Kate Betts Downhill Report

Rider Report: Kate Betts At the Welsh Downhill Champs

Venue: Mynydd Du

Date: 13 July 2008

Downhiller Kate Betts reports on the Welsh Downhill Championships.

I had heard the various comments about Mynydd Du being one of the hardest courses, especially in the wet. Naively, I kept telling myself that surely it couldn't get any harder than the final round of Caersws and I had lived to tell the tale from that so surely I'd be ok. I was so wrong!!

Having walked the course I was extremely nervous going up for my first run. I waited for most of the others to go down so I wouldn't have anyone on my tale as I ambled down, taking it steady to get a feel for the course. Within seconds of leaving the fire track the track narrowed off and the roots closed in. I managed to stick to my lines and ride cleanly through the narrow lines, through the tree stumps and over the roots. I was surprised how quickly I got to the first fire track and even more surprised to have made it unscathed. I was so nervous my mouth was completely dry as I headed down into the next section. The rocky burn took me to the step down I had seen people have problems with when I walked the course, but fortunately I didn't find it too bad and I rode through managing to stay clipped into my pedals.

My heart was racing as I approached the tree stump section. I wasn't going fast enough to go high over the roots to head straight down the middle but I managed to cut into the middle from the slightly lower line. I thought my problems were over once through this, I felt relieved and confident. I rested at the next fire track before entering the forest to take the first of the drops. I had forgotten that I had to land in the rut and panicked as I did, hit the edge of it and flew over the bars narrowly missing head butting the tree! I didn't want to let it beat me so I straightened my bars and pushed back up to give it another go. I made it and carried on down. Before I knew it, I was heading down the steep, muddy, slippery bank. I made it (still on the bike) to the bottom, I paused on the burm to get my breath before the next drop.

My legs were shaking so much that I could hardly get my feet back onto the pedals to restart! I calmed down a bit, approached the drop but didn't have the speed to even attempt it so took the chicken line around. The single track that followed felt like the fastest part of the track and I sped to the final fire track to cut down into the finishing area. I was so relieved to be down and in one piece. I had a quick drink of Iso-drive and made it back to the uplift truck. Run 2, the track had become more slippery and I went over the bars twice. I decided to put my wet screams back on. (Still can't believe I'm using spikes in July!!)

Run 3, I was happy with my tyre choice and had a cleaner run. Run 4 was a disaster! It was going ok until the root step downs in the top section after the burms. I approached the second drop much too slowly, went off the steepest point and straight over the bars (again!) my bike landed ontop of me and had to be lifted off as I was pinned to the ground. I had bent my back brake lever so riding down the rest was more difficult. I didn't do the jumps as I was pretty shaken up and used my bent lever as an excuse not to attempt them! I hadn't had any problems on the steep slide down but this time I got to the bottom, over steered at the bottom and slid off the side. I then got going for about 2 meters, my pedal hit a tree stump and I went over the bars, slid down the bank and found myself once again pinned underneath my bike. At this point I'd had enough! I just wanted to be at the bottom. I couldn't get my brake fixed in time for the seeding run so called it a day.

Sunday dawned and I was sore everywhere! I didn't know if I'd be able to hold onto the bars as my palm was badly bruised. I decided to go up for a run to see how I felt. As I warmed up, my neck felt better and I didn't hurt so much. I even started to enjoy the course. I took the time to look at some better lines where I'd previously made my mistakes which made me feel much more confident.

Unfortunately the Masters Ladies category only had 2 entrants to start with and Caroline (the other entrant) had an asthma attack so was unable to ride, leaving just me! This meant that all I had to do was start and finish and I had the title of Welsh Master Ladies DH Champion 2008. Not much of a challenge after all! On one had hand I was disappointed, on the other, I was glad I could get down safely without any pressure. I didn't ride too badly, I even over took the man who had gone 30 seconds before me and I got to the bottom with no mishaps and I was proud of a well ridden run.

Having now raced Rheola, Caersws and Mynddu Du, all known to be monster courses, I'm hoping the National Champs next week will not seem so daunting.

Many thanks to Bicycle Doctor for taking care of my bike, Dakine, EAS for my hydration & energy needs, Elite Fitness, Polar and Spy Eyewear for my fab goggles.