Time for a Comeback
| On the first day of my Christmas holiday I broke my wrist - I had a break in the joint of my right radius bone after a high-speed crash on an innocuous corner of my local Manly Dam track. I spent six weeks in a pot and a further three weeks off a bike, before making a return to the road a week earlier than advised. With just five road rides completed, being my 17 km commute, I ventured on my mountain bike and made a return to the Manly Dam and the scene of my crash. My first lap was cautious but by the time I had started my second 10 km loop, the confidence had started to return and I was able to ride the larger rock drops. Nine weeks of inactivity, muscle atrophy and frustration was nearing an end. |  |
 Inadvertantly mimicking the Cycle Studio logo during my first 100km TT | Well the truth is, it wasn't all inactivity. Just 10 days after the accident, I was back on my indoor trainer. After trialling the free Sufferfest videos which are provided by Strava Premium - Blender, The Hunted and The Long Scream - I was suitably convinced by their quality and purchased all 20 videos from the Sufferfest site. On the 24th January, I began the Sufferlandria nine day indoor Tour. I trained on the excellent Watt Bikes at the Cycle Studio in Balgowlah Heights and completed two 100 km Time Trials. On the third of February, I purchased the TrainerRoad software, and combined them with the Sufferfest videos before starting one of TrainerRoad's excellent training plans. I began some Pilates training to work on my core and did a number of Fitness Tests. My FTP (Functional Threshold Power) had dropped but was slowly showing signs of improving. I was hopeful I had done enough to ensure I had maintained some semblance of fitness. |
| The Husky seemed a little too early and so I waited a week and decided to make my comeback at Capital Punishment, in Canberra. I was there to participate, or more to the point, to survive 100 km without crashing and re-breaking the wrist. It wasn't about being competitive or breaking personal bests, but about riding safely and without incident. Indeed, a long season still lies ahead and I want to be a part of it. |  |
Even in the car driving down, I started to feel the sense of race anticipation I had craved for over three months. My first commute had left me on a natural high on arrival at work, my first ride off-road had left me buzzing with endorphins, and now I was feeling that nervous excitement that hits you pre-race. On the start line, surrounded by many of Australia's finest mountain bikers, I felt instantly at home. It was great to be back among friends and fellow racers, Mike Israel, Trent Moore, Grantley Butterfield, Clayton Locke and Justin Dewhurst. My heart rate was already over ninety - I was ready.
The race exploded in raw power and it wasn't long before the serpent of speed had thrown me out the back. It was exactly what I had expected and I was now free to settle into my own rhythm, and reacquaint myself with mountain biking. It was some time before the fastest riders from the second group caught me and I quickly obliged in letting them through. I waited a short time before I was able to jump on one of these rider's wheel and allow myself to be sucked along through the singletrack. The wrist guard was holding firm and all the time, my confidence was building. At last, at around 35 km, I overtook my first rider, a guy in a green shirt, who I would work with until the untimed section at 61 km.
The untimed zone is a 10 km street section where riders need to roll through in a generous 55 minutes. It is a chance to feed, rehydrate, lube the chain and even chat casually to other riders. Andrew Fell (who had suffered a time-consuming puncture) and Chris Ryder of Jetblack, Grantley, Clayton and Justin were all here. I soaked up the majority of my 'gift' 55 minutes before re-starting with Grantley and Clayton. They both powered up Black Mountain and I thought that I would be struggling to stay with them. But after a few more climbs they both dropped back. Grantley caught up again but exclaimed he couldn't find his rhythm and fell back again. I was feeling good and this was enhanced as I caught and overtook an increasing number of other riders. I hit Mt. Stromlo and knew there was only around 12 km to go. Unlike Grantley, I was able to find the rhythm I had lacked in the early stages of the race. Skyline and the Luge were their usual highlight, although I rode with some caution knowing that I couldn't afford a crash at this late stage. I finished in a respectable 4.21.26 in 104th overall and 28th in Masters. It may have been my slowest ever time in this event but I was just so happy to finish safely and without too much pain. It was a successful comeback and better results are sure to follow.
Race Winner Shawn Lewis who narrowly beat Andy Blair in the 100 km event
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