Steve Moors and Mark Chadbourne travelled to the Forest of Dean to take part in a round of the Fully Sussed series. The course was based at the dedicated cycling centre with lots of fantastic trails. Highly recommend a trip there if you get the chance.
Unfortunately as we crossed the bridge it started to rain and proceeded to get heavier and heavier. The flowing trails became technical as the mud made everything very treacherous. It was a long steady climb from the start that took you to the top of the course and then you dropped down some great descents, to climb again etc. It was great fun and if you like that slightly out of control feeling then this was the course for you. In the Vets Mark made a break and was away leading for the first two laps. However he was joined by Lewis King for the final lap and lost out in a fire road sprint for the single track descent eventually coming in second. Steve had a great ride in the Grand Vets in conditions that he relishes. Unfortunately he was told that he was winning and road a very solitary race only to find out that there was in fact a rider ahead of him. To be fair to the organisers everyone was covered head to foot in mud and within 5 minutes of starting everyone looked the same.
SAMS – Deepcut – 1 July 2012.
The final round of the Southern series took place at Deepcut. Stuart King and Liz Gilmour were racing at a stage race in Wales but the rest of the mtb team were all present. The course was very typical of the area, being in the army training forests. Lots of bomb holes, technical twisty tracks on a range of surfaces, short sharp kicker hills and enough overtaking places if you need it. Being the final race of the season there were lots of riders there trying to cement their position in the overall standings. Even if you weren’t in the top three a good ride today would sort out your grid position for the important first race of next year.
The weather gods decided the surfaces were too dusty and decided to treat us to torrential downpours. Corners and descents that were ok in practice became distinctly sketchy and the medics had to deal with a broken leg, broken shoulders as well as the normal cuts and grazes. Riders were huddled under trees trying to get some cover before they were called up to the start line. A lot of people were looking at their tyre choices and regretting the fast rolling but no grip selection.
Carol Tilley was racing first knowing that a good result would give her the overall series win. A fine ride for second place meant that it was job done as she won the series.
The Vets as always had a large field. Mark Chadbourne got into the lead quickly on the first lap knowing these conditions suit him well. He kept pushing until he established a good lead and then concentrated on not crashing to not only win the race but the overall series as well. Ro Tilley did not get the best of starts but in true Ro style got stronger and stronger as the race went on and as others faded came in a strong 12th.
The Grand Vets saw Steve Moors battling with his usual rivals at the head of the field. Having got a good start Steve settled into the regular ding dong battle he has with fellow racers. Using the technical sections to his advantage and trying to limit any losses on the gravel roads Steve came in a battling fourth which gave him a well deserved 3rd overall in the series.
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