CP - First event - 50K. Are they all like that?
My first event - 50K - entered as a super vet.
I started near the back (wave 6) and followed the line of riders in the rain.
Majura was mostly great fun. By the time I came through, the hill near the end was very slippery and many people had to push up through the mud. It was a bit of a congo line.
Nearly came off coming down again but unclipped and got my foot out in time.
Then the gullies! Oh that was muddy. Got off and pushed out several times, at least if my feet didn't slide out too.
The bumpy vineyard next was a lot slower than I expected and I realised this was going to take longer than I expected, so I started to pace myself (this is my longest ever ride). Just rode alone steadily, going way slower than expected on the flat bits.
I rested on the untimed road section, but stayed a whole extra 3 minutes overtime. My bad!
Next section of trail was OK but again slower and slipperier than expected.
Ah the feed station! - I stopped a while there and washed my glasses (again). Sometimes i really couldn't see much and I really gotta wear glasses to see.
Now the bit before Stromlo - Deeks I think its called - well that was the bit of mud I didn't enjoy - I rode the first bit, but kept having to get off and push. After a bit of that, the first of the 100K guys (the winners) came through. Wow - were they motoring in the slush.
I have got to say all the fast guys were really good, calling ahead with plenty of time and thanking people as they passed. Right up the Stromlo switchbacks as well. They were great. Anyway back to Deeks - ended up just getting of and pushing.
The Deeks mud got to my rear derailleur and I was down to the bottom 2 gears on the back. I'm not a fast climber but I got up Stromlo OK, getting of a couple of times to let the 100K guys through. Had a rest at the top and let a few people past while I washe d the derailleur and got a few gears back.
Now the fun bit. The descent off Stromlo was the highlight. Got a few places back in Skyline and then zoomed down the luge - fantastic fun. Some fast 100k guy (without any brake pads by the sound on every corner) past me where ther were two lines.
That put the smile back, and I just peddled into the finish.
Enjoyed it - especially Majura and Stromlo - could have done without the Deeks bit. Bikes OK - mud in the derailleur cable and pivots, but chain, brake pads etc all OK - I guess I didn't push it much.
So, are they all like that?
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Wasn't there myself, but reading the write ups, hats off to anyone who finished the course - sounds like incredibly tough conditions.
Sometimes things will be too dry (super dusty) rather than too wet, but lately it seems it's one or the other
If you think Majura and Stromlo were good - take a look when the conditions are a little drier - you'll love it!
Yes. Went down to Majura and Stromlo 2 weeks before CP as we'd never been there before. Its was a clear, dry day and we had a great time.
Had to learn how to ride switchbacks and berms, so few of them in Sydney. So when it came to the luge run coming down Stromlo during CP, I was able to stay up high and roll through, even pedaled some.
That was what made the day for me at CP.
Those tracks held up so well with all the riders.