it proud...I was feeling the pressure from my perfectionist brain who always like to do a good job at anything I turn my hand or legs to. I had 6 days to learn a thing or two about cyclo cross before entering my first race. So who do I turn to for some much needed tuition and advice....my good friend Nick Craig who recently won the Three Peaks Challenge and who knows alot more than a thing or two about cyclo cross, mountain biking, cycling, fell running....and who we all know is just such a top bloke.

 

Monday 19th October - Cyclo Cross Coaching Session with Nick Craig

Nick very kindly invited Ian and I to his home and base in the Peak District where we took the Cotic >X< for it's maiden voyage. I might just add that we hadn't quite finished building the >X< because we were waiting delivery of a new head set, wheels and brakes...so at this point in time the bike didn't quite steer properly because we were using the wrong head set and my brakes....well I know cantalever brakes aren't as strong as my Magura disc brakes...so I settled for a very cheap pair on the bike that might as well not have been on the bike....so I was bursting with confidence :)

 

Before we got stuck into the skills session Nick checked the bike over and gave us loads of tips to help us BOTH prepare for racing cyclo cross....Ian doesn't know this yet bet he will be racing a Cotic >X< in 2010/11. Nick gave us advice on tyres, wheels, brakes (lots of advice here :) ), race rules and regulations that I had no idea about and together Ian and I jotted down the info in our heads...two Potter brains are better than one methinks.

 

Then it was time to focus on some cyclo cross skills, and the rest of the afternoon was spent focusing on jumping on and off the bike, leg behind, leg in front, cruising, jumping over obstacles, carrying the bike on my back....I feel privilidged that Nick taught me his special technique as to lifting the bike on to my back. I won't forget this technique as every time I got it wrong I ended up with some extra purpleness to the ever expanding bruises on my arm and shoulder as it took me a while to get the coordination right, but once I had it nailed I wasn't going to forget it because Nick and Ian would know, in fact alot of people would know. I made a great yelping sound everytime I got it wrong you see.

 

My biggest weakness was jumping off the bike and running over the obstacle that Nick had made. My timing was pretty pathetic because I was thinking way too much for my own good....I was either 'three days late' as Nick jokingly said to Ian or almost destroying the obstacle as I tried to rush all the little moves that made up the one big move Nick had demontrated so gracefully, as he bounded over the obstacle in lightning speed. But for me it was a starting point and as I always say to people I coach who are new to mountain biking, you need to learn the moves, practice the moves, understand the moves, and you know you have it dialled when you no longer have to think about it anymore...like a dance routine methinks.

 

Anyway I am so grateful to Nick Craig for giving up his afternoon to coach me through some important cyclo cross techniques. THANKYOU SO MUCH!!!!!

 

Tuesday 20th October - Revision and more bruises in the Park

I didn't want to forget what I learnt yesterday so after speaking to Coach Ross in Oz who also knows alot about cyclo cross Ian and I headed down to the local park. 2hrs later I was bruised and bleeding, but bubbling with joy. I was loving riding the >X<, I just had to stop missing my darn saddle when I practised jumping on the bike. I was also learning to carry speed because my brakes didn't work so I either kept the bike rolling or crashed when I needed to stop. Highly effective methinks and of course very entertaining for Ian who was in stitches most of the time.

 

Wednesday 21st October - >X< Rated and Dirty :)

Right today I was not going to crash, miss my saddle or add anymore purpleness to my bruised arm and shoulder. I watched some Utube cyclo cross footage to psyche me up. It was raining but I didn't care, it was time to ride my >X< in the mud and get down and dirty!

 

Thursday 22nd October - Recovery...MORE OUCH!

Rest day!.....bored..... so I went to the gym and did a spinning class, followed by a boxing class because knowing my bikes were in reaching distance was way too tempting. I'm not the best athlete when it comes to recovery days, and so I thought a boxing class would help me to relax...Well I had fun, but now have alot more bruises to add to my collection. I also realised that laughing and boxing don't mix because my boxing partner and I were giggling so much from our uncoordinated ways, that every so often we missed the pad and one of us ended up with a hit to the head. But I can now throw a meanish punch, so beware :)

 

Friday 23rd October - Pre Race >X< Revison.

Ian and I went for a chilled out spin on my Cotic >X< and Ian's Cotic Bfe. We explored trails in and around Nottingham that I didn't know existed and practised some more skills beside the river. It was great to be able to ride a bike that was enjoyable on and off road, because we could link up loads of dirt trails with some nice sections of quiet tarmac road. It was a lovely afternoon ride where Ian and I could just chill and leave our competitive selves at home...that was until we reached the home straight. With one hill to go Ian became all competitive and pushed me backwards, then went for the sprint to the top of the climb....silly boy.....I simply cranked it up, the >X< flew off the mark and I left him effortlessly....Thankyou Cy it is so much easier now out climbing my husband :)

 

Saturday 24th October RACE 1 - Notts & Derby League Round 6

So with a week of intense cyclo cross training it was time to face a proper race. I have to admit driving to a race less than 30 minutes away was a nice change, as I'm so over travelling; Also knowing that the race was no longer than 50 minutes and we would be back in our UK home early in the evening was also a big plus. It meant less preparation...although I still seemed to over pack for the occasion. I blame the weather Gods who were looking rather confused, they didn't quite know whether they wanted it to rain or shine.

 

I had to face 130 men and women as we lined up on the grid. I placed myself at the back of the pack, because I had no idea what I was doing and didn't want to end up causing a crash. It was a fast but comfortable start as I focused on finding gaps, but I could tell my legs and lungs have been on holiday lately and took a while to wake up. There were steep banks to run up and some really fun sections of single track, as well as fast flowing corners and wooden obstacles to hop over. My hopping over definitely needs work or perhaps my legs need to grow longer :)

 

I don't quite know how many laps I did but the race was over before I knew it, and I was buzzing all over because it was tough, but in a really fun challenging way that I rather liked. I was told I won the senior ladies, but I was 50th overall so I need to try a bit harder to get myself into the 40's which is my goal next time round. But I'm afraid after one race I'm hooked on cyclo cross as it is such a fun work out. I can see myself doing alot more cyclo cross racing in the future....

 

Sunday 25th October RACE 2 - West Midlands League Round 6

The future happened pretty quickly and we Potters decided on Sunday morning to head to another cyclo cross race at the last minute. It was either a race or a Cotic >X< all day adventure ride in and around the off road trails of Nottingham...Ian thought he was safer taking me to a race.

 

I lined up again at the back of a massive field of riders, 140 in total I think of women, juniors and veterans. I was told the ladies who were favourites to win were at the front, but I couldn't quite see them with over 100 riders in front. There were so many people racing and I had to be on the gas the whole time because I had alot of catching up to do. The single track was really good fun, there was plenty of it, and some really tight corners. No obstacles to jump over, but plenty of bends to keep it interesting. My lap times got quicker and quicker, and I finally made the winning move on the final lap when I took over the lead from the series leader. I was rather pleased with this race, more so than yesterday, and although have no form right now, can feel my legs waking up and coming back to racing life, which is always a nice feeling. I always like a racing good battle and to be pushed all the way is the best work out one can get.

 

So I think I'm close to being up to date now with my blog...well that was until I had a ride, and mechanical lesson with Tony Barton from Magura on Tuesday at Sherwood Pines and then a day out at Dalby Forest with Professional photographer Joolze Dymond on Wednesday....so more news to come soon, and some really ace piccies.

 

Cheerios for now

KPxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted via email

First races on the >X< (first cross races EVER in fact)

From: "Kate Potter"
Date: October 26, 2009 11:32:22 AM GMT

The Cotic >X< won on the weekend and I hung on and occasionally jumped off, jumped on, tripped and scrambled my way to not one, but two wins. Not too sure how it happened, but loved every moment of it and am quite addicted to riding the Cotic >X<....in fact I'm actually choosing it over mountain biking these last few days....because I can beat Mr Potter on it :) Which is always a plus! It doesn't feel like I'm riding a road bike at all, in fact it feels like a super fast Cotic Soul because it's so comfortable and really confidence inspiring around the corners and light....especially since I have to carry it from time to time to run up steep banks and over little obstacles. Cyclo Cross is such a blast and already looking forward to the next >X< outing with Mr P. soon, but I have to be nicer now or I will end up a Potter EX if I keep outsprinting him :) Report to follow very soon....

Cheerios for now
KPxo

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