Kinlochleven is no stranger to me and I know how changeable and diverse the terrain and weather can be. It’s a hard area to ride, not just due to the ruts, river crossings and muddy bogs amongst drainage ditches and rocks that ricochet even the strongest of riders off course, it’s also an area of mechanical mayhem. Rear mechs can be swallowed up and punctures can envelop at the sight of some of the rocks. I spent nearly a whole week stressing about tyre choice, knowing that I would need a tyre to ride massive rocks fast but also cut through the slop of Sooks Pipe. There was only one tyre for it – the good old Maxis Minion, and a few days before heading off for my MBL assessment with Jules Fincham I had Dave at Singletrack Bikes fit the tyres himself. Thanks Dave!!
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| The view of Kinlochleven from the top of Stage one, Gray Mares Tale |
In the week leading up to the Dudes
of Hazzard Enduro the West of Scotland had had a severe weather warning for
high rainfall, but I was pleased to hear from Olga, my hitchhiker buddy, that
the weather was looking peachy for the weekend.
The
village of Kinlochleven lives in a hidden mine of secret nuggets of mountain
biking gold. Stumbling across this over five years ago after living there for
nearly three years, raising my daughter and being a mother, I fell back in love
with the sport and that is is in no small part what led me to here.
Kinlcohleven was my harsh training ground and tough conditioning for re-entry
into the scene. Sharing its spectacular gnar and epicness with some 400 –
500 riders is a real privilege. Not only this, but to see and hear the village
busy in the off-season is a real credit to how the industry can boast biking
tourism to the remote areas of Scotland.
It
is also a real credit to The Dudes of Hazzard and No Fuss Events that they have
created this opportunity for Kinlochleven. This event is possibly one of
the most popular Enduro races on this Island and definitely in the Highlands
with competitors coming from far and wide.
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| Some Riders opting for the push on one of the big climbs. |
The three stages have been creatively developed over the last three years encompassing some classic local trails. The
transitional route included the glorious climb up to Mamore lodge, a 300m
ascent up a steep road that I eagerly climbed in order to heat up from the
shadow of Garbh Bheinn that Kinlochleven sits in for half the year.
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| The sun rays on the climb up to Mamore Lodge defrosted our frozen tootsies fairly quickly, |
For
the last race in the season I had to maintain my focus, wits and composure, especially as I had to win to gain championship status. Yes I had the
advantage of local knowledge but as mentioned, Kinlochleven is a mechanical nightmare catalyst and when it comes to racing – anything can happen. With this in
mind I tried my hardest to stay positive to avoid any chat of negativity, mechanics, the course and conditions, and to find solutions for what could be possible obstacles or barriers to my overall time.
My
first stage on race day was Stage Three, Sooks Pipe and the muddiest of the
day, which definitely came with an essential eyewear merit, especially to model
the current Enduro trend of mud beards. I set off to a great cheering crowd and
almost instantly ended up off course, but managed to bring it together and
remember the small defining points of line choices. Just as I was thinking it
wasn’t really that bad, the course flattened out but I managed to keep my
wheels rolling even with my hubs deep in mud – thank goodness for Sram 1x11!
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| The black line of Sooks pipe and the Blackwater Dam pipe line |
The
sight of the pipe line came like light at the end of the tunnel and I was
relieved to make it out the slop and onto the pedalling section of the puggy
line, but not for long as this ended up becoming quite a lung buster. I
even sat down for the fast straight descent before turning back into the forest
– I was loving the 1x11 aiding the pedal spinning on those steep
up right banks.
I
was so happy to make it down without any major mishaps apart from the
inevitable dabbing and carrying a few additional pounds of muddy
undercarriage. I headed straight to the bike wash and then home to get
changed before heading to stages one and two.
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| The Sun about to sitting above Garbh Bheinn,but the village sits in shadow. |
This
was my favourite stage in practice and a trail that has always crossed the
border of delight and dismay. For many people, riding this in practice might
have seemed like a perilous challenge that only the daring and gallant could
tackle with swift haste, but to be honest there is very little elegance to this
stage and the easiest way to ride it is with less braking, keeping the
wheels spinning at a rapid pace to limit the arm pump. It’s a very
physically demanding stage, with loose rocks and ruts at the top and a fairly
pedally section with steep and tight switchbacks and this is where I knew a
mechanical could very well happen.
I
definitely wasn’t feeling as smooth as I had been in practice, especially when
the sidewalls of my wheels were shaving the banks of the corners, it’s a
tough stage to ride clean. I was ecstatic upon clearing the river crossing and
steep climb up the riverside cleanly for the first year ever - I love my Pivot
and Sram 1 x 11, on top of this I managed to catch up with four riders in front
who all let me past without any trouble– thanks guys.
My claim to fame for the day was I also cleared the climb up the log onto the dibbing
station! Yas!! I
headed back to Casa ala Roz to change my socks and bumped into Buviliscous who
had had a nasty tumble on his first stage and had to pull out. I wouldn’t let
him tell me where in order to keep myself focused - I was one stage away from
the end of the season.
Stage Two, AKA the Kennels, is also a personal favourite. In practice I claimed a
massive moment of self-admiration when I eventually rode the drop off. I have
been riding this trail for five years and never thought I would build the
courage to do it but I did! This weekend was proving to be a ticklist of
challenges.
There
was quite a bit of water on this trail and the dirty substance had somehow
worked its way underneath my eyewear so upon riding the bottom section I was
blinking liking a loon. With raging arm pump I remembered to keep a high line
on a corner and cycle round the river to the finish with the sound of
Buviliscous cheering me on. I was quickly presented with a freshly chilled can
of Strongbow to celebrate the end of a fabulous season.
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| Riding Stage Two, The Kennels Photo courtesy to David MacMillan |
On
the way back to the Ice Factor for my results I had an idea of what overall
time would keep me in the winning stakes. I reckoned anything around 18mins 30
secs would be fantastic so I was delighted to see I had beaten my own target
time and came in at 18mins 28 secs.
With
over a minute and a half lead on the second fastest female and awesome junior
talent and Fox Hunt Winner, Elena Melton, Rachel Walker from Hope came in
second and my good friend and Wheelers rider Emma Holgate came third. Fellow
pinner Nicola Fell landed in 5th along
with claiming 3rd on
stage one, well done Nicola! At prize giving I was over the moon to find I had
won a year’s sponsorship deal with Adidas eyewear – thanks Adidas what a
fantastic prize.
A
great result and of course a fantastic round off to claiming a victory on the
Scottish Enduro Championships, which I always considered out of my limits.
Full
results for round 6 can be found here.
The
Scottish Enduro Series has been a great race series. I have met so many
fantastic riders and Enduro acquaintances have now become friends. I have also
introduced a few of my own friends to Enduro and outreached my Enduro family,
including the fantastic and immensely supportive Buvilicious who has been
behind me 100%. I am very thankful to have such a great support network of
friends and family to help me. Another great thanks would be to my
sponsors Dare2B, Flare Clothing, and Singletrack bikes – which without their
support would I never be able to accomplish the championship.
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| Scottish Enduro Champion with her Pivot Photo Courtesy to James Robertson Photography |
In
reflection, it’s a funny old feeling sitting here in my NEW living room amidst
the old mining tenements in the north of the Scottish Borders. Gazing my
eyes over a small gathering of grand trophies that are placed in amongst
unpacked boxes, books and bags, it’s hard to deny that I’ve had a spectacular
season. I have won races I always considered out my limits. I have stood
shocked on podiums, rode stronger and faster than ever before and faintly began
to realise my own potential as a rider not unlike Neo in the Matrix coming to
comprehend the idea of his uniqueness. But I ain’t saving the world, I’m just
riding my bike.
I
don’t feel any different maybe the closest resemblance to this self-declaration
of achievement or winning is like Charlie Sheen defining his personal outlook
as a ‘winner’ on a US talk show. I still feel like Roz who rides the big
heavy Orange Patriot and that’s who I want to be - I still want to have fun riding
my bike and winning well. It’s always comforting to reflect proudly of one’s
efforts and realise that it paid off. There is nothing wrong with having a
grand sense of achievement.
And one last acknowledgement of
what may have been a massive contribution to my development as a rider this
season is the experience and ability to develop methods to remember my line
choices and ride cleaner.
So for now its time to rest and wait for the snow to
come for the off season and I’ll see you guys next year for what I hope will be
a spectacular 2015 season.
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| Podium with Fiona Beattie, 3rd in The Series, Joe Barnes, Senior Male Winner and Rachel Walker 2nd in Senior women. |
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| A well traveled trophy is this one. |
