Just a week on from trying to modify my ribcage I took the trip down Surrey for the first Gorrick of the new year. A beautiful day but the dry and mild weather had still not sorted the course out completely, there were still many muddy bits (but the venue change from Saturday to Sunday was managed brilliantly, well done to the organisers). I'd elected to go and play with the big boys in Super Masters, if only becasue you get to do and extra lap over the 'ordinary' masters; BigRing agreed with this course of action.
BigRing lined up alongside for the start on his newly built up singlespeeder, and shouted encouragement as I blasted away with the leaders. I was about 10th into the first technical section, but plummeted to mid teens by the end of the first lap. I was keeping my neck firmly 'wound-in', and pain from my still healing ribs curtailed any heroics. I was finding the course very 'stop/start' and I just couldn't find a rhythm, much like one of the Midlands races at Cannock last year. Regardless, I pressed on and by lap three I was even (really!) enjoying myself.
On lap 4 I got to the second of the two BIG (get off and push) climbs and overtook a least two riders who had set off fast and were now dying a thousand deaths. I knew at least one of them would be trying to get back at me so I kept the pressure on and came home to 10th place, with which I was absolutely ecstatic. I'd got round a really nice technical course without crashing, and protecting an injury to boot. Lloyd rolled in 13th a couple of minutes later, complaining of over-gearing and numpties on the course (good point).
XC racing is enjoying something of a renaissance at the moment with big fields and busy courses, we'll just have to get used to it. See you at Thetford,fit I hope.
