Real Bike Insurance MTB Cruise

Entered the 80/ 75 km version, but the climb up Mt Stromlo got the better of me, resulting in my first DNF.

May have had something to do with arriving in Canberra at 11.45 pm Friday and sleeping badly, but I think it was more likely the usual issue of dragging 100+ kg uphill for extended periods. And that climb up Mt Stromlo is an extended climb - not steep or particularly difficult, but it goes on and on. And then on this course there was a couple of km's of pretty techy downhill, so not much chance to "relax" until the last third of the loop.

Took a break after two laps, but lower back problems while on the bike and cramps in the hammies made lap 3 a pain and I couldn't muster the motivation to hit it up for the final lap, despite chomping a few analgesics during lap 2.

Should have entered the 50. Or trained more, or lost more weight, or got more sleep.....

At least the proposed Capital Punishment event has only 1 climb of Stromlo! The Canberra Times had an article in a supplement today that made it look like a done deal, but the web site is yet to open for entries. Maybe the logging at Sparrow Hill is now presenting some (more) challenges?

[Mod: attached to meeting entry and added DNF]