Get Tough at a 24

Did you do it tough at the Mont? Read the interview with a guy whos name is already Tough, so he had to step it up a notch. Link to the story at Enduro Pulse here.

Photo: Paul Bamman

Mont 2012

With every 24hr race there is always going to be plenty of stories. My story goes along the line of being a late ring-in to a socially competitive mens team of four. My previous 24hr team of four effort was the catalyst to solo 24, I remember clearly as if it was yesterday. We completed laps as fast as we could, had our 5W on the front lighting up the trail during the night, in the end we were spent, exhausted (our efforts had placed us about 50th) and all vowed never to do that again. But there I was, six years on, filling a spot with a familiar bunch of faces, team of four, back at Kowen and with 24hrs to fill.

Our triathlete received the run duties, rode well and set me up for a great clear lap, we were now chasing the front teams. Our laps were consistent, all the guys putting in massive efforts and made flowing transitions to the next rider. There was a great vibe on the trail, courteous, cheerful and chatty. The event hub was always busy with transitioning riders, the tempting smell of coffee and pizza, plenty of bling and such from event supporters. As darkness hinted it wasn’t just camp sites that were lit up in spectacular fashion, riders and their bikes were expressions of art as they glided and weaved through the pines.

Photo: Nigel Jefferys

Some time through the night laps one of our riders had a minor fall, putting him out for further laps with suspected digit damage. We had now become three, but it all didn’t seem that hard. The trail was flowing and there wasn’t a serious hill in sight. Singletrack was punctuated with short sections of fire trail. Only a couple of corners built braking ruts and the damp sections remained limited, testament to the trail building team.

I managed to get the dawn lap and as the night faded through the cloud filled sky, more riders seemed to return, along with the buoyant energy to the trail. We polished off our 24hr effort in faultless style, with just a few minutes before the cut-off transitioning to the final lap. It was our triathlete who notched up the last lap.

I could go on for quite a while with my two wheel drift exploits and the colourful characters I met on the trail (should have used an alias Brooke). But the Mont 2012 was some serious fun in a team of four, and I am glad my mates gave me the call. This was my story from the Mont 24.

The Mont Video

The highly anticipated, 2012 Mont, MTB team social event of the year.

Del Rio Rollercoaster

photo:theroostmag.com.au

Where do you get DHers, 4X sprinters, AM riders, XC whippets, enduro riders and social riders together at one event? Rocky Trail Entertainment’s Rollercoaster Series. The basic principal behind the 2012 series is to pit you and your bike of choice against a potentially technical but fast track.

For the DHers it was 2011 Elite Female NSW State Champion, Sarah Booth, back on the bike after some recovery time. Sarah attempt to remove a pine tree at the 2011 Crankworx Air DH and was air lifted from the event after the tree just wouldn’t budge. It wasn’t to hard to see that Sarah would take the top spot on the Elite Female comfortably nine seconds in front of Vanessa Thompson and Joanne Fox.

Super D and AM speedster Michael Vanos was a shoe in for the Elite Males after some great results in the Real Insurance All-Mountain Cup National Series. Finishing the short run down the hill at Del Reo Resort in a blistering time of 4:45, three seconds faster than roadie slash mtber, Nash Kent. Michael was an absolute powerhouse and piloted his short travel dually through the technical sections with experience beyond his years.

Blue Mountains local and National Elite representative in the 4X discipline, Blake Nielsen finished a mere four seconds down from Nash for third in the Elite Males. In what was a closely contested competition, Central Coast DHer Chris Barlin and great all-rounder Marc de Geoffroy rounded out the top five. It was impressive to see these guys with their variety of experience all vying for a podium position.

But it wasn’t all about the guys and girls who could get down the fastest, the Rollercoaster is about bringing all riders together and putting a smile on your face while doing it. While you won’t see me crack a smile in the heat of the final sprint and some may have cracked a little on the creek crossing, but it was all hoots from the top of the hill and screams of encouragement over those final hundreds of meters as everyone lent support to the riders.

Rocky Trail Entertainment will hold their final round of the Series at Mt Stromlo in June. Just imagine, shuttle runs to the top, with a run at Skyline, onto Luge, then finally the 4X track and finishing beneath an inflatable arch, World Cup style. Doesn’t that put a smile on your face?

Back to MTB

Out training on a Saturday ride with my local Tri Club, it was flat ride week, pretty much the only solid fine weather weekend we have had in ages. Nothing was keeping me in the box this day. Just one thing, we were doing an all-out TT and sprint section, there was a gap to the lead rider and with just a couple of hundred meters to go I leapt out from about 5th wheel. An all out max effort saw me accelerate to enough speed to catch the lead rider then there was just a short sustain section to the virtual line. Damn, the first time one of them stuck to my wheel and grabbed half a wheel on the line. Out sprinted by this bunch for the first time in ages, maybe riding the MTB is making it to easy on them...



Sports massage, yep finally put my legs through a session. With all signs saying I would be sore the next day, I was surprised to bounce back the next morning just with a little soreness through my calfs. After a midday easy spin session, I was right as rain, ready for a heavier on bike session the next day. It will be interesting to see how further massage sessions go.

The Ay-Ups are now permanently on the commuter with the early morning rides, dark and stormy weather we keep on getting. Hoo-Rah for Ay-Ups and their Saxon caps, keeping me seen on our roads.

More Rocking

More rocking out, this may not be the last. Mountainbiking will be back shortly with a report from the Rollercoaster! There will be a Vid too!

The UNE 12hrs at The Piney

With riders travelling from as far away as South East Queensland and the New South Wales South Coast the New England MTB Club (NEMTBC) must be doing something right. Jason English was back to defend his 2011 win and amongst the 150 or so riders entered there was plenty of plenty of MTB talent. But it wasn't all about the super fast few, for many, this was their first MTB event.

Rob Schrader from Singleton had organised a team of four and this was to be his first enduro event, in fact it was his first ever MTB event. For a team of new riders he was very pleased with their effort, dropping only two laps down to the more competitive teams in their category, "I cramped really bad after the 3rd lap and missed the night laps as I kept cramping every time I tried to pedal". Rob assured me that they had a great weekend, "even got to talk with Jason English as he passed me, that guy is a machine".

Racing between 10am to 10pm Saturday, there was plenty of time to set-up on Friday afternoon and to pack up on Sunday. Travelling all the way from QLD, Sean Bekkers from Ay-Up Racing Team said the enduro was well organised and the club had a great trail. NEMTBC had prepared many new sections of trail and the track was in good condition. It all started with fast flowing single track followed by a diversion through paddocks, across a creek and a climb to the technical stage. Smooth corners and lots of tree roots kept riders guessing, rocky ledge drops, shutes and roll-overs were then the order of the day and kept it technical. A series of bridges back over the creek and a fence, then it was a quick run back across the paddock to transition.

Sean confirmed there was a relaxed atmosphere and that he thought that it was an "unreal" event. The pine forest had been transformed with camping, catering, there was music and lots of bunting. From serious racing types to first timers, teams and even something for kids, it looks like everyone enjoyed their time in Armidale. I believe NEMTBC is already looking to next year and improving on this enduro.

Get the feeling

Feels like forever since I've strung a good couple of training days together but in the mean time I've been busy with all-sorts.

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The body has been protesting all week throughout training on the bike, finally got out for two bunch rides on the weekend, clocking just about more k's than I've done in a month.

I want to ride but...

it is a vertical drop. Attached to what seems to be a skinny 11mm rope my next destination is some 75m below me, down a sheer stone wall. My palms are clammy, I don't look down but focus on the small list of things to check off before I depart the horizontal plane.

The rope feels heavy, I grip tighter. Can they see the fear in my eyes as they detach my safety?