Review - Continental Race King 2.2 Protection

I'll start with the back story of how I ended up buying the new Continental Race King. I had a few tyres left over in the shed from my year as a bike shop owner. One of these was the old style Conti Race King. The tread didn't look that grippy and it was slightly portly for my race bike. However, about a year ago I needed a tyre at short notice and put it on the back of my fully rigid MTB before heading out on holiday to Holland. (Do you remember when it was possible to go on holiday!?)

It proved to be perfect out there for the billiard table smooth and beautifully maintained cycle tracks. Encouraged, I left it on the bike when I got home and there it stayed all winter. Through the grot and grime of a very soggy new year it proved surprisingly efficient. Come spring the trails dried and grew dusty, much more the intended conditions for this type of tyre. Yes it rolled fast, but rear grip was also good and the largish volume of the 2.2 provided decent comfort. The stand out feature however was that I never had a single puncture in all that time. This is quite astounding. 2000 miles on flinty South Downs paths right through the winter, spring and into the summer. I've never had a tyre last that long on any bike. 

At this point I switched the Race King to my race bike. COVID meant there were no races, but I was getting on with the tyre really well and this was the bike I was now using most often in the glorious  'lock down' summer sun. It wasn't until deep into August, 10 months after I'd first fitted the Race King, that I finally heard that pfft, pfft, pfft noise from the rear tyre. When I checked I wasn't really surprised either. The tread was worn right down; it was time to retire the Race King. I can only remember once or twice binning a tyre because it was actually worn out. Usually they get a sidewall split or big tear in the tread long before the end of their natural life. In summary I had been extremely impressed with the Race King! 

Having not ridden Continenal tyres for years I was now a convert. So when looking at what to replace this great tyre with, I obviously researched the new updated Race King. The design was almost unchanged, a very similar fast rolling tread, but with hopefully a bit more grip (which could only be a good thing). I opted again for the Protection version, just the same as I'd had before.

The tyre arrived and I immediately swapped it for it's older cousin. All was good on the first outing, the fresh rubber definitely adding grip and cornering speed to my ride. Next time out however I got a cut in the center of the tread that just would not seal. I limped home and chalked it down as just one those things. Next ride, another hole and a similar faff with latex before giving up and putting in a tube to get home. 10 months on the previous tyre can't just be down to good fortune. Equally the number of punctures I was now getting was just as extreme, but in exactly the opposite way. I'd estimate I had an issue about every 20 miles over the next few weeks. 

September came and I was on a fast descent, one I ride regularly, when there was suddenly a 'bang' and an instant rear flat. There was latex all over me and the bike and absolutely no hope of fixing the tyre this time. There was an inch long tear in the sidewall.

So the new Race King is in the bin, just 4 weeks after the first. It is far more than a fluke that the previous design lasted for so long without as much as  a slight loss of pressure. Equally I've had enough misfortune with the new design to know I'll never be buying another. Whatever Continental changed has ruined an outstanding tyre.

Gorrick Autumn Equinox Race Report

 

There will only be two races in 2020 for me. Seven months after the first in February, when we had no idea what lay ahead, I was back at the same venue, with a different course and a very different experience.

We were racing in small "bubbles" of riders spread out over the entire weekend. My bubble consisted of only 13 riders and as I looked around before the start it seems I had the group with all the hot shots in it! All the fast boys were here, out of the dozen other riders there wasn't one I was confident I could beat! 

The grid was selected in alphabetical order which I think is something they should always do! It was of negligible benefit in a 3 hour race, but I lined up on the front row! Each position was marked on the ground 2 meters from the next. This wasn't going to be the usual elbows out battle to the first corner!

From my great grid slot I got away in 3rd place heading into the base of the opening climb. I briefly held my own, but then began to drift back through the field over the course of the first lap. I wasn't swamped and barged out of the way, each rider politely asked to come through, carefully picking a wider section of trail to give me space and allowing me to get well out of the way. I lost count of how many had passed me, but I knew I could well be in last position!

The opening lap was 22 minutes which meant I was in for a 7 lap race. With only 13 riders I'd expected a very lonely day once the field spread out, but I kept those ahead in sight; the next two laps the gap hardly changing at all. I could constantly assess the distance in front and compare it to the previous laps as the course snaked backwards and forwards. On the 4th lap the group ahead split and two riders began falling back towards me.

I paced myself for a strong finish and with 2 laps remaining I had closed up on the two ahead. As one took a drink and was struggling to refit his bottle onto his bike, I called out "On your left!" He pulled aside very different to normal racing etiquette where you defend your line for as long as you can!   

Strangely the gap now grew to the other rider, perhaps he was spurred on by my arrival. It was also the flatter, twister section of the course which doesn't suit me as well as the climbs. The track conditions were absolutely perfect. Bone dry with only a couple of loose sections. In one such corner I noticed the rider ahead send a plume of dust up into the air as he slipped slightly offline. At least I knew he was pushing hard and not just coasting away from me. 

Into the final lap, with a final energy gel in my stomach I rocketed past him on the first climb. I realised there was another rider I could catch up ahead so kept pushing hard. I scrabbled past him too with about half a lap to go. He however was now glued to my rear wheel and in this new era of racing I let him back past when he asked. On the flatter section of the course again he put the hammer down. I felt good and stepped on the pedals to prevent the gap opening, but it quickly became apparent I was closer to my physical limits than I had realised. Cramp ravaged my legs and I had to ease back. After a minute or two I had another dig, but by then it was too late.

I finished 11th out of 13. I'd had a really great time, but the result did put a damper on my mood. In February at the first race, a whole year of opportunities awaited. Now all I have to show for 2020 are two disappointing results.  However, when I checked the details of the afternoon race, which was the same category and age of rider; I think I would have finished in the top 5 out of the 19 racers. It looks like I might also have done well in the Sunday afternoon races which were an hour longer and given how I finished may have suited me better. So in a more positive frame of mind I can look forward to next year.

Skills Training

When lockdown first kicked in 6 months ago I started working from home. A morning ride before barricading myself into the home office (bedroom!) became the routine. Without races to train for I started exploring different local trails, reacquainting myself with some old favourites. These were generally more traditional South Downs bridleways. Doubletrack ribbons of white chalk across the grassy hillsides. Great riding and fantastic views!

An opportunity to escape, relax and keep fit, but on the whole these rides weren’t the most technically challenging. OK there were some fast, steep and rutted descents, but not the twisting, rooty singletrack usually encountered at a Gorrick or Southern regional race for example.

As isolating rules were slowly relaxed and I could finally share the trails with my buddies again, I found the gap to the wheel in front often widened to more than 2m social distancing when things got technical! I’d gone soft!

Technical riding has always been my weakness, but by the time I’d wobbled my way to the end of some trails my friends weren’t even in sight! After a particularly embarrassing display one weekend, I made a resolution. At least one ride each week would be around the local singletrack heaven of Whiteways. My hope being that I’d hone my skills on the twisting trails.

The challenge I faced with my plan to get more practice is that during these mid-week rides I’d be on my own. Riding solo I know I don’t push the bike as hard, or ride as fast as I do on a Sunday when I’m spurred on by chasing other wheels. In a group there is of course peer pressure, a testosterone fuelled one-upmanship that doesn’t want to be shown up in front of your mates. There are others to follow, show you what is possible and the best line to take. Also, importantly, in the back of your mind you know that there is somebody there to help pick up the pieces should something go a little wrong!

I selected two Whiteways Strava segments to track my progress. Sections where my friends would normally be casually chatting at the end by the time I eventually showed up! Their best times on Strava were under 2 minutes, while mine was at least 15 seconds further back.

Instead of riding from home, I packed the bike into the back of the car, to make the best use of my time. During the first ride of four repeated runs I got down to around 2.05 on both trails. Importantly though I had built my confidence. I could feel I was faster in corners during my other rides that week. The following week on my first run, with fresh legs, I blitzed the trail. My times under 2 minutes and on the coat tails now of my friends. That Sunday I followed them through one of these sections and was actually held up! I didn’t say anything and later that week I went out covertly to ride the trails again. I won’t mention it too them, but if they do consult Strava one day, they’ll see that I’m now ahead of them and in the top 10 fastest times!

This little challenge has been great motivation and was the perfect competitive training exercise ahead of my first post lockdown race this weekend.

Rock Shox SID SL Ultimate - First impressions

In anticipation of there hopefully being some races later in the year I've completed my planned 2020 bike upgrade. After 4 years flawless service my DT Swiss fork has been replaced with the new Rock Shox SID SL Ultimate.

The DT's were lightweight, but the new SID's take lightness to a whole new level. 1248g after I'd cut the steerer to length!

A suspension fork however is judged more on the performance than the weight. I had my first ride yesterday over to the local singletrack playground at Whiteways. Unfortunately I ripped a tyre sidewall on the way so I had to show a little caution and wasn't able to push the fork as hard as I'd have liked. Despite this I was very surprised to see a number of PR's (personal records) pop up on my Strava feed when I got home. So it seems without even trying the fork was fast!

My initial impression is that it is far more supple that my old DT. Very little initial stiction allows it to smooth out the smaller rough stuff on the trail. On the bigger hits I noticed less of a difference, but this may partly have been because I was trying to nurse the tyre.

I'm about 72kg in my cycling gear and used the Rock Shox app as my starting point for the set-up. I put in just over 100psi and wound the rebound on 7 clicks. Usually it takes me several rides to tune suspension to how I like it, but this felt pretty much spot on and by the end of the ride the O-ring was up at the top of the crown, suggesting I'd made the most of the 100mm of travel.

To be honest I wasn't sure about the blue when I ordered the fork (black was out of stock), but now it's here I'm pleased with the SID signature colour. I've never been one for bikes with the subtle "stealth" look anyway! 

So first impressions: 
It looks good, satisfies my inner weight weenie and makes me faster. I can't wait for the next ride!

What to do when there is no racing?

A month has passed since the Gorrick Spring Classic. At the time the first race of the season was met eagerly, everyone ready to assess their form after the gloomy winter months. Excitement was high in anticipation of the summer of exhilarating racing that lay ahead. Little did we know it would be our only race for who knows how long.


The Corona virus was only something we were vaguely aware was happening in China. Now it has put a stop to all local amateur and professional bike racing across the globe. Bike racing seems irrelevant and unimportant in the grand scheme of things right now.

So what do we do without the focus of racing goals to galvanise us into heading out for another hill rep or interval session? Well ever since the lock down was announced it seems the weather has been brilliant! The days have got longer and the sun has shone. Which means the trails are running perfectly! Fortunately in the UK we are still allowed our one form of daily exercise as long as we maintain a safe social distance from everybody we meet and pass, so we've been able to get out and enjoy those glorious conditions.

I'm working from home, and relieved of school run duties since the kids are home as well. So I've been creeping downstairs early in the morning and getting my ride in before work and Daddy responsibilities kick in! To be honest, lock down and isolation have had their benefits in this respect.

I haven't been "training" just enjoying riding my bike, which hopefully has a similar result. Before lock down I had a new regime of three 'proper' rides a week and I've continued this, but just fill the days between with additional family trailer bike rides and leisurely cruises around the local lanes and trails. Wednesday and Friday are 60 to 90 minute rides of a decent tempo, basically having fun and pushing myself! Sunday is a more steady paced ride, up to 3 hours. The frustration is that I'm unable to share the glorious spring trails with my friends, not able to chase their wheels through the dusty singletrack. Instead I've taken the opportunity to explore some more unfamiliar trails and revisit older routes from my past.

One thing about the current situation is the importance to not put unnecessary strain on the emergency services and from a personal Corona risk perspective avoid hospital! So the rides I've chosen have been less technically challenging, more old school mountain biking on the smooth open bridleways of the South Downs. I've also been taking extra spares and tools with me so if I have a mechanical issue I don't need to force my wife to have to make any unnecessary journeys.

Make the most of the opportunities you have, it's not all bad.

Gorrick Spring Classic

To quote Gorrick themselves "After a couple of false starts due to the weather, it was so good to be running an event again." After such a rubbish winter it felt fantastic to be back in the familiar surroundings of the Gorrick arena waiting for the start of the Veteran Plus race.

Life and work commitments mean I'm not riding anywhere near as I much as I have in the past 10 years. During January and February I've also missed chunks of time in the saddle due to illness and I've been away on a nice family holiday. Around these breaks I have settled into a new weekly cycling regime, based on 3 solid rides a week. So as well as enjoying the buzz of racing, Sunday was also a great chance to assess where my current performance level is at.

As is normal for the Area 51 venue the course was made up almost entirely of singletrack. Great fun to ride, but horrible to race if you're trying to get past the rider ahead. This was immediately evident from the start. We sprinted away, quickly funneling into singlefile. Gaps quickly opened and split the race into groups as quicker riders got trapped behind slower competitors who'd made better starts. This lead to the need for some fairly rude and savage passing manuevers. The air was full of shouts as riders chopped infront of others and the sound of foliage and twigs being broken as people attempted to cut down the inside of corners into gaps that weren't always there!

The first mile of the course opened with repeated short steep climbs, the type I'm usually perfectly suited to. Frustratingly instead of surging up the slopes, all I could do was stay in line and follow those ahead. Even more annoyingly a West Drayton rider swept around the outside of one bend and I had to take avoiding action as he cut back infront of me! We worked our way to the front of the bunch and I got my revenge as he tried to find a way around the slower rider. As they jostled I managed to shoot past them both on the opposite side of the trail! 

I was now able to ride at my own pace much of the time, we just had to wiggle our way past a couple of other riders during the first lap. The guy from West Drayton MBC crossed the line glued to my rear wheel. This is exactly where he stayed for the ENTIRE next lap and the 3rd as well! I think that the narrow course was actually working to my advantage now. For I was aware I was probably stronger on the climbs, but he was frequently buzzing my rear tyre on the decents unable to get by. 

Towards the end of the third lap, with 20 minutes of racing left, I did my best to take on a gel to provide an extra boost in preparation for my push to the line. I chose the straightest section of trail I could, but ended up fiddling around in my pocket for longer than I'd hoped. As a result I had to ride several corners one handed! I wandered around, wobbling off the edge of the trail once or twice. I managed somehow (probably my erratic swerving) to keep my racing shadow behind me. Back in control and fueled up I dug in on the final climb of the lap just to test his legs. The gap opened slightly but he soon closed it down.

Into the final lap I pushed as hard as I could on the early climbs, but my legs were beginning to fade and I had to resort to a little coasting on the decents to recover. As the finishline banner came into sight amongst the trees, I felt my rear tyre being rubbed again several times and twice my challenger got his front wheel halfway alongside me. These may not have even been genuine attempts to pass, he was probably just trying to pressurise me into mistake. I held my nerve making myself as wide a possible and defending the inside line at every bend. Then on the sprint (fast crawl!) up the final slope to the finishing line I finally pulled a few bike lengths ahead. We crossed the line further apart than we'd been for the entire 1hr 30min race!

It had been a great battle, one of the closest I've ever been part of. It was just unfortunate it wasn't for a position higher up the field! I'll admit to being very disappointed with 27th. It answers my initial question about where my fitness currently is. No more challenging for podiums, or even it seems the top 10! Yes I know I am better at the longer formats of racing, but with its hilly profile this course played perfectly to my strengths, so it hurts to finish much nearer the back of the field than the front.

Rock Shox SID Ultimate Carbon - Unboxed

I bought my bike a present for valentine's day! A new fork - the Rock Shox SID Ultimate Carbon. Weights below to keep me happy while I wait for my new boost wheel. 

Brass Monkeys Round 2 - The New Year Hangover

After coming agonisingly close at the previous race I was totally focused on a top 10 finish at round 2 of the Brass Monkeys. I've ridden some tough events but I can't remember hurting myself so hard in a race. I gave it everything from the gun to the flag. After nearly 4hrs of pain and maximum dedication you can imagine my frustration to finish 11th AGAIN!! 🤬 

From the 3rd lap of this 6 lap race I was hurting! All races are tough but I really suffered on Sunday. I definitely went off harder and faster than normal, determined to get that top 10 finish. As the race wore on that early effort definitely of had an impact. Riding hard also gave me less opportunity to take on food and water. For January it was a relatively mild day and I was sweating buckets. I was perhaps wearing slightly too much and I feel in hindsight that I maybe neglected to replace the lost fluids and minerals as well as I perhaps could, skipping a pit stop on lap 1 and lap 2. Despite by then downing 3 bottles some gels and 2 bananas, by lap 4 I was dreaming of the sandwiches in my car!! Crossing the line after 6 laps I could barely talk until I had eaten.

I have a lot of memories of racing at Porridgepot Hill. Including what to this day I would say was my best performance in a race - 2nd at R U Tough Enough in the summer of 2011. It is a great venue and it was fabulous to return after too long an absence. Some of the familiar classics were still there, the twisting descents, the rooty bomb holes and the long sandy climbs.

The weather was spectacularly kind, the sun shining on a bedded in and grippy course. Some of the best trail conditions I can remember at a Brass Monkey event.

You can only race the people who turn up on the day and yesterday there were 10 faster riders than me. I am happy that I gave it my all, leaving nothing in the tank at the line. Perhaps I just wasn't on a good day but I also have to be realistic. Family comes before cycling nowadays and I've been spending less time in the saddle training than I have for many years and it is beginning to show. I'll still be going for it again though, next time at the final round in just 3 weeks.