Crispin Bennett's First Ever CX Race
Well, I've survived my first ever cyclo-X race. Not a very comfortable experience though. I'll start by pointing out I've not done any training, not ridden the MTB this year and did 50 miles on Saturday to the Fife DA lunch and back. Not what Boardman would have done, but Obree would have been proud. Held in Plean Park near Stirling, the 2 mile course had 28 starters. Most were on MTBs but a few X bikes existed. The course was technical in bits, through woods with some mud, a reasonable amount of steady climbing and there was a grassy section that was extremely heavy going. I loitered right at the back at the start and came through to actually overtake people half way through the first lap. Not many though but some. Then I picked somebody else off, but had to stop to put up my slipping saddle and he went past again - I had the blighter in my sights for the rest the race. The race was for 50 minutes and a lap. I went through the the finish line at the end of my 4th lap on 48 minutes. Bugger - round again then. More pain. 15 minutes later, I was told last lap. That still seemed like a very long way to go and it was. Eventually I finished - 22nd place and last in a time of 1hr 17 minutes having covered 10 miles or so. Apparently everyone I overtook dropped out, so that didn't count ?! I didn't fall off or have to walk any sections - while many others did - and I wasn't absolute last so I'll take that. That was it, I'm now a racer boy. So, I crawled home, took a shower, had a nap and cleaned the bike. At this point my body hurts less than after a hard 200km Audax. Tomorrow's commute could be interesting though. Crispin Bennett Pictures | Race Report | Results
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