Only days to go until the Kona 24 hour race I am brought down by a very nasty cold and had to rest in bed.
It's a bit of a worry and my start at the Kona is still to be confirmed at this stage... bummer!
2007-11-27
2007-11-21
New sponsor!!! Ay up lights
I picked up a new sponsor 'Ay up' lights - the finest LED Mountainbike Lights on the market. Awsome lightweight, small and very powerful. Forget the heavy stuff that makes your helmet bounce around. For more infos check this out http://www.ayup.com.au/
Thanks to Andrew for his trust in me!
Gravity 12hr - Rosewhite near Mt Beauty VIC
A popular event not to be missed in the most beautiful setting near Beechworth.
It was lovely to race in a not-so-hotly-contested Female-6 and to just hang out and socialize, let the mind recover from solo racing....nooooooice!!
It was lovely to race in a not-so-hotly-contested Female-6 and to just hang out and socialize, let the mind recover from solo racing....nooooooice!!
Good to catch up with so many people and still ride some
decent laps in between.
Our winning team TORQ Bar were the 5 of us - Tori, Vinca, Turi, Gen and myself.
While my team mates were all showered and relaxed watching the last hours of the race, I took on the final shift and got back into my solo rhythm and did lap by lap to finish at 9pm.
Thanks to Torq for support and free entry.
Our winning team TORQ Bar were the 5 of us - Tori, Vinca, Turi, Gen and myself.
While my team mates were all showered and relaxed watching the last hours of the race, I took on the final shift and got back into my solo rhythm and did lap by lap to finish at 9pm.
Thanks to Torq for support and free entry.
Win at Rockshox Golden Triangle Epic - Bendigo
I was very much looking forward to do a race, which goes from point to point and not around in circles.
After the start of the race I tried to stay on Sharon Laws’ wheel, I knew she was the stronger rider on the less technical sections.
During the first section of single track we had to pass a lot of riders and got hold up a fair bit. It was then, that Sharon wasn't very lucky and had a puncture just 15 minutes into the race. That meant I had to work by myself trying to get away from Jessica who was sitting not too far behind us.
I had a ball in the single track until I hit the fire road and fire road is no fun for me, especially with high winds.
Getting to the first feed station I had a comfortable lead on Jess and was looking forward to a new bottle and a banana as I was already very hungry but -as always- didn't feel like eating my bars. But to my frustration my water bottle wasn't there. Panic!!! While swearing on someone, who might have taken my bottle I opened the lid of the big heavy water canister, turn it around, trying to get some water into my bottle.
My bike collapsed between my legs and the water bottle fell over emptying itself...
I wasn't happy when I finally got back on the road, noticing that Jess was riding in the far distance in front of me. She must have passed me while I was fighting with the water canister. I was quiet upset about such a stupid mistake and swearing against the blowing head wind I saw her disappearing on the horizon. I was convinced that she must have had the luck of drafting behind other riders by the speed she got away from me.
Along the never ending fire trail/bitumen roads with their sadly dry fields, I was praying for some nice single track to come.
I loved the rain especially when we finally got into the last bit of single track. It was here that felt transferred back to the stage race 'Trans Germany', that I had done mid of this year. Rocky, slippery, technical single track in miserable rain, I just loved it. The rain in my face, the wind blowing, I felt at home!
I turned around a corner in this beautiful natural landscape and saw Jess just getting off her bike walking up a muddy trail. I took my chance and passed her suddenly feeling a drop of energy as if there was nothing left for the last 20kms.
I was happy to be able to make up for my previous mistake and was searching my pockets for my energy gel to get the boost back and to bring the win home.
As for my bottle drama, it was nobodies fault because I had mixed up the feeding stations while dropping the bottles off before the start and didn't provide a bottle for the first station and instead left it at the last one.
I was very happy about the very generous prize money which covered my last week bike repairs that were due after the Scott 24hr race in Canberra.
After the start of the race I tried to stay on Sharon Laws’ wheel, I knew she was the stronger rider on the less technical sections.
During the first section of single track we had to pass a lot of riders and got hold up a fair bit. It was then, that Sharon wasn't very lucky and had a puncture just 15 minutes into the race. That meant I had to work by myself trying to get away from Jessica who was sitting not too far behind us.
I had a ball in the single track until I hit the fire road and fire road is no fun for me, especially with high winds.
Getting to the first feed station I had a comfortable lead on Jess and was looking forward to a new bottle and a banana as I was already very hungry but -as always- didn't feel like eating my bars. But to my frustration my water bottle wasn't there. Panic!!! While swearing on someone, who might have taken my bottle I opened the lid of the big heavy water canister, turn it around, trying to get some water into my bottle.
My bike collapsed between my legs and the water bottle fell over emptying itself...
I wasn't happy when I finally got back on the road, noticing that Jess was riding in the far distance in front of me. She must have passed me while I was fighting with the water canister. I was quiet upset about such a stupid mistake and swearing against the blowing head wind I saw her disappearing on the horizon. I was convinced that she must have had the luck of drafting behind other riders by the speed she got away from me.
Along the never ending fire trail/bitumen roads with their sadly dry fields, I was praying for some nice single track to come.
I loved the rain especially when we finally got into the last bit of single track. It was here that felt transferred back to the stage race 'Trans Germany', that I had done mid of this year. Rocky, slippery, technical single track in miserable rain, I just loved it. The rain in my face, the wind blowing, I felt at home!
I turned around a corner in this beautiful natural landscape and saw Jess just getting off her bike walking up a muddy trail. I took my chance and passed her suddenly feeling a drop of energy as if there was nothing left for the last 20kms.
I was happy to be able to make up for my previous mistake and was searching my pockets for my energy gel to get the boost back and to bring the win home.
As for my bottle drama, it was nobodies fault because I had mixed up the feeding stations while dropping the bottles off before the start and didn't provide a bottle for the first station and instead left it at the last one.
I was very happy about the very generous prize money which covered my last week bike repairs that were due after the Scott 24hr race in Canberra.
1st at Kona Surf Coast 6 hour Enduro
Two weeks after winning the 2007 Scott 24hr race in Canberra, I can add another solo win at the Kona Surf Coast 6 hour race(http://www.surfcoast6hour.com.au/)
Unusual race format with a 4pm start, but with the 31 degrees heat during the day, it was brilliant.
I had to learn my lesson in better getting my bike(s) checked in the future after just having ridden a big race like the 24 hour race... After riding up and down the streets in Fitzroy I decided that the bike still works and I will be fine for the 6 hr race.....hmmmmmm
Already in my first lap my chain got sucked between cassette and wheel and it took me some time to find out which gears not to use for the next hours. Unfortunately - while fixing my mechanics - Jess Douglas slipped through and it took me 4 hours into the race to pass her back again and to make time good.
I was very relieved in winning the mini Kona race for my sponsors Kona.
Apart from racing, Andy and I spend a nice relaxing day on the beach on Sunday.
Thanks to Troy(BMC, solo male winner) in sharing his support pit bitch Martin with me.
Unusual race format with a 4pm start, but with the 31 degrees heat during the day, it was brilliant.
I had to learn my lesson in better getting my bike(s) checked in the future after just having ridden a big race like the 24 hour race... After riding up and down the streets in Fitzroy I decided that the bike still works and I will be fine for the 6 hr race.....hmmmmmm
Already in my first lap my chain got sucked between cassette and wheel and it took me some time to find out which gears not to use for the next hours. Unfortunately - while fixing my mechanics - Jess Douglas slipped through and it took me 4 hours into the race to pass her back again and to make time good.
I was very relieved in winning the mini Kona race for my sponsors Kona.
Apart from racing, Andy and I spend a nice relaxing day on the beach on Sunday.
Thanks to Troy(BMC, solo male winner) in sharing his support pit bitch Martin with me.
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