Dirtworks
After all the recent rain the track conditions varied from damp to wet. The clay sections were not too bad when I went through although I am sure they would have been slipperier for the riders starting in the later waves. It was pretty easy to pick the good lines through the rock gardens, just a matter of following the orange line.
I found the road section down to the first hill bloody dangerous. Lots of people changing direction and trying to get 5 places forward before forcing their way back into the pack. Just plain stupid.
Had so many drama's getting to the start line for this race that it was almost a relief when we started. I had an interrupted preparation so wasn't sure how I would go. Took it slowly for the first half of the race, saw Gazza just before the first hill and then watched him ride away as I walked. Rode with Doc past Clair's bridge and into the 50k water station and then didn't see him again. Rode with Gazza for a while up the hill past the Buddhist monastery and it seemed like he was having a worse day than I was. Tried to push on a bit and generally felt better over the second half of the race.
Was getting chain suck almost every time I used the small front cog, stopped a lot to apply wet lube and rode all the GNR rock gardens in the big ring. Thankfully my legs didn't protest too much so think I am now on top of the cramping I used to get in 100k races.
Broke the chain at the start of the climb up Woomera Range and it took me a while to untangle it from the small chainring and work out it just needed a new joining link. Now I just need to extend my mechanical skills to brakes. Also nothing quite as uplifting as spending the whole of the climb catching people who rode past while I was getting my fingers dirty.
Ended up finishing in a time that was a pretty fair reflection of my preparation and a few bike problems so got to be happy with that.
Will I be back next year. Absolutely.
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Well done Paul. Great result. Yes the clay was very sloppy further back in the field!
Good result Paul, especially with the problems experienced. Sounds like at least 15mins of mechanicals. So not a bad time for those conditions.
See you out there on the trails.
D
Awesome - i love the stories of tenacity and bloody-minded "I will finish" attitude.
Big-ring on the GNR - you and me both brother. Except I cramped!
Good ride.
Decent ride even with the mechanicals, I was jealous seeing all bikes on the roofs of cars yesterday with the name plates on.
Good result I reckon.
outstanding result Paul ,glad you all got some great weather for a change ,how did you go on canoe bridge ?
Wayne, dont think the mechanicals cost me that much, maybe 10 minutes at the most so I was just one of the many on the side of the road with chain or tyre problems at some stage.
At the time I thought having no rear brake was worse and I was really cautious on the GRN steps, after riding them in damp conditions at race pace I think I would go harder next time but during the race I though the soft brake leaver was costing me more. Managed to stay with a guy on yeti 29er hardtail from the top of the Buddhist temple climb to the bottom of Shepherds gully so it cant of been holding me up that much.
Ant, you probably didn't walk some of the steeper hills, not sure I am quite strong enough for 27*34 in a 100k race.
Had to laugh about the canoe bridge. When I got there it was just starting to get a queue of 1 or 2 riders so the guy on the other side was encouraging everyone to start when the rider was half way across. Anyway he was hassling me to start and then the rider on the bridge stopped in the middle. Glad I waited. No problems riding it, a bit of a wobble in the middle but just leave it in the big ring and keep peddling.
btw my brother finished 9th in masters in 5:04.
Great result Paul. I think you were too fast for me out of the 50k stop and while feeling good after the climb up from the temple I was hoping to see you again.....and probably very nearly did, but not to be.