Breathtaking Bike Battles By the Border of Bateman's Bay
 | Without doubt, the race that took place on Sunday 20th July is one that will live long in the memory. Only a few times in my racing career, have I been involved in such a hard-fought titanic battle as the one I was privileged to be a part of in the Masters Pairs at Maulbrooks Mountain Bike Park in Mogo. Like all races, there would be winners and losers, but this time there would also be heroic chases, hard-fought duelling, bodies pushed to their absolute limits, exhaustion and cramping, unfulfilled battle plans and tales of heartache and woe. Ultimately, however, there could only be one victor. Following an unfortunate training crash, my series partner, Mike Israel, was sidelined with a broken elbow but I was fortunate enough to secure the services of Jetblack Rider, Michael Brown, just days before the race. I was aware he was a quick rider and that we should consequently remain competitive with the other top pairings. It's often difficult to know exactly who the opposition will be and, with Mogo being a long four hour drive from Sydney, it was a case of preparing for the unexpected. |
Once again the long drive down was shared with James Lamb, and the kilometres just melted away in no time at all. Memorably, while running low on fuel, I decided to wait for the next Coles service station to make use of my discount vouchers. Caltex, however, seem to have a monopoly on fuel on the south coast and after passing several of these I turned to my trusty GPS navigation system for voice activated directions to our target station. After failing to respond to my voice requests, Chops turned to manual, only to be told we needed to return to Nowra. We ignored the pesky machine and continued on, the fuel light now illuminated. I told Chops we would patronise the next fuel stop, no matter what, and simultaneously, we both decided it was time for a refreshing chocolate milk. Suddenly, a Coles appeared on the other side of the road and we pulled over only to find my voucher was two days out of date and unusable, and then to find they had sold out of chocolate milk. But I digress...
| Browny had volunteered to start the race and was comfortably placed as the lead riders entered the start of the single track. Jack Lavis was first to complete a lap but solo elite ride, Ed Macdonald, was soon to follow. The first few riders had opened up quite a gap on the field, demonstrating the course was taking no prisoners and was already dishing out ample servings of singletrack punishment. I didn't have to wait too much longer before Browny appeared and I was propelled down the opening descents. I managed to claw past the first rider I saw and was surprised to experience how much climbing was done in the first two kilometres. Here the track evened out and threw up some quick descents up until the four kilometre mark and more climbing followed. At the eight kilometre mark the top of the climb was reached and the snake trail awaited. This incredibly fast descent is one of the best I've ever ridden and the berms were so well constructed, even I was able to maintain velocity and stay off my brakes. I finished the lap and a check of timing revealed we were in the lead, with a minute separating the Top Three Masters Pairs. |   |
My next lap was soaked in an air of complacency as I believed that this might actually be a comfortable day in the saddle. However, at the completion of the lap, Browny told me we were now two and half minutes down on the team of Fortyplusfothers. I checked the timing which revealed that this pairing were flying. After my third lap, which involved a serious refocussing I was amazed to discover that we were now four and a half minutes back and had dropped to third. Worse still, we were only thirty-five seconds ahead of Ben Edols and Roelof Burger and close to falling off the podium altogether. Quite simply, some of the competition were putting in amazingly quick laps, 2-3 minutes faster than us.
 Transition Time | Mountain Bike Enduro Races are a strange beast. Due to the length of time in the saddle a lot can change and this can happen very quickly. When you think all is going well, you blow up through inadequate nutrition (like I did the previous week). Conversely, when you think the stars have aligned unfavourably, the tables turn just as dramatically. This was to prove the case on this all so dramatic day in Mogo. I started my fourth lap just after the four hour mark. I, like my partner, was staying consistent and with a clearer track, now the four hour competitors have vacated the scene, there was far less chance of being held up. Not that this was ever a problem, with riders following etiquette throughout. I had really put some effort into, at least, holding our position, when it did finally happen. A rider failed to let me through at the top of the snake trail and I was held up as he continued to brake heavily through the berms. I passed him half way down and tried to repair the damage. At least, my heart rate had dropped! Although, still four and half minutes behind the lead riders we had picked up an unexpected place. Talking to Jason Morgan at transition, I was informed his partner, Paul Morgan, had punctured for the second time that day, explaining their slow start on lap one and their amazing comeback to occupy second place after six laps. They were never to fully recover from this latest setback. |
Browny and I were able to maintain our consistency during our penultimate laps unlike the leaders who were tiring. As I handed over to Browny the lead was just 90 seconds with just two minutes separating second, third and fourth. Anything could happen and the race was up for grabs for all four teams. I was convinced the leaders, Fortyplusfrothers, were keeping some energy in reserve and would surely kick again and leave us all in their wake.
| As my team mate approached transition for the last time, he cried out we were leading. This was great news. Then he gasped the opposition were right on our tail, officially five seconds behind, and I knew I was in for a brutal last lap. My buddy had somehow overturned the ninety seconds and it was now up to me to keep the lead. We had come a long way and I could not face letting it all slip away now. What was more, Jason and Paul Morgan were closing fast and were themselves only a minute in arrears and charging. I immediately felt a rider jump on my back wheel and I knew Matthew Pandelus was stalking his prey, waiting for his moment. I gritted my teeth and powered up the first climb. He stuck to my wheel like glue. A rider passed by but I was relieved to see it was a rider from the Onyabike team. My rival was still waiting for his moment. I passed other riders but he remained in tow. I now got the feeling that he couldn't be any stronger than me, otherwise he would have already made his move. Like me, he must be hurting and this thought gave me the determination to keeping suffering and gradually I managed to apply more power. |  Feel those watts! |
We approached another slower rider and I called track making sure I didn't inform the guy that there were two of us. That was my rivals perogative after all. I passed and heard a collision behind. The two had come together. I powered on but he had recovered and was still in hot pursuit. Clayton Locke appeared ahead and I called early, knowing we were now at the top end of the final climb and this steep pinch would be a great opportunity to gap my competitor. I easily passed Clayton and sensed my opportunity. Now at the top of the snake climb I failed to pass another rider but fortunately, this time, he didn't hold me up too much. I passed him half way down and knew Matthew still had to get past as the track plummeted again. The last kilometre was fairly flat and I was not going to succumb here. I dragged out the last ounces of energy and recruited the last of my rebellious muscle fibres. I could see Browny in his bright, fluro Jetblack top and he was celebrating. I cracked into a sprint and embraced my buddy on the line. We had done it. Thirty-eight seconds later Matthew crossed the line, with Jason Morgan of BBC-Shimano just over a minute back and Ben and Roelof fading a little to finish five minutes in arrears.
 Masters Pairs Podium |  We were this close for the majority of the last lap |
Racing like this, doesn't happen all too often and it is even sweeter when you come from behind to win. It was hard to wipe the smile from my face for hours afterwards. We were quick to congratulate the second place team of Matthew Pandelus and Troy Roberts and found out that both had suffered with cramp later in the race. Matthew's plan to hold my wheel until the bottom of the snake trail where he would jump past me on the final section of fireroad never had a chance to reach fruition. Mutual respect abounded and we were all in awe of the great track that had been the backdrop to such a wonderful race. It had been a long drive, but certainly worth every second with Mogo being one of the best tracks I've ever ridden. Chocolate Foot STM Organisers Joe and Fi have certainly dished out a winning combination by including this venue in their wonderful series, allowing mountain bikers of all levels to experience one of the best tracks NSW has to offer. Without doubt this is a race that will live long in the memory...
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