Gonna be a short one this, really should have written this ages ago.

The Course

It had been four years since I had last ridden Drumlanrig, as a junior. The course was almost exactly the same as the courses back then, although not continuing around route no.7 for quite so far.

The course basically follows route no.7 for the majority of it’s distance. The amazing rooty descents and steep climbs make it a properly fun course to ride lap after lap.

How’d I do?

Off the startline I felt good, quickly gaining places on the first steep climb. On the next climb I passed Iain Nimmo and went into 4th position. Down the second descent I passed Andy Barlow who had slid out on one of the corners. I did the same a few corners later, and was passed by Andy, Iain and Andrew Cockburn.

James FM went past at warp 9 on the final fireroad section, way too fast for me to get on his wheel. For the next few laps I sat with Cockburn while Barlow pulled out a gap on us. On lap 2 I hit my knee on my stem, apologies to the man and his kid standing at that corner for my cursing out loud.

Lap 4 saw me fall again, this time sliding out on some gravel as I came onto a fireroad. It took me the whole way down the long rooty descent to catch Cockburn. Back onto the fireroad I downed what remained of my coke, and put the hammer down. It was the only time I used my big-ring for the whole race. On the next steep singletrack climb I locked out my forks, and gave it death round the switchbacks to get a decent gap going.

Going into the final lap I had about 10s, definitely not comfortable in case of accidents. I kept the hammer down and caught and passed Barlow on the first climb.

The last lap seemed to go super fast, with me only looking back when the trail doubled back. Luckily I had no trouble, and finished 5th, my best XC result of the year so far.

Hopefully Glentress will be as good.