tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52720215815565192302024-02-23T03:59:31.800+11:00Jay WooJay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-60804783858798496022010-04-07T11:24:00.003+10:002010-04-07T16:48:40.803+10:00Two to go<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgSJgGUeP_ygrc16B_HFOFQLe5PH3e1DIR8wLSlOv-l3xHOGEjS4nrS9rAIaj8sVTPQfWpWxb3qrHQdv4P9tZLoOWOxQosZWku-J3lla6w9k0Stexmpf7eMBHRdXeo8Bnr1yZ39YKPF5Y/s1600/pork-it-up.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457283863868442786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtgSJgGUeP_ygrc16B_HFOFQLe5PH3e1DIR8wLSlOv-l3xHOGEjS4nrS9rAIaj8sVTPQfWpWxb3qrHQdv4P9tZLoOWOxQosZWku-J3lla6w9k0Stexmpf7eMBHRdXeo8Bnr1yZ39YKPF5Y/s320/pork-it-up.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>For the handful of people out there that read this blog and I haven't had a chance to chat with recently, I've got two more races to go. Yep two more, then I'm hanging up the racing ego and getting fat, slow and hairy. It’s time to go back to being a recreational rider again.<br />It’s been a great time racing over the last 4 odd years and if anyone had of said to me I’d accomplish all this, I’d have said they were bonkers.<br /><br /><br />See you out there on the trails,<br /><br />Jay</div>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-9583056606729792512010-03-23T07:23:00.003+11:002010-03-23T07:38:27.934+11:00Victorian 2009/10 State XC Series - Round 4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpcuQLryQXWBNig2qeIZRpfLqc-xv47OMa8CnKKbLJqrTLL92_JD6r-aYVnf8_dMyYKb7e3Tx57drM1ZQKPjwtpUsfFgJKw8rJHBpQAEteOqCUitCYfZ_xiXnouRLXrhtVUChOMJDi99b/s1600-h/logo.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 87px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpcuQLryQXWBNig2qeIZRpfLqc-xv47OMa8CnKKbLJqrTLL92_JD6r-aYVnf8_dMyYKb7e3Tx57drM1ZQKPjwtpUsfFgJKw8rJHBpQAEteOqCUitCYfZ_xiXnouRLXrhtVUChOMJDi99b/s400/logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451559864325456434" border="0" /></a>This one was down at Forrest. There's a lot of hype about the trails down this way, personally, I don't get it. Though it does mean less people on the trails I love:) I do a recon lap and I'm not disappointed - It's underwhelming in its technicality with stuff-all altitude gain. Maybe I should have been a little more positive about the course as things just didn't flow today. Are you still reading or is it too negative for you already? :)<br /><br />1st lap is a 'super lap', it's got extended fire road to sort out the field before we hit the single track. I'm struggling already as we rise then swing right and finally into the single track. I'm about 6th wheel. I can see the front of the race as we are all tightly bunched so I'm not too worried and the pace seems to have been wound down a notch. We stay like this for a while until we get to the undulating section which starts me thinking I need to get past the guy in front as I can see he is now showing signs of dropping the wheel in front of him. But there's no real opportunity presenting itself to me and a gap slowly starts opening. The guy in front of me starts to dig a little deeper and as he does, his bike handling skills start to wane. In fact, if you were to graph the two, they would be directionally proportional. How do I know this? He keeps fighting harder and as he does he's all over the shop. I have to back off and give myself some room because he's like a bomb about to go off. Finally he does go off. The trail sweeps left and for some reason he keeps going straight and he's into the scrub like an F1 car into the kitty litter. Finally I bridge then we get the added bonus of the other categories reversing into us. It's a mess the 1st lap.<br /><br />Lap two and we are now on the 1st section of single track that we missed due to the super lap. It's lined with balga grass trees and it feels like you are riding through an automated car wash! The single track opens up a bit on a flat section and I decide to go on the attack in search for Matt Molan who went on the attack earlier during the second half of lap one. No one comes with me so it's head down bum up in search of Matt. The second half of the course has some fast rutted sections and it's on one of these that my chain leaves the big chain ring for a rendezvous with my crank arm. The ruts and speed I'm carrying doesn't feel safe to go one handed and nurse the chain back on. By the time the chain is back on, the chasing bunch is back with me.<br /><br />I recoup and go again, this time Tom comes with me. Again on the second half of the course I go to slam back a gel but in ends up going down my wind pipe. I think I've now got a good idea of what full blown Emphysema could feel like as I try and exhale with minimal effect. Tom's gone so I'm now third with a lap to go.<br /><br />The fourth lap is far more enjoyable than the last three combined and I'm hooking into the sweeping turns through the trees. Senior Woo has made the long trip to man the bottles in the feed zone again and there were some sleek changes today. He's still in the feed zone as I approach for the finish line so out comes my hand, bottle-less, and we 'high-five' as I pass him heading for the finish line.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunamBupAHx7l156hyAPDQcHX8kW0vdttEy5RO_MnlPfFzDpzVMgbV5Y47qBVmpJrSJwhjllHjrTLWlelx4xovdXwXE8NH9gce-QL2bZIvm6y9L84lMHZzVsxB3g2MI8iE5SsHauiofPiF/s1600-h/Forrest-results.bmp"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 117px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunamBupAHx7l156hyAPDQcHX8kW0vdttEy5RO_MnlPfFzDpzVMgbV5Y47qBVmpJrSJwhjllHjrTLWlelx4xovdXwXE8NH9gce-QL2bZIvm6y9L84lMHZzVsxB3g2MI8iE5SsHauiofPiF/s320/Forrest-results.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451559781517724226" border="0" /></a>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-40218395396279303202010-02-10T19:43:00.007+11:002010-03-03T09:02:24.321+11:00Victorian 2009/10 State XC Series - Round 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRsegSKRgGq4YuZguIqeGEs0CFAGml2O-UnsJinF3y4Ej3Rw3mlbgy0-uLGhLrgShx-NdD_auS_wP0nOZ7fBGvtpwScZiIpy7DJZ1Kbp6V_IKBEFX2Ihh_Z5lTI7u9pLe1ST6YDYP78b8/s1600-h/bendigo-logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 44px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRsegSKRgGq4YuZguIqeGEs0CFAGml2O-UnsJinF3y4Ej3Rw3mlbgy0-uLGhLrgShx-NdD_auS_wP0nOZ7fBGvtpwScZiIpy7DJZ1Kbp6V_IKBEFX2Ihh_Z5lTI7u9pLe1ST6YDYP78b8/s400/bendigo-logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436534381335322002" border="0" /></a><br />Round 3 was back in Bendigo, though on different soil to the <a href="http://jay-woo.blogspot.com/2009/11/victorian-200910-state-xc-series-round.html">last round here</a>. The course was in an area that was used for part of the <a href="http://jay-woo.blogspot.com/2009/09/2009-australian-mtb-national-marathon.html">National Marathon Championships</a>, so I had some idea on what we were in for. I got a practice lap in and ended up having an off and egging my shin with my pedal. Not the best start to the day but it was soon forgotten as <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/BendigoMTB/StateRaceBendigo7210#5435633762919948450">we all lined up</a> in one long line in a large paddock ready for a drag race up a incline then round a sweeping right and down into freshly cut single track. Before any of the categories started there was a fitting minutes silence to remember Black Saturday.<br /><br /><br />The <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/BendigoMTB/StateRaceBendigo7210#5435633808722554386">Elite field</a> are 1st <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/BendigoMTB/StateRaceBendigo7210#5435633948087719554">then us</a>, Expert, and <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/BendigoMTB/StateRaceBendigo7210#5435633986192089730">I'm fighting</a> to stay with the young legs as we crest. Surprisingly I'm fourth wheel and have a good view of the front runners as we weave along a dried up creek bed. Next comes some climbing and I sense 3rd wheel is about to pop from 2nd, so I jump past then bridge. Tom Grant, who is in 1st, is drawing away but at this stage I'm happy to stick with Matt Molan who I came 2nd to last time we were racing in Bendigo. A little over half way on the 1st lap and Tom is back with us. It's on a rise and I punch past the both of them. Back around to the start\finish\feed zone and Matt is marking me from 2nd wheel. As we enter the feed area I notice Sean is just in front and is about to take my bottle but it's quickly transferred to me and there's no loss in time just a change in front man back to Matt. At this point it feels like it's down to just the two of us. We verbally reacquaint ourselves with each other and keep the pace on to keep our lead. Towards the end of lap 2, I decide to kick again to see if I can shake Matt.<br />This continues and I feel like I break him on lap 3 though it hasn't come without its price combined with the heat.<br />Lap 4 is spent conserving my lead and keeping it smooth while also keeping something in the tank to combat any late surges. There's no surges and I keep my lead and cross the line 1st!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sOcaN0jnGMfJfhf1GoGHTJvSDmKyXXgFgFOJKXSE-Z5sUnzY3M5UdtogshtkiuPgPnWuPBFppc6k08SdCE0N2g7LC_yVwQzB3KzVR2JUnWNiNkQ-OG-d-tU2TF4K4wnaPi0Rl7XS-chX/s1600-h/results-42_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sOcaN0jnGMfJfhf1GoGHTJvSDmKyXXgFgFOJKXSE-Z5sUnzY3M5UdtogshtkiuPgPnWuPBFppc6k08SdCE0N2g7LC_yVwQzB3KzVR2JUnWNiNkQ-OG-d-tU2TF4K4wnaPi0Rl7XS-chX/s200/results-42_o.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436534242019722594" border="0" /></a>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-5256709606559914592010-02-04T20:02:00.003+11:002010-02-10T20:01:11.474+11:00What, another trip to Bogong?<object height="525" width="700"><param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157623325322836%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157623325322836%2F&set_id=72157623325322836&jump_to="> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157623325322836%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157623325322836%2F&set_id=72157623325322836&jump_to=" height="525" width="700"></embed></object>Go to the Flickr set <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157623325322836/">here</a> for a bit more of the story.Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-86323853497812443102010-01-20T13:29:00.005+11:002010-01-20T14:07:15.772+11:002010 Australian National MTB Championships<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428648468152316706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBEhs7Nrrbqjbp5T3vO5YdqACSCgp_SksAwo87ckxLfp_va4Ude3MBodFgkX-fd-Qg5r-EX3iP1lKBM0czjmovlxketcw4gtJMY7ZYAa6TCw6KyrvLdFIkEc5IKGea6SHDrH-4awAmsaR/s400/Nats-logo-02.jpg" border="0" /><br />I loved racing Nationals last year for the first time, so it wasn't hard deciding to do it again this year.<br />Like most people, I had a few weeks off work over the Festive Season and spent the time up at Mount Beauty, like a lot of mountain bikers seem to do, for my final preparation. This break ended with an adventure to the top of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157623052413631/">Mount Bogong.</a><br /><br />With the race on the Friday, I flew into Adelaide on the Wednesday morning and was picked up by my soigneur, Woo Senior, a quick stop into the accommodation to check in and pick my steed up (thanks a bucket to D.C who did the drive over with all the teams bikes) then out to the course to bang out some laps. The course terrain reminded me of Mt. Stromlo, dusty/sandy with a general smattering of imbedded rocks. Technically I found the course no dramas. After my laps the only concerns I had was if I'd remember when I needed to slow down for sharp corners in the fast sections.<br /><br />Thursday was <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/4286494557/">one more lap</a> to consolidate my memory then rest up for race day.<br /><br />The access and parking isn't the best but thankfully Friday morning isn't too busy out at the course and I'm twiddling my thumbs getting nervous in the Fitzroy Revolution marquee. Finally it's time to kit up and get the legs slowly into the groove on a good steady fire road that runs through the guts of the course. I notice Rob Eva out there too with a few other riders: "did he have a plate zip tied on?" Is the after thought. We pass each other again: "YEP! ... Wow, I get to race the living legend of Australian mountain biking! Wonder how fit he is? Guess I'm about to find out".<br /><br />Finally the time to head back to the start/finish area comes and we are called up to the start line. It's seeded, so being the defending Champion, I'm called up 1st. Next is Evan James. With his local knowledge he's definitely one to watch, then a few more guys and Rob Eva, the dark horse, also makes it to the front of the grid. We're in the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/4287117875/">starter's hands</a> and get the 15 second call. The gun can go off anytime now... We are away and I get away clean, though the gear feels a bit light on so I'm changing up a few.<br /><br />Rob is about a half bike length ahead as we round the 1st sweeping left. I'm on his right and watch as he chops Evan. It's quickly into the 1st of the single track and I'm happy at 3rd wheel. There's a short open section with a solid short and sharp pinch. 2nd wheel has gone out too hard and blows backwards, so it's Rob leading me into the major climb that's your classic single track switch backed climb, my fave! By the top we've got a gap on 3rd, Evan James.<br /><br />Next is some downward pointing flowing single track and Rob shows his bike skills as he looks real smooth and fast. There's more climbing though they are tiered and not that long. I usually go into a race without a plan and just go with the flow and wait for intuition to kick in. It kicks in, and I smash it past Rob on a small rise. I don't let up on any of the climbs which make up the first half of the course. The last climb gets dubbed 'The Roubaix climb' as it's a minefield of half imbedded rocks and to get through it you have to monster over it in a low gear. You then pop out to the feedzone that marks the slow fast and flowing downward trip back to the finish. This is the part of the course where you need to keep off the brakes but remember the odd spot to jump on them so you don't end up over cooking the corners. There's one section that is a false flat and I make sure my legs are hurting at the end of it.<br /><br />Arguably the most technical section is next, a snaking steepish section of rutted out burms with a myriad of options to cut straight through them over rock drop offs. At the bottom of this Rob is back on my wheel. We stay like this down a switch back descent before a small but usable climb up to the start/finish. Use it I do and smash it out of the saddle with no response from Rob. A clean bidon exchange with Woo Senior, and flat out back around the the climb out of the village area to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/4284020227/">head up it</a> as hard as I can for a second time. I've got to use the first half of the course to my advantage and climb as fast as I can to negate Rob's descending prowess. Anxiety creeps in and this lap isn't the cleanest. I settle into the last half, where it counts, and it starts flowing a lot better.<br /><br />Another perfectly clean bidon from Woo Senior and encouragement from D.C in the tech zone. It's around for the last time with the mantra <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/4284020151/">"are you REALLY hurting?"</a> going over and over in my head. I have the odd check behind and I can't see Rob though this doesn't stop the pressure. If anything it encourages me to push harder to make sure he can't see me. I'm on the back half of the course now and still keeping the pressure on. I come up on the last section of flat fire road and slam it into the big ring... The chain is now off the big ring and resting on my crank arm! I reach down and nurse it back onto the big ring like I'm disarming a bomb. Defused, I'm back up to speed within 5 seconds. I reach the descending burms and I feel like I can start to back off, relax and make sure I stick it. Through the switch back descent and I'm cruising it. Back to the bottom of the last small climb and I stand and squeeze as much out of my legs as I can then top out with the line in view! "Fuck-it, this time I'm doing a Euro line cross" and it's both hands off the bars with fists in the air as I go under the blow up finish line.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpiSci5WnQQIuktzJ0laSW6KC5wFaQKBkevmBqTNdxrsXcB1v7S6OtW6K5X3OJiy1s7QeA4ytNlPlT-FRBtPnpHZhAtIJRYbKo0Q3s1Isg0s7xzBwvUf-4fS8Q3X1qV7B0Q_iSINFPgoz/s1600-h/Nats-results-02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428648263433801090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 147px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpiSci5WnQQIuktzJ0laSW6KC5wFaQKBkevmBqTNdxrsXcB1v7S6OtW6K5X3OJiy1s7QeA4ytNlPlT-FRBtPnpHZhAtIJRYbKo0Q3s1Isg0s7xzBwvUf-4fS8Q3X1qV7B0Q_iSINFPgoz/s320/Nats-results-02.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The full set of photos from the weekend including both the Elite races can be found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157623100061793/">here.</a></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-85417469133697939882010-01-17T13:54:00.001+11:002010-01-17T14:00:32.177+11:00<object height="525" width="700"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157623052413631%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157623052413631%2F&set_id=72157623052413631&jump_to="> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157623052413631%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157623052413631%2F&set_id=72157623052413631&jump_to=" height="525" width="700"></embed></object><br /><br />There's a blow by blow description of this days adventure with every picture. Just go to the Flickr set <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157623052413631/">here</a>.Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-28746727320371887732010-01-06T17:16:00.008+11:002010-02-01T06:52:10.937+11:00Victorian 2009/10 State XC Series - Round 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYypOOcLc057kB-eHiU3dsj1vn2YfOYSL6hIfwu6RlpI2i1AV2q8-0pSX2VZm25O6Hp1ByJ0BdkJ4GupUc1Az4xsOPNpTbq7lUtc34kTOn1xMXyIei0ojkfP3bmpYMfySKFuDlqPnd5V8c/s1600-h/drmtb_banner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 77px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYypOOcLc057kB-eHiU3dsj1vn2YfOYSL6hIfwu6RlpI2i1AV2q8-0pSX2VZm25O6Hp1ByJ0BdkJ4GupUc1Az4xsOPNpTbq7lUtc34kTOn1xMXyIei0ojkfP3bmpYMfySKFuDlqPnd5V8c/s400/drmtb_banner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432994013427272018" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">The team at Dirt Riders MTB club have put together what feels like will be an enjoyable circuit to race on after an easy bang around the course. The starting line is really close to the first section of single track, so getting as close to the front before it is a high priority. To keep the legs ticking over before the start I go over the first section to the single track a few times to get my line dialed in. The next thing to get right is my position on the start line. I'm just going to have to be a pushy bastard to make sure this happens so I lurk as close as I can to the start line then rush it as the marshals call us up after they have let the elite men's field off.<br />I get a good enough start and end up 4th wheel going into the single track. 3rd wheel would have been better but it's not long before I'm around him and the three of us are pulling away. Matt Grary is leading Matthew Molan then myself. Their pace is high enough and I'm happy to follow at this stage. Towards the end of the 1st lap Duncan Murray comes past the lot of us on a flyer. The other two don't\can't respond so on the next climbing section I pass the two Matt's and bridge up to Duncan. For the next lap and a half I'm just hanging in there on Duncan's wheel. He has some awesome single track mojo and I struggle to hold it but make it up on the climbs. Duncan comes unstuck on the entry into one of the rock gardens and I pass him. Once he's caught up, I complement him on his single track mojo. Strangely though, he seems to have lost it as I'm slowly pulling away on sections that on past laps I was struggling to hold his wheel, he was now falling behind. I take this opportunity to concentrate and slowly further the gap over the latter half of the 3rd lap and the last lap. Towards the end of the last lap there's a handful of times when I'm held up by slower traffic and this starts to chew into my lead. At the base of the climb up to the finish line there's more traffic and Duncan is now on my wheel again. We both pass and I pin it up the winding single track trying to shake Duncan but he's sticking. As the climb eases off and the trail opens up the line is about 50 metres away now and Duncan kicks and come around. I've got nothing in the legs to respond and he beats me to the line. I roll up to Duncan and thank him for an awesome scrap on wheels.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_y8F0E3ojcKCfS4dquiTDNfAGVxF4j4XZn8Weq1Ohgpgiao85cMeqDHUWoHLpVnWCzY_J3cRAHz7aPETrMjRBja3Az8dyht2xpg-axJDmRNtGg_40x3Vi84BMATiF9c7hYWORMI0CXTb/s1600-h/Vic-State-XC-results-02.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_y8F0E3ojcKCfS4dquiTDNfAGVxF4j4XZn8Weq1Ohgpgiao85cMeqDHUWoHLpVnWCzY_J3cRAHz7aPETrMjRBja3Az8dyht2xpg-axJDmRNtGg_40x3Vi84BMATiF9c7hYWORMI0CXTb/s320/Vic-State-XC-results-02.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432992519656837202" border="0" /></a>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-31499131131983204212009-11-25T22:02:00.004+11:002009-11-25T22:13:08.349+11:00Victorian 2009/10 State XC Series - Round 1<img src="file:///C:/Users/justin/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="font-family: georgia;"><span style=";font-size:100%;" >Some thirty odd centimeters of rain over night was recorded at Director Sportif's house in Woodend the morning of the race. With that much rain, I was curious to see just how wet the course was so a lap of it was in order. Glad I did! While we are <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/4123813853/">waiting for the start</a> we get a bucket load more of rain just for good measure.</span></div> <div style="font-family: georgia;"><span style=";font-size:100%;" >I'm happy with my start around the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/4124588070/">start/finish paddock</a> and I'm 3rd wheel into the 1st of the single track. Out of this section it's through a temporary creek that has formed and onto a short gradual climb up to the next section of single track. This is a nice twisting section that slowly meanders up to the longest climb of the course. This is where I make my move for 2nd and we are gradually pulling away from 3rd. After the climb there's a long section of descending fire road and the guy in 1st, Matthew Molan, really guns it and gets a gap. Through the rest of the course I try to reel him in but there's a 15 second gap between us. I concentrate next lap to try and regain the 15 seconds but this time </span><span style=";font-size:100%;" > it's </span><span style=";font-size:100%;" >around 21 seconds. My third lap isn't a good one with a combination of the track being really cut up now and myself making a handful of mistakes that chew away at a consistent Matthew.</span></div> <div><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">By the 5th lap the track has dried enough to feel confident to let it run faster but it's not enough to catch Mathew and </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/4127185296/">I'm home</a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> for an enjoyable 2nd place.</span></span><br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nF8fC69C0xAahadBuvgK7qgL0jG1lql9GSBeFEvCyI6GHwQQSYfYOGRRnhz-Q_MKtUDzXLH3GjydZ8gG1puUECXMQ9QmHKKxoSZiBAsJnuRXcC0mfJ_0n2y91ZIlTQNksFpiqF0zMglb/s1600/State-XC-Rnd01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 125px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nF8fC69C0xAahadBuvgK7qgL0jG1lql9GSBeFEvCyI6GHwQQSYfYOGRRnhz-Q_MKtUDzXLH3GjydZ8gG1puUECXMQ9QmHKKxoSZiBAsJnuRXcC0mfJ_0n2y91ZIlTQNksFpiqF0zMglb/s320/State-XC-Rnd01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407995444451848322" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" >Full results from all categories <a href="http://www.mtbbendigo.com/uploads/file/Bendigo_State_XC1_22Nov09.pdf">here.</a><br />A Flickr set of photos <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157622852698352/">here.</a></span><br /></span>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-38200002633254367072009-10-05T12:00:00.005+11:002009-10-07T14:07:31.732+11:002009 Yowie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVdsL1TZqEPcIWtgyoMoIKGLJRwOMGA30awOssf8qYya0Erq3oUAh0vZ9X2G7hD-UML2-Th75GRvEs4YOj3LSraoQQyKTsSxdPw7gpgXHp20cEiW6i-hTc5L2ytdvLRmwBaefBgJ0zXs1/s1600-h/yowie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVdsL1TZqEPcIWtgyoMoIKGLJRwOMGA30awOssf8qYya0Erq3oUAh0vZ9X2G7hD-UML2-Th75GRvEs4YOj3LSraoQQyKTsSxdPw7gpgXHp20cEiW6i-hTc5L2ytdvLRmwBaefBgJ0zXs1/s320/yowie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388914710831647122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> <div>Kim and myself got there with plenty of time to get our shit together for the annual <a href="http://www.gmbc.com.au/">GMBC</a> MTB marathon, The Yowie. Race brief was late, long and subsequently chewed into the 5mins between it and the start time. By the end of race brief I had 60 seconds to remove my leg warmers and jacket then find somewhere to stash them. I was now at the back of the field. A long section of dirt road that gradually climbed up to the Stock Yards end of the course saw me leap frogging from bunch to bunch in TT mode burning lots of matches. Towards the top three of us had come together. We exchanged names and proceeded to trade turns in a bid to bridge to the lead group for the 1st of 3 laps.</div> <div>Lap two, and the three of us are back at the top of the long drag up to Stock Yards again and we get a time check from a marshal. It's 30 secs. This lifts us. Not far into the conglomerate of trails linked together to make up the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3983407608/">Stock Yards section</a> of the course, we pass Russell Collette on the side of the single track. He's going at his Yeti ASR's mast with an Alan key. Some time passes and he's back with us going full steam. I'm leading the group of three at the time and try to hold his wheel up 'Stockyards loop' to the start of the descent of 'Boulder track' but I can't and he slowly pulls away. He's still in sight along link track. Then along the top section of 'Stockyards loop' he looks to be slowing. Before passing and hitting the fast flowing single track down to the plantation area I ask to see if he's interested in working to see if we can bridge. He's not, even though there's still a shy less than half the race to go. The three of us press on without him. This second time through the plantation area was the highlight for me. Its <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3986175155/">flattish trails</a> are fast and flowing. Perfect for blasting railed turns with the odd front or rear wheel slide as you milk each corner for all it's worth.</div> <div>It's back to the start\finish for the second time, though this time there's two of us. We work turns up to the Stock Yards for the last time and I'm starting to feel the pinch of the last two laps. On the last section of climbing before heading down into the Stock Yards I lose contact and it's good bye to my friend. I find the Stock Yards section a real fight with my fatiguing legs and squirt all but one remaining gel down the hatch to see if I can get my legs going. Through the plantation section of the course it's like a ghost town. There's no one to be seen ahead or behind. I settle in and concentrate on keeping fast and efficient. With 10kms to go it becomes progressively difficult to get comfortable on the bike as legs, shoulders and arms are fatigued.</div> <div>Finally I'm over the line after an enjoyable day of MTBing.<br /><br /></div></span></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLidbeutoQK__HjU3hNK5O9njDCB91uNVtyb67bQakX5ewp03RJxmdTm3hUwFd4-TYmPavXSm9U158cYs3Kd6gv3qeN1FmCK4ZwwTcQMZ0WEqy42CRLtVqCfJtxO8ZVM7nYjwPU9Np_XP0/s1600-h/09-yowie-results.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 84px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLidbeutoQK__HjU3hNK5O9njDCB91uNVtyb67bQakX5ewp03RJxmdTm3hUwFd4-TYmPavXSm9U158cYs3Kd6gv3qeN1FmCK4ZwwTcQMZ0WEqy42CRLtVqCfJtxO8ZVM7nYjwPU9Np_XP0/s200/09-yowie-results.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388914642629295074" border="0" /></a>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-9605459862056832922009-09-23T21:08:00.006+10:002009-09-23T21:26:42.511+10:002009 Australian MTB National Marathon ChampionshipsAnnoyingly the report I spent half a day writing has been lost in the computer ether and I can't be arsed writing it again, so you will just have to look at the top ten and make up your own story.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2541/3947575398_b2447c61a2_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 1106px; height: 405px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2541/3947575398_b2447c61a2_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Now, back to my holiday :)<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></div>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-19655916569960084342009-08-17T18:19:00.003+10:002009-08-17T18:22:54.007+10:00<object width="700" height="525"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157622049109702%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157622049109702%2F&set_id=72157622049109702&jump_to="></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157622049109702%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157622049109702%2F&set_id=72157622049109702&jump_to=" width="700" height="525"></embed></object>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-4055247287409934492009-08-11T16:20:00.002+10:002009-08-11T16:21:04.326+10:00<object width="700" height="525"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157621796443135%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157621796443135%2F&set_id=72157621796443135&jump_to="></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" allowFullScreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157621796443135%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157621796443135%2F&set_id=72157621796443135&jump_to=" width="700" height="525"></embed></object>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-62777993911261551202009-08-11T16:17:00.003+10:002009-08-11T16:19:33.688+10:00<object height="525" width="700"> <param name="flashvars" value="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157617566611135%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157617566611135%2F&set_id=72157617566611135&jump_to="> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/slideshow/show.swf?v=71649" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="offsite=true&lang=en-us&page_show_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157617566611135%2Fshow%2F&page_show_back_url=%2Fphotos%2Fjaywoo%2Fsets%2F72157617566611135%2F&set_id=72157617566611135&jump_to=" height="525" width="700"></embed></object>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-75554749232182933632009-03-11T22:58:00.010+11:002009-03-17T15:34:36.675+11:002008\09 National Cross Country Series - Round 5<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3347929540_c555a4f287_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 291px; height: 562px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3347929540_c555a4f287_o.jpg" border="0" /></a>Friday, and the alarm goes off at fucking 03:30. Some faffing at home then into the car airport long term parking bound. I've got a 7am flight outa Melbourne to Hobart. I'm supposed to be at the airport 2hrs before my flight because I'm <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3311132324/">carrying my bike</a>. I'm at the long term parking around 4am. I looked on the web last night to see what the go is with the bus from the parking to the terminal. Every 20mins it says but there's no absolute times, which is why I'm early, to be on the safe side. As I roll up to the bus stop, so does the bus. This is running too smooth.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3327554218/">I'm ticketed up and the Stumpy</a> is now in the hands of the baggage handlers and it's now time to try and get a power nap in for the remaining 2hrs. It just doesn't happen. Those terminal chairs are made so you can't sleep in them. So are airplane chairs for that matter.<br />The flight's on time and my baggage is safe. I'm in a cab and stop via the centre of Hobart for some food for the day and breakie on race day, then off to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3319057656/">Motel</a> in Berriedale. I chose this location so that I could easily ride to the course. It takes around 30mins to get to the course and I bang out 2 practice laps. I'm liking it. It should suit me. Back to the Motel for <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3318236597/">food</a> and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3319066982/">relaxing</a>, then into Hobart on the bus late afternoon for some chain lube and food. There's also some <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3321328587/">socks</a> purchased too for the hell of it. An early night as it's already been a long day.<br />I check out at 8 and leave my bike bag in storage. It's a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3318217609/">cool 13 degrees</a> so there's knee & arm warmers on for the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3317918488/">easy ride</a> to the course. I meet up with Dave & Emma and Emma is kindly feeding both Dave and myself for the 1st feed before her race. There will be a mystery feeder on the last lap that Emma will organise so she can prep for her race straight after ours.<br />We are gridded up on the start line that points up from the get go. The gun goes and I'm wary not to push too hard and pop before the climb is over. I'm racing 'data commando' too, which means I have forgotten to pack my Polar watch. One guy seems to do just this and by the time the climb's over there's three of us tightly packed descending single track. I'm third wheel. It's <a href="http://mtb-images.com.au/20090228/content/IMG_3478_large.html">Brian John</a> and <a href="http://mtb-images.com.au/20090228/content/IMG_3477_large.html">Evan James</a> in front and they are going at it hammer and tong. Their pace is high enough for me so I wait to see how they go on the large climb in the middle of the lap. It's mostly side track and Brian is ever so slowly edging away from Evan and I feel like I can give it more stick. Towards the top there is a small section of double single track and I'm gunning it to get past Evan and do. With all this climbing comes a mighty <a href="http://mtb-images.com.au/20090228/content/_MG_9756_large.html">down section</a> back to the start\finish and I've gathered Brian up on it. A perfect bottle change with Emma and I decide to give it full stick on the climb. I pass Brian who's downing a gel and push as hard as I can to the top. I can hear my gasps for air reverberate around the bush as I time my lactate pop with perfection as the course starts its downward weave through the trees. I keep whipping my own ass back around to the start of the major climb and my legs whinge as they often do when I hit a climb already in the red. I settle in as best I can and just keep as much pressure on as I can to the top. There's a section of switch backs half way up and I spot Evan below. This gives me a reason to keep the pressure on. I top out and then get a rest on the super down section. Such a fun down! The down is over after a succession of burms and it points upwards again and I get the bell for the final lap.Mystery feeder is on the mark and I thank them as we exchange. Before I disappear into the <a href="http://mtb-images.com.au/20090228/content/IMG_3476_large.html">pine trees</a> towards the top of the start\finish climb I take a look behind but can't see Evan or Brian. There's not many times on this course that you get to see what's happening behind but there is one just before the major climb starts while you cross a dirt road in an open field. No sign of anyone so it's head down and hurt on to the top for the last time I keep reminding myself. The descent is trouble free again and I'm enjoying it. Through the burms and around the bottom corner I can now see the blow up arch that is the finish and I'm under it 1st! Dave Ollie is the 1st to congratulate me as he's still loitering at the start\finish after his race, which he also had a win in. Evan, then Brian come across the line and it's hand shaking all round. Not only for this race but for the whole National Series.<br />There's talk amongst us to see who can get leave passes to ride up trails to the top of Mt. Wellington. I have to pass as my time is short due to my flight back to Melbourne later in the arvo. Shame, sounds like it would have been a ripper of an adventure.<br />I'd stashed my backpack in Dave & Emma's car, so it was now time to retrieve it, capture the Elite races with my camera and flash, before heading back to the hotel and bagging up the Stumpy, then bumming a lift to the airport with Dave and Emma. I spot <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3322483214/">Lachlan Norris</a> at the baggage claim at the Melbourne end. Geez, and he raced the Elite race and made this flight!<br /><br />The pictures I took over the weekend can be found in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157614503941031/">this Flickr set</a>.<br /><br />Sadly, this was the last of the Australian National Mountain Bike Series races. Like last year, when I followed the Victorian State Series and it came to an end, it was a bit of a downer due the maximum fun that I'd got from racing XC. Though I think my body and mind needs a bit of a refresh after all that I've put into it.<br /><br />I'd like to send a big thanks to all the people that have helped me out during the races and sent me their support pre and post races. It's helped a huge amount!<br /><br />And especially D.C at <a href="http://www.fitzroyrevolution.com.au/">Fitzroy Revolution</a> for his awesome support (just a 'small' example <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3257037459/">here</a>) to this old bugger.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3347930914_f5688ba19d_o.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 1128px; height: 335px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3347930914_f5688ba19d_o.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3347930914_f5688ba19d_o.jpg"></a></div>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-47001889484847579872009-02-05T19:04:00.004+11:002009-02-05T21:18:08.335+11:002008\09 National Cross Country Series - Round 4<div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">More hot weather. Thankfully I was getting a lift up to Mt. Buller in Director Sportif's car that's equipped with air-con that works. I've also scored well on the accommodation side of things with D.C organizing a ski lodge for a whole bunch of us!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Our race starts at 9:30am and my Polar mounted on my handle bar says it 30°C already at 9:00am. I found it difficult to get a good warm up as the roads around the ski village are either pointing up or down.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We are gridded up and I was carrying #602 giving me front row again. The count down starts and I</span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosewal/3244971901/in/set-72157613247219848/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> focus</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> on the upward pointing sealed road that then turns left 50 metres ahead. We are off and </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosewal/3244980329/in/set-72157613247219848/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'm around the corner 1st</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> as the sealed road flattens, another left descending into a right hand hairpin then rises. As I smash it up the rise two others are smashing it harder. Down, then up again before a steep descent on the last of the sealed road. It's hard on the brakes as it dog legs into the first of the single track and I'm 4th wheel now. Not where I was hoping to be. As we snake our way down the black dusty burmed single track a gap starts to form between 2nd and 3rd wheel. There's only three riders ahead and the dust is pretty bad and I can feel my eyes started to water up in an unconscious effort to clear them. We come up on a large cloud of dust and it's one of the riders that was ahead. He's become a victim on the black, loose, tire thick dust. The descent slowly turns into an ascent and just before it pops out onto the 1st section of fire road there is a succession of tight difficult switch backs. I end up stopping through two of them but by the fire road I'm back in contact. Along the undulating fire road we are all together as we start to come up on the tail of the under 15's race. It's got me buggered why they don't send them off after us. The fire road is running out and there is two under 15's between me and the next section of single track. I pin it, and make it to the single track before them with room to spare unaware if any of the three other Masters riders had also made it. This next section of single track climbs and as it climbs there are more switch backs. These switch backs are like Nun's nasties. Really tight, dry and dusty. As this section climbs they get closer together and steeper. I think I succumbed to two of them. It climaxes with an ascending rock garden that you have to grind through to keep traction before finally coming out onto fire road but it keeps climbing. There is a reward at the top, a manned neutral water section. It's welcome relief as I grab a half filled plastic cup, take a sip before dumping the rest over my head then slam dunk the cup into the bin a few metres up the track. There's no sign of anyone behind then it's into the next section of single track. More descending burmed, rocky, black dusty single track that will let your front wheel go without warning. I find this section hard going even though it's a descent due to rocks. A small section of fire road, a small section of single track then onto the fire road climb back to the Ski village. James is dispensing the fresh bottles today, and I get one and head out for lap 2.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">On this lap I work the ascensions for all I'm worth though the two switch back sections of single track are scrappy and I'm swearing with frustration towards the end of the second section. I'm still not seeing 2nd place though there isn't many sections that you get to see a lot so I just keep hammering away.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Another </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosewal/3245002261/in/set-72157613247219848/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">clean bottle change with James</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and I get the Bell. D.C is there and I confirm with him that I just heard the bell so I don't have a brain fade like I did in the Nationals. The course is taking its toll now and I'm finding it hard to keep the pace on. The switch backs are cleaner this time though I still don't ride them all clean. The ascending rock garden hurts a lot this time too, thankfully it's the last time. Still no sign of anyone from behind and as I come out of the last of the single track Director Sportif is at the side line giving me encouragement. "What's he doing there, he's supposed to be racing!?" Is the thought. I find out later that he had an 'off' which wrecked his bike and elbow. One last time up the steep section to the Village then it flattens out a bit before turning right into the section that is the feed zone. </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosewal/3245839160/in/set-72157613247219848/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then the finish line looms</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> and this time I know it's time to stop once I pass it. My name and 1st place come over the P.A as I wind down after crossing the line. I'm greeted by Rosemary with a large bottle of cold water and it doesn't last long and catch up with Director Sportif to get the details of his 'off'.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Thanks to Rosemary for the use of her pics. The full Flickr set is </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosewal/sets/72157613247219848/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Some pics again of the Elite races are </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157613207111266/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">here</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div></span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeYyCk5aXrhwyw2k1A8MiD14wORbCYuniauecWSfbxPKiQHFQc7MttrT0Y6UfWNbW20TU6xzCjCZdmprQ87yt63qnnimJTRiXjd1nCsmA_8baLgl3lG2UEu6AJEjPh3EasLPtvO6-lk85/s1600-h/Buller-results.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeYyCk5aXrhwyw2k1A8MiD14wORbCYuniauecWSfbxPKiQHFQc7MttrT0Y6UfWNbW20TU6xzCjCZdmprQ87yt63qnnimJTRiXjd1nCsmA_8baLgl3lG2UEu6AJEjPh3EasLPtvO6-lk85/s320/Buller-results.bmp" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299251971402803698" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div></div>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-59637722209018132712009-01-27T22:11:00.010+11:002009-01-29T20:03:12.396+11:002009 Australian National MTB Championships<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/3230504123_46fa8d48e5_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 609px; height: 110px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/3230504123_46fa8d48e5_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'Times New Roman';"><div style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; width: auto; font: normal normal normal 100%/normal Georgia, serif; text-align: left; "><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wednesday;</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I start the haul to Canberra. It was a hot and boring drive up with all four windows of the car down for most of the journey. I finally get there early evening, unpack then head off to the Airport to pickup Dave who is flying in from Adelaide.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thursday;</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Dave and myself had a respectable rise then out to Mt. Stromlo to ride the course. My impressions </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">were </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">that the course was technically soft. I'd been here a few months back to ride the Scott 24hr Enduro and there wasn't a part of this XC course that was harder than the Enduro course. Our course was also not the ones the Elites would ride. They had a true XC course. This wasn't going to be to my advantage was the thought. At least I was familiar with most of it.</span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Friday</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">;</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> Out on course again then back to put the legs up and rest for the remainder of the day. My dad had made </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">trip to Canberra too. He was going to feed me, so we spent some time going over what he needed to do in the afternoon.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span></span> </span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Saturday - Race Day</span></span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">It was finally here. Something both myself and Dave had been training up for. It was time to see if it would pay off.</span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">After getting my transponder attached by the officials to my bike it was off around the road crit circuit to get my legs primed. It was windy and getting hotter by the minute. Mt.Stromlo is a </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">barren</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> place.</span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With 15mins till race time, I head over to get marshaled into our seeded position on the start line. I was carrying #603 and was on the front of the grid for the 1st time due to my placings in the last two National rounds. One minute is called before race start. 30 seconds... 15 seconds and the gun could go off at any second after that... It goes off and we are down the straight then funneled quickly into a tunnel and straight into single track. I'm third wheel and happy to watch from here. Out of the 1st of the single track and onto a short flat section of fire road. I pass Graeme Allbon and slot into 2nd wheel behind Brian John before the next section of single track. This section is a twisting power climb and Brian is riding it smoothly. As we climb and turn back on ourselves I get to see the field getting strung out. We pop out onto the next section of fire road. It's a short punchy up the</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">n</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> a fast sweeping downward right hander that runs you into the major climb of the circuit which is disappointingly fire road all the way to the top. I push it hard being careful not to pop before the top. A short down before onto the single track to the bottom. Brian leads us into this and I'm second wheel. It </span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">has</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> lots of burms, a few table tops then a small rock garden before out into an open field that is the feed zone. They have set it up so you can feed twice in a lap. My strategy is to feed the second time through so it's straight past the tents for me this time.</span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A small section of fire road before the next single track and a single speeder sprints for it 1st. I notice his move and I'm second wheel again. He's a local and has this false flat section wired and we pull away from the rest of them. Unfortunately we come up on some of the under 15's race traffic and it's not long before our gap is nullified from not being able to pass. More fire road then it's a section of single track that flows with speed while gently descending. Graeme is back on the front for this section and is really flying. That's the last we see of the single speeder. Back to the feed zone now and I get the chance to spot dad in the large crowd before sweeping around and collecting a fresh bottle. Now it's fast flowing open single track back to the start\finish line with the order of Graeme, myself and Brian.</span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The order stays this way through to the twisty power climb and to the base of the major climb. Again we all hit it hard to see if anyone will break. The top is close and I'm real careful to make sure I pop going over not before. There's a surge from Graeme and I match it and I'm into the single track descent 1st. It's time to test the waters as I bomb it and a gap starts to form. I notice D.C on the side of the trail two thirds of the way down as he gives me encouragement from his bike. Feed zone again and I get a glimpse of my slender lead. Back into the single speeder single track and I'm on the gas. D.C is there again at the end of it egging me on before I'm back into the fast flowing section. Graeme was fast in this section so I milk it for all it's worth looking back when I can but I'm not seeing him. A small up hill section of fire road before into single track back to the feed zone for a freshie from dad, then bombing it back to the start\finish. That lap felt perfect and I'm ready to try and replicate it for the last as I get the bell.</span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I'm on the twisty power climb and start to think "what if Graeme is negative splitting this last lap?!" so I start punching it out of the switch backs to maintain maximum speed up the climb. I'm onto the major climb, it switches back and I get a glimpse of Graeme starting the climb. Time to hurt and leave a lot on the climb. There's a guy sitting on the side of the hill and he gives me encouragement. It's time to try and lengthen the gap so I bomb the descent as fast as I dare to. It's head down through the feed zone and into the next section of single track. D.C is at the end of the section again keeping me going flat out at it. Next is the fast flowing gentle down. I'm hooking into the corners then out of one my rear tire gets air, skips out, lands and thankfully bites into the trail without allowing me to be thrown from my bike. Thank-you-tire. It's the last of the small sections of upward fire road and I can see D.C at the top. This is the last section where you can really smash yourself so I do before heading into the single track with floppy blood drained arms. Through the feed zone and no need for a bottle but dad is there anyway with the dregs of my others if I need it. I'm on the fast flowing descent heading toward the finish. I ease off this time to limit something going wrong and nothing does and I find myself on the start\finish straight with just fresh air between me and the inflatable finish arch. It's quiet, dead quiet and I start doubting that it's the last lap. I'm over the line still with doubt and disbelief that I've finished 1st. Then I remember hearing the bell lap and I relax and roll to the side where D.C and Dave are there to congratulate me.</span></span></div><div><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Graeme Allbon comes in and we shake, then Brian John. D.C hands me his phone and it's Director Sportif so I give him the good news!</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div>I stick around for the Elite Women & Mens race and get a bunch of pictures of Australias finest MTBers thrashing it out for the big one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pictures from the weekend can be found in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157612877673835/">this Flickr set</a>.</div></div></div></span></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/3227758461_bde265970f_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 796px; height: 434px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/3227758461_bde265970f_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a></div>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-34364779555186038622008-12-15T19:53:00.010+11:002008-12-15T20:42:46.758+11:002008\09 National Cross Country Series - Round 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kGPb3WPhzqjAFhCuwpHNxy0KzpiosKhKcQUCpTZ4lhyphenhyphenkTbGc1Crg7YXSXjH0QKgzXM96KZa8fKc1Eza0o87L8tfRpoNAEe4tD3LjB_wYd6ggwr-1AYYFQtnZQexUshjBto-hnRuHfu7y/s1600-h/Nat-YY-Flyer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kGPb3WPhzqjAFhCuwpHNxy0KzpiosKhKcQUCpTZ4lhyphenhyphenkTbGc1Crg7YXSXjH0QKgzXM96KZa8fKc1Eza0o87L8tfRpoNAEe4tD3LjB_wYd6ggwr-1AYYFQtnZQexUshjBto-hnRuHfu7y/s320/Nat-YY-Flyer.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279941520013819154" /></a><div>This round was a lot closer to home so the week prior <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3103662655/in/set-72157611204722574/">Director Sportif</a> and I headed out to recon the course. <a href="http://nationals.gmbc.com.au/">Geelong MTB Club</a>, whose home turf it is, had made a new section for the event. Two rock gardens were the main features and they were sweet-as! After a couple of goes riding and walking through these sections I had about a 70% success rate so it would be a 'suck it and see' come race day as to whether I attempt to ride or portagé (using the word 'portagé' I think makes the act of laming out a rock garden seem that more acceptable ;-P) through them.</div><div>Race day and it's wet, real wet. I wade through the sludge that will be the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/3103820689/in/set-72157611204722574/">start\finish line</a> to collect my race plate and go warm up out on the sealed road.</div><div>The start grid is seeded with a formula that perplexes me. Coming second in the last round I thought would have counted for something. Maybe it did, that's why I'm called to the line on the back of the grid which is three deep. Thirty seconds is called and I press the big red button on my paused heart rate monitor, it doesn't start. I keep pressing but nothing happens. It's already clogged with grit. No data will be collected today then! 15 seconds is called and the whistle blows not long after. Across the cyclocross start\finish line section and everyone is through safely. Safely is one thing but this is my worst placing wise in any XC race. Director Sportif counted 16 riders before I came past him in the feed zone, one hundred metres or so past the start. 'Shit! Lots of work to do' is the thought but I quickly calm into a sustainable max effort and start picking off riders when I can. Into the 1st solid climb and I can now see the head of the race as it winds its way up the lightly vegetated steep face. There's a large steep granite slab pinch half way up and there are riders sprawled all over it as it's too wet to ride up today. My turn, I dismount and sprint up it and pick off some more riders. A bit more climbing and another rock garden then it finally levels out and the single track winds along to the 1st descent. This is a badly eroded descent with a large rut snaking through its length from top to bottom. It's deep and if you lose a front wheel into it, it's hard to recover. This happens to the rider in front of me but I've got a buffer to avoid riding into them and adjust my line. Through the rutted section and the single track is flowing down back towards where it gets close to the start\finish line. I'm now getting glimpses of the tightly packed 1st and 2nd placed riders. I don't get too carried away and just keep a sustainable amount of pressure on myself. By the time I reach the major climb in the course I'm with them. About half way up I do a slow motion pass of Tim McColl though a gap had developed between us and 1st. I top out and the gap between 1st and me is painfully slowly closing down though I'm still not in contact. I bide my time and relax into the technical descent that I've done plenty of times before and feel like I've got it dialed. Maybe too relaxed as I make a recoverable mistake through one of the rock gardens with the back wheel getting lots of air time while the front drops off two tiers of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; white-space: normal; ">rock and temporarily widening my eyes. More descending and I'm now about to enter the new section. With the way things are, still not in contact with 1st, I attempt and successfully ride the <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/3104727028_103a2ea505_b.jpg">1st rock garden</a>. The second one approaches and passes without unclipping. This gives me a psychological lift. Onto the perfectly built burm section and then the sogginess sets in as the Start\Finish area looms. Approaching the feed zone I'm feeling really apprehensive about taking a hand off the bars to dump and then receive a full bottle because it feels like I'm riding through wet sponge cake mix. I manage to dump but fumble the fresh bottle! I put it out of my mind and just keep hunting for the rider up the trail.</span></span></div><div>Not long after the feed zone I make contact with the guy in 1st, Brian John. I'd heard people talk of him and seen his name before mine in the last two Otway Odyssey MTB Marathons but this was the 1st time I'd been this close to his wheel in a race. The pace feels like I can go faster but it's deceptive when you are following someone and you are close to your limit. So I watch, wait and rest up while trying to figure out the best place to attempt an attack.</div><div>There's a power climb through a boggy road section and I give it a nudge here but Brian also ups the effort. Just before the major climb there is a section of trail that is marked with bunting that's flapping about in the gusty wind making it an impossible squeeze. As Brian rides through the wind flaps the bunting to the ground and he rides over it. I pass through and it's up and caught in my bars. I keep riding hoping it will break easily, which it doesn't and I'm slowing as it's stretching. Finally I win and the bunting breaks. I get a souvenir for my efforts, some red\white bunting still attached to my bike. Finally some clear easy track and I clear the bunting from my bike before it makes its way into my drive chain and I'm into the major climb again. Not long into the climb with Brian a few bike lengths ahead, he gets a rear chain suck and is off as I pass trying to free it. Slowly he regains my rear wheel. There's a rock garden half way up and I end up dabbing through it and Brian gains the lead again through my error. We top out and just before the single track starts again for the descent, Brian takes a drink, goes to put his bottle back and tries to break before a hard right. He ends up missing the turn and I'm in front again going into the descent. Like before I just relax without mistakes this time and about half way down I'm not catching glimpses of Brian as the single track turns back on its self. Into the tricky rock garden section and I make the 1st but dab a few metres into the second. I'm able to get going again to ride up the rock slab at the end of it. Through the now moved feed zone to drier ground and a successful bottle change. I cross the dam wall and from this vantage point, spot Brian heading across the Start\Finish area. "Shit, that's got to be at least a minute gap! Right, just controlled riding here Justin" is the thought. Everything is clean and I'm back to the major climb again. I put all I can into it without blowing before the top. No problems on the descent and I'm back to the rock gardens. This time I decide to dismount before entering them and portagé through them just to be sure I'm through safely, then it's onto the soggy\boggy start\finish for the last time!</div><div>I roll past and hear my name and the words <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/3110274942_3dbf78d515.jpg">1st place</a> in the same sentence over the P.A and I'm smiling large!</div><div>Director Sportif and D.C are there to share the win then Brian comes in and we shake and both agree it heaps of fun racing each other. We find out that Brian had an off on the 2nd lap coming down the main descent, which is how the gap formed going into the last lap.</div><div>Now it's back to the car to scrape the mud off the sections of bare skin. The full length zipper on my jersey keeps getting jammed with grit as I try to take it off. Toasty in my clothes it was then off around the course to watch the Elite Women and Men race, which despite the rain and wind was hugely enjoyable.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QIqnZJ0Big2n8VXTkPXf6TxemtrqqpxYEmhJaNGJXHUAy8WWc6Tbe4tcHLgvW6q6fpSEETPb4wDcheKPZBvnRnt872SaxeqZvMpPLp4GRXogmXTBqzA0xrTJ4ED8TvmkKiKkQ4LIPArA/s1600-h/Nat-YY-Results.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QIqnZJ0Big2n8VXTkPXf6TxemtrqqpxYEmhJaNGJXHUAy8WWc6Tbe4tcHLgvW6q6fpSEETPb4wDcheKPZBvnRnt872SaxeqZvMpPLp4GRXogmXTBqzA0xrTJ4ED8TvmkKiKkQ4LIPArA/s200/Nat-YY-Results.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279941421290513570" /></a><br /></div><div>A bunch of soggy pics I took after our race <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157611204722574/">here.</a></div><div>Some not so soggy pics of the Elite's on Cyclingnews <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtbphotos.php?id=/photos/2008/dec08/geelong08/geelong081/gallery-geelong081">here.</a></div>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-26791450069963792372008-12-02T09:19:00.026+11:002008-12-02T16:32:17.474+11:002008\09 National Cross Country Series - Round 2To make the <a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&saddr=Melbourne+VIC&daddr=Oxley+Hwy+to:-28.80136,153.275757+to:illinbah&hl=en&geocode=%3BFfyUJf4duu3-CA%3B%3B&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=8&via=1,2&sll=-29.854937,152.704468&sspn=4.358604,6.679688&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.468108,152.20459&spn=16.739301,26.71875&z=6">1,800km trip to Illinbah in Queensland</a> myself and a good friend of mine, Rosemary, turned the week leading up to the race into a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosewal/sets/72157610571755288/">road trip holiday</a>.<br />We left on the Monday and had accommodation booked from the Wednesday till race day on the edge of Tamborine National Park. There'd been lots of rain in the area over the weeks prior and more right up to the Thursday. Surprisingly the course wasn't a washout during Friday's practice but there was still parts of the course that were very wet and muddy, mostly in the technical sections making things very interesting.<br />I really enjoyed the course and by the third lap I felt comfortable on it. The one hassle being a freshly cut switched back climb section of single track that had one corner that I found difficult to ride due to it being soggy and my rear wheel was losing traction through it.<br />Thankfully come race day, the forecast thunderstorms didn't happen overnight, so I stuck with the same tyres used during practice. The course was probably slightly less soggy than the day before.<br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/3071463331_7896ef0122.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 440px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 164px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/3071463331_7896ef0122.jpg" border="0" /></a> The marshalling area and start line was great as I got to chat to a few of the locals with one of them asking me out on a Sunday ride on some of the local trails, which unfortunately I couldn't take him up on due to us starting the drive back to Melbourne straight after the race. With one minute called the chat stopped as we all got ready for the charge along the <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/3074276764_32e3bc7feb_b.jpg">grassy flat Start\Finish that then rose and turned right past the feed zone </a>before heading into the first of the single track. By this point I was fourth wheel and as the single track kept climbing I came to realise that third wheel would have been better as a gap started to form between second and third. I noticed the guy in front's rear tyre and thought it was under done for the first of the soggy technical drops we were about to enter so I backed off to give myself some room. We were both through it without incident and onto the 1st flat passable section. The guy in front was now closing the gap so I just sat in for the tow. Into another climbing section that was in an open field. The track was freshly cut too so this is where I was able to pick two of the guys in front off. The guy in first was motoring and had a huge gap. So large was his gap that I thought he wasn't able to sustain it for the race. Through one of the soggy sections then a rocky water crossing before into the longest climb of the course. This had the tricky soggy switch backs and I end up dabbing through the apex but I don't lose too much momentum. More climbing and towards the top we go under a bridge for the Down Hill course. It's soggy here and I pick a bad line and end up spinning the back and have to run through the bridge till it's dry enough to mount again. A guy passes me. The single track turns and kicks up into a pinch before the top and into the next and most technical down section. I don't want to be behind this guy going into the technical down so I concentrate and pass him on the pinch. Into the down and I'm enjoying it even though it seems wetter than yesterday. Into a steep single rut section that's got run off trickling down it and I'm off! The front wheel let go. I'm up and going before I know it and there's no sense of the guy I'd passed at the top. A section of undulating single track now to calm the mind and get back into the swing of things. An open pastural section with no sight of first place or third before heading back into more excellent thick scrub single track. Another water crossing, a bit of a climb then into a flowing switch back burmed descending that is a delight to carve. This feeds you into an awesome A/B rock garden descent before popping out of the scrub into pastural land back to the start\finish. No sign of first place but I can keep a watchful eye on third as I head up the rise for the first feed and words of encouragement from Rosemary. Towards the end of the second lap just before the burmed descent, the chain sucks in between the cassette and the wheel. Last time I had one of these while out riding I timed myself and it took two minutes to free the bloody thing! Thankfully this time I'm back on in no more than 30 seconds. As I descend through the burms I check for Mr third and can't see him through the thick scrub. Another flawless feed from Rosemary and it's pretty much the same as the last one with the other riders. I'd remembered speaking to Clint (Mr third) at the start\finish before we got underway. He was into the enduro stuff so he'd have long legs. I was feeling the pinch coming into the third lap. If I could keep it clean and hold him over the major climb, I'd be in for a show with second place. Onto the major climb and Clint is closing as I'm on the lower slope through the soggy switch backs. I listen to my body and make sure I don't over cook as you need some in reserve to punch over the top through the pinch. I'm over and still in second. I descend with more brake this time to make sure I'm through to the bottom without incident. Last time through the undulating single track isn't pretty but I'm through to the burms cleanly. Again I'm through the last of the technical sections with a bit more brake just to make sure then onto the last of the flat pastural land cursing but keeping a watchful eye for Clint. I make the 180 degree turn into the Start\Finish straight and Clint isn't far behind as he's gassing for the finish. I'm over the line ahead of him and take Second! We catch up after the race and thank each other for a fun piece of racing then it's off to the Coomera river to wash the bike before packing it away into the car and heading back to Melbourne.<br /><div><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/3072270890_e773eaa579_b.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 653px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 172px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/3072270890_e773eaa579_b.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-62998138215712872072008-10-13T16:27:00.008+11:002008-10-24T15:56:53.476+11:002008 Scott 24hr<p class="MsoNormal">I’m back at work after my first 24hr MTB race up in Canberra over the weekend and I’m just a tad foggy in mind and body!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I took the Friday off so I could hitch a ride with D.C and have plenty of time to settle in before the Saturday noon start.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was in a Mens Pair Team with Ash who’d done his fair share of 24hr racing so I was in good company to race with.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The course had two separate laps that had to be completed in succession for the 24 hours. Ash was starting us off on the red lap with the plan to start off doing double laps to get a feel for the whole course and rough times to complete them for transitioning. With Ash in for his two laps it was my turn to taste the course. The red lap starts with some easy flat flowing single track before some great climbing up Mt. Stromlo primarily on single track. It then traverses Mt. Stromlo before a long descent back to the transition area. It’s on this that my fun is interrupted with a rear puncture that won’t seal so it’s out with a tube. Then about 100m further along the rear flats AGAIN. This time I’ve got no tube to get me going so it's riding when the trailing isn’t too rough to wreck my rim and walking\running when it is. I head back to base to get it sorted by D.C then out again on the blue loop. This loop doesn’t excite me much and as the 24hrs pass, I name it the ‘Paris Roubaix Loop’ due to its fair share of flat rock garden sections that require you to grind over them like a Flandrien.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We keep trading double laps and on my next outing while riding through one for the rock gardens on the descent of Mt. Stromlo, my front wheel lets go from under me on a dust covered rock sending me head first into a ditch. I also cork my quad on a rock giving me 'rock rash' too. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After a shower\food and a lay down in my tent before my first night laps, my leg is feeling really stiff but thankfully not too stiff when pedalling. Game on!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Out on course the Mt Stromlo descent is carnage. Three times I’m waved to slow down by race organisers tending to people lying on the deck. Thankfully this outing was incident free for me. Ash then is out to do the grave yard shift while I shower again and tuck up in my tent for some sleep before taking over for the morning shift. I’m up at 5am, eat a bucket then wait for Ash to come in from his crazy assed marathon effort. Waiting at the transition area I’m feeling cold and stiff even with my trackie dacks and down jacket on hoping like hell that my legs will work and that I can backup Ash’s monster effort. I ease into it along the flat section then wind it up as I start climbing Mt. Stromlo with positive signs from my legs. My first Sunday blue lap is marred with more punctures. This time it’s a front and back at the same time. I’m too far from transition to walk\run\ride back on a flat so I bot a 2<sup>nd</sup> tube from a fellow racer. I stop into base to tube up and grab some food before heading out for more. I’m into transition around 11:30am and I’ve got time to get one more red lap in. I get a mobile water bottle exchange by D.C aboard his bike while on the way out. I’m back in and spent with that feeling in your legs that makes you reluctant to get off just in case they fail from underneath you.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Race Site here for more detail on the event.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.scott24hr.com.au/">http://www.scott24hr.com.au/</a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">My pictures from the weekend <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157607972040872/">here</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-65152405997695570762008-10-08T16:30:00.005+11:002008-10-09T07:17:30.186+11:00All things newWow, a long time between blogs. Things got all pair shaped on the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157603944142496/">work front</a> and I found it impossible to keep up any riding route for a good three months. I was basically living off commutes to and from work and a sanity saver ride most Sundays. I'm happy now that over the past two weeks things are getting back to normal and I've had some great weekends riding both days again.<br />While riding road I've been aboard this bang up beauty of a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/2839848876/in/set-1020431/">Lynskey R320</a> that D.C graciously handed over to me to ride! It's the first time for me aboard a Ti bike with the last two being CF's. The ride is firmer than CF I reckon, which isn't a hassle for me as I love to feel the ride when on any bike. I love feedback from a bike and this gives it to you. The frame feel is quite different too. I noticed a loose feeling in the front compared to the Tarmac when just cruising along seated and on the hoods. This was a bit concerning to tell you the true as I thought it was going to feel like a sponge descending! The phenomenal thing about this bike is that it tightens up when you want it to and relaxes when you do. Stomping up hills was the first test and yep, it feels like all my effort is hitting the tarmac and not getting washed away through the frame. Now that I'd gain some altitude, time to point it down hill and into some corners hoping like hell it didn't corner like a sponge. Again the frame came to attention at speed and feels like a precision arrow that goes around corners upon your command. 'Arrrh relief' at first then exhilaration. I rode the Tour de Burbs for the 1st time in ages a few weeks back and was happy that I could still hang on. On the descent of <a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Foote+St,+VIC,+Australia&sll=-37.793336,144.998378&sspn=0.013633,0.019312&ie=UTF8&cd=2&geocode=FerYv_0dNXKmCA&ll=-37.754464,145.125575&spn=0.02728,0.038624&z=15&layer=c&cbll=-37.758768,145.125531&panoid=cLikds166MgdcSAezuIADw&cbp=1,278.9484609530473,,0,16.075365584055643">Foote St</a> I managed to find a pot hole and the rear immediately flatted with the front going down like the titanic as I tried to keep the bike under control and come to a stop. The tube I had went in the back and I repaired the front with a patch. After inspecting the situation closer the day after, the back rim was trashed with a nice flat spot. Thankfully D.C had a sweet pair of King hubs laced in to some DT RR1.1 doubles till the Bontrager's are repaired.<br />There's been a fare bit of excitement on the S-Works Stumpy too. I tried out some <a href="http://www.geax.com/vedit/pagina.asp~pagina~2316">Geax Mezcal 1.9 TNTs</a> over the weekend up at Mt. Macedon... Fast! This will come in handy as I head to Canberra for the <a href="http://www.scott24hr.com.au/">Scott 24hr</a> to race as a pair with Ash Hayat. He asked me a week ago after a Sunday ride around Westerfolds. It should slap some base back into my legs! This will be my first 24hr race so I'm just shitting myself a teeny bit with the lack of training in the legs. I've done two Melb 12hrs in a pair and they both hurt with appropriate training. Spose I can always retire to the tent and let Ash finish since he suggested doing it in the first place! :P<br />Ooo, and we have new <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/2923039435/in/photostream/">shop</a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/2923907294/in/photostream/">kits</a> too to complete the transformation from the old name to the new <a href="http://www.fitzroyrevolution.com.au/">Fitzroy Revolution!</a>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-29618802552102289002008-05-01T18:33:00.008+10:002008-05-01T18:52:06.350+10:00Post Op - A Pictorial thus far<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157603944994319/" title="no chewing now by jay woo, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2408/2452890629_12ef2e88fe.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="no chewing now" /></a>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-69309575779948346692008-04-27T18:09:00.009+10:002008-04-28T11:33:54.890+10:00Round 5 Victorian State XC Series - Beaconsfield Upper<a href="http://images.sportsline.com/images/spin/ps/101707a.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://images.sportsline.com/images/spin/ps/101707a.jpg" border="0" /></a>It was the last of the Summer XC series today with a forecast that wasn’t too summery. Thankfully the hail didn’t come and there was no rain at all just a moist track. I’d ridden the course last Sunday on the way back from the Festival of Mt. Doom and on my warm up noticed a few minor tweaks.<br />It was an uphill start on some fire road then straight into a single track descent through a pine tree section. The pine needles had made this section slippery last Sunday but we where all through without dramas and I felt happy with my start and place in the string of riders.<br />Down and over a creek crossing and up into a short sharp section with two rutted out switch backs. I’d swapped out my back wheel for a Maxxis Medusa shod one for extra grip in this section and it did the trick.<br />More single track and I could sense that the guy behind had dropped off and the guy in front was a touch slower. “Early days” I thought and no real passing opportunities for a while so I just sat in.<br />Another short sharp climbing section and the guy in front has his elastic broken. There’s a short fire road section coming up so I take him there.<br />There’s a power climb towards the end of the 1st loop of three that make up a lap and I see some guys ahead I’m smashing it along nicely as I look down and see I’m well into the red then towards the false flatting top 'BOOOM' I feel like a dragster halfway down the quarter mile that’s burst into flames. Not long after the guy behind is now in front as I try to recover.<br />2nd lap and on the 2nd short sharp climb I get some major chain suck and I’m side lined trying to get it out. Not long after the head of the Expert race, James Walker, comes past. Not long after this Tim McColl comes past in pursuit.<br />I’m really struggling on what feels like 3 out of a potential 6 cylinders but keep plugging away.<br />I come in for my 5th bottle and some lady is standing between me and my table. I hold up my bottle and move my head repeatedly to the side to signal she needs to move as I head straight for her. He jaw drops and she’s out the way just in the nick of time. It’s time to kick back and enjoy the laps as the lights are well and truly out.<br />Coming in for the last lap I had a hard time convincing the legs to go around one more time. I’m not into DNF’ing and I wasn’t going to now even if I was flogging a dead horse. The crop is out for most of the last lap and if I was aboard a horse I’d have been reported to the RSPCA. Luckily I’m not and no animals were hurt during the making of this tale. Looks like I’ve had one too many races.<br />On the drive back to Melb it’s a stop off at the Black Kettle in Sassafas for some pancakes and coffee.<br />I'm off work to enjoy one more ride tomorrow before I go <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/2444480481_9b69a1259e.jpg">under the knife</a> Tuesday to see if I can get my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/sets/72157603944994319/">manky finger</a> fixed up. Doc’s saying 6 weeks for the scaring to heal, so I get to rest up good and proper after a stupidly fun filled Summer of riding and racing bikes!<br /><br />Full results <a href="http://www.mountainbikevictoria.com/docs/2008%20State%20XC%20Champs.pdf">here</a>.<br />Bucket-o-pix <a href="http://mtb-images.ser.id.au/20080427/index.html">here</a>.<br />State Series results <a href="http://www.mountainbikevictoria.com/docs/VSS200708AfterRound6.pdf">here</a>.Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-24325038350494095932008-04-23T00:47:00.008+10:002008-04-23T16:39:41.902+10:002008 Baw Baw Classic - Masters 1/2/3Thankfully I gave myself plenty of time for the drive to Warragul because the South Eastern Fwy came to a stand still near Stud rd on the trip out. I spotted the Lovelock crew in the same predicament and Jono thought it was appropriate to give me the finger. No respect these youngin's!<br />I rego’ed up then <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/2427905000/">rollered my legs</a> to get them ready. I got to have a chat to James Broadway, Kim, Shane Miller and Von all in the space of 5mins. Von was driving up to the finish so into their car was a bag of my clothes for the waiting up top. She was also going to feed me if I needed it at Noojee. Thanks Von!<br />I got to the line a touch later than I was planning but was able to scoot up the right side of the bunch <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/2434277954/">2nd wheel behind J.B</a>. Heh, then I remembered this is a road race, not a XC race and being up the front isn’t as important. Still, I'm more relaxed being there.<br />The sprint comes early in the Baw Baw Classic and with about 1km to go, I notice Tom Crebbin losing ballast down his left leg. It must help because he takes out the sprint.<br />The small road that takes us to Jindivick is a pleasure to ride and with a <a href="http://www.pixweb.com.au/main/gallery.php?alb=55&img=3">few hills along it</a>, gives me the change to check out the names I hadn’t seen in any race start list before. One guy stands out, he’s a sinuous sparrow aboard some full carbon bling thing that I can’t even tell what brand it is. “It looks like HEEE’s out to party”.<br />Somewhere around one of the ‘<a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps/mm?ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=-37.98534,145.960922&spn=0.139628,0.353279&z=12">Nerrims</a>’ we come up on a sloth C Grade and we eventually pass. Like last year, there is a dig on the rise topping out at Nerrim Junction, though this time it’s the head of the race not the chase. S.M & T.C are in it. I wait for the down then jump on and enjoy the super fast descent (top speed; 90km\h) into Noojee where it’s all back together. Us Masters enjoy a good casual feed whereas C Grade woof theirs down and pass us before Vespers Hill. This is starting to annoy me and even more annoying is two Masters riders sucking C grade Wheel up Vespers. They are noted by the peloton and kept in check. C Grade start to go on the nod again as their feast at the feed kicks in and they are in need of a nap. We pick our way up Vespers and finally get the chance for some good clean road to dig into. Ciaran Jones applies the pressure about mid climb and gets a gap. I’m heading up at a heavy enough pace on the wheel of J.B and happy to watch from here. C.J tops out with the K.O.M with J.B and I joining him through the cars down the other side. There is eventually four of us with some C Grade riders along for the ride. We ignore them and the four of us work the front.<br />S.M had done a good share of the pull earlier in the race and he’d worked his way back up to us at this point. Upon his arrival he announces he’s happy to burn his matches on the descents to help us stay away. It’s through the awesome forest on that magic small road to Tanjil Bren and the descent leaves C Grade grabbing for their brakes as we let fly. On the rise to the Toll Gate C Grade are back and sitting in again.<br />Past the Toll Gate I’m aware of two other riders, J.B and C.J. C.J leads but his speed is slower than my legs need to be turning so I find myself out in front. I quickly settle into a groove and I’m in my own world as I listen to my body. Before the new road section I take a peak behind, J.B and C.J are close by. There are a few pinches here and I start to feel my legs. Next is the straight section up to the two super steep corners and the three of us are riding close at similar tempos. I ease off before each super steep corner then take a <a href="http://www.aboc.com.au/images/galleries/20080419-bawbaw/IMGP9177.html">run up</a> at them to save the legs from grinding away.<br />C.J throws in a few attacks and I cover them. Not sure if that’s all he has or backs off sensing me on his wheel. There’s a small truce on the false flat. I feel like I’m starting to feel the climb in my legs and have to concentrate hard. Just before we reach the 2km to go mark, J.B bangs out an all mighty attack. I scrabble for his wheel but it’s short lived as his kitchen is WAY too hot. I retreat back to my own Bain Marie just in time before I over cook. Now it’s time to just manage the max effort without over cooking and see what happens. I’m going faster if I’m seated but can’t sustain it and rest while standing on the pedals. It feels like I’m getting a gap on C.J but can’t make any ground on <a href="http://www.pixweb.com.au/main/gallery.php?alb=55&img=24">J.B</a>. A stitch kicks in… “What stitch?!” I keep alternating, milking as much as I can out of my legs. Finally the gradient eases and I drive for the line. I try and spot C.J a few times but can’t and keep the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/msbear/2426937007/">gas on</a> till I’m through the stone walls that mark the finish this year… FUCK YEAH, I’m 2nd!<br />I roll all the way to the end of the road and see C.J on the return and stop, shake his hand and thank him for a fuck of a great race. We roll back to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaywoo/2434281800/">stone wall</a> and do the same with J.B.<br />Warm clothes, coffee and then the presentations. The guy drops the Masters Perpetual Trophy and now the rider on top is headless and the front wheel is taco’ed<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/msbear/2426914383/in/set-72157604631515360/">!</a> I get a lift back to Warragul to my car with S.M and Von is their swanky new Subi, grab some celebratory Stella’s for the drive and head back up Baw Baw to join in the “<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/msbear/2426873587/in/set-72157604631515360/">Festival of Mt. Doom</a>” with J.B, Kim, Steve\Pete and Cristine.<br /><br />Full results <a href="http://www.vic.cycling.org.au/Results/2008/BawBaw08.pdf">here.</a>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-76956479013346428752008-04-14T09:22:00.007+10:002008-04-14T10:47:07.586+10:00Round 4 Victorian State XC Series - Woodend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBwghsD73qdEaLvycTZGlplokWJZMzpDNNZdPg6_PPBonwpO5sXBPvTMa6Kh18EfEUQE8yHjvPuUqXTN5SNHNswpp5cZu_vnUnvzMlOXdjlKO-Bf-fwjZk36XwwTOboLa80BxOS1SX5VO/s1600-h/mower01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188875114479216066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBwghsD73qdEaLvycTZGlplokWJZMzpDNNZdPg6_PPBonwpO5sXBPvTMa6Kh18EfEUQE8yHjvPuUqXTN5SNHNswpp5cZu_vnUnvzMlOXdjlKO-Bf-fwjZk36XwwTOboLa80BxOS1SX5VO/s200/mower01.jpg" border="0" /></a> I nearly didn’t make this race due to a flat battery in the car but RACV came and went within 20mins of calling them. There was nothing wrong with the battery just the car’s owner who’d left the power amp on the day before. I’d been out to Wombat Thursday morning for a dawn ride before work. What a magic way to start the day. We rode the course then some of the gold single track that was going to be used for the BMC 100, so I had a good idea on what the course was going to be like.<br /><br />There were a few tweaks come Sunday but nothing too drastic. There was still a big lashing of single track through the Pines. I line up again in the Elite field for maximum hurt, which is smaller than I’d thought it was going to be due to the proximity to Melbourne but it’s still looking like a fast group. We start a few minutes early because the starting Marshall is cold and it’s down a small section of fire road, a sweeping fast off camber right and into the Pines for the first section of single track. Finally I’m happy with my start as I slot in behind local rider Paul McEntree. With his local knowledge he’ll have the lines down pat is the thinking. It’s all together through this 1st section then a fire road crossing and more single track. Towards the end of this section there's a pyramid of three small logs. Nothing that should faze an Elite rider but something happens and the train comes to a screaming halt. My reflexes send me right off the trail to avoid the riders. This doesn’t work out and I’m brought to a halt with my front wheel in a pot hole. I get going again and it’s just like the last race from here, on the rivet and trying to find the next rider but it never happens. Lap 3 is the traffic lap and it seems harder than usual getting around the riders. There’s a really nice flowing section of single track about mid lap. It’s fast flowing in the thick of the Pines with a sweet 'S' section that’s got a snowboarding feel to it, NICE! I do a bottle change with <a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2376/2405237210_774c93f1ef_b.jpg">Director Sportif</a> every lap even if I don't really need a refill to get the practice in. The feed zone is fast so I take the bottles close to my chest to help make them stick.There’s a fire road climb about three quarters into the lap and I think I can see Troy Bailey's red and white BMC jersey which has me really digging but I don’t catch him and finish 2nd last.<br /><br />One more round to go in two week's time. I’m REALLY enjoying it and I’m already feeling like I’m going to miss it! Dirtriders are putting on a <a href="http://www.dirtridersmtb.com/index.cgi?tid=37">XC Series over winter</a> to help soothe the itch.<br /><br />Full results <a href="http://www.eslink.com.au/VSS5.pdf">here.</a><br /><br />Bucket-o-pics <a href="http://mtb-images.ser.id.au/20080413/index.html">here.</a>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272021581556519230.post-76743759635139364092008-04-10T14:01:00.003+10:002008-04-10T14:03:58.533+10:00Arrrhh, more XC racing<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFmqABxP31f0BAvNeE-TLp7xUipUAmQfhvCdBXe9mqWMYz-wMkhQ_5IobwqNbj33_jgXrZQdVKolpelyrNJixhQCRaEbO7NUROnD-64tHDJhliBTvuAGHLRVDsdraeq7pBeZDkKg8n5JF/s1600-h/DRs-WinterSeries2008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187462088658672258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFmqABxP31f0BAvNeE-TLp7xUipUAmQfhvCdBXe9mqWMYz-wMkhQ_5IobwqNbj33_jgXrZQdVKolpelyrNJixhQCRaEbO7NUROnD-64tHDJhliBTvuAGHLRVDsdraeq7pBeZDkKg8n5JF/s400/DRs-WinterSeries2008.JPG" border="0" /></a> Website <a href="http://www.dirtridersmtb.com/index.cgi?tid=37">here</a>.</div>Jay Woohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00855717828034176610noreply@blogger.com0