- Right, so it's the next series of videos
of watching me trying to get ready
to race EWS at Finale Enduro.
So it's time to get back to the tape.
I'm at Ard Rock up in Yorkshire, its an Enduro Festival.
also a cross country race here as well.
I am here to try and race.
It's been a while since I've been between the tapes myself.
So it's time to get back,
under a little bit of pressure and test myself out.
I've actually seen the bike that I'm gonna ride
in finale but I'm not gonna be able
to show you guys yet I'm afraid.
But I'm on my Scott Genius today
and it's about 45 kilometers, seven timed enduro stages
So I'll get on.
(electronic reggae music)
Stage one, I'm sweatin' already.
It's quite a climb.
It's quite a hot day actually for Yorkshire as well.
Not nervous to be honest.
Just a good ride out today.
Try and (mumbles) a bit
but not expectin' anything.
Was a good day on the bike.
- [Cameraman] When was your last race?
- Can't remember the last race.
Andes Pacifico was two years ago.
I've done an ebike race, does that count?
That's it.
Although I've done a few in my time,
a few hundred probably.
(laughing)
Hopefully I'll remember what I'm doin'.
(electronic reggae music)
Stay on guard and I'm back racin'.
I said I wasn't nervous
then when I actually got to that first man on the line
I felt a bit of a fluster in the stomach,
so shows I still must care about it.
And so I had a go, I was definitely peddly that one.
That's the first time I've really put any sprint down
in a long time.
Training's been going okay
after not doing a huge amount of it.
But my finish is okay but that's where he showed up.
I haven't got that sprint in me anymore
but relatively all right and no major dramas.
Just tired and cracked on.
Six stages left.
(upbeat reggae music)
(bike peddling)
(cheering)
How long we been riding?
Hour and a half probably?
Got three jels, one with caffeine.
I'll save that for a bit.
Save that for the final stage probably.
So I've had half a bar.
Back on, still a long way at the top.
(upbeat music)
Occasionally I'm just like all right,
put a punch and just smash through it.
Good but we're good.
I feel all right, I feel tired.
But I think everyone's feeling it.
A lot of climbing, the numbers don't really do it justice.
It's all pretty hard work gettin' up.
And around 44k day.
And we've probably only done 20.
It's tiring but it's cool.
It's good to be back racin'.
(upbeat rhythmic music)
(bike peddling)
Proper big rock and it just went flat instantly
carried on for a bit.
It was all right and then it flattened out.
So lost a bit of time.
(upbeat rhythmic music)
Picked a popular spot to fix a puncture.
There must be 50 people at this very moment
doing the same thing.
(electronic music)
(bike peddling)
- [Man Behind Camera] What's goin' on here Neil?
- It's a espresso and lemon drizzle cake, of course, Tom.
This is how I race.
- A lemon drizzle cake.
- Thank you very much.
So I've been out here for five hours, Tom.
Done five stages, two left.
And we've found Boost Coffee Co. at the top of the hill
(bass heavy music)
(bike peddling)
Few blind brows caught me out there.
One went over a bit quick and just dodgy.
Fair old mark there
Just went off line a bit
Went to overtake someone and went through a rock garden
(heavy breathing)
- [Tom] How many to go?
- Last one.
I'm glad of it (laughs).
(organ rock music)
(bike peddling)
(yelling)
That's it, a big day out.
Really enjoyed it.
Good to be back between the tape racing here.
I think there's one thing this reminds me of
is to get good at racing you just got to do a lot of it.
So I think, out of puncture, that's my fault
'cause I went a bit low on pressures.
You just ride different when you're racing
or at least I do.
I ride harder and you make those mistakes
so it's good to do it.
I think I need to do some more and why not?
Really enjoyed it.
I need to do a bit more racing next year.
Right time, let's go have some refreshments.
Well, I enjoyed that. A bit of an average result
but that's not really a big problem.
It's fine, don't mind any more.
I'm over the pro race thing so I'm happy to just have a go.
If you want to see me suffering at another race,
stick around for Superbike Dolomiti
and hit that sub button