• Pateley Bridge. Lovely to have a race nestled in the Yorkshire Dales that doesn't involve hauling to the top of some hills. Non-league as its a trophy weekend so the crowds and course were a bit smaller. It still managed to pack a lot into a 4/1/2 minute lap. Off cambers, straight climbs, bank dives, hairpins and a lovely double sandpit that was best done with more entry speed than nerves were comfortable with.

    Rain kicked in half way through which changed the A lines and a lot of sliding ensued. I stuffed a few myself and ended up last in the V40 cat but still beat a couple of Seniors I usually race against so happy to call my not last streak unbroken. Really nice to race against the women and V45+ riders. Feels different when you aren't completely out the back from the first lap.

    Lining up some more running training for Bradford's Peel Park which will host the North of England Champs in December. It makes a reasonable claim at being the best course in the country so if you have any claim to northern-ness in your licence, it's a rare chance to race it without having to enter a trophy or the champs and take a kicking for it.

    Any advice for good 35's tubeless for a claggy, bike killing course? I'm currently praying for a deep, hard freeze that weekend rather than the three hours of bike cleaning that will usually ensue.

  • Any advice for good 35's tubeless for a claggy, bike killing course?

    I know I sound like a stuck record, but the Vittoria Terreno Wet are the best mud tyres I've used - they clear well, are capable in all mud varieties and offer a level of grip that has to be experienced to be believed.

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