Single track and mountain air got me through.

I was certainly underdone going in and a friend reassured me that single track and mountain air would get me through, and so it was.

It was a tough red ring, LOTS more single track but largely great fun. I was stuck in traffic for most of it, (made me feel faster). My recent upgrade to XT brakes made a fantastic difference. Everyone I was following seemed to continually lock the rear wheel, but the XTs are so subtle I rarely if ever had a lock up. A soft rear tyre slowed the last section a bit and my speedy transition plan, lost a few minutes pumping it up.

Yellow was as horrid as last year, not cramps but lots of jelly legs, rode about 1/2 of Half way hill. It is a sorry site at this end of the field at times with lots of guys walking hills with lots of cramps! Saw the results of a couple of big stacks, one on the blue, one on the yellow ambulance and all. Hope everyone is ok.

Ate enough. Ate mainly on the bike (unlike last years picnic strategy) was probably on my every 15 min plan on the yellow (out of boredom really). Cracked 4 hours with a massive effort last 5 ks, 1/2 hour off last year so happy enough.

Kids circus was fun as usual and my two boys got into it and rode well. They seem to take this little race very seriously and they always got of their bikes totally breathless. Youngest rode well in the 7 to 9yos, But older 11yo was flying until he had a massive OTB. I didn't see it but it was one of those where you have scrapes on both sides of you body. His new bike was fine...thank god!

See you at the Fling!