The Frozen North

It's nice to have some time off to get out on long mountain bike rides
in the Peak District around Macclesfield, especially when it's not
raining.

There is however, a down side to this super dry riding. It's that it's
so cold my water bottles are freezing as the air temperature is
between -2 and -4 degrees C in the hills. Another more knee wrecking
aspect of the trails is that every where there is a trickle of water
running accross the trail, a super hard layer of ice is forming and
unless you have got spiked tyres you can forget about riding.

I actually like it cold and dry, it's been a wet summer and to be able
to ride in the peak without the need for a full body jet wash is a
much needed change.

Macclesfield SuperCross

It's Christmas time so most of us are eating for Britain and watching far too much TV. Not the case for those who braved the cold but clear conditions to take part in the Macclesfield Supercross held in South Park on Sunday. Macclesfield is the hometown of Patterson Training and we always support this event, helping to put the programme together to raise money for the club, and topping up the prizemoney for the women's event.

Ian Bibby leads Nick Craig up a climb. The pair were untouchable from the start.

The main event saw a classic battle of youth versus experience, with National U23 Champ Ian Bibby (SiS Trek) flying off the startline and putting 100m into the field in the first lap. He didn't have things all his own way however, as seasoned racer and multi-time winnner of this event Nick Craig quickly closed the gap by the second lap. The pair stayed glued together for much of the race, powering up the short climbs and opening up an unassailable gap on the rest of the field. Bibby finally managed to shake Craig off his wheel as the bell rang for the last lap, and dug deep to drive his hard-earned victory home. Craig never stopped chasing but seemed happy enough to cross the line in second, behind the youngster he once coached.

Behind the leading pair, the battle for third place was equally tough, between world-class mountain biker Liam Killeen, (still in Specialized colours but riding a de-badged bike) and Stuart Wearmouth (Picasso Pulman). Wearmouth managed to pull ahead of Killeen a number of times during the race, but Killeen showed his class, timing his effort perfectly for the final lap, and reeling in a weary-looking Wearmouth to take third place.

2007 winner Liam Killeen had to settle for third.

Junior Dan McLay (Univega.co.uk) rode an impressive race, the only Junior to finish on the same lap as the Senior men. He finished fifth overall behind Wearmouth, one lap up on the second-placed Junior Tom Moses (CSS-Cyclesport). Martin Woffindin (Sport City Velo) was third Junior, also one lap down on the Senior men.

In the Senior women's race, sponsored by Patterson Training, Sue Clarke (SiS Trek) was in a class of her own, finishing two laps up on nearest rival Lisa Parsons (Welland Valley CC) in second place. Clarke looked comfortable, finishing 21st overall, catching husband and former Senior race winner Barry Clarke. Third woman home was Carolyn Wright (Horwich CC).

Women's winner Sue Clarke had the race to herself.

Bibby made his break in the later stages of the race.

The Veterans race saw another tough battle between Geoff Giddings (MI Racing) and Noel Clough (Fietsen Tempo), both finishing on the same lap as the Senior men. John Shaw (Zepnat.com RT) was third, one lap down.

The Nimrod youth scramble and U12 racing started the day, with some great riding from the youngsters on a fast and very dry (For cyclo cross events) course. Hugo Robinson (Ipswich BC) was first in ahead of Luke Grivell-Mellor (Mid Shropshire Wheelers) and third place went to Tom Young (Leicestershire RC). First girl was Lucy Garner (Leicester RC) in eighth place some way ahead of Hannah Layland (Sportcity Velo) in 17th position, who was in a close battle for 2nd with Becky Preece (Red Rose Olympic).

Charlotte Broughton (Leicester RC) won the under 12s race, ahead of Leighton Sharman (Liverpool Century) and Matthew Walls (Eastlands Velo). For full results and pics go to macclesfieldwheelers.org.uk.