daveh's blog

Absolute corker of a day for racing, the tracks were in great condition, the organisers had worked in some of Sparrow and removed the horrible paddocks near the airport. I had put myself in group three which seemed like a mistake but positioned myself near the front so it was actually pretty good having a reasonably clear track.

After entering a team of 6 last year and deciding that you just don't get enough laps, we entered a team in Open 4s. Things got off to a great start simply by our campsite being a big improvement (besides craked's tent!) on last year as we joined The Unmentionables and 5 Nobs and a Luddite. Usual Friday night beer and banter and off to bed early.

What a difference a year makes. I actually felt that my training going into last year was better but I know that the heat and my execution on race day let me down. This year was a slightly different story but I think I just felt a lot more relaxed. We camped which meant dinner and into bed early, up before the 6 AM bagpipes for breakfast, coffee and last minute checks.

Set off with a couple of mates, looking forward to a day out but knowing it was going to be really wet. With the absolute bog that was this track, I was getting chain suck after 5km and my chain finally got caught up and snapped but a quick powerlink and I was on my way. After 15km I only had the big dog at the front and a few gears at the back, everything else would just skip about but that was enough gears on what is a pretty flat track. At 30km the rear derailleur left my bike and ended up in my spokes - snapped hanger, cage ripped in half, broken spokes and warped wheel.

Had an absolute ball at The Mont and can so very easily see why everyone raves about it. Arriving at the campground to see so many people there to ride their bikes, the excellent set-up and facilities at race central, the nervous/excited buzz and then, on that first night, the quietest and stillest campground that I have ever witnessed.

I actually enjoyed Capital Punishment but I really should not have.

My first MTB enduro so the anxiety about what to expect was very real. Staying in Bowral with a mate and our families, we woke early enough for a good breakfast, a couple of cups of coffee and to get there on time. Lost my mate during a fairly uneventful, but mostly enjoyable, first stage - hard to enjoy the freshly laid singletrack as it seemed a lot of rider out were not expecting it so were very slow. The elites belted through whilst we were in the paddocks so no concerns about holding them up, just sheer amazement at their speed.