YP CX Todmorden

Today's race was a great race. Great organisation, course and atmosphere. It was also a great race for me, so forgive me if I relive it.
After having my males anatomy questioned by one of the big hitters whilst taking a last minute waz. I managed to turn up late to the start so couldn't choose my slot, but still managed to get on the front line. "30 seconds to start" and then I realised I was in a stupid small gear so after lifting my back wheel and getting something a little bigger and then it was GO. Damn it bloody gears jumping like mad, massive gear as crrruunch slowly my bike sorted itself out. Lost a good 10-15 places, arse!
After the usual 1/2 first lap madness managed to settle into a nice smooth rhythm with the Rhinos running at 1.8bar. Running them so soft was a godsend in the conditions even if they were bottoming out all the time. Just glad I stuck them on myself.

Having others legs and arms everywhere up the famous cobbled climb, I rapidly formed the opinion that for me, the best thing to do was to hit the climb running each lap and use my 35" legs for running rather than get half way up and get tangled up (and say sorry to someone who I wanted to throttle). Not sure what it looked like but running up a steep slope with my heels on the floor for grip, I felt like a bit of a genetic experiment gone wrong.

Despite having another bike in the pits, I stuck with the one bike throughout as the tyres on the blue bike felt superb and by comparison, the Grifo's on the red bike have 50% less grip than a banana skin in proper mud.
So I'm sat here, without a clue where I came, or if I beat my nemesis. I certainly didn't win, I certainly wasn't up there but I would guess 20odd ish from a 80-90 strong field.

(Update - finished 21st and yes.....I did it to him) 
One last mention must go to the soundclash between the middle aged couple half way up the climb playing Van Halen Jump on a radio cassette and the dude with the loop machine and subwoofer laying down thunderous techno beats.

Memorable stuff.

Smalesy
(photographs courtesy of Joolze Diamond)