My trip to the dark side of Mtb racing

[BarryB]

The race was RD 7 of the NPS at 3 Rock south county Dublin.
Preparations for this race could have been better. Saturday evening the legs still stiff and sore from the hill run. I contacted Tom for any tips on sorting it, he duly obliged with "run 5km and then jump in an ice bath", (thanks for that Tom 45 minutes ill happily forget !!).but job done felt better.
The day started well with the underage races and our youngest competitors David and Eve representing the club admirably in the under 8's which looked like a tough track.
Have to say I did find myself in the car park, bike in one hand helmet in the other asking myself is this really all I need. Myself and DC did our recce of the course and it was a top class lap fast and dry for the most part with a bit of everything technical climbing fast rooty descents, fast rocky descents....etc. With tyre pressure checked we lined up at the start line.
Whistle went and I was like a deer in headlights the pack started moving away from me up the hill and even more worrying was that DC was with them. By the end of the first lap I had settled into a rhythm and had caught up with DC. With words of encouragement from DF “come on lads this is not a f*$king Sunday spin” I decided to make my move and passed DC and made a little time. At the start of lap 3 DC has closed up on me and exiting the first bit of single track before the big climb I looked around to see DC right behind me. I proceeded to drive myself up the hill oblivious to the fact DC had punctured at the bottom of the climb. I Pushed on from here to the finish looking constantly over my shoulder.
Upon discussion of the finish times and time spent on repairs looks like a photo finish was on the cards. Will have to be settled another day. A thoroughly enjoyable day had. Especially like the fact you are racing directly with the guy in front and behind no different waves business. So if you like the idea of spending time with your heart leaping out of your chest bang your shoulders off trees draging legs trough corse bushes with a large amount of adrenaline pumping this is for you. I see lots more days on the dark side in my future, maybe with a few to join me ??.
Thanks for all the pre race advice from DF and DC and the support from Lorraine, Helen and the Kids.

[Gazpw]

So if you like the idea of spending time with your heart leaping out of your chest bang your shoulders off trees draging legs trough corse bushes with a large amount of adrenaline pumping this is for you. .

Jeez what are you going to be like if you come Downhilling with us Barry

Fair play for racing today, thats a great course they have up there, Fergal and the lads always put 100% into the tracks.

[DavidC]

Nice report there Barry. Great racing yesterday. Still cursing that damn puncture. Don't know if I would have caught you but we would have had some battle! Anyway, that's racing for ya. Get you next time.

[DavidF]

well done all, especially Eve and David on what was a tough u-8's course.

excellent debut by Mr Byrne, bad luck on DC, but hey I know that feeling.......

I took some snaps - see link below for all of them, here are my favourites:

What goes through your mind when you think your club mate is in your tail:

P1100517.JPG (77.17 KiB) Viewed 3999 times

that damn puncture

P1100544.JPG (52.93 KiB) Viewed 3999 times

and the best of all - that look of having given 100% ...

P1100309.JPG (53.11 KiB) Viewed 3999 times

Full album is here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/racing795/XC_NPS_7_040710#

[afoley]

well done lads- sounds like a good day out-
barry well done on your maiden voyage!
DC how frustrating!...but what can ya do?