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Broken saddle at the Fling
Broke my saddle at the fling... Felt something wasnt right at the 10km mark. Then one by one each of the side rails - front of the seatpost and behind, snapped and gave way. Total failure at the 39km mark... Had to "ride" the last 20kms using the actual saddle as a lid for the seatpost!
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Pain in the ass when that happens...literally...
Is there anything you can't break?
From the 2008 Fling race report:
"Thighs of steel … Ben Hill broke his saddle (or seatpost) at approx. the 20km point, then rode a further 55km with no seat! Just 15km from the Finish his crank fell off. Fellow riders helped him reattach it but shortly afterwards it fell off again, resulting in his race being over. We have no idea how he managed to ride 55km standing up the whole way, but he will certainly be rewarded for this incredible effort!"
Good training for him as it turned out - he's now riding for Jayco 2XU!
i rode near that guy for most of the race
he just kept on cranking well until....
I'm pretty sure he would have finished if the cranks had held together. He's my nephew and I'd gone looking for him when he didn't get back to Ferndale Oval well after expected. Marshalls reported him as heading off from Wingello on the last section (having done the whole Forest section without a seat) and I found him at Penrose, sitting beside the road with more bits than bike. He was hugely disappointed to have pulled out. Sort of never-say-die attitude you need to make it in cycling.
Man you guys are always trying to shave a few grams on something...
@Shano and Pancakes, i probably did become obsessed as a weight weenie, but i guess its all part of the "cycle" of "cycling". Once you get into your recreation of choice, you look for shortcuts to become faster, you start to ride more, get fitter etc etc. But i guess i must still have a way to go still - ie technique, finding the best line etc.
Ive had abad year for equipment breaks, so it must be something about the way i ride... My current bike is OMG light and potentially OMG fast. But i guess you have to be super smooth a la Jason English to make it work best for you.
So the question is... Do i change my technique to suit my bike, OR Do i change my bike to suit my Technique???
I guess the answer is both... Learn to ride better, smoother, on a bike that is slightly stronger...
Oh as for the last 20kms of the Fling, maybe next year i'll get a chance to really enjoy it... Which leads to the next problem.....
HOW THE HELL DO I TELL MY WIFE THAT I REALLY ENJOY THESE EVENTS AND WANT TO DO LOTS MORE???
All suggestions welcome....
My wife likes it when I go away for events. That way she has the place to herself and we get a break from each other
. We will be married for 11 years on Friday and been together for 18 years. So it does work 
Cheers
Evan
Tell her she can go shopping