Fatboy's blog

After beating last year’s result by nearly 40min in the Capital Punishment last weekend I was looking forward to similar today at the Willo. While I've only been back on the bike for 6 weeks after a 2 month layoff I was feeling positive.

I haven’t ridden since last weekend’s race as I was travelling for work but chose to get lots of sleep rather than do the hotel trainer thing. Last night I was in bed at 9 and punching great zzz until my son came in at 11 then a few hours later my daughter joined him and we had 3 of the 4 of us coughing and spluttering through the night. Grrrrr

I came into my first race of the season with low expectations but a great opportunity to get some racing in my legs and have a weekend away with my family. I had 2 months off following surgery and have been back on the bike for 5 weeks.

I was so keen to do well at The Fling. My aim was to do 5:30-5:45 which would smash my pb of 6:25. I've been training well and have been coached for 4 months now by my mate Gordo who has won the event twice.

My event started back in July when I was talking on the phone with my mate Gordo about my training which has improved this year and next thing I'm in his lounge room for half a day taking in an enormous amount of notes as he offers to coach me and starts by sharing his experiences and tips with me and builds my training plan. As an aside, I always assumed he wins the tough races because he's prepared to live inside the hurt box more than anyone else but now realise he's a perfectionist and lives by the mantra "Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect".

The bike shop where I purchased my Whyte's sent me this link to a locally made video with Jon Odams. Hope it works.
http://vimeo.com/52917382

After a couple of years of going backwards with my fitness I pulled my finger out and started training in January with Convict 100 as my yardstick on progress. I've even stopped drinking wine mid-week which is a huge sacrifice. Last year I did about 5:52 and set my target as 5:15 this year.

I went for some laps this morning at the new OMV trail. Parked as recommended in the car park near the highway about 8am and thought based on the lack of cars that I'd have the trail to myself. I rode down to the trail to find a dozen or so cars near the trail head.

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've finally succumbed to the hype and got myself a 29er – a Whyte 829 which is their “trail” 29er. I didn't want another race bike for enduro’s as I have no intention of changing from my 26” dually so went for a play thing.

Being the snake magnet I am I don't do as much riding alone anymore out in the bush. So yesterday I'm just riding along clocking up km on the cycle way behind Prospect Reservoir when I stumbled upon this dude wriggling across my path.