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What a day out - perfect weather, and tracks were as good as you are going to get for a race.

Firstly - credit to organisers of the Fling. This is the best run event that I have particapated in, great timing, well marked trails, stacks of volunteer support, great transition food, water etc - right down to after event entertainment and theme.

Well I have put in alot of specific training for this event, and its has paid off. My previous personal best being 5:50 at the Husky, which is not quite in the same category as the Fling. All this hill repeats had my legs feeling strong.

First thing, what a well organised event this is. The place was just totally buzzing. The scenery on the course is just amazing as well.

I didn't know what to expect going into this. Looking at what times it had previously been done in I was thinking 6.5-7hours and considering my stomach issues of late I was just going to see how I felt after each stage.

The first stage went pretty quick and I have an average of 22.2km/h. Got to Wingello oval and new even though that was quick I wasn't able to eat and drink much. I topped up my water, had a bit of coke and was off for stage two.

I've already listed all of the excuses for not training, and the fact I drove up at 4am after moving house the day before (for an office worker like me that's pretty tiring stuff!).

Anyway, I plumbed for the 60 and had a great ride all in all. Broke a chain which took a while to fix but other than that pretty croozy ride. Oh and managed to cramp right on the finish line as they took of the tag - perfect.

I've seen the TWE ads in the local mountain bike mags and read some good feedback on this forum of their wheels. Recently I sold my race wheels and decided to do the Fling this weekend on my huck set which are the same as the race set just older.

Tuesday morning on a ride I noticed my rear wheel had a wobble which was caused by the internals of the hub. Oh crap!

So close to race day and no spare wheel! I decided to call TWE and spoke to Greg on Tuesday. I explained my need for a new wheel, gave my spec's and he built it that night. I collected it yesterday and am ready for race day.

This race has been in my calendar for ages. I had looked forward to it for months.
We had a big group of friends together and all agreed to go over and have some hard racing and good times.
Myself and Jenny, Gav and Vanina, Garry Millburn and Fiona (who was to be head bottle bitch), Andy Davidson and Naomi Hansen, as well as Kyle Ward, and our other good mate Jodie Willet.

Everything was set for a great trip.
I should have seen the signs inn advance though. First, Garry crashes badly on his Euro road trip, and rules himself out.

Going into this ride I had not had a lot of training with only the one mountain bike ride since my “hospital” exit at the SRAM single track thingy back in September and a handful of lazy road ride commutes to work.

Oberon is a interesting town (featured in the flame trees music vid?) and I was expecting a crowd there on Saturday afternoon, but alas it was pretty calm so we registered and as it was an cracker of an afternoon, we headed out to see the race start and see the sights.

OK so it's a road ride but I had to write about it as I have never ridden a road bike until today.

While overseas a few weeks ago with some of my work mates from Melbourne who are all roadies & triathletes we got on the grog and yours truly shot his mouth off about shaving legs & drinking soy latte's in your lycra etc. The challenge was thrown out - come and ride the Round the Bay event with us. "What's that?" I asked. "Oh just a ride around Port Phillip Bay".

Just keeping a note of my bike maintenance.

The Bianchi has had some love of late. Last week it got a new front shifter cable and today it got some new front brake pads and cable. First change of these items since new in Sep '07 and many thousands of kays. Last well these crosser things!

Thanks to Fi, Chocolate Foot and the Gardens I managed to score a free team entry into my first ever endurance race. Im a big fella and Im proud I managed to complete 4 laps. Im sure if you were there on the day and overtook me you would remember me well.

Times
55:43.5
51:20.4
54:22.4 (no water)
58:42.9