Kona 24 Hour – World Championship Qualifier

The start line of a 24-Hour race is a lonely place. Despite being surrounded by 250 people, including mountain bike royalty, all you can hear is your stomach churning. Three thoughts go through your mind:

1. Got to get off to a good start
2. What have I forgotten?
3. I’m not going to sit on anything but a bike seat until this time tomorrow

The start gun went at midday sharp (Saturday) and the field took off from the football ground in Forrest that served as a transition/tent city to the 800 competitors in the race. Nearly 100 of those, like me, were riding solo. The rest were in teams of 2, 3, 4 and 6.

The first three laps were at a frantic pace, with the track progressively getting worse with each bike that passed through. The torrential rain that had lashed the course the night before had lightened but it was still wet. Very wet. Some of the downhill tracks were `point and shoot’ – there was no traction, no braking and a lot of nerve required to hold your speed.

I slotted into the lead group of solos with 5 others for company: Jason English (current world elite champion), Andrew Bell (2008 elite Australian champ), Troy Bailey (former World age group champion), Scott Chancellor (Surf Coast 6 Winner) and Carson Tully. The latter three would fall back as the pace continued to put all of us on out limit, and Jason English would make his move.

English steadily built a lead, lap after lap, with Bell behind and me in third. When the track changed at 8pm to a new loop, and lights went on, Bell and I became locked in a battle for second that would last the next 14 hours. We were never more than 10 minutes apart, and I couldn’t close to within 2 minutes at any point.

For the first 6 hours I did rolling bidon feeds and the only time I stopped before midnight was to do bike changes or battery swaps. By 3am English lapped me and rode with me for a while, before leaving me on a steep, muddy track never to be seen again. At 15 hours in the morale was OK but I couldn’t help shake my head at his ability and grace as he pedalled away.

I got through the difficult period between 2am and 5am with quick changes, but the frequent bike changes required by clogged drive chains and wearing brake pads were wearing me down. My back up bike was a hardtail and after 16 hours pedalling through mud and persistent rain the last thing my back needed was more impact. Some respite came from other TFM riders out on course who gave me plenty of encouragement.

Sunrise typically brings new energy but the dawn lap for me was a slog. My shoulders and triceps were tense, my hands were numb and my head was aching from the concentration of riding through the night in treacherous track conditions. My 9am I was 11 minutes down on Bell in 3^rd and it was nearly two laps back to fourth. At this stage I thought I had two laps to go, knowing I wouldn’t likely close down the 10 minutes to a seasoned rider like Bell.

At the end of that lap I got some unexpected news: Bell was struggling. He had pitted only 2 minutes ahead of me. I figured I would head out for this last lap and give it a go but I was completely spent. Team riders flew past me and I hardly had the energy to lift my bike over the frequent log jumps that characterised lap 3. As I pedalled down towards the finish I got more unexpected news from my wife Sarah: Bell hadn’t come in yet and I had passed him on track. They pushed me out for another lap.

I exchanged my bidon for Coke and was out again after a rolling transition. It was like waking up Christmas morning to be told that it was actually tomorrow. For the whole lap I looked behind, expecting Bell to come charging towards me. He never did.

It turns out that he never did that extra lap, and I had managed to get to within a lap of English at the finish. In the 24 hours and 27 minutes it took me to complete the race I had less than 10 minutes in transition, 22 bidons, 10 sandwiches, 3 Up&Go’s and a few gels and snakes. I had only climbed off my bike for the three or four bike changes. I’d expended approximately 10,000 calories. I’d ridden 350kms. I hadn’t changed clothes. I hadn’t slept.

But I was officially a World Championship qualifier (Elite) and a legitimate 24-hour rider.

Note: Big thanks to the support crew of Sarah, Sheridyn, Sally, Jenny and Sean.

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Brad Davies takes 2nd @ Gravity 12-Hour (Pairs)

Gravity 12-Hour (Pairs) – 2nd

The last race in the preparation for the Kona 24 and it was a scorcher. 35 degrees at its peak and lots of dust, ash (from the bushfires) and the odd snake on course.

I teamed up with Ian Kelly for the event held in North-East Victoria (near Rosewhite which is on the Happy Valley loop that the roadies know well…). A flowing course with some sharp rises, the course rewarded the pedallers as well as those with sound technical skills.

I took the starting honours, which constituted a `Le Mans’ start – a 500 metre run to our bikes – which was executed reasonably well by a non-runner… The first lap was a mad scramble for position with 220 teams on track. I settled into 6<sup>th</sup> place with Cam Lester behind me in 7<sup>th</sup> for most of the lap. The track was sketchy initially but would improve significantly as it was `ridden in’.

The riders ahead of me were trade teams – Felt, Torq, Merida etc – and the good start was important as it gave my teammate a clear track. Our strategy was one lap on, one lap off, which basically meant half hour intervals.

We were lapping consistently and leading the pairs by 15 seconds at the four hour mark. We were overtaken and my teammate was starting to fade in the heat so we agreed that I would put in a double lap at the 7 hour mark and set ourselves up for the last four hours. The Kona team was only a few minutes back and had some pedigree so tried to keep the speed high and clear the traffic as smoothly as possible.

By the time the lights came on we were four minutes down – and 10 minutes up on third – and it was a procession to the finish. Between us we covered 260kms in 12 hours (basically all singletrack) and 4000m of climbing. A great day and look forward to putting the racing to one side as I taper to the Kona…

Bright Enduro – Podium But Bittersweet

While 100,000 punters were enjoying Derby Day, I saddled up for a tough 6-Hour MTB Enduro in Bright. Having ridden the Tour of Bright on the road half a dozen times, this event was a new one for me. It followed a standard looped circuit of around 10kms through some of the roughest, bumpiest singletrack I have ridden.

At the race briefing we were told that a DNF would be recorded if you did not finish after the 6 hour mark ticked over (the rules vary from event to event), meaning it was going to be a long day. The course made it difficult with lots of huge river stones that made for trails with little flow but lots of technical.

I got a good start in the top 10 (with teams of two and three and the 3-hour riders all going off in a mass start) by the end of the first lap. With a 10am start and a forecast top of 33 it was going to be hot. And it was. I struggled badly between the 1.5 and 3 hour mark but came good after that, picking up riders consistently though you are never sure who is actually your competition. I was also doing my own team support and stopped every second lap to change bidons and grap gels.

At the 5-hour mark I figured I was in the top 5 but had no way of knowing my place, and it was difficult for the timing people to give you the feedback instantly. I was lapping in about 38 minutes and when I crossed for the second last time I still had 41 minutes to go til the 6 hours was up.

I didn’t want to do another lap as I wanted to make sure I got reasonable training in for the rest of the weekend (my last big training week before the 24 a month away). I did a really slow last lap and always kept and eye behind me. Unfortunately I got to the finish line and had to wait another minute until the 6 hour ticked over. Someone saw me there and said it was OK and that they had decided you could cross before 6 hours and record a finish. I started to pedal the three metres to the line and two guys flashed by me. They would be the winner and second place… I could live with the fact that first place went out again to do another lap – good luck to him – but second place stopped on the other side of the line…

So I went one better than the week before at Surf Coast but not entirely satisfying. The organisers were apologetic and I understand that these things happen. Bouyant about the fact that the training is going well and that I am able to ride at the pointy end of the smaller enduros. Last race before the Kona is a 12-hour as a pair next Saturday, then I can rest up and start the mental preparation for a 24 solo….

Surf Coast 6 Hour Enduro – Angelsea

110kms, 2500m of climbing and lots of sand typified the Surf Coast 6 Hour MTB Enduro at Angelsea on October 24. While the road warriors were riding the Melbourne to Warrnambool  down the highway 450 competitors were warming up for what has quickly become a coveted event.

The race is unique is that it runs from 4 – 10pm, giving the competitors two and a half hours of darkness to contend with. I had decided to ride 80kms in the morning reckoning it would be good training for the upcoming 24 Hour. What I had reckoned was the fact I would be riding at the pointy end and that I would need all of my reserves to race towards the finish.

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The start was predictably manic but suited me as it was straight up a long fire road. I crested the hill in the top half dozen of the 250 or so starters (130 in solo and rest in pairs or teams). The Merida trade guys set a cracking pack led by Adrian Jackson (two time world champion orienteering) and I was grimacing trying to hold on. Twice I had Troy Bailey – two time world champion age group 24 Hour rider – wipe out in front of me. Both times I narrowly avoided the same fate…

After two hours of racing I was in the lead but cramping badly. I don’t know whether it was the morning’s effort or poor hydration (probably latter) but I knew it was going to be a long day/night with the climbing. I lost the lead to Ashley Bleaker just after two hours when I took a slight wrong turn (he was on my wheel). I then watched Scott Chancellor – the reigning champion of the event and eventual winner – come past about an hour later.

With two of my 11 laps to go I lost third place but was also defending fourth with a rampaging Troy Bailey coming hard. My first lap in the dark was sketchy but once I adapted to the conditions my lap times came back on pace.

My last lap was a good one but I fell short of third place by 20 seconds or so, but managed to hold off Bailey by over a minute. In the end I was really happy with 4^th but to miss the podium by such a narrow margin was  frustrating. On the upside I felt for the first time that I belonged at the front of the race (albeit not right at the front J ) and it’s given me confidence that the preparation is on track.

A great event in a magnificent setting.

You Yangs Yowie – Victorian Marathon Championships (99km)

The Yowie is regarded as one of the toughest enduros on the calendar, due mainly to its technical challenges (rock gardens, huge boulders and steep wooden berms in places). This is a race where roadies can’t bluff, and it had me spooked.

I train a bit in the You Yangs and there were a couple of features that I hadn’t been able to `ride’ until the day before the race. One of those was `the clam shell’ – a steep wall of rock that you have to hit at speed to clear the rock below. Unfortunately if you overcook it there’s a 50 foot drop over the back of it… I hoped that the ego would conquer my anxiety and thankfully race pressure and a deep breath got me through it on all three laps.

The race started fast with the Specialised and Torq teams taking control. By the 15km mark we were down to 10 riders and a big gap back to the next group, with the long climbs and technical single track sorting out the riders. The pressure was particularly on up `Vomit Hill’ and `Rockwell’, with gaps starting to open up.

I was off the top guys on the technical uphills but holding my own on the twisty singletrack. Halfway through lap 2 (about 45kms in) I still had the leaders in sight but I was struggling to hold that pace. Sections that were easily rideable on the first lap required immense concentration by the third, with the legs struggling to push the gears required to get over the boulders. I managed to ride everything – just – but may need new handlebars as there will be bite marks in them…

The last 15kms I could see a rider 2 minutes up on the open sections but couldn’t close the gap. I didn’t know how far back it was to the next rider so kept the concentration and heart rate up til the finish.

Given it was my first race in The Freedom Machine colours I was keen to put in a good effort. In the end I managed the 99kms in 4 hours 45 minutes – finishing in 8^th place. I was only 15 minutes behind the winner which is usually a good yardstick, and was happy. As a former roadie conquering the Yowie (which doubled as the Victorian Marathon Championships) was particularly satisfying.

Fellow TFM rider Paul Cubbin started the race but, from the results sheet, appeared to have mechanical trouble on the first lap and pulled the pin. I’m sure Paul and I will race together a bit over the next few months as the enduro season builds towards the Kona 24 Hour.

Event info: http://www.gmbc.com.au/