Blogs

After the cramp infested Fling - I decided to get fitter and better prepared. Race briefing said the waterbars were nasty - check.

St Albans is a magical place when there is a bit of morning fog around the river reaches, and so it was for the 2012 Convict 50.

Think I've found my new distance!

This was the first time out on the dirt since the Fat Tyre back in December. This was my first 50km event. I usually go in for the main event but after spending zero time training or spending any time on the bike this year I decided to downgrade my entry to the 50km. My theory was simple 'I could prolly kill a 50 but a 100 would prolly kill me".

My goal this year was to finish in the top 10% in a 50km XCM race, and having placed 33rd (out of 232) in my category at last weekend's Capital Punishment, I was determined to do better at Convict 100. I didn't really know what to expect, but most of my training is done in Lane Cove National Park, so I like steep hills and rocky fire trails. So I lined up at the back of the first wave, shivering cold and waiting for the start. The guy next to me said "make sure you ride in a bunch - you don't want to be alone in a headwind on the final dirt road section".

http://www.cyclenation.com.au/results/ranklist.a...

I thought I would just keep track via screen shots of how I'm going after the races. I missed doing this after the Wombat 100.

After the Capital Punishment I'm in the top ten so for males

There's also a couple of other nobmobers there

**Edit 10th May**

Well the plan was not to enter this race, but changed my mind with the race talk going around and the conditions looking good. Ended up getting an 11th hour transfer and was not disappointed.
The course was great and managed to keep a good pace most of the time after my usual slow start. Sure was hard pushing through Majura after not eating snacks through single trail and waiting for the untimed section. Definitely a unique experience having such a long break through the untimed section, was good to refuel but funny how it felt colder than at the start line.

Decided after doing the 100 last year that it would be my last at that distance - I can ride 100km, but I can't get motivated enough to train enough (or, in reality, get good enough to) feel like I can race for that distance.

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.

No training but OK result anyway

Capital Punishment 2012 - XCM Series Round 2

Last time I raced this event was back in 2010. This inaugral event was a complete disaster - a mudfest in cold / freezing conditions.
I was glad to finish that event, let alone be competitive and had no thoughts of doing it again after that first experience.

Saturday morning April 2012, I find myself on the same start line once again. This time couldn't be more of a contrast to the last time.
We were blessed with a balmy 7-8 degrees, clear skies, dry tracks and not a drop of rain in sight. This must be a good sign I thought.