Lach's blog

I tried to walk this track years ago, but it was closed due to flooding. So this week, I took the trusty Niner and an adventurous mate out to see what it was like.

Pretty good race track overall, with the first half featuring some very nice single track, followed by a fire trail downhill plunge, a bit of traverse fire trail, then the unrelenting Snakes and Ladders sniggle climb. After a bit more sniggle, including a couple of multiple line option sections through some old quarries, there then seemed to be a lot of uphill fire trail slogging, broken up with a few water crossings.

A bit of unfinished business, as I'd DNF'd my previous two attempts at this race.

However, it's a climbers race, with 680m of vertical for a 26km lap, so not really where I expected to do well. Even though I was in pretty good nick, the repeated assaults of Mt Stromlo took their toll. Finished 10th out of 14 starters in the over 50's. Didn't have enough over 60's for a category apparently Overall, 73rd out of 95 starters.

Thought I'd keep the racing season going a bit longer after the Fling and also just had to give the new Niner Jet9 a workout, so drove up to this event, about 5 hrs north of Sydney, near Gunnedah and Tamworth (or as near as things get out there).

Weather was not real auspicious on the drive down on Saturday arvo and it continued misty / drizzly into the night. I never sleep well under canvas when it's wet, so woke up well before the bagpipes and feeling like I could do with a few more hours.

First race as an over 60 competitor and first podium!

Pity there were no other old bastards willing to tackle the hills and heat out at Mowbray Park, as first in a field of 1 does not mean much other than a free 6-pack of sponsors beer. - not sure who to thank, as I got 6 Peroni in a Bakalar Beer package!

This event came at the end of a 3 week road trip that involved hitting up the trails and beaches at Mogo and Broulee, the Snowies MTB Festival, some high altitude training at Falls Creek, riding the East Gippsland Discovery Trail and then spending a week in the Victorian Alpine National Park, including a couple of shortish rides at Horseyard Flat and in the Wonnangatta Valley.

Had a great time at this first time event last weekend.

Entered the 2 person team category for this event, as neither my mate or I felt up to the full 4 stages over two days. We ended up being the oldest team by a fair way I think.

There’s something about Stromlo…..

My 3 DNF’s have all been there or thereabouts. The wet Capital Punishment in 2010 due to the mud, the predecessor to this event also in 2010, due to a sore back. This time, it was a HR that quickly went through the roof and refused to settle down. I should have pulled out on the first climb, but stumbled around for a full lap with plenty of rest stops thrown in and lots of spinning in low gears. Managed to finish 1 lap just ahead of the 2 lap winners.

Found this pretty hard this year, which seems to be not an uncommon experience. The changes to the first stage didn't add anything to the race except for lots of ups and downs and sandy fire road corners. Changes to the final stage added a bit of interest with the new sections leading down to the creek crossing, but I found it hard to enjoy the rocky single track towards the end after struggling through Roller Coaster and up Brokeback Mountain. Be nice to have it closer to the start if they could find some way to do that without turning it into a conga line of walkers.....