Check this out from the fearless one from the sunny West Midlands...awesome stuff - top result, job well done. Congrats, Nick! 
Blowing My Own Trumpet (Bagpipes)
Practice kicked off at 10am sharp, us
hardtail boys were first off. I set off down the first set of steps, all ok - take it easy first run then come
to the bridge - pretty steep up, wrong gear to start with, so try and change
while cranking up - getting a bit of a cheer for being the first one to try and
ride it. Yeeeeaaaahh... turns to Oooooh as my chain snaps in two. Sh1t. Pick
up the pieces and cruise down the rest of the course chainless.
Quick visit to Si at descent-gear reveals
that I've also taken a chunk out of one of the cogs on my cassette. My choice
of 8-speed means I either take time out to find a halfords and bog standard 8
speed chain and cassette - or purchase new shifter, mech, chain and cassette.
'Fortunately' Si has all the above, gives me a modest discount and the use of
his Park Tools while Caroline hunts and gathers some breakfast.
Second Practice run about 11.30 sees me make
it most of the way down before slipping a foot off a pedal near the bottom of
the last set of steps sending me sliding shoulder first down the cobbles. Sh1t.
"You alright?" "Yep, sweet". Body armour =
a good thing... cruise round the corner to the finish with twisted bars and a
bruised ar5e.
Third practice run - i make it all the way
down with a clean run save for some confusion with new sram trigger shifter...
spin my way over the line after shifing up instead of down.
Seeding comes around - aiming for a good
solid run, all goes well after sprinting up the ramp of the bridge (not tempting
fate by trying to ride it again).. back on the bike at the top ready to shoot
down the other side... next thing i know, I'm face to face with the plyboard
surface. wtf?! Seems I caught a bit of scaffolding with my arm pad swiftly
depositing myself on the deck. Sh1t.
Get up, cane the rest of it and this time
have speed to clear the car jump before crossing the line... Qualify in 9th, 3/4 seconds down from the category
leader.
Quick shower, early dinner catching the end
of elite qualifying then a chilled stroll around Edinburgh's old town and back
up to the Castle Esplanade for 7pm and the start of racing proper. The crowds
are out in force, atmosphere at the start noticeably different, as is the start
itself. With the tourists gone, we have a sprint through the square before
reaching the first set of steps. I manage a good, fast, clean run and hear I'm
in the lead as I cross the line... I'm still in the lead as they start calling
the youth riders... unsure if that means I've won!?
Of course - turns out i had, so hotel,
shower, change, back to catch the elites come down. Amazing atmosphere - bike fans and general public loving it,
shouting , cow bells and air horns... Fancy That Productions Edinburgh division in attendance
I get to stand on a podium for the first time
since sports day 1994, and the very nice people from MTB Direct give me a Solid
Bikes Harlem hardtail frame and some pimp Electric goggles, some girl gives me a
kiss and some minging tyres ( www.sweetskinz.com -
hmmm...), and a dude from Fat Face gives me a t-shirt and a magnum of sparkling
perry, and instructs me to spray it at people while dudes in hi-vis vests take
photos. Result!
Loads of photos on flickr now... just search
for fat face , Edinburgh.
any offers of sponsorship or more free stuff
welcome :)
see you all for a ride on a more forgiving
surface soon i hope... apologies for the essay - blame Wolfe, he asked for
it.
Nick
ps - anyone want to buy new unused hardtail
frame or lovely semi slick tyres? (minor soiling from pear based alcoholic
beverage included)