The ‘t Twiske – twisting and turning on mountain bike single track
Nov 23, 2014 – FC Trappist, North Amsterdam
Was it a cyclocross race or a mountain bike race. Hard to tell as the mountain bikes were out in force this weekend. The ‘t Twiske is a large nature reserve north of Amsterdam and the course zig-zags its way around this and includes some nice mountain bike trails, but on a cross bike. A good little drop off, and some sharp corners on loose sand. All good fun. It also featured the widest start grid I have ever seen. It must have been 25 riders wide, on grass. This only means a chaotic start, and it was.
Definitely the most aggressive start of the season, as I bounced shoulders, pushed and tried to bully my way to the start from yet another slow start. All going well, until I took an aggressive inside line, and threw my chain on the third corner. On a course like to today that pretty much destroyed it for me.
By the time I got the chain back on, I was at the back of the field. With no long straights and a lot of corners, narrow single track and not that many passing spots it was going to be a tough day, and it was.
Mark, I am coming to get you! (Mark in front of me, and I am chasing him
The leaders were long gone, and in the end I worked my way back up to 8th. A tough day in the office.
Leah, smiles again.
The "peanut" gallery analysising the race...
Ron’s home race.
30 November, 2014. HRC Excelsior, Waarderpoldergebied, Haarlem
Last year I had heard this was a mud bath, with a lot of derailers paying the ultimate cyclocross sacrifice, so this year it was a new course, in a local horse farm.
Definitely pretty unique with an indoor section of the course with a bar looking out over it. Yet another bad start and eventually onto Ron’s wheel at the mid point of the first lap, and then he just rode away from me.
This was his home race and he was going to win it no matter what. I tried to catch him, but he was gone, and I was comfortably in second and stayed there for the race. Although not a technical race, it was surprisingly hard, with one straight in particular sticking in my mind. Recently cut long rough grass with a soft under surface made for an exhausting hard push each lap. The highlights were the indoor section and seeing Ron work to win his home race.
Leah putting the hammer down.
It is always amazing what is in an old barn, 6 feet off the course.
Styling bell positioning.
I am pretty sure this is not how the pedal is meant to look.
Woerden – a bonus Saturday race.
Matt Page, a friend from Wales was in town and keen for a blast at a local cross race. So Ben, Leah, Matt Page (a friend from Amsterdam), and Mark headed to Woerden for a bonus race. Signing in we were asked A or B. Dumbluy we all said A. Luckierly for us all of the best riders in the club were at National series race, so the A field lacked some depth, with the 4 of us, and a local lining up on the front row. Behind us the B field waited patiently, and it was a big field spread far and wide across the grassy start line. Local knowledge says take the longer hard pack dirt, and avoid the mole holes in the soft grass. Not knowing the local knowledge, I went hard and fast and straight, mole holes and all, for the holeshot, and nailed it. The course was the fun course we raced all year. Lots of twists and turns, some good single track, and best yet the mud was the perfect sticky mud that the Rhino tires are made for. Hammer the straights, slide the corners and power out of everything. It all came together today, and even with Ben yelling trash talk at me as he slowly decreased the gap, could not distract me, and I cleaned up the A Woerden A race.
Ben, Matt Page and Matt Bridge
The highlight of the Woerden race was the locals and how friendly they were in the club. It was a true old school cycling club. World Champion jerseys hang from the ceiling, old locals sat in the corner drinking beer and watching cyclocross on TV inviting us to come back when their big boys were in town. Maybe next season….
WTC Amstel home race – Ouderkerk
Dec 7, 2014 - WTC Amsterdam
Any course set by the team at WTC Amstel is going to be fun, involve sand, and have too many corners for my liking and today was the classic WTC Amstel Course. The race was where we practice cross each Thursday night and I know the area well.
It has some quality sand, the potential for some long straights, and just enough off small rises to create some nasty off camber corners and sure enough the course setters did their best. One corner in particular got me every lap, and was my undoing. First and second rode away, then I was in 6th place, and eventually put a short hard effort in to pop to third and stayed there, although at the end 4th was a little close, and instead of remounting the bike out of the sandpit, I ran to the finish to make sure I kept my third place!
Cutting the tight line through the trees.
Brian enjoying his cross
Ron, Marcel and myself.
Leah thinking it is the end of the world, when she is perfectly fine!
Tony looking serious.
