Blogs

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.

Thanks to a great team; Brian, Dicko, PS, Craked and GaryinOz

My first 24 hour race and I wasn't sure with my expectations; had a really busy few weeks leading up to it was generally disorganised and a little stressed with it all. Finally got my act together and left to drive down on the Friday evening. Stopped in Sutton Forest for petrol; cold and windy. Got the new Dirty Three album going round Lake George and got myself into the right frame of mind. Cold and windy setting up camp with the guys around 11pm which was OK, way better than rain.

As always a fun event, if a little cold!! (more than a little cold.. it was f%$#ing freezing)… seems that if it’s not raining then its freezing, at least we didn’t get the “raining and freezing” as that would have been horrible.

Team events are so much fun. If only they didn't hurt so much.

I was seriously undertrained for this one, but it was more of a dads and sons fun event with some competition within the team thrown in for a bit of interest. My best lap per the Garmin was 1:15 something, and probably 1:30 for the night lap actually spent on the trail, but it was so cold we elected to do our night time transitions from our campsite down near Gate 1. That decision probably cost me my opportunity for a third lap, but Hans came very close to putting me back on the track again, coming in almost 20 minutes ahead of my mental estimate for his last lap! Well done Hans.

Its been 3yrs since I last raced a '24', and I realised then that if I was ever to do one again, it would be with friends, and with a purpose.

The Mont 2012 loomed and as I was now part of the new Jet Racing MTB team, I thought it would be time to return.
As is typical with a 24, and a 6 person team, its hard to get everyone committed and turn up on time. Through no fault of their own team members and 'ring-ins' fell by the way-side.

A lesson in preparation.

As I ran out the door at 8am, I grabbed my gear & threw it in the car. I'd never been to Singleton before, but I was guessing it was 90 min away. As I put my bike on the roof, I noticed that the back tyre was flat. I'd ridden it just yesterday for 20 min and it was fine... No time to fix the tubeless system now.

As I arrived at Singleton, I quickly registered, and upacked my gear. As I put on my sunglasses, the frame broke. (Thanks to Andy for the loan of his 2nd pair) I quickly threw a tube into the rear tyre & raced back to the start.

After a disappointing 2nd round at Awaba I'd spent 2 weeks preparing for this event and it made a real difference. Last time finished 28th from 33 this time 15th from 31 (C grade). This was my first ever time at Singleton.

Track was awesome, super dry and quick. Although there are no real climbs I was always on the gas so no chance for a breather. My heart rate average was 87%... Hopefully more time on the bike will help bring this number down.

Super happy

http://www.hmba.asn.au/files/Results/2012/Race%2...

Has anyone ridden at ourimbah today. Im thiking about heading up for the xc tomorrow, but if its a slopfest I will give it a miss,stick to the road & save it all for next weekend. Cheers

I hadn't prepared very well for this event having not ridden my bike or done any form of fitness for the 4 weeks prior to the event (partly due to the rain and partly due to a neck injury after an OTBs earlier in the year). With this in mind I deliberately started at only 80% work rate knowing that I’d struggle towards the end. In true form, I lost nearly 2 minutes on the final lap as I hit the ‘wall’