Good Stuff

Great weekend.

Finished 6th in age group (last still riding), 7th singlespeed (last still riding) and 38th overall from 57 finishers and 73 starters.

Its a good thing this race is only on once a year as it is a real battle just to keep riding and finish which this year I did.

So midday Saturday I rolled across the start line second last overall now I just had to hold that position and try and improve on it in the next 24hrs easier said than done. Riding singlespeed this year seemed a lot easier than the dual suspension geared BMC I rode last year I either pedaled rolled or walked (not to much) I had no chain suck issues no looking for another granny gear when already in granny and best of all no squeaking suspension to drive you mental for 24hours.

I found the hardest part of the race for me was 2 or 3 laps in and thinking about the next 22 or so hours still to come and thinking bloody hell here I am again. My first ten laps went by relatively easy I rode everything up until it got dark and then I started to walk the only real climb on the course and that would be the only section I would hop off the bike baring transition and the rain break for the rest of the race.

Half way through lap ten the rain started and I decided that I was not interested in riding in those conditions at all and it was a good chance to have a break so I did with a nice hot shower and a brief lie down until the rain had stopped and the track dried a little so lap 11 was a 5:15. So back on the bike at about 10.30pm or so to ride through the Rest of the night and into the next day previously in the race I was doing a quick pit stop every three laps but now I was only up for a single lap with a ten minute stop between them to regroup before continuing on.

The early morning was a difficult time the pain killers had come out to try and ease the overall hurt that had taken over my body which was at its worst in my hands and lower back they helped a bit I think and as for the no-doz I took I am not sure it did anything at all. Then the sun came up for the best lap of the race the first in daylight I had seen for 12 hours Critty rode out of transition right behind me so I decided to smash out a lap and keep him chasing me if possible and I did a good job to drop him a little as he was going bloody well. On this lap I made the whole course including the climb so was very happy.

With 3/4 of the race done getting to the end now was just a matter of rolling along which I did for the next few hours with my energy coming and going in waves some parts I could push hard it all depended on just who it was that had appeared behind me the good doctor got me fired up and I pushed hard for a couple hundred meters and other parts with no motivation from behind where all about milking as much momentum from the big wheels as possible.
My 3rd last lap was a social one with Gazza and Peter riding with someone else at this point in the race was a nice change as I had done most of the race on my own barring a few random meters with the other guys here and there. Gazza and Peter sat out my second last lap and they headed out for there last lap just before I did I made a point of catching them which I did and we all got to the last corner with about 5 minutes to spare. Now if you pass the finish line at 11.59am you have to do one more lap to get a result so we all waited with most everyone else and wisely rode across the line just after midday.

So there it is 24hrs or near enough for me this time on a singlespeed hardtail, 25 laps 240kms or there abouts and only one very sensible rest off the bike will I be back next year - absolutely.

BEST BITS,
Getting my food and hydration right with everything working well and to plan.
Stopping when the rain started to bucket down and only getting wet in the shower.
Smashing out (for me) a whole clean lap after 18hours.
Having a break in between the last laps and seeing John and Vanina go through transition.
Riding a Singlespeed.
The awesome team in transition keeping up the good humour weather they where awake or asleep.

WORST BITS,
They have all already faded from my memory if there where any.

NEAR MISSES,
I collected half a tree at high speed and jammed it in between my bar end and handle bar one more millimetre to the right and I would have been out of the race.

Well done everyone that was one gutsy effort riders and helpers alike.