So what’s been going on since the recovery, well another reason ive prob not blogged is i now have a girlfriend ! Never thought i would meet anyone who fitted my picky ways but it happened. And it turned out to be an old friend i had knew for years, we were both pretty shocked but very happy it happened, shes amazing 😍. Anyways enough sloppy talk back to some mtb life and with this lovely weather weve had there has been plenty.
The ribs healed up 1 week before steel city race, so didnt have much practice and couldnt practice the steel city track anyway as they redone the whole top section and added a big gap near the bottom.
So race day came ......
Me and luca went over Friday and camped in the van so we were there nice and early so i could get a few practice runs in..... well that was the plan but that didnt happen 🙈
Jimmy was also racing and he was bringing his son Ian with his wife plus Chris n Ant were coming to watch which ment Luca could be with them while i was on track. Well they were running late so we signed in and headed over and Luca sat down near the top gap with a family while i went for first practice.
In the que i was pretty nervous as there was now 3 gaps and the first one was through tight trees and the 2nd was made a lot bigger then it previously was, i was really happy to just hit them first run and not chicken out, the new track was running amazing i loved it, apart from the bigger gap at the bottom as i couldnt find the balls to hit it.
Went back up to see Luca and got a call from Jimmy to say they were stuck in an accident and not gonna make sign in on time, so i went over to the sign in and sorted it with them and got a picture of Jimmy and his ID so i could sign him in, then i realised Luca had the van keys in his bag so back to the track i went, walked back to the field with Luca and the keys just as Jimmy pulled in.
Mad rush to getJimmy over for his 1st practice and me for my 2nd, Jimmy managed to jump the que as he hadn't done any and that was the last i saw of him. I did my 2nd practice and then found them all at the bottom of the track with the kids saying Jimmy was in the ambulance 🙄🙈 he washed out on a berm and dislocated his thumb so off to the hospital he went.
After all the running about i was a little gutted i didnt get any more practice in but it was time for first race run so off i went with plenty of time to que up, plenty of time i had and the sun was burning a hole through my head. First run went pretty well, i knew i could improve and i was slipping gears out the start ramp but was happy to get a full run in and be sitting in 3rd place and Ant & Chris said i sent it big into the bomb hole 🙌 ...... but i was only the 5th down in my group out of 31 hahaha so knew it wouldn’t last. Bit of a run around again to check the kids were ok with Chris and Sam and get some dinner.
Jimmy had no chance of getting back from the hospital as no one could reset his thumb so his day was over, my 2nd race run i was thinking about the big gap at the bottom as i knew the chicken line was at least an extra 2/3 seconds but just before my foot was off the pedal and when i got it back on i was upon the berm before the gap, still had speed and nearly went for it but chucked out and skidded into the b line and went down 2 seconds slower than 1st race run.
Finished with a 1:34 giving me 17th place, not bad for 42 year old that has only been riding 3 years. Happy breaking into the top 20 but i reckon a top 10 was on if i hit the big gap haha.
Video here ....... https://vimeo.com/268477628
After race run no 2 i went straight to the bar ...... very hot day !
So what else has been happening, well Luca turned 8 ! And we had a very hot party at rampworx with his friends, week after we went to Bets y coed to do the treetops and forest coaster we missed out on after he was sick while camping last half term, i dropped the go pro on the forest coaster haha but got it back the next day :)
Video here ... https://vimeo.com/272822863
we rode the Marin trail on our ebikes and seen some great views.
Me and baz have been longboarding down southport pier at least once a week in this weather weve had and me n the missus have been out with all the kids to parks and generally loving the sunshine.
Ive been out loads on the Ebike locally and down my local trails, still amazes me how much riding i can squeeze into a hour or 2 hour gap in my day and was well amazed at how well it handled my local trails and the jumps, i flew over the 18 footer first time, it jumps so well !
Video here ...... https://vimeo.com/272822907
I had a day out with Ant n Keith at Stiniog testing out the new downhill rig ready for Morzine in July, Stiniog seems to have gotten even rougher so was happy to have the downhill bike. Still not any faster but enjoyed the day. And we went over to greno woods to do steel city on bank holiday Monday, its running even faster than it was on race day and i washed out into the first gap only just missing the tree and jumping over the bars before i hit the rocks, had to slow my runs down and find more flow before i was having fun again. Still didnt do the big gap as i was either carrying too much speed into it and couldnt hit the line or i hit the line but didnt feel like i had enough speed :( maybe another day or maybe just not ment to be for my old old body and mind haha. Of course Ant was whipping over it just to make me feel stupid but he is only a young pup and well ..... stupid hahaha
And that brings us up to this weekend, ive missed loads of stuff out but dont want this blog to go on forever.
I am currently sat outside my tent / camper van looking at Ben Nevis while i write this as me and Luca came up for a 4 night weekend for the downhill World Cup.
Video of camping set up here ... https://vimeo.com/272822491
If you are up here this weekend and see us please say hi 👋 have a great weekend and enjoy this weather while we have it and just ride your fucking bike 🤙🏻
