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My first race,did my mental preparation, some mechanical prep as well, same tyres i usually ride with, and took off in the third pack.Two hundred metres in , put the glasses away,useless, one kay in , sympathy for the guy with a broken chain, then a guy with a flat ....poor dudes. 'dont go too hard ' i keep reminding myself,...sweatin like demon,remove rain jacket hood, that's better,tractor up hills applauding my decision to run low tyre pressures, cruising past lots of people walking up hills, into majura and it's on the brakes to stay behind the pack,damn!

First race and loved it. Got to the start around 6am and stayed dry with some others under the coffee mans tent before busting out to the start at the last minute. Best decision ever was to enter in an early group despite the lack of race experience.

Well this was such a tough and fun race!!!

It reminders me of wet winter rides back home in Dunedin after a big snow storm has melting away to leave everything sodden wet.

The night before the race I was been hasled about riding SS especially since I had a nice new race bike as well.
As it turns out it rain most of the night which produced the wetest track I have ridden on for a very long time....

Worst conditions ever!!

I had a bad preparation for the event as my back was still stuffed after the Dirtworks so I did only a couple of easy road rides between events. I put a new cassette on my spare wheels so also put a new chain on the bike and did a quick road ride a few days before the event in the rain with my race wheels. All seemed good so took the family to Canberra on Friday night knowing we were in for a wet one.

What a day. What a ride. Started in th fourth group, so the track was a mess when I went through. Sections were un rideable. The first 60 km were just never ending with alot of single track that was just four inches of mud and the paddock crossings with small grass mounds that continually pounded that seat in your clacker ( even on a dually). The first 60 just seemed to not come fast enough. And the by the time I got to the single track to stromlo it was just a mess, the brakes were gone, the rain pounded in and the trails had rivers of mud flowing on them.

Only time I've ever ridden Canberra single track and wished it would end.....

The one thing I am not going to do is complain about how wet and cold and muddy it was, it was obvious from the forecast that it was going to be wet, I just had to HTFU and get out there.

Hi all,

I have the day off work tomorrow and would be keen to go for a ride with someone else. I rather ride with someone, cause i go hard down hill, but not up hills. Think it better to be with someone when out in the bush.
Happy to do Manly Dam, Lane Cove, Lake Parra or any other suggestions.

Training was consistent although my intensity was too high, too early, peaked then burnt out 4 weeks before. Motivation was at all time low until just before. Must vary intensity during build up.

First 50km was great. Then back siezed up at feed station and was in the pain bubble for the next 15-20km. Crossed the bridge though and conquered the nasty climb just after at 70km+ mark. Overall quite happy with my first 100km