British Columbia Regional Championships

Hot, dusty, gnarly and hot. That would be the four words I'd use to describe the British Columbia Provincial Championships, held in Whistler. 

The race started super quick and I soon found myself quite far down the field. However, I knew that such a long race in 34 degree heat would require a tortoise rather than hare approach!

Surely enough, I began to reel the field back one by one until I was up in 6th. Starting my 6th, 20 minute lap I was really starting to feel the heat, I had drunk five 500ml bottles and still needed more. I lost two places on my final lap, but was so happy to finish 8th elite woman in the worlds home of mountain biking.

Racing over raised north shore with huge drops got the adrenaline pumping. The course was 90% single track which I can only describe as a mountain biking gift, so much fun to ride. I am so grateful to Cycling BC for allowing me to race their Championships. 

Cathkin Braes, Glasgow. Racing the National Series

Riding the course on Saturday, I couldn't help feel a little scared by the sheer size of some of the features. The commonwealth course was packed with huge drop offs, steep climbs and a variety of A, B and even C lines to choose from. After 3 laps the feelings of apprehension and fear had changed into adrenaline and pure excitement as I knew racing the course the next day would be a special experience. 

Feeling confident on race morning, I completed a good road warm up and took to the start line, gridded on the back row due to a lack of BC points this season. From the gun I was able to slot into 3rd place prior to the first technical feature, a rocky climb and stepped drop. This soon became 2nd place after a riders mistake allowed me to overtake. 

My plan prior to the race was to gauge my position in the race and ride on feel, as I was unsure on my form and the pace of the other riders due to my lack of race experience this season. I made the decision to overtake and move into 1st position just before the technical but super fun four cross style descent. This allowed me to dictate the pace of the descent, minimising risk of mistake. I began to open a small gap on the long switch back climb on the far side of the course which I extended by taking the A line descent where the girls behind took the B line. 

Finishing lap 1 with a small 15 second lead, I knew I needed to settle into a rhythm and focus on riding the course in a smooth, mistake free manner. Lap 2 passed quickly and I added a further 25 seconds to the lead. Feeling comfortable, I consumed a gel on lap 3, and continued to ride consistently adding time my lead. Taking the A line was a major factor in adding time which I did again on lap 3, however as I hurtled down the successive drop offs, I suddenly felt that horrible sensation of rim grinding over rocks. I had punctured my rear wheel.

I quickly changed the tube in what felt like world record speed, but it would not inflate. There was only one option left, RUN! Sprinting as fast as I could, I ran what my Garmin later revealed to be 1.2km to the pits and was passed by 3 women. By the time I had grabbed a spare wheel I had slipped to 9th with 3rd place 2 minutes up the trail. 

Sipping as much fluid as I could, I began to quickly real in the girls ahead. 8th to 7th to 6th and 5th within 1 lap. Receiving regular time checks I knew I had taken a minute out of 3rd, if I could ride another lap at the same speed I should make the podium. I made the catch with 1/2 a lap to go, and continued pushing really hard trying to catch second but it was too late. I know one more lap would have been enough time to bring both girls back but we had raced for 1h45 as it was! 

So what a race. I absolutely loved the course at Cathkin Braes, what a rush it was to race there hurtling through all the features. I am over the moon the finish on the podium, and it is so promising that I had the form to ride away from the field. Looking ahead to the final round in Cannock I can only feel positive. Finally, thank you to Torq and all of our amazing sponsors. 

Thank you for photos by Lisa Metcalfe (above) and Adrian Gossage (below)

First race of the season and a new team- Torq Performance!

Credit must go the organisers who had set out a brilliant course for us in Hamsterley Forest. There was mud and roots aplenty, lots of steep slippery climbs and a few fun manmade trail sections, including the newly opened OddSox trail.

The race started with a long forest road climb and I took the lead when the gradient turned sharply upwards. From there we headed into a super slippery single track section which was brilliant fun. I had the same adrenaline rush as cyclocross when your wheels are sliding everywhere and staying upright is the main battle!

From there I built a lead of 30 seconds coming into the final section of the lap. Then, OH NO! Psshh, a flat rear tyre. Luckily, I only had to limp down a short section of fire road back to the car park but I lost 2 minutes in the process.

Thank goodness for the Lezyne lever kit and CO2 canister system! I popped a tube in and then within seconds the CO2 canister popped the tyre back on the rim perfectly.

Re-inflated and rehydrated, I re-joined the course with a 17 minute deficit on the leaders. I settled into a rhythm again and completed another 2 laps. Unfortunately I couldn’t close the large gap to the overall leaders, but I was first expert rider home.

Toeing the start line was a victory in itself for me, after a nasty knee injury had hampered me since February. I felt very lucky that my first race this season was close to home in the North East, as they always put on a great race and everyone has a smile on their face.

Now I’m going to go and enjoy my prize…..

Race Race Race!

The clocks have gone back and near-perpetual darkness has returned, with Halloween just gone and Bonfire night just around the corner it can only mean one thing..... 'Cross is here! Much has happened since I was climbing the Alpine peaks in the summer, so I'll try my best to remember everything!!

(Photo by Richard Bennett)

In July I sent a very speculative reply to an advert entitled 'racers needed for a UCI cyclocross race in China', many email exchanges later I was on a flight to Beijing!! The week was an amazing experience, I met so many amazing racers from all around the world all with a shared passion for riding bikes. It really was a week I will never forget. Cultural holiday aside, I had a brilliant race working my way through from my 22nd grid position to finish in 13th position. The dry and dusty course was super fun to ride albeit very bumpy but nonetheless it obviously suited me very well.

Sprinting to 13th in China. What a trip! (Photo by Andrew Yee, Cyclocross Magazine)

Beijing done, next up Gateshead. One very glamorous location, the other Beijing... Lining up for the second round of the CXNE league it felt good to be on home turf back in the Western hemisphere. Despite being back on familiar ground I felt pretty nervous. China aside, it was the first cross of the season and you never really know how the legs will react to the good old British mud. Luckily for me, the answer was well; I raced in a group with some of the junior boys and managed a few attacks towards the end of the race finishing 30th in the vet mens race and 1st woman.

Onto Birmingham where a pilgrimage to the NEC and bike nerd heaven awaited. The race was a unique exhibition race format taking in a mountain bike test single track, a lot of car park and a loop through the conference centre itself. The relatively short lap length (3-4 minutes max!) was complemented by a race time of 25 minutes; shorter just means faster I have learned! I raced well establishing myself in the top 3, but then a crash knocked me back to 6th position which is where I finished. It was a brilliant weekend, I came home with a lot of freebies from the bike show and a healthy dose of road rash which is quite uncommon in cyclocross with the usual soft landing.

This brings us up to the start of October and Temple Newsam, Yorkshire; my first foray into the YCCA league this season. With the venue less than 5 miles away from my door this is, geographically speaking at least, my home event. That and the lure of an awesome fun course meant I was pretty excited to race. A beautiful autumnal sun provided the perfect conditions for some great racing. I began gridded pretty far back as I hadn't appeared at a Yorkshire event in some time. Immediately I began to fight my way forwards towards the wheels of Annie Simpson and Amira Mellor who both got off to a brilliant start. After 2 laps I caught Amira and latched onto her back wheel for a few laps. With 2 laps to go, Amira kicked after the hurdles and I was left riding for 3rd place. A valiant effort after a very hard weeks training I was just pleased to make the podium in such a tough league.

To run or ride. Tricky section at Shrewsbury (Photo by Simon Maskell Photography) 

Shrewsbury; the first of the National Trophy series. The conditions could not have been more contrasting when I think back to January and the previous race at this venue. This time the bog through the woods had dried to leave a fast and smooth single track that was brilliant fun to ride. Gridded front row, I got off to a good start and found myself in about 5th place after a few corners, this was soon to change as  I was taken down by another riders reckless attempt at an undertake which was only ever going to end in disaster. Scraping myself off the ground, I found myself in about 17th place and began the chase through the field back into the top 10. 4 laps passed by and I settled into something of a no-mans land; trying to catch 5th while a group of 4 riders worked together behind to bring me back. With half a lap to go, they made the catch and I found my 6th spot slip away as I fought for a top 10. In the end I held on for 9th place, which is a decent result, but I couldn't help but feel like I had the legs on the day to come away with something better and I felt a little let down by bad luck and poor judgement on the part of the rider who took me down.

Hurdles @ Broughton Hall, Skipton (Photo by Simon Maskell Photography) 

Skipton Supercross (Photo by Simon Maskell Photography) 

Skipton and Rapha Supercross: This year I was delighted to be part of the Rapha under-23 team to race the Elite Supercross series consisting of 3 races; 2 at Broughton Hall, Skipton and the finale at Alexandra Place, London. The atmosphere was brilliant, it was a privilege to race in front of such an animated crowd who had waited around all day for us to race. The unrelenting hilly nature of the course teamed with me feeling pretty ill, resulted in two savagely difficult days of racing. Rapha finished the weekend in 5th place and I rode well finishing 6th and 5th respectively.

Brilliant fast downhill wood section at Ally Pally Supercross (Photo by Simon Maskell Photography) 

London Supercross: The finale in Alexandra Palace was something I really wanted to race having seen photos from the year before as the venue, atmosphere and racing all looked superb, I wasn't wrong. The course was straightforward apart from the enormous hill (*cough* mountain) half way around the lap. Towards the back end of the day, riding the hill wasn't an option so shoulder and run was the only way. A good start set me up for a good race, the training is obviously working as I rode to one better again to finish in a series best position of 4th place.

Leading the charge. Southampton (Photo by Andy Whitehouse)

We packed up the bikes in London, poorly negotiated the central London traffic and haphazardly headed South until we reached Southampton for the second round the National Trophy Cyclocross. Riding the course, I knew on the morning that I would enjoy this race, the question was whether I would still have enough fuel in the legs after racing an hour the day before. Gridded front row again, I had practised my starts and knew I had a good one in me. Bang! The gun went. I clipped in immediately and powered through the gears, I look around and I'm leading! Ha! I carried the lead straight through the single-track wooded section, dictating the pace of the race from the front. I relinquished the lead after 2/3 of a lap and unfortunately missed the front group which formed very quickly under the impetus of Team Hope. Chasing hard, I established myself in 7th position and didn't let it slip. I was happy with my result, but probably more chuffed with getting the holeshot! I could drive 5hrs back to Leeds feeling very happy with myself.

Holeshot! (Photo by Richard Bennett) 

It's been a whirlwind start to the 14/15 season and I have loved every minute. I would like to thank the whole team at Cyclocross Magazine, whose unwavering support makes it possible me to race at this level. Big thanks also to the CXNE crew (especially Jamie Brady and Tony Glover from Giant Newcastle) who always comes to the rescue with my mechanicals as do the guys at Crosstrax shop! Finally, a big thank you to the Leeds Gryphons Scholarship system for helping me this season.

Looking forward to more racing. Bring it on!

Summer Fun

Summit of the Port de Bales 

I thought I would write a few things that have been highlights in 2014, before the proper racing starts and the race reports start flooding in.

April: A 7 day jolly to Mallorca with the Leeds University Cycling team. Our group of 13 had a super time riding around the island for the week. The weather was fabulous for April and we explored all over. Some particular highlights were pushing it up Sa Calobre and watching Euan being pushed in the pool after a brave defeat at table tennis.

LUUCC on tour. Spot the short fry 

May: Revising. Spent the month staring out of the window at the glorious weather wishing I was on my bike, whilst slightly regretting the 7 days spent in Mallorca not revising and hence building stress levels.

LUUCC Gold: The Dream team 

The dream machine. Note the orange :) 

June: Exams over! Whoop! I took custody of my new mountain bike (note this tactically occurred after exams, or it is fair to say I would have failed for sure). So trips to Dalby, Glentress, Hamsterley forest begun which was so much fun. Then on a very, very wet day, LUUCC ventured to the British University XC championships. It was a complete mudbath but spirits were high and the Leeds boys (Ed, Hugo and Luke 'el presidente') took home team silver, whilst myself and Jo Rycroft won Gold. To top it off, I won gold individually and Jo took silver. Perfect!


Other June highlights included an appearance at Morvelo Citycross; the urban cyclocross. This is event is mega unique with heats in the morning and a final in the evening. Qualifying in 2nd place for the final I knew I had much more in the tank and so was happy to take the win on a seriously narrow and technical course. I loved the event, I was thrilled to take the win but more than happy that I managed to stay upright as some of those brick walls looked like they would hurt!!!

Great course and organisation at Morvelo City Cross 

Le Tour in Yorkshire! Living in Leeds proved to be most convenient when the ASOS announced that the Tour de France would visit Yorkshire. I had seen Le Tour before, but there was something a lot more special and exciting about the race coming to the UK. The atmosphere for the weekend was brilliant and everyone, cycling fan or not seemed to get behind the event and into the Tour spirit. Scott and I were lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and find ourselves in the VIP area for the Grand Depart, where we were able to mingle amongst the riders and staff, which was awesome! When it was all over we said goodbye to the staff members and told them to look out for us on the French climbs where we were to see the race 3 more times.

Getting super close at the Grand Depart Leeds 

The infamous Caisse Desert of the Col d'Izoard 

July: Off on holiday! We headed to Briancon in the French Alps with family to do some riding. The scenery was spectacular for cycling and walking, and the weather was great to match. There was a huge choice of climbs but the Col d'Izoard, Sestriere and Alpe D'Huez were my personal highlights. After 2 weeks the family drove home and Scott and I headed onwards to Bagnieres de Luchon in the Pyreenees to meet up with Jenny, Caroline and Hugo for yet more riding.

Climbing up to Sestriere 

It was our first venture into the Pyreenees and I loved it. The climbs were inviting unlike the intimidating angular nature of the Alpine peaks. Geology aside, the most spectacular view was from the summit of the Port du Bales, where the huge mountains look like larger versions of the rolling green Yorkshire Dales! My favourite climbs were the Col de Mente and the Col de Peyresourde. The warm friendly nature of the ascents however, were contrasted by the sheer number of enormous bulls roaming the fields on the side of the road. Plenty of intervals were completed on the mountainous roads just trying to get away from the intimidatingly aggressive bulls as fast as possible. On a more friendly note we did come across deer, wild horses and a pack of wild donkeys on our travels: who says wildlife is always scary. Away from cycling we filled time with a trip to Toulouse, climbing lessons and a day in Bruges


August: It was back home for 2 days then off to Riva del Garda in Italy with my Grandparents, and they begrudgingly conceded and let me take my most prized possession: my carbon of course. The Trentino region is a gateway into the Dolomites (a mountain range in Northern Italy). The weather was much hotter than the mountain regions of France, yet the altitude much lower. Riva starts at +100m and rises to 1200m on the highest peaks. It was a great 10 days training, and if I went back I would certainly bring my mountain bike as Riva is a known mecca for off road riding buffs.

Beautiful Trentino 

Summer is not yet over: the racing is to soon begin and preparation is going well. I have some exciting news to come so stay tuned, and keep riding your bikes!

What a Season

December (if you can remember that long ago!) is in many ways the apex of the cyclo-cross season. The races come thick and fast, everyone is going that little bit quicker and it's generally freezing, which unfortunately seems to be a necessary prerequisite for "proper" 'cross. Unfortunately I picked up a cold towards the end of November which I didn't manage to shake until mid-December. Note to self: book a holiday next year!

Ploughing through the Boxing day mud

Coming in to the 5th round of the National Trophy at Bradford I hadn't been able to train as much as I would have wanted to so I wasn’t optimistic about doing particularly well. However I'd watched the nationals on the same course in 2013 and I knew it’d be worthwhile because, if nothing else, the course looked like great fun.

I was gridded on the front row for the first time which was both exciting and daunting; I knew I had a real chance of doing well but if I didn’t start well then I’d be holding up everyone behind me up. As it happens I got a really good start and by the end of the first lap I had established myself in about 8^th position, in a group with Delia Beddis and Amira Mellor.

We remained together for the remaining laps until Delia managed to power away, leaving myself and Amira Mellor battling for the 7^th spot. On the final lap, I managed to sneak in front on the final run up before the finish straight and sprint away for 7^th place. I was super happy with the result considering my training prior to the event. I would like to thank Dave, Alison, Ted, Steve, Heather and the Cyclocross Magazine gang for all the help!

After the race I left my Yorkshire student digs and headed back to the Newcastle homeland for Christmas. Next up on the race calendar was Cyclocross North East in Carlisle on the 22^nd December. What is usually a pleasant drive across the A69 became a battle with the driving rain. The only description which comes close to doing it justice is biblical and even that’s an understatement. To give you an idea the fastest mode of the windscreen wipers wasn’t even keeping up! A standard day up North right?

To ride or to run? That is the question....

A “quick” lap (about 10 minutes in actuality!) of the course was enough to realise it was going to be nothing other than a slog fest. Again I got a good start, cemented my lead which, with much hard effort and multiple bike changes I was able to maintain to the finish. 

Four days later it was time for the South Shields Boxing Day cross. It was a beautiful crisp morning, a bit frosty and a low winter sun. Conditions were perfect for cross and the mud was just about right. Again, a good start, pushed me well up the field, which I managed to maintain with some camber riding I was quite proud of! Two great CXNE courses and two top steps of the podium served as a lovely confidence booster heading into the headed into the final round of the National Trophy in Shrewsbury.

Sloppy....

Coming into the final trophy round, I was lying 9^th overall in the series, just one race away from my top ten goal at the start of the season. A super early start from Knaresborough began the mammoth commute to Shrewsbury in treacherously icy conditions. After a significant detour, we arrived running purely on diesel vapour – sure enough the van ‘konked out’ just as we were parking. But at least we made it! Getting petrol back in the car and back on the road (that minor, trifling issue) was something to be confronted later, right now it was race time.

I picked the less favourable side of the grid (although I made the front row again, whoop) which set me up on a dodgy line up the first steep camber. A great start placed me about 4^th then after an unplanned dismount I settled into 6^th. Then before I knew it, I went over the top of two girls who had crashed. Picking myself up I started again quickly but I had lost so much of my hard earned advantage from the start. Into the woodland section of the course, I worked my way up a few places into about 8^th, but then second lap I punctured. This wasn’t a major problem in the deep mud of the tree section, but it was a total nightmare and practically unrideable on the fast tarmac straights. I lost a further 3 places and to add insult to injury and through no fault but my own I missed the pits so had an extra half lap on the rims. To cut a long, frustrating story short I finished in 11^th position and moved up the rankings into 7^th overall. Having not had the best of luck this made the long drive North considerably more pleasant. I was over the moon to finish 7^th in the national trophy in my first season racing ‘cross - happy days!

The final race of the season was the National Championships in Derby. I spectated the veteran’s race on Saturday then attempted to ride the course afterwards. My findings from this research excursion can be succinctly summarised: absolute mud bath! In the hour I practised I almost managed to ride one full lap; almost. Amidst the enveloping darkness I retired for the night, with some serious bike washing to be completed before the big race and the even bigger problem of working out how I was going to get round.

Race day, was unusually quite relaxed! With a hotel 8 minutes from the venue, we arrived with plenty time before the race. After a proper warm up for once, I took to the start line with an excited grin on my face. Gridded second row, I slotted in just behind Wyman and Harris assuming they had a good start in them! Luckily they did and I clung to Harris’s wheel into the first corner following her presumably well researched line. I held onto 5^th place all the way until the sandpit, where a bad line took me down. Although the cameras did catch me and it was deemed worthy of a replay on the Eurosprt highlights, about ten minutes in, check it out! Anyhow, this meant I lost 3 or 4 places. However I got back on the bike and settled into a rhythm. The battle with the mud took its toll on me and my bike. It may as well have been made of lead, I could hardly lift it onto my shoulder and that was with changing every half a lap!.

Crossing the finish line at 40 minutes, I heard Wyman joining the finish straight behind me. Oh well, just another 10 minutes to suffer! With one rider just ahead and another behind, it was going to be tough lap. Places 13 to 15 were to be decided here. Sitting between the two riders, I just tried to stay upright. Finally my moment came at the boggiest section of the course, the rider in front slowed and started to run, whereas I managed to stay on the bike and plough slowly through it, which must have looked like a battle of snails! I managed to open a good gap so it was just a case of staying upright to the line, which is a lot easier said than done. I managed to get round the last lap relatively unscathed and I crossed the line in 13^th.   

One of the many tough climbs at Derby

So to conclude what has been a pretty whirlwind season. I started of looking to dabble in a few local races whilst being pushed to enter maybe one Trophy and see how it goes. A season later, I won every CXNE race I entered, won the British University Cross Championships, finished 7^th in the Trophy and 13^th at Nationals. When I look back to Abergavenny in October and remember how it felt to be the last gridded in the rain on completely the wrong tyres, I can see how far I have come in just one season. I was gridded front row in Bradford and Shrewsbury which was an amazing experience

I could not have moved from the back to the front of the grid without the help I have received this year. Such people include ‘Coach Ted’, DS Steve and Chief Cowbell ringer Andrew Yee at Cyclocross Magazine, who have enabled me to race a full season in quality kit. Big thanks also go to the awesome guys at Bioracer for the great kit and Tidds for all their help too.

Further mentions should go to all the gang at CXNE who put on amazing races week in, week out and all the lovely people I have met as a result of racing ‘cross of whom there are too many to mention. I would like to thank everybody who has helped me this year in the pits, Scott, Dave, Alison and Heather. And finally I am grateful to Jamie Brady and Tony Glover for their invaluable cyclocross tips and advice, I don’t know where I’d be without the help!

So thanks everyone and see you in August for some good old summer ‘cross!

Moment of fame

National Trophy Milton Keynes

My third foray in to the world of National Trophy 'cross racing was in many ways similar to my previous two outings; race preparations began a good twenty four hours before the racing itself and the car, once more, managed to accomodate an impossible amount of kit! Who needs to use their interior mirror after all?!

I set off with Chris, a friend from my course whose knowledge of bikes would be an absolute life safer come race day. We made the journey South where I was lucky enough to stay with Chris's family in their quintessentially Southern cottage. The house itself was beautiful and I was made to feel incredibly at home - it was the perfect pre-race base.

Race day didn't get off to the best of starts, after a minor issue with Chris's land rover; it didn't start! When you're in a rush, the million and one roundabouts which constitute Milton Keynes are not ideal. Nevertheless we arrived at the 'Bowl' with what seemed like enough time to run through all of the neccesary pre-race procedures...

Photo by Richard Bennett

This day was particularly exciting because Tony at the Bicycle Repair Man had arranged for Jamie Brady to deliver my new Ridley X-Fire to Milton Keynes. It was lovely to get my hands on it but I couldn't enjoy the moment quite as much as I would have wanted to. With less than an hour til the whistle the gears needed indexing to work with my tubs. Obviously I am useless with bikes and I wouldn't have been able to remedy the gears in time for the Bradford National Trophy in two weeks time never mind the Milton Keynes race! Thankfully though, Chris and Jamie are magicians when it comes to this sort of thing and before long they had my bike primed, fitted and ready to go. For that I am really, really grateful!

With so much to do, I didn't have time to do a warm up or recce the course. Two big no-no's when it comes to racing cross. My lack of course knowledge and warm up meant that it probably wasn't the best of ideas to move up to a space on the front row of the grid. But I did it anyways. And I didn't stop then, this was undoubtedly my best start in the National Trophy so far - I heard the whistle, clipped in straight away and powered the new Ridley up to third place. Again not the best of ideas. It was amazing to be mixing it up at the front but I didn't have a clue as to what I was doing. The first corner came as a surprise but I managed to maintain my position up the hill. I wasn't quite so fortunate in the stairs however which came as an even bigger surprise, I didn't know I had to get of my bike so I basically stopped. On top of this, I didn't have the best of clip ins at the top. Such is the level of racing in the national trophy that this small technical mistake saw me drop back two or three places.

Photo by British Cycling Photos

At this I eased back and rode to consolidate my position. I simply tried to cling on and ride a sensible race; despite this I did have a number of falls. I was so happy to hear the bell, it gave me a new lease of life to know that the suffering would soon be over. In fact it gave me such a boost that I'm pretty sure my last lap was my second fastest lap. I came home in 6th, one better than I managed in Durham, I was very happy with that especially considering that this was my first ride on my new bike and I hadn't warmed up. I'm looking forward to building on this result and hopefully improving on my performance come Bradford in two weeks time.  

I just want to finish by saying thank you to Chris's family for their hospitality and Chris in particular for his technical assistance on race day. I'm also indebted to Jamie Brady and my cxmagazine teammates, Ted and Steve, who made my bikes ride-able. Without them I couldn't have raced so thank you very much! I'd also like to say thank you to Steve and Heather for putting on some top-notch post-race grub - the eggy crumpets were very welcome and went down lovely! I'll bring the sausages for Bradford!

And as ever, i'm very grateful for the all of the help i've received from everyone at cxmagazine.com - if anyone's after a discoutned digital subscription get in touch!