Glencoe SDA Scottish Champs

So earlier in the summer I decided to throw myself in the deep end with my racing, and enter the Scottish Champs which took place in Glencoe using the red run. This weekend would teach me a lot about racing downhill and about the level that I have to work towards to be successful in my racing.

A couple of weeks before the race I headed up to Glencoe with coach Sam Flockhart of Xtreme MTB (although this was on an unofficial capacity) to see what I was up against on this trail, after watching several gopro videos of the red run I thought it seemed quite smooth and flat. I was wrong. On my first run down I was rolling at a snails pace, braking hard and leaning in the super super safety position practically sitting on my back wheel. This added to my problems as I struggled to keep control over my front wheel as I had all my weight over the back of the bike.

Lesson No 1: Keep your weight over the front of the bike to keep control.

I arrived at the bottom of the trail feeling ridiculous. How on earth was I going to race if I couldn't even negotiate with the terrain?! I reminded myself that first runs are always awful and the next run would be better, although despite encouragement from Sam I continued to beat myself up about my poor riding. Before we headed up on our next run we bumped into SDA legend and my besto Craig Howie, who joined us on a few runs as well as following me down on a run to let Sam have a blast down on his own.

After a few runs I started letting the brakes go a bit more and tried my best to listen to Sam and push myself over the front of the bike more. I left Glencoe feeling slightly apprehensive about racing in two weeks time.

In that two weeks I became ill, preventing me from training or riding which later impacted on my fitness during the Scottish Champs.

Practice day at Glencoe soon arrived and I have never been so nervous. I seen the queue building up at the chairlift and I realised just how many people I'd be practising with. I was terrified, but determined. Sam who was meant to be racing and practising alongside me was ill so could only support me from our pit in the carpark, this did add slightly to my nerves as I wouldn't have him to encourage me on the run but in a way it made me stronger as I had to cope without him. I got to the top of the chairlift, put on my helmet and got onto the start ramp, the first time I've ever done it and another element that made me nervous, thoughts like "What if I pedal off this and just fall off it?!" started jumping to my mind but after the marshall started chatting to me I relaxed. "Whenever you're ready", I was not near ready but I went for it. The run was a lot drier than when I'd previously ridden it and god it was loose! Knowing other racers would soon be behind me kept me pushing forward.



Photo by Chain Reaction Cycles

Each practice run became easier and less terrifying and speaking to the other female riders made me feel a lot more at ease. Everyone at the SDA was so lovely, I was terrified that the boys would be shouting at me that I was in their way but they were more supportive than I could have imagined. After a few exhausting runs I called it a day and left until the race.

Race day arrived, it was a cold and windy up the top but I felt confident. I gave myself one practice run, enough to see how the track was holding up without exhausting my low energy supplies. I headed up to the top on the chair lift, thinking over every feature I struggled with, the sharp corners, the loose steep sections, trying to remind myself how to overcome these problems.

We arranged ourselves into an order we thought best, I went ahead of two other girls as it was also their first serious downhill race. Before I knew it, I was on the start ramp and the timer was ticking down. I rolled off the ramp and made my way down, my only goal was to get to the bottom in one piece, preferably without crashing. I rode too cautiously and in no time Sophie Nuttal was shouting "rider" from behind me. I let her past then pedalled as hard as I could, I was exhausted and struggling to keep my position strong. After the sharp left corner my chain came off and I knew I had to let off the brakes if I wanted a decent time. I tried to keep the bike flowing down the rest of the track but I just didn't do enough and came into the finish feeling drained and absolutely gutted. I shook the girls hands on the podium and left the ring feeling frustrated and upset with myself for not letting go of the brakes more. Sam and my parents assured me I looked great but I know I could have done better. I had no energy left for the second run and called it a day.


Photo by Ian Porter

Seeing the times the girls were coming through made me realise the standard of female downhill racing and what I have to aim for. I learn a lot from this race and do not regret it for one minute. I met some awesome girls and am now more determined than ever to race the SDA series next season.