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OPINION

Sometimes lucky socks aren't enough

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First race in the 2/3s and it kind of feels like I'm back to square one

I don't really consider these socks to be lucky.

But I was looking forward to wearing them, fresh from Italy, on my first outing in the 2/3s. Which was so brutally short that I didn't even have time to really get them sweaty, so they went straight back in the drawer for next time.

I remember doing my first cat 4 race, back in July last year. And the feeling of the race moving away from me, and being powerless to stop it happening. And so it was once more, on a horrifically windy night up at Odd Down for the first Summer series race which it felt like the Cat 2s had been very much gearing up for. I didn't warm up very well, and I got caught in the wind a bunch of times, and my positioning was poor. Basically, I got everything wrong, and I was spat out in short order and lapped after less than a third of the race. Rubbish. I didn't get my twelve quid's worth.

I know I've come a long way: I've made Cat 3, lost 14kg in weight and I'm generally a fitter and faster rider. It's good to get your arse handed to you by people much faster than you, and be reminded that that's the start of a process rather than the end of one. I've made goals and I've achieved them, no doubt I've taken my foot off the gas a bit. Time to set myself some more, I think. Thanks to Dave for getting me this far, our adventure is not over.

And there's always the 3/4s.

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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4 comments

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Quince | 9 years ago
1 like

Just get some luckier socks.

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Bez | 9 years ago
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May I suggest some Sock Guy "Allez" socks?  3

https://twitter.com/beztweets/status/591319655660265472

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mtbtomo | 9 years ago
0 likes

Yep, know the feeling. Got up to 3rd cat last year on reflection somewhat easily - once the huge fields diminished mid-season it was easier to get points. Now feel like I'm not entirely ready for the pace of 2/3/4s, despite a fair chunk of training over the winter.

Does depend on the course though.

Stick at it.

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notfastenough | 9 years ago
0 likes

I guess this bit happens to everyone. Keep at it.

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