Busting about XC style

Not having the opportunity to get out on the DH bike recently has forced me to ride the Trance that little bit harder. I'm am becoming concerned about the integrity of the bike as the loose dustiness of my local trails make for some incredible cuttie explosions on cornering! Not sure the wheels were designed for such immediate and localised torsional forces, but edging up the tension of the spokes is keeping them decently straight for the moment!

It seems that on the last couple of rides, I've lost any form that I may previously have written about! I've been attempting to ride harder, as I've mentioned, but for some reason just can't stay on the bike at the moment! Two rides in a row have seen me lose the bike on a few occasions! Out for a cruise with my brother the other day saw me flailing through the air like an aspirin filled seagull! I exploded off the bike as it drew to an immediate halt, which turned out to be resultant of a hidden stump in the lowlying trailside ivy. It was one of those moments where there's no time whatsoever to prepare for impact! Luckily, no injury except for suspected busted finger... possibly just being a pussy!! I've seen the front wheel screaming for traction and failing corner after corner... just can't hold it together!! Today was the same story, having to dab time and again to stay on the trail. Then came the header I took after a 'fully-sick' cuttie attempt in some loose leaves and bark to the side of the trail! Went in a little hard and hooked the front wheel in pretty solid at some speed, and then just glided over the Deus bars once again!! This time a little more solid ground tainted me with some minor battle wounds... but still couldn't ruin the ride!! The crashes were a pisser and being out on the bike amazing!!

A few more XC runs planned for the week ahead of the planned State race this weekend at Mount Beauty! I'm hoping to keep it rubber side down for once!! Doubt it though!! Not to worry. I'm still going to have a laugh!

Kev