Muds, wet and gears....

I'm getting a bit over riding in the mud at Callala. Bring on El Nino! I thought from the weather reports that it mightn't have been too bad, but the puddles in the streets around Callala Beach were a bit of a giveaway. There had obviously been a bit of recent rain on top of a pretty wet year. Had been hoping for a time down near 2:30, but knowing what the track and the rider were like in the wet, that goal was modified to getting under 3:00.

Start was a bit messy. Not really much opportunity to, or effort to, self seed from what I could see. Couldn't hear the race briefing and from the amount of chatter going on nearby, nor could others. Took off in the second or third wave (can't remember now!) and found a good rhythm early, although the sticks were a bit of a worry around the golf course.

Got to the little gap out into the bush and everyone was lining up politely to get through, except for one bloke who insisted on riding up the inside and cutting in on everyone. Hope he had a good ride. Got into a bit of a train and ploughed along. The guy in front of me did an almighty tank slapper coming out of one of the first muddy sections, but managed to save it. The problem with riding in file into those muddy sections was there was no way to scope them yourself, you just had to rely on the judgement of the lead guy. Not always successful. Seemed to get by a few people early without too much trouble, but eventually found it a bit hard to keep a rhythm with all those mud sections and started to drop places. Not helped by getting two large sticks in the front wheel going to the side of one bog, skidding to a halt right in the middle of it. Got another one in the back wheel a bit later on. Fortunately no damage with either.

Really enjoyed the single track in the middle section. The sandy soil was in pretty good shape and it was a fun section to ride in traffic, pushing to stay on a wheel or not hold up the guys behind.

Rode through the feed station, planning to have a gel and plenty of water on the dirt road section that comes soon after, but it was a rutted and in places very slippery mess. Made it difficult to get a gel out of the back pocket and into the mouth. Had a rider go down in front of me on the approach to one of the bog holes along here. At least with mud, the landings are pretty soft.

Got a good burst of energy from the gel and enjoyed the run home, apart from the trip back through the ice rink sections of fire trail mud. Highlight was being passed by the lead train of 100 riders, with Ants leading the way. It's a hard course to drop riders on and it must be gutting when it comes down to a sprint after 100 kms and you don't quite get there.

Finished in line with the amended target, but slower than my first outing there in 2010. They have changed the track a bit each year, so not sure how comparable the times are from year to year.

Three lessons for me from this one:

1. Reinforcement that I don't really like riding in mud - it's physically and psychologically draining. The swamps don't help either. Might leave the entry until later next year and make the call based on the weather in the weeks leading up to it.
2. I don't think my training "strategy" of not riding at all between the W2G and this race paid off. I think it helped make me feel a bit flat in the first half of the race. Should have dragged the spare bike out for a spin or two while the Niner was having some work done.
3. I normally don't bother with a gel until about the 2hr mark, but I think I might try a couple more in my next race.

Took two hours to clean the bike Sunday morning, and I reckon it's half a kilo lighter....

My riding buddy and our wives have made a weekend of this the last couple of years and rented a house in the area, but he's off the bike with a fractured patella after the Rock Wallaby and with my youngest son flying out on Saturday evening for an extended OS trip, this year was a hit and run exercise. Camped at the Myola Caravan Park and they were good enough to allow a late checkout, so was able get back to the tent, pack up camp and shower before heading back to the event centre for the obligatory bacon and egg sandwiches for lunch. Good flat 3km warm up and cool down ride from and to the campground as well.