Here I am starting out a blog about two great passions of mine, two passions that I think go hand in hand, and my first story is that of a race with no beer. Whatever was I thinking? It was poor planning and race management on my part, that's for sure.
The event: Round 3 of the Chocolate Foot, Singletrack Mind Series at Nowra. First race I have entered since May, when my legs let me down at WEMBO and I spent more time drinking beer than riding. Since then, the compartment syndrome has improved but not left me truly in peace. One way or another though, I thought it was time to start testing the legs in a race scenario, and what better race than the famed Coondoo Track! Flattest course of the Choc' Foot, nice spinny, flowy trails, nothing too challenging for the old calves.
The race was also a return for me to riding rigid. This has come about for two reasons. First up, my beautiful Shhh! hardtail was stolen in Milan. Secondly, and perhaps more influentially (given that I have insurance money sitting there that I could buy suspension forks with) was the renaissance I underwent riding with my new found Catalan friends Marçal and Carolina.
Phil and I met these two stellar individuals at WEMBO in Italy, then got to know them better when they showed us that remarkable Catalan hospitality for a couple of magical days in Girona and Sant Vicenç. Both ride fully rigid singlespeeds and both think nothing of it. Their intrinsic acceptance of riding rigid for one hour, 24 hours and everything in between made me realise I had got a bit caught up in the bling of riding one gear and forgotten the simplicity of using one's body to deal with all terrain changes. Marçal is also responsible for my blogger name (By the way, check out their blog for a somewhat alternate northern hemisphere take on mountain biking: thegreatescapemtb.blogspot.com
Back to the race though...awesome course, spectacular weather, great organisation and a really nice vibe! Gumby was there of course to lead us out and also to cheer us on in transition.
I had two aims for the race: ride consistently for the full seven hours and have as much fun as I could. After a clumsier than usual start, I finally clipped in and joined the epic conga line that weaved through the forest. Right from the get go I understood why Coondoo is such a well loved track, there is just so much fun to be had.
I think the thing that impressed me the most about this race though was the female participation. This is something the Chocolate Foot organisers have already commented on and it was certainly noticeable out on track. Not only were there lots of chicks, there were lots of really fast chicks! Every lap I was being passed by these girls who were really hammering it in the team competition. Big thanks to Flip (riding solo as a female clydesdale) and Libby for the encouragement and general conversation out on track. Thanks also to Liz Smith for taking the time to ride with me for a km or so before she disappeared ahead for her well earned second place.
There was one other woman I remember chatting to for a while early on in the race, I don't know her name, but I know she was in a team with her two teenage sons. Very cool! Her sons were smashing it up on their laps, then she was lapping at her own very respectable pace. Great work, very inspirational.
Some good conversations were also held with the blokes on course. I think this is one of the things I love most about mountain bike racing, chatting away with a mixture of old mates and random strangers who share a common understanding of the fun to be had on singletrack. Special kudos to the dude who rode a lap with me. I had passed him during the morning when his asthma was giving him curry, then had the pleasure of chatting to him later in the day when he held my wheel from start to finish and told me how he had quit smoking a year ago and taken up cycling. Hats off to you, sir!
All in all it was just a really fun day. I had great encouragement in
transitions from Phil, who spent a good portion of the day confusing
people by going for a run or riding his roadbike up and down the rutted fire trails (training up
for the ACT Duathlon Championships), while I took off on another lap. Big thanks to Di and Paul for
sharing their transition area with me, really great to see you both!
Thanks also to Steve the crazy Welshman for coming to check out the race
and even riding a section of fire trail with me.
The only thing wrong with the day was that I forgot to pack some beers for post race recuperation. I haven't made that mistake for many years, I must be out of practice ;)
