Stromlo roundup

Great weekend, challenging course, as always great to have friendly banter, and great results by everyone.

I had a good race, pacing myself well to my objectives, getting to the end in ‘good’ shape and avoiding cramps.

Kept my heart rate below 80% most of the time, averaged 75% (143) over the 8 hours, didn’t cramp and had enough fuel in the legs for another lap. But.... the short travel bikes really meant hard work on the downhill track descent, and the rest of the time it was either pretty technical or open and gravelly, meaning pretty loose. As Steve01 commented, good practice for drifting & sliding around!

So I did 8 laps and had time to get in and do a 9th, but my right knee was starting to hurt, my ass was pretty raw, and then I got a slash in my back tyre about 2 km from transition. To big for stans to seal – it just sprayed out, so I stopped and stuck a tube in. Still got in 3 minutes before cut-off, but called it a day, rather than do damage to my knee or ass.
Steve was in his usual form when he passed me going up the ‘hill’. ‘nuff said.

John is a legend as always, keeping his steady swift pace. Although he came 25th in the open solo class of 118, he was 5th in the masters age group. (I was 41st, and 9th in masters age group).

Bruce, hope you can get some relief for your back, so you can enjoy going up the hills as much as you do going down!
Well done too to Mick, nice to see you smiling before and after the race!

W.