Gorrick ‘Summer Monkey’ 4hr mtb race.
By Ed.
Category: Singlespeed
All in the name of good fun and with lots of laughs on the start line I embarked on this 4hr odessey of pain and pleasure.
As usual my race head took over and I rode at near threshold heart rate for the first hour and a half, taking not only the lead in the singlespeed class but getting involved at the sharp end of the vets and 18+ cats as well.
Then disaster – puncture! Had to stop, take off my back wheel and fit a new inner tube whilst watching 20 or so guys that I’d worked so hard to pass, retake my lead. It being a mtb race, every single one of them offered sympathy, tools, pumps etc, it’s one of the great things about off road racing.
After fixing the puncture I considered retiring but still having the lead in the singlespeed cat I decided to press on despite knowing the chance of overall was gone.
Settled into a steady tempo through the amazing singletrack course. Kept the pressure on up the short climbs and absorbed the roots and holes as best as possible through my rigid fork (really wishing I had a suspension fork on) and took the SS win, 2nd vet and 6th overall based on time, despite the delay earlier.
Got to stand on a podium (the guy in third had buggered off home I think), a METAL trophy, and a crash helmet, socks, bottle and rain cape courtesy of Merida bikes.
Who needs points when you’ve got prizes!
PB Cycle Coaching Copyright © 2018.