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Forest Of  Dean - MiniDownhill - 29th January 
Here we go for the second round of MiniDH's FOD-based race series. With just myself representing team Supernova (in new kit no less!), we headed down with a group of friends & some other racers, anticipating a good day out in the woods. Word on the grapevine (which is always buzzing) was that the track to be used was the Corkscrew, a pretty straight-forward affair, starting of with a quick sprint & some corners, into a nice fast tabletop. Clear this, & keep your speed into a fun series of pumps, berms, & small take-off's which were fun going flat out. Next your sent straight across a fire road, with a fast drop into a straight-line of braking bumps, tree stumps & roots. Pick your line here carefully, through a rooty drop, go high to the right to line up for the last main right-hander berm, & you have your eyes on the fire road finish! This was a challenge for many, as you had two ways of going in, low & left, or high & right, but over a kicker that, taken to quick sent you nosediving onto the fire road, with the laser just to your right!! 

Heading off up the hill for our first practice runs, it was apparent there were a lot of racers here ! 335 in total ! This made practice in general run a bit slow, as with the track being so short, it was not a long enough for so many riders on course during practice time. This meant traffic jams whenever there were crashes, & at one point I pulled over (first run down) after being red-flagged, only for 6-8 riders FLY past me, ignoring the flag, & then getting stuck further down .. in total I got only two full runs in, & this, in my opinion was down to many riders actually racing on such a short course, and marshals not being as responsive as they should be. 

Apart from that, everything was spot-on as usual. A massive 79 riders in my (semi) old timers group, I bagged 21st. (oh, with a few more runs down..blah blah !) I seem to be developing a slightly different riding style on my K9, riding with more rearwards weight, making the bike work more & having more confidence in front-end grip than ever before. As everybody would say, all I need to do now is train a bit harder! Looking forward to this weekends race at Rogate ! 
Cristian Tomlinson 

 
Supernova Cycles rider James Wilson sprinted to victory at the end of the E12 race at the third round of the Ludgershall Winter Series in Wiltshire on Saturday.
Wilson, 29 and from Newbury where Supernova Cycles are based, pipped breakaway rival David Creeggan (VC Meudon) by a couple of bike lengths in the sprint for the line, while the bunch came home 24 seconds later after failing to reel in the escapees.
Wilson had tried to escape with team-mate Matt Connor earlier in the race but was pulled back. However, on the fifth lap he successfully managed to break free with Creeggan, 39 and from Ash in Hampshire.
The pair worked well together and held their lead at 20-30 seconds for the remainder of the race, which was run off in cold but calm conditions but on a track which was slightly damp and slippery in places.
“I’m not bad at sprinting and I was reasonably confident going into the finish,” said 1st cat rider Wilson afterwards. “David started the sprint before me, but I was on him quickly and I came round him with about 50 metres to go.
“I’m really pleased to get the win for my sponsor, Cristian Tomlinson of Supernova Cycles, and hopefully we can build on this throughout the season. We’re a new team with four riders at the moment – me and Matt Connor, David Billings and James Wilding.
“I’m mainly going to be targeting National B races, so I’ll be doing the Perfs and the Severn Bridge Road Race next month and take it from there.”
Fourth in round one, Wilson missed the break in round two of the Ludgershall Series but managed to take second in the bunch sprint and was seventh overall.

3/4 Category Race

The supporting race for 3/4 category riders was won by Chippenham and District Wheelers’ Simon Barnes, who won a tight sprint finish after an eventful final circuit.
A crash just outside the top ten on the last lap saw eight riders hit the deck, and held up most of the bunch with only 15 managing to avoid the melee and go on to contest the finish.
Poole Wheelers’ 17-year-old Jordan Wade led out the sprint and looked to have victory in the bag, but 41-year-old Corsham-based rider Barnes just thrust his wheel ahead on the line to win by just a couple of inches.
Truro’s Chris Mattocks (Army Cycling Union) took third spot, the 20-year-old just holding off Craig Wallduck (Univ of Bristol CC) for the final podium place.
Apart from a few cuts and bruises, there were no serious injuries in the crash.
Results:
E/1/2/3:
1 James Wilson (Supernova Cycles) 54:21
2 David Creeggan (VC Meudon) @ same time
3 Patrick Martin (Wyndy Milla-UK Youth) @ 24sec
4 Brian McPherson (unattached)
5 Simon Snowdon (Cadence Cannondale)
6 John Russell (Strada Cycles)
7 Paul Derrick (Strada Cycles)
8 Mark Ottoway (WyndyMilla-UK Youth)
9 Jamie Streather (VC St Raphael)
10 Jason Streather (VC St Raphael) all @ same time

Ludgershall 14/01/12 
Getting up at 6am on a Saturday was a challenge even with the relishing prospect of a grand solo victory later that day. To drive me out of bed I imagined my arms a loft in the air as I effortlessly crossed the finish line after a sublime solo breakaway. That didn’t happen.
This was my first race, my destination? Ludgershall, for the first event in the winter series which is run by the Army Cycling Union. Today I would test myself against other riders and see how my months and months of hard training had paid off (or not paid off).
I loaded up the car with my bike and double checked everything three times, I didn’t want to get there only to realise I had left my shoes back at home. With everything checked I set off to pick up James Wilson, Supernovacycles.co.uk’s team captain. Once we were all loaded we began to drive to Ludgershall. Driving through some very thick fog and -8C temps I wondered what I had got myself into but James kept me distracted with some race advice.
We arrived at Ludgershall and I set up my bike and went to register. ‘We only have 6 spaces left’ the steward shouted. Oh god...was my first venture in to racing going to end before it had began? There were a lot of riders and the organisers eventually decided to split the Cat 3’s and Cat 4’s into separate groups so that everyone could race. The Cat 3’s would have a half a lap handicap. There were well over 45 riders in total which is a fantastic turnout for a winter event.
I did a couple of test laps with James Wilding and the top of the track was covered with thick frost and some ice making it very dangerous to ride. The race start was delayed for about 30 minutes to let the sun peer over the trees onto the shaded part of the course and melt some of the frost away. After a few laps I realised my fingers were already feeling numb...not good, I hadn’t even started yet!
All the riders lined up for the start of the race and we received a safety briefing. First the Cat 3’s were set off on a rolling lap, then, 20 seconds later we were set off on our rolling lap. Once we were back the Cat 3’s were set off about 30/40 seconds ahead of the Cat 4 group. After what seemed an age, we were off! The pace started off slow but all that did was give me a false sense of security. The first corner was still icy and riders hit their brakes going into it...not good...no crashes, however, a few shouts of ‘steady’ and ‘hold your line’ were heard by nervous individuals in the back of the group.
After the first corner a couple of riders jumped and I attempted to stay with them, the pace became fast and furious with several big pace changes over a short period of time. My aim was to stay in the top 10, avoid any crashes and generally have a clearer run at things. The excitement of being in my first race took hold and I accelerated hard, harder than I had wanted. Two or three riders stuck on my tail and I quickly checked myself and slowed the pace after 30 seconds or so.
For the first 3-4 laps the pace changing was frantic as fresh, eager riders took charge and others clung on to them. We could see the Cat 3’s ahead and it felt like we were in a chasing group rather than the ones being chased. I started to realise there were some strong boys in this group.
During the 4th lap and coming up to the icy corner I suddenly noticed a rider trying to come through on my left. I thought to myself that there wasn’t enough space coming into the corner and sure enough he started to drop back. A soon as we entered the corner I heard a scrape and a bang accompanied by lots of swearing. I looked behind me and saw my left-sided friend had lost control
and slammed into the tarmac. He was on his side wiping other riders out left right and centre. He eventually took about 4 or 5 riders with him. Phew, I thought, I’ve avoided the first crash and accelerated to keep with the leading bunch.
About 2/3rds of the way through the race I had generally stayed in the top 4-5 riders most of the time and I felt strong. All of a sudden, someone jumped...I thought he wouldn’t stay away for long and the peloton must have assumed the same and let him go. However, he stayed out for a long period probably 2 laps or so and was closing on the Cat 3 peloton, if he reached that bunch he could easily coast to a win. A couple of guys obviously realised this as well and the pace quickened to sprint speed. I recognised the impending chase as it was unfolding so managed to catch someone’s wheel. Eventually after a lot of hard work the Cat 4 peloton actually caught the Cat 3 bunch! I don’t think that was supposed to happen!
Not wanting to be at the back of a big group of riders I was shouted at by another rider to ‘take us through’ I duly obliged, getting out of my saddle and powering up the right hand side of the bunch, unfortunately I ran out of tarmac and had to fall into the middle of the group. After a couple of more corners I was clear of the main bulk of the peloton and although I was getting very fatigued I was also feeling quite good. I was in a group of about 4/5 riders at the front and riding well but we never really broke free of the pelotons grasp.
All of a sudden I saw the 5 laps to go sign. Everyone got excited and the pace quickened again with a couple of ill timed breakaway attempts which amounted to nothing. 4...3...2.... then 1 lap to go...I felt strong but increasingly tired, I didn’t know how much I had in the tank. I was sitting about 4 riders back, there was a sense that everyone was waiting for someone to make the move...a rider jumped for a break away and I immediately got on his wheel. I looked behind me and there were 2 or 3 riders on my wheel. Jesus, I thought, I am in second place with ¾ of a lap to go!! Visions of my arms a loft might actually come true! Then I felt my legs...intense pain from the massive lactic build up...ouch! I was still holding on to second place and we were coming up to the S shaped section of the track which led into the last corner, all of a sudden the rider in front of me slowed and before I knew it I was pinned in by him and the bunch coming on my right...I fell back behind 10 or so riders by the time we entered the last corner, my race was over, victory impossible. However, because of the mixed 3rd /4th Cat bunch I actually had no idea about my position in the race so coming out of the corner I attempted to sprint...I had nothing left, my legs were done and riders past me left and right...I crossed the line in the bunch.
I had no idea where I came due to the 4th cat group technically lapping the 3rd cat group. I ended up 4th in the out of the 4th category riders, not bad for my first race but I can’t help but feel disappointed about my weak sprint as I feel this is one of the stronger parts of my cycling toolkit.
Regardless of my position I have learned a lot from race. I won’t be going so hard at the beginning next week so that when I get myself into the last ½ a lap I still have some juice left for a hard effort and to unleash my sprint which I know is a very good sprint for a 4th Cat rider. I also learned that I need to be quicker to react to riders flagging in front of me and move off their wheel in order to get a good chance of not getting pinned in by the bunch as well as not blindly following someone who jumps too early and is bound to run out of steam.
 
All in all I though I thoroughly enjoyed my first race and I can’t wait till next week where I will hopefully cross the line in 1st place. 
David Billings 

Astonhill Sunday December 11th 

So here we have round 2 of the new-fangled Winter Series by the guys at http://www.ekhint.co.uk/. With Round 1 done & dusted in far away Glenco, this southern affair was no less wintery ! Luckily not so much in actual rain, which didn't come till the racing was done, but by-eck' it was nipple-hardening cold, and you knew it if you weren't to bothered to get warmed up quickly enough. 

Astonhill is well known to be chalk based, rooty, techy, and always a challenge in the damp. This was obviously a turn-off for some because not that many turned out, although this is a new venture by the guys at Extreme, so I guess it would take a while for word to get round that they actually do put on a great show, with smooth running throughout the day, glitch-free. The track used was the old-school DH3, the last time this course being used at a race (by the Astonhill crew themselves) was back in 2006. Starting out on flat, with a lung-stretching sprint over several table-top jumps, and a few berms, the track drops to the left, and with some decent speed in your wheels, you hit a long fast berm, then a quick left across the fire-road, which shoots you into the woods. From here you keep your speed if your fit enough, through a series of off-camber corners and drops, some of which get bloody tricky at speed, whilst keeping your eyeballs up ahead, you get ready for the first rooty right-hander, and a (no brakes!) drop, again keeping your speed, and into a mega rooty section that was bending left, and leaning (off camber) to the right ! Past this challenge you get shot straight into singletrack (pick your line) covered in braking bumps, a couple of tight turns, and a dash to break the laser .. all fast and furious in the dry, all fast(ish) and butt-clenching in the wet ! (well, slick) 

The other thing Astonhill is known for .. is the push-up! not that bad if you pace yourself, and it always goes quicker with some friendly banter, and after 5-6 practice runs, your's truly had a few tyre dilema's .. my Highrollers clogged up like marmite in a cheesegrator after two runs down, so it was first time out for the spikes.. uncut. (most people cut Maxxis wet-screams down) and I kinda found out why, because the track was not quite wet enough for them to dig-in, and over roots ..well .. "skwirmy" bummer really, I wasn't to used to them, but they felt better than my clogged up Highrollers.. 

I felt OK in practice but found it tough to keep my speed up and ended up pretty far off the pace, I clearly need to race/ride more in the wet to help get my tyres etc more sorted. You never stop learning as they say.  The Masters category only had 8 riders in it, with yours truly finishing 4th. The event attracted some quick riders due to the British Cycling points status, and along with quite a few first time racers, this provided a great mix of talent and fun. The Extreme guys have big plans for next year with more races in both XC and DH, so keep a beady eye on their website for updates and info. The next round is in the legendary Nant G venue, and after that in Cannock Chase. See ya there ! 

http://www.ekhint.co.uk/ 

http://www.rootsandrain.com/race917/2011-dec-11-2011-12-the-winter-series-2-aston-hill/

Cristian Tomlinson