Blogs
Wed, 7 Jul 2010
Dalby Forest MTB race for Gabby Day
By Gabby Day - Horizon Fitness Racing Team
Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire was the venue for the fourth, and penultimate round of the Mountain Bike British XC Series. The 7km course took in all the main features; Worry Gill, Medusa’s Drop, and the Dual Descender. It certainly is a very technical circuit, and certainly tested me to my limits.
I arrived at Dalby Forest on Friday afternoon and headed out for a lap. I was feeling fairly confident as I had ridden the course 2 weeks prior at the Nutcracker Series. However, it was tougher than I remembered! And all of a sudden it seemed a whole lot more technical. The course had a few extra sections added in that I had not ridden before, and although I managed to combat most of the sections, one of the short rooty bus stop descents reduced me to running! (Luckily I was certainly not the only one!).
Race day and I was feeling very nervous; probably because I knew it was a very testing circuit. I warmed up on the forest roads and was concerned as my legs were not feeling that good, but I was hopeful that when I started they would start to feel good.
The race started at 10am and it was a very fast start as everyone wanted to be near the front for the first section of twisty downhill single track. I got myself into a good position, but was finding the pace high, especially through the single track. After the first lap, I was settled into 6th and was hoping to make some ground up on 5th, but my legs were not having any of it and eventually I finished my fifth and final lap in 8th, feeling disappointed as I had wanted a podium spot. I guess everyone has to have a bad day.
In the evening I took part in the MTB team relay event as part of a 4 man team. I was riding for Orange Monkey. The team relay is a fast and furious giant game of tag. Each rider does a total of 2 flat out laps. After each lap, the rider must tag their next rider and then blast off (it sure is a nasty effort, felt like a mini turbo session!) The teams are made of 3 guys and one lady. The team I was riding for - Orange Monkey - came in third. So that was my podium spot for the weekend!
I am having a steadier week now, and will be doing an evening MTB race on Friday. I am now looking forward to getting some good road training in the South of France in 2 weeks' time.
For more information about the Horizon Fitness Racing Team, visit www.onthedrops.com.