BlackForest Ultra MTB - Mud edition

Cold and wet edition of the BlackForest Ultra, but still great to have this event back on the calendar after last years absence.

Basler Hobbyfahrer Meisterschaft Gempen Bergzeitfahren

Cyclotour du Leman

Franches-Montagnes

Back to the Loipen

SchlossCross

The inaugural SchlossCross was a great success, well attended in categories for amateurs, masters, elite and the "Jederman" (for everyone who does not hold a license.)
For us, that meant an early 9am start, the ground cold and solid, not yet frozen but still enough to bounce the bike around whenever there was flat field to race over. I cycled out with Ruedy, getting there just in time to join a very long queue at the registration office. This took longer than expected, so by the time we had affixed our numbers, stowed away overcoats and remaining warm clothes, there was no time left for a practice lap. Jeremy and Murray clearly had the better idea here, take the very short train ride early, then warmup on the course. All I had time for was to take a peak down the "mud chute of death" which Frank had warned about, and one look was enough to know I'd be walking/sliding down this section each lap rather than make any attempt to ride it.
Heavy mud, bumps, cambered traverse and generally the steep gradient made the odds of beginners negotiating a successful roll down this chute very small. Around me, everyone was carrying/leaning/dragging their bikes, so tyre choice had nothing to do with this cop out.
Beyond the drop, the course was very straightforward, largely flat across the fields then push/carry the bike up a very steep muddy slope to another section of field before back to the cobbled roads among the brewery buildings. The steep sections of uphill pushing really got my heartbeat up and out of breath.
It was quickly over for us, 25 mins were all we were allowed and I managed 4 * 1.95km laps, I felt like I could have gone another 15mins or so. Instead, we saw the start of the amateurs/masters/U19 event which was a big step up in terms of skill or bravery as the leading riders rode the chute with great skill. Behind them, a mix of one foot walking, bouncing, sliding and then carrying of bikes followed, but all generally faster than our efforts.
Now we were getting cold, and with the elite race not starting until 3pm, I left the race with Jeremy to cycle up the Sunnenberg for the start of a mini tour of the area, discovering many new trails and roads before looping back beside the Rhine to Rheinfelden.
At the top of Sunnenberg is a friendly cafe/restaurant, full of walkers but also moutainbikers. Theres an open log fire for cooking sausages, so I had one of those and a coffee while we warmed up. Nice stop, good views today though the distant alps were not visible.
After a break Jeremy headed east to meet family in Liestal, whilst I discovered new trails to the west. The trails are endless in these parts, I emerged from the forest in Buus and Zuzgen then more forests to Mumpf where I followed the Rhine all the way round to Rheinfelden. I'd taken this Rhine cyclepath before by mistake on my roadbike, its on the map and signed as a bike path but today I was very glad to have a cyclocross bike on this stony route. Not recommended for road tyres. Having said that, I got another pinch flat just when I was very close to Rheinfelden. This was a quick enough change of tyre, but meant that I arrived at the Feldschlossen arena only 2minutes before the elite race started, but thats enough to get one more video with my camera. Was very impressive to see them ride the mud chute, no fear and very few incidents.
So yes, riding bikes in mud and pushing them up and down steep slopes is very silly indeed but also a huge amount of fun. I'm sure this event will strengthen in coming years, it was fun to be part of the very first SchlossCross!

FUQRS #1 - Neuenburg

"Freiburger Umland Querfeldein Renn-Serie" - translates as the Countryside around Freiburg crosscountry race series, but the acronym FUQRS is a catchy title. This weekend saw the first event of the 2014/15 series near Neuenburg, a small town half way between Basel and Freiburg. 
Its only 36km to the north, so I decided to cycle to the start by way of the Rhine island. From just north of Basel to beyond Freiburg is the Rhine canal, shipping passes along the canal and the original river flows in parallel, in between the two is a largely disused thin strip of land. Theres a golf course north of Neuenburg, and hydroelectric stations along the way. Not much else to see, and unless you're wanting to cycle offroad to Neuenurg, it would be a boring route on another day. 
As it was I arrived in plenty of time to check out the course. The series is free and put together by a bike shop in Lorrach called FollowMe and Wolfis bike shop in Heitersheim. Its free, and considered more a practice event for some of the competitors here, but this makes it a relaxed atmosphere and a fun place to test the cross country skills. Of course, when the whistle goes, everyone is riding as fast as they can, so its a fair race in the end. The start requires everyone to place their bikes on the ground, then walk approximately 50m away, from where the real start line is. Then a mad dash to pick up the bikes ensues, and we cycled 40mins plus one lap. The course looped a fishing pond, and was fairly technical which I liked. Some stairs and fallen trees required dismounts as did two short sharp ascents. When the pros lapped me, I was amazed to see the leader jump over the fallen trees, no dismount required!
In the end, I had no idea how many laps I had done, or how far behind the leader I was, and so far have seen no results but it really doesn't matter, it was a fun first cross country race for me. 
Oh, and no mud of course! The long hot October surely must end now, this was one final day of warmth. So after the fantastic cakes and coffee post race, I couldn't possibly cycle back along the Rhine canal. The Blauen was calling, possibly for one final ascent of 2014.
The route was direct as possible from the CX race, through the Badischer vineyards which are in various stages of autumnal colours. Once up the Blauen, I was treated to the best views I've ever had from the Blackforest or the Vosges. The Swiss Alps to the south were remarkably clear with the sun glistening off the glaciers, it was well worth the struggle up! (It still is a struggle on the Boardman CX, as the gearing is far too high.) Of note, the new Roche tower is now visible in the distance, a huge new addition to the Basel landscape.
This seems the best way to tackle Blauen offroad, the last mountain bike attempt took endlessly undulating forest tracks out and back. So the fast route out, quick ascent then enjoying the route to Lipple (with magical spring waterwater) and mainly descent to Endenburg and the Hohe Strasse back home make a great day out. But maybe I couldn't have done it without those homemade cakes.