A sad day :(

Well today I said goodbye, to my Rocky Mountain. It seems pretty sad getting attached to a bike and then selling it. But the Rocky has been one special bike, it's seen 7 solo races, many team events and it has never put a wheel wrong. Kendra even shed a tear as it found a new owner. Hopefully it will give Jamian a new passion, and hopefully the rig will be able to keep up with his kids.
I've now entered a new event the Husky Enduro. Should be great, Matt from blackheart is organizing it, he competed at the Worlds, can't wait to check out the tracks.

Scott 24 hour 2009

What a race, it was a strange one for sure. I had a lot of fun at this race, but I think it was due to my team, campsite friends, and most of the other riders out there.

This year’s race saw the return of a single loop track which took in some nice but technical tracks, with a change in the course throughout the night. I liked it, but there seemed to be too many riders, and not enough overtaking room to get the full experience.

I put my hand up to head out first, and I knew it would be, go out hard or have a wait with the congestion. So I went with the go hard option, and as the gun went people went into chaos pushing here and there body’s dropping to the ground everywhere I went into survival mode rather than run as hard as I could. But I made to my bike safely and got going up the fire road. I hit the single track with a little wait for a few minutes and then I was on my way on the climb in a big line and just waiting to make the most of fire roads to pass. This was pretty much the rest of the lap, we were holding a pretty good speed for the most of it so it was still good fun.

The fun continued throughout the next 2 laps then it was time to have an extra break. Through the night we decided to do spit shifts and while Karen and I had a nice little rest, Grant and John would put in a few. I don’t think I really got any sleep but it was a good rest, and before I knew it I had to get ready again.

This was my second night lap but the other one had some daylight so it was nice to do it under lights. I got past the downhill section and looked into a gully and there was a guy with blood everywhere, what the….Anyway he had a few people with him, so I told them to take a seat while I ride on to the check point to get help. I thought it was closer but I finally found it and past the details on and chatted to those awesome vollies for a bit. I got back into it passing riders I had passed before, and it was great to hear one go, “good onya for stopping mate have a good one”. I always like friendly riders like that. But on I went and finished it off.

Next lap was back to the day lap which I preferred, I took it easy had a chat to Kendra as I passed her on the climb, and made my way down the barrel. I did the figures during this lap thinking that there is most likely 1 more for me to do to make it 6 and 21 for the team.

I love the last lap, I went out for a good one and it was brilliant. I have fun pushing fairly hard and also at one stage riding in a group of 3 just chatting and enjoying company of 2 other rider who were strangers. It was a great way to finish it off.

So thanks to all who kept me company throughout it all as it was just as good social experience as it was a riding one. Plus it was great to have a fun team where all did there best they could do.

Well done to Kendra, who pulled off some great laps over the challenging course. It was good to see her giving it a good go, and coming back with a smile.

How good is Hiran at Radical lights he setup Kendra’s team the Mumnuts, fitted them out with lights for the race. They even got stickers with there names on them. Check it out. The lights did a great job and were the brightest I’ve seen.
http://www.radical-lights.com/

 
More pictures to come.

Home town advantage

Well it's in Canberra hmm hopefully I don't get to sick of Stromlo by the time the race comes ;).

The racing season is almost here

As I’m in my last week of hard training before it’s time for recovery I’m really trying to stay with it. I’m on the edge of dropping power at the end of each day’s intervals, but with only a few days to go I’m keen to carry it through. Early nights and good food has been a friend this week.

Last weekend was a killer set especially with the weather. Saturday was a disaster; I went out knowing it was not going to be good but needed to just do it. I decided some Tharwa loops would be the go as they are close to home if it turns too bad. It went very bad, my first lap I had hail, a head wind where I thought I was going backwards, an attack of a black and white flying object, then a flat close to home and I gave in and that was where I headed. Sunday I was not going to let the weather get the better of me. Luckily I had organised a ride friend at 11am, but with me getting out the gate before 8am left me with no choice but a 7 hour ride. Worked a treat, 3 hours in, I was semi keen to head home but with some fresh legs turning up I had no choice but to keep my pace up and keep it going till 2pm, thanks Karen for smashing me on the hills ;). Rolling down to the car park I saw some familiar faces it’s the Mumnuts including Kendra who is on her skills camp for the weekend. I thought I was good being out in it for so long but they were in it all weekend, tough chicks. So then I headed off for a casual cruise back home.

Now the Scott is creeping up very fast, and with a move from a 2 man team to a 4 mixed team, I’m looking forward to a relaxed race. Karen and Grant are great riders, and no doubt we will have fun. With bigger races on the horizon it was always going to force me into a relaxed one. But at least with a 4 person I can afford to try to put in some quicker laps, so bring on the fun, and a little hurt ;).

Time is ticking till we find out where the 2010 World 24 hour will be, we should know by lunch time Saturday (with the change of hours over there). I have mixed emotions being at home will be great but I don’t expect it to feel like a World event being here for some reason. But in Brisbane or should I say 2 hours out of Brisbane I would not expect the crowds to be that excited. I know it will be huge and bring a whole new level of endurance racing to Oz. It will be a ripper for sure hopefully some great hype will see some good crowds. I expect some big names to be tempted with the challenge, but bring it on; it will be great to see Solo 24 racing get bigger. It’s not a ride of who can last the distance now, it has really turned into a race for 24 hours, I can’t wait….

Here is a nice pic for this time of year, it takes the right nest to be able to tip 90 degree’s and keep those eggs from falling out.