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Having a great time on my 1st 100km race until about 60 km in when a rock flew into my front 2 chain rings an bent them to such an extent the chain would no longer go round. I tried, rather aimlessly, to fix this but it was obvious my race was over. My only consolation was I had done enough for a 50 km time check. Around 2:31 so I was pretty happy with how I was going. Oh well there's always next - I'm a sucker for punishment!!!

Cheers Lincoln

That was my first Dirtworks and I had an absolute blast, starting with the now famous church and it's congregation, (top work Christine). My prep for the race was unconventional with 7 carbo loaded beers and then about litre of water before bed which meant I was up half the night going to the loo, 4am there was voices around the fire, so I got up for an early bowl of Weetbix, so there wasn't much sleeping going on for me.

Ok so hows this for a technology stuff up....Rob got into 50Km before me but the times suggest I beat him by 4 mins???

I also thought the timing was about 10 mins out based on speedo and clock.

My ride time was 6:45 and I figured based on start finish 7:09. That being the case I beat my previous 100Km time by 30 odd minutes which was pleasing although I would love to have cracked 7 hours.

Tien was way to fast up the hills and while I seemed to catch him at the drink stops he pulled away over the last 25 or so. I was never going to keep with Rob.

Happy to beat my goal time of 6 hours. I knew I had gone out to hard when I passed Steve fixing a flat at 60km, he came flying past me on the road after the river crossing.

I really struggled from 75 - 90kms and then broke my chain when I hit the final road section. The rest to fix it did me good but about 20 people passed me. 116 overall 17th in the open male 100km.

Nigel

Hi all,

Thought add my two cents worth describing my first "real" mountain biking event - DirtWorks 2008.

Firstly, what a great set-up. Christine you're a legend! Camping? Yeah up near the "Church" she's says... Ha! Hardly! Running water, campfire, full kitchen... and REAL toilets.. no dodgy portaloos for NobMob. Unfortunately I have a feeling we won't always have such luxuries at other events!

Nob’s Rule.

What a great weekend. Thanks Christine, the Church was the best, not to mention the toilets and the kitchen. We easily had the best setup.

After a night of little sleep due to snoring, the continual stream of blokes to the toilet, pre-race nerves, wind trainers and moaning it was up to watch the 100k’s depart. The 3 hours till race time didn’t take long to pass, but the 20 minutes wait for the race start took forever.

Firstly, thanks to Christine for getting us great accomadation. Nobmob always does it in style at events! Poor buggers freezing their bums off in the paddock below

Second well done to all that participated. It was my first Dirtworks and I loved it.

My day:

We started in Group 3 for the 50km, very good pace by Pikey, thanks for pushing us along.

About 7km, or so, into the race, The Crash! A rider next to me try'd to avoid a pot hole and lost it....all I could see, is his Helmet just missing my back wheel!!!

And then Andy hit him hard coursing him to do a OTB at about 25km/h on a gravel surface!!! ouch....

He dusted himself up nicely and caught us soon...Thanks Gary for waiting for him.

Then the big hill...no comment!!

You see... it's because of days like this you should never say, "never again"!!

At the bottom of last year's post on the Ditrworks disaster I ended:

So, like I said last year, "Never Again!

And yet somehow found myself on the 100Km start line at 6:30 yesterday morning. Was keen to get away with the faster 6:40 start but something didn't feel right. A quick check revealed I wasn't wearing the backpack so mossied on back to the ranch to collect it before leaving 10 mins later.

The race started off pretty well decided to jump into the front section of the 2nd pack of 50km riders.

I managed to get in a train of 10 riders and we flew down the first 10km of dirt and gravel. Not having a speedo or any technical wizardry or anything like that I estimated it was 28km hr average as we reached the start of the first hill in just over 20mins which was 10km away. Until the first hill that dreaded first hill!