#frankwadelton

[thedevelopmentracing]

Hardcore..... #TheDevelopment's kick ass #MeganHopper is ready for the #Cyclocross & #Gravelcross events, @franktheweldervt take a bow, this is one amazing machine! #FrankTheWelder #Cycling #CX #FrankWadelton @rideworks @hayescomponents @sdgcomponents @envecomposites @bikethomson

[thedevelopmentracing]

2015 National Championship - Llangollen, 18th & 19th July 2015

After the disaster that was the deluged Fort William I was excited to be back out on the bike again as I haven't been riding lately with my little 'un taking up all the 'daddy-time'.  First and foremost I need to do a big shout-out to Paul '#DoASkid' Stoddart for the lifts there and back, you ROCK fella!

The 'Champs this year were at Llangollen where the venue suits me to a T with its super steep terrain, however despite it being dry I was feeling hesitant as it may not have been the best choice to get back into the swing of things!  With that said my FTW beast of a machine failed to disappoint being perfectly at home here on the Welsh hillside handling like a dream. My Hayes brakes and Michelin tyres were all working superbly in the dusty conditions and where other people were having issues they didn't make me #DoASkid once!  (See what I did there, see?! ....I'll get my coat!).

Due to the extremely dry conditions the track was changing with every run, this was by no means a complaint as I was having tons of fun. Think I bust out about seven runs on Saturday becoming more confident with each one.

Mother Nature strikes back..... I was woken up over night to the sound of heavy rain coming down and my heart dropped at the thought of re-learning the track again.  It wasn't so bad in the morning, the track was back to being bone dry however some lines had been completely blown out.  I planned to take some new routes in my seeding run, it was risky but there was little else I could do.

My seeding run went alright, I was consistent and smooth but backed off on the new lines that I was trying out through lack of practising them earlier. I finished mid-pack and knew that there were some seconds to grab on my race run in the tank.

My race run could not have gone better; I hit everything with a little more gas and where I felt myself drifting the bike's handling saved my ass, Frank Wadelton, you are a genius!

I came over the line finishing in15th which I was overjoyed with considering the severe lack of riding time this year. My fitness has come on in leaps and bounds thanks to CrossFit Jacana in Durham.  I also want to the say a big "Thank You" to Lee and the team's sponsors for their support with putting an awesome ride together.

See y'all on the next hill punks!

Nick.

[thedevelopmentracing]

British Downhill Series, Round 5 - Moelfre, 11th & 12th July 2015

The Nelly posse rocked into the sun filled valley of Moelfre for the fifth round of the British National Series on the Friday evening.  After we set up the camp I headed off to walk the track and see how sick it was gonna be.

On Saturday morning the sun was out, we were all stoked up and ready to go, the track was riding sick and so was my Frank The Welder steed.  After smashing seven pinned runs I headed back with no injuries or breakages.

By Sunday morning the dust had thankfully dampened down making the track even faster.  I had a disappointing seeding run where I crashed half way down, I was gutted and knew I had to pull out all the stops in my race run.

Sadly the race run went to pot after I lost a lot of time stalling in a turn and this put me down into 15th, although that isn't too shabby I was hoping for a podium.  That's racing for you.

I had an admission that I won't be at the National Champs, it's the summer break and I will be heading over to Morzine to get the metal down, see you all when I get back.

Nelly.

[thedevelopmentracing]

British Downhill Series, Bala, 28th June 2015

Nelly's here!

Rolled into Bala with my family on Friday afternoon, having never ridden here before and from what other riders had been saying I kinda guessed that I was in for a surprise.  Sure enough after setting up camp I headed up the track and the rumours were confirmed, it looked totally sweet, seemed to flow really well with some sick features thrown in, just as I like them!

Saturday morning and the sun was shining, I couldn't wait to smash some runs down the track. The great weather stayed all day and the bike was riding mint although it took a while to get my lines dialled in I got there eventually.  

After eight runs I called it a day and headed off to wash the bike down.

Awaking on Sunday morning to the pitter patter of rain I realised that it was going to be a wet one, damn!  After riding in the previous day's dust and getting the course nailed down this was horrible and my practice runs were not good.

My seeding didn't go well as I crashed a few times mid-run like a lot of people, the course was a quagmire in parts. With the seeding run out of the way my race run went well, I lost a little time in the woods but crossed the line in 8th place which I was really happy with considering.

Next up is Moelfre, see you all on the mountainside!

Nelly

[thedevelopmentracing]

British Downhill Series Round 2 - Fort William, 16th - 17th May 2015

*Ding Ding* Round 2

Nelly: Fort Bill here we come!  Newrick and his dad had left home at 4am on the Friday morning to make sure he had decent time on the track and I wasn't far behind with my crew. This weekend was going to be turned up a few notches as not only were there international riders competing at the event with the World Cup being here in just a few weeks' time, the adverse weather was also closing in fast.  It was going to be a bumpy ride.

Come Friday evening I was buzzing for race day because let's face it, Frank Wadelton's downhill bikes are simply made for this course, they rail!  Had a chat with my co-pilot Tom Newrick and he'd had an awesome day on the hill despite a puncture earlier on, our practise runs weren't in sync so we didn't get any joint runs in sadly.

Saturday morning Nick turned up and with him the wind and pouring rain, it wasn't looking good.  There was a lot of uncertainty about the gondola running and a lot of riders were holding fire in hope that they would open.  Mother Nature had won this one and sure enough the call was made; it was going to be an old-school style 30-minute push-up to the top of the lower section with the event being run from there.  

As Nick was saying, there's not a lot to practise on that section of track, they'd built up the motorway jumps ready for the World Cup and you had to either go fast and clear the lot or take it cautiously losing time.  The track although short was still fun to ride, some riders were grumbling though and I could see both sides of the coin, it wasn't a good day for the BDS management.

The push-up was knackering after a few rides though, I reckon Newrick had the best idea; get a couple of runs in and then go ride the cross-country route to keep his legs moving! Nick got a few runs in and then headed back to his hotel.  Regardless to the course conditions I was happy with my riding and had it all nicely nailed down.

Race day Sunday arrived with no change in the weather and with just one race run it was going to be all or nothing, I had to keep it pinned..... which sadly I didn't. Mother Nature got the best of me here and I crossed the line in 17th place, not the top ten that I was aiming for. Newrick: I was one of the riders getting fed up with the pushing to the top, it certainly wasn't helping my mood and I was shattered.  My race run was lousy after nearly crashing on the first pointless rut and that was my only shot at it done and dusted, or should I say mud splattered, I took the 25th place in the youths.  

Nick: Fuelled by a massive Full English breakfast I plodded up the hill with everyone else and got a couple of runs in.  One of the main issues was catching people up on the track which made taking the motorway jumps at full pelt sketchy, took it easier with the later runs just to make sure I knew what I was doing come the racing.

The start was catching people out, it was pretty tricky and a lot of riders were coming off, thankfully I stayed on my bike but only just and got the power back on!  The course from there to the motorway jumps is uneventful, under normal conditions with a the full course being used this section is mentally demanding after you've been assaulted by the top of the course.  With this weekend's format it was just, well....!  I got to the motorway which was the only really challenging bit where I hit the hip jump and drifted off my line on landing and although I cleared the step down my landing there wasn't too hot, came in far too fast and to brake hard otherwise I would have hooked up on the next jump and been another victim heading to the local A&E. Mid-way in the Masters with a 17th for me.

Next up are Robyn's Welsh enduro assault at Afan, Jamie's ballet training with the Scottish Downhill Series at Glencoe and then the big bad BDS at Llangollen. You can follow The Development's shenanigans on the team's Facebook page: The Development Racing.

[thedevelopmentracing]

Getting @angelacoates #FTWIndustries #Odysseus built up with @foster3809 ..... #FrankWadelton #FrankTheWelder #MountainBiking #MountainBike #TeamIssue