by | Jul 26, 2014 | Biking Adventures
Last weekend sitting in the UK with the proposal of a wet weekend in Wales we scanned the internet to look for a better option. That option came in a three day adventure to Barcelona one of the top beach and city break locations according to Time Out Magazine, so of course, we had to try it!
Arriving in Barcelona for three days with so much to see and do pose a problem, how much time do you want to spend on sticky trams or under ground on the tube? Answer, probably as little as possible!
We stayed in the Vincci Bit hotel which was a short walk and even shorter cycle to the beach and central Barcelona. The staff were welcoming and the rooms and corridors where full of art which was brilliant. The roof top pool was more of a plunge pool, than a swimming pool you certainly had to do a lot of lengths to feel like you were exercising!
Hiring a bike in Barcelona is very easy most hotels and B&Bs have bike hire and we hired a bike for €15 a day. The bikes were delivered straight to the front door of your hotel and then your free to explore.
We ventured in land first to soak up some culture and take in the incredible architecture that envelopes this city.
The Sagrada Família Gothic church was our first bike stop it is one of the most highly decorative buildings I have ever seen and you can eat amazing Paella from one of the corner cafes while you admire the view. Designed by Francesc de Paula Villar, it was taken over by the young Antoni Gaudí, who transformed it into the most fascinating church of all time. The church is still under construction today.
Fully replenished on Paella and ice cream we set off to central Barcelona. The bike lanes in Barcelona work like the road system so you have two bike lanes together in the middle of the road which go left and right and have their own set of traffic lights. You feel very safe in these bike lanes and can go along at your own pace taking in the sites at your leisure.
Our next destination was La Rambla and the hustle and bustle of Barcelona’s most iconic street, as you can imagine this is quite congested but is still bike-able, just be vigilant and use your bell! At the end of La Rambla you meet the Columbus monument which towers overhead.
We made our way to Port Vell to the floating quater which is a massive leisure complex full of lively bars and shops. You cant bike over the bridge but once on the other side there is a path around, however its worth parking up and having a wonder on foot.
Barcelona has around 3.5km of beach to choose from and with plenty of bike racks you can wonder up and down and take your pick.
As you would imagine Barcelona was a fantastic place to try seafood and I would recommend a meal at Shoko an infusion of Japanese and Mediterranean it comes with a higher price tag but its well worth it!
Barcelona is a wonderful city there is so much to see and do you could easily spend a week or two here. One thing we didn’t do which I hope to return to do is to go mountain biking in the mountains but this is probably best left for October time when its cooler!
I would highly recommend travelling around Barcelona by bike and think Martyn and I will probably hire bikes on our next city break.
Good luck on your next adventure, share your stories with me.
Go explore.
by | Jul 15, 2014 | Racing
On Saturday I travelled with Jenny from Mountain Tracks to round four of the National series at Sherwood Pines in Nottingham.
During the day Saturday I ran a cycling event at Surrey Sports Park which incorporated mountain bike coaching, GoRide races and an event village, this was a brilliant event but not the best race preparation as it meant Jenny and I arrived in Nottingham very late.
After putting the tent up it wasn’t long before I was asleep only to be rudely woken up by the torrential rain!
The morning brought cloud but at least it wasn’t raining. We went out and practised the course, it was a good course with lots of twisty singletrack sections through the forest linked by cart track and open fields, feeling happy about swapping my wide handle bar for something a little narrower I felt confident in the trees working the bike around the corners.
There was only one technical section, a log which you had to drop off onto an off camber log with a drop off the end, we didn’t get to ride this at practise but from looking at it looked manageable.
The course was quite short and was going to be a fast paced race. I knew I needed to have a good warm up so started warming up early.
It wasn’t long before gridding started and we charged off I got into the front couple of riders for a while, I felt good so pushed on trying to stick with the group, as we came out of the single track and onto the cart track I was over taken by a couple of riders, Jenny included and tried to stick with them, I managed to do this until the end of the first lap when we entered the arena but the grass field portion of the course seems to sap energy out of my legs and I had to slow to take a gel, the technical section went well dropping off the logs happily which spurred me into my second lap.
Frustratingly nearing the end of my third lap my legs felt tired and with two laps to go I dropped off the pace to try and recover, but the damage was already done. Jemima and I kept swapping positions me leading through the singletrack and her powering past me on the cart tracks only for me to catch her again in the singletrack and over take.
In my fourth lap I picked the pace up again and was planning to get ahead of Jemima and stay ahead this time! Sadly that didn’t happen after I had to stop on the technical feature to let the lead elite girls through, however I think getting pushed off the course for a Olympian to go through is not so bad!
However this meant I had lost Jemima and didn’t have the energy to catch her up. I finished feeling totally exhausted I had given everything I could but it hadn’t been enough today, I made some mistakes that cost me time and will be able to take this into my next race and learn from those.
My average heart rate was 176 and my max was 185, I worked hard but need to work on my oxygen efficiency which means working at lower intensities for longer periods of time.
I came 11th overall 13 minutes behind Hollie Bettles who won the race. It took me 1 hour 45 mins to finish the 17 miles.
From this race I have taken some positives, I do love racing! After my last race I felt deflated and had fallen out of love with it but this race confirmed that I do enjoy it and that it is about having the right mental attitude as much as it is about having the right physical preparation.
I need to work on my pacing and stamina and plan to do this over the coming months.
Lap Times:
| 00:17:31 |
00:21:26 |
00:21:48 |
00:22:00 |
00:22:20 |
|
by | Jun 22, 2014 | Racing
On Saturday I travelled to Margam Park in Wales to race the next round of the National series. It was a long drive, but when I finally reached Wales the weather was great and although the nerves were bubbling away I felt positive about the weekend ahead.
I met up with Vanessa and Arrow Cycles who kindly ‘adopted’ me for the weekend to ride the course. As with everything in Wales you have to go up before you come down, this course was no exception! The course started with a long climb on fire road which then turned into a single track climb through the woods. Then the ‘fun’ started ! A steep, loose rocky shoot ended on yet another climb, shorter but sharper up a sandy track, before turning into another loose, steep shoot. This carried on for long enough to get your heart racing for the right reasons before turning back on itself with a sharp right hand bend to work its way back up the hill.
The technical part of the course started with a muddy drop into the woods which as long as you kept off the back brake to stop your back wheel sliding out was fine.
After this there was a choice of the ‘A’ or ‘B’ line. Vanessa, Danni and I hopped off our bikes and explored the ‘A’ line on foot. It looked pretty rideable, apart from the end which looked a bit hairy, so we trekked back up to give it a go.
Having a new bike is great, having confidence on a new bike is something that I believe comes with experience and confidence in your own ability. Today, my confidence was being undermined by not feeling totally at home on my new bike.
I watched as Vanessa and Danni made easy work of the ‘A’ line but couldn’t psyche myself up to get around the corner into the drop! Every time I got to the top of the drop I just felt like the angle was all wrong, even though Josh from Arrow cycles who I was with, said the line was fine.
I tried again from a different angle and caught my back wheel on a root, sending me and the bike flying! The bike landed upside down, back wheel held in place by the tree and I landed on my left shoulder. Shaken up by this I tried the ‘A’ line again straight by hanging in the tree to clip in I rode it straight twice and felt happy enough with the drop but couldn’t link the angle and drop together! Seeing my frustration Josh said maybe we should crack on, I agreed! I chose the ‘B’ line on the next bit whilst Josh aced the ‘A’ line. The next part of the course was great and reminded me of why I love riding in Wales. Some quarry switchbacks, a little drop off, more uphill and some flowing wooded single track finished off the course. All together this course had a little bit of everything and should of suited me to the ground, had my head been in the right place!
Sunday came around quickly after a bad night’s sleep going over and over the line in my head. With an aching left shoulder I wasn’t feeling on top form for the impending race! Warming up with Vanessa and Danni helped and I started to feel a bit more relaxed. This turned out to be short lived as soon as I arrived on the start line my legs felt like led and my nerves were taking over.
I knew it was all in my head and that I was capable of everything on this course, but mountain biking is a physical and mental game. To be good on your bike you have to be physically but also mentally up to it as its when you doubt yourself that it tends to go wrong.
In competition you are always going to have a bad day. It is taking those bad days, seeing the positive and learning from the experience. That is my plan.
After five races in the Expert category I am sitting in fifth position nationally and looking to close the gap down on the leading four.
by | Jun 5, 2014 | Training
As a mountain biker you wait all year in anticipation for that day when it’s not dark by the time you get back from work, you spend more time on your bike than hosing it and your self down and getting lost finding trails becomes fun and not a race to get back home before the light fades and leaves you in darkness.
All that commitment to riding over the winter pays off when the days get longer, the trails get dustier and the scenery changes from orange and brown to a carpet of green.
So here are my top tips for summer off road riding;
Short Sleeved Jersey – A good lightweight jersey with ventilation and a long zip is great for summer riding check out Outfoxed for some cool options!
Light weight gloves – To avoid hot sticky hands grab a pair of lightweight summer riding gloves which will breathe but protect your hands. My suggestion would be Grip Grab Shark gloves with built in forehead wiper!
Sun glasses with reflective lens – A good pair of cycling glasses or goggles will probably come with a selection of lenses, changing to a reflective lens in the summer will help reduce the glare to enable you to focus on your ride. My suggestion would be DHB triple lens glasses they are the best value and great quality with good lenses and light weight for summer riding.
Lip balm with SPF – Really important to avoid that sticky feeling when riding and to protect your lips from the suns rays. My suggestion would be Nivea’s sun stick it doesn’t seem to melt in the heat which is a bonus!
Hydration tabs – Staying hydrated is so important especially when riding for long periods in the sun. The best way to keep vital electrolyte and fluid in take optimal is to take a hydration tab in your water bottles. My suggestion would be High 5 they do some great flavours and I’ve always found them to be reliable.
Sun cream – Pretty obvious I’m sure but wearing sun cream will protect you against harmful rays, even if your going to a relatively shaded area you will be surprised how easy it is to burn the back of your neck when riding. My suggestion take cream with you and layer it on, always go for a water proof / sweat resistant formula.
Light weight water/wind proof – I am sure I’m not alone in feeling a chill when the sun goes behind a cloud or the wind picks up. Having a light weight wind proof jacket that you can slip on while you much on lunch or stop to admire the view will be beneficial. I would suggest Giant/Liv jacket its really light and great for keeping the wind off.
by | May 26, 2014 | Racing
My first ever race was near Oxford so on the morning of the race Martyn and I travelled up to the race from Southampton, I was so nervous! Whilst I went to get my number Martyn got my bike off the car. I had changed into just a gym top and shorts, only to be told I really needed to wear a t-shirt style top next time, they thought I was a triathlete! I went back with my number and had a banana, I was so nervous I wasn’t sure I could even race. There were people around me with different bikes, changing tyres and it all seemed very technical but, at the same time there was a buzz and friendliness. In this massive field, on the side of a forest, everyone had come together to enjoy mountain biking and I loved that feeling. As my nerves settled whilst in my practise lap, the sun came out and it just felt like this is what I was meant to be doing!
I was racing against four other girls in the open category. The race was a bit of a blur I tried to keep up with one of the youth riders and stuck with her for about a lap and a bit before she disappeared into the distance. I couldn’t remember who was in my category so I just pushed as hard as I could, even though my lungs were burning and my legs felt like lead. The course was tight single track through a wooded area which had faster sections along the edges of fields, where my hard tail bike seemed to be trying to shake me off! I ended up winning the race and felt really good. I was tired but not exhausted. One thing was for sure, I was totally hooked on the buzz of the race. I brought my racing license the next week and entered the National series thinking how tough can it be? Little did I know what was to come!
My first cross country national race experience was at Langdon Hills in Essex, I was living in Southampton at the time. I got up around 5am and drove myself to the race. I remember arriving really early before most people because I had left myself so much time in case of traffic. There was a big truck with the British Cycling logos all over it, a stage and an event ‘village’ with lots of bike manufacturers branded gazebos. To my surprise there were already a few people going around the course. A whole different world away from the previous race! I had a banana, gave Martyn a call and went out on a practise lap. I was really excited and nervous. I started off up a hill, across a field and then reached a road….It then dawned on me I had taken a wrong turn, and had to track back. I found my way back and continued enjoying the course. There were no really big drops, but a couple of big roots which I clumsily banged into and over luckily without getting thrown off!
I felt pretty good. I got to a sign which said 4km and thought wow that was quick 4km gone already! Having done things like the Race for Life I should have known that it actually meant I had done 1km! I carried on. There was a huge hill close to the end which felt never ending and just about finished me off! I wasn’t sure how I was going to do three laps of this course. The course was very up and down so my decision was to pace myself on the first lap and then go for it on the last two.
After the practise lap I registered and gridding began. Straight away all riders had to ride round in this little holding arena in front of the British Cycling van, each category was called individually and then was sent off by the starting gun. Finally sport riders were called, there was only me and one other female rider, she was really friendly. We joked about being able to take it easy because there was just the two of us but I said well we should really race as I had come all this way to see how good I was!
The gun sounded and Fern (the rider I had been speaking too) shot off up the hill so quickly I thought ah! We have three laps she will be knackered by lap two and I’ll catch her up! Well it didn’t exactly go to plan! I stuck with her up the hill and into the first bit of single track. She was a lot faster uphill than me and on the downhill’s had a lot more confident letting her bike run out, where I was cautious. I stuck with her as long as I could but soon felt the gap opening up. I did everything I could to cling on and came back into the finish about 500 meters behind her but the thought of another two laps was slowing me down and she seemed to just be getting quicker! My legs were burning and screaming at me on every uphill and my arms were being shaken to pieces on all the rooty downhills. The rest of the race went by quickly and I actually felt better on my third lap and picked the pace up. I crossed the finish line exhausted, but full of achievement and pride at finishing what had felt like a really tough three laps. I came second and was chuffed to receive a really nice plaque. It turned out Fern was the series winner and had not actually lost a race ever!
This experience taught me the value of having the courage to just have a go and test what you’re capable of, to see how far you can go and what you can achieve, even when your nervous and full of doubt.
Sometimes in life it is too easy to say “I can’t ” than, “let’s have a go!”
Life is so high pressured we are all constantly under pressure to perform well in our careers and family life. Personally I think this can sometimes makes you nervous to try new things, because you get worried about other people’s perceptions.
We all have moments when we feel we can’t do something and in some circumstances you may be right, but if you don’t try how will you ever know?
My tips for anyone thinking about entering a XC race are:
- Arrive in time to ride the course and warm up properly
- Believe you can, set yourself a challenge
- Take a spare change of clothes, you never know how muddy it may be
- Try out any gels/bars/energy drinks on a training ride before the race
- Take your own loo roll, especially if your a girl it always seems to run out
- We all have negative thoughts. It’s how you let them affect you which determines whether you can or cannot
- Ride your own race
