III MTB Race of Santa María de los Llanos

Date: March 31, 2012

Time: 16:30

Distance: 38 kms

Saturday 16:30, GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR is ready to ride hard in the III MTB Race of Santa María de los Llanos (Cuenca).

The good economical prizes for the three first classified were enough to concentrate a lot of high level riders.

The race started very fast and we set a group of 15 bikers. I feel really good and I am strong enough to be in the top of the race several times. 8 kilometres later, we are only three riders in the head of the race.

 

One of the riders takes some advantage, so I decide to go faster behind him. I ride in second place, but a few meters behind me is the third one.

In a tricky uphill, I am not able to drive well among several stones and lose some seconds and distance. Now, my position is the third one.

Riding in the third place, I see really near the first and the second one. I decide to ride faster to reach them. There are only 10 kilometres left to finish the race.

Unfortunately, my bike is not behaving well, I have broken a spoke of my rear wheel and it is not as stable as desired. Nevertheless, it is not enough for my ambition to win the race.

However, a bit later I have a “fantastic surprise”, one race coordinator was not precise enough to indicate the correct way and I lost myself. After riding 300 meters, I could join again to the race. The first riders are far away and I feel a bit depressed. I have lost my third place, I was not able to ride to win and I did not know my current place.

I decided to continue riding hard until the end. I did not know my current place, but I was going to fight hard until I finish my race.

After a couple of miles, someone tell me that I ride in the fourth place and I am able to see to the third rider!. It is not time to get depressed, but to ride hard to recover the lost position.

In the last kilometre, I place myself in the third position and I am able to finish in the third position of the main ranking and in the 1^st position of Master 30.

Many thanks to my manager for his race data and for the great photographs.

Coslada MTB Race 2012

Date: March 25, 2012

Time: 11:00

Distance: 15 kms (7 laps to a circuit)

Despite of the daylight saving time, it was not needed to wake up early this MTB-race-weekend. In Coslada (Madrid), my neighbour town, everything was ready for its classical race. The short and tricky circuit was really funny, riding among the trees and narrow paths.

The race was based on 7 laps to the circuit. Every lap consisted in 3 short but hard up hills, 3 fast down hills and a couple of fast tracks to recover energy or to continue riding hard (depending on you).

The last year I achieved a clear victory, but it was going to be more difficult this time. A lot of good bikers in the starting line.

As always, we could also have a nice conversation time with Felipe (CDE Karacol), Iván Damiani (Bicicletas Salchi), David Carrizo, Alberto Wolf, Enrique (Bicis Alcalá).

With no doubt, GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR was going to have a hard race to try to be in the podium. As usually and being faithful with the team style, we were not going to negotiate neither the ambition nor the effort from the beginning till the end.

In the first position of the starting line, the race start very fast (as every race!) and we set a group of 5 bikers. I ride in the 4^th place, but at the end of the first lap I have problems with my front derailleur I lose one place. Fortunately, my mechanical skills were good enough to do not waste too much time. So, I quickly link myself with the head of the race to place in the 2^nd place.

 

The laps are elapsing and I continue riding in the 2^nd place near from the first biker.

In my 4^th lap, I decrease my own pace and the first biker takes some advantage. 30 seconds are the difference between him and me, but GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR never gives up.

 

The encouragement of the audience and data provided by my supporters are the main reason to increase my pace again. I reduce the distance amazingly to finish in the 2^nd place, a couple of seconds after first classified, who knew how to profit from his initial advantage and to deal with the pressure of GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR. Congratulations!

My most sincere thanks go to my parents, sister and Julito who supported me, provided reliable race data and took a lot of photographs. All of them made possible Sunday’s success.

More photographs in the new GARVÍA BIKE gallery
 

Ciudad Real MTB Open: Membrilla

Date: March 18, 2012

Time: 9:30

Distance: 47 kms
 
Sunday 5:00 a.m., it is time to wake up and drive 200 kilometres to Membrilla (Ciudad Real).

Membribike Cycling Club was in charge of organizing the third round of the Ciudad Real MTB Open. 2 laps of a fast circuit with a bit of everything, very entertaining and suitable for all bikers.

As soon as the race start, I place myself at the head to ride hard together with Yago Sardina (Sub23), Sebastián Blanco (Élite), Elías Alonso (Élite) and Enrique Leblic (Master 30). High level bikers for a race in which I would be able to test if my latest training changes have been the correct ones.

Within the first kilometers, the 5 bikers ride alone. Although we ride fast, the pace is comfortable for me.

 

We start the second lap faster than the previous one. Two riders (Yago Sardina and Elías Alonso) decrease their pace, so the other three bikers ride alone to try to get the first position. The pace of the first riders is really high and my heart rate is now set in the “race mode”.

 

I am riding hard and reliable, my heart rate is the correct and I decide to attack. I go far away during some meters, but the other two bikers reach me soon to ride together again.

After a 90 degree turn, we suddenly faced a hard slope to climb and I see how the other two bikers run a couple of meters in front of me. Thus, I have to ride alone against the wind.

Around 1 kilometre to cross the finish line, I see how the other two bikers are more tired than me and decrease their pace, so I decide to start my final effort to try to get the first position.

 

Unfortunately, I had not enough time to reach them and I finished in the third place of the main ranking and in the 2^nd place of Master 30. I have to recognize than I am very proud of this race in which I could have the chance of riding together with ones of the best regional riders.

 

My manager, who knows me very well, was convinced that I would win the race, because I was riding comfortable. However, when you ride with such a good quality riders, a small detail or small error can decide who win the race. It is racing and we like it!

Link to the race ranking
More photographs in the new GARVÍA BIKE gallery

Madrid MTB Open: Villa del Prado

Date: March 11, 2012

Time: 11:00

Distance: 24 kms (4 laps of 6 kms)

After the effort of the day before race, we move to Villa del Prado (Madrid) to take part of the second round of the MTB Madrid Open and to try to improve our 5^th position in the Main Championship Ranking.

Many familiar faces as Brígido Rubio, Felipe Sanchidrían (Karacol Sport), Julián and family (CDEC El Pinchazo), Sergio López and Nacho Vara (Golpe de Pedal), Antonio Matamoros (Bicicletas Salchi) and Javier & Yago Sardina (Rotor Racing & Development Team).

XVII European University race in Madrid

Date: March 10, 2012

Time: 11:00

Distance: 30 kms (3 laps of 10 kms)

Around 200 riders were in the European Madrid University to run in its traditional race.

This is the third time that GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR comes to race. This time, we were stronger and with more experience than the previous years. We will ride hard to be in the top.

Fisaude will take care of our muscles with Kinefis

The Mountain Bike is not only based on neither riding fast and furious nor training hard nor being at 100% percent in every race. Alike other sports, it demands a technical knowledge, a train plan, an adequate nutrition and a appropriate physical health. 

Physiotherapy is helping us every day to prepare and relax our muscles before and after every training and race.

Fisaude is aware about how important in the physiotherapy in our daily lives and in the sports to have a good performance from our muscles.

Ciudad Real MTB Open: La Solana

Date: March 4, 2012

Time: 9:30

Distance: 50 kms 

The day started very soon for GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR racing team. At 5:00 a.m. we were ready to go to La Solana (Ciudad Real) to inaugurate the MTB Open of Ciudad Real.

Nearly 300 participants were there to ride along 50 kilometers. Flat at the beginning, followed by hard and long slopes combined with down hills among loose and sharp stones. The final flat kilometers would be hard enough due to the wind.

The first flat miles were not good enough to attack, so all of us were riding fast (but not furious) until the first and longest up hill. Despite of being in the head of the pack, the group increase the pace, I get distracted a few seconds and I lose my good place. Now, my place was very bad and I was not able to react to the attack. A lot of riders passed me.

My discouragement and pessimism lasted 10 seconds. Checking how the first bikers were moving away, I continue trying to find my own pace until I start to feel better. I pass a lot of riders and move several places forward. It was no time to think in something different than to reach the head of the race.

Although, the first bikers are far, I could see them and … we have just started the race. It seems I have recovered my pace, physical and mental strength.

Riding hard during the up hills and a bit dangerously along the down hills, which are plenty of stones, I reduce the distance.

After the first downhill, I see how Dani Lorca (Master 30 from Bicis Pina) is fixing a puncture. Now, I am riding in the 2^nd place of my category (Master 30), but I cannot decrease the speed and I try to ride faster to achieve my only aim: to be in the top of the race.

My manager and Julián’s father (CDEC El Pinchazo) encourage me to continue riding fast and furious. I am aware of the danger to downhill so fast between the stones that can cause serious damages to my machine without mentioning how easily I can have a puncture.

We are in a race, I am not in the head and there is no time to be conservative. It is true that I ride in the 2^nd place of my category, but this is not enough to discard my only aim.

After a few miles, I join myself with the lead group, but I noticed that one biker has taken some advantage. Keeping my own pace I overtake Sergio López (Máster 40 from Golpe de Pedal) and Carlos García (Máster 30 from Bicis Pina). My aim is the same, but I am now riding in the 1^st position of my category and 500 meters far away from my persecutors.

Unfortunately, I paid the risk during the last downhill and my puncture sealant liquid was not able to fix a small cut in my rear tyre. I lost around two minutes trying to fix the puncture and Sergio López overtook me.

Afterwards, I continue riding in the 1^st place of my category. Once again, I have another puncture, but now it is the turn of the front tyre. In this case, the sealant liquid worked fine and I could cross the finish line as the 1^st Master 30 and with the feeling of having done a great job.

Local TV interview

Master 30 podium

All categories podium

The machine finished in a very bad state; my manager and I had to spend the whole evening fixing it. The rims have suffered a lot during the hard down hills and they need an urgent health check. Fortunately, both my machine and I knew how to fight until the end.

GARVÍA BIKE - CENTRO TIR racing team

Today’s success would not be possible without the encouragements of my supporters and all the sponsors that work together with the team to try to get the best results from the daily training.

eXotic Carbon Quick Release Skewers

This time, the support comes from the United Kingdom: A pair of Super Light CarbonQuick Release Skewers for our Mountain Bike wheels.

Carbon Cycles (eXotic) send a pair of quick release skewers with carbon lever and titanium axle. They are one of the lightest Mountain Bike Quick Release sSkewers due its reduced weight (34 gm. front and 37 gm. rear).

But, not only the weight is important. It bears mentioning its reliability, it stays closed tightly even in the worst riding conditions.

Additionally, the titanium axle provides the rigidity and lightness enough to race with guarantees in every track.

Carbon Cycles (eXotic) is focused in manufacturing high performance carbon, Ti and aluminium components at a very good prices. Their manufacturing process and quality assurance tests are reasons enough for a good buy.

On the other hand, pretty close to Carbon Cycles (eXotic) there is another company that will help us to tune and fix our bike brakes: Disco Brakes.  

Disco Brakes base their activity in the bicycles braking systems. They have a wide range of parts for almost every brand in the market (pads, rotors, washers, bolts and a long list). Their quality has been tested by GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR during the whole 2011 season and the results have been really good.

Both CarbonCycles (eXotic) and Disco Brakes have shared their values of quality and innovation with GARVÍA BIKE – CENTRO TIR to face a hard Mountain Bike season.

Welcome to your MTB racing team!