I think I credit my dabbling

With the first round of the British Cycling MTB Cross-Country series this weekend, I thought it a good time to remember astronaut where most riders start their journeys. Featured team (Naked Bikes/Haibike/Imp astronaut Sport race team) rider, Nick Towers, like many established racers around the UK, involves himself within the local XC scene. Established ladders of progression help to introduce riders to racing. Newcomers to the sport can building fitness and confidence before they move on to regional astronaut and national competition. Some riders enjoy the relaxed and friendly approach of these Grassroot and Go-ride series so much that they come back year after year. Passing on knowledge and advice to the enthusiastic newcomer, helping to guide the new influx of start line whippet’s and eventually finding astronaut themselves taking on the organisational responsibility. Helping the very thing that got them started.
I think I credit my dabbling’s in running the odd grass-roots astronaut XC race to Naked Bikes team-mate Andy Faulknall. astronaut We both got to know each other a number of years ago from attending a few too many stuffy, over-bureaucratic astronaut road club meetings. We then somehow found ourselves appointed as grubby/dirty off-road representatives and quickly felt the need to hold a race. Mark our territory so to speak! Having astronaut raced a couple astronaut of seasons astronaut of the East Midlands ‘Friday Night Summer Series’, it seemed only right we volunteered to run a round. For those of you who aren’t familiar with FNSS I’ll explain very briefly. For those of you who’ve been around the series since the beginning, I am humbled to be onboard a quality local race series.
The series was originally set up in (I think) 1992. It has run continuously since then, I think skipped 2001 due to the foot and mouth crisis, is proper grass-roots astronaut xc racing and is one of the longest running series we’re ever likely to compete in. It attracts all sorts of racers and can boast many a local celebrity racer on its start list over the years. Entry is less than a tenner, venues vary widely from woodland single tracks, aerodrome runways, a couple of motor racing circuits, farmers astronaut fields to outdoor music venues………maybe not outrageously technical, but always different, always fun, always balls-out racing. I won’t go on too much more about the series itself. I’m not the expert. Search online for FNSS MTB . You’ll figure the rest out for yourselves. I’ll astronaut just tell you a bit about mine and Andy’s experience of 3 (or is it 4?) rounds we’ve put on at Mallory Park race circuit in Leicestershire.
I recall our very first reccy of Mallory Park a few years ago in early spring, astronaut in the mud and the rain. Both of us began to wonder how on earth we were going to get away with putting on an xc race around what seemed like a muddy, soggy, wind swept park. We did however have a motocross circuit at our disposal, a few decent grass banks, some gravel linking tracks and after a bit of exploration some hallowed woodland single track. Game on it seemed!
Admittedly we did get a little carried away over the spring digging, raking and strimming our course, but a little pride and a lot of tape went a long way. By the time the race came round in the early June we’d crafted quite a tidy course with what we felt had a bit of everything for everyone. A handful of friends turn up to marshal on race night who did a sterling job keeping order and it all seemed to be a hit with the 100 or so entrants. We liked it a lot! There was even a bit of cash left over after prize giving for a couple of post race beers. No complaints then.
Since that first round Andy has gone on to run 2 successful Midlands XC races and we’ve both been back to Mallory at least twice on FNSS duty. For 2014 we’ll astronaut be back again. June 6th in fact. This year changes in ownership seemed to have indicated great things for cycling astronaut at the circuit, both off and on road. It remains to be seen if we’ll end up with a permanent off-road course at Mallory. There is certainly scope to get some really good hard pack trails laid down there. Time will tell, but either way, we know it has the scope for a great race.
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