tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19864073462114078342024-03-06T03:46:58.166+11:00Ride Like A GirlSarah NeumannSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-38299794920851343072016-05-12T19:09:00.001+10:002016-05-12T19:25:34.592+10:00The 56th Grafton to Inverell cycle Classic - considered one of the toughest races on the Australian road race calendar.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdMTmmsTUzyH7dJ-tb32ZeoOI5saDmHNh0RSynvCFSntSzq-xN3DZR7Gm6NCt-_C5Z2Eg_YPXFyLYAvph_UZeuoXlRpDv5H3f0zyr2yVvXhL3w4L5tvfxM0kpBnm74tggx808pd4xtKNc/s1600/G2i_0945-1130-132-%2528ZF-1035-11008-1-002%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>
Following my return to cycling in early December, I decided I needed a training goal. Not one to go small, I looked into the Grafton to Inverell cycle classic, scheduled for May 7th.<br />
<br />
This is a race with a long history, in recent years women haven't been allowed to compete in the full event and have had a separate and much shorter race. However this all changed last year and women were allowed to enter the full 228km even which starts as sea level in Grafton before climbing up the dividing range (Gibraltar range) to a height of almost 1200m and continue over the New England tablelands to Inverell.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZg38VIeBfjug4oKV7yPA8j8nVBwy8N2U8XwyF_RO2q2EYEUbDWlvpZToRVdi33zF7F1tevpxZ6_uwOERrx-Wt1XJUeF3xKoRlbCb_gsc-INOpTFguCHJgQlDLEZrZekkUsg9FCB_cG89/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-05-12+at+19.04.06.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZg38VIeBfjug4oKV7yPA8j8nVBwy8N2U8XwyF_RO2q2EYEUbDWlvpZToRVdi33zF7F1tevpxZ6_uwOERrx-Wt1XJUeF3xKoRlbCb_gsc-INOpTFguCHJgQlDLEZrZekkUsg9FCB_cG89/s640/Screen+Shot+2016-05-12+at+19.04.06.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">G2I race elevation profile</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I knew I would be able to ride the distance, if I could get back to similar fitness as for 3Peaks Falls Creek. However racing this distance is different, and the course has a cut off time which means that you need to complete the race in 8.5 hours or you're forced to retire.<br />
<br />
So I entered, and kept it pretty quiet initially. My training was mostly solo, others who were training for the event were racing A or B grade and while we were riding similar distances the average pace on their rides was too intimidating.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_YQW6jMreFUAQgQERb7QWpijk2Mu7BmX_btKeZH-Yr6sB7DiFpfYeDp7IS0oYkTfjApxnFUGdqgKJRqnETwDjfaFaTLhRdTRasOjPj6NleAS9JjKVyBnJIH7WBVgww9S9qXUcGWz73bN/s1600/1470124_10156806623645220_874438806670568419_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_YQW6jMreFUAQgQERb7QWpijk2Mu7BmX_btKeZH-Yr6sB7DiFpfYeDp7IS0oYkTfjApxnFUGdqgKJRqnETwDjfaFaTLhRdTRasOjPj6NleAS9JjKVyBnJIH7WBVgww9S9qXUcGWz73bN/s400/1470124_10156806623645220_874438806670568419_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing beats a perfect day up the Buff</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I booked myself a training camp at Easter down in Bright, and thoroughly enjoyed 3 perfect days of riding in wonderful weather, building up to a massive day on the 3rd day with 190km up Hotham and Buffalo.<br />
<br />
Tim came back from Seattle in early April and I dragged around a few training rides as well, mostly around the Brisbane area and back of the Gold Coast.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgs-e2sywzqAFs4_SKP3BME5KYIByPqKXpheOjNRiMJyh15YbqHpFB1_i8kQF5B17gj6SBzL0qW-a1i63GycHvahfzUFDByecLnkOpr39x68GVNDH1Lw6CIYvGaRvn5oz_GiYPzpuyxcV/s1600/13015205_10156906443440220_3751707960509404116_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgs-e2sywzqAFs4_SKP3BME5KYIByPqKXpheOjNRiMJyh15YbqHpFB1_i8kQF5B17gj6SBzL0qW-a1i63GycHvahfzUFDByecLnkOpr39x68GVNDH1Lw6CIYvGaRvn5oz_GiYPzpuyxcV/s320/13015205_10156906443440220_3751707960509404116_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim enjoying the hills I found for him :-) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My last big training ride fell on a weekend I was working Saturday and on-call on Sunday. Supposed to be within 30 minutes of the hospital I decided to do a couple of loops from Brisbane and knocked out 221km down to Mt Tambourine then back and up the Goat Track up Mt Nebo. I did almost kill my training partner that ride, which gave me confidence I was riding well.<br />
<br />
Somehow race day came around all too fast, I was super nervous mainly because I felt that I hadn't trained enough in bunch rides. I knew I could ride the distance at my pace, I hadn't practiced the same distance being pushing to ride faster by a strong bunch. But, no more training time - it was race time.<br />
<br />
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Almost 90 entrants lined up for
C-grade, 10 women all started. It was a perfect morning with fog lifting in
time for our start and blue skies, sunshine and only very light winds as we
rolled out of Grafton. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1suSvJpmxy_JCIgonTENrJm3fKDm-zB4b0bEfXcEoYLzduPAny-Jixw3eoJ1GY2Ox7UcKey1z4ThXi709pHpOa5LD2XNjTF2BGCODR93_KtJaa28XHiq7PfAlK9zTHNAxEZrrT8qhj4Tm/s1600/G2i_Start-0945-42-%2528ZF-1035-11008-1-001%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1suSvJpmxy_JCIgonTENrJm3fKDm-zB4b0bEfXcEoYLzduPAny-Jixw3eoJ1GY2Ox7UcKey1z4ThXi709pHpOa5LD2XNjTF2BGCODR93_KtJaa28XHiq7PfAlK9zTHNAxEZrrT8qhj4Tm/s320/G2i_Start-0945-42-%2528ZF-1035-11008-1-001%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Staying well-positioned in a large bunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The moment neutral ended a few boys
went a bit silly, but after sitting at 45km/hr for a little will things calmed
down – well somewhat. I found the bunch pace tough, too tough for my liking
knowing what was to come. This was exactly what I had been scared about, but there was no way I wanted to ride to the base of
Gibraltar range alone so I hurt, and stayed in the group. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A neutral pee-stop was welcome; the She-wee
is now a not-so-secret weapon as I lined up with the boys on the side of the
road while the other girls disappeared into the bushes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdMTmmsTUzyH7dJ-tb32ZeoOI5saDmHNh0RSynvCFSntSzq-xN3DZR7Gm6NCt-_C5Z2Eg_YPXFyLYAvph_UZeuoXlRpDv5H3f0zyr2yVvXhL3w4L5tvfxM0kpBnm74tggx808pd4xtKNc/s1600/G2i_0945-1130-132-%2528ZF-1035-11008-1-002%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdMTmmsTUzyH7dJ-tb32ZeoOI5saDmHNh0RSynvCFSntSzq-xN3DZR7Gm6NCt-_C5Z2Eg_YPXFyLYAvph_UZeuoXlRpDv5H3f0zyr2yVvXhL3w4L5tvfxM0kpBnm74tggx808pd4xtKNc/s320/G2i_0945-1130-132-%2528ZF-1035-11008-1-002%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think the early pace hurt most of the girls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The last 10km to Gibraltar was
definitely hurt locker for me, I think we averaged 35km/hr for that 70km and I
was really looking forward to the climb as I was planning to ride my own pace.I was pretty happy with my riding though, I was generally well positioned within the bunch, only drifting towards the back once we neared the base of the climb. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As soon as we hit the climb I was a
fair way back, but no panicking as I set my tempo and rode within my limits.
Slowly but surely people came back to me and we formed a bunch, I did a lot of
the pace setting up the climb which took us an hour in total. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZAbESAzjVeeRjnqXdKcnqpW9U5jEHlb0wCqqoJUumpW-o7_lkZHxLVVPKYeBFh-FVvXfB47CsXB7Wmmy93MIGw9zOLcNTCe_pv0UhPePRCcgxU0_nfNzfIcRcSZmF_4xPKrsAOSWdAla/s1600/G2i_0945-1130-286-%2528ZF-1035-11008-1-003%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZAbESAzjVeeRjnqXdKcnqpW9U5jEHlb0wCqqoJUumpW-o7_lkZHxLVVPKYeBFh-FVvXfB47CsXB7Wmmy93MIGw9zOLcNTCe_pv0UhPePRCcgxU0_nfNzfIcRcSZmF_4xPKrsAOSWdAla/s400/G2i_0945-1130-286-%2528ZF-1035-11008-1-003%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tapping out the pace with my grupetto up Gibraltar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some old hands in our bunch (including
one bloke who doing it for the 23<sup>rd</sup> time!!!) called the shots –
important to stay together, ride a pace that everyone can manage because we
need each other with another 140km or so to go. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unfortunately not many people in our
bunch were pulling turns, one other girl in the group tried unsuccessfully to
organize people but perhaps some blokes were just hurting too much. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Having only practiced musette feed the
day before in a Grafton side-street, I was pleased to seamlessly get my bag
from feeder who had made the trip from Newcastle just for the race. The home
made bars that were road tested at training camp were all I ate, I had two gels
in total and an emergency Clif bar in my pocket for the whole race but
preferred the home made ones.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAirhuJk0qk9RunZADZkAFikN28ulktw3dYLIGEzdzr5SfmRGIoi7kmUka-bTpWQTfg_yqZHq4_xt4MVEtZqfCJHLuXQ1KHSzzobYMOYpmS5S7pZrrQhWWBFQgtAnlJzvNqhR5GpRYneCE/s1600/feed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAirhuJk0qk9RunZADZkAFikN28ulktw3dYLIGEzdzr5SfmRGIoi7kmUka-bTpWQTfg_yqZHq4_xt4MVEtZqfCJHLuXQ1KHSzzobYMOYpmS5S7pZrrQhWWBFQgtAnlJzvNqhR5GpRYneCE/s320/feed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rolling through a feed zone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unfortunately the first 70km had done
some damage to my legs and those inner thigh cramps that I have only ever had
in the Highland Fling (116km mtb) made a brief showing when I tried to put in a
it more power up a climb. I was super aware of this for the rest of the race,
and held back a little on climbs rather than put myself into spasms.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The second feed was a smooth as the
first, but multiple riders in my group missed or dropped bags in one or other
feed, so there was some bar exchanging and bottle sharing happening until they
could pick up some supplies. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdBKUoWwWqDSc6xHQUsZrw_EoOQ3irP0hwcqmoMnrR_dS-ZOdIy6pZFWSCKMQAB9saGBdbC9bvPE3CmL03renROUlTS6Nyz-D_dpj-3yk5PwN24k3xPbA6rtUN6FMqMhCsXN1jOpWqlR-/s1600/grupetto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdBKUoWwWqDSc6xHQUsZrw_EoOQ3irP0hwcqmoMnrR_dS-ZOdIy6pZFWSCKMQAB9saGBdbC9bvPE3CmL03renROUlTS6Nyz-D_dpj-3yk5PwN24k3xPbA6rtUN6FMqMhCsXN1jOpWqlR-/s400/grupetto.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grupetto at the finish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We started to catch some stragglers
from bunches in front and thankfully some of these guys were happy to work as I
was hurting. Not that I stopped pulling turns though, we just had too many
sitting on for the ride. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just 5km from the finish there is a
hill, nothing steep but I knew my limits and cramp niggles would play a part
and I had to let the bunch go. In doing so I gave up 4<sup>th</sup> place and
settled for 5<sup>th</sup>, but to finish in 7.5 hours and 5<sup>th</sup>
female overall was beyond my expectations. </span></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-8511980331013373152016-05-12T18:55:00.000+10:002016-05-12T18:55:10.181+10:00I do still exist - blog resurrection Well, there has been deafening silence on here for a while .... time for that to change.<br />
<br />
So much to catch up since the last post about the Highland Fling, first of all 3 Peak Falls Creek.<br />
<br />
In February 2015 I finally got to do this event, having been entered the previous year but then sidelined due to surgeries on my arm. It was a fantastic event and I smashed my sub-10 hour goal with a 9.5 hour time.<br />
<br />
The post-event low that followed however wasn't pretty, two weeks after 3 Peaks was the Mont24, where we once again took out mixed 4s - and that was pretty much the last time I rode for a few months.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3eKoFP-r1UupHqXDy9PiLGPVNT9Rr9twL2dea3Jgyo7xtEtZYM3H4BvHse2hD3ZyfTVugTfIeTry7mIvsn0BihQmWuULrKKTbYDy_QPQLLiYuZ2LYykAcUMw2gN51pqquuIrNQ9T9r5w/s1600/11781811_10155965829380220_4841095495413823177_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3eKoFP-r1UupHqXDy9PiLGPVNT9Rr9twL2dea3Jgyo7xtEtZYM3H4BvHse2hD3ZyfTVugTfIeTry7mIvsn0BihQmWuULrKKTbYDy_QPQLLiYuZ2LYykAcUMw2gN51pqquuIrNQ9T9r5w/s320/11781811_10155965829380220_4841095495413823177_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balcony Road </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With a trip to the European climbs on the cards I needed to get fit, so I entered my first 3-day stage race as motivation and slowly dragged myself back to some level of fitness for Battle on the Border at the end of May 2015. I was still a fair way of peak fitness but it was s fun introduction to female road racing and I finished mid-pack in B grade women.<br />
<br />
July and August saw us head to Europe - I can't possibly describe it all here, but it was the most amazing riding experience. The Italian and French Alps following by the Dolomites .... heaven on a bike.<br />
<br />
A few highlights included conquering all three routes up Mont Ventoux in a single day, but it's so hard to single out highlights in a holiday which included riding fantastically beautiful climbs in a region which respects cyclists and has spectacular scenery food and coffee. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXGAcixmA9jUU-NSWNBPKq18AhkcizMN6_u4zSAWCUCfZAApfzcSs9296Me9DgxYbfntFjJDHvy6gH6rhgnNuHpesdPDfdcbC5_nmvCBOrfcJOZNb1UuBikdi7Q_zi1mzvilhYdygifVA/s1600/11709591_10155928267750220_394284150912992249_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXGAcixmA9jUU-NSWNBPKq18AhkcizMN6_u4zSAWCUCfZAApfzcSs9296Me9DgxYbfntFjJDHvy6gH6rhgnNuHpesdPDfdcbC5_nmvCBOrfcJOZNb1UuBikdi7Q_zi1mzvilhYdygifVA/s400/11709591_10155928267750220_394284150912992249_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stelvio</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then again - the post trip low and getting fat and unfit because it was so uninspiring to ride back in Australia after that. Especially when you come back onto evening shift, and bogans throw beer cans (full) at you on the way home... just because. Oh and the fact that paediatric patients generously share all their viruses with you. <br />
<br />
So other another post event/holiday low and one which probably extended well beyond cycling. Looking back I would have say I was struggling with a period of depression, and there wasn't much of life I was enjoying.<br />
<br />
The lack of exercise and upwards trending weight definitely was compounding the issue, I tend to be all or nothing - if I am training well, I eat well, feel well and am happy. When one thing goes downwards, so do they all - lack of exercise is combined with overeating, and eating the wrong foods. I have never been seriously overweight but I can easily gain 10% of my body weight in a short period of time, let's just say despite it being a European riding holiday I put on a whole kilo a week thanks to the croissants, pizza, pasta and gelato. <br />
<br />
Then an interstate move came onto the horizon, and energy was diverted into organising a November move to Brisbane. More time off the bike, fairly high stress levels and add to that the fact that Tim's new role in Brisbane involved an initial 9-month secondment to Seattle, USA.<br />
<br />
So I arrived in Brisbane fat and unfit, but the move was the catalyst which got me back on the bike. It wasn't pretty, it's demoralising coming back from a long period off the bike. Luckily the start aligned and we found the University of QLD cycle club. Although the first group ride of just 60km practically killed my unfit legs.<br />
<br />
Not long after joining I got offered a place on Women's team being put together, and that motivation combined with new and beautiful rides around the Brisbane area finally saw me start to get back to something resembling fitness.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc_CP9A-fN78x_CL6YzEXlSH-YreeUZoojG0OvZt2bHDXQMcem1FBXc_3trkEsAoKyJQbilXhua4GdhDxGQugJ7HXH0QzbFGdMzqT-ew1PGRwHV0759S9NZhmOUOmDPEknnphSKSjmgY5/s1600/12669474_10156607745535220_1065638591281758523_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc_CP9A-fN78x_CL6YzEXlSH-YreeUZoojG0OvZt2bHDXQMcem1FBXc_3trkEsAoKyJQbilXhua4GdhDxGQugJ7HXH0QzbFGdMzqT-ew1PGRwHV0759S9NZhmOUOmDPEknnphSKSjmgY5/s400/12669474_10156607745535220_1065638591281758523_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning session up Mt Nebo are beautiful</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-5487271330216806072014-11-12T22:15:00.001+11:002014-11-12T22:15:26.223+11:00Highland Fling - with a double shot of hills and extra sand <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODa-gUnpptxsMUvwYOAw59lh5IkhcttoKP06Y2VXrlrR8dNpuQB0QxFW_P4eWF0w4MCj-NmaSZZDsJ4xoorpTO6vP2szpgae7kHDImhBJa9-_BSUIm5ZcBvx0r81u-0Jr5ZnfTT9ACKrv/s1600/20x30-HGFD0632.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve raced the Highland Fling for the past four years, and
every year I feel my training and lead up is sub-optimal. Sometimes it’s just
that I’ve been unmotivated and out of training over winter, but last year it
was coming back from the initial injuries of the car incident and this year…
well this year saw me placed in the Emergency Department for prime spring
mountain bike season. This means 24/7 shift rostering so by the time I
requested race weekends off I pretty much had to deal with the rest of the
roster. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So this year my lead into the Fling involved 2 weeks of
night shift, hats off to people who shift work all the time and still get
optimal training in but for me it seems a little a tough. I did keep ride, I
did still commute to night shift by bike (40-60km depending on route) at least
every second shift but I felt that my training lacked intensity and motivation
was hard to come by.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So with my body still in a random time zone we set off for
Bundanoon for what is the toughest marathon event of the NSW calendar. The
weather was forecast to be sunny and mid-20s and even as the bagpiper heralded
sunrise the temperature was mild. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Race briefing alerted us that a few new section of single
track had been included, but did not mention the major course changes which
were to mentally test me for the next six and half hours. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set off and, as usual, I had a crap start.
Maybe I should try this warm-up business but I never seem to be organised or motivated
enough to work it out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wendy Stevenson had given me the low down on the female
field, before she lined up as one of only two women in the 100mile event!
Apparently Briony Mattocks from the open category was the one to watch. Well,
she sailed passed me a few minutes in and wished me a good ride. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After 15 minutes of being passed by beer bellies stuffed
into lycra, my legs started to warm up and I found something of a rhythm – just
in time for the first creek crossing which came right up to my knicks and
filled my shoes with sand and water. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I slowly started passing a few people and soon passed Briony
again before passing Wendy and Larri with Wendy letting me know there were no
other females ahead of me on the road. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXaaKxdNnhZY8yjaOXob5w5htAdR3_j38_osMnd3I4-7yzBOM1JA1Vkpi93zZzBz7EEBQZ63i8mtc_I69bkIucAKCG4GOy66SaBn0caq-mA5l1bjcZQRE1iJGstQBVERwQtfBc_wDe1Rm/s1600/20x30-HGFH0118.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXaaKxdNnhZY8yjaOXob5w5htAdR3_j38_osMnd3I4-7yzBOM1JA1Vkpi93zZzBz7EEBQZ63i8mtc_I69bkIucAKCG4GOy66SaBn0caq-mA5l1bjcZQRE1iJGstQBVERwQtfBc_wDe1Rm/s320/20x30-HGFH0118.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before the going got tough! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was around this point that I started feeling the course
was unfamiliar, we seemed climbing more and grovelling up some steep pinches
which I surely would have remembered. I asked the guys around me and the
consensus seemed to be that the course had changed a lot. This was confirmed as
we entered some newly cut single track, which was sandy and rough – that was a
theme for the day. A new creek crossing appeared and the feed station didn’t
appear where I normally would expect it, based on time and distance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reaching feed station one for the first time, I had a good
10 minutes and several kilometres extra on the clock compared to the previous
year. I figured that must be to account for lost distance later in the course,
and I grabbed my camelback and a new bottle and headed out on stage 2. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qfDAYb8dn9IQE5tdd_awwPqYIYmQL8i2t4b-zcw0cdo5abuL3vo1Rai4XtEqJ5xMinIUX_2bOkJAgliYbZKBx1gFypTKvN0tKuhySRIV-oruPa2aGkCnZq7t4i0vBpLsZ3a2ryC20lzh/s1600/20x30-HGFG0049.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qfDAYb8dn9IQE5tdd_awwPqYIYmQL8i2t4b-zcw0cdo5abuL3vo1Rai4XtEqJ5xMinIUX_2bOkJAgliYbZKBx1gFypTKvN0tKuhySRIV-oruPa2aGkCnZq7t4i0vBpLsZ3a2ryC20lzh/s400/20x30-HGFG0049.jpeg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurting mentally</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By this stage there were a few guys that I kept playing leap
frog with and we worked a little on the fireroad before a short section of
singletrack and some hills saw the group fall apart. At this point the time and
numbers started playing games with head, more sections of singletrack saw my
average speed fall and I soon realised that my estimated finish time of around
5.5 hours was not going to happen. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This started to really play on my mind, not helped by the
fact the elite girls came flying past (having started 15 minutes behind us)
after under 2 hours ride time on my Garmin. I figured I was having a pretty bad
day on the bike and just tried to tick those kilometres off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The trouble was that the kilometres seemed to tick over
painfully slowly. The half way feed station just never seemed to appear, and
the dreaded half way hill still hadn’t appeared at the 55km point. I had this
insane thought that maybe halfway hill had been taken out in the course
revision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At one point we hit a new piece of single track, steep and
bermed down a fern covered hill side – that put a smile on dial for a few
seconds but soon the demons returned and I started thinking about Tim up ahead
with legs super strong from just doing the Croc Trophy. I imagined him
finishing strongly and waiting for me at my expected finish time, wondering
what mechanical had waylaid me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally the mid-point feed station appeared, and a sign
letting us know we were half way. That was demoralising, so much slower than
previous years and I was struggling and I still had the hardest stuff to go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then halfway hill, this year around the 60km point in the
race and we continued straight at the top to lose all the height again and
climb another bastard hill after that. At this point it was getting hot in the
sun too, tired people covered in dust just grovelling up this hill in pain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally I hit the road which leads back to Wingello, my
elapsed time was horrific. I was seriously considering pulling the pin at
Wingello as I teamed up with a bloke I’d been seeing all race to ride the road
section in the wind. Unfortunately he didn’t have the legs to pull a turn into
the wind, and once we turned the corner into the more sheltered section I didn’t
have the legs to sit on his wheel but somehow we made it to outskirts of
Wingello.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At that point, Briony Mattocks came steaming past in a train
of about 7 riders. Talk about nail in the coffin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODa-gUnpptxsMUvwYOAw59lh5IkhcttoKP06Y2VXrlrR8dNpuQB0QxFW_P4eWF0w4MCj-NmaSZZDsJ4xoorpTO6vP2szpgae7kHDImhBJa9-_BSUIm5ZcBvx0r81u-0Jr5ZnfTT9ACKrv/s1600/20x30-HGFD0632.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODa-gUnpptxsMUvwYOAw59lh5IkhcttoKP06Y2VXrlrR8dNpuQB0QxFW_P4eWF0w4MCj-NmaSZZDsJ4xoorpTO6vP2szpgae7kHDImhBJa9-_BSUIm5ZcBvx0r81u-0Jr5ZnfTT9ACKrv/s400/20x30-HGFD0632.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That feed station stop was somewhat disorganised, and I
wasted almost 2 minutes of race time as I phaffed around. In the end I rolled
out over the timing back with a fresh bottle, leaving my empty camelback behind.
I did seriously consider the sealed road back to Bundanoon – especially knowing
what was to come – but somehow I rolled out onto the final stage. Briony was
out of sight up the road and I was riding alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again the course was completely different, new sections of
sandy track through the local golf course replaced some of the sections
familiar from the previous 3 years as we left Wingello before we had sections
of familiar track reappeared. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last 20km of the course is tough, every year I get
cramps in this section even though I never cramp in any other event. Sure
enough I steep fire trail hill brought on the familiar feeling in my left
adducters, twitch, twitch and then spasm! This was earlier than in previous
years and my mood sank even lower as I walked up the hill. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoVZM5wEwi0bjLka5MP6w5ktyIt6KT94FhDrb0tqfuMd7nLvwE5F5JNLfE_ETnmvqcA4sS6te4RJZCyOoiED5Lim_kb0tqgpqMkft8lzvTNDIO0WeQ6BfDjK2SQj6M72t4GVmeb0dMGLE/s1600/20x30-HGFE0683.jpeg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoVZM5wEwi0bjLka5MP6w5ktyIt6KT94FhDrb0tqfuMd7nLvwE5F5JNLfE_ETnmvqcA4sS6te4RJZCyOoiED5Lim_kb0tqgpqMkft8lzvTNDIO0WeQ6BfDjK2SQj6M72t4GVmeb0dMGLE/s640/20x30-HGFE0683.jpeg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurting in the single track</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally I entered the familiar singletrack of Boundary
Rider, at this point still hoping that the cramp-inducing section of
Rollercoaster had been omitted in the course changes. No such luck! With over
100km already on the Garmin I walked the steeper pinches in an attempt to avoid
the cramps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few more cramp episodes necessitated walking before I
entered the last section of singletrack, passing the odd half-flinger every now
and again. In addition to my cramps my left wrist was now getting really sore,
a legacy of 3 surgeries following the car incident, I just wished that
singletrack would end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After making it up Brokeback Mountain without cramping I
just kept the bike moving through the singletrack, and finally it seemed to be
coming to an end… and … I glimpsed Briony ahead just exiting onto the firetrail.
</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Coming out onto the firetrail behind her I wondered if she
was going to try and sit on my wheel if I passed, I knew if I had to put in any
real effort I would be incapacitated by cramps. As I caught her she looked over
and congratulated me, I sign that she had nothing left as I tried to look fresh
riding past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WZjJ9_WUPRH9uuhyLR98ss57XTu-fpPIbRUpCzffLoi4FUYhMlxwx-mphyphenhyphenFu0hI-Bx77qZsqBeE05bRwOWn2fvHgDvEk4Gfb0D6hyphenhyphenDVPSqPzI08o8wSbiZyJj72KOgXNNDv6SPAO5qHE/s1600/BrokenFling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WZjJ9_WUPRH9uuhyLR98ss57XTu-fpPIbRUpCzffLoi4FUYhMlxwx-mphyphenhyphenFu0hI-Bx77qZsqBeE05bRwOWn2fvHgDvEk4Gfb0D6hyphenhyphenDVPSqPzI08o8wSbiZyJj72KOgXNNDv6SPAO5qHE/s320/BrokenFling.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">broken.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next jersey up the road was the Croc Trophy kit, I tried
to work out who I could have caught from the Croc Team and soon the answer was
clear. Martin Wisata was paying the price for pulling some turn on an elite
bunch early in the race and I soon passed him knowing I was finally on the home
straight. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hitting the sealed road I put in max effort allowed by my
weary legs, still wary of Briony behind – especially if she got in another
train of riders. Then finally it was left through the paddock and down the
bumpy hill before the sounds of the event centre could be heard and the 500m to
go sign was the most welcome thing ever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was Tim, already finished like had imagined, but
instead of looking as fresh as a daisy he was covered in dirt and broken. “Tougher
than a Croc stage” he groaned “I cramped and I never even cramped once at the
Croc”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3vfGSPAW-xyEA41rBwabFifPPyq7OkCLxVGsKwrOdRXyEReNqS_iPYgOVC0KMz-qT-M8qsUxBvKpj1aPXEtYthUuYW4-mB1u7a9Oq43UdnQ3fMhZqdDIzVy11Zzn7H9nQUQlvhltHASR/s1600/Fling2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd3vfGSPAW-xyEA41rBwabFifPPyq7OkCLxVGsKwrOdRXyEReNqS_iPYgOVC0KMz-qT-M8qsUxBvKpj1aPXEtYthUuYW4-mB1u7a9Oq43UdnQ3fMhZqdDIzVy11Zzn7H9nQUQlvhltHASR/s320/Fling2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken at the finish - hair and make up by #dustytrailsartist</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So after hours of mental torture believing I was riding like
crap I finally started to believe that it wasn’t actually me. I had an extra
10km on my Garmin compared to previous years and it seemed everyone around me
had added at least half an hour to their times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mentally I think it’s the toughest marathon I’ve ever done,
I can’t say I really enjoyed the day even though I’m retrospectively happy with
my results (6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> female, 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup> in category, 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>
non-elite female). So much of how tough the day was psychological, yes it was a
very tough race physically – but for me the toughest game was in my head. I’m
definitely glad now I didn’t pull the pin at Wingello, but that decision was
harder than any hill on course. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before I sign off, a special mention to Wendy who was the
ONLY female finisher of what would have been the toughest 100mile Fling ever
run. You’re tougher than me Wendy, another loop of stage 2 would have seen me
in tears – congratulations on your superhuman effort. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6jSVVCodHJt7Yk3VO9Nmyx8K6uz5wf3yz8LYLLd6tI0ejm6s3FRGA3WuilywZDOX-KQbY3uyEl4sseXXUK5H2aQT6XRK96kaFP763_joHuz47Asii9rTif3E-9de1HMfQD0_X340kJme/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-12+at+9.53.07+pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6jSVVCodHJt7Yk3VO9Nmyx8K6uz5wf3yz8LYLLd6tI0ejm6s3FRGA3WuilywZDOX-KQbY3uyEl4sseXXUK5H2aQT6XRK96kaFP763_joHuz47Asii9rTif3E-9de1HMfQD0_X340kJme/s400/Screen+Shot+2014-11-12+at+9.53.07+pm.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Veteran Podium </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-82451732832714589622014-10-27T10:45:00.000+11:002014-11-12T22:04:46.350+11:00The Mont24- Reboot Version 2<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So the Mont24 was supposed in be in March, it got rained out
fairly spectacularly which was crap for most people but great for me because it
meant that I didn’t miss out. By the time the rescheduled date came around in
October I was healed and back on the bike, so we had a mixed team of 6 still
despite more member changes than underwear changes since the initial entry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8WohcKFIGLwfYGCBI4Mzj-eFFczofR9eU1gVB9eDABB9tErsCr_r3Nd0gHpB2RBospt2VQi3Q_6rv_1hzfxn9kw8hG_k3XS4N3YQ2giKKAWYAR2KVblPU4xZRglHdemRMl3_eOuydV5r/s1600/SunetMont.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_8WohcKFIGLwfYGCBI4Mzj-eFFczofR9eU1gVB9eDABB9tErsCr_r3Nd0gHpB2RBospt2VQi3Q_6rv_1hzfxn9kw8hG_k3XS4N3YQ2giKKAWYAR2KVblPU4xZRglHdemRMl3_eOuydV5r/s400/SunetMont.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An amazing sunset over the Mont24 camp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then Tim entered the Croc Trophy so he was out but
PowerRanger Luke stepped in so back to a 6. Having raced 24 hour races in a
three, and even attempted a pair once, racing in a 6 feels relaxed. Roughly 4
hours of riding over the weekend, sure they are hot laps but that’s less riding
than I do on a given Sunday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I rode to work Thursday, then over the course of 20
minutes our team of 6 became 5, and then became 4… I caught the train home! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1k362Uj7fyYtwFaOgYQIEyyFYFyLWfGZdue7MFS12ka5kLDvDe1Acsge_NyZv6AKfPg-hg5kvYtUiY4_U7Rr8onUh2Voe6rQmCi3SXoQJHGHLRK-hpw3Mi-CVla41nlqDXKYzFlTUcRm/s1600/dustybike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1k362Uj7fyYtwFaOgYQIEyyFYFyLWfGZdue7MFS12ka5kLDvDe1Acsge_NyZv6AKfPg-hg5kvYtUiY4_U7Rr8onUh2Voe6rQmCi3SXoQJHGHLRK-hpw3Mi-CVla41nlqDXKYzFlTUcRm/s320/dustybike.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusty conditions out on track</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At rego we did a category switch, no longer racing in mixed
6s we were going to be in the more competitive field of mixed 4s. Unfortunately
our prime candidate for first lap (Turbo Stu) was one of the last minute
withdrawal so the boys were debating who got the gig. Big Keith looks the
scariest due to his tats and muscles so we figured he’d get more space in the
mayhem – he was sh*tting himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, a far cry from the first scheduled date it was hot
and dry with temperatures nudging 30 at race start. Fine layers of dust covered
everything and everyone even before we got racing, then finally the race
started to the cacophony of a thousand cow bells. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After the first few laps we were in 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> place,
but everyone knows 24 races are won or lost overnight so we kept cycling
through the team and didn’t really check results. Things ran smoothly, no
missed transitions, no major stacks or mechanicals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeKQsCNNbHlQr2Vu8gFa-CqEgU6Viqmu-2Im081K_nSgCBBYpmm8uXmkMMwyMi-Yg2WhTgIanIVNsSCMxqHTaKKSYYkqW5QekXGf7ek4m4o0tnz0Vl4LzaAFHCMQNVlDYhrc25VWusSrh/s1600/MontPodium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeKQsCNNbHlQr2Vu8gFa-CqEgU6Viqmu-2Im081K_nSgCBBYpmm8uXmkMMwyMi-Yg2WhTgIanIVNsSCMxqHTaKKSYYkqW5QekXGf7ek4m4o0tnz0Vl4LzaAFHCMQNVlDYhrc25VWusSrh/s320/MontPodium.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We started doubles about 10pm and had the novel experience
of not even needing arm warmers for the unusually mild night temperatures. The
boys struggled a little overnight but I think that was mental than physical as
the times stayed really consistent despite their stories of woe. Having been on
and off night shift I didn’t really mind the sleep disturbance and my night
double ended smoothly in the early morning predawn light that is magical at the
Mont. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By now we were convincingly in 3<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup> but 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup>
was also in reach, a podium in mixed 4s is a pretty good result! I was still
feeling strong, something I was happy about considering the year I’ve had.
Eddie found fresh legs when the sun came up and we kept the same rider order
going like clockwork. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGJ9JX395_2E2PmHWI3VehDjKC_fe6CQsglGqplqpvwtgS64GZn6ICLZBU53b7NPypc1MO9CAnKIGf3nt3eRIQdYfaDfe4DBLHwppHZ_imd39jPB3pltIlFDUJUa3X1flnHF4aG6OOR_o/s1600/Mont1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGJ9JX395_2E2PmHWI3VehDjKC_fe6CQsglGqplqpvwtgS64GZn6ICLZBU53b7NPypc1MO9CAnKIGf3nt3eRIQdYfaDfe4DBLHwppHZ_imd39jPB3pltIlFDUJUa3X1flnHF4aG6OOR_o/s320/Mont1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luke was our last lap rider, and it was nail biting stuff –
in the end we missed 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> place by one minute and 20 seconds! But
that’s 24 racing for you :-)
no regrets as we raced our best and made no mistakes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-59813510467575146992014-09-23T21:50:00.000+10:002014-11-12T21:51:33.687+11:00Kowalski Classic - a good tonic for lost mojo <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Kowalski classic is my comeback race, last year it was
my first race back after getting hit by the car. This year it was my first race
back after 7 months off the bike and two surgeries… for this reason I’ve done
the 50km option both years rather than the full 100km.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We headed down with a posse of Newy Cycos in the Cycobus and
bike trailer. This made for a stress free trip down, no driving required (a
good thing after a week of night shift). Lunch at the Greengrocer Café in
Goulburn was enjoyed and highly recommended before we checked into our tourist
cabin next the Bruce Ridge Trails. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOK571lF14ZYkknrczSM43Qol0j93-z_j4LzwMAge9xm6ENIa5hDhlkY_5zcGfxXAWGqgvjjW9Zzu_HqWyHvtGiJfoav8nB1N3ga5c7NzmbNgEQI69hC02_9kIn5dE9ZuBdAYu57egxg-/s1600/Bruce+Ridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOOK571lF14ZYkknrczSM43Qol0j93-z_j4LzwMAge9xm6ENIa5hDhlkY_5zcGfxXAWGqgvjjW9Zzu_HqWyHvtGiJfoav8nB1N3ga5c7NzmbNgEQI69hC02_9kIn5dE9ZuBdAYu57egxg-/s400/Bruce+Ridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Newy Cycos at Bruce Ridge </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday afternoon spinning around Bruce Ridge would have
been more enjoyable if I’d had any legs, unfortunately coming off night shift
seems to render my legs useless for a day and I could only hope that they would
come good for the next morning. I tried to help them out by eating so much I
was uncomfortable sleeping on my stomach – probably not the best idea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Despite forecasts of sub-zero morning, Canberra pulled out a
mild one for race morning. We were ready to go on time and reached race start
in time for those who have pre-race routines to tick off. I keep thinking I
should try this warm-up business, but I never get around to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As a result when the gun sounded for our wave start, Tim and
Gresho were off like frogs in a sock and I was near the back of the wave. The
first hill let me know why other people warm up, but at the same time it got
the blood pumping. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The course was completely different to the previous year
thanks to logging in East Kowan and fantastic trail building efforts. This year
the first 50km was almost all in Sparrow Hill so off we trotted under the
highway for some flowy trails. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The thing about the Kowalski is that it’s nearly all
singletrack which is awesome and tough! It suits me, I’m comparatively strong
in single track. But I was still surprised to see Tim and Gresh up ahead at one
point on the trail before realised it was a section that snaked back on itself
and that I still didn’t know how far ahead they were. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then I reached the same point less than a minute later and
realised I was riding pretty well to be not far off those boys. I found my flow
in that single track, I felt smooth… I was finally enjoying riding again after
the year from hell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Riding with a single bottle I didn’t bother with the
feedstation and used firetrail to pass slower riders before getting back into
yet more singletrack. The next rider I came up behind was Tim, well this was
awkward, time to call track on your partner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I knew that I didn’t stand a chance of staying ahead of Tim
if we got on firetrail but due to the plethora of single track I stayed ahead
of him for a good 10km – a first in a race. Then we headed back towards Kowan
and the trails headed upwards on firetrail, sure enough the Tim “the metrognome”
Nelson powered past me and I didn’t see him again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The last 10km hurt, the lack of base mileage in my legs was
starting to show but I pushed it home down the altered Kowalski Beer Garden
descent and finished in just over 2.5 hours. What I didn’t realise it I was
less than a minute behind Gresh and less than 2 minutes behind Tim’s split for
the 50km (he did the 100km). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also won my category and was 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup> overall female
by less than 3 minutes. Yet again the Kowalski was a fantastic race which puts
the love back into mountain biking and restores my mojo after time off the
bike. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-43625026724619112722014-09-14T10:28:00.000+10:002014-11-12T22:28:37.835+11:00It's been a quiet on here! Injuries, Tears and Chocolate. <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, some of you might be wondering why this blog has been so
quiet. Well there’s a story behind that and it’s not a fun one: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Following my run-in with a car last year I had the plate
removed from my arm in January 2014. This was after a fantastic two weeks of
road riding in the Victorian high country. I was feeling on top of the world
having ridden the 235km route of 3Peaks over Mt Hotham and up the back of Falls
Creek on the 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> of January with Tim. We had signed up for the
official 3Peaks event and booked accommodation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKBLGDBiiKdxND_gNQDuLx-gpsrLQ70X1DlXJnIx0VdgBh6jk6D6elL1bHQy5pJrqnbQhFOF_zpE_7fED70TEHkI7BrQbKtPBMNKU6C-FspVYJYrDT6lZnSnQlp0GWGm8R_l3n8J1PMtu/s1600/Sarah2_Hotham-167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKBLGDBiiKdxND_gNQDuLx-gpsrLQ70X1DlXJnIx0VdgBh6jk6D6elL1bHQy5pJrqnbQhFOF_zpE_7fED70TEHkI7BrQbKtPBMNKU6C-FspVYJYrDT6lZnSnQlp0GWGm8R_l3n8J1PMtu/s400/Sarah2_Hotham-167.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling strong on Mt Hotham in January</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So anyway I had the plate removed, I simple surgery in
preparation for more imaging of my bung wrist and more surgery on the wrist
later on from a hand specialist. A week after having the plate removed my arm
got sore, really sore. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started work as a doctor, my arm was too sore to drive. I got lifts to
work, I couldn’t use my arm. I rang my surgeon, twice… it got brushed off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got on the trainer in the garage, I couldn’t hold the
handlebars. I cried in frustration, then went to Emergency. Xrays showed the
fracture line had simple opened back up, not healed. I had a broken arm, again.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF5jSoDUHozKhDNYBvnfg_07K-v9shAQ6AfG-Y7ogX8MyqkdY7bryimP36SrSvE0OMbEurLyFiyphdZoGDQQipPQM0Up_WIZvpEdeyOpA-9MwI9fwehng96Bon4uWZxZjNWi3-0Y8VPCW/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-12+at+9.44.35+pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglF5jSoDUHozKhDNYBvnfg_07K-v9shAQ6AfG-Y7ogX8MyqkdY7bryimP36SrSvE0OMbEurLyFiyphdZoGDQQipPQM0Up_WIZvpEdeyOpA-9MwI9fwehng96Bon4uWZxZjNWi3-0Y8VPCW/s400/Screen+Shot+2014-11-12+at+9.44.35+pm.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My last ride before the brown stuff hit the fan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The hand surgeon saw me on short notice, more surgery 3 days
later, by now it’s February. Big surgery, bone cut and a big f*ck off stainless
steel plate in my arm. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When can I ride? At least 3 months was the answer – I cried
again. I ate chocolate, I ate ice-cream, I sat on the couch. I probably cried
again, lots. I was horrific to live with, Tim put up with me. He could ride, I
couldn’t. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I sold my 3Peaks entry, I went back to work in a splint. I
got given permission to run. I went for run, carrying an extra 3-4kgs of chocolate/icecream/couch
time. I couldn’t run 5km without walking. I cried again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then things slowly got better, I stopped eating crap and
continued running. I ran a half marathon just before Easter and was doing long
runs of 16-20kms once a week. Lots of physio on my arm, hand therapy.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YbsGHj5joc_-cfw0lInC1jWFAtYN5a6qakSyixPABgyURnO7_JeE8cQ_gJMZ_Pkw__Yl6_4-qwayTtWIyBpwreKyn9aqZlG1Ldxqz_dlCA2eR_3N8lIiTs3DPvRHSNc6gKlKYuu8V1S_/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-12+at+9.36.15+pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YbsGHj5joc_-cfw0lInC1jWFAtYN5a6qakSyixPABgyURnO7_JeE8cQ_gJMZ_Pkw__Yl6_4-qwayTtWIyBpwreKyn9aqZlG1Ldxqz_dlCA2eR_3N8lIiTs3DPvRHSNc6gKlKYuu8V1S_/s320/Screen+Shot+2014-11-12+at+9.36.15+pm.png" width="202" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half Marathon Finish </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then finally in May 2014 – allowed back on the bike! Arm has
healed! Mid-May, I rode to work. I cried! It used to be easy, I used to average
30km/hr … I’m fit from running but I can’t ride. I stop running but struggle
with riding, I put weight back on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">More tears of frustration. I keep going, 30km rides are a
struggle. How far have I fallen, from top form to this? Early June I enter a
mountain bike event – I ride solo for 4 hours. It hurts, I get beaten by people
I used to beat but I’m back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next day – back and neck spasm. Chiro says it’s like
whiplash, body not ready for 4hrs of mountain biking. Another 3 weeks off the
bike, no exercise, more chocolate, neck sore for over a month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">July, middle of winter… finally start riding again. Still hurts,
still slow, still frustrating. Get grumpy at Tim who is fit, have a few
tantrums but keep riding. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwhKYHYo60mgOBsPJIC37m3POLUSZ8ZfzRf2iFZYI05Lo5T7ND0TbUdjC6px_Gz2qOdn4ezxA7OY_sQShvBj9rTa3Nx_wUM732NYEaC-LauGA8TuHD1h_zWn2Y0aMqVGPGQf_yWXyvTh6/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-11-12+at+9.37.27+pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwhKYHYo60mgOBsPJIC37m3POLUSZ8ZfzRf2iFZYI05Lo5T7ND0TbUdjC6px_Gz2qOdn4ezxA7OY_sQShvBj9rTa3Nx_wUM732NYEaC-LauGA8TuHD1h_zWn2Y0aMqVGPGQf_yWXyvTh6/s200/Screen+Shot+2014-11-12+at+9.37.27+pm.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wollombi Female Podium</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">August, it’s getting easier – Tim makes me do my first 100+km
on the road since early January. I complain, but I do it. Local mountain bike
race – Wollombi Wild race and I win it, mojo coming back. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">September –</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Starts with a mountain bike race Kowalski Classic, 50km for me this year and I’m feeling good (see my
separate race report).</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Finally back into solid training with 1000+ kms
logged this month, but just in time to start in Emergency for work and start shift
work!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So there you have it, it’s been one hell-of-a-year coming
back from injury for a second time. I realistically had a full 6-7 months off
the bike and am still not quite in the form of early January but I’m getting
there and I’m enjoying riding again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would like to thank Tim for putting up with his psycho
partner during that time, and my hand surgeon Dr Myers who went out of his way
to ensure I was looked after when the first surgeon perhaps didn’t do so well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-26631997161404192002013-11-19T11:03:00.000+11:002013-11-19T15:25:29.421+11:00Flinging the Fling.... <style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Fling is a race that I never feel
prepared for, the first year I entered in 2011 we had just bought a house and
training had fallen by the wayside. It was horrendously painful and I
discovered what “cramps” really means when those stricken riders on the side of
the trail utter it. Oh yeah, cramps that year from about the 75km mark and I
just limped home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">2012 was better, but I’d got the dark and
gloomies over winter and had fallen off the training wagon. With just a couple
of months I pulled out a substantially better time but still felt I wasn’t at
my best. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">2013 was going to be the year, I was going
to train through winter and hit the Fling at my best. Unfortunately before I
could hit the fling an idiot driver hit me and July was all about hospitals and
healing. Despite being back on the roadie relatively quickly I really had done
very little mountain biking and for some reason, the Fling seems to require
mountain bike miles in the legs for me. With just the Half Kowalski and the
Scott as my only decent mountain bike rides since the accident things weren’t
looking good. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvI4XaOoCjGFFXL_Fmu64_2kOCzIr_OEiBC55nAlHBw8xeqZL8J6HuA3Rc4GvKg-WUvcXHG0FeV-JlLhe-Kd3_K8dgdYAtIgeUHGLgvOA5J-jwjHfwkpPNI5zAgl71fcMj9m6qOO59-qQ8/s1600/1454734_10153482909330220_1439167584_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvI4XaOoCjGFFXL_Fmu64_2kOCzIr_OEiBC55nAlHBw8xeqZL8J6HuA3Rc4GvKg-WUvcXHG0FeV-JlLhe-Kd3_K8dgdYAtIgeUHGLgvOA5J-jwjHfwkpPNI5zAgl71fcMj9m6qOO59-qQ8/s1600/1454734_10153482909330220_1439167584_n.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting up camp in sunshine got our hopes up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Oh and then there’s this medical degree,
the one with the final exam of the whole degree scheduled just three days after
the Fling. That one little hurdle standing between me and the title “Dr”,
suddenly the whole Fling training plan was well and truly off the rails and I
swapped out of elite back down to age group racing. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The lead into the Fling involved a lot of
the usual weather watching on BOM, the forecast went from horrendous to
horrible to bad to sketchy and finally it looked like the rain would hold off
until the day of the race itself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Indeed we packed in Newcastle in 36-degree
heat, making it hard to think about cold weather riding and even set up camp in
sunshine. We hoped the Bureau of Meteorology had got things completely wrong
but they knew a little more than we’d been hoping and race day dawned grey and
cold with a fine misty highland drizzle to accompany the traditional bagpipe
wake-up call. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1zb0d3L2MWk-6g1nyWGYOeZTOoWSXFANVrkVDJx4cHV3jgybbtiiJtql32SUfqt3S2lWEpQ62cuQzQ-nqpJz5z_wT0jaP7yz_hRq4r3RDBWS-4231xEG28y0-ZRQ2BvNf6bx9sXLpwoI/s1600/1420342_10152053000439379_818209774_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1zb0d3L2MWk-6g1nyWGYOeZTOoWSXFANVrkVDJx4cHV3jgybbtiiJtql32SUfqt3S2lWEpQ62cuQzQ-nqpJz5z_wT0jaP7yz_hRq4r3RDBWS-4231xEG28y0-ZRQ2BvNf6bx9sXLpwoI/s1600/1420342_10152053000439379_818209774_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Race morning was definitely fleece pants and down vest weather</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Waiting on the start line was cold, I got
the shivers listening to race briefing but was briefly distracted by the guy
next to me discovering that the rain on his tyres simply meant he could see
heaps of lovely air leaks bubbling away. Then finally we were off and the usual
shemozzle of self-seeding started to sort itself out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">My legs felt dead, completely dead like
riding with concrete muscles – I don’t think I’ve ever felt so bad in a race. I
kept hoping I would warm up and come good, but even half an hour in I was still
feeling crap. I passed Charlie McCabe early on and wished her well in the
100mile event as the only female entrant, I didn’t envy her as the weather
continue to be grey and wet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After the first river crossing or two I
definitely couldn’t feel my feet, and my mood wasn’t improving at all. I had
mentally admitted defeat in the race when I changed categories and I was even
considering pulling out at the first transition through Wingello. The GUs that
had freely flowed into my flask in the Newcastle heat were now refusing to
leave the flask at my request and I had drunk next to nothing for the first
hour of the race. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">At Wingello I swapped to a camelbak and
single GU packets, ate some food and pushed on. The legs weren’t improving, but
the 29er wheels rolled well on the firetrail and I hooked onto a train. Then we
hit singletrack and it was obvious the blokes up the front were roadies –
finding out your bars don’t fit between trees at speed was the first sign, and
walking the rocks was the next. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">A few of us made it past these roadies and
in the next section of single track I found myself chatting to Lana Moy’s other
half Greg who would keep me company for the next hour or so. Sometime after the
next feed station he dropped off and myself and a South African bloke seemed to
be keeping similar pace. We got chatting and told similar stories – dead
feeling legs, no motivation, suffering. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Having company made things a whole lot
better, we fell into a rhythm – I’d let him go first on firetrail descents and I’d
soon catch him on ascents when he would then stick on my wheel. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">We ticked off the obstables, The Wall,
Halfway Hill and a whole lot of hills in-between that I swear multiply every
year. The elite men came through around half way hill, Mark Tupalski was just
launching an attack and looking strong. Soon we onto the smooth road into
Wingello for the second time, my South African mate mentioned pulling the pin
and I secretly groaned at the thought of loosing my riding companion. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Luckily he changed his mind and after
refuelling we set off again for the last and most brutal stage of the race. The
bumpy descent through the paddock to the first single track was not fun as that
kind of stuff still hurts my bung arm and wrist but soon I had other things to
worry about as my left inner thigh cramped in exactly the same bit of single
track as 2011! Refusing to stop I spun that leg easy while putting power
through my right and it seemed to ease, but I was dreading that section of
"rollercoaster" in reverse with all the little pinch climbs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Concentrating on smooth pedalling we
slogged on as the mist was turning more and more to rain, the temperature
averaged about 11 degrees for the whole race and we did spare a thought for the
previous year when the sun was baking hot through some of those later sections
of firetrail. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFedtvI5H0AKz6orMjFclHA5edfyqREzGya-kHB5YdHrOKfZTVId8hviP1DiMidfsz2hN1HYYpbkhBp9GoQyjQzG7V_ZufVeNGyaaFmpgR7jlK8NaA-u0eMGU6m-NY5r9WnqU0DU6aswOZ/s1600/1456767_10153482909340220_75386536_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFedtvI5H0AKz6orMjFclHA5edfyqREzGya-kHB5YdHrOKfZTVId8hviP1DiMidfsz2hN1HYYpbkhBp9GoQyjQzG7V_ZufVeNGyaaFmpgR7jlK8NaA-u0eMGU6m-NY5r9WnqU0DU6aswOZ/s1600/1456767_10153482909340220_75386536_n.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veteran Female Podium</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I starting pulling gaps on my South African
mate, whose name I still hadn’t learnt and whose number had fallen off and was
stuffed down his jersey for safekeeping. I entered the single track ahead of
him but knew I’d be walking those pinch climbs after Boundary Rider. Each time
I walked those climbs he’d catch me and so we ended up together again
grovelling up the hill to a choir sheltering under a marquee. We entered the
last section of single track to the perfect harmony of these local voices, by
this stage both legs were cramping on sharp or sustained climbs but it was
still just my inner thighs so I could mostly ride through it.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdK-i8gK8Xsi8nt8q7zbYjbm6ADBL3moJgmHfXs84mw2MTMkwPisirXuvjNj1fGu7YzTZerCognUmrq688RBwIJcrbfGswQD_qXENwzOnmUWV37q-XnUJ5aqDKa2uPaTavgsJlELPss3v/s1600/1468623_10152054101726388_1127335282_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdK-i8gK8Xsi8nt8q7zbYjbm6ADBL3moJgmHfXs84mw2MTMkwPisirXuvjNj1fGu7YzTZerCognUmrq688RBwIJcrbfGswQD_qXENwzOnmUWV37q-XnUJ5aqDKa2uPaTavgsJlELPss3v/s1600/1468623_10152054101726388_1127335282_n.jpg" height="320" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veteran Female Full Fling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">By this time we were overtaking
half-flingers very regularly, the track was showing signs of the extra traffic
and constant drizzle and was pretty slippery over roots and rocks in places.
The half-flingers were quick to give track and soon we hit the last dreaded
hill, endless grassy switch backs up a paddock. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Spinning smoothly I managed to keep the
cramps at bay knew that I was pretty much home, again I lost my South African
friend through the last section of singletrack and also let the first Elite
female, Peta Mullins come through. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The final 5 or so kilometres are firetrail
and road, and they ticked painfully by until I was finally heading down through
the last farm towards the finish. Finally the finishing arch appeared and –
wet, cold and filthy – I could tick off yet another Fling with inadequate
preparation. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTFk-H9Hhemj36IBWPXSz6I5zFVaztck-MV_IFtoETMAmiTdSoC_IQm9giWsYemDnMVwoMfu_VNI1FSv28zZp7MZUb-ygU2tJeFKZh5GJvHaGcSgBBwi3pv_t6Shx1R823IDx0Dtoy5SE/s1600/1452397_10153507427160220_1386673049_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTFk-H9Hhemj36IBWPXSz6I5zFVaztck-MV_IFtoETMAmiTdSoC_IQm9giWsYemDnMVwoMfu_VNI1FSv28zZp7MZUb-ygU2tJeFKZh5GJvHaGcSgBBwi3pv_t6Shx1R823IDx0Dtoy5SE/s1600/1452397_10153507427160220_1386673049_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celebrating the end of a long year and long degree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I was on the lookout for my South African
buddy but the cold got the better of me and I headed back to camp for some warm
clothes before a feed and hanging round for the podium presentation. Despite
what felt like a shocking day on the bike, and being 10 minutes slower than the
previous year, I had won my age category and had a time that would put me at 4<sup>th</sup>
overall female. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In the usual way of happy endings, my South
African riding companion managed to find me on facebook – thanks Gary for
making the day bearable. I’m not sure I would have persevered without the
company! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I also passed my exam three days later and
have now finally finished five long years of undergraduate medicine and will
start work as a doctor next year. The learning is far from over, some would say
it’s just beginning, but the idea of a full time wage is pretty exciting and
Tim’s already calculating how many bikes I owe him ;-) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-48888902183128206522013-10-13T15:32:00.000+11:002013-10-19T15:52:53.797+11:00Wiggle Hunter Valley Classic<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I don’t normally enter road events, being
more of mountain biker, but the inaugural Wiggle Hunter Valley Classic was
close to home and also an ideal challenge coming back from a serious
car-inflicted injury in July. We signed up for Epic distance, 175.5km of
rolling Hunter Valley scenery and crossed our fingers for good weather.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_M8V3kkVzYJbrxq25QC98YJuUcyDs0C4cQfx_qEVw_UDNDlfYfcfiFzDrzkf0WzeBM-1YKBTO59U-TRS83gv9rgRABGNORwV8mJ__nbV0G-n1mTXlWBXq2XRisFOIgJKwotn9VitUOEU/s1600/IMG_0506.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_M8V3kkVzYJbrxq25QC98YJuUcyDs0C4cQfx_qEVw_UDNDlfYfcfiFzDrzkf0WzeBM-1YKBTO59U-TRS83gv9rgRABGNORwV8mJ__nbV0G-n1mTXlWBXq2XRisFOIgJKwotn9VitUOEU/s400/IMG_0506.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marshals getting ready at sunrise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Unfortunately NSW is experiencing a hot and
dry spring, after a warm and dry winter and the day was forecast to be mid 30s
with strong and blustery north westerly winds meaning that fire danger was
extreme. No need for arm warmers then! Instead we donned the sun sleeves as the
sun rose bright and orange over Cessnock and the warm wind picked up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After an easy registration process we
rolled out under the start banner as the 3<sup>rd</sup> group on the road, and
fell into peloton formation until the first left turn a few kms down the road
where the marshal wasn’t on the ball and the sign was obscured, which almost
caused a disaster as people hit the brakes, overshot the corner and attempted
to correct. After this the group dissolved a little and a few rolling hills
soon meant that we were pretty much riding just the two of us. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsp1anpZTMwRAVYGjYOymrdRZDRvXDQVcdMCRoQ39ZzfZtAHeHFCIj__E0-TxABFDrrqLd1UamHnMs2p0STaxZZK2wU_R0gDDugPSSqpVsvdkul0Du9b22MUZ7BumGnzjQtrcr1S2lH0fd/s1600/IMG_0508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsp1anpZTMwRAVYGjYOymrdRZDRvXDQVcdMCRoQ39ZzfZtAHeHFCIj__E0-TxABFDrrqLd1UamHnMs2p0STaxZZK2wU_R0gDDugPSSqpVsvdkul0Du9b22MUZ7BumGnzjQtrcr1S2lH0fd/s320/IMG_0508.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After the first hiccup, the signage and
marshalling improved and we were soon in the backstreets of Maitland and
crossing the Hunter River for the first time of the day. From here the wind
picked up and sudden gusts of cross wind made bike handling tricky. It also
tried to turn direction signs around and prompted a stop to inspect a temporary
arrow sign that had folded itself in half, that turned out to be a real estate
sign but continued to be nervous about missing or wind affected directions. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Rolling into the first feed station we
refuelled with some of the HighFive energy food as well as lamingtons and cake.
The bottle were refilled but unfortunately there were no toilets available so
that necessitated another stop just a few hundred metre up the road behind some
bushes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Just after the feed station the standard
length route turned left as we continued straight ahead for Epic. The sign
indicating this wasn’t in the best position and we met several weary riders
later on who had inadvertently taken a much longer route than they’d signed up
for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">From the first feed station through the Seaham
the wind was partly behind us but once we turned towards Clarence Town it was
more of a cross-head wind which made the going tough. A section of
Paris-Roubaix style potholes signals the entrance to Clarence Town and then the
rolling hills continue towards Dungog, the gusty wind making this part of the
ride rather unpleasant. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Well before Dungog we turned left towards
Wallarobba which was still a cross head-wind but at least from the other side
for a while. About this time we started catching riders from earlier wave
starts who were obviously struggling with the tough condition (perhaps deep
dish carbon rims weren’t the right choice for the day!). Finally we turned left
again at Wallarobba and the wind because cross-tail, before long we rolled into
feed station 2 which was just before Wallarobba Hill – the biggest climb of the
day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Having done about 82km, less than half the
distance, things were starting to look a little grim. The wind was taking its
toll and the day was warming up. Quite a few riders were hanging about the
feedstation and didn’t look to be in a big hurry to leave. Once again there
were no toilets but a good supply of gels, bars and cake as well as water and
energy drink. Unfortunately I was starting to crave salt, with it being over 30
degrees and less than 10% humidity, but there was nothing salty to be had. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHJBk0WK98lR3VsaiCxlqGL6MrfOPUXxJbR9uNUDtnvtEabsVBl5NUv7B7PjHHArMQmRl5v1X2nyMouXv2mU5MULgxyoAuLxQSSjrHpu11fuY14QGRv7weIOVawQvV00k2MhZKSSDFO4u/s1600/IMAG0349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNHJBk0WK98lR3VsaiCxlqGL6MrfOPUXxJbR9uNUDtnvtEabsVBl5NUv7B7PjHHArMQmRl5v1X2nyMouXv2mU5MULgxyoAuLxQSSjrHpu11fuY14QGRv7weIOVawQvV00k2MhZKSSDFO4u/s320/IMAG0349.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemonade Icey-Pole at Paterson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Straight out of the feed station there was
the climb up Wallarobba, I’d rather do that climb many times than ride into the
head wind we had for the day. Coming down the other side was a bit hairy as the
wind gusts suddenly appeared as a cross wind half way down – not fun at
60km/hr! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Cross wind gusts continued and we turned
left again to head into Paterson, then we had a blissful couple of kilometres
with the wind behind us meaning that 38km/hr was an easy spin on the flat. We
stopped in the little town of Paterson for an icecream at the local store. We
generated a fair bit of interest amongst the tourists passing through who were
amazed at the distance we were attempting. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoNE7F8G8dgef8KOiKxfTLgHTTLgpS4Q_Hil8mEiyDXvcm4H1YjJX2YN7ikn0dKb0szg4G9YOkozswAidvsqU90HZchArMUPfB3SSfDHt3P4I4MbRghOakzSXSUZz4LFguT7AYbEUCtz2/s1600/IMG_0509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoNE7F8G8dgef8KOiKxfTLgHTTLgpS4Q_Hil8mEiyDXvcm4H1YjJX2YN7ikn0dKb0szg4G9YOkozswAidvsqU90HZchArMUPfB3SSfDHt3P4I4MbRghOakzSXSUZz4LFguT7AYbEUCtz2/s320/IMG_0509.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim keen to keep going</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Tim was keen to keep moving so as soon as
the icecream was down it was back on the road. We were hoping to keep the tail
wind for another little while but leaving Paterson we turned just enough for it
to become a gusty cross wind. Losing concentration for just a split second I
found myself blown off the road and into the gravel on the verge… this was
going to be long day!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">At
the 110km mark we were just on the northern outskirts of Maitland again and the
route turned right, this meant turning directly into the wind. We stopped in
the shade and discussed the merit of continuing or whether I should simply cut
the ride short and head home or back to the car. Another rider pulled up and
joined in the discussion; he’d missed the route-split 70km earlier and had
already ridden further than planned and started cramping. Looking at our route
map he pulled the pin and turned towards Maitland. Another rider pulled up and
sat down in the shade, he looked broken. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCHaVMCpRsrCXIlF8eU5bwGWXN816YSG2DRqWpQtagAc17lxcMr-6K0hWaPTwAALuaPvuHU7om3Mlloyiz7uveSOh2jJaOR22JAeaoUnK97hmHqyp7z9bEsC5NrmEgDeaj_FysWtUqV6p/s1600/IMG_0512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCHaVMCpRsrCXIlF8eU5bwGWXN816YSG2DRqWpQtagAc17lxcMr-6K0hWaPTwAALuaPvuHU7om3Mlloyiz7uveSOh2jJaOR22JAeaoUnK97hmHqyp7z9bEsC5NrmEgDeaj_FysWtUqV6p/s320/IMG_0512.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broken!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Deciding to continue we started into the
wind, this section of road was open and rolling and the gusty wind was
relentless. It’s somewhat demoralising pedalling down hill only to achieve a
speed of 20km/hr and we seemed to be averaging about 15km/hr overall. About
half an hour into this section I pulled off for a break, there was no shade and
no shelter from the wind and I was also running low on water. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-j7x1ug_16qOY2giw66e-J6E6OImiPf0DYP9-IoNFfhU4dV-7xs6xSnKmW1D1z_Z4ld0Bc1wSJ76o4QsrrHb0Q3FeZUn24yJeCe5295zjM6Fopkrk1Hu6sFbLNAZe4Z6qUHhgj2o8oLF/s1600/IMAG0353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-j7x1ug_16qOY2giw66e-J6E6OImiPf0DYP9-IoNFfhU4dV-7xs6xSnKmW1D1z_Z4ld0Bc1wSJ76o4QsrrHb0Q3FeZUn24yJeCe5295zjM6Fopkrk1Hu6sFbLNAZe4Z6qUHhgj2o8oLF/s320/IMAG0353.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No where to shelter but need a break!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Continuing on we came across water
deposited by the ride organisers who had obviously realised this section was
tough, hot and was taking everyone a long longer than anticipated. We stopped
to refill and a race support van pulled up with some tired riders in the back.
I asked whether they had room for one more and soon made the decision to jump
in the van for the next 12km to feed-station 3 as it was all into the strong
headwind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ux-Ew6e3yo35uo8YvdfOfCSNYMmZEc5eCgrY6E4uosL3sAdFCoNjb055vEFXu5OqCVOxrHc4chKs9sum7DET0-suxO2HBt47s9VV53u8UazDqwwiH0k0mTLOgdcJxinHXx8hDLMYHGok/s1600/IMAG0354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ux-Ew6e3yo35uo8YvdfOfCSNYMmZEc5eCgrY6E4uosL3sAdFCoNjb055vEFXu5OqCVOxrHc4chKs9sum7DET0-suxO2HBt47s9VV53u8UazDqwwiH0k0mTLOgdcJxinHXx8hDLMYHGok/s400/IMAG0354.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The photo doesn't show the headwind!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Tim continued riding and I told him I’m
meet again at the rest station, the air-conditioned van was a welcome rest! We
passed so many tired looking bodies and then on one hill we stopped and
squeezed another female rider who had been walking her bike, “I simply don’t
have another 2kms in me” she said. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePaKQHRQu2X5hTguxXXuQFjt6CQqrKfr0RvuGntZfcGDk2Tj4lRs9sYp8u0bTKG0MatTqBPjIiBIa4PaBHsyz4aeZRBfvrE1svAADhPL5OcO4mSY3S1BiKqED9UrWSqd36VcDLOW09ucb/s1600/IMAG0355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePaKQHRQu2X5hTguxXXuQFjt6CQqrKfr0RvuGntZfcGDk2Tj4lRs9sYp8u0bTKG0MatTqBPjIiBIa4PaBHsyz4aeZRBfvrE1svAADhPL5OcO4mSY3S1BiKqED9UrWSqd36VcDLOW09ucb/s320/IMAG0355.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horizontal grasses</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Pulling
up at feed-station 3 was like entering a field hospital triage area. Broken
looking riders were lying in whatever shade they could find and organisers were
simply shuttling in more in each sag-wagon every 10 minutes or so. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I pulled out my phone to check the weather
and the route. It was 32 degrees with humidity at less than 10%, the wind was
at around 45km/hr with gusts of 70km/hr and we were riding straight into it.
However we only had another 5km into the headwind before the route would turn
again and it was likely to be a cross-tail wind for the final 40-odd km to the
finish. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I looked up to see a man in full white
roadie kit, complete with carbon shoes, slowly walking his bike down the road
towards the feed station. Even 20m from his goal he had to stop and lean on his
bike, obviously cramping, before limping the final few metres into the shade. I
have never seen so many people looking so broken! </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznJxhMv4AY7-uBgkkFgTMT2nBBdXSXcE8sAsr25J7Hof3QD5lQoSuQcOQD3k40so3jzq4B9rrY8RktZRRni7760ixxKg1NwQdW343IvNrfnSncELt9sZflMUsSFyBDrBUAY8uFv8l1VXx/s1600/IMG_0516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznJxhMv4AY7-uBgkkFgTMT2nBBdXSXcE8sAsr25J7Hof3QD5lQoSuQcOQD3k40so3jzq4B9rrY8RktZRRni7760ixxKg1NwQdW343IvNrfnSncELt9sZflMUsSFyBDrBUAY8uFv8l1VXx/s320/IMG_0516.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeking shade at feed station 3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCwYA7g72vCDLSbTtYgtJpb-9M5j75182h3Z12vZIuDEMI4g4oX0mBHjDaiHRVvWzfO346bU9dZ8X2nBR47pMrX4kGDXtgGUf5pD3cObu4u_fOndtDzgleklEKPuZ3qc78AlZbFmKGZ4K/s1600/IMG_0513.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCwYA7g72vCDLSbTtYgtJpb-9M5j75182h3Z12vZIuDEMI4g4oX0mBHjDaiHRVvWzfO346bU9dZ8X2nBR47pMrX4kGDXtgGUf5pD3cObu4u_fOndtDzgleklEKPuZ3qc78AlZbFmKGZ4K/s320/IMG_0513.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Done and waiting for rescue!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I would have loved something salty at this
stage, my black kit had collections of white salt crystals around it, but I had
to make do with lollies and luke-warm water as I waited for Tim. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Once he pulled up I told him that it was
only another 5km into headwind before it should be a whole lot easier, a few
other riders heard this and decided to continue as well, but most just stayed
in their shady spots waiting to find out how the organisers would get them back
to their cars. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">We headed back out and into the wind but I
felt a lot better after my break off the bike. Soon enough we made the left
hand bend out of the headwind and crossed the Hunter River again for the second
time. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbaLbiwqwR9JSF0VW9ciGu54TwBRbF21_rk4P-X2h-pI9Rez5iVnr44loT4AmDzZJF-wavaml5AtfMAcWtnDYy7cT2ZMvRNMJfSGNbO5F-b1nXQs7lOfSRW2NhPY-E8zacOc-OC0LhMjU/s1600/IMG_0519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbaLbiwqwR9JSF0VW9ciGu54TwBRbF21_rk4P-X2h-pI9Rez5iVnr44loT4AmDzZJF-wavaml5AtfMAcWtnDYy7cT2ZMvRNMJfSGNbO5F-b1nXQs7lOfSRW2NhPY-E8zacOc-OC0LhMjU/s320/IMG_0519.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rUtS5ND_M7QuD26eAEh2JlbEl_LRNSqt9K8AGPUW26Wx7-dc61it3feUzuFrJWF5wUw_3ldOMZTa270odN3yR87NiL9saY4fLZxkGGPoFxrvWRnyPqpy74n-7Qbng3tobJMM6Ak49aXf/s1600/IMG_0517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7rUtS5ND_M7QuD26eAEh2JlbEl_LRNSqt9K8AGPUW26Wx7-dc61it3feUzuFrJWF5wUw_3ldOMZTa270odN3yR87NiL9saY4fLZxkGGPoFxrvWRnyPqpy74n-7Qbng3tobJMM6Ak49aXf/s320/IMG_0517.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfijxmQu-M6k8BIGYaZN7LDXF1M1ZbLlQeCLID-BJYik_ui70J7tGrPfwM3JGFp2VGBzFoWieeSAd4_7UjSEoh9Oic-bylK6EaG3kRYAv36tPFp_khjaKPMhvH08R-2e_1F3xeTasFC9F/s1600/IMG_0518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfijxmQu-M6k8BIGYaZN7LDXF1M1ZbLlQeCLID-BJYik_ui70J7tGrPfwM3JGFp2VGBzFoWieeSAd4_7UjSEoh9Oic-bylK6EaG3kRYAv36tPFp_khjaKPMhvH08R-2e_1F3xeTasFC9F/s320/IMG_0518.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Happy to finally have the wind behind us,
the climb out of the river valley didn’t seem too bad, and the road continue to
have rolling hills all the way to the point where we crossed the main highway
at Greta.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Then we doglegged along the roads between
vineyards until we finally saw welcome signs proclaiming only 10km to go. Tim
was starting to get a few cramps by this stage and we passed several people
trying to stretch out cramps on the side of the road. The roadside dams were
looking so inviting, I could really have done with a swim at this point as the
temperature was now around 34 degrees. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNBQN2zUqpwaQ2eXLxt3whUj50xPO42haEu2P2bWHEduR3FQ6yho5H43UogsT2M2GbKm-MYI2RiYNx3fbMnjL5VK6QKqmJ9eEmdhQ0x39Uh0NLEIzG6OfW7RyXxjb4jucOOdGKOidPKqR/s1600/IMG_0520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNBQN2zUqpwaQ2eXLxt3whUj50xPO42haEu2P2bWHEduR3FQ6yho5H43UogsT2M2GbKm-MYI2RiYNx3fbMnjL5VK6QKqmJ9eEmdhQ0x39Uh0NLEIzG6OfW7RyXxjb4jucOOdGKOidPKqR/s400/IMG_0520.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hunter Valley is a lot less green than normal this year!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">With around 8km to go a marshal car pulled
up to ensure we had enough water and food, which we did – we just wanted those
last 8km to end. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After what felt like an eternity we
starting coming into the outskirts of Cessnock and then finally we were riding
back up the road to the start/finish. Rolling under the finish banner was a feeling
of utmost relief, and I promptly collapsed in the shade with some vaguely cool
water. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">It took a while before I had enough energy
to do anything, and I just lay there watching people roll across the line
looking exhausted. It was definitely one of the hardest days I’ve ever done on
the bike, and I was pretty glad it was over … just over eight hours after it
started! Had the weather been different I’m sure it would have been a different
story, but as it stood it was an epic test. The organisers did a fantastic job
of ferrying people around, ensuring everyone had enough water and food, but in
the end the conditions were just too tough for most people. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-1468607274722280942013-10-07T17:54:00.000+11:002013-10-19T17:55:08.501+11:00CORC Scott25 (because 24 hours isn't enough!)<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Scott24 at Mt Stromlo is an annual
fixture in the mountain biking calendar and I’ve done every Scott since
starting racing in 2009. Entries had closed for this years Scott25 (with its
extra bonus hour of racing) before I had raced Kowalski, and even after that
success I felt there was a different between a 50km race in daylight through
pine forest and a 24hour at Stromlo with its rocks. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">So I was resigned to not racing, and
planned to take my roadie and mountain bike down to do some riding and join the
crew. Secretly I was hoping a team would need a replacement, I even checked the
rotorburn forums for teams seeking members but I was bit nervous to commit
especially to night riding, I had no idea how my arm would hold up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Tim wasn’t overly keen on me riding; he
wasn’t impressed on my superwoman stack in Kowalski when I was supposed to be
taking it easy. But at my request he emailed the organisers about changing his
2-man pair in the 7+6hour to a mixed 3, however the reply pointed out that
there was no teams of 3category in the 7+6 hour, but we were welcome to go as a
team of 4 and race as a 3 or alternatively race as a team of 3 in the 25 hour. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGQohnP8KMYOHbWeXvD6dKeajwVx_LKiBhgxWr3DPcl1NEO-_fvppW18D5QCZ3NIQmx0ZlnlcpadcpZi8vUnQu6MYWO6SEFakKdUtBtAw4XqmfCT7D9Zu57d3ifwb8kifjnB3ZOLi-jHD/s1600/sportograf-43970711_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGQohnP8KMYOHbWeXvD6dKeajwVx_LKiBhgxWr3DPcl1NEO-_fvppW18D5QCZ3NIQmx0ZlnlcpadcpZi8vUnQu6MYWO6SEFakKdUtBtAw4XqmfCT7D9Zu57d3ifwb8kifjnB3ZOLi-jHD/s1600/sportograf-43970711_lowres.jpg" height="241" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect weather for the Scott25</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7tgRYSPgY_7UQy5IGUzZ476x4HLCFvgF2io3XWT7xtvlzghHnaATHUI6MB-Asby2SAl79Cm62lUhyz0W94a94SH9SBjFT8RnZFheGnVvNJHsett3jZzzCrtQtBBxCaQ_bZ9l9uaROguM/s1600/sportograf-43982499_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7tgRYSPgY_7UQy5IGUzZ476x4HLCFvgF2io3XWT7xtvlzghHnaATHUI6MB-Asby2SAl79Cm62lUhyz0W94a94SH9SBjFT8RnZFheGnVvNJHsett3jZzzCrtQtBBxCaQ_bZ9l9uaROguM/s1600/sportograf-43982499_lowres.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ready to race</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Our team mate Keith seemed up to the
challenge, but maybe he thought we were joking, he was definitely in no doubt
once we’d been to registration and paid our cash to race as a 3-person team for
25 hours. It was only his second 24hour race, the first being the Mont in a
team of 5… big step up. He went and bought more lights, I think he was shitting
himself. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">What had we done, I had been questioning
riding – I still wasn’t cleared to ride by the orthopaedic surgeon and here I
was doing the Scott in a team of 3!! There’s no where to hide in a 3, you can’t
leave your team mates doing pairs but it was too late to back out now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUN54nINYfXKKHlyY8RyWkO9waB6Ha3vucm9YKxg-f81EwJyjuic9gldMY6-0EF5iwrZw0rodWZS50GOgf5XMVihe-9JBv8ZRJBLoykwjj77wV8NBXIGIAj9KpaKUEBUwx_vMYUOpQiP30/s1600/sportograf-43970651_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUN54nINYfXKKHlyY8RyWkO9waB6Ha3vucm9YKxg-f81EwJyjuic9gldMY6-0EF5iwrZw0rodWZS50GOgf5XMVihe-9JBv8ZRJBLoykwjj77wV8NBXIGIAj9KpaKUEBUwx_vMYUOpQiP30/s1600/sportograf-43970651_lowres.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dry and dusty on Luge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The 11am start time rolled around pretty
quickly and we sent Tim off in the la mans start. Starting out with singles on
the figure-of-8 course design meant just over half an hour of riding and an
hour off. We soon changed to double laps and all was going smoothly as we
transitioned into night. Then the first mechanicals struck, Keith had a flat
which wouldn’t seal after only one lap of his double but luckily I was almost
ready to head out I slotted into my double while he fixed his tyre.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL41adCc6fcuH4teeAbY4bh_ldAGLbqk7EhSE2-fpqeWPYfIfMu-Lpd_P2qVSppl-PrWtJ71PyN-uonKx8J_Xnwk8VJ4qvBTjImSJZplNkITWmuB-0ukgcm2C1ng3fkKHRWhbXH-wEjFit/s1600/sportograf-43976856_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL41adCc6fcuH4teeAbY4bh_ldAGLbqk7EhSE2-fpqeWPYfIfMu-Lpd_P2qVSppl-PrWtJ71PyN-uonKx8J_Xnwk8VJ4qvBTjImSJZplNkITWmuB-0ukgcm2C1ng3fkKHRWhbXH-wEjFit/s1600/sportograf-43976856_lowres.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">He transition with me after my double to do
a single so we were back in order but was again plagued by flats and came back
swearing about a certain brand of tyres. In the end he purchased new tyres and
got his bike back together but in the heat of things he hadn’t eaten and it was
getting late. We swapped the lap order around to give him more time off the
bike, the last thing we needed was a rider going hunger flat. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Despite my initial worry, my arm was ok
although I could definitely feel it on the descent down the red lap (Western
Wedgetail, Luge, Skyline etc). The laps were easier than previous races and
omitted a lot of the super rocky sections out the back of Stromlo. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUODbyslFUmO9AOS17kbWtA-vaY1BMmbj4guXt8RU3xE7Qlwa7C3KpbvCT7pu6OsRIdRy-V3GaM9VF5s60-Ff69OiGzx7-3xEGRtFz5om9uJSca5Wx5GenKFqChwTitYCUgJCyGyoZrNo/s1600/sportograf-43975766_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUODbyslFUmO9AOS17kbWtA-vaY1BMmbj4guXt8RU3xE7Qlwa7C3KpbvCT7pu6OsRIdRy-V3GaM9VF5s60-Ff69OiGzx7-3xEGRtFz5om9uJSca5Wx5GenKFqChwTitYCUgJCyGyoZrNo/s1600/sportograf-43975766_lowres.jpg" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halfway down red lap descent</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Tim and I had discussed trying to limit my
night laps, we both felt that stacks were likely at night-time and it was
better if I rode less during the night. To this end we sent Tim out on a
quadruple lap, sandwiched by doubles from Keith giving me a good break off the
bike in the witching hours. I finished a double around 1:30am then was back out
before dawn for a triple.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdI0-AAIsTxMhj4SH7ql_xOAvd2pTukyuQ9g5E0CwcgOTQQifvYIUF7ZGk679_DEW7-YPS-mQMQvZwtW6Cd7yQ3adWCf2saEHl-AC_-afkmUvfmWPpB1PwoRIVqv5ZX331c5v-yU27f5k/s1600/sportograf-44003596_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdI0-AAIsTxMhj4SH7ql_xOAvd2pTukyuQ9g5E0CwcgOTQQifvYIUF7ZGk679_DEW7-YPS-mQMQvZwtW6Cd7yQ3adWCf2saEHl-AC_-afkmUvfmWPpB1PwoRIVqv5ZX331c5v-yU27f5k/s1600/sportograf-44003596_lowres.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Then the mechanical demon struck again as
Tim had three flats in one lap, waiting back at camp I was glad to see it was
just mechanicals as I had started getting worried when he was more than 20
minutes overdue from his lap. Keith slotted in while Tim repaired his flats and
after a few more double we reverted to singles as the clock ticked down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Results-wise we were laps up on our
competition, but to get a valid result we needed to roll across the line after
24 hours. In fact Keith rolled in from our last lap with 8 second to spare
before the 25 hour cut-off but we’d all had enough. 40 laps in totally evenly
split between team members and a convincing category win. Then to top it all
off, Keith won the bike at presentations – what a weekend! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGmPKLSUfPKMXC5_j-VhTM3gyAvtA1gVtG3v1ofiETANOstmPRivSdKjppEoPCfRRN4y7SW2mfUKJXWcjfOXpzxsPNFEa2pstRlF2d9gAYkTZ0iRGb5Zv9PCAsdlGjKYdzfy4fKksQb_F/s1600/sportograf-43973012_lowres.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGmPKLSUfPKMXC5_j-VhTM3gyAvtA1gVtG3v1ofiETANOstmPRivSdKjppEoPCfRRN4y7SW2mfUKJXWcjfOXpzxsPNFEa2pstRlF2d9gAYkTZ0iRGb5Zv9PCAsdlGjKYdzfy4fKksQb_F/s1600/sportograf-43973012_lowres.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-38102223548891665642013-09-22T17:35:00.000+10:002013-10-19T17:38:39.396+11:00Kowalski Classic
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I won an entry to the Kowalski Classic 90km
for having the fastest female night lap at the Mont24, I was stoked as it was
an event I wanted to do anyway… then everything changed in July when I got hit
by the car and we swapped the entry over to Tim instead. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">For several weeks before the Kowalski I had
been putting solid hours in on the roadie. The arm was just about ok road
riding, except when there was a lot of surface bumps and vibration when I could
definitely feel it. While I felt unsafe on the road, the impact of mountain
biking on the arm wasn’t good so it was road or trainer… and trainer sucks! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Exactly a week before Kowalski I decided to
test my arm on the mountain bike once more, having not touched it for weeks. We
did a lap of Glenrock, less than an hour of riding but it seemed ok. It wasn’t
100% and I was definitely aware of it but it didn’t get worse over the ride and
the pain wasn’t bad or unbearable. So I emailed the Kowalski organisers
pleading for late entry into the 50km event, I got an almost immediate reply
and within an hour I was entered. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Then Canberra got rain, I mean real rain,
we haven’t had any up here for a while but they got 70mm in less than 48 hours.
I started to really wonder if I’d done the right thing, after all my arm was ok
for a gentle 50 minutes on dry and groomed home trails but for 50km in mud…. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Word on the street said the trails weren’t
too bad, and we registered at Kowen Forest on the Saturday afternoon with time
for a quick spin round part of the course. What we rode was dry but we both
felt slow, and failed to find flow on the trails. This was going to be a tough
race. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The morning of race dawned with perfect
conditions, cold enough to make us Novocastrians pretty darn chilly but no rain
or fog or frost. Tim headed out in the 90km wave starts and I had the new
experience of waiting around for the much more social start time of the 50km
race. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Under strict instructions to take it easy I
put myself towards the back of the large first wave start, I knew we headed into
Kowalski Sideshow early on and I didn’t want to be holding up the field if my
arm was sore. Before the singletrack however was a decent firetrail climb,
which sorted a few people out, it was still conga line into Kowalski Sideshow
though and I soon found myself stuck behind a cautious descender. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Overtaking at the first opportunity I
started to find a rhythm in the swopping flowing pine forest that is Kowen, and
slowly but surely I was passing people a whole lot more than I was being
passed. I started pegging back some other girls, knowing that track position
was true race position as we’d all started in the same wave, I recognised Flow
Mag’s Kath Bicknell as I overtook her but most of the other girls were
unfamiliar. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">As we crossed over into Sparrow Hill it
became evident that the race wasn’t going to be mud free, the tacky ground
seemed to suck momentum away from your wheels and it seemed like extra effort
was required to keep the wheels rolling. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Crossing back into Kowen we hit our first
real mud, and a while lot of fairly new cut track which didn’t have the same
flow as the Kowen we know. About this time I caught another girl and when I
passed her told me that I had just moved into 2<sup>nd</sup> overall female.
She stuck on my wheel and we bumped and ground our way through some fairly
unforgiving single track, including new switch back climbs up to the highest
point in Kowen. She seemed happy on my wheel so I took the opportunity to back
off the pace a touch both to recover and to avoid potential crashes which would
have been easy to come by in that section of track.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">We introduced ourselves and it turns out
she was 3<sup>rd</sup> placed female in Capital Punishment when I had flatted,
meaning we were probably very evenly matched in speed. In fact she’d won her
entry as fastest female day lap at the Mont, while I had fastest night lap –
pity the Kowalski was a daylight race!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Coming into the feed station I knew I had
to drop her off my wheel in the singletrack as I felt she was strong enough to
out sprint me on the firetrail if we came to the finish together. I was too
engrossed in racing to notice that the feed station had espresso coffee and egg
and bacon rolls – how awesome! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Putting the power down through the next
section I could feel my arm, as log rollovers were a major feature. But the
whole “taking it easy” directive had been lost in the red mist as I had a good
gap now on the girl behind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Coming into tracks familiar from the Mont24
I kept the pace high, but riding familiar tracks in reverse is tricky and my
front wheel and I had a falling out on a loose corner. Superwoman flew over the
bars and landed without major injury to the bionic arm – thank goodness. Back
on the bike and a hasty look behind, she hadn’t caught me despite the spill. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">East Kowen was a feature of the Mont this
year but the Kowalski route found a few extra hills, in particular a firetrail
grind up the next feedstation where I could catch glimpses of the chasing girl
behind. Then a loose descent where a near-miss made me slow things down a
little before we were back on familiar trails in a familiar direction. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The legs were well and truly threatening to
cramp now but it was so close to home, this whole 50km racing thing was a new
experience – I was going a whole lot harder knowing it more like a long XCO
race than a the marathons I’m used to. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Finally I hit the final fire trail and
looking back knew I had a clear run home, I crossed the finish line as second
overall female just two minutes off first - but first in my category. I had also put a minute and a half
into the girl behind. I that point I was pretty happy that I wasn’t heading out
on loop two as the 90km riders were doing, I’d passed a lot of 90km riders
despite starting a good 45 minutes behind them – it was going to be a long day
out for some people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dEmnwvC5RnRGatxq390W5vBeHeORcgMQFnSsEkzLgLpq2XEkXL2-f0UkFwfay_OJ_Eydh4ajd1VOK4DU1YqeJhHGduy1w3VRtEyfR6UHwzvZ8qYoAkfGytek_GNNIlTHxA2UTXvhuNux/s1600/1272579_10152236462667538_1337461683_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_dEmnwvC5RnRGatxq390W5vBeHeORcgMQFnSsEkzLgLpq2XEkXL2-f0UkFwfay_OJ_Eydh4ajd1VOK4DU1YqeJhHGduy1w3VRtEyfR6UHwzvZ8qYoAkfGytek_GNNIlTHxA2UTXvhuNux/s1600/1272579_10152236462667538_1337461683_o.jpg" height="382" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Most 100km races have fair portion of fire
trail or road, the Kowalski has almost none, which makes it a tough race. I’ll
be back next year for sure, maybe I’ll even stop for a bacon and egg roll! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-42301778669879234452013-07-13T12:32:00.002+10:002013-07-13T12:45:13.369+10:00Just a regular Saturday... until someone didn't look<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">It was just a regular Saturday road ride,
mid-winter chill meant we left home around lunch time and planned on a 2.5
hours loop. From our place we headed out down the Fernleigh track before
skirting round the edge of Lake Macquarie and climbing over the Rhonda Rd hill
to Barnsley and West Wallsend. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Coming up to the George Booth roundabout we
discussed the route and opted for heading home through Minmi rather than the
Link Rd purely because the Link Rd’s shoulder disappears at each roundabout
forcing you out into 90km/hr traffic each time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After a steep descent into Minmi, we turned
right onto Minmi Rd and headed towards Jesmond/Wallsend. The rolling hills are
hard work but I was feeling good so was a about 10m ahead of time coming down
the last descent before the rise to the roundabout where the turn is to the
tip. There’s a left turn lane at this point and I remember moving right to
ensure I conveyed the message I was continuing straight, I also remember
registering a green oncoming car coming up the right turn lane. After this it
becomes I little blurry, I remember realising they weren’t stopping and the
feeling of disbelief. I remember yelling a certain expletive at the top of my
voice, and I remember braking and waiting for impact. I remember the sickening
feeling of the car hitting my rear wheel, which was flung left – almost like a
washout on a mtb corner. I remember the feeling of my face hitting the road,
and I remember thinking that about broken collarbones – possible subconsciously
aware I’d taken impact through my arm. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The memories become clear again with me in
the gutter against a low metal guardrail, the bike was on top of me, and
suddenly the rear tube exploded with a definite bang. Tim came into view, and
lifted the bike off me. I looked over expecting to see the driver rushing over
but there was no-one, the first thing I said was “they didn’t stop!”. The pain
hadn’t hit yet, Tim was asking if I was ok and I remember saying “I’m not sure
yet” as I managed to get into a sitting position. I looked down and saw that I
was naturally supporting my left arm with my right and my left arm had two
obvious areas of deformity – most definitely a broken arm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Some one came running over asking if we
were alright, at first we thought it was the driver but soon established it was
someone who lived on the corner and had been working on his roof when he heard
the accident – his wife was on their home phone to emergency services and he
relayed the situation to her.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMxbW172cNc6894Y_9XiHYls0RhEbiPwUETjQP8LVtlq4I3W7O4f-SiTDKQ6JPh_xmEMgg7koyWJyAyh4XEiHqYfi5dq7UMX-raV44u9Y4de2u6-gTjWwaveT4_kLIL-R7wvDTi33VCFY/s1600/IMAG0283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDMxbW172cNc6894Y_9XiHYls0RhEbiPwUETjQP8LVtlq4I3W7O4f-SiTDKQ6JPh_xmEMgg7koyWJyAyh4XEiHqYfi5dq7UMX-raV44u9Y4de2u6-gTjWwaveT4_kLIL-R7wvDTi33VCFY/s1600/IMAG0283.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not used to being the one in the bed!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The fifteen minutes it took the wonderful
Boolaroo Ambos to arrive were some of the longest in my life. The pain had hit
and the broken arm had the shakes, we organised to leave our bikes with the
couple who’d called the ambulance so Tim could come with me in the ambulance.
That siren was one of the best sounds I’ve ever heard, and the lovely Erin from
soon had a cardboard support under my broken arm, fentanyl up my nose and
morphine through a drip in the good arm. With pain relief on board I was able
to move onto the ambulance stretcher and loaded into the car. By this stage the
crew knew I was both a nurse and final year medical student so when they
weren’t overly surprised when I joined in discussions about what classification
I was going to be on their system, I agreed that with the speeds involved
(easily 30km/hr for me and that or more for the car) I was a trauma call – a
system which pre-warns the hospital that a patient is coming in with
potentially multiple and/or life-threatening injuries. While it seemed only to
be my arm, pain from one major injury can distract or mask others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCfQ0g9E_fAf7nq0w0gQlWwh9nmO3dXxlZIovGOD8-O2Hb31rRRpIesOOyQlU-zghk8ckoBh7sM8cWM2vt8rTEfMokXweWq8IwsB2DNLjBgidb1GfBmVMx8vtopsQ3mvEcEIx27wB0pRh/s1600/IMAG0291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCfQ0g9E_fAf7nq0w0gQlWwh9nmO3dXxlZIovGOD8-O2Hb31rRRpIesOOyQlU-zghk8ckoBh7sM8cWM2vt8rTEfMokXweWq8IwsB2DNLjBgidb1GfBmVMx8vtopsQ3mvEcEIx27wB0pRh/s1600/IMAG0291.jpg" height="320" width="191" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">So there I was flat on my back, c-spine
collar on and enroute to John Hunter Hospital – my place of work and study. As
much as I have always been mortified at the of being a patient where I work,
now that the shit had really hit the fan I was oddly comforted by the familiar
surroundings, processes and people – even when they were cutting my clothes off
and log-rolling me to survey me for other injuries.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Unfortunately Saturday afternoon was hectic
in ED and while I was wheeled straight in I had to wait several hours for
xrays, still flat on my back with a collar on – only able to see a very small
portion of the ceiling. I’d sent Tim home to have a shower and get dressed, and
bring back in some stuff for me so when I started feeling sick there was no-one
around.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I buzzed the nurse as the nausea built up
but no-one came, just as I was wondering how I would roll myself over to vomit
the porter came to get me for xray and the nausea settled a touch. I was
wheeled into xray and the radiographer asked my name only to be answered with
“I’m going to vomit”. With the bed still only half in the room I had 5 people
log-rolling me (to protect my spine in case of spinal injury) so I could vomit
in a cup over the side of the bed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPx9T1uR1u5-B72hJScQguofTtJUo-23kikYGg-rh7nmM79YcUL1u5RG9yjEPHjWDvyGSYGAUfpYJOYSzuDOeDLIj8Fst5mrs0jNlSU5j6qlPLNdnBAzOEtBbB-aDlEigakESVgBXII2tp/s1600/Image+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPx9T1uR1u5-B72hJScQguofTtJUo-23kikYGg-rh7nmM79YcUL1u5RG9yjEPHjWDvyGSYGAUfpYJOYSzuDOeDLIj8Fst5mrs0jNlSU5j6qlPLNdnBAzOEtBbB-aDlEigakESVgBXII2tp/s1600/Image+11.jpg" height="400" width="238" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Then I was rolled again and slid over to
the x-ray table… it was odd being on the other side having rolled so many
patients over the years. The xrays started off ok as they did my spine and
chest to rule out other injuries, then they did my arm and having them move it
made me cry with pain. The lovely ED doctor gave me more IV fentanyl and in
doing so whacked his head super hard on the xray machine, I did offer to share
the fentanyl with him but he assured me he was ok.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4daeSAOg7Pt3ZNhCOAYlOnVvLj4A8oVY33JiKPU8O7CSmPIQRaMeBGwUiA1izyNuy-QZK4jWMexy3oCypgjftv4RyOFUeTF2m-C1wEteh03HPmLDFNhsm2_CX7VB2ui3t2NojngoTdBmu/s1600/Image+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4daeSAOg7Pt3ZNhCOAYlOnVvLj4A8oVY33JiKPU8O7CSmPIQRaMeBGwUiA1izyNuy-QZK4jWMexy3oCypgjftv4RyOFUeTF2m-C1wEteh03HPmLDFNhsm2_CX7VB2ui3t2NojngoTdBmu/s1600/Image+12.jpg" height="400" width="163" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Back out into bed 10 and the nausea hit
again, luckily they had cleared my spine of injury so with my collar off and
now sitting up I proceeded to dry retch for the next couple of hours despite
all the antiemetic medications they gave me. The orthopaedic registrar came to
see me and explained I was going to need surgery because I had a fracture of my
distal radius with dislocation of the distal radioulnar joint – a combination
special enough to have its own name <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Galeazzi</i>
fracture (I’d broken my arm and dislocated part of my wrist joint). He also
explained that I was unlikely to get to theatre that evening so they were going
to do a reduction and backslab in ED and consent me for theatre in the morning.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The reduction and backslab was an
interesting experience, they performed a Biers block which is were they put a
tourniquet around my upper arm above the fracture, then injected local
anaesthetic into a vein in the hand of the fractured arm. This make the whole
arm go numb then two burly orthopods pulled my hand which the ED doctor
stabilised my upper arm… Tim got a bit faint at this point as my arm was
stretchy and mobile in places it shouldn’t be and I could bones grinding. However
it wasn’t painful and soon I had a plaster backslab on which gave me much more
pain relief, as everything was kept immobile.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYHSyKFDbgl31xXSSwF4aSmrxWT_CX-TbWByWlxL0UfldcAitH54I2ar9vaUKo-weYQn3thlyU3IaVKxd611t4fUxRJc4DSE0CkQWcy9MQS5rA0ZZNcjOGjvRQt9Kf7maHORNoVzhO7MG/s1600/IMAG0292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYHSyKFDbgl31xXSSwF4aSmrxWT_CX-TbWByWlxL0UfldcAitH54I2ar9vaUKo-weYQn3thlyU3IaVKxd611t4fUxRJc4DSE0CkQWcy9MQS5rA0ZZNcjOGjvRQt9Kf7maHORNoVzhO7MG/s1600/IMAG0292.jpg" height="400" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">damage to left brake hood - where my hand was</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Then it was off to the ward for a night of
very little sleep and up to theatre the next morning. In theatre the bolted on
a titanium plate to fix the fracture and relocated the wrist, the it was back
to the ward for a second night of no sleep (but at least it was an awesome
stage of le Tour!) and some IV antibiotics to ward off infection.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">And so Monday morning dawned an it was
supposed to be day one of my orthopaedic rotation, but instead of being at the
7am x-ray meeting I was an inpatient on the ward and my x-ray were being
presented and discussed!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I’m now home and hoping that thing heals
super quickly, I feel incredibly lucky that I got hit and ONLY have a broken
arm. I also feel quite shaken that someone basically tired to kill me in broad
daylight, drove off leaving me in the gutter and is unlikely to ever get
caught. I try and make safe decisions cycling, I choose quieter roads or those
with a wide shoulder or bike lane, I wear bright colours, I have good lights
and night and of course wear a helmet. Unfortunately that’s all I can do, and
it wasn’t enough last Saturday. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Thanks to everyone who was or is part of my
care, who has sent me messages, flowers, food, balloons and positive thoughts.
Thanks to Cheeky who are looking after my roadie to get me back on a trainer
ASAP. Please ride safe out there and please spread the word that car drivers
just need to look for bikes.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">If anyone is wondering, the accident happened at about 2:30pm on 6/07/13 at the corner of Minmi Rd and Warkworth St Maryland. The car involved was bottle green, perhaps a Hyundai excel or similar around 10 years old with a small rear spoiler. I think there was a front passenger as well. I swerved and made it almost passed the car, meaning they hit my with the drivers front corner. Anyone with information can contact the Waratah police 4926 6599</span></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-18642863738165661852013-06-18T13:51:00.001+10:002013-06-18T17:35:49.871+10:00Rocky Trail MTB GP – Round #3 Ourimbah<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I always struggle in winter, I tend to
hibernate and my training suffers. While Newcastle winters aren’t much to
complain about compared to what those Canberrans go through it’s still pretty
darn uninspiring at 5am when the alarm goes off for that training ride. As I
mourn my lack of training I console myself with chocolate which really doesn’t
help the power-to-weight ratio either.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">And so, having entered my hibernating cave
after the Convict100 I was a little worried that my kit wouldn’t fit and my
legs wouldn’t work for this June round of the five-race series. Actually, I had
managed to drag myself out of bed for a couple of weeks back on the training
wagon prior to Sunday’s race at Ourimbah but with only 3 weeks back on the
training wagon and a month of slothfulness prior to that… well it might just be
about to hurt! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After anxiously watching the forecast we
got up Sunday morning and it was raining in Newcastle. With Ourimbah only an
hour away we just had to hope that it was just far enough inland to stay a bit
drier, and luckily the weather gods were kind. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z3egWd7OLfcOyd_RpfgcEEdioI9-W38QhljiC2LK5Y2VJzlorA3bY91T8U4pk-vSjkJ4mHkGmv97QOfylcFRqKAwlXHb8URDvpvFWCALMCTN75eenGLBiStU-xVcDyakLsm0orWHcweY/s1600/startline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z3egWd7OLfcOyd_RpfgcEEdioI9-W38QhljiC2LK5Y2VJzlorA3bY91T8U4pk-vSjkJ4mHkGmv97QOfylcFRqKAwlXHb8URDvpvFWCALMCTN75eenGLBiStU-xVcDyakLsm0orWHcweY/s1600/startline.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chats on the start line</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The trail head was packed and the ground
was dry when we showed up, and the rego line was almost down the road. Martin
and Julianne run such great events that every man and his dog had showed up…
not that I was interested in the men and dogs it was the women who caught my
eye. Liz Smith the female Australian 24hour champ, Nienke Oostra my 100km
competitor… this was going to be interesting! While the rego people could tell
me the Nienke was out to smash up the four-hour field, Liz Smith was indeed
going to be challenging me in the 7-hour solo. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">With tables set up with bottles and food it
was off down the fire road to assemble for an uphill fireroad sprint to sort
out the pack. With a good position on the start line I managed to hold a fairly
good position into the single track but not good enough to avoid the usual
stop-start, track-standing and unclipping bonanza that happens when 300 people
are overexcited and racing. Luckily things cleared up a bit by the infamous
“drop-off” and taking the A-line (for anyone wondering YouTube can <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyFpwJERuYA" target="_blank">show you the line</a> ) let me overtake a crowd on the B-line (which <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Z3ujQOSiI" target="_blank">isn't much easier</a>) and into
fairly clear track. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW-nqYjPs5nDGUwZn-UWe5Ppla7gb1SmQQtWYFNJG7uPCUrJWQcR4gYcjuw7-07pO9hTp37AX4JpJh7Ul-poPcJzREB4EANXHRGmu1XPQx6dbjyXpJTB1Yc_zRnDnvnFUVzMCOshmv0iD/s1600/start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW-nqYjPs5nDGUwZn-UWe5Ppla7gb1SmQQtWYFNJG7uPCUrJWQcR4gYcjuw7-07pO9hTp37AX4JpJh7Ul-poPcJzREB4EANXHRGmu1XPQx6dbjyXpJTB1Yc_zRnDnvnFUVzMCOshmv0iD/s1600/start.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A hill sprint to wake the legs up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Ourimbah track is my favourite track to
race on, it suits my technical skills and I simply love riding it. That’s not
to say it doesn’t challenge me – the grazes on my knees can attest to that –
but in general it’s a track that I do well on. Coming towards the end of lap
one and I looked down to see that I was on track for a sub-30 minute lap! Well
I was, until a left turn put us into some rain forested track I’d never ridden
before, complete with slippery roots to trip up unwary riders and a few mud
holes to avoid this bit of track added several minutes to the track used last
year. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">As it was I was lapping in just over half
an hour, and figured that 12 laps or potentially 13 would be attainable. I had
a sneaky goal to be the “virtual” winner of the 4-hour event as well, just to
give myself some more competition but my main aim was to hold off Liz in the 7-hour
event. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After the first hour I settled into a
rhythm and started to tick off the laps, I started lapping girls in the 4-hour
event and became quite confused about where they all stood in the standings. I
hadn’t seen Nienke or Liz so I assumed they were both behind me but probably
not far behind. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTsx9q4ADsDdg2OVySZTQg_axiaZawMB9NYYhXVzfhyphenhyphenuSmiL1nNVQaeQ4I2zW8kzOXLce-FbmnlLQXD1zsSG3jMAbl4GvGY9PH29Coh-t12Nq5UkezfILzdCXBK9wfmMSzdvMAHdLgNRa/s1600/1017420_10151523820718924_1695812149_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTsx9q4ADsDdg2OVySZTQg_axiaZawMB9NYYhXVzfhyphenhyphenuSmiL1nNVQaeQ4I2zW8kzOXLce-FbmnlLQXD1zsSG3jMAbl4GvGY9PH29Coh-t12Nq5UkezfILzdCXBK9wfmMSzdvMAHdLgNRa/s1600/1017420_10151523820718924_1695812149_n.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising the flowy track!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB">As the four hour drew to a close I came
through transition with a minute and half to go, so had I raced that format I
would have just got 8-laps in and feeling pretty strong too at that point. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In the men’s race Mark Tupalski and Ed
MacDonald were whizzing round at stupid speeds and as a result lapped me
several times during the race. Each time they had a nice chat and Ed even
complimented my riding up the rocky section of Jelly Legs climb… personally I
am huffing and puffing a bit too much at that point to chat, they make it look
so easy!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">As the 5-hour mark rolled past I started to
really feel the course take its toll. After clearing the rocks in the first 8
laps, I made mistakes and missed my lines up Jelly Legs in laps 9 and 10. I
hadn’t had any time checks so I didn’t know how close Liz was but I could feel
that I was struggling and her 24-hr background I was tipping that she was still
be strong. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEr48ABlnLy2wW1_6Al92Ww_on3SdqhYn5J6uLjgwGdtAQasJBsJ_tWXppHYculWfcRsQDQ4LfsRQ4-E3Uygw5jHm2eP2Dm3YfkFUZvLDel8hEo6Hh9QgDXwMFvmqyDBIqLbT9bdV5wN-L/s1600/ourimbah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEr48ABlnLy2wW1_6Al92Ww_on3SdqhYn5J6uLjgwGdtAQasJBsJ_tWXppHYculWfcRsQDQ4LfsRQ4-E3Uygw5jHm2eP2Dm3YfkFUZvLDel8hEo6Hh9QgDXwMFvmqyDBIqLbT9bdV5wN-L/s1600/ourimbah.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">The last three laps were a struggle; that
small chain ring I’d ordered for Convict100 was finally on my bike and I found
myself spinning granny gear on climbs very thankful for the extra easy gears. I
found my rhythm at a lower speed and cleaned the line up Jelly Legs twice more,
but I was just ticking off minutes and waiting for it to end. My back was
killing and all I wanted to do was get off the bike and lie down, I had lapped
all the other solo girls except Liz and I knew that now I was probably holding
her off rather than pulling away from her. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVOiAsAXkKm2zVdr2wKF4WVV_G8fxWAU8L8z8Lt7rbV_bl6uYkMco-wkgGCkuhCSi3IZUZEZ1fc0TilL2TA6sQgf1G7ZOR1AwdpsXOZU6pMCBQ8LEotBH_1o5lusvYCI3oT54w6yxQTHy/s1600/climb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVOiAsAXkKm2zVdr2wKF4WVV_G8fxWAU8L8z8Lt7rbV_bl6uYkMco-wkgGCkuhCSi3IZUZEZ1fc0TilL2TA6sQgf1G7ZOR1AwdpsXOZU6pMCBQ8LEotBH_1o5lusvYCI3oT54w6yxQTHy/s1600/climb.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hurting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Finally on my second last lap I asked
timing for a time check, 14 minutes up was the reply and I breathed a sigh of
relief. I had calculated that I would come in super close to cut off and having
a decent buffer meant I could avoid pushing hard for an extra lap. Plus barring
a mechanical I wasn’t going to lose 14 minutes in two laps. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">On my last lap I lapped Catherine for
second time and she told me cut-off was actually at 6hrs45mins not 7 hours due
to daylight – I had somehow missed that part of briefing… so I definitely was
only doing 12 laps and this was definitely my last WOOOHOO</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Rolling across the line was pretty sweet,
the same number of laps as last year in a faster time but also on a longer
track – not bad for someone who has to be dragged out of their hibernation cave
in the morning! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I was stoked to beat Liz but also pretty
aware that had the race been a few hours longer she probably would have caught
me. I’m not planning on giving her the chance to prove it but hats off to her
and her 24-hour efforts – 7hrs hurts more than enough for me!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhO1rlH-GaF1mcUr3-p6iGeT52r2OFMTEv8VtFiKtlX1wjvVHux3yci9CfJ8ynhJ8OhQnRUZcN5xhQS5wTfY1z-UpE-Ysf4MDWtkxViQ5ls62cbxsQCyUmUEFI202tHfjwAmcPLMChNgq/s1600/winners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhO1rlH-GaF1mcUr3-p6iGeT52r2OFMTEv8VtFiKtlX1wjvVHux3yci9CfJ8ynhJ8OhQnRUZcN5xhQS5wTfY1z-UpE-Ysf4MDWtkxViQ5ls62cbxsQCyUmUEFI202tHfjwAmcPLMChNgq/s1600/winners.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7 hour solo winners </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-19005864558424547692013-05-05T12:35:00.000+10:002013-06-18T14:13:54.581+10:00Convict 100km – St Albans<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB"></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Convict100km (formerly DirtWorks100km)
is an iconic 100km event based out of the sleepy town of St Albans and the
sandstone escarpments of the Hawksberry river valley. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">As with Capital Punishment, I had stepped
up a notch and entered the elite division of the event rather than
age-category, and yet again it was the start that had me scared. Unlike Capital
Punishment, where a self-seeded top 100% start with elites, Convict has a pure
elite start, which meant five girls and about 25 men would be heading out 10
minutes before the rest of the field. Now the first 8-10km of the course is
fairly flat sealed and well-maintained dirt road so staying in the pack gives a
distinct advantage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was exactly it
– whichever girls could hold the pace of the elite mens peleton would gain an
advantage as they were towed to the bottom of the first climb. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Oh yes the first climb…. Infamous! In fact
the week before the event I had a panic about the first steep climb, which has
a 900m section with an average of 17%! I had only ever ridden the climb on a
26er with 3x9 gearing and online calculators were telling me that a 29er with
2x10 was basically going to have me pushing a much harder gear up the hill. In
a panic a begged my mechanic for more gears so they dutifully ordered me
another (smaller) front chain ring but it failed to arrive before the race. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9fhC-QuhwGZXdg8-gccLUiudj-p4SHKpKrudo3Qg-uhILA-yHo9R51hzwoFfK0gLCejgCaco6jLrgJ7N8Cuee_Gjxkf9kJHZmC6CVU4FNu0DuqVlTGJjrfWhQm3L2ZKvzRCiKiG3boU_/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-06-18+at+12.33.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9fhC-QuhwGZXdg8-gccLUiudj-p4SHKpKrudo3Qg-uhILA-yHo9R51hzwoFfK0gLCejgCaco6jLrgJ7N8Cuee_Gjxkf9kJHZmC6CVU4FNu0DuqVlTGJjrfWhQm3L2ZKvzRCiKiG3boU_/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-06-18+at+12.33.11+PM.png" height="286" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes Strava gives you too much to think about!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">So there it was, I was on the start line at
the back of elite crapping myself about falling of the back of the bunch,
walking the first climb and generally making a fool of myself. In the end only
one of the two happened – I got spat out of the back of the bunch but at least
it was out of sight of the start line. I also wasn’t the first with Nienke
Oostra (Marathon MTB) going backwards through the group just slightly before
me. Unfortunately for both of us that meant a long slog alone while the other
girls got a fast ride to the bottom of the climb. Neinke was out of sight
behind me and the bunch was out of sight in front as I turned onto the farm
track toward the first climb.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Reaching the bottom of the climb I was
totally alone, I reasoned that at least this meant I wouldn’t be seen to walk
the hill if my gearing proved too much and I started the slog up. Having the
track to myself proved useful, I could pick and choose my line and even take a
few zig zags over water bars where required. My memory of the hill had
embellished it, and while it is nasty, steep and hard, I did manage to ride it
and crested the top still totally alone but with cheers of encouragement from
the photographer stationed at the top. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I knew I was in 4<sup>th</sup> place with
Nienke still behind me; Jenny Fay (Sell Specialized) would certainly be off in
front with Naomi Hansen (Marathon MTB) and Imogen Smith (previously Cannondale
MTB, AIS road athlete) somewhere in the mix trying to chase her. My aim was to
hold 4<sup>th</sup>, I knew from Capital Punishment that Neinke and I were
pretty evenly matched, so it wasn’t going to be a clear run home. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Around the first feed station the front
runners of the next wave start started coming through, it was great to see some
familiar faces and offer and receive encouragement from the likes of fellow
Cheeky rider Andrew Lloyd. Still all these boys had gained 10 minutes on me and
so there wasn’t much hope of hanging on their tails, I was essentially still
riding alone. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After around 30km of smooth-ish firetrail,
the Convict100 course takes a sharp right hand turn onto the Old Great North
Road. This is where the fun begins with the eroded sandstone providing ledges,
steps and channels along with a smattering of loose baby head rocks and patches
of sand. Tim had just caught up to me having started 10 minutes behind and I
let him pass only to find myself sitting right on his wheel through the rough
the stuff. I started to wonder about calling track only to think that he’d
gained 10 minutes on me so surely I wasn’t going to be faster than him. After a
while he missed his line on a rocky section and spun out his rear wheel forcing
an unclip, I scooted passed and let the Lapierre do her thing over the rocky
ground. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrGILntptCOlERPzTGHF2e5mFaEunrzWVb85c6F6427TMygHeMlGYULlrr-LimVsAJom0BAI5pMngi2AOqXGAjPQEUidYx7MCjZQZh9yyrZ49pEYNmWKcCfbdxLwckYOqCPG3Od-KK_ID/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-06-18+at+12.33.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrGILntptCOlERPzTGHF2e5mFaEunrzWVb85c6F6427TMygHeMlGYULlrr-LimVsAJom0BAI5pMngi2AOqXGAjPQEUidYx7MCjZQZh9yyrZ49pEYNmWKcCfbdxLwckYOqCPG3Od-KK_ID/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-06-18+at+12.33.54+PM.png" height="161" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevation profile for Convict shows the two major climbs out of the river valley...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Having raced the course on a 26inch hard
tail the passed two years, it was heaven having a 29er dually to bomb through
the rocks. I cleaned lines I had struggled with in the past, and was suddenly
riding the same speed or even faster than the men around me who had started 10
minutes behind me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Coming through the 50km feed station I was
stoked to see myself on track for a faster time than previous years, and
wondered when Tim would catch me again considering the gentle climb out of 10
mile hollow. Sure enough he caught me near the top of the climb but once again
the Lapierre allowed me to pass him again once back into the techy stuff before
Shepards Gully. Riding hard along through the rocks in the section I was
surprised to come across a large group of Asian tourists out for a walk. My
initial annoyance with them for being on the track soon disappeared as they
jumped to the side and started madly cheering and clapping for me. I broke into
a grin as one guy yelled, “go number 5, number 5 go, we are so proud of you
number 5!” … I even gave him a high five as I passed and had to grin he reacted
like I’d told him he’d won the lottery and I could hear his jubilant laughter
and cheering fading back into the distance for several minutes… random but
cool.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Arriving at the river crossing, with the
new addition on a walking bridge next to the riding bridge, I dumped my Camelbak
at the feed station and tackled the infamous ride across the kayak bridge.
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7vDLzGDtYfIkhYXXy46H7B3ysrDZX6iFW_Nkvj3pXS5aWS89vQzzLvRUIpjjBgx0uHzi45oEwnldYLmwNOa-qZOZ8edtn8PLtKRqbwZSjtCGKFwZCuKZP91JOEy3IKfBHWgp5gDx4PmB/s1600/canoebridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7vDLzGDtYfIkhYXXy46H7B3ysrDZX6iFW_Nkvj3pXS5aWS89vQzzLvRUIpjjBgx0uHzi45oEwnldYLmwNOa-qZOZ8edtn8PLtKRqbwZSjtCGKFwZCuKZP91JOEy3IKfBHWgp5gDx4PmB/s1600/canoebridge.jpg" height="357" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding the bridge isn't for everyone!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Despite a gut-lurching wobble near the end I made it four out of four and hit
the ankle deep sand on the other side. Once on the road I teamed up with
another bloke and we pulled turns on the tarmac section, being joined half way
along by a few more to make a train. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Then at 72km there’s a right turn and the
road goes up… and up…. and up some more. And people around who haven’t done the
race before start asking people around them “when does this hill end, how far
to the top?”. Tim passed me again not far into the climb but staying with him
was never going to be possible so I just kept grinding, pedal stroke after
pedal stroke. It was now more than the first climb that I missed having an
extra granny gear, with almost 4 hours in the legs there were times I wished I
could just spin an easier gear, but I still made the couple of steep pinches
and eventually the 85km point appeared with the welcome right hand turn onto
the descent track. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzogVviNVVY3z12P6R4yGNrlua0ls064gJpT6poLfQvDGWCGYGfwfCgH4XVOtrlmmCxk7SunOFLZPg1sHbWvvjhx70T6n1_9Ge0VUO9YlkNYx629ceNtGy_QwqnTXZ0A-JHIbCKdNG_Yd5/s1600/Convict100finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzogVviNVVY3z12P6R4yGNrlua0ls064gJpT6poLfQvDGWCGYGfwfCgH4XVOtrlmmCxk7SunOFLZPg1sHbWvvjhx70T6n1_9Ge0VUO9YlkNYx629ceNtGy_QwqnTXZ0A-JHIbCKdNG_Yd5/s1600/Convict100finish.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One beer at the finish and I was tipsy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Now I realised that my goal of finishing in
less than 5 hours might be achievable, but it was going to be close. I pushed
as hard but kept things sensible down the steep descent of Jacks track, then
popping out onto the river valley floor I tried to hold a good pace along the
undulations to the last creek crossing through a sandy creek bed and shallow
water. Once on the other side the 100km course joins the 50km for the last
3-4km into town and suddenly I had a lot of riders around. Unfortunately most
were riding slower than me but I did get a few wheels for a while to help
maintain speed. Then all of a sudden there are parked cars on the side of the
road, and tents, and houses and a sharp left hand turn into the finishing
straight and under the arch…. 4 hours, 59 minutes and one second! I had broken
five hours; that time alone would have had me on the elite podium the two years
previous but unfortunately not this year – I was 7 minutes off the time of 3<sup>rd</sup>
place Imogen Smith. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Even without a podium I was happy with my
race and my time, I would have won my age category by half and hour and I
simply didn’t have another 7 minutes in the tank. </span></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-66826578146965277692013-04-22T12:22:00.000+10:002013-06-18T13:59:53.036+10:00Rocky Trail MTB GP – Round #2 James Estate Winery<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLY5JgMG0oBqEp91ZK-NswGN4AwSDbU1-XOExqZOL-CY6E_Y-rFgr7APQXFRbmozepP4qetObn117_PubshTGu5xev3J2oygVUWKzrt-OlNfafwegFmf_J0a56R5QiuaFkiaDtuKCvX2MN/s1600/JamesEststart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLY5JgMG0oBqEp91ZK-NswGN4AwSDbU1-XOExqZOL-CY6E_Y-rFgr7APQXFRbmozepP4qetObn117_PubshTGu5xev3J2oygVUWKzrt-OlNfafwegFmf_J0a56R5QiuaFkiaDtuKCvX2MN/s1600/JamesEststart.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James Estate provided the perfect backdrop and the microlites got the photographers into position!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Round two of the Rocky trail series took to
the Hunter Valley’s beautiful vineyards and in particular to the James Estate
Winery where wine making and mountain biking both have a home. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLR_NEXazqB_NHEBC0YaOEFtQbv6YDPqWYvl1INizj4SPwtNB7MdIs0Wv3G5qzL0wqZNRrzyC_OC4AP72MdNQDF0N_3ti9jvoE7o-U4Q_t6dju_I2w7NIAniK61hp8K3OrsGoxNJOuEgsz/s1600/jamesests.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLR_NEXazqB_NHEBC0YaOEFtQbv6YDPqWYvl1INizj4SPwtNB7MdIs0Wv3G5qzL0wqZNRrzyC_OC4AP72MdNQDF0N_3ti9jvoE7o-U4Q_t6dju_I2w7NIAniK61hp8K3OrsGoxNJOuEgsz/s1600/jamesests.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">It was a unique idea having the race
transition at a cellar door, and it definitely seemed to attract a larger
component of family and friends as well as the usual riders. The James Estate
crew opened up a nice paddock for camping and the night before the race saw
clear skies and cold temperatures. Unfortunately rain was forecast for race
day, although it looked like we might escape the worst of it as it clung more
to the coastal fringe. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">As it turned out, the coast got belted with
rain and we had a couple of very light showers and perfect race conditions. The
track was a mixture of firetrail and singletrack with the singletrack being
sandy, rocky and fun. The sand became sandier during the race and loose corners
definitely claimed some skin and pride. I managed to loose my front wheel in a
corner and drew blood and twisted my levers round on my handlebars. But it
wasn’t anything that couldn’t be sorted out in transition and I was back on the
race track pretty quick smart. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxH5xf7wune_FMEsPD4QuU0pcoLir8geHkYYQEonWTWvRpga0uIjFSnf-fPrTqaoCXyhSlTxDpKYggDOsOrWNR9Rj0SvH-42y998ANHGl0d057ccQmk1mwdwafe9DCggTfUYplnJbH9BH/s1600/jamesest.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxH5xf7wune_FMEsPD4QuU0pcoLir8geHkYYQEonWTWvRpga0uIjFSnf-fPrTqaoCXyhSlTxDpKYggDOsOrWNR9Rj0SvH-42y998ANHGl0d057ccQmk1mwdwafe9DCggTfUYplnJbH9BH/s1600/jamesest.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Yet again I had Catharine and Su out on
track but also Meredith Quinlan, Deb Davies and Belinda Davis… one of the
largest female solo fields yet! My fellow Cheeky rider Andrew Lloyd was
comfortably out in front in the male solo field and I was easily leading the
female solos. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">With around half the track being firetrail
I thought it was be an easier race but the sandy conditions made for super hard
work in the single track and my legs were definitely threatening to cramp by
the last couple of laps. Despite having a comfortable lead that meant I didn’t
need a 13<sup>th</sup> lap, I headed out again just before cut off and managed
to lap Meredith just before the finish bringing home another solo win and yet
again the fastest female lap time for the race. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Well done Rocky Trail on another fantastic
event and for injecting some new trails and locations into the race scene.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiI-hvFMQU_jrwhyYmCdyG_y6zKGGxdjZEPY1WVqk_O9QkJ-qPUBerWxx51Um3R2xrX1W_W-i2HMJK2BLiVmarG15CmegZ_XsvYnUQGg6zeiyXG9xG8kYGD_Vy72vthulBigkI0Bxzw7x9/s1600/podiumJames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiI-hvFMQU_jrwhyYmCdyG_y6zKGGxdjZEPY1WVqk_O9QkJ-qPUBerWxx51Um3R2xrX1W_W-i2HMJK2BLiVmarG15CmegZ_XsvYnUQGg6zeiyXG9xG8kYGD_Vy72vthulBigkI0Bxzw7x9/s1600/podiumJames.jpg" height="252" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-54079625557349705612013-04-02T11:40:00.000+11:002013-06-18T14:02:09.240+10:00Rocky Trail MTB GP – Round #1 Awaba<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiePX3tr4DPAan83Mhxz-RJqULvyZ8luvIUOwUENlDJausqJJjAxRa4QQbyEl3hRXfbzfxUKNFvcaB9eLMF5nUShwThPj2F0YPYYE9TIB5uOjc5PNVNfY2c_yylQ3SDdh-0sLDxsfDFEGP/s1600/awaba4.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiePX3tr4DPAan83Mhxz-RJqULvyZ8luvIUOwUENlDJausqJJjAxRa4QQbyEl3hRXfbzfxUKNFvcaB9eLMF5nUShwThPj2F0YPYYE9TIB5uOjc5PNVNfY2c_yylQ3SDdh-0sLDxsfDFEGP/s1600/awaba4.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bottleneck on the single track soon eased</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB">The Rocky Trail’s first round suffered a
few weather inflicted set backs earlier in the year and eventually took place
on Easter Monday at our local club track Awaba. Despite it being Easter
weekend, the event near sold out and the trailhead was a hive of activity when
we arrived and registered. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Soon enough we were racing and off into the
single track which I know so well, having raced at Awaba countless times
before. I had the usual competition of Su Pretto and Catherine Wood, although
all being in different age categories we a well aware of each other out on
track. I knew the girls were behind me in lap one and I settled into my enduro
pace and started ticking off laps. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMA67zS9_2O7KfqUNe23eS7GAQp-5mRczwvqyvFJAUsfOZyi7xL_Tubguj44B3eunZAm7jXUsV5XNyigtrNlkl9HstRGfb5ecmHhPbXO4m6o3hRXvEK8yEl5Sh7Gxys2xXjHkf8_pBGRSE/s1600/awaba3.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMA67zS9_2O7KfqUNe23eS7GAQp-5mRczwvqyvFJAUsfOZyi7xL_Tubguj44B3eunZAm7jXUsV5XNyigtrNlkl9HstRGfb5ecmHhPbXO4m6o3hRXvEK8yEl5Sh7Gxys2xXjHkf8_pBGRSE/s1600/awaba3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the weather held out for a perfect day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB">Somewhere around half way through the race
I started to noticed what felt like my rear gears slipping on the climbs, and
this became rapidly worse until I suddenly realised it wasn’t the gears at all
but the rear hub was skipping engagement. I made a note to swap rear wheels the
next time through transition but I wasn’t to even get that chance, the rear hub
totally shat itself and suddenly my pedals were spinning without engaging the
hub. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I stopped and took stock; I was at the
point in the track furthest from transition and had no ability to pedal. I
decided to free wheel/ run the track back to transition and continued to my
way. Not long into this, after a decent fast down hill on firetrail I looked
down and saw my rear through axel merrily spinning away… the hub was so locked
up that freewheeling was actually unscrewing the through axel and I was riding
without my rear wheel properly attached. Hmmmm take two – I walked my bike back
to transition the fast route possible… all the time thinking that the girls
would be passing me any minute and I’d have to ride hard to pull them back
again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Back at transition I was thankful I’d
brought my stock wheels along as spares and was soon back on the trails with a
different rear wheel in. Surprisingly the girls hadn’t passed me at all, I’d
been about to lap them when the mechanical happened so I was still leading the
female solo field. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The rest of the race continued pretty much
without incident, Su and Catharine both called it a day at 5 hours and so I
just settled into a good pace and kept lapping enjoying the random company and
chat from other riders out on track. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0jUF0RyCL1x1yBVigWk704n3N1QLPeE212PvZ-ppgEraWWM2ZlYhgUyhNRXPgpvJpOL33JTAhVStHwwIzmaecYA1q-eJTgvsRl5c9BB3ZwfA5PEPW1fNRXhXjWy1IjuA1JxTj34JCeFg/s1600/podiumawaba.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD0jUF0RyCL1x1yBVigWk704n3N1QLPeE212PvZ-ppgEraWWM2ZlYhgUyhNRXPgpvJpOL33JTAhVStHwwIzmaecYA1q-eJTgvsRl5c9BB3ZwfA5PEPW1fNRXhXjWy1IjuA1JxTj34JCeFg/s1600/podiumawaba.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB">While the win was expected, I was honoured
to receive the Tracy Robinson trophy for fastest female lap on course for the
day. Tracy was an avid rider and supporter of Rocky Trail events who sadly lost
her fight with cancer way too young. That certainly put the mechanical in
perspective – regardless of broken hubs, lost time and having to run my bike
back to transition – I was out racing doing what I love, which is something
Tracy would have loved to do. </span></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-76636098016311199812013-03-26T11:39:00.000+11:002013-04-24T11:40:27.477+10:00The Mont24 <style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The Mont24 is a fantastic race, there’s
just something magical that happens when you mix over 2000 happy mountain
bikers with 20km of fantastic single track and a paddock full of tents,
caravans, swags and tarps. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">This year the weather was kind, those that
arrived early on the Thursday were treated to an early taste of winter but by
later on Friday the sun had come out and the rain and dust mixed to form hero
dirt on the trails. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_pUWV6E1uUgcL9VSnyijcYW9OYu6hWICU_88POZ1G24JPnPnAxCyC0jjfM0LPah8n0gcJL5mXM47lP7SuUwJo0llqND3ZK3WRU3DFTfM4hZ9v5hcj7vTYm5DGPaHjuJDUAfuUIrfBVd6/s1600/MontSunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_pUWV6E1uUgcL9VSnyijcYW9OYu6hWICU_88POZ1G24JPnPnAxCyC0jjfM0LPah8n0gcJL5mXM47lP7SuUwJo0llqND3ZK3WRU3DFTfM4hZ9v5hcj7vTYm5DGPaHjuJDUAfuUIrfBVd6/s1600/MontSunrise.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning dawns at the Mont24</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">This year both Tim and I joined the Newy Coghead
crew and entered a team of mixed 6, which was formed to be competitive in
overall standings. Normally in mixed 4s riding in a 6 was going to be a little
different in terms of tactics, it can also be a hotly contested division
depending on which sponsored riders come out to play. Unfortunately not long
out from the race we lost a rider to illness and so we were just five come
Saturday morning as the fog lifted from the campsite. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">First lap decisions were made easier this
year with the run replaced by an extra couple of kilometres of firetrail
riding, about time event organisers realised that if we wanted to run we would
enter city2surf! We sent Stu out first, despite being not on top form he still
smoked most of the field and came through fairly well placed from first lap
giving Ian “Bill Smith” a clear track – at least until he caught the slower
people still completing lap one. Unfortunately he had a passing incident on
course and henceforth became known as Kill Bill, he had to explain himself to
the race directors but it was all deemed unfortunate but Kosher and we kept
racing. Both Stu and Kill Bill put out fast sub 55-minute laps and Tim went out
next with my prediction of a 58-minute lap proving to be spot on. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyc9e5qCbGReKC51T3J8vOixbBvDDfIrzFr9gpKVkaSDrnQ9cTahMkK7nCPMbIfFldJ21ANlyyMzBHiWTxCihau1v7uOgJXwoHaosboqX5BHYZ8NE3lu4NrioDzOKCCdmteJfs0LxG3wt2/s1600/Montplanning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyc9e5qCbGReKC51T3J8vOixbBvDDfIrzFr9gpKVkaSDrnQ9cTahMkK7nCPMbIfFldJ21ANlyyMzBHiWTxCihau1v7uOgJXwoHaosboqX5BHYZ8NE3lu4NrioDzOKCCdmteJfs0LxG3wt2/s1600/Montplanning.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team planning is serious business</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Going out 4<sup>th</sup> rider I was hoping
traffic would have cleared a little but I still seemed to be doing a lot of
passing on the gentle climb out of transition. The course this year utilised an
adult sized mechano set to build a bridge allowing a figure-of-eight
configuration. This meant we headed out into previously uncharted trails for
the Mont24 in the Far East of Kowen. Fast and flowy descents were awesome fun
but also seemed to attract trains of riders, as passing was difficult in these
sections where even “slower” riders were still moving fairly quickly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The single track itself was Kowen goodness,
fast and smooth hard pack with tree roots, flowy corners and even the addition
of some interesting boardwalk A-lines. One climb in particular seems to suck
all your speed and send your heart rate sky high but mostly the climbing was
gentle and the descents whoop-worthy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The 29er dually was a fantastic steed for
the course, while rear suspension was perhaps not strictly necessary, it took
the roughness out of the roots and small rocks and the bike just seemed to
maintain momentum. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifYLPb6V44H2Zj8WcoLRCHc66_6gczmLqiVgPrRiTi_IAP-op_IhKA7FYw2kWBpuvwKXNEtcH4m1NJk3B7vtYJu1aJKyD316VOv8K4B_s8LzNBPAwhMa-6S5tASGy6r5_m8T2Bf6MvoJU/s1600/montteam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjifYLPb6V44H2Zj8WcoLRCHc66_6gczmLqiVgPrRiTi_IAP-op_IhKA7FYw2kWBpuvwKXNEtcH4m1NJk3B7vtYJu1aJKyD316VOv8K4B_s8LzNBPAwhMa-6S5tASGy6r5_m8T2Bf6MvoJU/s1600/montteam.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for race start - the motley crew! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Soon the track returned to more familiar
trails, the descent down Kowalski slide show is always a favourite and to
finish with the descent down beer garden almost makes you want to do a double…
almost – the lap was 20km long, that’s a long double! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Coming into transition I was just a touch
over an hour, and sent Keith out onto his first lap of his first ever mountain
bike race. At this stage in the event the leader boards are misleading so I
skipped the results tent and instead hit up the massage tent for some legwork –
bliss! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">There’s a special kind of time zone at
24hour races, everything revolves around lap times and transitions… eating,
sleeping, toilet breaks, clothing changes… it all revolves around “when am I
due out again” rather than social norms. Back at camp the usual activities were
afoot with bikes on work stands, lubed up, dusted off, and lights being fitted.
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtjgf3iV1kJk38a6BfIuwCyakAP-mAeGQyvk-rsRs6XOo5F4MA3E0JGC8xXpvi-Y9GHzs1FlFAP79WbTvScBOm9rZZ0cExE9oBEQ7SdRDP-lzp0iNGUBvm4QMn98Vw-LHswuKKNVXNqWZ/s1600/Montwhiteboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbtjgf3iV1kJk38a6BfIuwCyakAP-mAeGQyvk-rsRs6XOo5F4MA3E0JGC8xXpvi-Y9GHzs1FlFAP79WbTvScBOm9rZZ0cExE9oBEQ7SdRDP-lzp0iNGUBvm4QMn98Vw-LHswuKKNVXNqWZ/s1600/Montwhiteboard.jpg" height="400" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Consistency is the key!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I hadn’t used my new bar light before, it’s
a 1200 lumen GloWorm light and a fair bit brighter than my AyUps at 400 lumen.
A testament to the light then that this next lap was my fastest of the race, it
was also the fastest female night lap of the whole race. I think it had
something to do with having a little less traffic, still having fresh legs and
having now seen the course once but in the end I was gutted to realise I’d
crossed the line the time of one hour and one second – that one hour barrier
would elude me for the whole race! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Now the differences of being in five became
clear, we opted to stick with single laps overnight whereas I’ve always had to
do a long and cold double somewhere in the middle of the night before. With a
shorter break off the bike I opted for more massage and lie down rather than
attempting to sleep and felt remarkable fresh for my next lap around midnight,
surprising myself with another lap of just over an hour – so far my laps were
all within about 40 seconds of each other. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Early in the morning the fog rolled in, as
it always does at the Mont – it hung there suspended in the beams of your bar
lights or as a large orange cloud around the spotlights for the toilets. It
condensed and dripped off the multitude of gazebos and awnings and it made
everything just a little more chilly. It also made dawn late, and my predawn
lap stayed a lot darker than it otherwise would have been.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Overnight we had kept things on track, Stu
had one puncture but that just meant his lap time was similar to us other
mortals and the rest of us kept up consistent times. We were in first position
with around half an hour on second place come dawn, then the other team started
playing tactics. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">They had three fast guys on their team who
were just slightly faster than Stu and Kill Bill, their other teams members
were slower with two guys a bit slower than me and their girl a good 7-8
minutes slower than me. At around 6am they pulled their 3 slower teams mates
off the track and cycled through their fast guys in attempt to pull back the
half hour we had on them.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4AslwP9Gx94vsP1eR52cT0MEQ4cAAjPC_FY-5qWxwh7TCIdSnx93GkEisn5iGUyeJYkvwHP6uyfhMPgtyjJKO0KyCiaSoWcfZKp4ZOVOkqyLb-bm6D7rhTC5cOy_nH79I9YRHGt492Qk/s1600/Mont1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4AslwP9Gx94vsP1eR52cT0MEQ4cAAjPC_FY-5qWxwh7TCIdSnx93GkEisn5iGUyeJYkvwHP6uyfhMPgtyjJKO0KyCiaSoWcfZKp4ZOVOkqyLb-bm6D7rhTC5cOy_nH79I9YRHGt492Qk/s1600/Mont1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GTv43G_gSgWlvD5N10lNlhUiI8NYc68ZK2Xkwtemz2dG22kvqlcDaIBy7dCU_YiPxRl65ZAFOFVfrUes7PGVPOCP8Rcw0IdPpC5Q73jSwR38N8nGcWxlAji1n109GQzGpxuW3fWi0kj1/s1600/Montgirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GTv43G_gSgWlvD5N10lNlhUiI8NYc68ZK2Xkwtemz2dG22kvqlcDaIBy7dCU_YiPxRl65ZAFOFVfrUes7PGVPOCP8Rcw0IdPpC5Q73jSwR38N8nGcWxlAji1n109GQzGpxuW3fWi0kj1/s1600/Montgirls.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deb helped the boys win over 40s mixed 6s as well!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">We would have been safe except that in our
3<sup>rd</sup> last lap Tim had a puncture and lost around 8 minutes, which
meant I went out on second last lap later than expected. I pulled out yet
another consistent lap and came back 12 minutes before cut-off to send Keith
out on a nail-biting last lap. Second place came through with one second to
spare and sent their fastest rider out to chase Keith, all we could do was wait
and calculate lap times hypothesising about the finish. In the end Keith
brought it home, just two and half minutes ahead of the chasing team – what a
way to end your first ever mountain bike race! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">So there we go, 1<sup>st</sup> place in
mixed 6s with five riders – we all completed 5 laps each and all my five laps
were within 54 seconds of each other. I got fastest female night lap and 5 of
the top 13 fastest female laps overall in the race. Awesome work </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB"> </span></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-3593052827128041722013-03-25T11:28:00.000+11:002013-04-24T11:29:07.889+10:00Capital Punishment XCM 100km<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style>
-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Capital Punishment takes in some fantastic
Canberra singletrack in one 100km hit, initially touted to be the first race of
the 2013 XCM series it was bound to draw a strong field. Yet with the recent
collapse of the series (hopefully to be resurrected later this year) it became
a little harder to predict who would be racing in the pointy end of the female
field. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">With only three females entered in elite I
upgraded from age group category to elite the night before the race. The thing
I was most nervous about was that being in elite meant starting in the first
race wave, elite plus those who rank themselves in the top 10% of the overall
field. Starting out in Kowen forest means you head into single track fairly
early in the race and was worried that there would be a lot of fast guys behind
me wanting to get past. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Canberra was incredibly kind with the
weather this year, not only was it dry but the 7am start was very mild by
Canberra standards, I lined up near the back of the first wave start and pretty
soon the gun had gone and we off and racing. I had my eye on two of the other
elite girls, Nienke Oostra and Michelle Ainsworth, and entered the single track
just a couple of riders back from Michelle. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Despite my worries about the fast wave start,
I found myself enjoying the pace of the single-track conga-line. I even found
myself calling track on a few guys who were obviously not top 10% material. The
Kowen single-track rocks, it’s flowy, bermy and today it was also very dusty
and before long everything was coated with powder fine dust. A quick lap of
some Kowen trails and we headed under the Kings Hwy and into the Sparrow Hill
trails, the whole time I was keeping pace with Michelle who was still about 3
riders ahead of me. Nienke was somewhere behind and of course Jenny Fay was out
in front. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Then I saw Tim stopped on the side of the
track ahead and called out to him to see if he was ok, he’d had a flat and was
fixing it so I kept and into the next smooth corner… not so smooth it would
seem, something snagged my rear tyre and there was the sudden sound of rushing
air. I stopped and my rear had suffered yet another sidewall tear, much smaller
than the last time, and it had almost sealed with sealant. In the interests of
time I tried reinflating with CO2 but annoyingly the tear refused to seal. By
this stage the elite girls were gone and people from the wave starts behind we
starting to come through, I pulled out tyre levers and my tube and set to work.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Back on the bike I knew I had lost serious
time, Sue Thompson had come through and she’d started at least one wave start
behind me. I started chasing, but now I was in a much slower area of the field
and getting past groups of 4 or 5 riders in single-track was getting difficult
and time consuming. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">A few minutes later and I passed the first
timing mat, the snazzy electronic timing tells me that at this point in the
race my virtual position was 562<sup>nd</sup> overall and 23<sup>rd</sup>
female, and compared to the people I was keeping pace with before the flat I
had lost about 12 minutes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">We headed back to Kowen and I continued to
claw my way back through the field, passing scores of riders on the
single-track and blasting past people on the firetrail. There were several
longer sections of fireroad in Kowen and a moderate head wind on some of them,
at one point I came up behind a train of 5 or 6 riders, all happily sitting on
the wheel of a female rider who was putting in the hard yards. I hope what I
said shamed those boys into pulling a turn on the front, but unfortunately I
was on my own as everyone riding my pace was still well up ahead. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The first feed station this year was well
within Kowen and I passed that and over the second set of timing mats. By this
stage I’d clawed back over 200 places, sitting in a virtual 329<sup>th</sup>
and 9<sup>th</sup> female, but still far from the 3<sup>rd</sup> female
position I’d been sitting in before the flat. I say virtual position as the
staggered wave starts make it impossible to know on the ground where you stand
compared the person you’re passing, the timing takes all that into account but
it does make you feel a little like you’re chasing ghosts in the actual race. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Somewhere in the next section before
leaving Kowen I caught up to Sue Thompson on the trails, but I knew she still had
a good few minutes on me due to being a later wave start. I kept just pegging
people back, overtaking were I could and kept thinking that I had to keep
fighting because with only 4 elite girls it would only take one mechanical for
me to make the podium. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Popping out of Kowen and across the road
into defence land means a good section of well-formed fire road. I locked out
my suspensions and let those 29er wheels do their rolling thing, really wishing
that I’d had people my speed to work with. I pushed hard, no point leaving
anything in the tank – either I could catch those girls or I would know that I
had pushed my hardest trying. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Finally through defence land we entered Mt Majura,
a sad sight this year as roadwork and recent logging meant that the single
track was gone and we were tracking straight through on firetrail. One final
firetrail pinch and we crossed another set of timing mats, these ones
designating the start of the untimed section through Canberra’s suburban
streets. Looking at the timing, this were I passed Sue Thompson in terms of
race time, I’d moved up to 6<sup>th</sup> female and 230<sup>th</sup> overall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I could finally back off, eat and drink and
head behind the nearest tree for a pee. It’s an odd feeling having an untimed
section in a race, each year I struggle to get going again after it and this
year I had been planning on riding straight through at a moderate pace. However
with my rear tyre at about 15psi with a tube in I knew I was heading for a good
pinch flat at Stromlo, so I was on the search for a track pump. Unfortunately I
couldn’t see one in the feed station so I kept going despite the party
atmosphere with all the supporters and riders hanging out in the sun. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">We had chosen to stay with friends who were
riding the 50km, they also live pretty much on the untimed section, so I headed
there and swapped out my camelbak for a bottle and refuelled for the last 30km.
Luckily Beth had left the garage remote in the letter box so I could raid the
garage for a pump and spare CO2. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">With more air in the rear and spare CO2 in
case of further disaster, I set off again up the final stretch of untimed
section to the Black Mountain climb. This climb is a little nasty to legs that
have cooled down in the 55 minutes allowed for the untimed section, but mine
felt ok as I pushed on up the climb and around the firetrails with their loose
gravel and sand. The course in previous years has been fairly flat and fast
between Black Mountain and Stromlo so it starts to feel like you’re on the home
straight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">It was a bit of surprise then to come into
the Arboretum (which Tim tells me is pronounced Ah-bor-eee-tum, but I kept
trying to add an extra syllable in there somewhere) and turn a sharp right up a
nasty little climb. The three guys in front of me were walking and from the
feeling in my own legs I can only guess that they might have found that climb
fairly cramp inducing. Not content with one climb, the course continued around
the back of the Arboretum with several rolling climbs – definitely nastier than
previous years. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Finally however that was over and I crossed
the river and onto the final stretch of bike path to Stromlo. I passed a few
girls for the second time who must have spent less time in the untimed section
than me and pushed on to the gate into Stromlo which lead us into what was the
red loop at the Scott24. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Not long into the singletrack and I came up
behind a man and his young son, not connected with the race in anyway who had
decided to ride a 100km race track… not impressed. They let me pass on the
firetrail, how nice of them! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Feed station three was at the base of the
standard Stromlo singletrack climb, another set of timing mats by now I was in
5<sup>th</sup> overall female place, 10 minutes off Nienke although of course I
had no idea of that at the time. All I knew was I just had to get up Stromlo
and then down and I was done, I pushed hard and according to Strava got one of
my fastest times up Stromlo despite having 90km in the legs. In fact I pulled
back about a minute and a half on Nienke just on the climb and another 30
seconds on the descent but the race just wasn’t long enough to pull back the
other 8 minutes which separated us in the end. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The descent down Stromlo is a blast, a
great way to finish a race. I had a fairly clear run and let the bike go, using
every opportunity to make up time. Then finally it was all over and I was on
the crit track powering for home finally crossing the line in 5<sup>th</sup>
overall female and 179<sup>th</sup> overall. A great result but a bittersweet
finish, knowing that my ride time without the flat would have placed my 3<sup>rd</sup>
overall and on the elite podium. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-37404006618784637912013-02-16T22:33:00.001+11:002013-02-16T22:33:14.760+11:00The Rocky Trail 100
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"> Arriving at Stromlo and seeing Martin and
Juliane was like coming home, having done many of their events we know them
well and the vibe was just so friendly and relaxed after the national round.
The course was going to be awesome, up the usual climb then down the back of
the mountain with Pork Barrel, a loop of all that rocky stuff out the back then
onto old favourites like Double Dissolution and Party Line before another climb
(Blue Tongue and Heartbreaker?) back up to hook into Skyline and Luge, then
still not over it was a sharp left hander and into Blackberry Climb and Slant
Six before the descent back to camp. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Just short of the 33km planned, the course
came in at about 27-28km. So that meant that as entrants in the “100km” we’d be
riding a total of more like 83km, but it was 83km of Stromlo single track with
only minimal fire trail in the course – it was going to be tough. </span>
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKBb8MK4GswnJzk6KK1-rQlpFdfrRsCMxh5fUST_9ErTvjKmSMRVX5dvAg5EoZsKdrelmJjUgktGQ7pogsVMSLTgijDx1mTHPDMZgOk7kHmmyyEhyphenhyphenQPtdV8xh1NT7CNNjNsCWZshPCIsQ/s1600/IMAG0189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKBb8MK4GswnJzk6KK1-rQlpFdfrRsCMxh5fUST_9ErTvjKmSMRVX5dvAg5EoZsKdrelmJjUgktGQ7pogsVMSLTgijDx1mTHPDMZgOk7kHmmyyEhyphenhyphenQPtdV8xh1NT7CNNjNsCWZshPCIsQ/s1600/IMAG0189.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyKQjS7a5vYCyEghVNiAPZG9D02x9W8-G1lKhM_O3Kiq6lOaOPwY4fgSajkFTQ0iMtI8oOf9uB8jcqK5JZXS6c-eQ0TJhX3DwVrC54XIX5T-UnFrWZFy9Vn-4TAX-uLXkeP1Qw0nFDIBf/s1600/IMG_0210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyKQjS7a5vYCyEghVNiAPZG9D02x9W8-G1lKhM_O3Kiq6lOaOPwY4fgSajkFTQ0iMtI8oOf9uB8jcqK5JZXS6c-eQ0TJhX3DwVrC54XIX5T-UnFrWZFy9Vn-4TAX-uLXkeP1Qw0nFDIBf/s1600/IMG_0210.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good morning Stromlo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Luckily the thunderstorms that were
forecast just skirted the edge of Stromlo all night and the track was dry for
the mad buggers riding the 100-mile option, which kicked off at 5am. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">We had a much more relaxed start time of
9am but despite that it was a frantic rush to get ready with 10 minutes to go.
Lining up on the start line I placed myself mid-pack with no idea how the legs
would pull up after the smash fest the day before. Then we were off, sprinting
to the first single track which caused a bottleneck and we all got our heart
rates back down while we waited to file into the sniggle. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The conga line continued up the climb and I
started to feel like my legs were strong and happy to be back on the bike. The
bike itself was loving Stromlo, it just seemed to roll over the rolls and up
the climb. About half way up I could hear a 100-miler calling track on the guys
behind me, unfortunately timing had seen the lead rider Ed coming through for
lap 4 just as we started out so he was patiently passing the whole field of
100km and 66km riders despite having almost 100km in his legs already. Pulling
wide on a corner to let him through I was amazed he was still managing to thank
people and sound friendly it must have been a hell-of-a-job getting through
that field. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">By the top of the climb the conga line was
starting to spread out a bit, a few bits of rolling descent before the true
summit meant I could assess the descending speed of riders around me. I started
passing a few guys that I pegged as being slower than me on the descent. I know
that Pork Barrel doesn’t allow much passing and I didn’t want to get stuck
behind slower riders if I could help it. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iJnpBU-XJg_dx0sYPrHif8UFZ9hzFBNuJRCQze3qkpW6i6uROAHqDq6W6gBwCP5ntBWkTtTL2k36R_DKpjB_NuDj2vCoBhpATzPovX0urCVl_is5Dl5vgnWNdeD64BmGKY38e931Jzua/s1600/RT100.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1iJnpBU-XJg_dx0sYPrHif8UFZ9hzFBNuJRCQze3qkpW6i6uROAHqDq6W6gBwCP5ntBWkTtTL2k36R_DKpjB_NuDj2vCoBhpATzPovX0urCVl_is5Dl5vgnWNdeD64BmGKY38e931Jzua/s1600/RT100.1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The XR team is made for Stromlo.... :-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Hitting the true summit the remote lever
for my new CTD suspension allows for a simple flick and the platform is fully
open for descending. There was still a bit of traffic on Western Wedgetail and
then it was into Pork Barrel, which I haven’t ridden since the Rocky Trail MTB
GP round early last year. Some track work has smoothed out the start but the
big rock roll over is still there – the new bike taking the A-line in its
stride. Then I was on the tail of some bloke on a hard tail who was clearly
finding Pork Barrel a bit full-on, his rear wheel was bouncing all over the
place and I thought he was about to head over the bars. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Luckily he found a place for me to pass and
I headed on down over the smoother sections that have been reworked but still
like to launch unwary riders into some airtime. A sharp left over more rocks at
the bottom and we headed into some tracks that are usually out of the back of
the blue lap in the Scott24. These have names like Deep Creek and are generally
rocky enough to stop your wheels in their tracks if you pick the wrong line. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd0flxSnGaOP3hZOwLbdN1OJWkXv_V-jqa1_M6CQlhq9defqkLmCI4ebQsnLpP_cFSxEGdOXD16IAPcIEBtzWYJmmQnOVz1tTe7aW_6OcCHWaSDBCfybSm9iOZTdTHLWmjjjtuTMpO8IJ/s1600/149433_10151331846413924_1283122703_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtd0flxSnGaOP3hZOwLbdN1OJWkXv_V-jqa1_M6CQlhq9defqkLmCI4ebQsnLpP_cFSxEGdOXD16IAPcIEBtzWYJmmQnOVz1tTe7aW_6OcCHWaSDBCfybSm9iOZTdTHLWmjjjtuTMpO8IJ/s1600/149433_10151331846413924_1283122703_n.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by GiroPhoto</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">It was here the Lapierre came into its own,
it just rolled over rocks but without making me feel like I was driving a
semi-trailer. I still felt connected to the trail (something that you can loose
with full suspension 29ers) but I just felt like the bike was flowing over
everything. The suspension was now in trail mode and the rear shock took the
harshness out of the trail but without the feeling of losing too much power. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I know this section of track well after
many laps at 24 races and so I knew to give the guys in front a few bike
lengths before the tricky bits – meaning I could avoid unclipping when they
came unstuck. Loving the bike and loving the track I was happily chatting to
buys I was passing, quite a few of them called me Cheeky ;-) I guess it is
written across my bum! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After Deep Creek it was down a fast
firetrail and then a fairly rocky Missing Link climb back up to the start of
double dissolution. It was on this climb that I could see Tim up ahead, a
little odd as he usually puts minutes into me on the main Stromlo climb even
through I can put a bit of time into him in technical single track. Catching
him at the top of the Missing Link climb I heard that he’d had a decent stack
on the Pork Barrel roll down, complete with being hit by the guy behind who
couldn’t stop. I tailed him down double dissolution and then into the next
single track where I sat on his tail and got the whole story, his levers had
twisted around on his bars in the stack and he was planning to stop and fix it
at the end of the lap. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Coming out onto fire trail we started
climbing up to the start of Party Line – of course this meant I lost Tim as his
power on climbs is well beyond mine. I used the section to eat and drink before
heading into Party Line – wooot. Party line is just fun, it’s flowy and has
bermed corners although lately it has also had some loose sand which catches
the unwary. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Running new Rubena tyres (as well as a new
bike, new wheels) I did have a few hairy moments where I almost lost the front
wheel. There seemed to be a point on the turn where the side knobs suddenly
caught and whipped the tyre into a tighter turn than I was intending, I wasn’t
convinced I like the tyres but they were rolling fast. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHa5uv7NYOWP3N7_B4qRC9qIe2iw_s8UASPo5vvxqjiWFnNuyPSH8geyZDsbkF60K9JLbuTyxLBfyuLt6XbJUtmozJ_ECvB8ulpPDNkbnpqrun9MCqREbbCEFmdEFLJOQb-J8Jz5d1AjQ/s1600/IMG_0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkHa5uv7NYOWP3N7_B4qRC9qIe2iw_s8UASPo5vvxqjiWFnNuyPSH8geyZDsbkF60K9JLbuTyxLBfyuLt6XbJUtmozJ_ECvB8ulpPDNkbnpqrun9MCqREbbCEFmdEFLJOQb-J8Jz5d1AjQ/s1600/IMG_0213.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vanilla Bean GU - hardy stuff</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Out onto another short section of firetrail
and then into more single track with fast shallow corners and few rocks, I
could see Tim up ahead again and was gaining on him. In fact there are pretty
much no rocks on this section, which is why I couldn’t believe it when my
sidewall caught something in the middle of a corner and my rear tyre suddenly
starting raining sealant on everything within a few metres. Coming to a wobbly
stop I realised I’d had a fairly decent sidewall tear, about 2cm long and there
was no way it was self-sealing.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Out came the spare tube, the CO2 and … hmm
no tyre levers, I’d forgotten them. I managed to get the tyre off anyway and
was confronted with a swimming pool of sealant still in the tyre – what a
waste! About this time one of the guys I’d passed earlier pulled up “oh no
Cheeky,” he said “what’s happened?” I told him I’d ripped my sidewall but had
all the gear so he wished me luck and carried on. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Tube in and I realised it was just going to
herniate through the side wall, lucky I had a GU wrapper so that went in to
support the tear before I got the CO2 in and back on the trail. I lost about 11
minutes in that time and no girls had come past, so I figured I was either well
ahead of the other girls, or well behind them, and either way it wasn’t going
to change. So time to just ride and have fun. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEtuvj45r_iwokIXxtrrsafBpp5g4fWHLV72BcsX4DUTwaavTnPF3AXCgqPqlXT_yNZLjwS2f-RflRdg4zHSuuZZfNkesF7OmjFuFODZdeFSOaRyVYzCcMlNLu-kv511xho7FJqwUYLsk/s1600/IMG_0214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZEtuvj45r_iwokIXxtrrsafBpp5g4fWHLV72BcsX4DUTwaavTnPF3AXCgqPqlXT_yNZLjwS2f-RflRdg4zHSuuZZfNkesF7OmjFuFODZdeFSOaRyVYzCcMlNLu-kv511xho7FJqwUYLsk/s1600/IMG_0214.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the bulge, it held for another 60-odd kms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Coming back through transition Tim was just
heading out after his repairs, I grabbed the car key and checked my tyre
pressure with the track pump, grabbed another spare tube and CO2 before heading
out again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Having lost a total of around 15 minutes
now meant that I was passing pretty much all the riders I saw on track,
including some of the guys I’d passed previously who had seen me stopped with
the mechanical. A few of them called out encouragement, and several of them called
me Cheeky ;-) one of them complained afterwards that I’d passed him like he was
standing still. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Back up Stromlo again and the bike was just
flying, I was loving it so much that I was telling the riders I was passing
just how awesome it was. I think they thought I was mad, but seriously this
bike was just made for Stromlo. In the back of mind was the fact that I had a
vanilla bean GU wrapper bulging out of a side wall tear on one of the most tyre
munching trails I’ve ever ridden, but it would seem GUs wrappers are pretty
hardy and it was holding up well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Climbing up heart breaker climb for the
second time I passed Meryl King, one of only two women to take on (and
complete) the 100 miler, then it was onto back into Skyline and Luge for the
fun factor before finally coming into transition for the last lap. Tim was just
leaving again as I came in so it seemed we were lapping at similar speeds. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Having ridden the first two laps with a Camelbak
I ditched it in favour of just a bottle for the last lap. The Lapierre fits a
full 800ml bottle on even on a small frame – pretty good for a full-sus 29er –
and there was also a water station half way round if I needed to refill. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The weather had warmed up and despite some tantalising
drops of rain it had stayed dry and dusty. It was now around 12:30pm and the
full sun on the climb was roasting, black kit might not show the dirt but it
does warm up a little! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFUg48yLMA9kkm1xoPUKdSbpJrRL253mpG4L2secBhBWpYSRWbonK9Kf6sBwtOQINuP8U-qBYwNTqlEi8tlFgmvU6znlzpJNWB3DFB7ps4kYrr6qXnuMMjst11Dk3FK8L_Cr0PROEVen2/s1600/IMG_0217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFUg48yLMA9kkm1xoPUKdSbpJrRL253mpG4L2secBhBWpYSRWbonK9Kf6sBwtOQINuP8U-qBYwNTqlEi8tlFgmvU6znlzpJNWB3DFB7ps4kYrr6qXnuMMjst11Dk3FK8L_Cr0PROEVen2/s1600/IMG_0217.jpg" height="320" width="189" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stromlo can hurt too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The funny thing about Stromlo is that we’re
all used to riding certain loops that are commonly used in races, this means
certain section of track are associated with that feeling of “almost home”. The
double length loops in the Rocky Trail meant that those feeling would arise
automatically only for you to realise that you actually had to climb most of
the way back up the mountain again and complete another 10km before you were
home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"></span><br /><span lang="EN-GB">
In some of the fast corners just after Double Dissolution the inevitable
happened, the front wheel side knobs grabbed I was down hard on my right side –
unfortunately onto some rocks. Ouch, I swore and hopped around for a few
seconds before getting back on the bike, sorry to see a few small holes in my
Cheeky bib shorts. Stromlo claims yet more skin!</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vcDVRtre47FpZuagbvwUAhWZnzyzMlpTBIU9D-h6KD0WYralmqiHqSyu1es904dsgeRC2unre_4KR6p3IMlLqHbOLYfVwROLQy3Ce-rv5LCWsgITnb0FLfdF8fFs0Yu2QGiUc8VoXRjO/s1600/IMG_0215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vcDVRtre47FpZuagbvwUAhWZnzyzMlpTBIU9D-h6KD0WYralmqiHqSyu1es904dsgeRC2unre_4KR6p3IMlLqHbOLYfVwROLQy3Ce-rv5LCWsgITnb0FLfdF8fFs0Yu2QGiUc8VoXRjO/s1600/IMG_0215.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Actually that's me in the photo ;-)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Near the top of Heartbreaker climb I caught
glimpses of Tim through the trees and put effort in to make up time on Skyline
and Luge so that I popped out on the fire trail only just behind him. I caught
his wheel on Blackberry Climb but once onto that section of firetrail before
Slant Six he pulled away again. I made up ground on through Slant Six and
caught him on the descent down Breakout and Muck Raker. Unfortunately he
dropped his chain just as I caught him so I was past and away while he was
fixing that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Finally that “almost home” feeling was
actually justified and I was at Homeview Junction and onto Old Duffy descent
for the final time crossing the line in 5:15. The girl on timing said “that was
a fast last lap!” – I guess it looked it on paper with the flat in the first
lap and time checking tyres pressures and getting a new tube coming under the
second lap. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">In the end I won the 100km women’s category
convincingly but more to the point I had a fantastic day on a fantastic bike at
a fantastic event. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Thanks to Cheeky Velosport for their
support and my fabulous new bike, and thanks Rocky Trail for another fantastic
event. </span></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-52778133347466957642013-02-16T22:19:00.000+11:002013-02-16T22:19:02.003+11:00Oh La Lapierre... New bike and National Round
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:2;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:36.0pt;
mso-footer-margin:36.0pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">New bike fever! My new race machine is
finally here, after a hiccup or two which were sorted out by the lovely guys at
Cheeky Velosport, I picked it up on a Thursday evening just in time for the
weather to dump 50mm of rain on the local trails </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:-(</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"> in time for the weekend. So instead of a spin on the trails it was
a bike set up in the garage of Scott Steward and then the bike went back to the
shop for some tweaks to cable length and bar width before I finally rode it on
the dirt in Glenrock last Tuesday evening and Wednesday. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">It’s generated a bit of interest the
Lapierre XR team, it’s not a common brand in Australia and quite a few of the
Newy mtb community had been into the shop to check it out before I even saw it!
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1S3pp06tlSV2VwgZkQetljd_OGd8Kmlmjy1wBrbrCY831rRgTGRTw7j5_3ph5S3v__MKUDzR2hjNt6RHovaSljVTW-tQG0rcNw4XOUAt1XMsXarnPp2iP-cv5KGbosgVuRnMLT6qKN7V/s1600/IMG_0207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1S3pp06tlSV2VwgZkQetljd_OGd8Kmlmjy1wBrbrCY831rRgTGRTw7j5_3ph5S3v__MKUDzR2hjNt6RHovaSljVTW-tQG0rcNw4XOUAt1XMsXarnPp2iP-cv5KGbosgVuRnMLT6qKN7V/s1600/IMG_0207.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lapierre XR Team finally hits the dirt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">First impressions, well what I can I say
I’m new to the 29er thing and it felt a bit odd. I was a bit tentative as the
handling was a bit different and I was starting to wonder whether it was a good
idea to race the new bike just days later at a National Round. Hmmm yes a
Subaru UCI official national level round of XCO racing… </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">So the idea of racing a national XCO
(Olympic format cross country) has been in the back of my mind since winning
the state champs last year, but with the first round a 10-hour drive away at Mt
Buller and my new bike not ready yet I ended up not entering. It was probably
the right decision but I loved Mt Buller and it was hard seeing the race
reports, footage and photos from those fantastic trails. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">While the next round was at Thredbo, which
neither suits or excites me in terms of riding, I was going to have my new bike
and it was my last chance for the year as the 3<sup>rd</sup> round clashes with
Capital Punishment. So I pulled the trigger and entered, booked some
accommodation and hoped that I’d be ok on a new bike and recovered from the
cold that I somehow had managed to pick up! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The National Series rounds consist of three
events for the All Mountain Cup (XC riding), including a short course
eliminator on the Friday, the standard XCO on Saturday and a longer
point-to-point race on Sunday. With the drive from Newcastle being over 7 hours
I decided I’d be skipping the eliminator on the Friday, then I heard the
point-to-point, which at Mt Buller had involved the fantabulous Stone Fly
trail, was going to be laps of the flat and non-techy Crackenback course.
Uninspiring! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Luckily Martin and Juliane from Rocky Trail
Entertainment had an event on Sunday in Canberra, the RockyTrail100 which
involved 1,2,3 or 5 laps of a roughly 33km course of Stromlo… perfect as this
would put us 2.5 hours closer to home for the drive back on Sunday. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">So Thursday night saw up packing and
loading two new 29ers (Tim has a new Scott) onto the roof, then having to
rearrange the racks as the bars are wider than our old bikes, and all the time
being attacked by the million of mosquitoes that have loved the recent rain at
our place. Finally on the road we headed to Sydney for a night with friends so
we’d avoid the F3 peak traffic Friday morning. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Of course staying with riding friends meant
that our arrival meant the bikes came off the roof and into the garage for
admiration and were reloaded the next morning for the drive to Thredbo. Tim had
caught the cold lurgy and slept most the journey, which meant that when we
arrived at Thredbo I set out alone to scope out the course. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Most of the course was familiar from our
New Years riding but with the addition of some walking track (with stair cases
converted to ramps) and some extra switchbacks up grassy ski slopes that were
new to me. Luckily the technical section was a part of the trail that Tim and I
had spent some time on at New Years, but I still felt like the front wheel of
this new bike had a mind of its own and bounced off line easily. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Overall the course felt tough, like some M
C Escher sketch it definitely has more up than down! Part of the walking track
had a narrow footbridge, which ended in a sharp hairpin right-hander onto a
ramp (over stairs) and I simply couldn’t ride it. According to another bloke
out there that afternoon you just had to endo and whip the rear around… right! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Feeling extremely apprehensive I headed
back to the hotel just as some humid summer rain started to fall. I was
starting to think the whole idea of entering a National Round was a little
silly, seeing as how I don’t even train for this length of race – let alone
doing it on a new bike after a week off the bike with illness. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RaBer4jCVmbKsWoxX-YoKDkSXVAudeSSoUCJQZobg_Mv9FEgbvXx34FLB8MCBxJCf4O-39tNkSeWF3UuhQr7-1ys2LSW7BN3zmW_uyP2x7Q6-bXiX1i266oDTiMFjPhNudesXQKMdqZo/s1600/IMAG0162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RaBer4jCVmbKsWoxX-YoKDkSXVAudeSSoUCJQZobg_Mv9FEgbvXx34FLB8MCBxJCf4O-39tNkSeWF3UuhQr7-1ys2LSW7BN3zmW_uyP2x7Q6-bXiX1i266oDTiMFjPhNudesXQKMdqZo/s1600/IMAG0162.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carpark Warm-Up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Too late to pull out anyway so the next
morning saw me set up on the roadie on the trainer in a Thredbo car park trying
to warm up. This is a novel idea for me, I generally feel that if I’m going to
race then I don’t need to do EXTRA riding before hand … it’s like practice laps
– a waste of energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While that might be
true for 7 hour solo races, apparently XCO is a different world as every big
name in XC riding was doing laps of the sealed road sporting the latest
skinsuits… intimidated? Maybe a little! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Instead of the usual start line rabble it
was all the official UCI orderly call up of the 11 elite females, two minutes
to go and the silence was deafening the start line tension was suffocating.
Luckily it didn’t affect little Hamish who is almost two, breaking the tense
silence by yelling “go Mummy go, go now mummy go” at elite rider mum Tory lined
up on the front line of the grid. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_siFBhqX3P0s0QNDlkMVDm36O1oMd2CmpZvktUxsx_hXiGZhBwsJyxa_zJuSUvuoxs2cPrEkfGLIqvHqy5E2V0p5oQXAdmCtbfZbHoqF3nm4hF5Cq8coxbYoOgfZE4PzHCf9BN3V3GCg/s1600/IMAG0169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_siFBhqX3P0s0QNDlkMVDm36O1oMd2CmpZvktUxsx_hXiGZhBwsJyxa_zJuSUvuoxs2cPrEkfGLIqvHqy5E2V0p5oQXAdmCtbfZbHoqF3nm4hF5Cq8coxbYoOgfZE4PzHCf9BN3V3GCg/s1600/IMAG0169.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The start line-up including Olympian Bec Henderson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The next minute we were off, XCO starts are
not my forte – unsurprising really, seeing as I’ve never tried to be good at
them. Still last into the single track didn’t last long as I passed on of the
girls just a few minutes in. I spent the next little while on the rear wheel of
a girl in a VIS roadie kit – I was obviously descending faster than her and
pulled a pass as soon as we were in more open track. However we soon were back
past the start finish and onto the endless switchback climb up the grassy
paddock and her roadie fitness soon saw that order swap back. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdEbBejM1n3k7_duUyZwm0d9T07IUA4YOnYHj-QjeY7jMyjZbOQJqs5m5fQDkHn-lnuYJbyqXDuUo86FQfDICUNvzSf9CDz_bI2_OiH3tMtvmIzQ4FE2Y-TTRjhG8SepNXhzMBcFrHLIH/s1600/XCOThredbo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdEbBejM1n3k7_duUyZwm0d9T07IUA4YOnYHj-QjeY7jMyjZbOQJqs5m5fQDkHn-lnuYJbyqXDuUo86FQfDICUNvzSf9CDz_bI2_OiH3tMtvmIzQ4FE2Y-TTRjhG8SepNXhzMBcFrHLIH/s1600/XCOThredbo3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never ending climb on grass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The climb doesn’t feel like it should be
hard, it never seems steep and it’s not technical at all but it just HURT. Then
you come out onto firetrail and keep going up before a last section of even
more grassiness before you hit the most technical descent with max heart rate
pounding and jelly legs from lactic acid. This is a section of walking track
with steps rocks and roots, which I really enjoyed on the Anthem at New Years
but struggled to feel confident on in race practice. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEYWpoPLe6BJnA67EBMIKVUao3T1jQ3HtCjgJB2sLYBeCFXtTO7SyS5N43SZUQO7UbDXPW7YQdnHHOJzbWugLCII3VIRgqPNs7AKYYYewmx_D1vbTdlGgC1-ySWEUjMz3iGJEJuQJXgv4/s1600/IMAG0180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEYWpoPLe6BJnA67EBMIKVUao3T1jQ3HtCjgJB2sLYBeCFXtTO7SyS5N43SZUQO7UbDXPW7YQdnHHOJzbWugLCII3VIRgqPNs7AKYYYewmx_D1vbTdlGgC1-ySWEUjMz3iGJEJuQJXgv4/s1600/IMAG0180.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More grass, this time going down</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Luckily some alterations to fork pressure
meant my bike handled superbly and I smashed down that section faster than I’d
ridden it before. Then some sketchy loose firetrail and into the walking track,
I simply ran the bridge into ramp corner<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(later found out a lot of the other girls did too) before heading up the
rocky climb and last bit of firetrail before more grassy corners back down to
the finish… 4 laps to go. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The whole race my legs felt dead, apart
from the first lap I struggled to get my heart rate up to normal XC racing
levels because my legs just wouldn’t come to the party. The track was dusty,
loose and hot with not many spots to drink and nowhere to recover; I was off
the pace of the same U19 rider I’d beaten convincingly at the State Champs.
Each time I came through the feed/tech zone Tim was encouraging me to drink and
keep going – every time I just wanted to stop. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">My goals for this race were simple: not to
get lapped (which means you get pulled off the course) and not to finish too far
back. I started to worry I would get lapped as I could see the front runners in
a few places and they were definitely flying, I could also still see the girl
in VIS kit each time up the climb and knew I wasn’t loosing much time on her. I
hadn’t seen the other girl I’d passed for some time and wondered if she was
still in the race. </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttV8HBoqhJqcj8rURW0RfylhyYwkhBSuXDHTxPCd53mpfX03SUMrNlFhm-CvSDd4YTRIqt_NryTrnYDxq1FJW3Oufa6ifxAf8xK_K94p-vZ9xz6rMF05eOTvKFl3ioL7bXxBKo2S9UFDk/s1600/XCOthredbo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttV8HBoqhJqcj8rURW0RfylhyYwkhBSuXDHTxPCd53mpfX03SUMrNlFhm-CvSDd4YTRIqt_NryTrnYDxq1FJW3Oufa6ifxAf8xK_K94p-vZ9xz6rMF05eOTvKFl3ioL7bXxBKo2S9UFDk/s1600/XCOthredbo1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole race simply hurt!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Somehow I made it through another 3 laps
and got the bell for my last lap without being caught. Finally I was going up
that climb for the last time and into the final time down the techy descent.
The last time of running the ramp I asked the marshal if I had been on the only
one and he reassured my that a lot of the girls has been running that corner
all race. Finally I was coming down the final descent and across the finish line
with just under 2 hours of riding. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I found out later that there had been two
DNFs (including the girl I passed early on) so I’d come 9<sup>th</sup> in the
field. I probably hoped for a little better than that but realistically with
how I felt on the day I was happy to cross the line and not get lapped. I
always knew Thredbo wasn’t a course that suited me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After watching the elite men start my now
dusty new bike went back on the roof and it was off to Canberra for 100km of
Stromlo! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-62923444273599256292013-01-12T12:38:00.000+11:002013-02-17T10:23:53.495+11:00Summer Riding Holiday part 3 - Thredbo<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAIHCJprYpXJwIOL51s2ipIggaaEuKdOogPYt_6l0tIJ_8DhDVBO5nqypKAbshgNkia1Ghf6EIydzZlxQcr6tXU8qfXqwxcemXNbPTdM0EJy4Gz1K2N6A1lIiv4WSCS1J32jLnSyCU9S3/s1600/IMG_0183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAIHCJprYpXJwIOL51s2ipIggaaEuKdOogPYt_6l0tIJ_8DhDVBO5nqypKAbshgNkia1Ghf6EIydzZlxQcr6tXU8qfXqwxcemXNbPTdM0EJy4Gz1K2N6A1lIiv4WSCS1J32jLnSyCU9S3/s1600/IMG_0183.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful NSW high country</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">So 2013 dawned
with sunny blue skies and forecast warm weather, today was a rest and travel
day. With the rest of the group heading back to Melbourne, we started our drive
towards the NSW high country through Tallangatta and Khancoban then along the
Alpine way to climb up to the cooler, but still warm and sunny, weather of
Thredbo. We made camp a few kilometres down the Alpine way towards to
Jindabyne, on the banks of the picturesque Thredbo River. Unfortunately the
high volume of human traffic in this part of the high country means the river
water isn’t safe to drink without boiling – but it did provide a pleasant place
to escape the heat and wash off the dust. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">We had discovered
that one of the Newy Cogheads was staying at Thredbo with his family so we
arranged for a tour of the local singletrack the next morning, before retiring
to bed for a deliciously cool alpine night. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OZ-z1hpygeQEi7GEhK4VK7zXaMwh65XCI0ZudTlThpGeffDb1epnyB-xgX8rly4Nt31tsV13gJ5CiC-HWlENvOqf0P2yNJJxkTzddirseP7MITgRba9sE4sQdrUmU1koK3GyI4MTc741/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OZ-z1hpygeQEi7GEhK4VK7zXaMwh65XCI0ZudTlThpGeffDb1epnyB-xgX8rly4Nt31tsV13gJ5CiC-HWlENvOqf0P2yNJJxkTzddirseP7MITgRba9sE4sQdrUmU1koK3GyI4MTc741/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">visitors at camp</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Thredbo is yet
another ski resort, with a decent history of DH riding, which is currently
trying to develop a cross-country network of trails to attract more summer time
visitors. They currently have a small network of trails based around the
village and lower slops and a trail is being developed that will head down the
river valley and eventually will link into the Crackenback resort trails about
25km downstream. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Unfortunately, we
got the feeling that Thredbo isn’t quite there yet in terms of riding. The
first inkling we got was at the information desk when we were trying to discuss
the trail network with the girl behind the counter. Thredbo have built a
downhill flow trail, similar to the one at Mt Buller and we were keen make the
long uphill grind up from the valley floor to the top lift station to test out
this flowing downhill run. The conversation went something like this”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Me: <i>do we need
full-face helmets for the Flow trail?</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Girl: <i>No they
aren’t required.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Me: <i>what’s the
route to the top?</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Girl: <i>you get the
lift, you will need to do the $99 induction and if you don’t have full-face
helmets and bikes you can hire them. It’s $299 for the day to hire everything and do the induction.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Me: <i>Can’t we just
ride to the top along this route on the trail map?</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Girl:<i> Oh no,
that’s advanced! You need a guide who will assess your skills and do the lift
induction.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Me: <i>we don’t want
to use the lifts, we are XC riders and have XC bikes.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Girl: <i>Then you
need to ride the XC trails in the valley, you can only ride to the top with a
guide and full-face helmets.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Me: <i>Ok so how do
we get to the start of this advanced XC trail (which appeared to start from
half way up the slope) </i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Girl: <i>you need to
walk up the Flow trail! </i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvhKqFuMaS4UJjLWzJuSwA_IGFPD3lOKrFLAyZlVUpF7JMJ5XVuWKd-WPUnQEZzuaom6Ux9ojPrHzBj8ljfacIm1UOLec296xJVb5Mrxx4b-xYVRBKs9P_rxUphJU3q9SuM2tpGPOBZAL/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-01-12+at+12.24.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvhKqFuMaS4UJjLWzJuSwA_IGFPD3lOKrFLAyZlVUpF7JMJ5XVuWKd-WPUnQEZzuaom6Ux9ojPrHzBj8ljfacIm1UOLec296xJVb5Mrxx4b-xYVRBKs9P_rxUphJU3q9SuM2tpGPOBZAL/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-01-12+at+12.24.22+PM.png" height="282" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Colourful, but lacks trail direction and sends you up the Flow trail!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Hmmmm… now at Mt
Buller as an XC rider, you could get on the DH tracks easily as they accessible
from the top of the road, but there’s adequate signage and information and a
general vibe that it’s up to you to take some responsibility for your own
skills and riding experience both on XC and DH trails. Now at Thredbo, we
started to get the feeling that we were being treated like complete idiots.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Having decided
the Flow trail was out of the picture (why build a Flow trail if it’s only open
to DH anyway???) we grabbed another XC trail map and tried to work out a route.
Compared to Mt Buller, Thredbo trail maps suck! First of all, it’s a crappy A4
sheet of paper, which won’t last a day’s riding. Secondly, there no directions
marked on any trails despite some of them being impossible in reverse unless
you are an accomplished trials rider. Feeling distinctly grumpy we headed off
to meet up with Ian for a lap of the valley trails. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcvYWiTeBIPpMDPogtqscd8RJe2LVSwYoMKwzo-9hxEyXO1IlycOFigsfhkI4G118pdZvC9RtXrv7LJ-IeHq7ZSYb_DiFbXGSjmlI9vH2meghTYduASbgpCGzLVCuNQPtwfUTCW0SXBtR/s1600/IMG_0170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcvYWiTeBIPpMDPogtqscd8RJe2LVSwYoMKwzo-9hxEyXO1IlycOFigsfhkI4G118pdZvC9RtXrv7LJ-IeHq7ZSYb_DiFbXGSjmlI9vH2meghTYduASbgpCGzLVCuNQPtwfUTCW0SXBtR/s1600/IMG_0170.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Walking tracks make fun singletrack</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">We started the
loop by rolling down the Valley trail – the one that will eventually head 25km
down the valley to Crackenback. At the moment only 3.5km of the trail has been
completed, and it’s a shared use trail of fairly smooth surface and gentle
corners. It’s fun ridden at speed and Tim and I were soon covered in dust from
Ian ripping it into the corners ahead of us. Soon we hit the extent of trail
work and turned around for the gently climbing ride back towards town, but just
before reaching the village we turned a hard right into the Bridle Loop which
offers a few switch backs and rocks to keep the climbing interesting. At this
stage we were starting to feel that there was a bit less oxygen available at
1500m than we were used to. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The Bridle loop
pop you out onto what appears to be a beginner baby ski slope and a trail
switches up that through the summer grass before you’re out onto firetrail. A
bit more climbing and we ducked into some more single track, I think this may
have been walking track but it was great fun with loads of steps and rocks
which required quick on-the-go line choices and behind the saddle action. Then
you pop out again onto firetrail at the top of the summer luge track, wave to
the kiddies and it’s onwards and up again on some more firetrail. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXQrS-_koAE9D471AnKitAbz13h9hJhI8bIqIHmlvScwrMfVaLEpcz-Hmwp5W7K-oo62WAWgjNa34iieBWwl2AHj38OgHiCXgEL8j4cwjKl4f1DE1j2keFjITapyBPAQljs9DcCVMQ3ax/s1600/IMG_0179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXQrS-_koAE9D471AnKitAbz13h9hJhI8bIqIHmlvScwrMfVaLEpcz-Hmwp5W7K-oo62WAWgjNa34iieBWwl2AHj38OgHiCXgEL8j4cwjKl4f1DE1j2keFjITapyBPAQljs9DcCVMQ3ax/s1600/IMG_0179.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sections of rocks, steps and roots :-)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Then comes the
Thredbo brilliance, you cross the DH track and suddenly you are riding UP the
flow trail. Yup, you can only ride down it with a full-face helmet and
induction but you can ride up it just by correctly following the XC trail map. Of
course we stayed off the side of the trail where we could, but the trail
provides a few narrow points where this is impossible and it’s also hard to see
people coming. A confused DH rider stopped and told us we were on a DH trail, I
don’t blame him for being confused – it’s a bloody stupid idea. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">After a few
hundred metres of hard uphill along side the flow trail we ducked into the most
advanced XC trail on the map – Meadows Trail. This actually isn’t an XC trail
but a walking track that they allow bikes on. This means that while you are
negotiating the steps, rocks and roll downs you need also be away of summer
walkers including children who may be on the trail. Following Ian’s big 29er
wheels this track tested the best of my read-and-ride line choice and behind
the saddle abilities. Linked up sections of steps and rocks were all ride-able
and even roll-able but baulk and unclip and you were walking for a while. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">That fun ended
all too soon and we were out onto the trail around the golf course. This would
be a fun descent except that so close to the town, the shared trail gets a high
volume of walkers so that you are constantly stopping and starting. After less
than an hour of riding we were back in town having covered 95% of the Thredbo
single track, fun but definitely nothing like what we’d come to expect after
our Alpine riding in Victoria. </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihK7ldM9nzYavquciMHBfAzph-6bLGTBJ6I77yUu3tFvReWrZJibruBvqQDRU_i20pkzRssQNxnN5iEXK_fpnLCb-WLAJbGSV1CngeHiS3LLFhyvnq8yj1Tz7Mx4qMcqpn3VOP8W0uSt9M/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihK7ldM9nzYavquciMHBfAzph-6bLGTBJ6I77yUu3tFvReWrZJibruBvqQDRU_i20pkzRssQNxnN5iEXK_fpnLCb-WLAJbGSV1CngeHiS3LLFhyvnq8yj1Tz7Mx4qMcqpn3VOP8W0uSt9M/s1600/IMG_0158.JPG" height="476" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Firetrail to Cascades Hut</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">That afternoon we
headed up to Deadhorse Gap to ride one of the firetrails accessible to bikes in
the National Park. The ride out to Cascades Hut is very pretty although it is
100% firetrail with no singletrack. Unfortunately it’s hard to appreciate the
beauty while being attacked by March flies, perhaps we should have picked a
windier day as the still heat was definitely sending the flies crazy. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-ErwIN5xz1R9PPq4DPnUCue5Hlp0Ows6Ica6SJOQolUZL_k6BC5Kkyi7JTIhE2uqR1vHOUNci4oZobnWJ-zQVNH6hGdBWFYfgrEjVuhKCKZNGaqSNT9tauS-BPlP7s1Xd1cOhrCCnI2a/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-ErwIN5xz1R9PPq4DPnUCue5Hlp0Ows6Ica6SJOQolUZL_k6BC5Kkyi7JTIhE2uqR1vHOUNci4oZobnWJ-zQVNH6hGdBWFYfgrEjVuhKCKZNGaqSNT9tauS-BPlP7s1Xd1cOhrCCnI2a/s1600/IMG_0159.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Alpine scenery on Cascades Trail</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Over the next
days in Thredbo we explored the Crackenback cross country trails, a fun and
flowing loop of just over half an hour with a decent skills park. All this in a
little self-contained resort complete with Segway tours… odd! And headed back
to the Thredbo trails to play on the more technical trails with their rocks,
roots and steps. We knew that good riding was to be had in Jindabyne and at the
Bundarra trails but the weather was hot even up at Thredbo and the idea of
heading down to Jindy where it was 5-10 degrees hotter was not inviting, we put
those trails on the “next-time” list. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The final day of
riding in Thredbo became a road ride day. We decided that Charlottes Pass was
worthy of an ascent and leaving our camp at 8am we headed down the road towards
Jindabyne. Despite the forecast for a hot day, the alpine nights are cold
leaving before the sun came up would have required vests and warmers. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">While the ride to
Jindy is primarily a descent, it does have two decent climbs as you head up and
out of the Thredbo River valley into an adjacent valley before continuing down
towards Lake Jindabyne. It must be a hugely popular area for training camps
because we passed literally hundreds of roadies coming the other way, complete
with support vehicles. Once down at Jindy we met up with Ian and headed along
the road towards Charlottes Pass which follows the lake edge for a little way
before crossing back over the Thredbo river and then commencing the climb. From
the base there’s a fairly constant climb of around 5% for about 13km. From
around 900m elevation at the base you reach 1600m at the 13km point before the
undulations begin, you promptly descend 100m in elevation and the climb another
150m to gap … a pattern that repeats itself several times and sees you pass
through winter ski towns like Perisher and Smiggins Holes. These towns are
eerily ghost-like in summer with deserted buildings, signs creaking the wind
and not a soul in sight except a few confused tourists wondering where everyone
is. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RAWoB8mXZSbhihlf_Z0IKlJSTNBSsUVyKYaDy-3YXChRdfPTNjkdt2RjcBekt1A_LzWYuURMN9Z6seHWrl9oo5dIpg-bGTu10_MmvJhOkbRvocIl4jr62p1w1V98y0gTJC6ch3o6mUag/s1600/IMG_0187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-RAWoB8mXZSbhihlf_Z0IKlJSTNBSsUVyKYaDy-3YXChRdfPTNjkdt2RjcBekt1A_LzWYuURMN9Z6seHWrl9oo5dIpg-bGTu10_MmvJhOkbRvocIl4jr62p1w1V98y0gTJC6ch3o6mUag/s1600/IMG_0187.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Add caption</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The total
distance from the base of the climb to Charlottes Pass is about 32km with the
road ending in a locked gate at about 1840m in elevation. For the last 5-10km
of the climb the road weaves through beautiful alpine grassland with mountain
streams running over glacial boulders, a truly beautiful to ride! Topping out
at Charlottes Pass we were met by Ian’s wife and kids in their car, on his 29er
Ian elected to save his off-road tyres by skipping the descent so it was just
Tim and myself on the roadies heading back down to Jindabyne. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ1tEvdFiUIzTiRoCkNV57PbUN6pOjPJT_RuvUa0BPhcAXmcA04foUDjwUNfG6rwBwFZoTYKKkjHtoO7Uq10i2w7bfjLYBsA0hzCbHEvUgZDZfsNAUb_Y1OveLUFxb9QcGki_9SsjOUsB/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ1tEvdFiUIzTiRoCkNV57PbUN6pOjPJT_RuvUa0BPhcAXmcA04foUDjwUNfG6rwBwFZoTYKKkjHtoO7Uq10i2w7bfjLYBsA0hzCbHEvUgZDZfsNAUb_Y1OveLUFxb9QcGki_9SsjOUsB/s1600/IMG_0186.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Topping out at Charlotte's Pass</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The undulations
meant that there were still several decent uphills to content with on the ride
back and these were made worse by the return of my friends the March flies…
nothing like uphill motivation than trying to outride something bitey! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Soon though we
were on the 13km descent back to the base of the climb and the temperature was
steadily climbing. The Thredbo river looked so inviting as we crossed at the
bottom and then a hot north-westerly wind hit us as we slogged up the hill back
out of the river valley. Luckily this proved to be mostly a tail wind back into
Jindabyne – a welcome help seeing as we had by now covered 100km and 2000m of
climbing, it was also well over 30 degrees. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">We had picked up
my Dad the afternoon before from his 6-day solo hike in the high country and he
met us in Jindabyne with the car for some cold milkshakes and lunch by the
lake. Then it was back to camp for a swim in the river and the final night at
camp. Of course while I drove back to camp Tim decided to ride and, not only
that, but went up to Dead Horse Gap before heading back into camp – why not on
a 33 degree day! </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvoMDOhoTvLf_sLHXSrn2XLaXOdD0BSGpItqlrjmZi-9Pb2NTT_ShksmOOM3uv2FT6WO2bDkB_6eloCoe8ZHjEbo6Ocr1kepHA6kzxUKT26t7qZym22FNXNsRljJLg5K4e-HzhDuXVno-/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvoMDOhoTvLf_sLHXSrn2XLaXOdD0BSGpItqlrjmZi-9Pb2NTT_ShksmOOM3uv2FT6WO2bDkB_6eloCoe8ZHjEbo6Ocr1kepHA6kzxUKT26t7qZym22FNXNsRljJLg5K4e-HzhDuXVno-/s1600/IMG_0182.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Collecting Dad from the top of the chairlift post hike</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Finally the
holiday was over and it was time to head home, we drove to Canberra for our
first hot shower in two weeks and to drop Dad off with relatives so he could
catch a train back to Melbourne. Canberra greeted us with 39-degree heat so we
decided to give the Canberra singletrack a miss this time and headed out for a dinner
of steak instead. Then after a fitful nights sleep in oppressive heat it was
onto Sydney the next morning for brunch with friends then eventually home to
Newcastle and the reality of unpacking and starting the many, many loads of
washing generated by two weeks of riding… </span></span></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-82740951597237871372013-01-08T17:14:00.000+11:002013-01-08T17:14:38.910+11:00Summer riding holiday part 2 – Bright/Mt Beauty
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Leaving our
pretty camp early in the morning we headed to Bright, arriving late morning to
a town swarming with carbon road bikes. Seriously, if you have an expensive
carbon roadie, some matching kit and a bit of a potbelly then head to Bright
because you’ll be one of thousands! I’m sure there were some pretty serious
roadies around Bright too, but they tend to be glimpsed earlier in the day and
we’d obviously arrived at the prime feeding time of the slightly portlier
species! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Having decided
that it at least meant our bikes were very unlikely to be stolen, we hit up the
local bakery for a milkshake and to meet up with yet another couple of old
Melbourne friends who tend to do some DH riding as well as a bit of XC. Indeed
Kat suggested we should all “get some Gravity in ya”!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLmft2dr84zTgr2c8UF6guH9DRwGqtn1Vttvmd3bcySW6LPuUYFgOwkwQkydpKKwzioFybA_xsbpTX6Jx-LOWXpspT0GzpGp74hrMfnr1qA8wvmSDy3ak9SpwMBkFFUUpFOd8k0g3ulmk/s1600/tmcc_bright_d2-gaps-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLmft2dr84zTgr2c8UF6guH9DRwGqtn1Vttvmd3bcySW6LPuUYFgOwkwQkydpKKwzioFybA_xsbpTX6Jx-LOWXpspT0GzpGp74hrMfnr1qA8wvmSDy3ak9SpwMBkFFUUpFOd8k0g3ulmk/s1600/tmcc_bright_d2-gaps-20.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the cafes in Bright were surrounded by roadies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Once the crew was
assembled, a process that takes longer with increasing numbers we set off for
some exploration of the Bright trails. These head up the creek from town and
deliver you into a pine forest networked by random trails and some fireroad.
Overhead the paragliders were circling like flies in the clear blue skies obviously
enjoying the thermals created by the 30-odd degree day. Yet more flawless
weather! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Unfortunately the
Bright trails are hard to navigate when no-one knows where to go and we ended
up doing a lot of discussing which way we should go and some time spent riding
up stuff that should have been ridden down and vice-versa. In the end we
climbed up the fireroad to reach some trails that are probably more
all-mountain than cross-country. Should have guessed that seeing as it was the
gravity-loving pair leading the way. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">About 20 minutes
short of the top we stopped and the less gravity inclined of us headed down
what was supposed the easier trail… not so much easier as just a shorter
section of steep stuff I think. Now as an XC rider I generally rank reasonable
well in the descending stakes so I took the lead into this “baby gravity” trail
and suddenly found myself on a very loose and soft surface with steep corners
and an unfriendly drop-off to the side for a lot of the trail. Things went
pear-shaped rather quickly as my front wheel found some even softer surface on
the edge of the trail and dug in and I unclipped one foot pre-empting an
over-the-bars incident, however I somehow stayed on the bike and careered on
down the track on foot of the pedal and very soon off the saddle as well and
finally coming to rest in some bushes after riding one-footed on the cross bar
for some distance… what can I say – style is my middle name. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mRNUytMaVMRE-adW5sB25bv0gDAT_wMt5PkTKrHz6T4nLBr4fS_gXI3qbgLWQc4CFTWddAPkrNDAigjOQW0Ap-BFEKp6rxMluVrJuEi3bEr7hnmxoo2Lcbs1equS83luvN2AQBi7JNrf/s1600/bogong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mRNUytMaVMRE-adW5sB25bv0gDAT_wMt5PkTKrHz6T4nLBr4fS_gXI3qbgLWQc4CFTWddAPkrNDAigjOQW0Ap-BFEKp6rxMluVrJuEi3bEr7hnmxoo2Lcbs1equS83luvN2AQBi7JNrf/s1600/bogong.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bogong from Survey Track</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Determined to do
better I remounted and continue down the trail, and things went relatively well
for a while until a very steep and tight right-hander with a near vertical drop
off the side. I’m not sure what happened, perhaps I lost my nerve and unclipped
shifting my weight forwards and over the bars or perhaps I grabbed some brake
but the result was a catapult over the bars but somehow landing on my feet with
my bike entangled in one foot and still cartwheeling behind me. I ended up with
a perfect dust tyre-print across my arse so at some point I managed to run
myself over…. That’s what I call talent! After that display everyone else
walked that corner, and soon we were down off the steepest sections and into
more manageable trails for us cross-country types. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The rest of the
ride was more of the same, trying to find trails based on vague memories of
someone who had raced there and getting thoroughly lost in the process. Then
getting annoyed with it all and heading back to town only to find the sought
after trails on the other side of the river to where they were supposed to be.
Eventually we all ended up back in town for yet another milkshake before
leaving the town of a million carbon roadies for the slightly quieter scene of
Mt Beauty. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriSZ8qloSa59nWpsJ1R7bQ5xuebMWV2b01BWMpWxccHc71pUmVUH8zrYwuYJ7pKJCR6O_946baxcH7ZYepdeDw3EBAN6VJjMEd7MY6XtwKOqbk37Vc4MSuI7-yLkRVnretDPaP1KbA9w7/s1600/big-hill-mountain-bike-park-v21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriSZ8qloSa59nWpsJ1R7bQ5xuebMWV2b01BWMpWxccHc71pUmVUH8zrYwuYJ7pKJCR6O_946baxcH7ZYepdeDw3EBAN6VJjMEd7MY6XtwKOqbk37Vc4MSuI7-yLkRVnretDPaP1KbA9w7/s1600/big-hill-mountain-bike-park-v21.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Hill MTB Park and the local brewery </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Over Towonga Gap
and into Mt Beauty, which nestles in the valley below Mt Bogong and Falls
Creek, we set up camp at the foot of Mt Bogong about 15km out of town and yet
again were treated to another idyllic campsite with beautiful mountain stream
and no camp fees. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9pbWU_FkFKLLmRibtkXbUd2AG4i9wD831N_JH3b4egaOCiqnb_XEA3RpnErwo6A8JYf9COcAGczTTEgW1UUymP4PoGq5fQPmBcnBp_7ypCIQnygomS-elY1KwmH8pD8TGiBGPNrU9hAy/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-01-08+at+4.57.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9pbWU_FkFKLLmRibtkXbUd2AG4i9wD831N_JH3b4egaOCiqnb_XEA3RpnErwo6A8JYf9COcAGczTTEgW1UUymP4PoGq5fQPmBcnBp_7ypCIQnygomS-elY1KwmH8pD8TGiBGPNrU9hAy/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-01-08+at+4.57.14+PM.png" height="177" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good day on the trails</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Our days in Mount
Beauty revolved mainly around the Big Hill mountain bike park, which is just on
the edge of town on the side of a hill (they have plenty of hills in the area).
Luckily this time we had a local guide for a our first ride and the result was
2 hours of riding awesome trails without having to make one direction decision.
The first part of the ride was up Survey track, which was the original track,
used by surveyors and early construction workers on the Kiewa Hydro Scheme in
the early 1930s. There is some local talk about clearing the track even further
up the mountain and perhaps making a mtb route all the way up to Falls Creek
which would be a phenomenal ride. For now the track winds its way up the
hillside running almost parallel to the Falls Ck road and provided a not-too
steep way to reach Cranky Corner – where the Falls road has a distinctive
hairpin. Crossing the road here and continuing up some equally manageable
firetrail brings you into the trail network of the mountain bike park.
Crisscrossed with trails and fireroad you could literally spend days in here
getting lost and found again but always finding stuff to ride. There is
apparently a trail map available but apparently it’s more confusing than
helpful so we relied on group knowledge and experiences from the first ride
with the local guide. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcnH3F5NktQcO4Y-quAMh3eLgyh8D22sTA80NRfVHbiS1DweC67CgEh_Ba1j3O9MddiyfYyHDqzb7GUyMWTW9norqrz0SIcsUHKzUPbmiSo4wrZkoMiebMG4KqkQW6P19ftSgFA1phXFN/s1600/survey+track.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcnH3F5NktQcO4Y-quAMh3eLgyh8D22sTA80NRfVHbiS1DweC67CgEh_Ba1j3O9MddiyfYyHDqzb7GUyMWTW9norqrz0SIcsUHKzUPbmiSo4wrZkoMiebMG4KqkQW6P19ftSgFA1phXFN/s1600/survey+track.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Survey Track</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Mt Beauty was
back on a surface I’m more familiar with, dry hard pack through eucalypt bush
with some rocks and tree roots. The single track has been built by locals and
the local club (rather than resort style construction) and trails often bear
the name of their main builder …. Seems Bernie was and is instrumental in the
park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Three decent
sessions in the trail network and I’d still be happy to go back for more but
Tim was champing at the bit for some road riding so on New Years Eve we planned
to mountain bike in the morning and road ride in the afternoon. As it turned
out it was yet another hot day and so after a decent session on the trails we
swapped to the roadies and headed up to Falls Creek. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sXc-9AcKWj6IjjdX_e87qWn1xDsS6K112yRrLb0b6tN5ZD5fZbNE2_93kmOyEV_NMdK1Q1_ilxpxR-6lb6dj9lCVNf_CDxuOnmVgJcp7N3chyphenhyphenVtPzy4mt11ennzbNAlEddRSmlUmLX9U/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-01-08+at+4.57.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sXc-9AcKWj6IjjdX_e87qWn1xDsS6K112yRrLb0b6tN5ZD5fZbNE2_93kmOyEV_NMdK1Q1_ilxpxR-6lb6dj9lCVNf_CDxuOnmVgJcp7N3chyphenhyphenVtPzy4mt11ennzbNAlEddRSmlUmLX9U/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-01-08+at+4.57.52+PM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevation of the Falls Ride... with a GPS fart to start</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Now I said Mt
Beauty was quieter than Bright but it’s still a riding destination, in fact
there’s an informal boot camp called ride week that is headed by some riders
who are Mt Beauty born and bred like the van der Ploegs and attracts some top
road and mountain bikers to the area for the Christmas/New Year period. With
classic road climbs like Falls Creek, Towonga Gap, Hotham and Buffalo all in
reach it’s easy to see why you’d want to own a roadie in this area. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ReNzvzUTxrLq8_k7kNrmS3_3D4HqOerNfp0VS_qFMs2WhIrXkcTd9GfP02Tv-Yr85gAECtA63sRCBEAyu5zgbZnsA4LRA9XbuHRnH4x84FsxqMYkXZ3i0EYXLLSPuQd99WSZ6ese6D16/s1600/IMG_0148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ReNzvzUTxrLq8_k7kNrmS3_3D4HqOerNfp0VS_qFMs2WhIrXkcTd9GfP02Tv-Yr85gAECtA63sRCBEAyu5zgbZnsA4LRA9XbuHRnH4x84FsxqMYkXZ3i0EYXLLSPuQd99WSZ6ese6D16/s1600/IMG_0148.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doing my best roadie impression!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS08KJcOKGJZbxV2S_wBC1cP_VtKrbvYqbBITR0QnlqsQIMiWuAM4tx09NgLxy4-sqgccbarqERlKJCPmZlEdYIAvD2mIRcNcn78nm-5PYUV7CUHenl3qnNV6rpiGC5grIi2Lq41jyUPYy/s1600/IMG_0153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS08KJcOKGJZbxV2S_wBC1cP_VtKrbvYqbBITR0QnlqsQIMiWuAM4tx09NgLxy4-sqgccbarqERlKJCPmZlEdYIAvD2mIRcNcn78nm-5PYUV7CUHenl3qnNV6rpiGC5grIi2Lq41jyUPYy/s1600/IMG_0153.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok so maybe not roadie legs! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Starting at Mt
Beauty at around 300m elevation the road up to Falls Creek climbs with some big
undulations in the first 15km up past Bogong Village until it crosses the
Pretty Valley branch of the East Kiewa River, from there it continues up at a
fairly constant gradient to top out at Falls Creek 31km from Mt Beauty having
climbed to an elevation of around 1600m. Being the seventh consecutive day of
riding, I did have some doubts about whether I’d make it especially as my
easiest gear was already in use in the first 500m of the ride. The ride never
gets steep though and all I had to do was just keep the legs turning and keep
my heart rate from spiking to high. Soon we climbed high enough that the heat
started to ease and in the shade of the tall mountain eucalypts and tree ferns
it was a pleasant and pretty ride. Several kilometres from Falls Creek village
you pass the toll booth for fleecing winter visitors, from there the village in
often in sight and you start to loose the tree cover. I started to really
struggle but Tim encouraged me to keep going and soon enough I could rack my
bike on one of the many friendly racks (the hook your saddle over type ones)
out side the Falls Supermarket and recover with a chocolate milk. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGxxqI8YijGAvW0ubXkg_mMZq7Hxc294tyQjVBJ1XF93C2z4PEy-VI0QCRW441x64jJqMmTR425FsyPqo0Af-6asswqjo6-iRGuvkZ-AfzWqc5l3jlXJjemIb8IB6LQ6pz65L7C_KCm3q/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGxxqI8YijGAvW0ubXkg_mMZq7Hxc294tyQjVBJ1XF93C2z4PEy-VI0QCRW441x64jJqMmTR425FsyPqo0Af-6asswqjo6-iRGuvkZ-AfzWqc5l3jlXJjemIb8IB6LQ6pz65L7C_KCm3q/s1600/IMG_0154.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just to prove I did make it! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 1.0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The descent down
Falls is awesome, with fairly gentle corners and gradient you swoop down the mountain
between 40 and 50km/hr marvelling at hour quickly you reach landmarks that
seems miles apart on the ride up. Then suddenly you cross the Kiewa and the
legs have to pedal with the first of several rather rude uphills back to
Beauty. Finishing back in Mt Beauty I was totally spent, so much so that after
one beer I was in bed by ten thirty on New Years Eve and looking forward to a
rest day to start 2013. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span>Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-87602030138028976092013-01-08T12:32:00.001+11:002013-01-08T15:11:26.308+11:00Summer Riding Part One - Mt Buller <style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"MS 明朝";
panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;
mso-font-charset:128;
mso-generic-font-family:roman;
mso-font-format:other;
mso-font-pitch:fixed;
mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-unhide:no;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
mso-default-props:yes;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-fareast-language:JA;}
@page WordSection1
{size:595.0pt 842.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt;
mso-header-margin:35.4pt;
mso-footer-margin:35.4pt;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
</style><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV-_g4FA1lKJT_wz69oox4RpdJ3p63317ZWqWsTBcfKdh5noM79-cdi-xYhyphenhyphen1vGW8MffFfXxSKgzNcK43_1JISFIBeEwwCJkvjl9a_3CwlYAKs0XfdxOJ7vpkFtEWGoFgrag4gd7N-uVF/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV-_g4FA1lKJT_wz69oox4RpdJ3p63317ZWqWsTBcfKdh5noM79-cdi-xYhyphenhyphen1vGW8MffFfXxSKgzNcK43_1JISFIBeEwwCJkvjl9a_3CwlYAKs0XfdxOJ7vpkFtEWGoFgrag4gd7N-uVF/s1600/IMG_0145.JPG" height="200" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Leaving Newcastle
on the Friday afternoon before Christmas we drove south down the Hume with four
bikes on the roof and a car packed full of camping and riding gear. The first
night of the holiday was not what most people would call a holiday, a five-star
piece of old unused hwy near Jugiong with the dulcet tones of semitrailers
engine braking ensured a restful night’s sleep ;-) </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDUDQHB_-j3H9L3Q-rXl2QRgT0J6S8HpSfxthjO0cRswLZqeCYjz8NYs6Oulzj-8ajTvgRSxXBWzGwydqCvQKOqLTw5cgqI28Pqe0rokYJxspDM8yVRHJlVqpWqRGW3YC67UvHmJI56Hz/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDUDQHB_-j3H9L3Q-rXl2QRgT0J6S8HpSfxthjO0cRswLZqeCYjz8NYs6Oulzj-8ajTvgRSxXBWzGwydqCvQKOqLTw5cgqI28Pqe0rokYJxspDM8yVRHJlVqpWqRGW3YC67UvHmJI56Hz/s1600/IMG_0144.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Enjoying the 5-star accommodation</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Then it was
onwards to the border and into Victoria to the Castlemain district for a quick
catch up with old friends and a spin on the local trails. Sunday was forecast
to be 40+ in Victoria so we headed out early on the trails and got in a couple
of hours through rocky, loose and shaley tracks with very dry and sparse
undergrowth. The trails at Castlemain are quite different to what we’re used to
(something we were to experience several times this trip) with some tight
switchbacks on loose surface and rocky roll downs interspersed with flowy
trails and swoopy descents. Thanks to our local guide we got in a good 20km of
singletrack on the unmarked trails before the weather got to hot. Then we made
our farewells and travelled onto Melbourne for Christmas. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Apart from a
cruising the streets of Melbourne and quick roadie spin along the Boulevard on
Christmas Day, Melbourne was largely about eating and catching up with family
and friends. Early Boxing day we set of for <a href="http://www.mtbuller.com.au/Summer/Bike-Buller/Cross-country-mountain-biking">Mt Buller</a>, boasting a long history
of down hill trails and competition, Buller has more recently become well known
for it’s cross country trail network including the signature trail on the
adjacent Mt Stirling which is accessed via Howqua Gap. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2dEQrXUcds4Jo9oy6TNFssp0Ce_nB6zTeIgnq56f62qcQ7g9ZaPbvow4cmCF7Xo2_0hPShZF2y4pGDEK-mGCrTxSOtLBgTMSwvmlaudkgFbb35_VeWyqPvJhafC8gwR195PejVpJAEpP/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-01-08+at+12.05.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2dEQrXUcds4Jo9oy6TNFssp0Ce_nB6zTeIgnq56f62qcQ7g9ZaPbvow4cmCF7Xo2_0hPShZF2y4pGDEK-mGCrTxSOtLBgTMSwvmlaudkgFbb35_VeWyqPvJhafC8gwR195PejVpJAEpP/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-01-08+at+12.05.58+PM.png" height="400" width="335" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Spectacular views</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">We arrived at the
top of Mt Buller after lunch and met up with a couple of friends from Melbourne
who took us on a loop of the singletrack including GangGangs, Corn Hill and
Misty Twist. The weather was fantastic, the vegetation lush and green and there
was a permeating scent of wildflowers as the alpine bush was in bloom. This
gave us the feeling we were riding in Europe or New Zealand rather than in
Australia in summer. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The <a href="http://www.mtbuller.com.au/interactive_map_fa/index.html">trails</a> at Mt
Buller are on earthy soil, which gives great grip even in the dry conditions we
rode in. There are enough rocks to keep things interesting and enough elevation
to keep the fit people quiet but the numerous switchbacks make the climbing
manageable. The descents are very flowy with numerous bermed corners and odd
A-line for those inclined to ride along logs. All the time there are fantastic
views and beautiful alpine bush to ride through. </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3MpySbAgaUSwLqfJPGOzbq36Krb844_SRokFEYGfOQ-9Tq9ZxrfwPcBSAK8uZGEsUjK7BBVi4XM96aTNkFFjQVHTTbRiWqHBvWfKjryiLzAYLkC2Szx6RZhK2QE4b102dWb9W2WEnqA-/s1600/Mistytwist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3MpySbAgaUSwLqfJPGOzbq36Krb844_SRokFEYGfOQ-9Tq9ZxrfwPcBSAK8uZGEsUjK7BBVi4XM96aTNkFFjQVHTTbRiWqHBvWfKjryiLzAYLkC2Szx6RZhK2QE4b102dWb9W2WEnqA-/s1600/Mistytwist.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">The wildflowers were out</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">We finished off
the loop with a descent of Copperhead, the “Flow trail” at Mt Buller. A flow
trail seems to be the new in thing for an alpine resort, Mt Buller has one,
Falls Creek is building one and Thredbo also has one (more on that later). A
flow trail is basically a DH trail that doesn’t require DH skills and can be ridden
on an XC bike. It’s full of berms and rollers rather than rocks and jumps. The
Copperhead trail starts from near the summit of Mt Buller above the main
village and descends for around 2.4km finishing close to the lift and the road
for which ever takes your fancy for the hike back up. The estimated ride times
for the trail according to the trail map is 5-20 mins so they obviously expect
a range of users. We had someone opt not the ride so with the knowledge of a
car shuttle waiting at the bottom we hit the trail. The start snakes you back
and forth across a fairly open and steep slope, the corners are well bermed but
the gradient still gets steep in a few spots. We obviously ride across areas
that get wet as there are also long sections of rock armouring, which aren’t
the smoothest on XC suspension and would be annoying on a hardtail. But on the
whole the trail provides about 6-7 minutes of fantastically fun descending
around bermed corners and along flowy swoopy track.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">We set up camp
near the base of Mt Buller on a tributary of the Delatite river, this little
stream was freezing cold and provided just the thing for tired legs after each
day’s ride. The advantage to camping at the bottom of the mountain is the
Delatite river trail, this trail is mainly 4WD track which has been turned into
a mountain bike trail that descend almost the full height of the mountain and
emerges onto the sealed road at Mirimbah at the base of Buller. </span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lN2IvbZF8Ag1Wxk9_kiJ-FdlQJlCHjm_iHJXlKziqA_1HiKGtYH17jiXs6kWh_gmN5O3TtAORdt_7s0q3lg4_HITSUxq9A1nKlk4BtFYg_pBXK1EHyR5jZzLc1C4BL_a7TJUnXkk_sbC/s1600/WAK_Buller050512012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lN2IvbZF8Ag1Wxk9_kiJ-FdlQJlCHjm_iHJXlKziqA_1HiKGtYH17jiXs6kWh_gmN5O3TtAORdt_7s0q3lg4_HITSUxq9A1nKlk4BtFYg_pBXK1EHyR5jZzLc1C4BL_a7TJUnXkk_sbC/s1600/WAK_Buller050512012.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Random internet photo of Delatite bridges</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">This meant that
on day 2 of riding we could simply descent all the way back to camp crossing
the Delatite river (apparently something like 13 times!) on newly constructed
log bridges which mean you can keep your feet dry. But before this 700m of
descending we had some riding to do! We had now been joined by another two old
friends from Melbourne so it was a group of 6 that set out from the Buller
village along the easy trail of Gang Gangs before heading into the fun descent
and ascent to Corn Hill then down some slightly sketchy firetrail and into a
the last section of awesome single track descent to Howqua Gap Hut. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5-5GHtE0q-NC0yrrqsigotv5o6dRm0ZnrlFRzPYl_fD0YCS-glmc67YVsfyIpvYiBjZvRpZLM_JTXl3MJtWfSIXECNk2sESNIszs2dD605rLSD4BGbdtIA6zH4eZBasCtfA8VqeU8I8f/s1600/P1010580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5-5GHtE0q-NC0yrrqsigotv5o6dRm0ZnrlFRzPYl_fD0YCS-glmc67YVsfyIpvYiBjZvRpZLM_JTXl3MJtWfSIXECNk2sESNIszs2dD605rLSD4BGbdtIA6zH4eZBasCtfA8VqeU8I8f/s1600/P1010580.JPG" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">From Howqua Gap
Hut the Stonefly trail heads up Mt Stirling to Bluff Hut, which is only just
below the summit. Setting off you actually get a short swoopy descent which
spits you out onto firetrail, then you turn immediately back into singletrack
and the climbing starts in earnest with some of the tightest switchbacks Mt
Buller has to offer. After this little warm up, things ease off and the single
track weaves its way along and up the side of the mountain crossing little mountain
streams over rocks or well constructed bridges. At one point two longer bridges
about 60cm wide are set into the track sequentially with rock armouring between
them and also in the lead-in providing a fairly technical challenge, which saw
quite a few people unclip, and in one case a spectacular dismount and
disappearance into the trackside shrubbery. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">As you ascend the
gum trees change to snow gums and the alpine grasses and flowers make you feel
like Heidi on a summers day in the Alps. Every now and again you get a few
swoopy corners in a short section of descending, which are just a taste of what
is to come. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ANMWBtI6Qp08giLIMwoY4VQGHM1WoV-e4cLDKrMTEZ0JQaRpsQzO3M0pMdQIWdF5XUVqy5S3iOK7uXnMf7V098H_OGWlthJoqoVV0-H-q7sXpmAZDobV7Gyzh1wkRY4g0An_ffH94FT-/s1600/P1040519resize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ANMWBtI6Qp08giLIMwoY4VQGHM1WoV-e4cLDKrMTEZ0JQaRpsQzO3M0pMdQIWdF5XUVqy5S3iOK7uXnMf7V098H_OGWlthJoqoVV0-H-q7sXpmAZDobV7Gyzh1wkRY4g0An_ffH94FT-/s1600/P1040519resize.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span lang="EN-GB">Just as your legs
are starting to complain, the single track pops out onto firetrail and another
few hundred metres sees you at Bluff Hut where some kind soul has hewn some
armchairs out of tree trunks for weary riders. This was a spot for us all to
regroup before the descent back to Howqua Gap…. And what a descent! After a
short section of fun firetrail you enter into singletrack for over 10 minutes
of descent… unlike the “flow trail” this does require some pedaling mainly in
the top half but soon becomes continuous flowy berms and corners which put a
mad grin on everyones face. All too soon you pop out at the Howqua Gap Hut
again and face a climb back up the Mt Buller side. The climbing is all on
single track though, with Silk Lane leading into a detour on Misty Twist and
then a reprieve on the Corn Hill descent. From here you have a choice, a final
lung-buster up Split Rock back to the village or down the Delatite River trail
to camp which is what we did. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The Delatite
trail descends steeply at first on firetrail and even has an unexpected uphill
before becoming one of the most fun firetrails I’ve ridden. It follows the
picturesque river whose clear blue waters flow large river boulders making it
look thoroughly inviting on a hot summers day. The roadside embankment provides
berms which small tributaries need to be jumped or forded. After an
exhilarating descend it was just a few short kms on the road back to camp for a
sit in the stream. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MgVSsLFO_zFH0HNwmYizp7LpLD7TxH3YpZ9oKFSGHfEANN5hEfDWxIirC_ZAZtzFErX0xhuX69VbxWD0a3SR_cdbwyU8YBggwl0VuD5B1Y7N354XbPMBRmZSsxHYlO1QUXHTuGrRyqFM/s1600/stonefly3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MgVSsLFO_zFH0HNwmYizp7LpLD7TxH3YpZ9oKFSGHfEANN5hEfDWxIirC_ZAZtzFErX0xhuX69VbxWD0a3SR_cdbwyU8YBggwl0VuD5B1Y7N354XbPMBRmZSsxHYlO1QUXHTuGrRyqFM/s1600/stonefly3.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">Photo from the WorldTrail construction of Stonefly</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Our final day at Mt
Buller was just a chance to ride all these fantastic trails again, Stonefly was
so fantastic we did it twice then hooked up with the Delatite trail via the
River Spur Trail (also a fantastic firetrail) to head back to camp ready for part 2 of the adventure at Bright and Mt Beauty. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 7.1pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-73427294418819327012012-12-19T19:57:00.000+11:002012-12-20T18:29:51.890+11:00Things get just a little bit Cheeky<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeNv0Tl0T2utEWtIVIxEL2s-ln0mDGyPW23W2wTBukUkmPcanb1VipiWp2ndcxdbaSpOCPb53JJt2d0M3EHNbz4YQRJa0oEqFWM-zppPVDNgG7j6Byyc78bSLH98cgloObM_87oDsKZl5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-12-19+at+7.11.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeNv0Tl0T2utEWtIVIxEL2s-ln0mDGyPW23W2wTBukUkmPcanb1VipiWp2ndcxdbaSpOCPb53JJt2d0M3EHNbz4YQRJa0oEqFWM-zppPVDNgG7j6Byyc78bSLH98cgloObM_87oDsKZl5/s200/Screen+Shot+2012-12-19+at+7.11.48+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
After another year of fun racing and good results on my trusty old 26" bikes, I've been getting a little jealous of all these 29er type just doing it easy at the 100km races ;-) I catch them on the hills then they just seem to roll away on the flat. Sometimes I catch them when their super wide bars connect with trees but half the time they just roll off into the distance with ease... well not quite. But they definitely seem to be a big advantage in the 100km XCM events.<br />
<br />
<br />
I got interested in the 29er thing a while back, I've demo'ed a few but the full-time student status is a little restrictive when it comes to adding to the stable. Then there's the fact that when you have two riders in a relationship, the perfect number of bikes is actually N+2 rather than N+1, because you BOTH need a new one...<br />
<br />
Anyway, then a new bike shop rolled into town and we dropped in for a look after the HMBA club championships. My only complaint is that the floor is damn slippery in cleats ;-) but the shop looks fantastic. The brands include Lapierre, Merida and Norco while the roadies get also Cervelo and other sexy looking brands that I might remember if I were more of a roadie... <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/665440_198497053619267_1967391236_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" class="spotlight" height="152" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/665440_198497053619267_1967391236_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Cheeky Velosport at Warners Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
A few shop rides with the friendly Cheeky crew and now I'm super excited to announce I'm going to have Cheeky across my bum for the next season! Quite appropriate I hear you all saying... well yes, I have to admit it does kind of suit.<br />
<br />
So looking forward to racing a <i>Lapierre</i> rocket ship next year, thanks to some great support from the guys at Cheeky. If you're in Newcastle/Lake Macquarie area pop into the shop on Hillsborough Rd, Warners Bay or come for a shop ride (Sundays 0700, Tues & Thurs 0600 from the shop) and meet the crew or find them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheeky-Velosport-Warners-Bay/165912510211055?ref=ts&fref=ts">facebook. </a><br />
<br />
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Stay safe and hope to see you out on the trails. We're planning a road trip of the single track on offer in the Victorian and NSW high country, so if you're around Mt Buller, Mt Beauty or Thredbo this festive season - see you there! <br />
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-12381197897278118862012-12-04T12:44:00.000+11:002012-12-04T12:44:13.775+11:00Racing in a heatwave .... why not?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">So the last race for the year was set to be
a more casual affair, rather than a serious results-driven race. The <i><b>JetBlack
Sydney 24</b></i> and <b><i>Mercedes Benz Vans Huntingwood 6+6</i> </b>are run at the Mt Annan
botanical gardens track by <i><b>Rocky Trail Entertainment</b></i> as their last event of the
year. </span></div>
<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5zF0QM0VgoELWlbMgdvuJgGx2yIJLuR0U87OahUH-co20RHvcMqtKZb2ayMhQsYWJkzXIwidzlKfC8MZWwTdFTcmnWo15zxRZ9wyE7AeGBhEbPKHlsauaSQcBdQXRqpZ7rhBzlRZbAbn/s1600/Al.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5zF0QM0VgoELWlbMgdvuJgGx2yIJLuR0U87OahUH-co20RHvcMqtKZb2ayMhQsYWJkzXIwidzlKfC8MZWwTdFTcmnWo15zxRZ9wyE7AeGBhEbPKHlsauaSQcBdQXRqpZ7rhBzlRZbAbn/s1600/Al.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skippy clocked the fastest Strava run for this segment! Photo: B. Watson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After a full year of racing culminating in
the <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Highland Fling</i></b>, I opted for the
6+6 option in a team of 3 for a fun and relaxed race. We headed down as part of
a large group of Newy Cogheads, a group of like-minded mountain bikers from the
Newcastle area. More recently a lot of the female partners of the Coghead
riders have started racing as the Newy Cogettes Team Talk Torque Talk … so
these girls in pink were my teammates for the event, but we were only one of
four Cogette female teams and there were another three Coghead male teams
racing. So a big social camp was planned. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The lead up to the race was overshadowed by
weather forecasts of a heatwave approaching. The Sydney Morning Herald claimed
“</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Dangerous heatwave heading to
NSW</span></i><span lang="EN-GB" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">”
and advised everyone to stay indoors our of the sun, avoid exercise and
alcohol. With temperatures forecast to be in the high 30s, and Campbelltown not known for it's cooling breezes, Mt Annan was set to
bake for the Saturday of the race. </span><span lang="EN-GB">Lucky for us,
Coghead camp was equipped with a shower and two inflatable kiddies pools –
never thought I’d rank those as secret weapons in the racing arsenal, but at
this race they conveyed a definite advantage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGl323I2FvtE7Xb1CBm5H5v2gQoWElK9HlGWrQk_T5c_mvMfqczJ8nHhZ3Daq1eYcZum1zf9_WLwfNqC95yPYCbdsbZtSIrUXqQqRBTkVyWPBL4omyJfcBvwq-BrJapuydPZC_FpP9a56i/s1600/Kiddiepool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGl323I2FvtE7Xb1CBm5H5v2gQoWElK9HlGWrQk_T5c_mvMfqczJ8nHhZ3Daq1eYcZum1zf9_WLwfNqC95yPYCbdsbZtSIrUXqQqRBTkVyWPBL4omyJfcBvwq-BrJapuydPZC_FpP9a56i/s1600/Kiddiepool.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Coglings enjoying our secret weapons and objects of envy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After some humid conditions and rain
overnight on the Friday, Saturday dawned overcast and relatively cool.
Unfortunately those conditions did not last and by the 12-midday race start,
the temperature was already over 30 degrees. I was third rider in our team and
so headed out early afternoon for my first lap; I opted for the white lycra sun
arms the whitest jersey I own and wet my kit down with a water sprayer before
heading out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Into the first bit of single track and two
guys pulled over to let me pass, not quite warmed up or in the zone yet I
promptly hit a rut, bounced off-line, pulled my shoe out of my pedal and
bounced my arse off my seat and ended up on the otherside of the track in a
rather gumby-like save… the two blokes passed me again probably wondering why
they’d pulled off in the first place! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW7c1prYYwLnlC5ijXqWnFxoyDpkoJUFz2V-vbQfjsbLz0k9wLPmaT9SD0sUoAq9YgnEUg1lOBrwhvqSXsNoAYYIL2tQqLs89ViT1_QTMmGxNABSfEE66IgWX18hHoX-7fYWHp8Ns7Gig/s1600/Sarah2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgW7c1prYYwLnlC5ijXqWnFxoyDpkoJUFz2V-vbQfjsbLz0k9wLPmaT9SD0sUoAq9YgnEUg1lOBrwhvqSXsNoAYYIL2tQqLs89ViT1_QTMmGxNABSfEE66IgWX18hHoX-7fYWHp8Ns7Gig/s1600/Sarah2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some welcome shade on track in the heat of Saturday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzTlvnOlVHebJI-5dA1kCqvrjVUhlgW7o7M5V3X7uMJ72y3vLmYsOC_P6SAfTK3wg69TUImM_G1_iW8XcSSs1gvPDtmVJ2OsRYZz-9Q_5xJvvx7TfmNAN0V0FS-CxFwv9yGcDcwIxbPtw/s1600/Teamshot2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><span lang="EN-GB">Onwards round the 8.5km lap and things went
a lot better than that first bit of track, it was uncomfortable warm especially
on the exposed climbs towards the end of the lap and a lot of people were
resting on the shady spots. I decided not to push it in the heat and rode at a
comfortable pace, although the heat pushed my HR up to normal racing levels
despite the fact I was breathing easy and legs were fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Mt Annan is a man made track which is
mainly hard pack surface and several constructed rocky sections otherwise known
as “roadie-traps”. With no huge climbs or descents, the course rewards riders
who can maintain a good pace through dusty, twisty and off-camber corners but also
rewards everyone with some sweet berms and flowy sections.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJ8xEb5apOijupgfqoNiD3JFoUmYYlyeOhDD0219AnE5KWGgg0TtWOoG5lKh740gzgFHBRKuj6yVcYZ50p2u0TPsprwzZoVH1en_X4FVViQBgvyrdM6XQ-0xwFLA5gVJRQejuNiYyc3uu/s1600/UniCycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKJ8xEb5apOijupgfqoNiD3JFoUmYYlyeOhDD0219AnE5KWGgg0TtWOoG5lKh740gzgFHBRKuj6yVcYZ50p2u0TPsprwzZoVH1en_X4FVViQBgvyrdM6XQ-0xwFLA5gVJRQejuNiYyc3uu/s1600/UniCycle.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The roadie traps don't deter unicyclists! (Photo Brian Watson)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">After a stop to help out the youngest team Coghead racer (at 12 years of age) with a flat I
cruised back into transition with about 35 minutes gone, then it was straight
into the kiddie pool in complete kit to cool down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">The temperature continued to climb and by
my next lap our thermometer was reading 39 in the shade! Christine came into
transition looking awful and said she couldn’t go out again, and all along the
track I was passing people who were badly heat affected. I went out sopping wet
from the pool and not half way round my kit felt dry, the hot wind was drying
out my mouth and eyes and making things fairly unpleasant. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">I stopped for one rider and checked with
several more along the trail, many of them waiting for marshals to rescue them
and first aid attention. By the final climbs of the lap, which snake up through
open grassland in full sun, I was feeling sick and unable to drink. Only just
over half an hour out there and I was suffering, I have no idea how the solos
were doing it and I completely understood why my teammate couldn’t go out
again. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Michelle set out bravely after I came in
and I told her I’d be back in transition if I recovered enough to cover Christine’s
next lap. It was basically a matter of lying in the inflatable paddling pool
again in full kit and trying to rehydrate as much as possible. Back up in
transition I tagged a heat-weary Michelle and set out again, the clouds had
come over a bit and temperature had dropped off noticeable to the mid-to-low
30s. The difference was amazing and I felt good all lap, so much so that when I
got back with 20 minutes left until our 6pm cutoff that I opted for a second
lap. Not before quick dunk in the pool again complete with helmet though, even
low 30s is still hot riding weather! </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xzQhk5RZ2WqjX-bMu1GhreXiyY43kvHBbUIamMYtYFo0l0bGO622DgRLn0xhBRNMclQjFlJLO_yCHKMpSDeTjG2qf2ZkG205atLZr4lYNpMfjHohGV1zNnIrO-2StNS-2x7FRAod3fE2/s1600/Sarah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xzQhk5RZ2WqjX-bMu1GhreXiyY43kvHBbUIamMYtYFo0l0bGO622DgRLn0xhBRNMclQjFlJLO_yCHKMpSDeTjG2qf2ZkG205atLZr4lYNpMfjHohGV1zNnIrO-2StNS-2x7FRAod3fE2/s1600/Sarah.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On track for a sub 30minute lap (Photo: Brian Watson)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Used to racing the full 24 hours, the
novelty of a 6+6 was exciting. With 12 hours off to eat, rest and sleep the
race becomes a lot more social and enjoyable. It was a hot and sticky night
though, I think the coolest it got was mid-20s during the early hours of the
morning and so sleeping was sweaty and fitful to say the least. The Austrian
wake-up music started at 5:30am and Christine was back on deck for the first
lap of the morning. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLzQjXISOgYdMmf4H-R90ylt7gab9NGARGPByiEbdG0LkTbmvGyFYZXqRoeCmtswynOFue6b0l-qFzxcDLasIKUtjNrAbWoYinpOpVc-aJVfR-PuPNG6-mR5ja1cLbNQ2tH7j6Yfn7RMO/s1600/Podium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLzQjXISOgYdMmf4H-R90ylt7gab9NGARGPByiEbdG0LkTbmvGyFYZXqRoeCmtswynOFue6b0l-qFzxcDLasIKUtjNrAbWoYinpOpVc-aJVfR-PuPNG6-mR5ja1cLbNQ2tH7j6Yfn7RMO/s1600/Podium.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First place in our category! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Luckily the weather was kind and Sunday’s
temperatures never got above the mid-20s making the riding so much more
enjoyable. With the cooler temperatures I decided to have a crack at getting
fastest female lap of the race, I had no idea what time I was chasing but I
knew that there were a couple of girls riding at a similar speed to me the
previous day (low 30s in terms of lap times). So my second lap of the morning I
set out at race pace, my heart rate wasn’t much higher than it had been in the
heat but my lungs and legs told me I was definitely working harder and going
faster. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">Sprinting back across the line into
transition I clocked 28:43, a quick check with timing assured me that not only
was that the fastest female lap but that I was the only female under 30 minutes
so far. One more lap to go and it turned out that I was racing against the
clock again, this time to make transition before the 12-midday deadline so
Michelle could get one more lap. Race pace again, but a few missed lines cost
me some time and the clock stopped at 29:19 – good enough for another lap for
the team but a touch off my earlier pace. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzTlvnOlVHebJI-5dA1kCqvrjVUhlgW7o7M5V3X7uMJ72y3vLmYsOC_P6SAfTK3wg69TUImM_G1_iW8XcSSs1gvPDtmVJ2OsRYZz-9Q_5xJvvx7TfmNAN0V0FS-CxFwv9yGcDcwIxbPtw/s1600/Teamshot2.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzTlvnOlVHebJI-5dA1kCqvrjVUhlgW7o7M5V3X7uMJ72y3vLmYsOC_P6SAfTK3wg69TUImM_G1_iW8XcSSs1gvPDtmVJ2OsRYZz-9Q_5xJvvx7TfmNAN0V0FS-CxFwv9yGcDcwIxbPtw/s1600/Teamshot2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Team: Christine, Sarah and Michelle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">And then that was it, race over. The
sweepers went </span><span lang="EN-GB">out on track and the pack up of camp began, always the worst bit
of any race and somehow the car has always shrunk and nothing seems to fit back
in the way it did before. Just as we finished packing, the presentations got
underway – I have no idea how the solo riders did it and rode through that heat
but they did an amazing job! Our girls’ team won our category and the other
Coghead/Cogette teams had a lot of podiums as well. But even more importantly
it was a great weekend despite the heat, with wonderful organisation by Martin
and Juliane from Rocky Trail Entertainment and support from all the sponsors of
the event like JetBlack and Mercedes Vans Huntingwood. But the big shoutout of
the event goes to the first aiders who were kept busy treating a multitudes of
patients suffering in the heat as well as the usual scrapes and bumps of
mountain biking. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB">(thanks to Brian Watson for allowing the use of his photos <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrianWatsonPhotographer">https://www.facebook.com/BrianWatsonPhotographer</a>) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1986407346211407834.post-33931014352146692892012-11-18T16:07:00.002+11:002012-11-18T16:07:57.838+11:00HMBA Club ChampionshipsWell after the Fling I gave my body some time off the bike, I don't think it was necessarily a choice for the first day or two... I doubt I could have ridden. I was planning a cruisy spin during the week but somehow that never happened, then it rained on Friday and by the time we'd cleaned the bikes on Saturday it was suddenly a whole week off the bike.<br />
<br />
But that's ok, the email about the club champs promised a forgiving course:<br />
<br />
"The race will be a 2 hour enduro format for A, B and C grades, and 1.5 hour for D and E grades. The track will be another new configuration with the promise that there are no big hills and it will be a relatively short track."<br />
<br />
Now the past year the club has been mixing up the club rounds, new linking tracks have been used to swap bits of the lap in and out and, just recently, we've been riding parts of the track in reverse. Today was no different, a totally new configuration including a lot of reverse track.<br />
<br />
The usual faces were at rego and it was a decent turn out, Wendy Stevenson had rocked up from Sydney for a Sunday morning cruise of the trails only to find the race was on so she joined in the fun and registered for A grade women. The format was a 2-hour enduro for most grades with the lower grades stopping after 1.5 hours.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure what that email meant by "no big climbs", I mean the climbs at Awaba aren't generally huge in the scheme of things but there's a lot of up and down and the track is generally hard work. This time we set out on firetrail, complete with huge moto ruts and pretty soon hit the first real descent which was slightly greasy from the small amount of rain on Friday and Saturday. Through a couple of puddles and we hit something that looked distinctly like a hill, then it felt like a hill ... but according the email it can't have been a BIG hill...<br />
<br />
Then it was back into regular track down a fast firetrail and a stretch of rainforested single track which ends with a short pinch climb called the Murderhorn. Just as we were getting comfortable we popped out of that section of track and instead of heading left on some smooth double track, we crossed the trail and headed straight up what is normally a very fun and fast descent. Well let's just say it wasn't fast and the fun factor was questionable in this direction. <br />
<br />
Only a few hundred metres further on the trail setter turned us left and we promptly lost all elevation again in a fast relatively straight descent back onto the double track that had looked so inviting before the climb. Onwards into normal direction single track for a while, with nice corners and no real ups or downs, we then came out at the bottom of DH track. Normally this is the end of a lap but no, we were facing yet another descent in reverse... which I would call a climb. This was a grind, it's normally a fun descent of bermed corners, now it became hard work.<br />
<br />
Once topped out we continued on the track in reverse direction, descending a few tight corners and swopping along all the way to Siberia corner right out near the road. Now even in the right direction Siberia corner is hard to flow, it's tight and not bermed and tends to be a bit sandy and loose. Well in reverse it was worse, because we approached on a descent.<br />
<br />
Not far to go now, and finally you're climbing a few snaking corners up to the timing tent. Great one lap done - now just repeat for 2 hours. I was lapped at around 24 minutes, I worked out that I should get in five laps and knew I was well head of the other girls. I timed it perfectly in the end, a 2 hour enduro and my finish time on my Garmin was 2:01:45 well ahead of the other girls.<br />
<br />
It's funny how you can know a track so well, know every rock and root
and line... then someone makes you ride it backwards and it's totally
new. Some of it flows like you never realised it could and then other
parts... well let's just say there's a bit of bark missing and sore knee
after today. <br />
<br />
Log roll overs became step-ups, berms tricked you into thinking they could help when the were really designed for riders coming the other way. Then those bits that look flat but feel like they are uphill; well they really must be uphill because riding them in reverse is swoopy and fast. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1mN8PKRAaLkXfRcgMdSvx3BivxXAiGF1wZdg3U2nhE8gUx4uhNTbQOC8_Myr62tiqle_szzwV9C4nssz2wPeMAHoAfOeh0ygZKBRo8HObjOamp1D2uB4cOf0R-sfFjHa-ZWUq3hQMpv8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-11-18+at+3.32.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1mN8PKRAaLkXfRcgMdSvx3BivxXAiGF1wZdg3U2nhE8gUx4uhNTbQOC8_Myr62tiqle_szzwV9C4nssz2wPeMAHoAfOeh0ygZKBRo8HObjOamp1D2uB4cOf0R-sfFjHa-ZWUq3hQMpv8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-11-18+at+3.32.32+PM.png" height="129" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lucky it was a nice flat course! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So that's it for club racing for the year, officially female A-grade champion. Thanks to all the hard-working people who make HMBA and club racing happen, I know you guys are busy people with jobs and families - it's people like you who keep mountain biking alive.<br />
<br />
And thanks to the imagination of the course-setter who keeps us on our toes. I'd much rather be made to ride up my favorite descent from time to time than get bored with racing the same track each month. It was a tough race but definitely worth the effort, next time I'll try and bring some fresh legs. <br />
<br />Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01677573242240723155noreply@blogger.com0