Conquer the Cliff Aberystwyth
Down the grass and through the 1st gravel corner to long rocky straight to again be stopped dead in my tracks with an almighty head wind this was supposed to be a down hill race with limited pedalling even pushing hard on the pedals it was difficult to get any descent speed.
Aberystwyth Cliff race always promises to be a great event and part of the Aber Cycle Fest, its great for spectators and the short 'different' semi urban track makes for fun racing. The day started with a track walk to scope out the track and look at what lines I would use, the track was very similar to when I raced there a couple of years ago although the foot path seemed much deeper under gravel.
Pre Race
As the morning went on I gave up on the uplift and found it much quicker to push back up to the top managing to get 5 practice runs in before the track closed at 12.30 ready for racing to start at 1pm. Between the end of practice and the start of racing the weather closed in and began raining, which essentially wasn't a problem as the track needed rain to hold the gravel together but it was too little to late as everyone had practiced on a bone dry dusty trail.
Race runs would be completely different on a wet track. This was as I waited for my race run I watched the guys in front go off the start. Which probably wasn't a good idea as I saw quite a few crashes due to the wet conditions which then puts a bit of worry in your mind.
Before I knew it I was sat on the start line listening to the beeps waiting for my green light, the rain had stopped but the track was still wet. In my head I knew roughly the spots to be careful and most likely to be slippy already planning to be cautious through these areas.
Race Run 1
And were off:- cautiously entering the first almost hairpin tight turn onto the wet slippy slabs (hot spot number 1) without incident maybe too cautious but still upright straight off the drop down the greasy grass in to the first of the 90 degree gravel corners. Back on the gas down a long rocky straight through a couple of switchbacks down the first few steps into hot spot number 2 "the wooden bridge" when wet even looking at your brakes will cause you to skid/crash this had started to dry but completely stayed off my brakes entering the nasty narrow steps on a bend maybe a touch too fast and clipped my bars on something on the right possibly the wall but managed to keep her on course and round the corner for a quick burst on the pedals to huck the next batch of steps.
Hugging the grass verge down the foot path to avoid the the loose gravel, stalling out a little on the final couple of flat/off camber gravel corners as the track hairpinned back and forth down the hill onto the final set of steps then coasting round the final slick wet tarmac bend to the finish on the seafront. End of Run 1 result was 3rd place.
Race Run 2
The rain may of stopped and the track was dry but the wind had picked up to galeforce strength. Second runs should be faster with the track being dry but it would all depend on how strong the gusts of wind would be on your race run.
Well the traffic lights may of been on green but I wasn't going anywhere fast, even in my lowest gear I was struggling to pedal away from the start line with the head wind. Turning out of the wind and off the drop luckily unlike a few others not getting blown off course while in the air.
Down the grass and through the 1st gravel corner to long rocky straight to again be stopped dead in my tracks with an almighty head wind this was supposed to be a down hill race with limited pedalling even pushing hard on the pedals it was difficult to get any descent speed. The rest of my run went as I had practiced but just hampered by the wind and very exhausting getting to the bottom to find out with all the effort I had gone 1 second slower than my first race run. End of Run 2 and Overall result was 4th place.
