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Post by Mark on Nov 23, 2012 21:53:59 GMT
See you there Sunday Chris with my Allen keys again!!! ;D
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Post by Tarbo on Nov 23, 2012 21:59:40 GMT
See you there Sunday Chris with my Allen keys again!!! ;D Can you also bring that stuff you feed Simon on ;D
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Post by Tarbo on Nov 27, 2012 22:33:30 GMT
Last Sunday saw the fifth round of the North Wales CX league take place in the grounds of Boddlewyddan Castle in St. Asaph. Another good turn out with over 60 riders in total, with around 12 juniors and 48 seniors making the effort to give this race a go. After a quick walk of the course, it was time to get kitted up, receive some abuse regarding last week's mechanical and then get out and ride the course. And an excellent course it turned out to be too with lots of natural obstacles and a barbed wire fence to negotiate After a couple of warm up laps it was time to get the action started. As is the norm, I started around the back of the group with the less serious of the riders. I soon picked a number of people off before coming to the bottleneck of the first singletrack section. A lesson for next time is to start in the middle of the group The first lap saw the usual settling into place with all the private little races going on within the main race. I felt quite good and was in a group of four who were battling with each other in the middle of the pack. By the second lap, the race was in full swing with lots of banter and cursing as the trails got muddier and muddier. However, disaster struck for the second time in two races half way through the third lap I thought I had a branch stuck in my rear wheel, however when I looked down I found my rear hanger had snapped, resulting in my rear mech trapping itself around the wheel and chainstay After coming very close to throwing the bike away, I shouldered it and walked back to the signing on location, where I found another rider looking at his rear wheel. It turned out that his rear hanger had also snapped. As we were comparing the damage, another rider wondered up with another broken rear mech. This pattern continued throughout the whole of the race with a total of 14 riders retiring due to either rear hangers snapping or rear mechs breaking Still a lot of discussion over on the NWCX site as to the root cause, but most put it down to a mix of lots of mud, lots of leaves and small stones all getting stuck in the jockey wheels. Anyway, two races, two disasters On a brighter note, both Simon Price and Megan Woodward got through the race unscathed, with Megan once again winning her category and Simon coming third in a very competitive under 12s race. These youngsters race over the same course as the seniors and for the same time, so much respect to them. And just for the record, yes, Simon overtook me again A big thanks to Mark, Karl and Sharon for all the words of encouragement as I meandered past them, and also for taking some pictures for me. Unfortunately I didn't go past enough times to get any decent pictures of me ;D The next one is on Sunday the 16th December at The Marsh Tracks in Rhyl, starting at 12.00. A couple of the mechanicals from Sunday, the blue bike in the first picture in mine
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Post by Tarbo on Dec 18, 2012 23:36:14 GMT
The sixth round of this winter series took place at Marsh Tracks, Rhyl last Sunday. Unfortunately, due to my daughter's 9th birthday I was unable to race turn up at this one, a pity as it was just down the road from me Anyway, the course was a mixture of the race track and it's surrounding landscape, which consisted of mud, more mud and lots more mud ! The course was a bit shorter than the last couple of courses but was just as tough, if not tougher due to the large amount of mud. Once again, Megan Woodward flew the flag for MBNW and accounted very well for herself and duly took the win in the girl's under 16 race. Obviously doesn't get that from Karl ;D The next race is at Glynllifon at Caernarfon, with the juniors starting at 12.00 and the adults racestarting approx 20minutes later. Some pictures I've pinched from Karl, some showing just how muddy it was Well done Meg
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Post by Tarbo on Dec 26, 2012 20:01:50 GMT
Last Sunday saw round 7 of the North Wales Cyclo Cross Series take place at Glynllifon Park, just outside Caernarfon. On a fast course of just under a mile in length, the racing was pretty intense. With Christmas just around the corner, numbers were lower than usual with only 30 riders turning up. As usual the race started with a good climb, a climb which everyone had managed to ride on the practice laps. However, once the race got underway and there were 30+ riders vying for position, the first climb soon turned into mayhem. This resulted in lots of carrying with elbows flying everywhere. Once the first climb was out of the way, the race soon settled down with the series leaders going for it hammer and tongs, while the rest of us had our own personal races going on. I was in a small group of three containing myself, a rider from C.S. Caergybi (Holyhead CC) and Dyffryn MTB Club (I think). This race between us carried on for the 9 laps, with the three of us taking the lead a number of times, before the lad on the mountain bike got the better of us on the long run into the finish line, while I managed to hold off the other guy. I think I finished 16th, which I’m really pleased with as it’s the first race I’ve managed to complete without any mechanical issues at all, apart from my change coming off on the second to last lap No Simon Price this week as it was his birthday Sunday, so no embarrassment of him flying past me as usual ;D and Megan couldn’t make it either, so just some pictures from me this week. The pictures below which were taken by a friend of a friend who had my camera, not the best of quality, but should give you a flavour of the course. The run towards the first climb The climb itself My only mechanical of the day, my chain came off The next race is on Sunday the 30th, the same day as the Forum Ride, so it’s decision time
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Post by Tarbo on Jan 7, 2013 14:06:47 GMT
With last week's race at Bethesda cancelled due to a waterlogged course, and with all the rain we've had recently, things weren't looking too good for yesterday's race at Pwllheli either. However, the organisers of the series made a decision last Thursday to swap the venus for the race to Parc Glynllifon, just outside of Caernarfon. This proved a good choice as the Glynllifon course is well shelterd and seems to drain well. The course was slightly different from the last race as in it had a bit more running involved, but primarily was the same. This meant that I knew what to expect and where my strengths would be. However, after doing an 80+ mile road ride on the Saturday, I thought that maybe I was a bit too optomistic in thinking I'd do well after feeling my legs start to hurt on my one and only warm up lap ! The race started in the usual fashion with the series leaders starting at the front, and the 'also rans' starting just behind them. After the last race I was aware that a lot of places could be made up by riding the first climb, rather than pushing up it. So I made the decision that I would ride it, which I managed to do for every lap. I also knew that I was stronger on the running than the other competitors, who were mostly from cycling clubs, so made the concious decision to at least jog every section rather than walk. This proved to be a wise choice as I passed quite a few people on both these sections. I managed 10 laps this time, which I'm really pleased with as I only managed 8 in the last race. I also finished in 10th position, something that I was more than made up with, as I beat a few people that had beaten me during the last couple of races. In the under 16 age group, Megen Woodward took the win again using the same course as the adults, but over 6 laps. This now means that she is leading the overall U16 classification with only four races left. It is worth noting that this catagory includes both boys and girls, so a big well done to Megan. A big thanks to Sharon Woodward for all the words of encouragement and also for taking the following pictures - And here's the course profile, showing the 10 laps. The next race is on Sunday the 20th at Prestatyn, a less technical course with more actual riding than running. So if anyone fancies a bit of friendly competition, pop along and give it a go
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Post by Ken on Jan 7, 2013 21:29:38 GMT
Good write up and pics , got to say I enjoy reading the reports of how people are competing . Big WELL DONE to Meg for another Brilliant performance and Tarbo getting in the 2 more laps and all very consistent time wise , look forward to the next report and pics .
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Post by Tarbo on Jan 20, 2013 23:30:34 GMT
With today's race being only down the road from me I had a lie in til 09.30 Having looked out of the window at all the snow covering the ground and even more falling, I was wondering if the race would be cancelled. I made my way down to the course and found more mad buggers hardy souls getting their bikes and kit sorted. We made our way to the gazebo where signing on was taking place and done the deed. No turning back now. After getting myself sorted it was time to brave the elements and see what the course had to offer. And what it had was lots of grass that was soon turning to mud. No segments of rest, no respite, just mud. Mud on the flats, mud on the climbs and mud on the descents. Not an ounce of rest on the whole course. It was going to be a long day The race started off as per usual, fast lads at the front and the rest of us settling into our own little routines. Except this week I wasn't picking people off as the race went on. If anything I was going backwards ! People that I had flown past in the last race were pulling away from me. I was not a happy bunny. Then to make matters worse it started to snow again, which was just the icing on the cake for me. As the race went on I just seemed to get worse and worse, in the end I was just waiting for the finish to come, which it eventually did with me being one of the last to cross the line. After looking at the results, I came 21st out of 29, well beaten by a lot of riders I beat in the last race. I'll just put it down to 'a bad day at the office', and hope that I can pick things up for the next race in a fortnight over at Alyn Waters in Wrexham. Here's a snippet from one of the other riders taken from the North wales Cyclo Cross page. What a hard race. That's got to be one of the hardest I've ridden. It was remorseless. It had everything except, in no particular order, traction, sunshine, recovery, tarmac, gravel or respite. Our resident designer ensured that even the few downhills were so claustrophobic that I was on the edge for the entire 60mins. As the grass turned to pulp and the ground to mud, traction and stability became more difficult with every lap. The Meliden end switchback on the banking was horrid on foot. The last blast to the finishline was just about unrideable on the final two laps.Meanwhile in the U16 category, Simon Price excelled once again and came second while Megen Woodward came in as first girl in her age group and 5th overall. And just to remind you all that the U16's use the exact same course as the adults, which means that they have to cope with the same mud as we do, except that they race for a shorter distance. So hats off to them both. Once again, thanks to Karl, Sharon and Sandi for the words of encouragement as I trundled around with a look of resignation on my face. And also to Mark Price for taking the pictures for me And here are said pictures - I just hope Conwy county Council don't want their mud back ;D And finally the course profile from the race which shows how I only managed 8 laps as opposed to 10 laps during the last race
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Post by iggy on Jan 21, 2013 20:58:46 GMT
Good effort everyone, that looks brutal! Nothing worse than the feeling of getting nowhere fast. Fair play to ya's
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Post by smartay on Jan 30, 2013 11:35:06 GMT
I dont know which way the route will go on Sunday at Alyn Waters but field area very wet!!!
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Post by Tarbo on Feb 4, 2013 19:20:52 GMT
I dont know which way the route will go on Sunday at Alyn Waters but field area very wet!!! Well, you weren't wrong there With the end of the series in sight, yesterday saw the penultimate ride (that means last but one ) over at Alyn Waters Country Park in Wrexham. The course was a mixture of gloopy mud, grass sections and a nice stretch of compact ground where you could get a slight respite before hitting the mud again. A tough course it must be said, but with the weather staying dry, at least it wasn't going to be as bad as Prestatyn The course followed the same pattern as all the previous races, so I won't bore you with the details, just to say that a great day's racing was had by all that turned up. Once again I was in my own race with another three people which makes you work that little bit harder than when you're stuck on your own. There was a 100 yard section that resembles a bog, that was quicker to run through that attempt to bike through. I'll try and put a link to a video someone took at the bottom of the page to give some idea of just how bad it was, just in case the pictures don't reflect it I finished 14th overall out of a field of 27, so pretty much mid field, the same place I've been all year really. At least I'm not getting any worse ;D A big mention once again must go to Simon Price who won the under 16s again, and especially to Magan Woodward who took second in the U16 girls and in doing so, tied up the overall league title for the Under 16's today ! Well done Megan you've ridden well and consistantly all season. And as usual, a big thanks to all those that came along to give some abuse support. Nice to see Bev and Roy out too shouting words of encouragement as I meandered past them. Some pictures below from the race which were kindly taken by Sharon Woody. Thanks And to prove that I am enjoying it, a smile for the camera ! And if all works well, this shuld be a link to the video I mentioned. Once opened, just click on the 'PLAY' sign - video linkThe final round is in a fortnight at Bethesda so expect one final write up and then I'll leave you all in peace !
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Post by Tarbo on Feb 10, 2013 15:24:41 GMT
One more race to go in this series, next week at Bethesda. 12 o'clock start for anyone that's interested in trying something a little different
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Post by Karl on Feb 17, 2013 21:04:09 GMT
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Post by bird on Feb 18, 2013 6:28:13 GMT
Well done Meg, Simon, Tarbo and Mark, a fantastic result by all, but I think you need to take Megan out shopping Karl as a big well done for winning. I'll let her know what I suggested so you can't get out of it. Lol
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Post by Tarbo on Feb 18, 2013 21:29:17 GMT
So this is it ! The last time you have to trouble yourself reading this fortnightly sob story about how I suffered on a sunday afternoon Well, on Sunday morning I was up early swapping the wheels over on my cross bike and removing the mud guards that were on it from Saturday's road ride, and putting on the CX wheels. Then it was the drive to Bethesda, pretty uneventful, but there was something in the air. When I got to the leisure centre there was a bit of pandomonium going on, people were staring up at something in the sky. At first we thought it was some reminants of the meteor that had hit Russia last week, but then someone identified the object as the sun. That's right, for the last race of the series the sun came out After a quick recce of the course it was time to get ready and make our way to the start line, three laps of the fied to seperate the bunch then out onto the course proper. With it being the final race there were positions to be had in the final clssification throughout the field, so there was not the usual 'let the quicker ones go first' senario, it was everyone for themselves. It was a shorter course than most of the others, and pretty well exposed, which meant that you could see most of the people either in front of you or behind you. This made for lots of good racing as you knew who you were up against and where they were on the course. With it being a shorter course it meant that the race was over 12 laps, lots of good racing to be had. I eventually finished 11 out of 28, a position I was pleased with as I had beaten a few people that had beaten me over the last two races. I still didn't manage to beat young Mr. Price, but at least he only lapped me the once. Old Mr. Price, who decided to give this race a go, was going really well too but had a fall and damaged a wheel. I think he was relieved to find a good excuse to stop as Simon was homing in on him. His relief soon turned to disappointment though when someone offered him their spare front wheel ;D As has already been said, and I say it every race, a big well done to Megan Woodward who walked away with the overall win for the under 16 age group. a well deserved victory and just reward for all the effort she's put in. Now if only her dad would step up to the mark next year ;D So that's it. a big thanks as usual to those that came along to support us with words of encouragement. Time to go out and start enjoying my Sundays now, that is until the time trial season starts. I hope you've enjoyed these reports more than I enjoyed the racing, but even for all the moaning I've done I can't wait for October and the start of the new series. You never know, I may see a few of you lot there ! Pictures courtesy (once again) of Sharon Woody - Thank you
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