Blogs

3 of us from BMORC formed a team for this years final Chocolate Foot round at Awaba. Awaba seems to draw out all the big guns and I was keen to seem them go around and ride the fun track.
We had a mixed bag in terms of experience. Stephen is the seasoned racer, I'm the apprentice racking up a few by now and Paul was the newcomer with his first mtb race only the week before.
Stephen started us off and put in a solid 38min first extended lap.
I was next up and raced away to a 35:34, passing Brian from Jet opens (he probably didn't even recognise me).

Still not sure how solid the data is, given that my best category result was 6th in a small-ish field at Wollombi, but if it's real, it just proves "ya gotta be in it to win it". I'll take it, for the moment at least....

http://www.cyclenation.com.au/News/DisplayNewsIt...

The goal going into this race was to simply finish on the bike, still peddling.
Once at the race I secretly had the goal to beat Vinno and his mate in the pairs.

So... completed my first 100 mile fling ever without any mechanicals or any other bike related issues at all. just a reaaaaaallly long day in the saddle.
my only mistake was riding up 'the wall'. that went alright on the first lap but on the second lap the effort put me really in the box and it took me to the end of the wingello single track to recover.
8.36 it was in the end and by far the most climbing i've ever done on a single ride.
what an experience though. and big thanks to all the organizers and incredibly friendly helpers. great job.

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