Merida Brass Monkeys Round 3

Merida Brass Monkeys Round 3

It’s the beginning of the 2015 racing season, which I was really looking to and racing with 1^st gear cycles and the Odiham Cycling Club road racing team it was going to be busy and eventful.

Sunday 4^th January was the date for the final round of the Merida Brass Monkeys winter enduro series, a 3 race series with 2 hour and 4 hour race categories. I was again taking part in the 4 hour category looking to improve on my endurance and looking to place higher than 13^th position from round 1.

The race was at Windmill Hill, a popular enduro venue with the Gorrick and ACU team, which provided plenty of exciting single track and some tough climbing to ensure it wasn’t too easy. After weeks of illness and then the festive season I was only just getting back out and doing some decent training, so expectation was low (as long as I beat my brother, Liam). As I arrived at the venue the fog was heavy and the temperature was artic, but everyone at the venue was in good spirits.

I lined up on the start, a few rows back to ensure I did not go racing off the front. The race was soon underway, all rushing down the fire-road before reaching the first downhill section of single-track. I found myself in a comfortable top 15 again. As the first lap progressed I found myself with a group of 3 other strong riders, who were setting a comfortable pace. The same is too be said about the second lap, 3 other riders and a strong pace. As we encroached onto the 3^rd lap I could feel the legs starting to become heavy and said to myself it was time to stop racing and chill out for a couple of laps, which soon paid off as 1 of the 3 riders blew.

I was now into the second half of the race, which thankfully went quicker than the first 2 hours. The lactic acid was settling into the legs and the hunger was greater. I stopped for some chocolate, a banana and grabbed some new gels and I was back on my way. The 4^th and 5^th lap went by and I kind of got a second wind and was still managing to ride comfortably, something I would never have been able to do this time last year. Liam had now pulled out of the race due to a puncture and some bad luck by the time the last lap was upon us, which was a relief as I was worried he might catch up with me.

As I moved onto the last time, dad handed me another bottle and some more food to ensure I didn’t blow at the final hurdle. I knew it was going to be my last lap and didn’t really have much to lose, so I put the hammer down. Well that’s how it felt anyway. I was completely unsure about my position but I couldn’t have been too far outside the top 10. As I came through the finish I was surprised to find out I had actually ridden myself into 6^th position, my best mountain bike race result in a long while and something I was very proud of.

Reflecting on the race I was very interested to see how my lap times differed from one to the next and was happy with only loosing approximately 1 minute per lap and I really don’t believe I could have done much better.

Lap 1 – 00:39:00

Lap 2 – 00:39:40

Lap 3 – 00:41:12

Lap 4 – 00:42:16

Lap 5 – 00:43:00

Lap 6 - 00:44:02

We now move onto the spring series races and beginning my campaign as a category 2 road racer.

Thanks for reading,

Ryan Keynes

1^st Gear Cycles / Odiham CC