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.
Monday, March 19, 2012
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!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
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.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
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?
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