Blogs

This was my first Capital Punishment. It looks like I picked the perfect year for weather and track conditions as both were brilliant. Its a bit of a weird race with such a big untimed section. I used this to get water and have a bit of a rest. Due to the single track at the start a really suffered in the last 40km as I didn't eat enough in the beginning.

Apart from a massive OTB on the Luge I quite enjoyed this one. A shame that the results are delayed but I have my unofficial time of around 04:37:00 taking out the untimed section.

Capital Punishment.
Round #2 of the XCM Series.
One of the classic races in the marathon calendar. Over the years the race has suffered from bad weather during, and bad weather prior to the race.
This year was different. Excellent weather in the week leading up, and on race day meant that it was sure to be fast racing.

The race is a patchwork of the best single-track venues in Canberra. Majura, Sparrow Hill, Kowan, and Stromlo - all joined together with some bike tracks, fire-roads and even some bitumen.

Wombat 100

Originally hadn't planned to do his race, but when it got included as part of the XCM series and Brian had already sorted accommodation - I thought what the heck.

Great location for a MTB event, with a great combination of single track and fire road which made the course challenging and interesting. The Single track is awesome with a combination of some plantation pine forest and rugged Australian native bushland.

What a great day! The camping, weather, company, track, it was all great.

This is the first time that I've properly watched my diet & fluids leading up to an endurance event. It really paid off. I thought that my 4th & 5th lap would be slower, but, all 5 laps were within 41 seconds of each other. My last lap wasn't even my slowest! I was keen for a 6th, but the 8 hrs had already expired.

Many thanks to all the fellow riders who checked on me after my OTB incident on my first lap. No damage done, except for a whopping bruise.

That was definitely the hardest 100 I have done. On the Hardtail with so much technical singletrack I am stoked with my time. We had rain the night before so the pine forest singletrack was very greasy.

Even though this was the hardest 100 I've done it was also one of the most relaxing. The 900km drive each way didn't seem that big. I headed down Friday morning with Wayne arriving Friday afternoon. Checked in at Cammeray Waters as I had a room in where race central was. We unloaded the car and then headed out to have dinner with Wayne, Paul and Anthony.

Great to get back with Steve01, Gazza and Martine - the 'Original' Mixed Nuts.
Had a great spot in one of the 'premium camping areas' beside the track, and our own Dunny!
Gaz and Steve were in great form, and Martine despite not feeling well all weekend did a 'Xena' impersonation and did amazingly.
I was well trained (the Adelaide Hills rule!), but not quite at the same race pace as Gaz and Steve (who is, those guys are legends!). Still, I did consistent laps circulating in the low 60s. Must admit though, 15hrs driving (from Adelaide) had taken a bit of gloss off my condition.

Not having ridden anything remotely technical since busting my collarbone last year except for one tentative and nervous run down to the hydro lab, I thought I'd ease back in today by trying the short section of trail that runs around the back of the nursing homes and ends at Allambie Oval.

The heavy rainfall from February to March has certainly had an effect: both on the trail, by eroding it more, deepening drop-offs and uncovering more rocks and roots to catch unwary riders; and on me - I'm *super* rusty. The trail is a very different beast from when I last rode it.

I’ve was talking to the importer of Whyte Bikes from the UK a few weeks back and mentioned I’d seen the very sexy 146 full page advertisement he’s been running in the AMB magazine – black carbon bike with green bits. During the discussion I mentioned I was off to Thailand and he asked if I was stopping at Singapore which I was as we always travel Singapore Airlines for work. Cut a long story short he organised for a 146 (as in 146mm travel all mountain bike) to be dropped at my brother’s house in Singapore for me to play with last weekend on my way to Thailand.

Awesome Event

Had a good ride this year. No bike problems & the weather was mild. Tried to push hard at the start and was a bit more conservative towards the end.
Pitty this race is such a long way from everywhere. Very scenic course and a rough descent that lasts for 35k. Well organized event.