2007 8 1/4 Hours of Power (or lack of)

Well here’s a quick summary of this years 8 ¼ Hours of Power at Ourimbah. It didn’t start off well as we lost one member due to illness before the start so that left Harry and I to ride in a pairs team (I was hoping for a cruisy day!).

I started near the back of the pack with Caro and Kiwigirl and slowly pedalled our way up the hill and into the traffic jam in the single track. They soon disappeared into the distance on the rough downhill singletrack as I was left bouncing around on my hardtail. Really wasn’t feeling in the groove on the first lap. Legs weren’t working yet and I was running wide and generally all over the place in the singletrack! Felt buggered and went off for a short break. Ate some food, a Gu and had one dose of Endura.

Second lap felt much better. Knew the track and was getting into the flow a bit more. Still bouncing around all over the place on the DH bits and lacking a bit of traction in some of the muddy rocky uphill bits. Finished in around 52 min which I was happier with but still way behind the low 40s that the rest of the Nobmob roid boys were setting. Then ate a sandwich an Endura gel and Endura drink.

Third lap probably felt the best out of all. Really getting into the flow in the singletrack now. Didn’t push overly hard as we only had a two man team and we were looking like we would have to do 4-5 laps each. Had a stack of fun on the Roller Coaster and wishing I had a duallie . Although I felt good time was about the same as the 2nd lap probably due to fatigue. Ate another small sandwich and gels etc.

Fourth lap was starting to hurt. I was really just cruising now. I pushed up the first firetrail climb. Liam (with Ernie) passed me here and had a few words before he continued up the hill. Evan also passed me but I caught up with him after he had an OTB. Stopped for a good 5 minutes until he dusted himself off. Also pushed up the last muddy climb with Evan at the end of the Graveyard. Concentration wasn’t the best now with the fatigue and had a clumsy moment around 1km from the end at a bunch of rocks. No blood but ended up hugging a tree much to the amusement of the guy behind me. Again ate some fruit, bread, gels etc.

Fifth lap I wasn’t feeling overly keen on. I headed off at a ridiculously cruisy pace as it was 4:30 pm so this would be our team’s last lap. Pushed up the first firetrail climb again. Stopped for faster riders even if they were a few switchbacks behind! Caught up to a girl but couldn’t be bothered overtaking so just pedalled along with her for a while. Then decided to take a toilet break mid lap. Cruised on home in a stupidly slow time of something like 1hr 10min. Got greeted by Rob and the crew and also got handed a cold beer by the race organisers! Nice work!

Was happy enough with my team’s effort. Harry definitely put in some big efforts with some mid 40min laps. Was also happy that I rode about the same distance as I did in the Mont 24hr but in a third of the time and without leg cramps this time!