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Post by crummy on May 5, 2008 9:37:22 GMT 10
The 50k fire-trail report to follow.
Well done to all SCUM members, especially those new to distance events and were out there to have fun.
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Post by crummy on May 5, 2008 12:56:34 GMT 10
Lined up with Dave, after giving him a casual 5 minute shake, with the first bunch to head out for the 50km. It was a nice late start, when the 100km riders left it was very dark, icy cold and foggy. We started to a blue sky breaking through the fog and the temperature had risen a few degrees, well enough so you weren’t breathing vapour.
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Post by crummy on May 5, 2008 18:38:01 GMT 10
As always will a tarmac or fire-trail start, it was a bunch ride. Dave fitted right in, hanging off the leaders while I made my way through 10’s of riders to maintain a spot on the back of the 20-something lead bunch. The pace was fast ( very fast) and a good warm-up, every k a couple of riders would fall off the back, by the time we reached the cattle grids before the first climb there seemed to be 10 to 15 of us.
As advertised the assent to the first ridge is always a killer. Conditions were not perfect, the leaders were racing up the hill, and I caught and passed Dave as we pushed the bikes up the damp incline. Dave was complaining about being above peak and I was like “just get to the top, ease it off and ride with a few guys”.
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Post by crummy on May 5, 2008 18:49:46 GMT 10
Linda and Alan, 3rd & 47th Super Masters, 3:52hrs
Well done to you both!
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Post by crummy on May 5, 2008 19:10:24 GMT 10
On the extra activities,
We had scored a great possie in the pub next to the fire with a table and thought we had dinner sorted, in line before they even started taking orders. This was it, no waiting till 10 for dinner, no crazy queue, “this is the food queue, the beer line is over there and empty!”. There was a mixture on the menu, turns out steaks and lamb shanks to be the big hits with shanks running out after about 15 mins of orders opening. Orders were given, handy blue buzzers received and it was guaranteed to be only a short wait. Ordering opened at 6:30pm.
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Post by crummy on May 5, 2008 19:12:37 GMT 10
The light on the buzzer is still flashing, cool, can’t be to long. The anticipation.
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Post by dirtdiver on May 5, 2008 21:39:20 GMT 10
Are you trying to improve your star rating by using multiple posts to tell one story? If so, you're a sad man......
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Post by Lewy on May 6, 2008 10:43:34 GMT 10
Are you trying to improve your star rating by using multiple posts to tell one story? If so, you're a sad man...... I can fix his like I fixed mine ;D |
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Post by crummy on May 7, 2008 9:46:24 GMT 10
We must have been in a non-covered area of the pub for the wireless buzzers, as the chef had to come and find us. We had waited a while, but not as long as last time. Technology, you just can’t trust it. Maybe next year we wont have to wait for our food, will find a warm spot in the put that is within range of the buzzers. Good thing the food was still hot and tasty.
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Post by crummy on May 7, 2008 9:56:26 GMT 10
Back to the race, I had found a couple of guys to ride with. A Northern Beaches rider was being plagued by a badly shifting rear-derailleur, we left him behind and I focused on maintaining a good average speed. The key I found was to make the most of the downhill bits for recovery and speed, maintain the speed along the short and often sandy flats. Give a bit on the climbs and choose a good line, up to the 27km mark the 100km riders had marked the most obvious. It was along this stretch that we passed the 100km riders that were not going to make it in a day, they were happy and cheered us along, but had not packed their overnight gear. One of the sweep riders commented that “A couple of guys that shouldn't have entered the 100km held us up from about half way up the first climb due to an obvious lack of conditioning.”
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Post by crummy on May 7, 2008 10:05:24 GMT 10
It was some time after that I made a gap with another rider by using the point and shoot method on a fairly rocky medium length decent. There were beginning to be gaps in the group and after the 27km watering mark we were stretched out over a couple of climbs, say over 2 to 4 hundred meters. I could see the guy in front what seemed to be standing up to take the hills and was making ground, the guys behind keeping their distance.
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Post by crummy on May 7, 2008 16:49:37 GMT 10
It wasn’t like I was going flat out, but pumping 25km/h along the river flats into what seemed to be a head wind (or was it?). The undulating gravel road didn’t seem to be kind to me as the following rider made his way up beside me, we road abreast till I received an absolute shock. Dave had worked his roady magic with another rider and were flying up behind us. I just didn’t have enough and the made a gap over a small hill just short of two kms to go.
Dave, 1st Masters, 7th across the line, 1:59hrs
Crummy, 4th Open, 10th across the line, 2hrs
Kev, 3rd SS, 2:50hrs
Leigh Paulin, 18th Open, 2:41hrs
Kel, 114th Vet, 2:44hrs
Richard Hall, 129th Vet, 3hrs
Adrian, 249th Vet, 4:40hrs
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Megs
Sport B
Posts: 102
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Post by Megs on May 8, 2008 10:06:55 GMT 10
Don't forget about new SCUM member Gareth Williams: 15th Vet (46th over the line) 2:17hrs. Not bad for his 4th race ever.  |
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Post by crummy on May 8, 2008 13:42:22 GMT 10
Don't forget about new SCUM member Gareth Williams: 15th Vet (46th over the line) 2:17hrs. Not bad for his 4th race ever. To right megs, a great hit out by all, looks like there are some budding enduro riders! Thankfully we didnt look like team N o b's in all their fancy matching lycra, it was a bit like seeing rats get it on. Ehhww. |
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