Expect the Unexpected
Campsite (Rocky Trail, 2014) The second edition of Rocky Trail's wonderful 7 hour series was to prove to be a personal lesson in humility. After racing under the influence of painkillers and the debilitating symptoms of flu in Round One at Awaba and surviving to finish third, I went into the latest edition of mountain bike punishment, confident of a far more satisfying result. After looking through the starting list for the Masters, I had pencilled in Jamie Vogele and Trent Moore as my main competitors and the riders to watch. Both have beaten me on several previous occasions but I felt my training would allow me to stay competitive in the later stages, knowing that both Jamie and Trent would be quick at the beginning of the race. I warmed up before the start with a gentle cruise around the course, which had been altered from last year's inaugural edition. An impressive amount of work had been done, extending the original singletrack to around five kilometres. The fast, flowing firetrail still remained, allowing riders to sweep through the vineyards, past a tunnel of gigantic wine vats and back to the transition area. The rain had made the track satisfyingly tacky, with a number of bridge crossings across wooden pallets, certain to keep the socks wet and the feet cool.
'Just 7 hours' of racing ahead (with Kevin Wynne-Smith) The start was conducted at the bottom of the initial fireroad climb, but chaos predictably ensued as soon as the front runners hit the singletrack bottleneck. A rider had unclipped on a rocky pinch climb; expletives were issued and the race ground to a temporary halt. As we looped back round parallel to the same area, an anaconda of a queue had formed, which reminded me of a McDonald's Drive-through. Even on my second lap, the same area caused two riders to lose traction and I was held up for a second time. Fortunately, the track began to clear and I was able to concentrate on pursuing my two main rivals who had started as quickly as I had imagined.
River Crossing (OuterImage.com.au) After three hours, I had managed to close on Jamie Vogele. He seemed to be struggling, while passing a couple of slower riders, and I asked if he was okay. He answered in the affirmative by powering through the singletrack. I held his wheel and, as we emerged onto the open fireroad, I made my move. I expected an instant response, but there was none. Instead, I worked to establish a gap and Jamie disappeared from sight. Now for Trent Moore, who had obviously established a decent lead over the chasing pack. It was another hour before the unmistakable form of Trent emerged ahead of me. He responded almost instantly, and left me in his wake so I decided to bide my time. After completing my seventh lap, I noticed Trent had dismounted his bike and was looking decidedly uncomfortable. Trent had taped his knee before the race, and I later found out that this problem had eventually led to his retirement.
The fireroad climb (Rock Trail, 2014) The track was a great deal clearer, with the four hour competitors now enjoying their post-race celebrations. Without any word of my race position, I calculated that I was probably leading the Master's Category. All I needed to do to accomplish my first race victory of the year was hold off any potential challenge from Jamie Vogele, a rider with excellent endurance and who placed fourth at the WEMBO World 24 hour last year. At one point late in the race, I thought I saw his shirt in the switchbacks and I pushed out the last remnants of power from my tiring body. I crossed the line without fanfare. I immediately checked the results, to find I had placed second. But to whom? Darren Dillon. Who? I was reminded of the same scenario last year in a Rocky Trail 7 hour race, when I conquered all my recognised rivals, only to be beaten into second by a certain Benjy Morris, who was to win silver at WEMBO and push eventual winner of the 40-44 age category, Jason McAvoy, to the bitter end.
I later found out that Darren is a Central Coast rider, a roady but also a mountain biker returning from injury. In the opening race of the Rocky Trail Series, Darren had finished 5th, but during this race he had emerged as a major competitor and is now one to watch for the rest of the series.
I later found out that Darren is a Central Coast rider, a roady but also a mountain biker returning from injury. In the opening race of the Rocky Trail Series, Darren had finished 5th, but during this race he had emerged as a major competitor and is now one to watch for the rest of the series.
 |  Upper Hunter Valley Hills (Rocky Trail, 2014) Rocky Trail will be hosting their 12 hour event at James Wine Estate on July 12th and this will be a tough venue for such a long race. With memories of my success in the past two editions, and winning the Crocodile Trophy Entry, this is one race that ought not to be missed. |
Master's Podium - with Darren Dillon & Jamie Vogele
 Guru Photography, 2014 |  Guru Photography, 2014 |
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