Brownbacks Race 1: as ridden by a non-techie Diva Bear!

As a “non-technical” mountain biker I find it surprising that I enjoy riding at Lee Quarry! Catch me on a normal ride and I’d be walking at least half the stuff that’s included in a Brownbacks race at Lee Quarry – however put me on a start line and I seem to be able to muster enough courage to at least have a go at most of the course!

I’d not really been looking forward to the race at Lee Quarry this time though – last year I was bike fit, this year I’m not! The courses generally feature steep sharp ascents and concentration-tight descents and I knew as I lined up on the start line with the Racers and Racing Divas that the race had now attracted some “proper bikers” and that it was going to be tough from the off.

Tired legs meant that my usual ‘power it up the first hill and hold them all up on the descents’ approach wasn’t even on the agenda! The pack broke quickly – I was in the middle somewhere....lap 1 was hard, throwing up on the big climb at the far side of the quarry seemed a very real possibility – although that might have been as a result of actually riding the “mountain rescue covered descent” – something I normally walk/run down (and did on all subsequent laps!). Things improved marginally for lap 2 but by lap 3 my legs were empty and I was already reaching for the TORQ gels. A bad sign indeed. There was no option but to only use the small chainring, there was nothing left absolutely no speed and no power...still it wasn’t until lap 4 that I started feeling the threat of the Planet Fear girl and we jostled for position for about half the lap (even whilst summoning marshalls and mountain rescue for the poor chap who’d binned it big-styley!) before she got me on an ascent and spun off into the distance. By this point for me it was just about finishing....I was almost envious of team-mate, Rob, stood at the side with a puncture! I’d convinced myself I was the last Diva on the course so decided not to give it too much effort on the final lap! Fortunately that tactic didn’t bite me but next time I’ll be conscious that there actually might be more Diva’s behind me – this time there were two – including Jo Holden, winner of the series last year!

So lessons for me from the Quarry: a.) ride bike more, and run less, in preparation for a mountain bike race, b.) don’t stop racing until I’ve actually crossed the finish line – who knows what is going on behind you, and c.) at all times keep smiling, of course!