A Satisfying Conclusion to a Onerous Racing Season
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.
Last 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.
Peter 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.
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.
Brett 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.
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.
Martin 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!
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.
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.
Enjoying Victory in the 6+6 Masters Solo - with Clayton Locke, and Paul Rowan who may need to check his grammar!
 Cory Wallace, 6+6 Solo Elite Champion |  Peter Selkrig, 6+6 Solo Super Masters Champion |
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