Blogs

Wed, 10 Nov 2010

Penny reports from the Inter-Area champs!

By Penny Rowson - Horizon Fitness Racing Team

After a month’s rest off the bike back in October, I’ve gotten back into the training routine of things and have now started an open uni course on psychology to keep me busy.

I’ve been able to get the winter miles in, although for some reason I can’t seem to resist a bit of cross every year. So on Sunday I rode the Inter Area champs, proudly representing Yorkshire. With 40 riders in the women’s race it seemed more popular than a national trophy event.

They say preparation is the key to success. However for me, it was jump on the cross bike in the morning, adjust the saddle from last year, hope everything works fine, and off you go.

My dad set off 2 minutes ahead in the veteran’s race, but unfortunately within the first 200m of the gun being fired, there was a crash on the road section. This was a demonstration of how not to start a cross race.

The course was very technical with lots of corners and off camber, which meant the course tapes were constantly broken as riders were sliding off everywhere. It tested my confidence and skills on the cross bike as I was a bit rusty, yet I felt positively strong from previous years.

In the end, it was the veteran team who shone, with Yorkshire team A and B taking 1st and 2nd place. For us Yorkshire lasses, we managed 7th, with our top riders missing, so not a bad day all round.

I reckon I’ll ride Mallory Park next weekend, and then it won’t be 'til the nationals before I jump back on the cross bike. I should really stick to being a roady, but what the hell... it’s too fun!

For more information about the Horizon Fitness Racing Team, visit www.onthedrops.com.

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