CycoActive - Professional Endurance Cycle Coaching
  • CycoActive Coaching
  • Your Coach
  • Pricing
  • Mallorca Guiding
  • Contact Me
  • Going Solo Blog
  • Backroads Blog
  • MarathonMTB
  • Mallorca - Sian & Mark

Rocky Trail 6 + 6, Mt. Annan

1/12/2013

3 Comments

 

A Satisfying Conclusion to a Onerous Racing Season

Picture
Jetblack Racing Team
This weekend saw the launch of JetBlack Racing, Australia's largest, and without doubt brightest, Mountain Bike Racing Team. With a roster of 45 riders, aged 20 to 60, one of the most admirable goals of the team is to promote family and female participation in the sport. While achieving podium positions at the 'pointy end', it is hoped that the culture of success will filter through the whole team, thereby contributing to improved performances, skills and knowledge acquisition for all the riders, regardless of ability. Signing the youth and exceptional talent, that is Andrew Lloyd, the experience and versatility of Peter Selkrig and the ability of top female master Catherine Wood, will please the numerous sponsors and augers well for the 2014 season.
PictureLast Minute Mental Preparation (Crummy, 2013)
Personally, I am extremely excited to be racing for a new team and I was hoping to show my appreciation, by delivering victory in their inaugural race. The 6+6 format was first introduced as an entry level race for 24 hours. Riders start at 12 pm with the 24 hour racers, but finish at 6 pm, rest for 12 hours, before restarting at 6 am and completing the race at the same time as the 24 hour competitors. In 2010, I raced my first 6+6 at Del Rio, Wiseman's Ferry and took my first ever race victory. At the time, I felt it was a 'soft' option but I now believe it is actually an excellent style of racing. It is possible to race hard for six hours, and with 12 hours recovery, return to the track and smash out another series of rapid laps. The result is a highly rewarding experience, rather than the slugfest that is 24 hour racing.

PicturePeter Selkrig - never short of words (Crummy, 2013)
The concerns over the track conditions, with Sydney delivering large falls of rain in the preceding days, were to prove misguided. I've raced at Mt. Annan several times, but the track was in the best condition I've ever known. My warm-up lap whet my appetite, as I realised how much smoother the course was, while the rain had settled the dust, leaving the track pleasingly tacky. I started well, but, believing I was competing against last year's overall winner, Chris Hansen, from Darwin, I was mentally prepared for a difficult race ahead. I needn't have worried, as the Chris Hansen in this race completed a mere 6 laps overall. Unaware of my overall position, I targeted catching my solo sparring partner, Peter Selkrig. At the end of lap five, I had caught him and he was unusually content to follow my wheel. Shortly after starting the seventh lap, Pete suffered the first of two punctures and my new-found companion was gone. 

As a solo endurance mountain biker, it is important to ride within yourself and, ultimately, attempt to achieve consistent lap times. Many novices make the mistake of riding too fast, too hard, too early. It is much wiser to hold some energy in reserve and concentrate on smooth, efficient riding. My focus turned to achieving this goal. After the first six hours, my lap times ranged between 28.28 to 30.34 minutes. I crossed the line five minutes before six and knew I would be able to put in an extra lap over my nearest rivals. On finishing, I was informed I was leading by 18 minutes in the Master's category and I was 4th overall in the entire solo field. 

PictureBrett Bellchambers, 24 hour Solo Champion
I was extremely satisfied with my performance and my position. Better still, I could now relax and chat, eat 'real' food, spend some 'down time' with my gorgeous wife, Greer, and hopefully get some sleep. I was stationed next to singlespeed mountain bike legend, Brett 'Jeebus' Bellchambers, who was tearing the 24 hour solo field to shreds. For once, he was welcome to the next 12 hours and the long night, for I was not competing against him.

The Jetblack Racing Team had supplied a mountain of chicken, salads and bread rolls, and I greedily devoured the delicious offerings. Meanwhile, I watched the 24 hour riders, as they prepared their bikes for the darkness ahead. The light began to fade and the cool fingers of the night began to close tightly around us. I chatted to Kevin 'Kevlar' Wynne-Smythe, of the JetBlack Racing Masters Fours, whose team were involved in an almighty tussle for the top three category places. Once again, I was reminded of how pleasant it was to be wrapped up in warm clothes and relaxing, instead of searching for every last sinew of strength out on track. After a pleasant stroll through the Botanical Gardens my wife and I retired to our tent, where I was able to muster some fragmented sleep.

PictureMartin Wisata, Rocky Trail Head Honcho
I was at the start line at just after six o'clock, looking forward to re-commencing the battle. Peter Selkrig had just departed and so I chatted briefly to Clayton Locke, currently sitting in second in the Master's category, eighteen minutes behind. As he set off for his first lap of the day, I noticed he seemed strangely relaxed. Had he given up the chase? I felt the psychological advantage was undoubtedly with me. Not only was I at least half a lap up, but I knew he was only twelve minutes up the road. I could focus on chasing him down, and figured that, given the best case scenario, I could achieve this in just over six laps. Furthermore, pairs riders, Mike Israel and Ian Bridgland, were starting just behind me, and so I endeavoured to stay ahead for as long as possible, thereby providing me with even more impetus to ride well.

My mind began to wander as I passed rider after rider. 'Track when ready...thank you...track when you can...awesome...two riders...have a great ride...enjoy your lap'. In my mind, I had already designed and constructed the electronic bike accessory which would utter the above phrases when activated by a handlebar-mounted button. Like a toy, with a cord draped from its back, the exact phrases would vary in order to provide variety and interest!

On the second last lap, I had caught and passed Clayton, who seemed to be labouring. With victory assured, I knew a final lap was not really necessary, but I still harboured hopes of breaking into the top three overall. Cory Wallace, Canadian 24 hour National Champion, Crocodile Trophy second place-getter, and all-round 'top guy' was to only finish one lap in front, while Daniel Beresford and Duncan Middleton were to finish seventeen and fourteen minutes ahead respectively. Overall, a great result and my third Masters win for the year. Jet Black Racing was to finish with eight podiums, including five first places, with fellow soloist, Peter Selkrig, comfortably winning the Super Masters Category.

Personally, with ten podiums out of twenty races across all formats, the year has been extremely rewarding. My goal of becoming World 24 hour Solo Champion in my age category will have to wait another year, but a successful foray into stage racing with the Crocodile Trophy, Series victory in the Rocky Trail 7 hour events and third place overall in the STM 7 hour Series, has meant my season has been a great success. The prospects for next year, with the new Jetblack Racing Team, look highly promising, and I believe I still have much to learn and several areas I can improve, so hopefully my racing will continue to go from strength to strength.
Picture
Enjoying Victory in the 6+6 Masters Solo - with Clayton Locke, and Paul Rowan who may need to check his grammar!
Picture
Cory Wallace, 6+6 Solo Elite Champion
Picture
Peter Selkrig, 6+6 Solo Super Masters Champion
3 Comments
Brian
2/12/2013 20:42:25

Congrats Phil. Yet another great article! Best wishes for 2014 bro!

Reply
brenda taylor
5/12/2013 08:43:28

Congratulations Phil. Well done!!! You have had a verysuccessful season. Also yet again, a very well written and interesting article xxx

Reply
Soggy Dave
10/1/2014 02:12:39

Hi Phil. Hopefully the season wasn't too onerous. Looking forward to your impressions of the wombat?

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Author


    ​Level 3 Road & Time Trial Cycle Coach with British Cycling (BC) & the Association of British Cyclists (ABBC)

    National Master Wattbike Instructor


    Cycle Strength & Conditioning Coach 

    ​Cycle Trip Leader

    Sports Scientist (Honours degree in PE & Sports Science - Loughborough University)

    Postgraduate Teaching degree in PE & History (Loughborough University)


    Silver Medalist in WEMBO's World MTB 24 hour 40-44 solo at Finale Ligure, Italy, 2012 

    Silver Medalist at the Australian National MTB 24 hour 40-44 solo, 2012 & 2013

    I have completed several of the World's biggest stage races, including the Crocodile Trophy in Australia, the Mongolia Bike Challenge, the Sudety in Poland and the Andalucia Bike Race

    Categories

    All
    12 Hour Races
    Andalucia Bike Race
    Asthma
    Coaching
    Commuting
    Crocodile Trophy
    Cycle Tourism
    Diet & Exercise
    Dragon Devil
    Indoor Cycling
    LEJOG
    Majorca 312
    Mallorca
    Marathon Races / 100 Km
    Menorca
    Mongolia Bike Challenge
    Most Popular
    Obesity
    Passion & Goals
    Philosophy Of Life
    Port To Port
    Principles Of Training
    Prudential 100
    Ramo Pro Cycling
    Rocky Trail
    Ronde Picarde
    Sportives
    Stage Racing
    STM Chocolate Foot
    Strava
    Sudety
    Sufferfest
    Teaching
    Team Races
    Tour Of Wessex
    Training Rides
    Travel
    Ventoux
    Watt Bike / Power Training
    WEMBO / 24 Hour Races
    WSMTB



    Significant Results

    Stage Races
    • Crocodile Trophy 2013, Australia - 5th
    • Port 2 Port 2014, Australia - 4th
    • Sudety MTB Challenge 2014, Poland / Czech Republic - 15th
    • Mongolia Bike Challenge 2014 - 6th

    24 Hours
    • WEMBO World 24 hour Solo, Italy, 2012 - 2nd
    • Australian National 24 hour Solo, 2013 - 2nd
    • Australian National 24 hour Solo, 2012 - 2nd
    • Scott 24 hour Solo, 2012 - 1st
    • Sydney 24 hour, 2011    - 1st

    7 hour Enduro Series
    • Rocky Trail 7 hour Series, 2013 - 1st
    • Chocolate Foot STM 7 hour Series, 2013 - 3rd
    • Chocolate Foot STM 7 hour Series, 2012 - 3rd
    • Chocolate Foot STM 7 hour Series, 2011 - 1st

    12 hour Enduros
    • Sydney 12 hr, 2014 - 1st
    • Sydney 12 hr, 2013 - 1st
    • Sydney 12 hr, 2012 - 1st

    6+6 hour Enduros
    • National 6+6, 2014 - 1st
    • Sydney 6+6, 2013 -    1st
    • Sydney 6+6, 2010 -    1st

    Archives

    November 2024
    August 2021
    September 2020
    August 2020
    April 2019
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.