MK Bowl, event2. -The story from an old faggot's perspective.
I had arrived early & had plenty of time to view most of the course on foot. The benefit in
walking round, especially in the wet, is that you get a real feel for the surface
conditions,and are able to make an accurate assessment of how difficult the bike handling
will be. This was particularly relevant after slipping every time when trying to walk up each
of the small banks which form part of the course, that take you up onto the rim of the
"bowl".
I can vividly remember the event last year, after taking a bad knock after joining
one of the concrete ramps in the race, which you approached after a grassy section, & I was
determined not to let that happen again this year. So, careful choice of the planned line, a
bit more focus, and a little less haste when tackling the tricky sections, (which by the
start of the event were every 100 metres or so) were the key to survival, along with (as Jack
had also decided) wide knobbly tyres, with low pressure in them. - Don't ask the exact
pressure, I never use a gauge, I stick to the old fashioned method of using the thumb to feel
the tyre itself. -I guess it would be no more than 35Lb p.s.i., but don't quote me on it.
The start (in the second group) was OK, although Uncle carbon Bob who started
alongside was having a really difficult time with borrowed shoes that didn't clip into the
pedals, after leaving his kit-bag at home. -There'll be more senior moments Bob, take it from
one who has already lost count of the number of times it happens each day.
A quick look back half-way round lap 1 saw all the gaps appearing, & it made me
realise that the combination of ancient skills, and the right tyre choice were working well,
& I was just behind fellow age-grouper Rob Chaundy. Not so clever back in the winter was my
decision to remove the "crud guard" from the down tube, (another senior moment) and over the
wettest part of the course, with the riders still pretty much together, the spray of wet clay
from the wheels in front was absolutely blinding. Each tiny particle felt like a huge rock as
the eyes filled with this nasty carborundum substance which literally forced you to look
through one eye, then the other, then the original again, until we were finally back on
tarmac again where the surface water was a little more pure (not much though), and was enough
to wash some of the grit away from the eyes.
By now there had been one or two retirements already, witness the odd rider carrying
his bike back to the car-park. It was no surprise then, when leaving the ridge section at the
back of the bandstand I felt the rear rim bumping & by the time I had got to the tarmac
section before the bandstand, the tyre had come off the rim, the tube had fouled on the brake
block, wrapped itself round the hub & brake, and had completely prevented the rear wheel from
going round. Bizarrely, I didn't notice exactly what had happened until I was walking/running
with the bike alongside, as the wheel did appear to be going round. Close inspection revealed
that the wheel itself was locked up, but the tyre was moving round the stationary rim.....
So, joining another rider who had also punctured, I made my way to the car park,
(next to the course), and fitted a new tube. This was complicated a little by the fact that I
had also had a "senior" moment and left my track pump at home, so had to manage with the
"mini" pump which was OK, but push the nozzle on too far, & the valve doesn't close, so you
end up letting out the air you have just pumped in...
OK, back into the race, & straight away, I noticed a deterioration in the surface
condition since the previous lap. So, it was going to be about 80% skills and 20% effort &
fitness, which apart from the rain & mud in the eyes, suited me fine.
I wasn't sure where in the race I had re-joined, after about half distance I
would normally expect to see the front runners lapping me, but I guess the whole race had been
slowed by the tricky conditions, and instead found myself picking off back-markers who were
having a hard time in the conditions.
Running along the off-camber downslope at the bandstand end of the course was no
problem, and apart from a couple of run-ups on the bank, I found the rest just ride-able. -I
did have one moment though, -On the steep drop at the open end of the course I had been
taking a line to the right of centre, which still had green vegetation, and I assume, better
grip. The downside of course, was that on the last lap, I got too close to the bushes on the
right, & the "bar end" got wrapped up in it. I managed to get the brakes on quickly enough
to avoid being ejected over the top, but did go out of the side exit, slightly wrenching my
left knee on landing.
No permanent damage though, and towards the end of the lap, two riders who were
contesting 3rd or 4th place came by just before the ridge, and then when on it, began to fall
over each other,in their haste to stay upright before joining the final tarmac section
leading to the finish. That was quite comforting as I rode right up to them again before they
sped up again for the final sprint.
So, a really wet & muddy event, & having had a puncture, I was very surprised to find
at the end that I had won 3rd place in the over 50's plus counting points for the overall
series. - Clearly the weather & other commitments meant the field was depleted & I guess I
was just a bit lucky to get the place. Still, as a famous name in formula 1 motor sport used
to say, (I'm not sure who, I'm sure one of the Ilmoor chaps will know), "it's not over until
it's over".
Saturday morning was spent using the power washer on the entire bike, (a routine
procedure to a cyclo-cross rider), and also the application of eye drops as a precaution
against possible infection. On Sunday's training ride, I believe I managed to cough up the
last few specks of mud which had lodged in my right lung........
Hmmn,- it will soon be Friday again, -now where did I put that "crud guard"....
RB
