Fling report

What a great weekend!
I was really looking forward to the fling after a big year of racing. Hoping for a
good result, well prepped and really motivated, however.......
It started really well. Steve01, Junky and I got a good position at the front of the field. We were *not* going to get jammed up at the creek crossings or singletrack. The race started and the pace was high. Junky and I kept pace well for the first few kms, then he started to pull away as I was sitting at my self-imposed limit of 90% of max hr and had to let him go or I'd pay for it later. I thought Steve was in front (he usually is), but unbeknown to me he was having a slightly slower start up.

The course was great, we were in the flow, really hammering along. Loved the single track breaking up the fire road sections. Had a bit much pressure in the crossmark on the front though, (35) and for the speed we were doing had a few 'interesting' moments with it sliding around. Apparently it was entertaining for a guys on my tail as I heard more than one comment of 'nice save'.

Got into the first transition, was filling up my water, and along came Steve. We took off together and got in a train with some more 'keen' riders, and again the pace was hot. Probably the fastest I've ridden in a ‘train’ for a while ; dusty, blind to what was coming up, 'trusting' the guy in front, and going between an ear to ear grin, and adrenalin spurts as the front end 'drifted' yet again! The forest sections and single track were excellent and when I went from tunnel vision, picturesque!

We got to a creek crossing and a nasty little hill, and I had to get off and walk for about 2/3 of it. That seemed to set off a different muscle group and I started to get twinges of cramps. That was the beginning of the end. They built up to the point that I had to get off and stretch at 40km, just as the elite guys came through. It was pretty devastating, as I had to back right off and keep spinning to stave off 'locked legs'. It was the closest I've come to packing it in, and If I could have bee-lined it back to Bundanoon, I would have at that moment. I got to the 50km mark in 2:40, so felt I could grind it home and still come in under 7 hours.
As I was stretching yet again, Gaz came past, and we rode together off and on all the way up to the second transition. After a quick lube and more water, Gaz was taking his time lubing & hydrating, so I set off to the finish alone - it was palapable, 'just' 30km to go. I didn't realise it then but I'd passed a very sore junkie at transition, (nursing a bruised knee).
He caught me about 5km into the last stage and we rode together up to the finish. It was really nice to have company again! The cramps held off as long as I didn't do any intense efforts, so keeping smooth we rolled along, and seemed to make up a bit of time on the fast open fire roads (never thought I'd like fire road so much)!

A couple of km's to the end, Junkie got a second wind and took off for a big finish, and I rolled in soon after in around 6:30 (still waiting for the official results). We both hit the 'red ambulance' for a quick hit of sugar and caffeine (coke), sat on the grass and were happy to finish another big one.

So, even though I prepped well, had the right mixture of electrolytes, gels, and sandwiches, along with magnesium tabs at the 1,2 & 3 hr marks the cramps 'got me' again. So, more research required, or I just can't ride at that pace for that distance any more (it's a bugger getting to the wrong end of Masters!)

Thanks to everyone who was there, it was a great weekend away, with the usual friendly banter and fun around the campsite.

Whisperer