A lot has happened in the last month, and it’s all been positive, which is a welcome change considering how the year had gone up to that point.
First up, I was invited to join the Alterra Performance women’s XC race team, founded by my coach Ash de Lotz, and Alex Rhodes of Alterra Performance. The team’s goal is to offer support at races and build a community of competitive women who can push each other and learn together. It’s an exciting venture, and I’m looking forward to having a crew at the races where we can learn from each other.
I’ve also competed in two very different events, each providing valuable lessons and a couple of podium finishes. There has been significant progress in my riding and development as a racer, which is incredibly motivating. Plus, the sun has come out to play – more of the same, please!
Different race, same buzz
At the beginning of May, I embarked on a different kind of race. I decided to give a gravel race a go – on my mountain bike, of course. The Pan Celtic Gravel Rally took place in north Wales, near Betws-y-Coed. The race format was like an Enduro, with six timed stages over a 95km route. Additionally, I took on a night stage the evening before, which was a 20km timed segment.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from gravel riding, because it varies from mellow mountain biking to rough road riding. The course offered a mix of both, luckily leaning more towards the challenging, techier side. Opting for a mountain bike for this event was clearly the right choice. I clinched the top spot in my category, and to top it off, three of my friends also made it to the podium in their categories after also choosing MTBs.
Learning from a new discipline
While I’ve done stage races involving multiple days of riding, this event presented a new experience and challenge: riding late at night, before another big one early the next morning.
I relished the thrill of navigating through the forest, illuminated by the lights of numerous riders pushing themselves in the wet Welsh terrain. The course – a mix of forest roads and singletrack – was thoroughly enjoyable on my Orbea Oiz. Despite driving four hours and having only a small dinner beforehand, I rode well. I returned to the van around ten, wet and tired but happy.
Fuelling was a struggle. Trying to eat after the night stage, fully aware of the long ride ahead the next day and the importance of nutrition, was stressful. Balancing a late meal with an early start meant juggling between getting enough food, allowing it to digest, and ensuring sufficient sleep. I knew that better fuelling would have significantly improved my performance and I felt like I was struggling throughout the day. It wasn’t exactly horrendous, but by the final transition back to the vans, I felt completely spent. While I didn’t nail it, I felt I gave it my best shot.
Wales giving me the feels
The controlled start led us to the first timed stage, a steep winding road climb. Starting near the back of the pack, we had to weave through struggling riders, which was frustrating but a fun challenge. In hindsight, this slow start was a blessing, preventing me from exhausting myself too early in the 95km course.
The stages varied in length and terrain, and my bike excelled on technical sections while holding its own on smoother stretches. My inexperience showed as I failed to draft during a 10km headwind stretch, leading to fatigue and being overtaken by many who I’d passed earlier. Despite the struggle, I was pleased to make a sharp technical climb that left others walking, even if it did push me to the verge of throwing up! As the race progressed, I enjoyed riding with friends, while savouring the beautiful Welsh scenery and the camaraderie during transitions.
The race featured long, loose, fast gravel sections, where I practised descending at speed, gradually building my confidence. This was crucial for my cross-country racing, where I often lose time on fast descents. I kept reminding myself to trust the bike and let go of the brakes, which paid off as my confidence grew.
Finishing the final sector with friends was a great feeling, contrasting with the solitary nature of XC races. This race, my longest off-road ride in a single day, was exhausting but rewarding, especially with the post-race celebration of beer, burgers and a shower!
A boost from family
I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get my national XC race season underway. But finally, the second round (my first) was upon us, and the weather was looking fantastic as I headed to Margam Park in South Wales.
I was strangely nervous leading up to this one. It felt like the first real opportunity to see if my training would translate into improved performance. I felt the pressure to excel and was nervous about how I would stack up against my peers. My nerves were eased by the last-minute attendance of my mum and sister. Mum was visiting from Scotland and I suggested they both come to watch since it was a sunny day, and they were enthusiastic about it.
I was amazed at how much support from loved ones can provide a mental boost. Each lap, I could see and hear them, and it gave me extra focus and motivation to push on. It was awesome to have them there and show my family what I do. With my mum living in Scotland, she’s usually quite detached from my activities, so it was fantastic to finally share this experience with her. It certainly helped that I managed to get second place after riding well and racing hard. No matter how old I get, it's always good to try and make my folks proud!
Crafty race craft
It was cool having Ash and Alex there to impart wisdom and knowing they were about for any questions was a comforting feeling. I took the practice lap at a chilled pace but unlike previous races I really absorbed what I was riding and thought about where I could overtake, where to fuel, and places I could get a rest.
As I lined up, my nerves where high, there was around nine women in my race, and I was on the back row. The start was along a stretch of fireroad before a sharp right onto a gravel track, and it wasn’t long before we hit a climb.
In the past, I’ve struggled with starts, allowing my competitors to gain an early lead and leaving me with the hefty task of catching up. This time, I made a conscious effort to stay focused and prevent history from repeating itself. I got an OK start and managed to stay in the mix as we approached the sharp turn. As we hit the gravel ascent, I found myself in fifth or sixth place, but my climbing legs were with me today and I was soon into third, with second and first some distance in front.
Midway through the first lap I had my sights on second place. The woman in first was long gone and I never saw her until after the race – she was on fire! Despite the gap, I steadily gained ground on the second-place rider, particularly on the climbs. The final ascent of the lap was a gruelling trek up a broad hillside, followed by a descent through rough terrain and fields, leading us back to the start-finish line.
Just as I reached the summit of the climb, I managed to overtake the rider ahead, securing second place. The trail levelled out briefly before the descent, and from the corner of my eye, I noticed her put in a big effort to pass me with a burst of speed. Instead of contesting her, I made a conscious choice to conserve energy, knowing I had her on the climbs. Following her down to the start/finish line, I tucked in behind, utilising her draft to my advantage – a lesson learned from previous experiences.
As she turned off into the pits, I continued on, her presence fading behind me. Throughout the race, I maintained a solid pace, effectively managing my energy reserves and pushing myself where I could. Admittedly, I erred on the side of caution during the loose rocky descents, wary of potential race-ending punctures. Reflecting back, I realise I could have perhaps been more aggressive in pursuit of first place, especially considering I felt I had more in the tank as I crossed the finish line.
Nonetheless, I was pleased with my racecraft and found satisfaction in my strategic execution, recognising areas for improvement and gaining a deeper understanding of my capabilities. Time will tell if these insights translate into future successes on the racecourse.
Tweaking gear and new kit
It’s an ongoing job, tweaking set-ups for various races, and my job’s perks grant me the luxury of experimenting with an array of gear. I’m truly fortunate in this regard, and it’s fascinating how subtle adjustments can make significant differences. The two very different races required certain unique modifications.
For the gravel race I opted for fast-rolling tyres that had a bit of bite and had been sent some Kenda tyres to try out. After grappling with trying to seat them, I had to add an extra layer of tape before they would pop onto the rim. This was a far cry from how easy Maxxis and Vittoria tyres are to seat on Orbea’s Oquo carbon wheels.
I paired the Kenda Karma 2 up front with the Booster at the rear; a combination recommended for mixed-wet XC racing – precisely the conditions Wales had in store for us. The Booster, engineered for fast rolling over rough, loose terrain, and the Karma 2, said to penetrate looser surfaces and deliver traction on slippery ground. This tyre combo worked well on this mellow terrain. While it may not have boasted the same rolling efficiency as other set-ups, the trade-off for enhanced grip in loose, damp conditions were certainly worth the slight increase in drag.
Additionally, I made a few adjustments to my cockpit set-up. First off, I added the Ergon GA3 winged grips for some extra comfort. Orbea also hooked me up with a new bar and stem combo to tweak my riding position, aiming for a more upright stance to ease the strain on longer rides. My previous set-up was quite aggressive, with the front end slammed down low, ideal for tackling technical XC courses where a forward low position is advantageous. However, I noticed it took a toll on my body during those lengthier outings. The new set-up seems promising, but I'll need to log more miles to confirm its effectiveness.
For the Margam XC race, the conditions were pleasantly similar to Lanzarote – dry, dusty and loose with fast singletrack descents and long climbs on dusty trails. So, I went back to the faithful Vittoria Mezcals – a brand that never fails for me to seat onto the rim, so it was a quick switch! I changed the grips to the ESI foam ones which are better suited for shorter, more technical rides, but left the bar and stem on because I’ve been getting on well with them and the course at Margam was not particularly technical.
The season gallops on
It’s full steam ahead as we dive into the last three rounds of the National XC series, all set to unfold in June. Up next is the rescheduled opener at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, followed by a thrilling ride at Woody’s Bike Park in Cornwall – both familiar venues that promise a chance to hone my skills and surpass last year’s results. Then, we’re off to Tong in Bradford for the grand finale, where rumours suggest the course packs a spicy punch. Here’s hoping I finish the series on a high.
New gear keeps rolling in for testing – fresh tyres, XC race shoes, pedals, and clothing – all waiting to be put through their paces. Stay tuned to discover if they live up to expectations, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for June to mirror the success of May.
