1st Gear Cycles Rampage Round 2 - Checkendon (22.05.11)

This was one of those 'last minute' races, thus I hadn't really planned (until 2 days before) to do it. However I was looking forward to it, as it was on the Checkendon course, which I had raced on twice before this season and really enjoyed the flat, single-track packed course.

After a slight detour on the way to the race, which meant we had gone down what looked like a Bridleway!, we arrived at the race venue. I went for a lap with another rider and the course was, as I remembered it, at the first round of the Rampage Series, flat, twisty and fast! However after some heavy rain in the morning, the corners, which were covered in roots, were becoming slippery and I found myself taking caution when tackling them.

After a good warm up, I lined up on the start and the race commenced. I had a good start and was in second from the start to the first bit of single-track (being just being Joe Broadhead). After a couple of turns, a Midlands rider (Jack Ravenscroft), overtook me on a turn and then Joe, who was in the lead at the time. Jack then, quickly turned up the pace and consequently Joe chased him down.

Taking some air on the Log Jump

This left me in 3rd, where I would stay for the rest of the race. Throughout the race the gap behind me (to 4th) was staying at a safe distance (1min. 17secs.), but unfortunately the gap in front of me (to 2nd) was getting bigger. I tried to close it a bit on the last lap, but I think I only made up about 5-10 seconds.

I finished in 4th, which I was happy with. I was 44 seconds off of 2nd in the end, and 50 seconds of off the leader (Jack). As I have said, I was happy with the result and glad that it meant I got a podium, even if it is the smallest step! There are also FlickR albums from the race, below.

Richard's FlickR Album

Cowell's FlickR Album

Ciao! and Thanks for Reading!