Hurt at the Haigh

Hurt at the Haigh did exactly what it said on the tin I guess - it was at Haigh Hall, Wigan, and it hurt a bit!

Following news of the demise of the excellent Hit the North, I think everyone was looking for an alternative, so when word spread of a new race of a similar 2hr format MTB/CX format - called Hurt at the Haigh - many jumped at the chance.  It soon filled to capacity once entry was on-line, as the urge to fill the mid winter no racing void was obviously a little too much for many people.  170 entrants apparently.  I'm not quite sure all those tuned up on the day but there was still a bumper line up.  

HtN had built a reputation and delivered a real festival of cycling.  Not sure Hurt at the Haigh was quite there in that department, but it's early days, and the well run event will go from strength to strength year on year I'm sure.

The 4 mile long Hurt at the Haigh lap meandered it's way through the mainly wooded park land of Haigh Hall, and was tough going on CX I thought, and perhaps slightly better suited to MTB.  Indeed the winner, Nick Craig, did his winning on a MTB - I know I got to see him lap me three times!  It comprised mainly loamy soils with some muddy grass and metalled tracks.  It proved a test for many bikes, and some dérailleur groaning and gnashing could be heard towards the end!  Mine thankfully survived!  In fact the X-wing was faultless.

I plodded round in my now time honoured fashion and delivered a top 100 finish and solidly within a group of 3 lappers (approx. 15% of the field) so was reasonably content.  HCtB finishing positions:

Paul Nutton        28th

Emma Osenton   64th

Ali Mills              76th

Ben Parkinson    85th

John Parkinson   91st

Steve Cooper     98th (Mechanical)

(I think that is all....)

A glimmer of a more aggressive attacking me did rear its head at one point during the race.  I got stuck in a group and behind some bloke with his bum crack showing through a bizarre mesh panel in the back of their shorts - quite odd and rather alarming!  It was quickly apparent I was not going to be able to spent much time at all sitting staring at a kinky almost fish net tight clad batty crack - as hypnotic as it was - and summoned the last gasps of air from the bowls of my lungs and elbowed my way by!  Much better - and my reward?  A fully lycra'ed backside.

National Cyclo-cross Champs - Derby

Team Here Come the Belgians is for me absolutely all about loving riding, whether it be cross, road, track or mountain bike. And it's definitely not about how fast you ride - there are plenty of elite teams and clubs out there to satisfy that sector of the market.

However, it is worth pointing out that many of us take racing, particularly cross, quite seriously. And some, snuck amongst our midst, are quite good at it.

Both of them are way too modest to post anything themselves - indeed they disguise themselves with other kit whilst racing to draw attention away from from their exploits - but there were two Belgians racing at the forefront of a National Champs last weekend. Whilst they ride officially for other clubs/teams, we will claim them as our own.

Dave Haygarth has been riding at Elite level for many years before succumbing to Vets status this year - top ten 3 Peaks finishes, crit wins in gruff Northern towns, a North West Cyclo-cross League title a few years ago, and long time member of an all conquering Wheelbase Cycles cross team.





Gary Lingard apparently rode for the Gary Fisher mountainbike team in a past life and on a different continent, but of late has been upsetting the established order of Veterans British Cyclocross races in his first season as a Vet.





Dave produced a 'solid' ride on a technical and tricky Nationals course at Derby in the Vets race, just outside the top 10, coming home in 12th.

Gary nearly produced a big upset, spending much of the race in 3rd spot, before a late charge by former professional Chris Young nudged him out to 4th. Too quiet to make a fuss, it is fair to say that the media machine at British Cycling has overlooked Gary all season, favouring the old-guard that have been familiar faces for some time. That will change.

Anyway, congratulations to those two for stellar performances. And we look forward to seeing them off-duty in a Belgians shirt sometime soon.

Tod Cross

Nick, Rich, Mark FM, Alan (Crossjunkie) and Mark Turner chew the fat after a tough Tod race.

They were aided and abetted in various forms by Dave and Phil Haygarth, Andrew McHugh, Steve Cavell, Carl Nelson, Jason Miles, Richard Seipp (see here), Simon Fox and Sunny doing his taptiming thing. Oh and soon to be Belgian and visitor from Dublin, Greg May and his partner Pauline.

Duncan did the artwork for the posters and cunningly didn't ride, and Jo Allen took photos with her spangly new camera.

All in all, I suggest that is a pretty good turn out at a single race, for an outfit that 18 months ago had 2 members. Pat yourself on the back Dunc - it was you that dunnit.

The Cobbles of Doom didn't disappoint and Dave H had a good crack at winning the magnum of Blue Chimay in the Vets. Alan and Rich's end of season celebrity deathmatch was a bit of damp squib as Rich had a technical early on the first lap and dropped significant time to Al who wasted no time in disappearing off. Inconclusive result there - to be revisited at Hit the North?





http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanglebads/sets/72157625738880276/

Race reports and vids here

Happy New Year to all and may 2011 be as Belgian as you wish for.

No longer a bystander

All pics: Dave Haygarth

Finally, after over a month of inactivity due to a viral infection, I managed to race at Bolton. In fact it was here just over a month ago I came to a grinding halt and crawled over the line.
I absolutely loved the course the guys from Horwich had created and flowing in reverse made it feel like it was our first visit of the season.
Freezing temps failed to put people off and over 30 riders started the under 12's. Matt did his usual ride round without a care in the world - so layed back its untrue. But he is growing in confidence and his bike handling skills keep improving.
The best laid plans failed again, as Matt's race seemed to go on for ever leaving me a quick dash back to try to get some warmth back into my body.
I started right at the back as I was really unsure how I would go and I wanted to make sure I had at least a good workout. One thing I did get wrong was the lack of warm layers and as the sun began to set I started to feel really cold, so I wont make that mistake next weekend.
The conditions got worse as riders polished the surface and several corners began to catch riders out and I managed to slip straight into the barriers.
It was good to hear shouts from Matt and Georgia (my eldest) and several others dotted around the course and I really enjoyed being on the bike.

Addition of pics by crossjunkie:

Here Comes Duncan (clearly having too much fun)



There Goes Alan Crossjunkie (clearly taking it too seriously)

Bogging at Boggart

Pic: Ed Rollason - there's a lanky Belgian in there somewhere

We had a crack team of 4 out riding at Boggart Hole Clough, Manchester with Rich Allen and Mark Turner also present but sidelined due to lurgy. Jo Hanglebads was on cake-dishing out duties and surprisingly surrendered her camera to Rich too. We have yet to see the rushes...

Boggart is probably one of the best courses out there in the NW - it mixes rooty singletrack, tarmac blasts, grassy field, a little bit of bog and a brutal tarmac climb that needs to be big-ringed but hurts you if you do. We had a massive 130 starters which required a round and round the field type thing to string us all out. Nick Craig won easily, Duncan and Ric built on their previous outings and fitness for 65th and 30th respectively, and I managed to get clear of the start mayhem to ride strongly into 4th Vet and 19th overall. Spare a thought for Mark Thomson who punctured on the 2nd(?) lap. He saved his energies for the Velodrome later that day though so it wasn't a wasted trip.

And onto a little digression. Whilst we are spoilt here in the North West and Yorkshire by our own Jo's super snapping, there are some professional photographers out there too. Cheryl King has become a Belgian friend over the past few seasons, and like Jo, attends most of our races and in all weathers. Her dramatic and insightful photos have been recently collated in a book Cyclo Cross, which featured both myself and Duncan as well as other regular North West riders. This is a shameless plug really, in the sense that people like Cheryl are out there for the love of the sport and hopefully bringing it to a wider audience. I received some of her photos from a friend as a present and they were most welcome. I urge you to support her and her craft at www.ckingimages.co.uk and http://www.flickr.com/photos/ckingimages/


Anyways, I know Jo won't mind me upstaging her pic wise this time as good though Chery's pics are, she has yet to offer me cake at the end of a race.....

Ric Knowles



Alan D





Dunc




This coming Sunday brings another comedy name venue - Pignut Hill in Northwich. Also a good cross course too. Must be in the name.

Oh I almost forgot. Dunc won the gurning competition. Again. Check out his fine effort captured by Ed Rollason....

Leverhulme Cross, Bolton #1 - NW League

First competitive outing here in Bolton (and over in Leeds too with Rich) for the new kit, including the skinsuit. Tough race, tough conditions.

Appropriately then, your first model is...... Duncan:





Also racing were Mark Turner:






and Richard Knowles.

hit the north... again, only harder

Those slightly scary but fundamentally nice people over at Hit the North are accommodating us competition starved crossers with....... an 8hr version of their hugely successuful 2hr winter race. Yes really.

Here's what they have to say....

Hit the North is back on July 17th.

Entries are now open and places will be limited.
All three previous events have sold out in a matter of days, so you need to get yourselves and your team mates organised and get your entry in!

The entry fee will be £33.33 per person and it is up to you whether you register as a solo, pair or team of 3.

For that you get...
An 8 hour lap based event on a completely new 6-ish mile course on mixed terrain including some bits that would perhaps be better ridden on a mountain bike and some bits that will probably be faster on a cyclocross bike... Oh, and there will be some carrying sections.
Free camping on Saturday 17th. Additional camping is available on Friday 16th July for a fee of £3 per person payable directly to the campsite on arrival.
The usual awesome catering.
Trade stands.
A beer tent with live band and DJ for the after event party.
Electronic timing with a free access site wide wireless network so you can keep tabs on your performance in real time via a phone, pda or laptop.
Toilets and showers (that work).
The usual relaxed atmosphere that HtN seems to create.

So why not sign up?.. It won't kill you.

All proceeds will as usual be donated to local charities and we are being supported by the amazing generosity of JMC IT, Cloversoul Jewellery, Pro-Lite and Ragley Bikes.

Hit the North
17th July 2010
11:00 - 19:00
Giants Seat Campsite, Ringley, Manchester.
M26 1DY

Hopefully we'll see you on July 17th

Go to our website for entry, news as and when it happens, details of preview rides, ask questions and put in a request for the DJ on our forum and maybe some other stuff.
www.hitthenorth.net

Hugs and kisses
Andrew, Simon, Jase and Warren.

Let me also plug and declare an interest in the post race party entertainment - principal accordian player for the Balkan Gypsy Ska-sters 'Nazedrove Houseband' is none other than my old music college pal and fellow Belgian, Winkie Thin.

Having played with diverse luminaries such as Lisa Stansfield and the Halle Orchestra, as well as at my wedding, Winkie seems to have inflitrated this band of merry loons and will doubtless entertain us while the beer tent fills to the sound of dehydrated ectomorphs keeling over after the first pint. Or is that just my likely fate....?

Get entered, get ready and come and Hit the North.

Infomercial over.

Interlude

I've had this vid a couple of weeks but with Al's call to action still fresh I thought it best to let the RVOL post simmer for a while. So here it is the foolishness that was Hit the North....

And I still don't get it.

Chapeau to Al for his podium position...and he even had to fight for it even after the Lantern Rouges had long finished.

Thanks to Simon Fox and son Will for the chance to post it.

Northernism

We fielded a team of 4 at Hit the North 2010 in Phillip's Park, Manchester. It was again billed as cross vs MTB, 2 hrs in length and with over 160 starters and a unique vibe.

Winks arrived with his usual laidback style (aka last minute mechanical issues), Alan and Mark were kitted up to the nines in the van and Dunc was late again. Well nearly, despite the best efforts of his dog Buddy's now legendarily unpredictable bowel movements.

Missing in action were Adam L, on duty somewhere else in the country and Rich who bizarely had decided to go ice climbing. In Italy.

Alan staked a claim at the front of the grid, Winkie in close attendance, whilst Mark and Dunc took up more considered positions midpack.

The course was engrossing and absorbing throughout, particularly so for Winkie who had a heavy altercation with a tree, forcing a DNF and necessitating a trip to A and E for professional twig removal from top lip. Mmmm.


Alan seemed to think it was a race (doesn't he always), despite the protestations of half the mountain bikers there who were clearly out for the craic and to save their legs for another day. So much so that he went off like a scalded cat and held on for 3rd overall.



Mark worked hard to pick the field off after a hampered start and came in 52nd, much improved on his race here last year.



Dunc seemed to have a philosophical contra-temps with the whole concept, and confused, stopped on a tree stump to eat a gel and 'work out what it was all about'. Having put such important questions to rights, and armed with a definitive answer (in his mind at least), he resumed his effort and plugged away to finish a little behind Mark. These artistic creative types..........


All in all, a fun way to end the cross season albeit with a mountain bike race! Further musing on the whole sticky affair here!



Eyes down for road, cobbles and classics from this point on.

Beacon Park Cross

Beacon Park hosted the NW League Final last Sunday - a final fling for part timers and last gasp chance for full time League riders to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory or vica versa........

There was a great course laid out, alternating between fast track and boggy grassland with the odd mudbath section in between to slow things down a bit. Though muddy it was still a fast course and one that didn't favour any particular style of riding. Other than flat out.



Four Belgians contented themselves with personal battles - Rich and Alan, and Dunc and Mark with some close racing in the opening laps.




Jo, resplendent in her new Belgian Supporters Club jacket provided moral support, jacket holding and her best pics yet.




Full flickr pic set here.

Todmorden Revolution Cross

It was minus 3 as we rolled into Todmorden yesterday. Five miles over the hill, in Burnley, Saturdays big dump of snow was untouched by any thaw and we were expecting a war of attrition through a thick covering. Frozen cleats and clogged cassettes were a distinct possibility

It was somewhat surprising then to find the course with a mere dusting of snow but more worringly, large patches of ice all over it.

Warming up was more a case of finding where the worst of the ice was and working out lines to avoid it but the sun was out (at least over the hills above) and there was a race to be had for Rich, Mark and Alan with Jo bravely there in capacity as official team photographer (all photos from Jo unless stated). A separate Vets race was a novelty too (here in the NW) and welcome for us old timers....

Mark broke his chain before the start, only just mended it to take the start and promptly broke it again on the first climb. He redeemed himself with 'Hups' and 'Come on the Belgians' shouts throughout from the sidelines.



Rich followed his New Year resolution, and was much braver than Alan at the ungridded start on the rutted, sheet ice playing fields and was rewarded with a trouble free ride into 11th. It should be remembered that this is a man who regularly ice climbs in Scotland and Norway and therefore has a severely diminished sense of self preservation.



Alan, remembering his currently incapacitated wife and consequent ongoing domestic duties, opted for a more cautious (snail like?)start and enjoyed picking off riders each lap after the chaos subsided, to get 15th, about 20 or 30 seconds behind Rich.



The course was fun and technical, with conditions changing during the race as frozen patches beneath the immediate surface of snow and grass began making their presence known. Valuable though the experience was for boosting confidence at racing on icy surfaces, I am yet to find a bombproof technique for turning 180 degrees round a stake on a sheet of ice.....


The 2 photos above: Joolze Dymond/British Cycling website

Spare a thought and a great big 'Chapeau' for this guy in his tweeds, wellies and on a 3 speed Sturmey Archer geared shopper with almost bald touring tires!

National Trophy, Peel Park, Bradford - pic set

Alan and Gary flew the 'Belgian' flag at the recent National Trophy round in Bradford last Sunday. A fast and flowing course rewarded spectators with all round views and excellent racing over all categories.

Alan rode to a reasonable 33rd in the Vets 40-49, 15 years after his last ride at national level and Gary a very impressive 31st in the Seniors beating some classy sponsored riders, though marks were deducted for wearing his 'other' club kit rather than the appropriate monochrome.

A rowdy pit crew led by Duncan and aided and abetted by Rich and Jo (Forsyth) supported the two of us in spirit though we spared them any real bike washing, relying instead on a steady stream of barracking and back chat to keep us moving along.

Jo 'Hanglebads' was on hand as official photographer to capture the day.......



Oh and the guy presenting prizes in the black gilet and red top is a real Belgian - Mario de Clerc - who used to be reasonably fast on a cross bike if I remember rightly.

Wheelbase Cross photo set

Jo (Hanglebads) has been practising her craft to good effect again....... many thanks.

The Brockholes Breaker

The bike parts industry and local bike shops will have been welcoming yesterdays's NW League race at Brockholes, Windermere - I stopped counting broken rear mechs after about 7........ 1st prize in that particular contest goes to Stuart Reid from Wheelbase who snapped not one but two Dura Ace mechs. Ouch.

Heavy rain in the week followed by a dry day had predictable results on a grassy based course surrounded by trees, much of which left itself on the riders bikes by the time they had finished. It was the worst clean up job I can remember - my 2 bikes were almost totally blocked up, as were the 2 kids bikes. Thanks to Mark's brother-in-law Russell for helping with the kids bikes.


We had Otley Rich, Mark and Crossjunkie Alan racing the Seniors, and the three mini-Belgians Matthew, Jack and Ella in the U12 race. Ella (4) got stuck in the bog and fell over, and disliking the sensation an instant mud pack gave her, decided she had had enough. Matthew lost both shoes at one point but soldiered on, and Birthday boy Jack (here in co-ordinated red, white and black Belgian colours) celebrated with a win in the U10s. Pics above and below: Dave Haygarth.


The bigger boys played hard in the mud, and Uncle John/Oom Johans appeared to be the weapon of choice as other flashier and more exotic cross machines literally ground to a halt and had to be regularly excavated from the coating of mud that had immobilised them.


Jo was on hand to photo the sticky action so look out for photos soon......

Boggart Hole: The good, the bad, the ugly...

The third race for me in this far too short season (I'm loving it, can we make it last longer?) and I saw this race broken down into 3 parts.

The Good.
The course. A little bit of everything for everyone. Wide open sections, field loops, sinewy woodland downhills, off cambers the list goes on. The kind of course you don't really master as you're preoccupied with trying to go faster whilst forgetting to be smooth on each component. Challenging, so much so I wanted to do it again...and again. It's only then do you realise how good it was.

Here Come the Belgians. 5 team members entered, looking good, riding better than good.

The support the team had from the sidelines. Many thanks to everyone who shouted "Here Come the Belgians!" whilst we tried our best. It makes a difference, makes your legs turn over a little quicker... and also made me chuckle every time I heard it.

The midpack gentlemen. Good banter once we were into the racing and a sense of care after a couple of crashes to fellow riders.

The organisation. Hats off to Manchester Wheelers. Sorted course, quick results, photos and a write up, doesn't get better than that.

The Bad.
The course. A small slimy bank with questionable traction to tarmac climb. It sucked but I'm just frustrated I didn't really master it.

My Start. Got to the grid too late, too far to the back and once away was boxed in with no chance of opening the throttle and getting on top of the gear. Maybe I wouldn't have been any further forward with a better start yet you can't help wondering.

My remounts. I wasn't smooth at all. More mental than physical the course had my head in bits.

Pulling my left foot out of the cleat a couple of times every lap. Doesn't really help does it.

The Ugly.
The Course. Off camber tree roots to front end washout dumping me on the ground without ceremony. Took with it the confidence to push on the last lap. A result is better than a DNF and separated shoulders hurt, believe me.

Midpack grumblers. Pass someone into a corner and be mumbled at for racing...eh?

So...
A thoroughly enjoyable race, next stop Wheelbase cross which will debut a new handlebar setup and hopefully a refreshed set of lungs. See you there.

Boggart Hole

Fantastic showing from HCtB yesterday with 5 Belgians lining up on the start line. Plus 3 mini Belgians racing in the under 12's (we need shirts for these budding stars). As we waited for the off it was pleasing to hear people talking about us - who are they? were have they come from? and were did they get the name?? Well at least we are getting people talking!! Just wait until we start doing a full on Columbia High Road style team strategy!

Alan top Belgian home great ride after a rushed morning! Rich best turned out Belgian (it's those shoes).

Top marks to the organisers for a well run event and a great course giving something of everything and really maximising what was on offer. Although their ears might have burnt once or twice on the tarmac climb out of the woods, short sharp climb 90 degree turn onto tarmac it was the only time my griffos lost traction !!!!

Next race for me will be the Lakes RC at Brockhole visitor centre which should be a fantastic course if the surroundings are anything to go by. Lets hope for another good turn out for HCtB and hopefully we have all got over the various levels of cold and flu!!

More Leverhulme Park...

A few more pics of Sunday's race.

Top one courtesy of Dave Haygarth again. Bottom two from Jo (HCtB supporters club) showing either absolute speed and power in effect or the fact it's very hard to focus a camera using a dog as a tripod (or would that be quadropod).

Train hard, Race easy...

Like all good PRO racers I attended my first Majorcan training camp of the season. Unlike all PRO racers my training camp revolved around a Friday night worshipping the mystical Majorcan spirit know as Túnel. I don't know what's in it, but the fact it's green and has bits of plant secreted in the bottle says something about the potent powers of this liquor. Tastes damn good that's all I need to know.

So with a Saturday rest day (some would say repenting) I was all set to race Leverhulme Park, Bolton on Sunday. Or so I thought. I awoke with a time delay upset stomach which didn't seem to have the impetus to leave me. I organised myself with plenty of time to spare (unlike my previous raceday) and with a combination of stomach calming tablets and coca cola was on my way to race.

The journey there had all the hallmarks of a late arrival and missed opportunity. We were hopelessly lost yet still managed to find the spot, sign on, cram a 10 minute warm up on a section of the course, throw a gel (or two) down my throat and get on the start line. Good fortune.

With a large field (120) we were called up according to National/Regional status which left me on the second row, looking at a midpack finish from the off, a place I was happy to occupy.

From the off I thoroughly enjoyed myself, grooved through some sections, remounts were sweet, had to grind through other sections and pretty much rode a flawless yet unimpressive (speed wise) race. Rain half way through the hour caused grass to turn greasy, mud to become tracked out and caution to be had when descending.

On the whole I had a great race, felt a little more powerful, could get the hammer down on some parts of the course yet was floundering on other parts. Many thanks Horwich CC I had great fun.

Race notes.

Gentleman award goes to Luke Beswick who lapped me by announcing his presence on the right then proceeded to thank me as he passed. Thankyou Sir.

I was battling with a Gent over the last few laps, managed to drop him on the last half lap and ride alone to the finish. Yahoo! Unfortunately the rider I was battling with in Northwich swept me up and dropped me immediately. How fortunes change within a few weeks. Boo!

The starter's officiousness broke all our game faces...Yeah that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Photos pilfered from Dave Haygarth here. Dave gave a cheery "Here Come the Belgians" chant as I rode passed - much appreciated. I intended to introduce myself but thought stopping to shake hands a little foolish on the first lap of many.

Thanks to the Belgians fanclub attendees for giving moral support (Jo & dog). The dog's face was a picture as I shouted his name prior to ascending the stairs. Note to self - the breath you just expended shouting your dog was needed after remounting, heck, made me chuckle though.