BDS Round One: Nant G

Nant G is a North Wales venue that's new to the BDS calender this year. The track is a tale of two opposites Out of the gate, it's straight in with steepness, roots, rocks and mud, following a stream for a ways. As it makes its way down the hill, the steepness sticks round and the rocks get bigger. Some sections really wouldn't look out of place at a World Cup. Half way down it's all change, as the focus moves from techy steepness to flat out, flat and pedally, with flyoffs and jumps and a few rocks to spice things up.

British Downhill Series Round 1 Nant Gwrtheyrn from ChrisSeager on Vimeo.

Saturday's practice went OK, with good weather all round. Andy, Adam and Elliot were all sporting their new RGsquadron/ www.readytoridecycles.co.uk jerseys. As the course of the day went on though, news filtered down that Adam had crashed on the first section of the course, and couldn't feel most of his hand! 

A few hours later, He appeared at the bottom, having regained some feeling and starting to rebuild the confidence.

As practice drew to a close, Andy let me know that he had blown his Cane Creek shock, and that there was no one at the event who could fix it! 

Elliot meanwhile made good of practice and was looking very fast through the bottom section, styling it up as he went.

Come race day, the weather had turned for the worse, cold, wet, a filthy track and miserable freezing welsh rain at the top. 

Weather doesn't stop RGsquadron though, and they clawed in some vital wet weather practice before seeding.

During seeding a Junior Identiti rider came off and had to be extracted from the course, meaning seeding had to be cancelled to ensure the race runs would take place in daylight. So, having not seen the course in four or more hours, and with rain steadily falling and the track degrading, our lads hit the course hard.

Elliot put in a stunning performance in his first race in Elite against a field that would be more at home at a World Cup, finishing 31st/40 (2:35)

Andy had a solid run in the competitive Senior class, but was held back by his blown shock and a Steve Peat-esque bobble that meant he stalled for a moment, finishing 12th (2:44) in his category.

Adam meanwhile stormed to a stunning fifth (2:40) in Senior on his first ever race under the RGsquadron banner!  

Whilst the cats were away, Mick and Jim took a first in Vets and a third in Senior at Saturday's RG timing day. A sign of things to come, lots more podiums for all the riders on RGsquadron!

RG Squadron wouldn't be possible without the support of our sponsors/partners:

Ready to Ride Cycles / Works Components

Swinnertons Cycles Forest Centre

The Bike School (Adam Halling)