Mentally Challenged !!

Mentally Challenged !

Unlike all the races leading up to the Convict, I was feeling mentally and physically drained from the last 5 mths of training and racing. So I knew this weekend was going to be hard, but given it is my 'local' event and the last event of this years first half of racing I knew it had to be done. On top of this, our training group had a couple of recent hit outs around the course and even though mentally I wasn't quite there I was still riding physically strong.

So after a week of interstate travel for work, I managed to arrive at the race venue for registration around 9pm. Other than the bike and all my kit being physically in the car that was about as much prep for the race that had happened.

After a decent nights sleep - i woke to a crisp morning, and the usual pre race banter around the campsite. I rolled down to the start line to see the first group had already filled in. Stu Adams, Fenner, Garry James all on the front row. Our usual training crew Brian, Mike, Doc, Sloany, gazza a few rows behind. Aready i knew this was not going to be my normal race, I am usually in the front two rows and more organised. I got a position around mid pack, had a chat to Craig (Fatboy) and figured i will just drift to the front on the road before the first hill.

Race starts and all goes pretty well to plan. Given the road is closed, its pretty easy to drift up on the right and position myself in the first group of 20 riders. I am now next to Gazza have a quick chat, and sitting on Garry James wheel.
I like Garry's pace in marathons, pretty even and we have been riding well together for the first half of the season. So all is good.

As we approach the first major climb, you could tell who had preridden the course and who hadn't. I knew there was a major rut on the climb to the right, so stayed hard left. Riders then hit the rut and started dismounting. i was lucky and staying close to the front, squeezed past the dismounting riders and made it to the top unscathed. Mike and I cresting the top of the hill together.

Stu Adams had already broken away in the lead group of about 5 riders,
I was now in the second group, with the masters and veterans leaders, Paul Morgan, Pete Selkrig, Billington, Stoddart and a couple of others. this group was good and was basically the same group I rode the Cap Punishment with, we were all reasonably matched. the pace was solid and I stayed with the group until the first water point.

I got detached from the group on one of the fast firetrail descents, when i had to brake hard to avoid another rider. It was only about 25m, but I just couldn't get back on. This is when i knew it wasn't going to be my day. Physically i could get back to the group if I pushed, but it takes mental will power to push through the pain threshold and some aggression to do it.
I just didn't 'feel' like it today.

I dangled off the group for a while, when Gary James came past (having got caught back on the first hill), with a couple of riders. I jumped on the back and basically rode the majority of the technical section with these guys, although they too pulled away after I had to unclip when loosing my front wheel in one of the waterholes. I rode to Shepherds gully at a steady tempo, and noticed
I was picking up riders that had begun to fall of the pace of the first two groups.

By the time I hit the canoe bridge I was surprised with my time, and thought to myself - lets just get this finished ! On the road to Woomerah, young Tristan came up along side me, I offered some words on encouragement and then we hit the first major hill of the Woomerah range.

Feeling pretty good, I turned up the speed and climbed strongly. the long steady climb of around 4.5km suits my style and i noticed I was picking up more and more riders. I then past Hugh Stoddart, about 1km from jacks track descent, and thought I mustn't be going too bad. looked at my time and saw that I was going to come in around 4:30.

I hit the descent hard and then rode the last 10km in a solo TT, crossing the line in 4:25 ish. Looking at the clock I was pretty happy with the time a PB, but I was disappointed that I didn't have the mental stamina to stay with the riders I have been on par with earlier in the season.

I was great to see our masters training group, Mike, Doc, Brian, Gazza all come in together 5 mins or so later, a pretty successful day out by all. well dne boys - great effort !

From a bike point of view the Specialized Epic, just eats up courses like this. Looking at the Top 30 - Specialized had a significant presence in the leading results - indicating that it may not be all about the bike, but it definitely helps !

Looking forward to some R&R , see you all a little later in the year when I come out of hibernation.

Safe riding.