BRITISH MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES ROUND 3
MARGAM PARK, WALES
RACE REPORT
BY CARLA HAINES-ELITE FEMALE
I was really looking forward to the weekend because I knew Margam always had nice weather; but the forecast said different!!So I did pack extra warm and wet weather gear just incase!
I arrived a little late than I wanted, but I still managed to get a lap around the course before it got dark. It was great a great course, dry lots of single track, a few techy bits and hills. I chose kenda small block eights which worked really well as it was so dry.
I had a good carbohydrate meal the night before and got to bed at a reasonable time. At 7am wake up call, all I could hear was the rain, so I knew the course would have changed a bit. I had a nice breakfast and got my bottles and other equipment ready to take over to the team tent. It was very cold that morning so I wore some extra layers.
As the rain had come in I changed my front wheel to a Kenda Nevegal which is more grippy for muddy conditions, but kept my rear the same.
I had a really good warm up and then it was call up to race start for 10am. I was still very nervous as this is a big race for me and wanted to do really well on.
The gun went off and had a better start than pervious races. I was in with the pack and made sure I stayed there as long as possible however hard it became. They slowly started drifting away and my team mate (Rachel Fenton) and I were together after climbing to the first part of single track and descent. The conditions had changed entirely and it was a completely different race. As I kept my rear tyre with hardly any tread at all I was all over the place. Everybody was slipping and sliding and it was hard to keep on the bike at times.
When reaching the second section of descending single track it was much worse, but quite fun in a way!Fenton slid off in front off me so I went round her. I changed in to a gear to accelerate then noticed I was going anywhere. I thought my chain had came off so I ran a bit of the way then jumped back on the bike again. My legs were spinning and I wasn’t moving and that was when I realised my chain had snapped! I was completely frustrated as It was quite a way back to the tech zone, but at this point it was my only option. I told the Marshall to radio in that I was coming back. I ran at least 2-3km back. My mechanic whipped another chain out and put in on for me. It did take a bit of time as it was cold and wet, but at this time the leader of the elite women had already come through.
I got back on my bike knowing I was a lap down but I didn’t want this to affect me. I climbed up to the first part of the single track where I literally did not stay on my bike! Being in the tech zone I could have changed my wheel, but I didn’t think of it at that time. It was a mistake which I will learn from. I tried to ride a rocky muddy descent but I had no front break whatsoever! I had to rely on my rear one which didn’t help as I crashed so many times. At on point running with the bike, I slipped and kneed my calf. Not thinking anything of it I carried on. Again I crashed, this time into a tree. I was so frustrated and angry so decided to run down the descent with my bike.
A boy crashed into the back of me as I was running and our bikes got tangled. He seemed to be in a lot of pain holding his knee. I took a look and there was a very deep cut right down to his patella! I knew my race was over at this point so I decided to stay with him. I told the next person descending to get the marshall asap! I moved him off the course and the bikes to keep him safe and calm him down. The marshall came in the end and radioed a medic. Once he arrived they took him back to the ambulance. My calf was in so much pain it had completely seized up when I was sitting with the boy. I walked back to the next marshall point then was taken back on the quad to the arena.
I put some warm clothes on and had to go to see the masseuse where he stretched and massaged my calf. It was agony and I wasn’t in the best of moods either.
After that race I learnt a lot and how to cope when things go wrong.
The team did really well on the whole, Cait Elliot got 3rd, Jessie Roberts 8th and Rachel Fenton was 10th so all received UCI points.
As my race didn’t go to plan, I was looking forward to the 50km the next day and a podium position was what I wanted.
BRITISH MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES
50KM ENDURO
BY CARLA HAINES
I was really excited for this event as I have always enjoyed competing in them. My mum dad and sister were also racing which I was pleased about.
I woke up at 7am again and packed my drink and equipment in my Osprey bag, which I was going to wear for the race. My calf was still a a little stiff but the previous night I freezed it, warmed it up and stretched.
I made my way over to the team tent and to find out that my team mates (Cait Elliot) and my bike had been stolen that night!! At first I thought they were having me on, but the look on everyones faces told me different. I didn’t know how react so I went back to my parents and just burst into tears. I was angry and upset. These thieves don’t know how much these bikes mean to us riders. I then found out that at least 8 other bikes had been stolen that night.
There was a whole different atmosphere around the arena which was fair on the organisers and competitors.
My mind felt so exhausted hearing the news.I was definitely not in race mode. 20 minutes before the race my coach and James from Weldtite the teams sponser found both me and Cait a bike to race on!!
I was really pleased and excited. It was a last minute rush to get ready but I managed to get a position very near the front. The gun went and so did all of us riders. I had a really good start and stayed up there for quite a bit. There was long steep rocky climb near the beginning which I knew I was good at so I passed a few people who decided to walk up it.
I was riding with two juniors at this point Nat Jarvis (Colnago Skins) and Bruce Dalton (Sherwood Pines). I was quite chuffed to be riding with them as they are pretty nippy riders. There was one female I was aiming to beat (Ruby Miller, Forza Race Team). I was quite near her around the course and at one point passed her on descent. She is a very good climber and passed me on the final long climb which took you right to the top of the mountains. There were a few really good descents were I could gain on her which I did. Unfortunately Jarvis had my problem on the first lap, his chain snapped to had to stop which was a shame.
When finishing my first lap of 25km I could see that Miller was only about 30 seconds to a minute in front of me, which pushed me on. Dalton had stopped to get a second bottle and by this point I was quite a way ahead. I stayed slightly back on the first climb but could see that she was tiring. Once at the top descending down I passed her again. After that there was no sign of her. On the climbs I stayed behind a male that was good so that I could gain a little bit of time.
Once reaching the summit of the last hill it was the point where I accelerated and I had about 20-30 minutes to go. It was the hardest part of the lap but had a huge adrenaline rush because I was in 3rd position. I didn’t want to get too overconfident so concentrated on my riding all the way to the finsh, going hard on my strengths and even harder on my weaknesses.
I got to the finish in one piece and was so pleased with my performance. I definitely made up for the previous days race, but that was now out of my mind.
My team mate Cait got 2nd! Two podiums in one weekend...oustanding! At one point around the course I passed the leading female for the 75km...and I was debating whether to do another lap and win the 75km?I was happy with my 3rd and I don’t think my back would have been able to do another lap.
A very big thanks to Specialized and Merida for lending me and Cait a bike to ride, it was hugely appreciated, and also to Trevor, Keith and James for supporting us through a very eventful weekend.
It was great using the Osprey Hydration Packs! The best I have used in a very long time.
After awful weather the previous day, we had sunshine for the enduro and luckily it stayed like that until it was time to go.
