The Mont 24 Hour

Thanks to a great team; Brian, Dicko, PS, Craked and GaryinOz

My first 24 hour race and I wasn't sure with my expectations; had a really busy few weeks leading up to it was generally disorganised and a little stressed with it all. Finally got my act together and left to drive down on the Friday evening. Stopped in Sutton Forest for petrol; cold and windy. Got the new Dirty Three album going round Lake George and got myself into the right frame of mind. Cold and windy setting up camp with the guys around 11pm which was OK, way better than rain.
Got up early ran into another mate who somehow camped next door and went out for a quick tune up on the MTB having had one ride on it since the Fling, did a little of the course - should have done the downhill bits but only so much time.
Dicko led us out with the run, did an awesome effort finishing in the top 50 - glad it wasn't me in the stampede.
I was second out; really pumped up. Sprinted out of transition onto the fire road, lost the front wheel and went down...hard. A little embarrassing. Jumped back on figuring I might pay later. Went way too hard in that first quarter (I read Anstonline saying he was told to take the first quarter easy...I needed to do that) and spent the rest of the lap recovering and hurting but had a clear track. I didn't bring my Garmin holder so I had no idea how I was going and all I was thinking about was losing Dickos good start. In hindsight I did OK.
Was really great eating cereal and shooting the shit in the camp with about three teams camped together. Everyone had a story and it was really fun.
Somehow I got a great shift for the night laps - really got the first night one about 7.15 - lights just two ayups worked great - I took it out easy for the first quarter and tried to slam the second climbing sections - my MTB skills were coming back. The drummer in the dark on the stage was great and surreal. Did the next night lap around 9.25, same strategy, a little slower - stopped with a girl who got taken out on some 'fast' guys overtake for a minute or so. She was ok. Another guy I let go to pass and I went a little off the track hit a slippery root and went down - not his fault just an accident. Nothing interesting but both night laps were a real buzz.
7 hours sleep while the rest of the team worked so consistently.
My next lap was around 8.50 and we were starting to feel the pressure to achieve the 23 laps, Brian had selflessly given over his last lap to PS but we wanted to make sure Gary got his fourth in too. High point was a charging mob of roos which scattered in all directions as me and another rider came through - quite surreal and forgotten until now.
I came in on track.
Craked did a quick lap but the pressure was now on PS to do a 1.03 to go again, and he did with about 15 sec to spare - awesome. Gary finished it off with an awesome lap.
Can't believe we did as well as we did, no real mechanicals or issues was key.
Can't believe how lost I was without the garmin up front, I spent the race thinking I was going too slow in comparison to the team (of course I could have checked) - checking the results I was OK - I think thats the team thing.
It was a really well organised and friendly event - if the Nobs will have me I will be back next year.
Thanks team.