24hr races

[crummy]

I spotted some scum names in the listing for the recent sprint at sparrow and national 24solo/6 by 6.
Megs, any comments?

[Megs]

Love the way you use the word "sprint" to describe a 24hr teams race, Crummy, but as a newly inducted member of the 24 solo club, I find it fitting.

Yep, the club was present in large numbers at the Mont. I think it was Henry who staked out a nice section of real estate for everyone, which became "SCUM lane" - nice and close to our SCUM transition point too. It was a fun weekend. Too many SCUM to mention everyone individually but the best way might be for someone to post that group photo they apparently took before I got there. A few of us made the podium. Kane and Scott, Whitto senior, BB, Zoe and I took out the Brady bunch category. Much more impressive tho was the team of Dave, Kurt, Isaac, Jake, Matt and Karen who claimed second in the very competitive mixed 6s. Other SCUM regulars I spotted on the podium were Paul Traynor, who was in the mixed 4s winning team and Duncan Macaulay whose team came 2nd in the mixed 4s. The track was fun and fast and the vibe pretty friendly.

Then rather than unpack the car, we left it all in there for the next weekend as Ben, Duncan Miller and I decided to line up for the solo 24 nationals. We all had pretty much the same goal - to ride enough laps to qualify for the world solo champs and to see how we would go over the distance, preferably while fitting in some sleep. Ben and I had done very little training (especially me) so we figured it would be silly to push too hard on our first one. We took about 8 hours off in the night for a sleep , then got up and finished it off to qualify pretty easily. Seemed like a good way to do your first 24, although I did feel a little guilty enjoying the sunrise the next morning when I hadn't ridden through the night. You feel bad getting back out there all fresh when everyone else has been lapping all night. Anyway... Ben did 26 laps of the 9.1km circuit and I did 24. Meanwhile Duncan powered on through the night and cranked out 31 laps to come 4th in his age group. Well done Dunc!

Anyway BB and I both felt great afterwards, which was unexpected. I wasn't even sore the next day, so I'm keen to go harder next time at the Scott and definitely ride through the night. The event was super cool. Everyone is so friendly when they are going solo! And it is a small event too which is nice. And the track at Majura was fun. Our kids were a great cheersquad, and so was Fenz, who was there cheering everybody on in the forest. And our brand new Scott Sparks were awesome for that kind of event - no mechanicals whatsoever! Thanks Paul.

I realised the best thing about riding 24 hours solo is that you have complete freedom, so it barely even feels like a race (although I guess it would at the pointy end). In a team 24, you have to ride your laps fast so as not to let down your teammates and you have to ride them on a schedule, not just when you feel like it. And in a 100km race, you have to make that distance. But in a 24, you can choose your own level of suffering. You can stop when you feel like it, ride fast or slow when you feel like it and just go as far as you want to. I highly recommend it. Plus you get to eat a lot afterwards!

[henry]

The group photo and a brief report for the Mont 24 Hr appeared in yesterday's South Coast Register.

[riderdown]

I had the pleasure of supporting Duncan at in his first 24 solo at the nationals. It was a great experience and I've been inspired to never do one but look forward to supporting Duncan at the Worlds. Duncan did really well riding for about 21 of the 24 hours and we learnt alot that we can work, Duncan can ride faster and do tripple laps so I can get more sleep for starters.
Highlights for me where:

*Watching Duncan Suffer at 3am. (I've been smashed by him on too many EASY rides)

*Watching Duncan come good after 20 hours and notch up 31 laps or 281.1kms

*Watching the Fenz do 50 odd fifty meter sprints along side riders he was encouraging. He brings a lot to an event even when he isn't riding.

*Meeting Binder Clan. Ben and Megs rode real strong and chalked up 50 laps or 455k's.

*Watching the podium winners try to get on the podium after 24hours of riding, it looked more like prostate cancer recovery ward.

* The acing was actually good too with the leaders all watching each other to the end, Jason English even knocked out a 27 minute lap at 22 hour mark he also covered 400k's and the leading Female 38 laps or 346 k's amazing.

Cheers
Matt

[bb]

Great fun at the Mont 24 with so many local riders into it- many highlights; Whittos experimental bike testing, Scotts array of sports bars and powders for trial, Kanes power on the track, Zoes gutsy effort at 3am while I snored in the tent, Megs attention to our filing out of the team timesheet...

24 hour solo at Majura- an experience very different to the normal race- my first one and I felt very unsure what would happen as the time unfolded- but I made it with about 16 hours riding and learning a lot (particularly about public application of "arse" cream!)

An awesome effort by Duncan Miller with 31 laps and fourth in his category with great support from Matt

so yeah qualified to do it (solo) again in October... is that good?

[dunkman]

Yeah the Mont was great I love the relaxed atmosphere, I was so chilled I hardly noticed anything. Of course I was probably just trying to ignore the insanity of the following weekends plan.

Anyway it was great to be surrounded by a bunch of people you know and can relax. I think everyone had a good time, even Whitto.

On the solo thing I really need to thank Megs and Ben for their company on and off the track. I am really grateful to Ben for setting a really sensible pace early which made the rest of the event much easier.

Of course I can't thank Matt enough for his help. All I had to do was ride, how easy is that.

Di Perry, despite having her class to herself and already qualified for the worlds rode consistently the whole 24, doing 31 laps and 8th female overall.

Anyhoo that's all done with for now. Looks like there will be a few SCUM and associated riders at the Solo 24 worlds this October.

[crummy]

Well done to you all, especially to 24 solo, it will be good to have some familiar faces come the worlds.
Duncan, I knew there was an insane streak there somewhere, nice work in punching out 20 or so hours after a team effort the week before.
Binders, looks like your ready to take on the world, massive points go to you all, including the extended family.

[crummy]

With an incredible history of the most demanding conditions in 24hr racing the 2012 JetBlack Sydney 24hr was on and off my radar leading up to the event. I didn't really want to ride it, especially solo, but the trail offers enough fun to do in a team, if you don't have to ride "to much".

And so it was, a week out from the event and Shane Taylor and I started to scrounge around for team-mates, was it to late to find some keen riders to share the burden with?

Answer ->mcrummy.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/jetblack-sydney-24hr.html