Love Cross at Tweedlove. A great first event.

The Tweed Love bike festival is one of the biggest bike festivals in the UK with a wide range of events taking place over the fortnight. You can participate in the Skinny Tweed sportive, mountain bike races, ride outs, family events etc. The festival this year culminates next weekend with the Enduro World Series coming to Glentress and Innerleithen. This brings riders from all over the world to this small area in the Scottish borders.

This year, since I now live here, I was persuaded to sign up for the Urban Cross race. An inaugural event for Tweedlove and for me. I have never raced on a bike in a competitive environment before and although this was billed as a fun event, which it was, it was still a race and I knew there would be lots of fast and fancy riders taking part.

I have to say I was very nervous as Alistair and I cycled along to Peebles. What was I letting myself in for? I had practiced getting on and off my bike but was still slightly panicky about getting my feet out in time to dismount or indeed forgetting they were clipped in all together! After all it was grass I had practiced on, not tarmac. It was going to hurt if I hit the ground.

As we reached Tweed Green it was good to see some familiar faces and meet some new ones. Everyone was ready for a good event and thankfully it had actually stopped raining. 

A quick recce of the course with my sidekick and coach (Alistair Cyclocross Dow) helped to calm my nerves as he reassured me that it was all rideable and I was capable of getting round in one piece.

The start was a Le Mans style start, which normally wouldn't bother me but getting a slight running injury the previous week meant I was pretty slow over the 50m and was almost last to get to my bike. On the upside it kept me away from all the fast guys.

There was 2 heats and I, along with the other 7/8 ladies were in heat 1. It was first 4 through to the final and first 10 men.

I really didn't know what to expect but once I started cycling I really got into it. 

Once on your bike it was a sprint along the High Street past an army of kids with water pistols, then a downhill  slalom course. Then it was round the corner where you had to jump off and run up a fairly steep set of church steps. Back on the bike, over some sand bags and back onto the High Street and through some hanging tape. Round another corner and down to a loop and more hay bales. At the bottom of the hill you had a few meters to take a deep breathe for a steep climb back up to the High street to do it all again and again and again.

The race was timed over 15 mins + 1 lap and I managed to stay alive round 6 laps. I was grinning from ear to ear when I finished. Hard work had never been so much fun! Then I found out I had to do it all again as I had made it through to the final!!! 

Remarkably I managed another 6 laps and came 3rd. I really couldn't believe it, I think the last time I actually won any sort of prize I was in my teens.

The whole event was extremely well organised and the atmosphere of the crowd, riders and supporters made this a truly fantastic start to my venture into the world of cyclocross. Every minute of the evening was enjoyable.

Slow start.

Through the tape tent.

Vennel and cobbles.

Got to practice my tight turns.

Nicola being awesome.

Steps of pain.

The top.

Whizz!

Chuffed tae bits.

Lovely new friends.

Cold and nervous before final.

Ah hay bales.

3rd place behind the young talent Lucy Grant.

If you can get yourself down here for the festival there is still time, if not check it out next year.

All photos by Ali Dow x

Peace x

My New Love.

It's been a while since I posted but have been busy with various bits and pieces and have just not found the time to sit down and post. So here is a round up, more pics than words probably.

When I first started this blog, it was mainly to give information to friends and family of my year long trip to North America. At that point in time my main sporting focus was rock climbing and hence the name Caroline's climbs and photos. Since returning from that trip the amount of time I have spent climbing has steadily dwindled, I had lost my need and passion to continue at the same intensity, and to be honest I felt kind of lost without it.

I have now thankfully filled that gap in my life again, and as I think I have mentioned before, I have taken up mountain biking.

I love this activity so much and at the moment it is mostly what I do in my spare time. It has the same qualities that climbing used to bring to my life. I love the concentration and focus I need to have in order not to crash. I love the adrenalin rush you get when you complete a difficult route. I love the technical aspects of trying to ride fast and smoothly. I love that you learn every time you ride. I love that it gets me out in the fresh air and to beautiful places. I could go on but I think you get the drift.

I have now been to all 7 Stanes trail centres and this weekend brought it home that sometimes you just lose your head and find it hard to tackle obstacles. Similar, for me at least, when I used to lead climb outside at the start of the season.

Dalbeattie was the centre that managed to break my good spell of mental strength and I got the "fear", which in mountain biking can be dangerous, because it is at those moments that you pull the brake too sharply, take the wrong line etc and things just get messy!

However, I made it round with only one slight tumble but I am now determined to hone my skills further and try my best to keep them fears at bay.

When I've not been biking, I have been running and trying to get into the Pentlands when weather and daylight permits.

Morning Pentland run.

Trail at Aberfoyle.

Running at John Muir Trust Festival.

Running over Pentland hill tops.

Snow biking at Carron Valley.

Hard work but snow much fun!!!

Biking at Newcastleton.

Biking at Glentress.

Rainbow.

Biking at Mabie.

Way home from Dalbeattie.

Single speed fun, sadly not my bike.

I am so glad that I was introduced to this sport, even at my age, because along with all the reasons mentioned earlier it is pure and simply fun.

Peace x 

Mudder Montage.

This is a montage of photos taken by Neil Gall, which I think sums up the day nicely.

Thanks. x

Where did the time go?

Hazel and I looking stunning in 1985!

Over the last few days Hazel and I have spent quite a bit of time together, taking new head shots on Thursday and today, more pictures, but this time for my reportage project. We have been friends for as long as I can remember, and today whilst looking for something else, we came across pictures that had us both in hysterics. The photo above is from 1985 at the back door of Hazels' Mum and Dads house. Hazel was laughing at the clothes she was wearing and how people could have let her go out in her Dads shirt, and pearls! I was laughing at my clothes because I still wear jeans and tee-shirts. I must also apologise for the hole I must have caused in the ozone layer by the over use of hairspray to keep my highly fashionable 80's haircut in place.

 We can not believe where the time has gone, we were looking at the photos and trying to remember what it was like to be the people staring back at us. The funny thing is we don't actually feel much older than the young girls in the picture, we just look older when we look in the mirror. 

Below is a photo of me and an old boyfriend, who shall remain anonymous, at I think my 16th birthday party. I had forgotten all about this party as I don't have photos of this event. I used to love that pink and black shirt, I thought it was extremely trendy!

Oh so young.

I love looking back at old photographs they bring back so many happy memories. I think in this day of digital photography we have to remember to print out our images and not just store them inside our computers. There is something about flicking through a dusty old album that is so magical it is a must for everyone to do from time to time.