SDA round 1

SDA round 1 – Pitfichie
Saturday started off with a long 4 hour drive up to the east of Scotland. Just short of Aberdeen comes a place of Pitfichie. A very open hill at the top gradually making its way into very dry rocky woods. The track was a pedalling one, starting with a very long sprint out of the start gate. Super fast with some really fun gaps to boost and some amazing corners to get loose on. It was really fun to ride and was super flat which wasn’t really that fun. It was on a run of slabs with some dry dirt in the gaps. The entrance into the woods was amazing to ride, there were 2 fast lines, a big huck off of a rock slab, that looked super rad but most people were casing it and losing all of their speed, I opted for the line just right of that which was a really rough but fast straight line through the section. Then there were some super dry turns after that which were fun to ride and got some good roost. Further down the course there were some good rough sections, which were difficult to carry speed but fun to ride. Towards the end there was an amazing transfer into the finish which was quite gnarly. I didn’t take many practice runs, just enough to learnt the course and to have some fun. After i had finished practice I went up the hill to watch all the other riders who were still out and about. I was seeing a lot of crash’s due to people being so tired. One of the best I saw was Matthew Scott ( Marin Matt) raging into a tree, and still managing to carry some good speed.

Sunday Race day

It was super hot, track was really dusty on Sunday morning practice. It was difficult to see, due to the shadows in the trees. So my practice run wasn’t very good but i was happy enough with it. On my first race run I was pedalling really hard up top, I carried loads of speed through the entrance to the woods. I was trying to push it a bit more. I pinned it through a one of the roughest rock gardens, it was super fun and wild. But about 25metres down the track from that I just couldn’t carry any speed. I was like a horse with no legs. Couldn’t get across them good or even smoothly. It’s my weakness, but i know there aren’t many tracks coming up that are as flat and rocky, so it should be good. My second race run was 1sec quicker. Same mistakes as my first run. I think i finished around the 13th mark, which isn’t what I’m hoping for. But I will see what round of the NPS will bring for me.

Michael Turnbull

New Arrival

I've been taking a wee break from riding, racing (and working as it happens), perfectly timed for the arrival of baby Grace, who was born on Monday morning. The best things come to those who wait, and Grace defied the opinions of everyone who had predicted an early arrival, and came almost right in the middle of her due date!

Its been weird being out of the shop for 4 days now, and even with hospital visits, changing nappies and feeding, I am almost at a loss for what to do with the time. I'm sure that won't last for long though......

So after Lance, the next big comeback will be an off-road one, with Anna planning to ride the Strathpuffer 2010 in a pair - the months of getting all the training nights to myself are long-gone, and the turbo-trainer will be getting a hard time for a wee while! The media attention might be hard to deal with, but it will be worth it - I draw the line at her getting a Twitter account to keep the hoards updated though!

Finlay rode his first SXC at Kirroughtree a few weeks ago, ripping up the singletrack at Kirroughtree on his scootalong bike! It was a great day with a huge turnout, with a big contingent travelling over from Northern Ireland - thanks to Sam & Clair from The Breakpad for laying on a great course, and a fantastic day in all.

The Bionicon demo was a huge success - the three of us (Steve, Roger from Bionicon and myself) were flat out all day. I did get the chance to test a few of the bikes myself though - the Supershuttle was a hoot on the singletrack at Glentress, but I still think the Golden Willow is the bike for me!

We had some great news from Davie and the guys at Scottish Cyclocross, with the Walkers CC Irvine "Beach Cross" back on the calander for 2009 - keep November 29th free - we're keeping the sand, and have found some evil stairs that will shorten the lap and increase the pain/fun!

Neil Walker

Numbers.....

The last 3 weeks in numbers - 3races, 3wins, 2course records, 1good race, 2 could have been better races, 3 races faster than last year, 50ml of liquid consumed over those 3races (its been cold), 70kg back squats for 5reps, watched the rugby boy/incredible hulk squat 200kg, watched the curling chick squat 80kg, 1 case of feeling weak, 3 weeks until my next race.

So from now till then it's a case of 21days of training to get stronger, faster and fitter and show that curling girl what I'm made of. It's the time of season where the intensity of the sessions
increases and I'll be heading out to the local APRs soon to see how I fair. Last year I built up to riding scratch group but I think this year I'll dive in at the deep end. Its British University
championships next down in Windsor where the competition will be a lot tougher. I was 6th last year so this year the aim will be top 3 - preferably the top spot.

David McNamee, International Triathlete