I very nearly didn't go to Abergavenny. A creeping cold from wednesday onwards saw me lying low for the following few days. On friday morning I actually typed an email to the event organiser cancelling my place but then something made me hold on. I then watched the women's race at MK again, and decided against sending the email, before riding into work. Felt ok, body and lungs alright, though still a bit congested and bunged up. I'll go and if I feel worse in the morning, well it needn't be the end of the world. Buffetted by strong winds on the M4, drove into the same half way services as Matt W, in good spirits, then passed him again later (he lost use of his windscreen wipers in the gales!). Arrived, checked into a humble hostel and went for some ales. If I was riding I wouldn't be firing on all cylinders anyway! Dinner was a pizza from a take-away in which Matt made a reappearance once more (not for the food, he's a pro!). In the morning rose with a crokey voice and drove over to the course in the dark, met Matt, and did a reccie lap. A good course that we anticipated would only get worse throughout the day. I then returned to bed for an idle morning. After mid day returned to the course with my pit monkey Jason on my second bike. Very attentive he was, though in the end not needed for my race, luckily. Helpful in team Stven however! The weather was good! And the trails had dried out a bit. Gridded fifth row, then off we went. On the first lap I got to around twentieth, a fair start, albeit at full lung capacity. On a good day I like to think I'd have stayed there or more. I then settled near the limits of my strength as throughout the race ones or twos passed by dropping me down into thirty seventh ultimately (or nineteenth in my age group, which sounds a little better
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
). But I enjoyed it, so glad I went! A great course, with a fair few enjoyable corners that took some consideration in getting round efficiently. The back straight was worst with claggy mud taking us into a wind tunnel. Others grumbled about their average races, due to mishaps or handicaps, but on the whole we were lucky with the weather and such a fantastic course and atmosphere! A few more ales in the evening and a decent dinner in 'The Angel' before my throat once again strangled me. Watched the pros from mid day onwards - great! Before hitting the road for a return to dirty old London!