The Ratz Rampage is back for 2010 at Checkendon. With improved access, better parking and maybe even online entry.
Round 1 - June 6th
Round 2 - June 27th
Round 3 - September 19th
Round 4 - October 3rd
For anyone that hasn’t tried this yet, it takes the form of a excellent flat and twisty singletrack short loop. Races are generally only an hour long, allowing you to really go flat out. They make for great fun and excellent training.
This course offered some great sections of singletrack that put a smile on our faces and reminded us why we do this sport.
Following a Southern XC last week we were clearly going race crazy, entering this ’short course’ round 3. Run by local Reading based Ratz Mountain Bike Club, this was round 3 of a series of 4 mountain bike races on a short course format. Essentially a 15ish minute lap for 5 laps.
This sounded like a friendly local race, but well run with timing and ideal for a weekend tune up. Essentially a training ride of sorts. The whole experience didn’t disappoint, it was exactly what it said on the tin (well the tin’ternet anyway).
Coming from the South Coast it was a bit of a trek for such a short one, and it was on this journey that Rich decides to tell me we’re racing with the Elites today! Cheers for that. Once there, a couple of quick warm up laps left Mike feeling like ‘the olde ticker’ was playing up and after a dodgy experience earlier this year he decided to stay in the van. I reckon it was the overhead pylons interfering with the Polar HR Monitor personally.
This course offered some great sections of singletrack that put a smile on our faces and reminded us why we do this sport. Not disimilar to Black Park which we did very early in the year I might add. With numerous goes at this one we really started to nail some of those flowing corners towards the end, and after a furious hours riding we were amazed at just how consistent the lap times were.
Possibly back for round 4 next month..
Results on the day were;
Simon Lesser 3rd (masters)
Rich Lang 6th (masters)
Mike Radburn - sat in the van and drank tea
