Gentlemen, I give you a sub 30

Its taken me a long time to finally achieve this.

It all started in 2009 when my sons best mate did a lap around Manly Dam for his his 10th birthday party. I was one of the dad's helping keep 10 10year olds in check. I was on a ladies cruiser 28inch road wheels. I had a ball. This took me right back to my youth. I was a BMX head in the early 80's.

Eventually I got a MTB. I thought it was soooo cool. The best bike. It was a Repco Scout from Big W. ( yea i know I'm rolling my eyes too right now LOL). A good friend of mine eventually invited me to the 2010 Scott 24 in his Masters 6 pack team.

Training in the next 6 months I broke everything on the bike going around Manly Dam.There wasn't much that wasn't replaced. My best time on that bike was something like 38 minutes something. I don't recall exactly. But someone felt sorry for me for the scott 2010 & lent me his spare bike. I'm sure it was a specialized Enduro from 2002. We got poduim. Truthfully we were all surprised. a bunch of old dad's from seaforth. Ha'ha

But it made me realise how bad my bike really was. So i sold my soul to get a propper Mountain bike. I sold all the go fast bits on my sports car to finance the Anthem X3 2011.

She was a beautiful bike. In fact the first nigh i picked her up. She spent it in our bed. As I couldn't ride her as the wife had organised some social outing. next morning was the first ride. OMG. The gears worked. braking was awesome she was such a great bike.
within a week or 2 i was down to around 35 Minutes. This must have been around late November 2010.
This is when I started thinking .....awww I'd love to get a sub 30.
late december 2010 was down to 32:50
It took me until October 2011 to get to 32:38

after that I tried & tried. doing 3-4 laps per week to get closer to that sub 30 min lap. It just eluded me completely.

November 2013 I started a daily commute to work. after a few weeks I had my first go at another hotlap. it was over 35 min. sheeeet.

So in Feb this year I managed a 32:30. I was doing a serious amount of extra riding but still couldn't mamnage a sub 30. I kind of started to give up.

I then got roped in doing intervals in Mosman with out famous Nobmobbers Chitts & Warthog. In April 2014 I managed a 31;10. It drove home the benefit of intervals.

A few months ago I started intervals again with the same group. Iand it became obvious I lacked some serious skill. last 12 months Ive hardly done any off road. mainly commuting & intervals.

so Wartog & chitts and a few others took me on a few laps around manly dam. Giving me massive moral support on my quest of the sub 30.

This morning we were going for a casual ride with a few other riders who bailed out because of threat of rain. I was all ready to go so off I went.

I wasn't thinking about a hotlap at first. But I started at a good pace not to run out of legs.
My heart rate came through my mouth at the usual places. Those steps after the moon rock. Just before the finish of the golf course wiggle.

After the wiggle I looked at my garmin & thought well look at that. I think I'm going toi have a go. It was game on from there.

The trail has been dumbed down as we all know but for good reason. Up Heartbreak hill the heart attack loomed again but I got away with it. same thing again up the hill towards MV public school.

I finished at Bangeroo/ Kalui St. I Wasnt sure how I went as the Garmin started from home But I knew it was close. I had to wait to post it on Strava.

Excitement ensued and I'd like to particular thank Warthog, Chitts, Oli, Mike, & mark for helping me realize this after 4 years. They've been putting up with me. Thank you guys.

This was done without sports Gel. I recon I might get another 30 secs off that. we'll see. I really don't care if it doesn't.

I know Manly dam is a lot smoother & it was perhaps a little easier. But its all relative. Conditions were just favorable.

http://app.strava.com/activities/220317923