Olympic Legacy - Part 1

Like thousands of others my application for tickets to see the 2012 London Olympic mountain bike race was unsuccessful. However, when the venues were announced for this years British National Cross Country Series, the Olympic venue at Hadleigh Farm is Essex was the location for the final round. My entry booked way back in February; I have been eagerly looking forward to this weekend all year.

As August approached I rewatched recordings of the Olympic race. This was a chance to compare myself with the very best in the world. After the course was unveiled at the pre-olympic test event, it rapidly built a reputation for its extremely challenging technical sections and lung busting climbs. Lapping in under 15 minutes, the pros on the tele made it look easy! I couldn't wait to find out for myself. 

My family joined me for the journey up to Essex, probably keen to see what I had excitedly been bleating on about for 6 months. It is actually only the second time my wife has ever come to watch me compete, and I was very appreciative of the support. As if to emphasise the world wide appeal of this race, we shared the glamorous surroundings of the Basildon Premier Inn hotel car park with the Belgium cycling squad. Their mechanic beavering away late into the night, while the riders munched their dinner in the Beefeater restaurant!

Arriving at the course it was just as it had been on the TV. The serpentine man made slate paths chiselled into the green Essex farm land. Within a few hundred yards I learnt the fearsome reputation was also justified. The television coverage just didn't do the course justice. The first boulder strewn section had me off the bike checking for a safe line, and the second had me off the bike altogether! Riding with many familiar faces, together we stopped, assessed and then tumbled! We witnessed a broken collar bone, arm and finger on the short 4 mile lap. I tried the fastest (toughest) 'A' route at each section and although I could probably ride them, the sharp unfriendly looking rocks either side play havoc with the mind as you approach a 2 foot step.

Having practised each section several times and chosen my preferred routes through the boulders I set off for a second lap. I immediately came off leaving some expensive carbon fibre on the Essex hillside. Passing safely, if slowly, through the next section I approached, 'Oak Tree Drop'. A steep rocky drop of 10 metres. I'd cleared it the first time round and confidently launched off the top. Gaining speed on he way down I swept across the final rock. Whether it was bad luck or misjudgment, the impact split the front tyre burping out all the air. I crashed heavily to the ground.

Once some marshalls had swept me off the course I limped back to the arena where a worried Mrs Connor folded my bloodied remains into the car and back to the Premier Inn. I am now propped up in bed, in great discomfort worrying if anything is broken. Will I be able to ride tomorrow? Is this the premature end of my Olympic legacy adventure?