NDH Kielder Funduro 8th November 2015

Northern Downhill Funduro Kielder 8th November 2015

It was the last race of the 2015 season, it was gonna be fun! Northern Downhill put on their last event this year, a funduro race comprising of 3 stages on red graded trails. The overall places were limited to 120 due to daylight hours, so to find out 14 other girls were racing was brilliant. 

Driving up there the weather looked promising, but mid morning the rain started and it did not stop! But what else would we expect at Kielder in November?! 

Sign on was really smooth letting us set off straight away for practice. 

Photo by JWT Photography

Stage 1 offered burms, mud and a cheeky killer uphill.....I think that was just mean! The peddle up to the top of stage 2 followed the Deadwater red trail. Stage 2 was awesome offering burms, drops, roots and jumps. It was the most technical stage, but there were always options round if anyone wanted them. It was then a short blast to stage 3 which was also lots of fun, with burms, roots and race flat out to the timing chip at the end. A perfect introduction to enduro but also something for everyone. Even though it was advertised as an introduction to enduro, lots of skilled riders entered and I knew I would have to push it to get a good result. 

After practice we were forced to take shelter in the van from the ever increasing rain. But race runs came round quickly and riding round with the boys from the Roots MTB race team was brilliant. Unfortunately boss man Dan was still out due to a previous injury, hopefully be back on his pedals real soon.  

Race runs went really smoothly, as per usual NDH races. There was no queuing to start each stage, and hats off to the marshalls for enduring the weather, including Carl who was the start marshal at the highest point in the driving wind and rain!

Photo by Stephen Brian 

My race run went well although I struggled on the up hill during stage 1 and crashed on stage 2! So I was buzzing to find out it was enough to put me in first place!! I was so happy considering my recent health and the other awesome ladies racing, especially Sarah Vayro who was hot on my heels being only 7 seconds behind and Angela Judd only 7 seconds behind her. 

As an extra bonus for the first time this season it was double podium for Team Roots with the Show Pony taking 3rd masters! Well done Brocks.

• In the senior women Caroline Hobson took the win with a. 8.07, Ashley Stephenson 2nd with 8.43 and Charlotte William with a 10.48

• In the women Masters I took the win with a 7.40, Sarah Vayro 2nd with a 7.47 and Angela Judd 3rd with 7.54

• In the senior men Zach Robson took the win with a 6.29, David Donaldson 2nd with a 6.35 and Simon Giles 3rd with a 6.49

• In the mens masters men Stephen Oates took the win with a 6.40, Philip Oates 2nd with a 6.46 and Paul Brockbank 3rd with a 6.52 

First place for me was just amazing and a perfect finish to the 2015 season. My first first, hopefully 2016 will hold more and I can't wait for it to start!  

It was a brilliant race with a friendly supportive crowd. If you are thinking of racing give this a go, you won't be disappointed. 2016 looks to be an awesome season with NDH who are holding the following races: 

• January 17th Chopwell Funduro

• February 14th Hamsterley ND(H)uro

• February 28th AE TT

• March 13th Kielder ND(H)uro

• April 17th Hamsterley TT

• May 28/29 Kidland ND(H)uro 

• June 19th Pately Bridge TT

• August 21st Eastgate Durham TT

• September 10th Kielder TT

• September 17/18 Lecht Funduro / TT

• October 9th Hamsterley TT

• October 22nd Innerliethen TT

Hope to see you there!

Thanks to Henry Armer Fitness for excellent training during 2015 and all our other sponsors for supporting us during 2015. And to the boss man Dan for awesome support during our first year of racing and training. Let the winter training begin ready for the new challenges of 2016! 

Womens MTB Body Armour Review

Independent review of Womens body armour 

Products reviewed: 

1. Troy Lee Designs Short Sleeve

2. Bliss 1.0 LD Top Comp 2015

3. Alpinestars Comp Pro Short Sleev

I recently decided that I wanted to buy some full body armour....but which one?? It is not easy to decide which one to buy and unfortunately (and much to my dislike) it is hard for many of us to buy from local shops. What do we do? We turn to the internet. Here we encounter further problems.

The women's options are very limited and I could only find a few women specific options MTB and snowboarding protection websites selling armour. I asked some fabulous ladies for advice via the MTBChix&trails facebook group and below was the short list.

I couldn't find reviews on these from a woman's perspective either (although it could be that I can't search google very well!) so I thought it might be useful to the next girl facing the same decision as me if I reviewed some.

Please note that I am not working or sponsored by any of the below brands to write this, I just enjoy doing it! Also I was looking for body armour to use whilst peddling around on regular trail rides and for enduro races rather than just downhill.

If you are considering a purchase based on my size review please note that I am a size 10/12, no apparent chest size to mention and am 5'6 tall.

Troy Lee Designs BP 7850-HW Short Sleeve (size small)

This felt really light, probably the lightest out of them all. It fit really well and easy to take on and off. The protection seemed really good at first, full chest, shoulder and back protection constructed of hard foam pieces layered in. The underarms had a opening so I could move and stretch easily in it, and would have felt great riding in it all day. A pack fitted ok on my back. The price is great too at approximately £80.

Problems were however, it did not fit really snuggly and I think after a few wears the foam blocks would have started moving around. Also, unless you had it held tightly down with clothes the protection might not actually give you protection where you need it due to it moving around. You could not remove the blocks to wash and I think it would have been a risky game putting it in the machine!

All in all it was my second choice due to the super light weight, all over protection and price. I would give it a 7/10

Bliss 1.0 LD Top Comp 2015 (size small)

I was most excited about this one, but I was also the most disappointed. It was very heavy, the pads felt like a bath mat but heavier! To be fair once it was on it did not feel too bad, but I would not want to peddle round in it all day. Maybe for downhill at a stretch but the weight would probably put me off wearing it, and certainly not for enduro or regular trail riding. It is a mans vest, so for a man it is probably brilliant, but for ladies....watch out. The price is also very heavy at approximately £200. 

This was the smallest size small and it was huge for me. I would have needed an XS for a fit, they do offer XS on the Bliss website so you might be able to find one. I think that the bath mat protection might have been a bit hot for peddling too, but again I did not try this so I can't say for definite. 

Plus points are that it looks cool and the elastic stretch material was really comfy. The protection is where you need it and the superduper technology means although it is thin, says it will give you the protection in case of a hit, but I did not use it so I can't comment on how well it works.  

So overall, for men I might say go for it, but for us girls, unfortunately only 5/10 due to fit and weight. 

Alpinestars Comp Pro Short Sleeve (size small)

The Aplinestars is my absolute favourite! It is lightweight, super comfy to the point that you forget that you have it on. It fits like a glove with elastic stretch and a rubberised edge at the bottom to stop it riding up. The belt around the middle acts to stop the armour riding up and as a kidney belt. The shoulder pads are substantial and after a pretty heavy crash in the Alps I can vouch that this protection can protect you! It has given me lots of confidence on the trails. 

The back plate is removable via a zip. The pads are removable so you can throw it in the washing machine and it washes really well. It can take a back pack no problem and I have peddled round all day with this on without knowing it's there, other than to give me confidence. 

Downsides might be the price, at £140 - £160 it is expensive. The only other issue is that it is really hard to get on and even harder to get off especially after a ride!!  The chest protection is thin, but I'm kind of clutching at straws as I think it is brilliant. This was my choice and I would give it 9/10 - only because I resemble a flapping fish out of water whilst taking it off!!

Happy Riding Girls!! See you on the trails x

Oh and obviously I am giving no guarantees for any of the products and how they may or may not protect you, this is all just my opinion.

Northern Downill Hamsterley Trail Bike Championship of the Universe TT 20th September 2015

Northern Downhill Hamsterley Trail Bike Championship of the Universe TT 

20th September 2015

The Championship of the Universe TT was finally upon us, the Northern Downhill events are awesome and the previous three TT events this year had all been fantastic. This promised to be the TT race of all the TT races so excitement was high! 

The format is a one day event, usually down a trail centre track. You are timed on each race run and your best time used to place you. A fun, relaxed day our with your mates and a great opportunity to meet others. 

This track incorporated four quite different sections. They were all so much fun and the changes kept you on your toes! The top was a flat out rooty section with some small drops, this swung into 'Odd Sox' a blue berm trail centre section which was a lot twisty fun. Coming out of this onto the fire road for a few pedal strokes then back into the wood section, dark, rooty, tight turns and a few fun technical sections before popping out onto the fire road again into the final section. This incorporated a couple of technical corners then pedal like crazy to the finish post. An awesome track and something for everyone. 

Driving over in the morning, I was expecting to be really nervous, but I found myself just really excited! There had been lots of interest on MTBChix&Trails and I was looking forward to finally putting some faces to the names on the social media chat. Sign on was quick and easy with the TT family running the event smoothly, even homemade cakes for sale :-) 

Photo thanks to Melissa Pearson

It was great to see so many women there, 23 in total which allowed there to be three actual categories for the women! Brilliant to have such a great turn out and to meet many of them throughout the day, including seeing Lorna who I've not seen for almost a year!

We got ready quickly trying to dodge the midges and headed up to the course. Practice ran very smoothly with no hassle from riders behind. I didn't feel any pressure, other than cheers from the marshalls to try and pull a skid on fire road going into the woods to win 'The Skid of the Day', not something I can intentionally do yet! 

Line choices were made and I felt happy I knew what I was doing (or hoped to do.....)

Photo by Stephen D Brian www.facebook.com/StephenDBrianPhoto

After a quick bite to eat we ladies headed back up for the first race run, stereo typically going to the loo all together on the way! It was so great to chat to all the fabulous ladies and get to know everyone better. Some had come from far, it was others first race and a few had come to the race on their own. I hope that no one felt on their own on the day as we all supported each other. There were no egos to clash with, just a lot of support for each other. 

Photo by Zach Robson check out his work here

The count down came for my first race run and I tried to channel my excitement and nerves. I had been on the podium at all the other TT's this year, but I knew there were some awesome riders there so the pressure was on! My first run felt smooth, although I faltered on the fire road transition. In my mind I had intended to corner properly, but the slippy gravel meant the reality was quite different! I think almost everyone struggled on this transition (well that's what I'm saying to myself anyway!). 

Photo by Annie Bee

The support on the track was awesome, lots of people shouting encouragement all the way down the course, including the line of green Roots MTB shirts which boosted me on for the final push to the finish. The timing is done using chips on your arm so no dibbing or dabbing is required at the start or finish. Easy. 

As soon as you finish, you hand your chip in to be given a print out of your time and you can check your live position. I was amazed to see I'd run a 2.52 which put me in second place! After a debriefing with the ladies and some food we went back up for the second race run.

Photo by JWBT Photography

I tried to catch up the gap with Sarah Newman in first place and maybe tried too hard and made mistakes. I closed the gap by 2 seconds but was still 6 away, but super happy to take second place!! 

• In the 19-29 category Katie Clark took first with a 2.54, Kelly Gott second and Alice Sutcliffe in third. 

• In the 30-39 category Sara Newman took first with a 2.44, me with a 2.50 and Paula Mckenzie in third

• In the 40-49 category Melissa Pearson took first with a 2.49, Beverley Adipura second and Michaela Tiernan third. 

For all the results follow this link

When I first started riding and racing I didn't know any other mums who raced. On Sunday all the women on the podiums for the last two categories were mums. Whoop! All the women there were amazing. Lorna raced despite it only being the 7th time on a bike this year and pulled a great time! Amelia raced despite only having beautiful Phoebe a few weeks ago! Dawn raced despite injuries and bike mechanicals, and pulled a smashing second run! Emily carried on after a bad crash. It was Sarah's first race and she took fourth! For some it was their first race, others had gone for the race on their own, but we were all there for each other, who ever we were. If you are thinking of racing but are nervous or apprehensive for any reason, try a TT event, you will not regret it.

The boys did awesome also, Brocky made his goal of coming in top ten with his 9th place, Dan smashed it and would have been there had he not had two crashes on his last run but still came 15th! Brilliant days racing and awesome atmosphere.....

Whats next........

• Kidland ND(H)uro 4th October - said to be an intro to the steeper enduro on natural trails, looks like it's going to be much fun. Follow this link

• Kielder ND(H) uro 8th November - entry to enduro and the course is on a red trail centre...get  entered!! I am, hope to see you there!

And looking forward to the dates for next years NDH events!

Massive thanks to  Roots MTB for the coaching and support and the Roots MTB Team who are the best guys to race with, love you guys!!

Thanks also to our sponsors Henry Armer Fitness, DC Cycles, Shape up, Southlakes Motorhomes and J F Hornby & Co

Morzine July 2015

Morzine Adventure July 2015

My first trip to the Alps to ride my bike couldn't come quick enough. I was lucky to have the boys of Roots MTB driving down with all the bikes (15 in a VW transporter!) and gear whilst I leisurely took the plane and made the journey in a few hours. It was lovely to have the time to read without the kids jumping around! Sad not to have them there jumping around too. 

The drive up to Morzine is such a beautiful one and fabulous to see the alpine villages and meadows I am used to seeing covered in snow. I've been skiing in the alps since I was 2 years old and it was so strange to see the riders coming down the ski hill!

I was annoyed and surprised at myself that I struggled on my first day riding. We hit the trails runs in Les Gets and although we stuck to the green and blue I found it really hard and felt quite intimidated by the size of it all and what felt like a line of huge men racing up behind me on the tight trails. I felt so bad I actually spent the afternoon up by the lake swimming! In 40 degrees it wasn't such a bad option, but I knew I only had 3 1/2 days there and I was 1 day down. I had a word with myself went out on day 2 with a fresh head.

Day two we went to Super Morzine on the park and I could feel my confidence building throughout the morning. By the afternoon I rode the Pleney. There was a new 'red' which was my first introduction to this side of the mountain and although it was definitely not a red, it was the steepest most dusty technical ride of my riding life......I absolutely loved it!! We went back up for a ride down the black and I knew my confidence was back in full strength. I even managed the infamous 'chute' of death and to my surprise, loved it!

On day three we rode to Switzerland and back, best days riding of my life!

On my last day I had a few hours left before catching the flight home to pick up my boys from school! I was tired after the previous few days but determined to squeeze as much as I could from the trip. We rode the Pleney again which I loved, but went into the chute on a bad angle from the start and went OTB a few times to the bottom! Ouch. Could not feel my legs for a while, but managed to have one more go before my flight to put knock the confidence back on track.

Will I go back? Can't wait to get back there next summer!! 

 

You can watch my post crash run down Le Pleney following the link below.........

 

 

https://youtu.be/bvybIQyVdT8

 

UCI World Cup Fort William 7th June 2015

UCI World Cup Fort William 7th June 2015

This was my first experience of a world cup, and I hope it is not my last. Such a fabulous day, completely awe inspiring to watch the worlds best riders flying down the hill at Fort William. 

Rachael Athertonn - qualifying run

Emmeline Ragot - qualifying run

After soaking up the atmosphere at the bottom and watching the impressive Danny Macaskill's Drop and Roll tour, we caught the gondola to the top station to where the riders start their journey down the hill. We, along with the other three and a half thousand other spectators embarked on the wonderful walk back down by the side of the track.

 From very top all the way down the track the atmosphere was buzzing, with most of the track sides covered all the way down the hill. Everyone was cheering, blowing horns and banging the inside of rims providing a wave of support for every rider, regardless of their nationality, age, sex or bike.

Manon Carpenter - race run

The women came down for their race run first. I was totally in awe of these inspirational ladies, I always have been, but to see them in action was amazing.  

Rachael Atherton - race run

Tracy Hannah - race run

The woods were thick with mud and the going got a little tricky in places, but we always had the tetrus gang to keep us entertained! Everyone was smiling, whatever the age and it just goes to show how popular the sport is. 

As we walked down you could occasionally hear the roar of the crowd below as the riders entered the finish arena. As we arrived at the motorway section just before the finish you could feel the energy and excitement. Cow bells, chain saws, vuvuzellas, trumpets, shouting, the atmosphere was alive! 

This was the first view of the riders as they came into the finish arena. Every rider that flew into view got a huge roar of support. 

Coming into the final jumps and finish arena the crowd filled the whole area and all seemed to act as one, watching the big screen then to turning to watch the riders enter the finish, all moving their heads and cheering together.

I will never forget the roar of the crowd when Greg Minar crossed the finish line in first place with a 4.47. His fifth win at Fort Willam and his 17th world cup win, to take the joint lead with Steve Peat for the most world cup wins. The whole crowd exploded, it was amazing. 

Rachel Atherton took the win for the ladies with a 5.31, followed by Tahnee Seagrave, Emmeline Ragot, Manon Carpenter (despite the epic crash) and Katy Curd. Four British women in the top five. 

Can't wait for next year! 

PMBA Enduro - Grizedale 29 April 2015

This race was always going to be a tricky one for me. Last year I entered and I could not complete the third stage because I found it too technical and steep. This year I entered hoping that the same stage wouldn't be in. We had no idea what the stages would be until the day. The day came. It was in. Stage 1.

PMBA hold fantastic grass roots events, this series is enduro. This means three or four stages each race, you are timed on each stage and have as much time as you need to get to the start of each one. It is usually a round trip of 10 miles, which you have to do twice in the day, in the morning for practice, and race in the afternoon. We set off round the course in groups of approximately 10 riders, so happily we could ride together as RootsMTB race team.

We practiced stage two first, a rocky rocky footpath with more rocks and a few boulders thrown in. It was a great stage, but I didn't really enjoy it as my confidence was taking a battering thinking about stage 1. We headed to the top of Caron Crag which was the start to stage 1. Pushing up the path to the was torturous! I knew I was going to make myself ride down it even though I felt really scared. I had a full face helmet on and lots of body armour so that helped with the confidence. I lined up. The marshal blew his whistle. My bike started down the hill.

The stage took a different line than the previous year so I was riding it blind. The first chute into the trees was steep, rooty and muddy, I had never ridden it before and how I stayed on the bike I have no idea! But I made it down, through the woods then out into the open to the start of the chute of death. I knew if I stopped I would never do it because it was this feature that stopped me the previous year. So I didn't stop, I just rolled over the edge and hoped for the best! I wasn't far enough back on my bike and I couldn't slow down, my bike was off the track and into the tree stumps and if I am totally honest my eyes were closed and I was screaming into my helmet! But I stayed on, somehow. I had to stop to get myself together before carrying on. The rest of the practice didn't go well, my confidence was knocked, despite making it round. 

I spent the next couple of hours talking myself out of not driving home. I knew I wanted to race but I knew I couldn't race it, only try to get round. This does not bode well with my competitive nature! However, with some very helpful chats with friends who encouraged me, I realised I was being really negative and decided just get on with it.

Surprisingly, I was not as nervous dropping into stage 1, but the initial chute of rooty ridiculousness filled me full of fear again. I rattled and slipped down the mud and roots and to my total amazement, I cleaned it and not only that, I kind of enjoyed it! Though looking back, I may have misinterpreted that emotion with that of relief. Through the woods was slow but I made it to arrive back at the chute of death. Again, I just didn't think about it and rode into it. I managed to move around on the bike a bit more and I wouldn't go as far as saying I enjoyed it, but I didn't scream this time and even kept my eyes open! The rest of the stage went well though I was slow and tired, but I made it to the end. It was a big step forward for me, I managed to ride the stage that had stopped me the year before. Did I enjoy it? Still not sure to be honest!!

The rest of the stages went ok, but I made lots of mistakes. I just tried to enjoy the rest of the day learn as much as I could from the experience.

Overall I came 11th out of 21 which considering the awesome class of the other women racing, was actually pretty good! But the main thing was that I did it, a big step forward from the previous year.

I love riding my bike immensely and I love racing. I have recently set myself a goal of competing in the UKGE next year and ultimately I would like to attempt an Enduro World Series round (in many years to come!). But to achieve this I have a mountain of a lot of work to do on my confidence, skills on steep rooty trails and fitness. I need to be riding trails like this and loving them instead of letting them full me with fear and drain my confidence.

Perhaps this comes with time and experience, I have only been riding a bike for 2 1/2 years and I haven't really rode many or any steep rooty trails. I usually ride rocks. Or maybe it is part of our nature, do we start riding a bike and from day one love steep muddy rooty trails because we are born that way and love the thrill of it? Or are they something that we all have to learn to love through trial and error and tree hugging? Perhaps it is because I am a single mum of two and the fear of a broken something is fairly prevalent in my mind! Maybe a mix of all of these. But whichever it is, I intend to find out by working as hard as I can within my busy merry go round of being a working mum to see if I can achieve those goals. I will nail the rooty muddy steep or cry whilst trying!

Since writing this I read a post by Tracy Moseley who took first place first in this particular race. She described it as 'fun laid back riding in the sunshine'. I laughed at the total contrast of our experience of the same race. Obviously she is arguably the worlds best female enduro racer and worlds apart from my level, but it gave me hope that, with more experience, I will feel the same when faced with similar stages in my next enduro race.