Beat my last best by over 40 minutes. Some very intense training paid off. Being chased by old age is a good motivator.

Bit expensive though. Killed my Reba forks at about the halfway mark and had to fight the front end through stage 3. Also one of my shoes delaminated. Mmm New bike, new shoes !

This was my 3rd attempt at the half fling and I loved the whole weekend and race.
The atmosphere camping and in bundanoon was great as usual and I'll be back for sure.
The race itself was pretty good, with enough left in terms of improvement in my time to set some goals for next year. My first go at the half fling back in 2009 took nearly 4 hours so I've taken 45 minutes of that already. Will have to take my training more seriously next year as the last 15kms were tough and I think most of the 15 minutes I can take off here in future!

Well I would like to start last year....................... Last year it was my first full fling and it was the longest distance I had ever rode.....whoops

Needless to say that I felt like crap by the end. I walked more than rode the last 30k's and felt real bad.

I particularly remember I was walking up Broke Back Mountain and I saw the 100k sign with another saying only 10k's to go, that this is the worst I have ever felt in my life.

Its Friday 9th of November. I thought I would start my race report here.
Its been a hell of a week. One that I havent really shared with anyone other that my 'inner circle' of friends.
On Tuesday evening, I woke in the middle of the night with shivers and sweats. I lay in bed and just thought "why now?"

Training has been going so well. The trip to NZ was great, the other sessions I have done have really been perfect. Everything was getting itself together.
On Tuesday, I would have told you I was 100% confident of the best race of my career. Then - the flu.

What a great day out. Perfect weather and a well run event. I missed my sub-5 hour target which I had randonmly selected. Looking at why I missed my targeted time, it is clearly that my bike is too heavy and has nothing to do with me being too soft and precious to push a bit harder.

I will be back to SMASH it next year Target 2013 is 4:45. Watch this space!! ........ er ...... can this be edited during the next 12 months?

Best race to date for this race...started a bit fast for my liking but I think it paid off.....still deciding about that one actually. great conditions and great teamwork with Ror and Lionel

I think my last race was the Dirtworks in May. I then had a chest infection and collapsed lung over Winter resulting in 3 months off the bike. I've been back on it for a couple of months but only 1 or 2 rides on weekends only as I've been busy travelling for work (not a single week at home for more than 3 months ...) so had considered pulling out but love this race so decided to continue.

I wasn't looking forward to the Fling this year which is unusual for me as I normally want to go back and try and improve on last years time or position which motivates me to train that little bit harder than before to achieve the desired result. This year was different I had no goal as last year I had a blinder winning my cat and sub 5hr time just couldn't see myself beating that so motivation was zero. The good news is I can't wait for next years Fling so I can beat this years time

So this was my second time out riding the Fling having ridden it in 2011.
My goal going into the race was to get as clsoe to 5 hours as possible with anything under 5 being a bonus. I feel that my main weakness in enduro races is the final third where I feel flat and no amount of nutrition will keep me going, however I have been completing some longer training rides hoping to draw out some stamina for the final push.

I was really looking forward to this event after a good preparation and having crossed the finish line in 2011 feeling like a million dollars. Training schedule had been tweaked from previous races which seemed to work well and was hoping for a decent improvement on last years time. Of course there was the last minute nerves when broke the rear derailler hanger on friday night doing some last minute tinkering, but all sorted with some great nobmob support.