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Rocky Trail GP Round 4 - Stromlo
The Rocky Trail crew organised another slick event. This was the last of the 4 round series. Their events are always a relaxed affair and family friendly. I'm a real fan of the mt Stromlo trails but absolutely hate racing there. I hate the endless climbing without any chance of getting a rhythm going and then the rutted descents that jar your body. There's not a single corner out there where you can't stack.
Yesterday's event was far better than the same one last year as the temperature didn't have a 4 in front of it and the course was better for racing as it avoided the big climb and headed out to the north west. It still had the usual constant switchback but lots of short fire roads were thrown in for overtaking opportunities. The course was mainly dry and dusty but had sections of mud that ensured bikes had a thick crust build up throughout the day.
I had my wife and 1yr old daughter on drink bottle duties but we had forgotten to bring shade for them and an esky for the drinks. Oooops!
Within the first lap I had already developed severe pain in my neck from the rutted descents and lower back pain from the constant short sharp bursts between corners. At least the back pain would be relieved each time I hit fire road and stood up but the neck pain was relentless. After a couple of laps my drink bottles became warm and by the 5th lap I pretty much stopped drinking the hot Gatorade. The 4hrs seemed to go very quickly and I was quite chuffed to finish 4th at Stromlo and managed 3rd for the series which was great for my family who patiently serviced for me at each event.
It was also great to be able to give Allan from Carbuta and FRM in Italy some pic's of me on the podium. I received their support for the year as a part of their grass roots program and this result will ensure their continued support for 2011. The FRM equipment ran faultlessly all year and it was great to always turn up on a bike that was pushing lower weight limits yet be so reliable. Their latest wheelset is only 1200g and I can't wait to start testing them.
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did the marshall's help you out on the track at all ? I was one off them , lol
Is this the same Smiley at the top of the climb at Del Rio sporting a cast on his arm earlier in the year?
Where were you? I don't recall seeing any marshalls after lap 2. The Bernard beer would have been quite tempting in that heat!
i think the marshalls must have all been helping people with flats. on my first lap i reckon i saw at least 6 riders within a 20mtr distance with flats. And lap 2 I think about 6-8. I stopped and gave one guy my spare tube plus my pump and tyre levers as he had nothing (reckons he used the tube on the first lap and lost the pump on the track). Lap 3, none, it must have been third time lucky. The section is after the Blackberry climb and you cross some fire road and join up to single track again. I think they should rename it 'The Flat'. I recall seeing heaps of people with flats here in the Scott, again i gave my spare tube to a guy who was tubeless ie had no tube with him
We were definitely out there let me tell you there were 5 of us out there at once on about the 3rd lap I was helping a guy out just heading up to Blue tongue on the fire trail , which he broke the top off 2 valves & he walked back, also I gave a guy a 29er tube after going thru 2 of his own & a 26''tube plus mine after 15 min so that was 4 in one lap after that one he noticed a tear in his sidewall he walked back as well. I saw you gettin ur award u were on the left of me when u got up to put on ur FRM jersey to get your prize .
Smiley that was at Del Rio & all the Rockytrail events this year