After what seemed like an eternal wait (it wasn’t actually that long, I’m just rubbish at waiting), I had in my possession a brand new Ellsworth Truth Mk 6 frame, in gorgeous green and complete with a ‘save the rainforest’ tree frog (Do I now count as tree hugger?). I’ve had a good few weeks as I also have just taken delivery of a unique (in the UK) Devinci Leo SL road bike, but that’s a another story for another time…
Ellsworth Truth mk 6
Ellsworth Truth mk 6
The Truth is now a large frame, and fits me better – no more super-long seatposts and sore lower back, so it seemed the ideal opportunity to get out and race it. I’ve not had the best winter fitness wise, and am starting to feel old and slow, but I come off the back of 3 consecutive running pb’s, so I was feeling confident of a decent race.
Paul Jellybike was with me at his first race for a long while, as was Charlie and Irene from the Freeborn/Ellsworth team, the sun was (kind of) shining, it was warm and the warm up lap presented us with a typically high standard of singletrack rich Gorrick lushness.
Finally our turn to start arrived in the Masters category, and I was there on the start talking myself through a lightening first 100 metres to get a good track position into the first bottleneck. The hooter went and about 30 guys shot past me as I yet again failed to nail the start and I had to queue into the singletrack and watch a decent placing disappear with them. Bum.
I managed to settle into a decent rhythm early on and pass 5 or 6 people pretty early on. I was feeling much more comfortable on the new frame and the course was great fun. There was an amusing moment as I went off a drop off, got my shorts hooked on the saddle and couldn’t position for the step up, causing two guys to crash into the back of me and curse. Ha!
As I passed the start/finish at the end of lap 1 I was going well and feeling good, and got the usual great family support, today from Little Daddy, who at 4 is already trying to upstage the old man and ride faster and with more style…
Big Daddy / Little Daddy
Unusually, I found myself with other riders for most of this race – I often seem to fall into gaps and ride on my own, which makes it harder to keep up a pace – but today I was constantly either chasing or being chased. Lap 2 passed uneventfully, and I set out on lap 3, managing to pass another group of guys as I felt strong. The final half lap was great fun, with the pressure on as I chased down a guy in front, and also defended from an ever closing rider. I crossed the line having held my position and having really enjoyed the race, feeling that apart from losing time at the start, I’d maximised my performance. It was a crushing disappointment then to be placed 19th! I’ve definitely slipped into the old and slow half of the Masters age group and seem to be taking Paul with me, who finished 31st. The Freeborn team face saving job went to Charlie in Super Masters who got 7th, and to Irene who bagged 4th in Masters…
Still there’s always a next time and another racing fix to be had!
Team Freeborn / Ellsworth
