Day 4: Cams Warf - Nobby's Beach
What a Difference a Day Makes
TORQ Team Plain Sailing (Flow Magazine, 2014) Stage Racing is a strange beast. One day you feel incredible, the next nothing seems to go right. You never quite know what fate is about to serve up. On even rarer days you get a lethal dose of both the sublime and the ridiculous. Day 4, the final stage, of the Port to Port was definitely one of those bizarre days.
The iconic route was scheduled to start at Cams Warf with a 60 metre climb up a rutted walking track, along Lake Maquarie waterfront, several bike paths, fast fireroad, the mountain bike trails of Glenrock and into the finish at Nobby's Beach Reserve. Just like Port to Port's sister event, the Cape to Cape, in Western Australia, there would be a challenging beach section, which was sure to be where the race for category positions would be won and lost. And so it proved...
The iconic route was scheduled to start at Cams Warf with a 60 metre climb up a rutted walking track, along Lake Maquarie waterfront, several bike paths, fast fireroad, the mountain bike trails of Glenrock and into the finish at Nobby's Beach Reserve. Just like Port to Port's sister event, the Cape to Cape, in Western Australia, there would be a challenging beach section, which was sure to be where the race for category positions would be won and lost. And so it proved...
Lake Maquarie Waterfront (Flow Magazine, 2014) Like the previous day, Peter Selkrig and I, warmed up by riding to the event start, this time by leaving our cars at Blacksmiths and riding the initial fifteen kilometres of the course in reverse. This meant we knew exactly what terrain we would hit and should allow both of us to make decent starts.
After the initial chaos of the dirt climb, where Mike Blewitt was forced to withdraw with a sliced sidewall, we were forced to jump logs beside a fence, the landowner not being able to locate the key for the gate the night before! I found myself with a group including Imogen Smith and John Elliott. We motored along the bike paths on the waterfront of Lake Maquarie, where locals stood aside in awe although one old guy yelled that this was not a race track at every passing group. Normally, he would be correct, but today there was a war of speed unfolding. At a tricky chicane, John Elliott was able to power away and bridge across to the group in front. Perhaps he thought he could make up the seven minutes he trailed in our category. I decided to bide my time, aware that the true test of the stage was lurking around a few more corners.
After the initial chaos of the dirt climb, where Mike Blewitt was forced to withdraw with a sliced sidewall, we were forced to jump logs beside a fence, the landowner not being able to locate the key for the gate the night before! I found myself with a group including Imogen Smith and John Elliott. We motored along the bike paths on the waterfront of Lake Maquarie, where locals stood aside in awe although one old guy yelled that this was not a race track at every passing group. Normally, he would be correct, but today there was a war of speed unfolding. At a tricky chicane, John Elliott was able to power away and bridge across to the group in front. Perhaps he thought he could make up the seven minutes he trailed in our category. I decided to bide my time, aware that the true test of the stage was lurking around a few more corners.
Riding the Beach (Flow Magazine, 2014) Our group swelled as we crossed over the Swansea Channel and flew along the streets of Blacksmiths. I tried, with a couple of others, to break up the group which was now carrying numerous passengers, but to no avail. However, everything was quickly about to change.
Riding the wooden boards onto the beach, we scampered across to the slither of hard sand, riders jumping aboard their machines and initiating the crossing up the beach. At the start line, we were advised to keep our weight back and off the front wheel, and I was fully focused on achieving this goal. The first waves hit us and most riders abandoned their quest to ride and started the long push up the beach. I stoically remained on my steed, each wave slowing my forward momentum, but as the water ebbed away, I was able to regain motion. At times, the sand seemed to solidify, and I made the most of these times by increasing my pedal rate. I was amazed at how much time I was making up as I passed rider after rider, either walking or running but very few, apart from the elites ahead in the distance, still cycling. I passed John Elliott early, his bid to close time on me evaporating. Dave Tattis, Craig Barnes, Alex Kooijman, who was barely a minute ahead of me in overall time and Richard Peil, who had a more comfortable lead and was third in Masters 1 after the first three stages. The water continued to crash against my bike, and I knew that a total bike re-build was a necessity after the race in order to remove the corrosive salt water. I ploughed on in the knowledge that I would surely repair the damage of yesterday's stage and challenge for a more favourable finishing position.
Riding the wooden boards onto the beach, we scampered across to the slither of hard sand, riders jumping aboard their machines and initiating the crossing up the beach. At the start line, we were advised to keep our weight back and off the front wheel, and I was fully focused on achieving this goal. The first waves hit us and most riders abandoned their quest to ride and started the long push up the beach. I stoically remained on my steed, each wave slowing my forward momentum, but as the water ebbed away, I was able to regain motion. At times, the sand seemed to solidify, and I made the most of these times by increasing my pedal rate. I was amazed at how much time I was making up as I passed rider after rider, either walking or running but very few, apart from the elites ahead in the distance, still cycling. I passed John Elliott early, his bid to close time on me evaporating. Dave Tattis, Craig Barnes, Alex Kooijman, who was barely a minute ahead of me in overall time and Richard Peil, who had a more comfortable lead and was third in Masters 1 after the first three stages. The water continued to crash against my bike, and I knew that a total bike re-build was a necessity after the race in order to remove the corrosive salt water. I ploughed on in the knowledge that I would surely repair the damage of yesterday's stage and challenge for a more favourable finishing position.
Back on solid ground (Flow Magazine, 2014) I left the beach with Chris Southwood (Flow MTB) and Adam Freeman from Drift Bikes. Chris assured me that there would be no more beach crossings (I had been told there would be two) and perhaps I felt a little disappointed. I held their wheel through the fireroad that connected us to Furnleigh Bike Path, and then I jumped on the high intensity power train. As we rolled over to keep up the speed, isolated riders were picked up and our train swelled, then a rider would be dropped. I endeavoured to stay with the group and, as we hit the Glenrock mountain bike trails, I was feeling extremely pleased with my progress.
The scenery was quite stunning (Flow Magazine, 2014) In a cruel twist of fate, my elation was to be short lived. Ascending from a creek, both gear levers failed to respond and I was forced to jump off the bike. My gear cable had snapped, undoubtedly a victim of the perishing salt water from earlier. I was jammed in the highest gear so I desperately tried to move the chain to the smaller front chain ring but without success. I remounted, uncertain of what my immediate future now held. The track stayed fairly flat for a few minutes but a large hill was lurking. There was no way I could ride these hills in the highest gear. The lever was still not responding. I hit the hill, braced myself, then suddenly the chain jumped over under stress and I was able to pedal to the top. I was now in a more manageable gear for the remainder of Glenrock.
Incredible Coastline (Flow Magazine, 2014) Brett 'Jeebus' Bellchambers is a legend when it comes to riding singlespeed. He is a powerhouse and simply unbeatable when it comes to this form of riding. I climbed up 'snakes and ladders' and Brett's angel was sitting on my shoulder. 'Use the momentum, Phil' , 'momentum is your friend'. My current despair melted away and I was transformed into the rare breed of singlespeed jedi. My Turner Czar was my Millenium Falcon, and I was piloting my crippled ship through hostile surroundings. As the climbs increased in gradient and I stamped on the pedals, almost always out of the saddle, the chain started to sing aloud under the increased load. I decided a broken chain was not going to be welcomed at this point and so I took to running up the steepest sections. Riders were passing me but I had to forge on.
Sprint Finish - again! Unlike the day before, when I was disappointed the stage had been shortened, I now wanted the quickest route home and would have gratefully accepted a boring short cut that would have eliminated the need to ride the great trails of Glenrock. At last, my prayers were answered, and I emerged from the forests, onto the trails that led to the scenic drive. Ahead, I could see a group of four riders and I managed to close the gap and join their group. The singlespeed was better suited to the level ground.
Not being used to spending so much time out of the saddle, my legs started to cramp. Just another problem I needed to deal with. I took the last sips of fluid and powered on. I was with Emily Parkes and her TORQ teammate, but also Trek Racing's Richard Piel. As we neared the finish, I launched a sprint and managed to beat Richard to the line, taking a rare victory over my Masters rival.
My 5th place (Masters 1) on the day, was enough to catapult me over Alex Kooijman, who was to finish over two minutes behind. My intention was to finish in the Top 5, so 4th place (and 34th overall) was extremely satisfying, particularly considering the calibre of the competition. Stu Adams, Stephen Billington and Richard Peil, made up a quality Masters 1 Podium.
Not being used to spending so much time out of the saddle, my legs started to cramp. Just another problem I needed to deal with. I took the last sips of fluid and powered on. I was with Emily Parkes and her TORQ teammate, but also Trek Racing's Richard Piel. As we neared the finish, I launched a sprint and managed to beat Richard to the line, taking a rare victory over my Masters rival.
My 5th place (Masters 1) on the day, was enough to catapult me over Alex Kooijman, who was to finish over two minutes behind. My intention was to finish in the Top 5, so 4th place (and 34th overall) was extremely satisfying, particularly considering the calibre of the competition. Stu Adams, Stephen Billington and Richard Peil, made up a quality Masters 1 Podium.
 Stu Adams & Stephen Billington |  Peter Selkrig (1st Masters 2) | Without doubt, the Port to Port is a sensational event, that was extremely well organised and had some great trails and landscapes, wonderful locations and unique features. With only a little tweaking, future events will become an essential racing adventure for all levels of rider. I will certainly be back next year. |
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