The Beacon Message Board

A dry and flat course on Sunday at Henley made for quick racing. They chucked a few man made lumps which were a pain (especially the 3 or more people with broken collar bones). Forgot how hard cross racing is...
The positions below are in the Cat but are a bit skewed. For example V40 is 40 to 44 and v45 is 45 to 49. However we start at the same time and compete as 40-49 vets. So in the 40 to 49 I come 13 but this isn't down on the result sheet.
Paul got his mtb out for his first race. Gary complained at the end about how unfit he was. He didn't realise he broke a spoke and buckled his wheel so bad it wouldn't spin until about 10 mins after he finished.
I've included Ollie and Sam even though they race for HACC (boooooo!).

Simon Dighton
00:41:12 V50M 8

Gareth Scott
00:56:08 V40M 6

Douglas Fielding-smith
00:58:20 V40M 8

Gary Mackintosh
00:55:40 V40M 26

Darren Garey
00:58:06 V45M 31

Paul Watkins
DNF SM 42

Oliver Dighton
00:29:43 u16M 5

Samuel Dighton
00:39:34 JM 4

Have to say it was alot of fun, wasn't sure if it'd just be boring fields or a pile of mud (that'll come later...) but either way really enjoyed it despite stopping 'cos I was hurling post crash.

Was on one of them bumps in the left picture where I just went a bit quick, forks compressed and catapulted me over the bars to land on my neck/head. Fun times. A spectator gave me his helmet so I got as far as I could before stopping.

Madison are kindly gonna replace my helmet with a Lazer Helium for £75 which is a bargain given they're £170 new! Hope it arrives in time for Shrewsbury.

good effort lads.... a hard day's racing all round by the sounds of it!

Well done everyone
Cyclo-cross. Not for the faint-hearted

Dave

Good riding.

However, I'm afraid I don't really understand the results. Gary and Gareth were in the same category (V40); Gary was 2.5 mins faster, but Gareth was 6th and Gary 26th?

Gareth done more laps than Gary. The race is for 50 mins so it's all worked against the leader/lead group. When they finish the race stops regardless of number of laps done.

I shouldn't have put the time as it's confusing but it's on the results sheet. It is good to see lap times though. I always start well and finish well but lull in the middle. It's also good to see your lap times in comparison to those around around you.

New helmet arrived! Can't move my neck to the right but as long as we don't do any right turns in round 2 then it's all good.

Paul, do you have a crick neck, because I've had that twice, luckily it wasn't when I was cycling!

Well done guys. I'm looking forward to when I can join in!

Went to Pitcheroak today for a wander around and came across the Halesowen club on a practice ride! Turns out on top of the 3 collarbones last week another chap cracked his pelvis.

Looks good out there, not sure where all the cars are gonna park? Doesn't look too technical out there but pretty fricken slippery right now

Parking is down on the road unless you are there really early!

Roger that! Fun times for the locals..

Didn't like running that railway sleeper bit so got some hop practice in before tomorrow. What could go wrong?!?

Sundorne today is a great course, very varied with a mix of technical and fast sections. If the planks are in their usual position on a slope, it'll be a challenge to bunny hop - riders have great difficulty jumping them! Enjoy.