So Christmas and New years flew past as fast as they arrived and I am back in the office thinking about riding my bike when I should be working. (Some things don’t change)

The 2012 KZN down hill season is set to be a cracker with 10 races planned and 6 different venues. It should be a full year of racing and lots of fun fun fun…..

The local DH scene is also poised for a big year with new teams being formed and everybody getting really syked for some serious racing action. In my age category there have already been 2 injury’s from guys pushing themselves hard and we have not even had our first race!!!

The first race is on 29 January 2012 and is only 3 weeks away.

I had great plans to get fit and ready before the first race and spend lots of time practicing and getting strong…….Well I’m still working on it. My skills on a bike have improved greatly in the year and a half that I have been riding DH and I am riding and jumping stuff that I would not go near before. I am still way off the skill level of many of the DH regulars and those I was on a par with seam to have lifted there game at least as much as I have. Regardless I am keeping aware of not putting too much pressure on myself as I perform best when just having fun.

My season preparation leading up to the first race is as follows:

1.       Get on my DH bike as much as I can. (try 2 after work sessions a week plus 1 day on the weekends)

2.       Make sure my bike is in good working order (Check and clean all pivots, bearings etc. before race 1) (oh, and new break pads too.)

3.       Get onto and learn the track at least the weekend before race no.1

4.       Fiddle with my suspension settings and make sure I am happy with it. (a little, not too much)

5.       Maybe do some sprints, if I can be bothered!!!

If I can do all of the above I should be fighting fit come race day.

So we will have to see how it pans out. As I was told when I entered my first DH race, if you get to the bottom with a huge grin on your face, that is all you need to do.