Off to Pippingford Park for SSUK 2011After the promise of dry, dusty and fast trails it absolutely hammered down most of the morning. Which turned the course into a wet, rooty, muddy slip-fest. Which basically meant it rocked.

I found my bike relatively quickly, hidden in plain view at the side of the track, which meant I was out before too many mincers. By the beer stop I’d worked my way up to people managing a similar speed. I heard later that behind me the queues were quite something as people got off and minced at every muddy leaf and blade of grass. There were many riders on the bermed section of the course frankly “wasting the hill”.

Stragglers were asking those of us who could ride the course whether mud tyres would make a difference. Well, they do, but the biggest recommendation would be to just get out and ride more.

Muddy

But no matter, everyone looked like they were having fun – even if it was the sort of relief that it would soon be over, and those that weren’t drank the beer stop dry and just put in a single lap.

In true SSUK fashion, someone won, and the rest of us were all losers. In my case this keeps up a twenty year tradition.

It was good to see “Bleeder” Burman win the egg and spoon race. Especially as the trip was partly inspired by Tym, seeing him turn up at races by bike in the past.

Brighton Big Dog was on my radar as a potential race this year. There are, normally, trains straight through to Brighton from the local station. So it was always feasible to get there by train, race, then ride home. The Ondeder Dog, which means you can race “on spec” is a great idea. It was also a great opportunity to see if riding to the SSUK is going to be a goer.

Due to work on the Thameslink there are no straight through trains at the moment. Which meant a ride across London from St Pancras to London Bridge. Now I’m not doing that in my racer boy lycra. Skinny jeans and an ironic hipster T-shirt are much more appropriate.

545

The atmosphere at the race was nice. Sunny, laid back, plenty of familiar southern faces in shock at seeing a Northerner this far south. Entry was casual, and the amount of freebies on offer – including a free tea and cake with each Ondeder Dog entry – puts bigger races to shame.

I couldn’t be arsed getting changed, so I did my lap in my jeans. A couple of serious lycra clad racers got a surprise in the singletrack when a bloke in jeans caught them up and hugged their rear tyre.

In deference to being in the South when I had my tea after my lap I had it “Vicars”.

I did ponder a second lap but with a three hour journey home just hung around and chilled. Actually sunburnt and stewed. Did I mention that I’ve ridden my horse back from the field to the stables at least twice in these jeans, so they were already waterproof before I started? I had seats all to myself on the trains home :)

This race is definitely in my diary for next year.

Who cares about shopping days to Xmas? It’s days to get 100 miles off-road fit that matter now.