Gravity 12hr MTB race (Melbourne)

Went down to Melbourne's Apline regions for the annual Garvity 12hr bike race. Basically, the aim of the race is to complete the most number of laps within the 12hrs. I teamed up with a mate; Mihkel and entered as male pair.
Melbournians called it a heatwave that weekend, while me and Mihkel who flew down from Darwin called it great weather.

The day was fairly hot and dry but the nights were still freezing. Above; the guys discussing the pros/cons of hardtail vs a full suspension bike. I'm crap at the downhill sections but always catch up at the uphills.Pre race startThe fairies were out. He was in that outfit with the time trial helmut for most of the whole day!Mihkel before going out on his nightlap.

I was fine the whole day until my nightlap where I took a dive at one of the ditches. Could not see my bike line or path to take as I was going down. Next thing I know, I'm sprawling on the gravel. Just took some bark off the right knee cap.

Some facts:

600+ participants, 250+ teams; 4 male and female cubicles (equates to long q's at the toilet in the morning)

How I fared:

Team name: Mixed Nuts; 148th out of the 250+ teams and rank 19 within the male pair category.

So Mike, I was doing some free promotion with the Shimano Jersey, any luck for me on sponsorship?

Sydney 'Work' Trip

I think the guys still didnt believe I was in Sydney for a work trip.

Anyway, I was not in the best of shapes that night. The drug company wanted to fly me in overnight and expected me to attend a full day conference on Saturday and Sunday. I was also watching the Tour De France (live) in the night and survived with a few short blacks the next day.

There arnt many tickets/flights from Darwin so I flew via Adelaide to go Sydney. But that meant I could be there the night before. I even managed to catch up with an old friend/hsemate (Adiemus and Debbie) at the Adelaide Airport.
Siew was taking the pics but she was there as well. Am glad Serene could make it with Ed and Charlotte. Am sure Serene has more picts and things to blog about but perhaps getting to the computer is not so easy these days ;)

Top End Tour: Day 3

Day 3 was a more relaxing ride; no matter what I did, even if I contested all the King of the Mountain climbs and Town Sprints, it would not change my standing on the group. Here I am leading the group out but everyone was pretty relaxed to start.Attacking on one of the climbs up the hill

Me taking out Stage 5 of the race.

Group picture of the the winners from the various stages

Neighbour, good mate and oldest rider on the tour (turning 66 this year) which just goes to show age is no barrier.

Top End Tour: Day 2 Race

The order of the day for pretty similar on Day 2. A road race in the morning followed by a criterium in the afternoon. Good friend and one of the oldest rider on the Tour listening in on some race tactics....

Me in the Criterium

Top End Tour: Day 1 Road Race

After my experience at a 3 day road race, I'm starting to go beyond what people would call normal. My usual 40km road rides do not give me a kick anymore. The standard is now 85-100km on a saturday morning.
Anyway, here are some picts of the road race:
Day 1: 80km road race followed by 20km time trial in the afternoon.
Race brief in the morning. Hanging in 3rd place within the pack.

Here's what you get after a road race and lunch. Tired cyclist.

I never ever buy softdrinks and only drink them 'socially'. But I gulped finished a 1.25L within the hour.

The slow, slow walk to the start of the Time Trial

MIA..but getting stronger, fitter, faster

I had been busy recently with the Arafura Games which is held in Darwin every 2 years. It comes no where near the the prestige of the Commonwealth or even the South East Asian Games, but its a little something that Darwin is proud to hold. And I must say, the event attracts many developemental athletes from various countries. Here are some picts of the Criterium (an event where you race round a circuit to score points at specific sprinting points or at the end) in the city. The exercise physiologist I work with was racing so was there to support.I think I only mentioned this to Mike. 3-4 weeks ago, I competed in a Time Trial (basically you are on your own and race from point A to B in the fastest time). And guess what, my ego was bruised by 25sec (and alot longer after that) cos I lost to a guy turning 66 (more than twice my age) in 3 months time!!

At the end of the day, its time on the bike. And that's perhaps why Australia produces such great cyclist, cos there's nothing but vast open space/land.

Well, no more will my ego be bruised! Been training hard; clocked 85 km on the bike yesterday and another 50+km today and I dun feel sore at all. Gimme a bike tomorrow, and I'll be riding it. Taking part in a 80km road race next week and a 3 stage road race(http://topendtour.webs.com/) in June.

Foreign Concept

Hey, I just paid my dues and got my license to ride my bike. Been riding my bike since my secondary school days for tuition and just about anywhere and never with a helmut. But now, I have to get a license to ride. Now thats a concept I have to learn to accept.
"...we are pleased to advise...cover for all memebers 24/7, whenever they are on their bike..." Guess part of my memebership goes towards that as well.The second part goes on "...Cycling Australia promotes a zero tolerance of drugs in sport..the anti doping policy applies to everyone who particpates in cycling competition..."

Now, just where am I going to get the drugs from? I had been crook last week and just popped a couple of panadol and thought, problem solved. But I had this lingering sore throat that would not go away, and after doing a supermarket tour for clients last night, I practically lost my voice this morning. Never in my life have I lost my voice. I guess I was pushing it last night with the tour.
I am a firm believer in the body heals itself so I rocked up to work but the boss still wanted me to see the doc even when I was perfectly all right (just without sound).
Made an appointment with the Doc, rocked up, he looked at my throat, listen to my lungs, I indicated I had no coughing/headcold and next he goes, its phyringitis. Here, I'll write a prescription for some STEROIDS and that should clear it up. I have never been offered steroids in Singapore for any 'common' ailments. Frankly, its still sore throat to me, but there you go, I got my steroids. Now I wonder if that will make me go fasterrrrr...

Back to the rationale of why I needed the license. I have been doing the local criterium bike races every thursday night and unfortunately in Aus, you need a license to race. Above are just some of the usually fast suspects. The race is conducted on the V8 race track in Darwin so there's no issue with cars or potholes. Basically racing heaven.For Mike's interest, the average speed for 40-50km/hr for the first 4 laps, but I lost it towards the end. Maybe cos I didnt take my steroids...ha

Grade C was a little too easy so I went up to Grade B but as I mentioned, I got hammered by the second sprint.

http://www.darwincyclingclub.com/news/displaynews.php?id=1239276331

C Grade: 8 Riders:
First Sprint: Luke Hansen 1st; Graham Smith 2nd; Gerard Wong 3rd:
Final Sprint; Luke Hansen 1st; Graham Smith 2nd; Gerard Wong 3rd: