Back in late February / early March was the last of the Summer Series race, at Flinders Uni. Below is a quality pic of a fine competitor that raced this event, taken by Nick’s sister – thankyou! The poor guy didn’t know what category to race in, not having competed in cross country mountain biking for about five years. He thought all that marathon running was going to make him an elite rider but he was wrong! (I will stop talking 3rd person now and admit that this “he” was actually *me*!!). So I entered B grade like I thought I used to race. As the starting gun took off for my category, the 4 guys in front of me took off. I was coming fifth up the starting straight. Ater riding for about 10 seconds, I turned around to see how many hundreds of mountain bikers I was beating up the first hill. There was no one. I was actually coming fifth out of fifth! So I turned back to look ahead, to see the four guys ahead of me. Unfortunately, they had already finished riding up the hill, and I couldn’t even see them anymore. Oh well, “stick at it” I said to myself, because after all I am more of an endurance athlete, so I’m bound to catch up. Never quite did catch up though, and in fact I nearly DNF’ed. The course was so technical compared how it used to be five years ago, and my upper body is so much weaker than it used to be five years ago, that I took an absolute thrashing. I was so worn out and exhausted that it was excruciatingly difficult to bring myself to be able to maneuver the obstacles. I’m really quite surprised what they expect us to be able to do these days, I guess now that everyone has nice suspension and disc brakes, that everyone in general is riding over much more difficult terrain these days.
A month or two ago was the first race for the Adelaide Mountain Bike Club XC MTB Winter Series. It was on the weekend where we had the drought breaking rain, and the race was called off due to the track being too muddy on the private property. Silently I was rather happy, as I was sleep deprived enough as it was the day before.
Since that day, I had only been for a few short rides. So, the day before the second race of the season at Eagle Park, I decided to ride up to Eagle Park for some practise. Being more of an endurance athlete than anything else, riding up there, doing three laps, and riding back again totalling around 50km wasn’t really the problem. In fact the next morning on race day I was feeling all pumped up, stretched, and loosened up, and thinking that I’d race really well. I had my usual big breakfast that I always have before doing several hours of exercise, got all my lycra, arm warmers, hydration pack, energy gels, toolkit, and other miscellaneous items all geared up, did a once over on the bike, and then I was ready to go. So, I sat on the seat. Somewhat quickly, I came to the realisation that there was no way I’d be able to ride out of the driveway let along to Eagle Park because my bum was so sore from the 50km the day before. Obviously, I had done way too much riding way too quickly considering I hadn’t done stuff all riding for years and that I’m still getting used to this new seat. (It’s a tad slimmer than the motorbike seat I’m accustomed to.)
I actually haven’t been for a ride since then, and I’m coming to the realisation that I’m just not enthused about losing control over ridiculously jagged rocky, slippery, off-cambered, unstable terrain that I used to be. I think it would be a lot more enjoyable if I had some sort of upper body strength such that I don’t struggle to hold on to the bike all the time when negotiating obstacles from hell. Interestingly, I’m finding that technically I’m riding much better than I used to be able to, even with relatively little practise. I’m certain this is because my new dual suspension rig is so much lighter, more efficient, responsive, and just outright performs so much better than the 12 year old hard-tail it superseded (speaking of which, it has now been sold!) I’m so happy with this new bike that I feel it is my duty to plug how good the service is at Mega Bike. Any issues I’ve had they’ve sorted out on the spot. It’s just had the three month complimentary service and I can tell they’ve paid attention to detail. When I had a problem with my new $200 plus shoes they took them back and I had a new pair literally the next day! (Also thanks to Pearl Azumi of course). Mega Bike are so helpful, one of the fine gents spent fifteen minutes with me detailing all the cool places he’s been riding lately.
On the topic of bikes, I’ve still only been for less than half a dozen rides on the new tandem. I can’t really complain given the last two volunteers to offer going riding with me I’ve knocked back (I knocked back Morven because I thought it was too cold – alright for her when she’s sitting on the back not in the direct breeze, and I’ve knocked back Ben P. because I had already planned a mountain bike ride with Nick). The latest ride was with Ben P., up and down Waterfall Gully Road. It’s such a hoon machine, it can get seriously fast – but the faster it goes the more freaky it is as you know as a fact your life is in the full control of the person in front / behind not suddenly doing something silly.
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