Fixed Century

The start of the Elite was interesting, with Gary forgetting to remove the road closed barriers, despite some frantic pointing and yelling from the front row of the grid as the start was counted down. Barriers at the start - perhaps a good omen for the crosser.

Eventually I lined up with Madge at the back of the last start wave with expectations of a very long day out.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2280990&l=...

The hooter went off and we rolled gently across the startline into the mists. Slightly supprisingly there were a few people choosing to granny gear some of the "hills" on the road section before the Wrights Creek turnoff - they were going to be in for a long day.

At the hill no one in this group was even trying to ride.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2280994&l=...

On one of the first little descents there was a guy who looked like he'd busted a collar bone, Madge went back to offer him drugs but it seems he had plenty. Next there was a guy with a busted derailleur trying to SS his HT so we were obliged to show him the one true way. He'd taken to his chain with the breaker only to discover that he'd also broken the chain in the derailleur, so now had two breaks in the chain to fix, so I gave him a link and Madge hung around to help, expecting to catch me on the next descent.

Into the halfway point, and readjust the brake levers which had slipped down on the rocky descents, fill up with water then roll out. Along the great North Road section I caught and passed Joey. Shepards Gully was interesting... Fortunately I found Jen English on the side of the track and stopped to have a chat and rest my arms. "just a little crash" she said, before turning around with blood pouring out of knee. Someone else asked if we were OK and she said "Don't worry it's worse than it looks". Patched up she rolls off again.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2281002&l=...

Got to the bridge, with a big line up so a short reprieve, I think walking across was probably harder than riding (even though I didn't quite make it all the way last year)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2281003&l=...
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2281006&l=...

Smashed it out along the road, before the final big climb which was walked to the feed station. Caught back up to Joey here and it was the last I saw him all day. Jen also passed me through here, and Madge rolled in just as I headed out.

Along here on one of the climbs was a guy in a bad way, that they were planning to chopper out, supposedly broken ribs.

The descent down Jacks Track was the scariest part of the race. Even with the brakes on I couldn't pedal quick enough on some of the concrete bits and the rear was skidding to the left then to the right.

Last little bits of road, along the flat parts I was fine, but on a couple of the small hills I had to walk, but still managed to shoulder the bike and run across the river for the photographer.

In the end 7 hours 25 minutes - a lot quicker than I expected but wont be in a hurry to do it again.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/episode/view....

Rob