It was a tough day out in the Dales in the last of the Nutcracker MTB XC races today. The race HQ was the Dales Bike Centre and the race course was essentially up and down a massive hill. I left the singlespeed at home for this one and I'm glad.

It was kind of old school mountain biking, with some big country climbs across fields, double track, and a bit of singletrack, followed by some steep descents, down loose gravelly banks and some brackeny singletrack with big rocks embedded in it.

Young Mike Thompson came third in his race, despite getting a puncture. Ruth Thompson also punctured on the first lap, but caught me just before she finished her second lap. She'd have no doubt passed me if she hadn't followed a couple of bad line choices I made that had me stalling and Ruth crashing into the back of me. Sorry, Ruth!

Sam Roper was also riding. He was a bit behind Mike when he passed me, but I don't know where he finished. Rob Powell was riding too. He bailed part way round the first lap, after bottling one of the steep, loose descents.  

We also met a potential new member from Scarborough, an ex-rower who easily passed me on the first climb. I think he said his name was Ben. Or maybe Bob. He was riding either Masters or Sport. 

I don't know the results yet, apart from Mike's third place. I was one of the last veterans to ride all three laps, I think. (If you get lapped by your race leader, you stop on the end of the lap you're on.) I was proper knackered at the finish. It was a hard, hard race - much harder physically than, say, the Dalby World Cup course. I missed my 29er too, which I reckon would have been quicker over all that grass. 

Here's my Garmin log. That's right: an average moving speed of just 6.3mph.

Edit: also saw Plumber Dave at the Dales Bike Centre (unless it was Brother Paul - sorry, I've only met you as a pair before!). He'd been out for a big ride in the Dales.