So Much Mud

Wow how much mud was there and not just any old household variety it was the anti gravity stick to anything sort.

Headed down with Gav on Thursday night picked up a frame in Melburne on Friday morning arrived in Forest early afternoon built a bike in a couple of hours rode to event central to test bike build registered rode back a few tweeks to the bike had dinner went to bed up bloody early hoped on a bus for an hour or so trip to Apollo Bay had a cup of tea and started the race.

Started mid field with no other intentions other than to have a nice easy ride and get through my first mountain bike ride in about 9 months felling good.

The first hill climb is big but I cruzed up no problems with my new bunch of gears it was too easy well easier than with just one gear I got to the top in a casual 40 minutes unfazed and feeling happy proceded down the other side along with everyone else I dont know this course at all so just follwed my nose and the signs you really couldnt get lost if you tried. I was having a good easy ride until the race turned off road and there it was mud and lots of it this is where the race turned into the great bike carry / push slide up and down the hills fall over and laugh about it sort of affair.

After many miles of pushing, riding, carrying and slididng I got to the first water stop Forest was a quick 10km down the dirt road and not wanting to go on in the crappy conditions I did the smart thing and headed back to forrest down the road. Aparently the course got better and the mud wasnt so sticky from where I pulled out but I wasnt to know this and I made the right call for me at least with pulling out.

I will be back next year as this would be an absolute corker of a race in the dry I cant wait.

A mostly new bike with a nice light scandium frame for the race was a real treat the 2 x 9 drivetrain is perfect with 27/40 up front and 12-32 on the rear the 27x18 combo gives me a dead straight chainline and is not far off may favourite singlespeed ratio this bike will be fast.

Not sure but I think Gav came in first out of the SS guys.

Otway Oddesey 2012 I am there.