Ingkerreke Commercial MTB Red Centre Enduro

I came to the decision last year if I was going to get any better on the bike I would have to retire from indoor soccer. A decision that was fairly straight forward considering I played close to 700 games.

This year was also the year that I stepped up my training. It began in March with 700km and 1400km for April.

So today, I was to find out what all the kilometres in the leg bank have done for me.

Stage 1

Woke up this morning to discover it was only 5°C. Lovely shock to the system. I didn't bother packing any cold gear and hoped it wouldn't be an issue by race start.

The start was fairly rapid and by the time I was on the Stuart Hwy I had Joe Wall on my wheel and bit of a bunch behind, so I upped the pace to close the gap to the group in front. "You idiot, why are you smashing yourself for everyone else?"  Turn off the hwy and settle to a speed that I want to do and pull off the front. I notice the sand isn't as deep or wheel hungry as last year.

Up the hill, climb the fence and onto the first bit of single track for the day. Forgot how rocky the trails could be and got caught out. I was behind a rider who was getting used to the conditions and fell in front of me. She dragged a rock out and I was going to slow to get over it. so I landed on her. There we were both clipped into the bikes with me on top pinging her under hers.

Another incident happened soon after when I tried to negotiate an exit up a river bank and introduced my lolly bag to my stem. Breathe.

The rest of the stage was relatively uneventful. My descending skills through the tight switchbacks was crap to the extent I was wishing for more climbs as I was stronger than the riders around me and made up time and passed a few. Swapping out my bladder at the water point was costly.

Being fitter I found that I couldn't find time to get food and gels down. I used to use the climbs to do it. Now that I am riding those same hills and the single track needing full attention, there were limited opportunities.

Came in at 2.58, which was 40 minutes quicker at 3km/h faster than last year. 65th Outright

Race Data

Stage 2

Today's stage began with a rolling start through the streets of Alice Springs behind a Police car. Sirens sound and we are off along the Old Stuart Hwy.  The leading ladies are still in sight, so I know I am doing well. Onto sand, bugger, it is deep. Bum out the back and spin.

Double bugger. Now I have done it. I am still on the bike at the top of the 25% gradient, railway cutting climb. No more walking up it for me.

Now the riding becomes tougher.  Onto tight twisty single track and I am losing a stack of time. Classic rubber band riding. Vaughan is in front of me and gets away, but every climb I pull him back in.  Just wish the climbs were longer so I can grind him down.  At one point I pass him on a climb but he gets me on the other side. I am feeling good. I just can't get 'round corners.

I lose site of him until I cross the railway line for the final time and come upon the climb that has become known as Blair's Stairs. How did I forget about this? We went up it last year. I couldn't see how it could be ridden. Andrew Blair proved everyone else wrong.

Over the top and into the velodrome. Yesterday wasn't a fluke.  Averaged 3km/h today as well.  68th Outright

 

Race Data

Stage 3

The 300m hill climb sprint. In the large chain ring. 5,4,3,2,1 and punch it. Out of the saddle and stay in the big dog as long as possible. Over the last 10-12 metres I took it too easy. I didn't go back through the gears. My time is announced at 1.03. Even though I had beat my PB by 12 seconds I was hoping to crack the 60 second barrier.  I think I have found my ideal distance. Finished in 35th.

 

Race Data - Incomplete. I didn't start it on time.

Stage 4.

After the first couple of twisty stages I realised my best chance to move in the standings was the longer 77km stage. I started looking forward to it knowing I was going to hurt. Also knew so would everyone else.

Same plan as everyday. Position myself near the leading women and stick to them as long as possible. My other plan was stay in the pedals.

The stage started with a climb and then a blast through some back streets before hitting some flowing single track. 

Come to a punchy climb, near the water tanks and am so focused to stay in the pedals that I yell out to a rider walking that I was coming through. As I pass I realise I have asked the female yellow jersey wearer to move aside. I lose focus and need to unclip.  

When I get to the top I wait for Anna to come back through so she can attack the single track. Wise move, cause after a few turns I don't see her.  Into a area of climbing and I am closing gaps.

The 20km water point comes and goes. I am carrying a camelbak and plan to stop only at the 50km water point.

Onto the bike path now and can use the legs to punch out some speed.  Spend 5km on my own and catch I glimpse of a 3 person group behind me, so I take a gel and drink and wait. Vaughan is in the group.

Sit in behind for a few minutes before I take now turn on the front. All four of us are pulling our wait and work well together. I am feeling good and spent a fair bit of time driving the pace. Soon we pick up a couple of riders. Adam was on a single speed and was thankful cause now he wasn't cooking myself on his own trying to maintain some speed.

Off the bike track and onto the road section. The pace picks up again and I notice the last person to join the bunch is only pulling minimal turns on the front. Found out later he was racing me in the vets class. I get him before the end.

Spending a lot of time on the front, pushing, but staying within myself.

Five kilometres down the road and through Honeymoon gap and it happened. IBS induced stomach cramps. Two things now go through my mind. How long can on I go off and can I hang on to the bunch? My turns on the front are now short stints before sitting in the bunch.

Into the drink stop and I call out for toilet paper. The volunteers do an exceptional job.  Someone is tucking it into my jersey before I get my replacement camelbak on.  It is also the end of our little bunch. It blows up here.  Everyone is on a different strategies. 

I am still suffering and back off. I can longer hang on to Adam's wheel and the others and drop speed.  Try to keep the fluids up, but I also avoid food.

See Mike in the ridge line cross over and glad he didn't say how far I have to go.  At the start of the ridge line climb, my cramping has stopped. Awesome. I take in as much food as I dare and things turn around quickly as I am riding well up and down the rocky 4x4 track.

One last road section and drag a couple of juniors along with me into the BMX track.  The BMX track hurt. I am done.   61st Outright

 

Race Data

Stage 5

My favourite day and I am looking forward to the time trial.

Out of the blocks and catch Adam fairly quickly. He allows me by on the flowing track and build a small gap. He is awesome. Being a local he is calling out obstacles for me. The trail tightens up and he is all over me. Give him room and try to stick to his wheel. As if it ever was an option, but on the flow he can't get away from me on his single speed. We give each other room and swap positions a couple of times to allow each of us to ride to our strengths. I finally lose him when I got a corner so wrong that I had to unload the bike and straight line the corner through a bush. The only thing lost was time and branches for the bush. 

Ah crap, into the technical part of the course and my corning is horrible. Hills are attacked and push as hard as I can when the course allows it.

Up over the lat rise and let the bike run, while moving through the gears. Close now, drive the legs. One last obstacle and back onto the golf course. One more effort.  Come in at 1.12.09.  I don't know if that is quick for me or not. The TT has changed from previous years so there is no direct comparison.  It did feel more technical.  68th Outright

 

Race Data

Stage 6

Thunderstruck is playing and have a quick look around to see if I am where I should be.

We are off, and there is dust everywhere and I am only around the 50 mark. I have no idea how the riders at the back are coping.

Race plan for tonight is too smash myself 'til the "pipeline". It becomes a major bottle neck and can lose you a fistful of time. Point two is to try and ride the climb into the pipeline underpass. Didn't happen tonight. Not enough room and once there were a few people unclipped there was no other option.  I was not hindered getting under the pipe. No time lost.

Fast section of track over and up into the first single track climb.  Loving it.

Not so much now as I descend into the switchbacks.  I hear a voice, so I yell out "Is that you Adam?"  It was so at the first chance I move over. He is gone.  Still descending and I hear the loudest rock strike against my bike that I have ever been exposed to.

Ignore it and focus trying to get through the corners.

The trail opens up and I stamp on the pedals. What? The bike lurches once, the bike lurches twice and then finally the rear wheel locks up.

Audible swearing can be heard, not loud though.

Off the bike and access the damage. The bottom of my derailleur is cracked at the jockey wheel and the lower guards on both sides are missing. My race is over but I keep working on the bike for a few minutes to try and see if I can get it rolling.

So, 5.2km into a night stage, with my rear wheel locked there is only one thing to do.  Throw the bike over the shoulders and walk back to the start/finish line. Claire gently reminds me to dip my lights. I also come across John Jacoby clearing the track of markers.

The walk back would take just over an hour and I cross back into the path of the finishes.  I am seen by Jess and recommends running to the finish line. Yeah, that won't be happening. I am still a kilometre away and have now been carrying the bike for over 4km. The shoulders are sore and now have blisters on my big toes.  My focus is just getting back to the finish line.

There is a lot of support and encouragement, from other riders, volunteers and spectators for me to keep going and it is appreciated. I Love my sport and the people associated with it.

5,4,3,2 and done.

 

Race Data

Stage 7

As I was out of the race I decided to go to the finish and see the leaders come in.

What ended up happening though was I helped set up the finish line and then volunteered to collect the timing bands from the competitors once they crossed the finish line.

Easy enough, if you were on the ball. I dropped my guard and ran, I mean, RAN into a low lining branch of a gum tree that knocked me stupid and on my back.

Turned into a decent headache and graze. This was the only injury from the whole week and my bike was over 5km away in pieces.

What did I take from the Enduro this year?  I was 3km/h faster or roughly 18% faster. I will be back and I know there is still some improvement left in me.  It was also the first year I have raced. No shoulder, neck or arm pain. Legs felt good even after day 4.  Every other year has been about survival.

Bike Buller

Stage 1

 

Push from the start and hit the first hill climb hard. Last year back in the pack everyone walked down the Abom traverse.  Made it and am able to ride down. It is fairly chopped this year.  I don't have the room to get through the corner, so I unclip. The bike is stopped by the rocks on the exit and puts me over the bars. Standard procedure is required. Drop the shoulder and roll. I land on my back a few meters from the track. No drama as the bike follows me keeping the track clear.  Another rider does something similar in the next corner but he tumbles down the hill looking like he is competing in a cheese rolling festival.

 

Riding back up and out and I have a cartoon fall. The front of the bike stops dead, the rear wheel lifts. My brain didn't process this information and I continue spinning, faster and faster. Physics can be a bitch. I found the equilibrium point and my chest found the stem and the ground. Sucking for air now. There is nothing in the vicinity to suggest why I went over.

 

Lungs are now working and I am feeling good. Time for the rough descent. Come up to a caution sign and I am so on the wrong side of the waterbar.  The farside of it is deeply rutted out. I have too much weight over the front of the bike to tackle it, so I throw the bike to the left and into the scrub.

 

Back on track and allow the bike to run.  What? 5.4km. No chance, I must have stopped the Garmin with my chest. No idea on exact distance but I have a fair idea how much to go. Into Silk Lane and time to climb.

 

Today I am comfortable on the bike. Switchbacks however are not my friend today, which isn't good considering I am in the section of them called Medusa. I am getting them so, so wrong and I keep losing the bike time after time.  Finally tackle them with my weight over the front of the bike and hey presto, I am facing the correct way.

 

All the little tips that I have been given or collected over the last six months are paying off. From storing gels, to having a plastic cup in my jersey holding bite size pieces of energy bars.

 

Now it is time to descent and I am wearing the wrong lenses for the conditions.  In and out of shadows and my eyes are slow to pick up entries, but once I have worked out the line the track offers so much grip. Having a fun day and got to remember it is still a race. Back onto Cornhill and surprised how well the track has recovered from The Nationals. Awesome job to the Mount Buller Management Team.

 

Getting some nice rhythm and speed but the single track is over before I know it. One last nasty rocky climb back into the finish line. Brilliant, 1 hour 46 minutes. I just cut out 30 miuntes from last year and I feel good.

Race Data - incomplete

 

Stage 2

 

The idea now is to do as many laps as possible in 3hours 15minutes before descending 900 vetical meters down to along the Delatite river. Starts begin in groups of six at 30 second intervals.

The more I ride Gang Gangs the more I realise how how grip there is and confidence you can have in the bike. Even the wait for the chair lift isn't that big a deal. It allows for easy hydration and feeding. There are no egos in the queue and people are friendly. The wait also allows some riders to do running repairs without losing time. People are helping each other where they can.

Coming up the chair lift the rollers on Abom don't look that big.  At ground level they are another matter. Serious damage can be had had if you get them wrong.  As the day progresses I am getting quicker and quicker through the single track when space allows it.

Lap three and over the rollers one more time. What is that noise?  Ouch. My large chain ring has taken a whack and is bent. It reassemblies a LP record left in the sun. Still works. The chain stays on under protest. Get to bottom and someone offers to beat it straight with a rock. I decline.

Time for one last lap and to descend down to Mirimbah, otherwise, the ticket box at the entry to Mount Buller. The single track is empty and I go through parts of Gang Gangs 8km/h faster than I had all day. I believe today is a perfect. A short climb required and then onto a rough as guts trail that is Box Car Loop. Pretty steep and the brakes get a workout to a point where they start to smell.  Too fast and too tight a corner to get round. Go with the safe option of unloading the bike and come to a near stop.  No numbness in the hands but the shoulders are getting a tad sore.

Now it is time to turn onto the Delatite track and enjoy the ride down on the smoother descent. There are a couple of corners that need some attention before I can ping it down the hill at over 40km/h. The bike is dialled in and it is such a rush. Now for the first river crossing and instead of wet feet I get to enjoy a brand new one metre wide bridge covered  in fresh earth with optional loose rocks. The trail is cut up now and a couple of bridges are a little hairier. Over the first pinch climb with ease and get reminded on the second one that the bike isn't 100%. I lose the chain and all momentum when I try and gear down. As I get lower and the trail flattens out are is an abundance of standing mud and water. So much for the promise of dry feet.  One last bridge and I am done.

I finish the stage with the 6th fastest descent in class and 40th outright. Today is the strongest I have ever been on a bike. Bring on tomorrow and Stage 3.

Race Data

Stage 3

The day starts with a bike between my legs and two pairs of vice grips. I take out as much of the warp as I can from the chain ring.

Plan for the day is to smash it at the start to avoid the bottle neck into the single track climb. Job done, and I am moving freely. The bike, not so much. My repairs didn't stand up and I lose the chain in a switchback and 20 riders go past me before there is a gap big enough for me to slot into.

One last time down Gang Gangs and I see the Co2 canister I lost the day before. Still loving the trail and head onto Cornhill Road. It is a rough and more riders are claimed with punctures. Onto Stonefly and the first climb to the top of Mount Stirling. My switchback yips have returned . There is a bit of a train and cannot get the power to the ground that is needed. Time to focus on being steady, hydrate and keep food going in. Shoulders are now sore. Over the water fall which is the half way point of the climb. There are a couple of flowy descents on the climb. They allow for some fun but it is elevation that needs to be regained. The first time I climbed Stonefly I made it a point not to get out of the middle chain ring. Today granny gear is my friend and gets me to the top. 

Now I turn onto some double track, which allows lots of speed. Getting more comfortable with my and the bikes capabilities. Look for the brown to get maximum speed.

What? Tan bark? As I get lower the trail is covered in a couple of hundred meters of the stuff. Guess it is there to absorb moisture. It also absorbs speed.

A little further and I am into the drinks station. Top up the pack, grab some snakes and head out onto a steep road section before hitting double trail or is that double trouble? I have nothing in my legs. The way up doesn't look that bad I can't get the legs to spin and for the next 3km I average less the 6km/h up the 31% gradient. There goes all the good work from Saturday. Now it is about hanging on. Ride, walk, drink, stretch and eat.  The terrain becomes familiar and I know I am getting near the top.

Back onto Stonefly for the descent. I unclip for the tricky little rock entry and then get going. It has got to be one of the best bits of single track around.  There corners flow on to each other and allow speed to be carried from one to the next. There is a drop down to the right switchback that I haven't worked out so I unclip again and walk down. Guess I made the right call cause someone broke their nose in the exact spot a few minutes earlier. Tired and sore but I am smiling. I recognise Glen Jacobs, designer and builder of the trail, taking photos. I tell him he has done a fantastic job. I have no idea what his response is. I am already too far down the course.

...and it is over. Stonefly has come at the right time to lift my spirits. Kilometers are now knocked over quickly down a gravel road section.

Focus has been regained and needs too. There are plenty of obstacles in the way of fallen branches lining the trail.  Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. A deep mud filled washout with a steep exit is in the way. Hold my breath and hope the front end gets up and over. It does so without any grace, the rear reacts by pitching sideways. Sigh. All wheels still point down.

More mud and this time it stinks. One last climb back up to the road and one last sting in the tail in the form of a pinch. Onto the tarmac and my legs have recovered enough that I am not hating the climb. Thats it. The turn off to the chairlift. No waiting today. Off the chairlift and I easy over the rollers. 500m and I am done with a time of 4 hours and 12 minutes.

Race Data

Finished 10th in class and 48th overall. Prior to the start I wanted a top 50 finish but after Stage 1 and 2 I felt that I let a good result get away.

 

 

Otway Odyssey

So, my goal for today at my first attempt is 8 hours. I have been anxious leading up to the race due to its reputation and now that I am on the start line I am pumped. The weather is mild which after the night before has come as somewhat of a bit of a surprise. Over night 26mm fell over The Otways.  Everyone is wondering how the course will be affected. No need to worry.  We will all find out soon enough.

 

Off we go and I have positioned myself without too many hassles. The pace is comfortable with the occasional banzai warrior racing past.  Onto Wild Dog Ride. Happy with climbing and passing people up the hill.  Heart rate is fine and I look down at my Garmin and notice the gradient is at 11%. Why did I add that data field and how steep is that anyway?  Get to the hairpin and look down to see a line of riders snaking back down the hill.

 

Holy cow, what a cross wind. Put the head down and use the other riders as shelter.

 

First bit of descending and I am passing people around me. I think I have finally getting the bike dialled in. The XTR brakes are awesome. Well, not quite, my bum is getting sore.  I swapped the bars out for carbon earlier in the week and they must be different enough to change my riding position. Nothing for it now. Will attend to it at the top of the climb. 

What's that beeping?

 

Quick stop, saddle adjusted, gel downed and back into it. Another tarmac road section and I am feeling good.

 

Still more beeping, phone or car key?  At this point I don't care. I feel strong and moving forward.

 

Time to get off the road and onto Old Coach Road into what I can only describe as wet concrete render.  Riders are shooting off into all directions to avoid the slop.

 

There is water everywhere and some people are hitting it head on. Their bikes are going up to the hubs. Hope they are carrying lube.

 

The trail "drys" out for a while and still making good time and descending comfortably. Yep, spoke too soon. The trail is getting cut up and the bike is getting sucked along in the ruts and washouts. Slipping, sliding with wheels locked out.  The back wheel overtakes me and I land on my bum in 200mm deep water. Ha.

 

The trail turns diabolical. Totally unridable for the next 6km. It is the most soul  destroying, sticky clay that I have ever seen. In some places it is so pure that it can be used to throw pots. After 50m of pushing, you stop retrieve a stick and then proceed to remove as much mud as possible from the bike, tyres, derailleur and shoes. Push and then repeat.

 

The weather is getting cooler and spots of rain are coming down. Still beeping. Now I am too tired to care.

 

You have got to be kidding. My bike stops rolling downhill. More filth removed just to get the wheels to turn.  Today is the worst conditions I have ever ridden in.

 

At each of the three creek crossings people are trying to find water deep enough to wash their bikes. I only care about my shoes. Struggling with the mud and the drinks station comes at the perfect time. No more clay.

 

Clean the glasses and point the bike down the hill. Super fast and clean descent. Having some fun and a regain a bit of focus. Glasses are fogged up and get stowed as I hit Red Carpet for the timed 8km descent. Back into some sort of rhythm. Head isn't quite there, still with the beeping, but I manage to catch people. My time for the descent is 17.37. Ok with that considering I was held up for a while in a train of six.

 

Eyes are stinging and do so for days to come from all the crap that has picked up by my tyres. One of the benefits of seeing I suppose.

 

More single track and now I am making lots of small mistakes. Incorrect entries and existing to corners to my position on the bike to tackle any technical terrain and still with the bleeping beeping.

 

Heart rate spikes as my front wheel on side of a longitudinal tree root and the back wheel on the other. Wheel plus wheel equals  high side bike exit into a tree fern.  Another soft landing.  Come to a sign "Corporate Ladder" That can only mean up.

 

Another mistake and another fall into a deep bowl of a hole. I am stuck on my back with the bike on top of me. I feel like a turtle and feel like I tore my calf in the deal.  Days later I work out it was just a corky. Relief. After what feels like an eternity I manage to roll over and drag myself out of the hole.

 

 

I can no longer cope. I am cold, wet and in pain. The mud has broken me. Mentally I am spent.  Beeping, will you stop with the beeping? The rest of the ride into transition is a blur. Arrive at the football ground in 4h 43m and I bump into Ben who has already finished the full distance and me tries to convince me to keep going.

 

I am ahead of the time I had set for myself but I am too fragile to tackle the last 37km. After all the small mistakes to date I don't want to turn them into a big one.

 

So angry and down on the myself since for not getting through the race.  Need to remember how that feels and use it for motivation next year.

 

What did I take away from The Otway Odyssey?  The new carbon bars were easier on the hands and shoulders, not as much numbness and shoulder pain.  Awesome.

I am still struggling to get enough solid food down.

If there is a bucket load of rain overnight run narrow tyres to allow greater clearance, not that it would have made that much difference in the clay and pack a spatula.

 

 racedata

 

...and the beeping a 10 minute reminder in my calender for The Otway Odyssey.

 

Alpine Assault 2010 - 67km or was it?

Up at Windy Corner on Falls Creek. Waiting for the start, it is supposed to be cold up here. Today it isn’t.

Looking forward to this.

The idea is to start at Falls Creek and finish down below at Mount Beauty 67km later.

…and we are away, behind the support vehicle down the hill and into the village.  The official pulls aside as the field gets to an access trail.  Good start, sitting just behind the leading group spinning along within myself. “What the hell was that?  Dear God that tastes like shit.” That bug was so big it felt like it was carrying luggage. Whatever it was I force myself to throw it back up. Tasted no better on the return journey. Back into it. The trail drops close to the dam wall and onto a road. Push while I can. The first drinks station comes up quickly and no need to stop. 

Time for the first climb of the day.  Not steep, not overly technical, just a little loose surface in places, but it was 3km long.

Follow the trail to the right and final get to build up speed on a surface that isn’t bitumen. Still need to tweak the new front end setup.  The World Cup Sid a little too sharp in the rebound department.  Sitting in the right hand rut and it has flowing water in it. Strange, the left is bone dry. At the speed I am going there is no way I can get out and over the crown, so a wet bum it is.

Creek! Started to look for the easiest line to get across ‘til I noticed the red X. Off to the right then. I am having fun. Back on a short road section to the drinks station. This time I stop. Top up the bladder, have a gel and a couple of Gu Chews as the next drinks stop is over 40km away.  Back onto the climb and this time I carry on to the left. The second part of the climb is slightly steeper and by the time I get to the top it is nearly 6kms of climbing. It is also the highest I have ever been on a bike.  1847m above sea level. There are no trees, just short grass, bleached rocks and baking sun.

Slight descent down Big River Fire Track and it is rough as guts. Pedalling in the big ring so I can stay on top of the rocks.  Both ends of the bike are working overtime and rocks are pinging off in all directions. Distance is getting ticked off quickly. Loving it. Hands are taking a pounding, pinky and ring fingers start to tingle.

The scenery changes and get into the tree line. I take the opportunity to drink and soften the rear suspension.  Now get ready for why I am here I entered the race. Kilometre after kilometre of going downhill.

I start on the outside and become very wary of the drop. Damn that is a long way down.  Plan B, move to the inside. Turns out that wasn’t such a good idea. Loose fallen rock and jutting out tree branches. At the speeds that I am doing there is no way to pull up in time or avoid the obstacles.  Back to the outside and concentrate on keeping me eyes on the middle of the track.

My mantra - Remember, momentum is your friend.

Hands are numb, I have lost all strength in my left hand so I can’t rest my fingers over the brake level. One benefit of this is I go faster. Awesome, the trail is just whizzing by.

“FUCK!” a washout. Can’t stop, my heart explodes. “Fuck, fuck, fuck” too fast and I can’t avoid it. Shift my weight behind the seat and lift the front end up. Manage to skip over the top of it.  Some goodly person packed it out with a monster of a rock. Concentration levels are now on high alert.

Discovery there can be too much of a good thing. I need to stop a couple of times to allow my hands to recover. I am not the only one. Someone remarks that wasn’t fun. I can’t agree with him. My hands would disagree but I had a ball.

At the end of the first 8km descent is Big River. Don’t even try to keep the feet dry. The water comes as such a relief. The lower I get the hotter the day gets. Back to climbing now and towards the top I get a twinge of cramp. Time for fluids, a gel and a Enervit. Cool, I catch it early enough.

Downhill again, except the trail now has tighter bends and is a lot rougher. My guess is earth moving equipment has been used to clear the track of fallen trees and other debris. Some hairy moments with loose rock on the way day. A couple of creek crossing later and I have finished the majority of the descending. The terrain levels out, my hands are numb and shoulders are sore. Yep, I have neglected doing sit ups and push ups over the Christmas break.  Lesson learnt.

Bit of a climb, and turn onto the Bogong High Plans Road. Flying now and using most of the road.  Starting to worry.  Have I missed the turn off?  It seems like a long road section. My body is recovering slightly.  Turn ahead sign. Cool, I haven’t made a mistake. Cross the road and onto flowing single track dropping down into Mount Beauty.

Into the last drinks station and take on some fluids before the last 7km loop. This turns out to be a 4.5km climb. That is plan nasty. My shoulders hate me at the moment and 600m out from the drinks station I get cramp. Mentally I am lying in my bed. I know I should stay on the bike, but I use the cramp as an excuse to get off and relieve the pressure on my shoulders as well. Fianlly I snap back into action, very loose term. Back on the bike and the legs are rolling over very slowly in granny gear. No more up. The trail marker points at single track back towards the finish. There should be 3km to go. Down, down I go. Come up to a pinch climb.  I can’t do it. No drive left, unclip and push. I like the single track around Mount Beauty. Don’t know if I would sit in a car for 4.5 hours but happy to ride it if I was in the area. The finish should be only 600m away. No chance. Still too high and far away. Last bit of single track. My body digs for one last effort and over the line.

Turns out I finished 20th out of 46 people, so goal achieved. At this point as long as I am in the top 50% of the field I will be happy.  Total distance 71.67km (supposed to be 67km) 4h 39m 40s. Total calories burnt 2603.

 Race Data

I came out without a scratch, surprising considering the number of trees and bushes I brushed through. I also found a new way to get sore on a bike. All the rough descending left the balls of my feet sore where I was clipped into the pedals.
I am not quite there yet, but I am learning to better my fuel and liquid intake. Bring on 2011. Even though I was ruined for the shorter distance I am already contemplating stepping up to the 100km.

Golden Triangle Half Epic

I'm heading towards Bendigo for a race I wasn't expecting to be at, but things feel into place during the week, which meant I wasn't needed down at Lorne and I am driving through fog. Not complaining, I will be happy if it stays cool for the day. Turns out the mother nature has a devious sense of humour.

So, the race plan today is quite simple. Finish the race with the same amount of skin that I started with.

Relaxing start, by sitting behind the official's quad bike until we were escorted over Sedwick Road. Once the field was back together it was on. I found myself towards the front of the pack pushing hard on tarmac uphill. What was I doing? There was still 58km to go.

The course turned off the bitumen and now moving freely over an access road along side a culvert. Feeling fresh and producing decent speed. I need to position myself closer to the front more often, cause by the time I get to single track, there are no bottle necks. Head down and once I get close to the bottom I discover there is so much water laying around. All I can do is hope I pick the right line. Didn't always get it 100%. The bike pretty much stopped dead on a couple of occasions.

Crunch, first bug in the mouth for today. Believe the final bug count was in the order of a half a dozen.

The terrain changes so quickly, now climbing over loose shale. Loving this, no water. Point it down the other side, the biking clacking over the rocks and absorbing the bumps. My ankle on the other hand reminded me it wasn't fully healed, but come on, this is so much fun.

The song in my head is until the End of the World. Nothing significant, just left over from the U2 concert. Must be relaxed and I am enjoying the race, despite the heat building up.

Oo, double arrows, so what do we have here? What? No dispute, there is the pink tape. The trail is now a creek bed. Eight weeks ago this would have been awesome. Now it is a question of keeping the bike out of the washouts and deep water. Got to the bottom with my race plan still in check.

My drive line is already starting to squeal and it is only 16km into the race.

The ground is super soft, and the next patch of water is clear, so I don't bother lifting the front wheel. Mistake! Down it goes up to the hub and I am OTB. Plop. I am now soaking wet, which gives me slight relief from the heat.

The first drinks station came and went. There was no need to stop. My hydration pack still feels relatively heavy. I pause long enough to grab a couple of snakes. I think I have found my new favourite race food. Down a couple of Clif Shot Bloks. Whoa! Each chew is equivalent to an espresso.

Getting hotter as I come to the crest of a hill, which appears to open out on to a car park. The arrow points left, so down the fence line trail I go. Can't see any pink tape. The trail doesn't feel right. Drop down a loose steep hill and still no tape. Time to turn around. Others have done the same by turning let but haven't descended the hill and watch as another rider and myself climb back up. My heart drops when I realise 10-15 people have now passed me without the effort. Someone had turned the arrow around and that act of bastardery cost me 1.5km and around 5 minutes. Can't change it now. Let out something audible that is frowned upon in polite company.

My drive line is making a racket. 33km into the race and I have no lube left on the chain. I am starting to hold and ease the shift level to change gears.

Can't get enough food down. I hate that I accept that avoiding diarrhea is a daily event. Starting to struggle. The more fatigued I get the less I want to eat. Compensating by increasing my fluids.

Got over steer on a switchback climb. Put too much power down and watched as my back wheel gently overtook the rest of the bike putting me on my bum, laughing. It was the most graceful fall I have ever done. Race plan still achievable.

Descending now on a relatively clean single track. Nice flow and just the right amount of rocks to keep it entertaining. Still having fun.

Awesome, back onto the culvert, which gives me a lift. No mud and can increase my speed. Starting to get it back together and feel good. The road section also helps. Driving the legs now.

Everything was going well until I got near the final drink station.  The mud and water had become mentally draining. One of the volunteers must have seen something cause she loaded my jersey with snakes wouldn't let me leave until I ate something. Love their work and support they give.

Tired, hot, the bike and myself covered in filth but I need to keep moving. Everyone around me is struggling at one point or another. Someone will get a spurt and then be in trouble a kilometre later. Plenty of encouragement, patience and courtesy out on the track. People don't need to be asked to move out of the way. Everyone is racing themselves.

There is a familiar feeling in my abdomen and to relieve the pressure I stop and get off the bike. Less than 10km to go and will stop and pause a few more times. One last gel and I hope I will be ok.

Cautious on the descents as I am mentally spent. I don't want to hurt myself by making mistakes. Now aim for clean water, hoping to get some relief whatever splashes up on my legs. Still trying to avoid the mud. Some of it smells like a cow has been rotting in there for months.

The leading female of the full Epic, whom has done an extra 40km but started 2 hours earlier, passes me like she is on a Sunday spin. She said something along the lines "You're doing well, keep it up". She lied, I was so cooked. My legs were still feeling OK though.

Back on single track now and under trees. Another U2 song in my head. This time, Some Days are Better than Others. So true. This was a good one.

The weather is turning and there is a thunder storm coming in. The wind has picked up and the temperature drops.  That and the fact I am now coming across signs 8km, 6km has made me regain focus. Down hill single track with a couple of creek crossings help knock over the kilometres quickly. One more climb, push and the last bit of hard work is done. Now, stay alert for the last 2 km. The finish comes into view and I forget how tired I am. Wait? What? The trail turns away. Ah, the last little tease for the day with a series of switchbacks. The terrain levels out and I am done. More than happy with my race result, 10th in class and 39th outright which was in the top 50% of the field. I am getting better and learning more with each race. Total distance 62.71km, 4h 32m 21s. Only 2745 calories burnt.

Race data

No cramp, a couple of bruises and my race plan intact.

Dirt Works 100

Where is my phone? Great, awesome, start to the day. One lost phone. Too late now, get to the start line. Bugger, at the back of the pack. Waiting with a stomach full of breakfast risotto and three things are going through my mind for my first 100km race. Hope someone is kind enough to hand my phone in, will my ankle, which is still swollen, be able to withstand the 100km and will my IBS play nice.

Pace is slow until we get to the road, then I can spin the legs and get a nice rhythm. Enter a pine forest for some single track. This is not good. The Larsens are diabolical in here. They offer nothing over the wet tree roots and ground. Scary, and to prove a point I slipped sideways on an off camber tree root. My face on the ground. The lovely thing about this is that pine needles are quite soft. Hope the day won't be all pine forest or lots of pain will be had. That looks like a bog. Time to unclip and walk around. It won't be the only time today. Well, the drought is over.

Back on the loose fire road and I go the fastest I have ever been on a mountain bike, 54km/h.

 Overhear one of the marshals that part of the single track has been removed from the course due to being too wet. Should have paid attention to that little tidbit of information cause I didn't eat enough for the first section. The drinks station was supposed to be at 33km, so from the 30km mark I didn't eat cause I had to stop for water and figured to refill and eat at once. 35, 36, 37 where is it? Pedaling efficiency out the window. Turning squares. 38, 39 and 40. Finally. Down a bar and watermelon. Turns out watermelon is not my friend during a race. In fact it is a punch in the guts.

Steep little hill at 48km and bang, cramp. Suck on an Enervit. Whoa, they work a treat and I increase my fluid intake.

More single track, which is awesome, no more pine trees. Under the gums now, and the ground hard pack and dry. On the right tyres now and having fun. The bike is hooked up. Note to self, it is only 15 minutes further than The You Yangs. Get out there more often. 

There is a lot of water and mud on trails and fire roads that are used by other modes of transport. Getting through the filth was follow the leader and tyre marks approach. Hopefully enough people before you have made the correct decision. Got caught out a couple of times.

Ankle just hurts now and the shoulders are getting sore. Still over 50km to go. Stomach is starting to spin. Second water station came just in time. Need to stretch. Doug finds me and waits a couple of minutes for me to get sorted before heading out. It is good to have moral support and company of a friend. My ankle is giving me grief. There is no strength and I am finding it tough to take any right hand corners with speed.

Cool, we have hit the single track that I rode the day before. I know what is coming. In my head "STAY ON THE BIKE. DO NOT BALE!" Wooho! Wooho for what?  A drop down wooden bermed right hander transitioning onto a boardwalk bridge with a  2.5m plus drop off the side. Sorry to you non riders reading that. I'll just say it was a little unnerving.

Crap, cramp again, and I lose Doug. I can't seem to drive up any hills today. Granny gear it is. Catch up to Doug as he is leaving the last drinks station. Strange, I feel fresh as I leave and manage some good speed, for a while anyway, when there weren't any hills to climb.

On some sweet single track now. Point the bike down the hill, hands off the brakes and let it run through the corners. Does not get any better than this. Smiling to myself. I hope? I hope it is to myself or else I look like a bug eyed crazy man.

That's it 93km. Up 'til now, the longest distance I have covered on a mountain bike. Fire road now. The kilometres keep ticking off. Cramp pays me one more visit. Starting to wonder what I need to do, to get my body through more of these things.

Wohoo, 100km. No idea how far away the finish is. More pure single track, still enjoying it even after 102km. Hmmmm, either I am getting spray off my sweat soaked scone or it is starting to rain. Bugger, it is rain. Coming down hard now, with a side order of thunder. I am wondering what I am doing on a bike riding through an empty paddock.

What? Hail? Why not. The hail stones are getting to be the side of marbles. Don't care. They hurt, but there is the lake.  The finish is just around the other side. Head down, drive through the finish line and keep going to get under cover. In the nick of time too. Within a minute the hail is the size of golf balls, yikes.

....and the hail? The smaller stuff in the photo is what clocked me for a couple of kilometres. The bigger stuff hit my car, which someone described as looking like a at woman's buttocks. So it should be a write off.

Where did I finish? 189th, 45th in category. What I also know is someone did hand in my phone. What a relief. Now for some numbers 109.96km, 8h 39m 22s. My favourite number off the Garmin is 6377 Calories burnt.

If anyone is interested on what 110km looks like.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/55904782

Just one more thing, other than general soreness and aching knees. NO damage to me. I did have another fall when I dropped into a motorcycle rut, but the tree I smacked into saved me hitting the ground.