Like Marmite, Otterspool seems to divide opinion between love and hate. As a mountain biker, I enjoy the twisty woods and roots and I generally do quite well here. It was a lovely sunny day as well, so this was one race I was going to enjoy.
The start was a bit manic, with someone from the front losing a footing on a pedal and shooting backwards. I ended up not far off the front and started slowly battling my way through. I felt good acceleration out of the corners, so could make up places.
Sean Beswick seems to be having a good season and where as last year I was battling and eventually beating him in races, this year he's ahead of me and every race I've been fighting to reach him. This race was no different and lap after lap I dug into a slight lead he had on me. But halfway through, I realised I just didn't have it today. My heart rate dropped, I started to slow and it became a battle of holding on. Place after place dropped as I just didn't have the strength to battle.
I really enjoyed today, but a lack of fitness really showed. At least we didn't have to clean the bikes afterwards...
