Cannock Chase Winter XC Race

Over  the past 2 weeks I have been busy getting the MTB cross country season under way.
The Bike has had a full Rebuild & refresh of a few components To improve performance & Reliability.
A New set of the Fibrax Ltd Proformance Sealed Cables have been fitted to keep the shifting Smooth & precise in even the muddiest winter conditions & Some of their Sintered Brake pads to care of the stopping Department in the XTR Brakes.

So On the 1st of march it was my first MTB race of the season & time to give the bike a shakedown now it was back to full race trim, We travelled down to Cannock chase to compete in the Go Run And Ride Winter Xc, I entered the Mens enthusiasts category as the race distance would be more like the national level duration. It had been dry for the morning races & my Practise laps so was looking forward to a fast Dry race along side some handy Elite Riders From Torq Fitness team (Alex Welburn & Chris Andrews). Just before the race started the heavens opened and it changed the course completely compared to what it was like in practise. I managed to get a good start and was 5th going into the first singletrack and then moved up into 4th where I stayed for the majority of the race as was unable to close the gap on the charging Junior rider Arthur Green but was then later joined by Junior Rider Greg Booker (team elite) and I managed to stay with him for the next lap until he put in a strong attack and dropped me a Steep Muddy Climb. I then rode solo for the rest of the race and managed to claim 5th in the enthusiasts men's category while still being a second year youth! it was a great event and can not wait to return to Cannock chase for the Go Run And Ride Summer Xc and the final round of the national series in August.

 

Pictures Courtesy of Curley photography