Merida TransWales MTB event
The Transwales – Flashback Fantastic
Fiona Spotswood (Team What Mountain Bike) - Photos Jon Brooke / 30.08.2006
Flashback: The rush on day 1 of a steep scree slope descent after a sapping slog across a boggy moor up to a rough track. Don’t know where. Wales. That’ll do. The tears streaming and hands tingling after the 60kmh clatter to the bottom, over shards of scree that sound like broken glass. A sound that was to return again and again.
The first campsite; soft mossy mountain-grass interspersed with thistles. Warm weather, warm atmosphere. Lots of cups of tea. Having arrived hours within the cut off, friends were made, chatter and banter shared. Who are you? Where are you from? South Africa? New Zealand? Brighton? Holland? …clickclickclick… HOLLAND? Where do you train?
Flashback: The nerves before the first race stage. Hours to go. What are you wearing? Eating? Taking to drink? What about the ‘p’ word? How technical is it? The RAF are 30 seconds behind me. Suddenly only 5 seconds left. 5… 4… 3… 2… Oh bugger I need a wee… 1… Out of the saddle, arms pulling the handlebars, flying up the hill. Flying, then… aching. Poisened, slow, useless quads. Slowing and slowing and… there goes the RAF.
The afternoon after that first race stage was perfect. Huge, clear skies and dry. Brilliant scree descents again, rolling bracken-sided singletrack and only 35km until a flat campsite with a hot shower, wonderful banter and yet more tea. We had become united in exhilaration. That night saw our first podium appearance and we went to sleep with a warm glow; from the wind, a cheeky beer, the trails and success.
SleepMonsters
