Eastern League CX, Iceni Cross, 24 Nov 2024
Picture from a much sunnier day!
Storm Bert brought blustery conditions to the Iceni Cross Race in Old Buckenham, but thankfully the rain held off, leaving us with a dry, albeit challenging, day for racing. The winds added an extra layer of difficulty to an already technical course.
This race also marked the debut outing for my new gravel bike. The bike’s lightness, though advantageous, had me slightly nervous in the gusty conditions.
The two warm-up laps revealed a technical course with a series of small banks, twists, and turns that pushed the limits of my current CX skills. Recognizing this, I decided early on to dismount and run or push through these sections. The hurdles also provided an opportunity to hone my dismounting and remounting technique.
At the whistle, 24 women surged forward, and as a self-confessed slower starter, I found myself in 18th place after the first lap. However, the new bike proved its worth quickly, making the dismounting, pushing, and lifting much more manageable.
My strategy of dismounting for the technical sections began to pay off. I gained places steadily, even surprising myself with a bold overtake on one of the faster stretches.
As the race progressed, I found myself chasing a fellow clubmate. On the penultimate lap, the leader overtook us, signaling that we were now on our final lap. Realizing this, I dug deep and made a determined effort to pass my clubmate, succeeding on a flat bit where my extra fitness paid off. I crossed the line in 11th place overall and, and the first Vet50+ woman.
This performance was a huge boost to my confidence. The combination of the new bike and the fitness gains from training with Tim has exceeded my expectations. It felt rewarding to see these improvements come together on such a technical and challenging course.
With the Regional Championships looming this weekend, I’m excited for the new bike’s second outing and my fifth ever CX race. Here’s to more learning, more challenges, and more happy and safe cycling.
Julie Taplin