Sunday 15th November, 2009

After the final round of the BMBS I decided to do as many races as I could over the winter to try and raise my skill level (which is pretty low) on the bike. So after competing in the two Gorrick Autumn Classic races it was off to Newnham Park with my wife Tracey for the first of the Soggy Bottom series. We travelled down to Devon on the Saturday morning in very strong winds and driving rain, thinking to myself I am definitely going to get a soggy bottom tomorrow. We eventually made it to Tracey's mum's house in Paignton, about half an hour away from Newnham, where we spent the night.

I decided to try a set of egg beater pedals this weekend as I'd had trouble with my SPDs at the last few races. I was also trying out some new tyres and decided on a Schwalbe Nobby Nic on the front and a Rocket Ron on the back, given the wet and slippery conditions I was expecting. Other than these changes it was just some new brake pads in the bike and it was ready to go.

The morning of race day and the weather was surprisingly bright and sunny but still quite windy, so we set off at 10.15am heading to Newnham Park. On arriving we were diverted to the big field as the car park was full, so we thought their must be a good turn out. We were right over 250 riders were there to play in the mud.

The course opened for practice at 11.30am so off I went to figure it out. Most of it I had ridden before at the BMBS race so it was quite good knowing where most of it went. Just after the start line the course went steeply up on a gravel track then into the woods for some fast single track before descending over a bridge into the big field which ran alongside the river. Then it was up again on a muddy slippy track not as steep as the first climb but lack of grip made it feel as bad. Into the woods again and more single track before it came out at the top of a very muddy descent into the river crossing, which was deeper and faster flowing than last time I rode here. Then out the water and a bit more single track back to the start line. Most of the course was dry with just sections of it muddy and I thought it was a good course at about 3.2 miles long, just enough this time of year.

I had entered the Masters race - 4 laps. The start was manic with Elite, Masters and Vets all in the small start area at the same time. I tried to get near the front but had to settle for the middle of the group which is not ideal with the first climb just after the start. The whistle went for the start and I got my feet clipped in first time horaaah!!. Then on to the climb I was going quite well overtaking the riders walking up until the guy in front of me decided to fall off. That screwed it, off the bike running up the hill at the top back on feet in easy again I set off to try and catch the group in front. I tagged on the back of the group on the run up to single track as soon as we were on it they pulled away from me as I wasn't to sure on the grip with the new tyres at race speed. As the race went on I managed to get a few places back especially on the climbs and flat sections and was getting more and more confident with the grip from the tyres, I also felt I was going quicker through the single track which is why I'm doing the winter races. So an hour and a half later and I crossed the finish line in 32nd place pretty tired but quite happy with the way it all went.

To sum up the weekend, very happy with the new pedals, tyres worked great once I got used to them. The event itself was very good and I will be back to do the other three rounds in the New Year. Next up for me the Brass Monkeys race at Aldershot on the 29th of November, hopefully I won't be the only team member at this event.

Results for Team UK-Biking.net

Peter Hall 32nd Masters

Full Results - Photos

Related posts:

1. Soggy Bottom, Newnham Park - Round 2
2. Soggy Bottom, Newnham Park Round 3 - Race Report
3. British Mountain Bike Series Round 5 - Newnham Park, Plymouth
4. Team UK-Biking.net wins at Soggy Bottom!
5. Soggy Bottom Round 3 this weekend…

Tags: Mountain Biking, Newnham Park, Plymouth, results, Soggy Bottom, xc race

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 3:28 pm and is filed under Cross Country. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.