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My Virgin Half Fling 2008
Re: This ride meeting:
2008 Highland Fling
Team:
DAMD
Status:
Finished
Time:
03:45:00
Race Category:
Half/Male/Veterans I completed my first fling attempt in 3:45. Didn't know what to expect but do now. Planning on 3 hours next year.
Now know to beat the crowd for the first couple of Kms so as to not get stuck in the crowd. Was surprised at how many punters there were. Also surprised at the relatively late start. A couple of hours in the cooler morning air would have been nice. I suppose it takes a good while to get everyone organised that early.
Loved the race, loved the atmosphere, got the competition bug now.
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While i'm not the fittest at the moment - that's why i decided to take it easy and start near the back - it was sooooo annoying having to stop for every "punter" as you said - who couldn't negotiate a minor technical downhill section or creek crossing... grrr...
Seems the best reason to start at the front is not to want "go fast" necessarily - but to avoid being delayed!
The small section of single track was also painfully slow - why was it put in so early??
Cheers,
Lance
With regard to the start there is a happy medium I think, it's just working out what it is and getting to the start line in time to claim it. At the angry doctor 100km I started in the second fastest group behind the elites and the pace was too high for me, lots of testosterone and I got caught up in it all before I realised I was going to burn out before half way at that pace so dropped off, and consequently got passed by everyone - not a nice way to start.
This race I started near half way and just found I was able to push from the start, a decent warm up made a big difference.
I know exactly what you mean about being held up by the less technical riders too. On this race I was just lucky, most of the riders around me where competent, but if you can ride well downhill and over technical sections you could be making up stacks of places there.... if you could get around the buggers
Agree with both of you. To be perfectly honest the 6 of us that were doing it for the first time didn't know what to expect thus we held right back. We quickly realised that our skill and expertise was a lot higher than a lot of people in front. The best lesson for me was actually finding out how I ride compared to other people. We are all very happy with our weekly 2-3 lap Sunday Morning ride around Manly Dam and how that has progressed our riding capability.
The biggest problem I have now is that I want to do it all over again.....now! Am now keenly looking for the next available race.
Yup, that's how it starts Simple!
Soon you will be signing up with spin classes, spending a fortune on worn drive trains and seeing nutritionists - there are worse hobbies.