Scottish Cyclocross Championships

I both improved and retrogressed on my performance in the Scottish CX Champs from last year. In 2014 I was dead last, whereas this time I improved by one position; however last year was a much smaller field, and after two DNFs my finish was 29th, whereas today 7 DNFs put me in 50th. My reign as 29th best cyclocrosser in the land is over.

Points of the day: I had no legs, just nothing, I'm not good on courses with a lot of up and down (I'm not good generally, but when there's a lot of up and down it's even worse); my bottom bracket started playing up ten minutes before the gun, which may or may not have contributed to the horrific chainsuck I suffered whenever putting the power down in the mud meaning I had to run much more than anticipated; I couldn't ride one short section of sand, but could get through the longer section of sand upright; my ability to count was impaired, as I thought I'd only done 4 laps, but the official timers say it was 5; I fell off in a cross race for the first time in three years; I then fell off again to compound matters (when the chainsuck made itself known at the steepest rideable part of the course causing an instant stall).

Weather was constantly windy, but wavered between sunshine and hail, which gave the fortuitous lighting for this shot, and a few others in the long sand section at the same time - sun lighting the riders, but ominous clouds behind.

Great day of riding, spoke properly to a couple of folk I've only actually 'met' online before who were terribly nice indeed, and got mucky on the bike. What's not to like? (save, perhaps, the need for a new bottom bracket, chain, and possibly seatpost).

Late January till the next race. Not sure I'll improve that much in the time...