A World of Hurt!
Celebrating finishing the Crocodile Trophy Coming off nine days of racing in North Queensland, in hot and humid conditions, undergoing 15,000 metres of vertical climbing and covering around 900 kilometres in one of the World's toughest mountain bike races probably didn't bode well for a race just seven days later. Throw in WEMBO's 24 hour solo at Mt. Stromlo a week before 'the Croc' and even a casual observer might predict this race would be 'somewhat challenging'.
Garry James 24 hour World Champion - 50-54 Lining up for the start of the race, I exchanged pleasantries with a number of riders, including newly crowned World Champion Solo rider Garry James. After congratulating him on his recent sparkling form, he asked me if I had ' good legs' in which I replied 'very possibly', but I'm sure my response lacked any real conviction. It was therefore no surprise that this race was to prove I possessed legs made more akin to jelly and blancmange.
The first lap started well as I jumped on a train of four riders with Garry at the head of affairs. I knew that Garry was the favourite to win the Masters Category and it made sense to keep him in my sights. Jason McAvoy was attending a wedding and Mike Israel was another notable absentee. Dave Langley seemed to pose a threat although he had been struggling with a back injury that had already scuppered his quest for glory at WEMBO. I had also spotted Canberra's Paul Brodie at the start line and knew he would certainly be mixing it up with the main contenders. Indeed, it was Paul who raced into an early lead, which he was to hold for almost four hours.
Half way through the first lap, I began to lose touch with Garry's small armada of riders and I found myself moving backwards through the field. My early exuberance and energy seemed to have seeped through those weary legs and my confidence quickly waned. Clayton Locke glided past, and his dark lycra racing kit soon flickered away into a distant memory. I had turned up to race without any real expectations. The dusty and technical course was starting to bite. The short pinch climbs became increasingly more difficult and the heat sucked the sweat from my aching body and left crystals of salt across my short and shirt. Three hours had elapsed and I was suffering. Passing through transition, I heard I was in fifth. These races are an endurance test and I knew others would be in similar difficulty and I would just need to be consistent and the riders ahead would come back to me.
The first lap started well as I jumped on a train of four riders with Garry at the head of affairs. I knew that Garry was the favourite to win the Masters Category and it made sense to keep him in my sights. Jason McAvoy was attending a wedding and Mike Israel was another notable absentee. Dave Langley seemed to pose a threat although he had been struggling with a back injury that had already scuppered his quest for glory at WEMBO. I had also spotted Canberra's Paul Brodie at the start line and knew he would certainly be mixing it up with the main contenders. Indeed, it was Paul who raced into an early lead, which he was to hold for almost four hours.
Half way through the first lap, I began to lose touch with Garry's small armada of riders and I found myself moving backwards through the field. My early exuberance and energy seemed to have seeped through those weary legs and my confidence quickly waned. Clayton Locke glided past, and his dark lycra racing kit soon flickered away into a distant memory. I had turned up to race without any real expectations. The dusty and technical course was starting to bite. The short pinch climbs became increasingly more difficult and the heat sucked the sweat from my aching body and left crystals of salt across my short and shirt. Three hours had elapsed and I was suffering. Passing through transition, I heard I was in fifth. These races are an endurance test and I knew others would be in similar difficulty and I would just need to be consistent and the riders ahead would come back to me.
Hot and dirty! Ahead, I spotted the black shirt of Clayton Locke and I moved behind him. I was impressed with how well he was riding but now I had paid my respects it was time to send him back down through the field. I accelerated past him on a pinch climb and simultaneously my left calf cramped. I had to reduce my speed and Clayton came powering by and immediately distanced me. Shortly after, I stopped for water in transition and had to guzzle one whole bottle instantly, before setting off to hunt my prey. It wasn't too long before I caught Clayton,and this time, I passed him on a fast section of fireroad. Clayton didn't respond and I was now up to third and in a podium position.
The last two hours were about survival. I was riding with just one brake (my front brake had failed three hours in), I was cramping badly , my feet had swollen in the heat, my hands were sore and I had a stitch, which I just couldn't rid myself of. My attention was diverted from the track and then I lost control on a dusty descent and crashed, swallowing a mouthful of the loose dust. As I tried to stand my right calf cramped. I tried to stretch the muscle, prompting my right thigh to cramp painfully. I sat in the middle of the track helpless for what seemed like an age. As I tried to stand, my left thigh cramped and so I waited a little longer. On standing, I found my bars had turned in the crash and so I was forced to make the necessary adjustments as two riders came by. Fortunately, neither were in my category.
The last two hours were about survival. I was riding with just one brake (my front brake had failed three hours in), I was cramping badly , my feet had swollen in the heat, my hands were sore and I had a stitch, which I just couldn't rid myself of. My attention was diverted from the track and then I lost control on a dusty descent and crashed, swallowing a mouthful of the loose dust. As I tried to stand my right calf cramped. I tried to stretch the muscle, prompting my right thigh to cramp painfully. I sat in the middle of the track helpless for what seemed like an age. As I tried to stand, my left thigh cramped and so I waited a little longer. On standing, I found my bars had turned in the crash and so I was forced to make the necessary adjustments as two riders came by. Fortunately, neither were in my category.
Masters Podium I managed to nurse myself to the finish. I had seen that Dave Langley had been struggling with his back problems and so I knew I just needed to stay ahead of Clayton. To my surprise, I finished on the same lap as eventual winner Garry and second place Paul with only 15 minutes separating the three of us. Clayton had finished half an hour early and was two laps back.
I was completely exhausted at the finish and continued to cramp while driving back to Sydney. It's been a tough few weeks and it is time to relax a little before the final installment of this excellent series at Kinross Forest in Orange in three weeks' time.
I was completely exhausted at the finish and continued to cramp while driving back to Sydney. It's been a tough few weeks and it is time to relax a little before the final installment of this excellent series at Kinross Forest in Orange in three weeks' time.
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