This was the second State round for this year. The plan was to take it
easy & keep the leaders in sight, hopefully conserving enough in my legs
to storm past on the climbs on the final lap
The field took off very quickly then slowed down through the first
single track and out of sight of the few gathered around the start
except for one guy who really took off. On the flat I didn't have the
gearing to chase him so I sat in behind Stu from TORC in 3rd knowing I
could pretty well pass him anywhere in the tight single track and get a
sufficient gap on him to hold him out on the fire trails.
Got to the first hill and had to pass Stu as he was too slow. I also
catch go past the guy who'd gone off front at the start, he couldn't
climb at all. Down through the descent I'm taking it easy, then after
the creek crossing someone behind me call track - yeah not likely while
I'm in the lead. I picked up the pace a little and got a little gap
through all the little gullies that you went in and out of and opened a
small gap. Passed a guy on a who was having a very bad day at the back
of the elite field that was still finishing. Arriving at the bottom of
the 2nd hill there are two guys right behind me, couldn't see who they
were & I asked if he was the guy I just passed - no answer, the riding
was tight & twisty & I couldn't look around to see who it was. There
was no way I was letting any of the sport guys pass me up the hill so I
hammered it, got to almost the top & the guy that behind me called on
your right & I had nothing left so I let him pass to see it was actually
another Elite rider finishing his last lap after have a mechanical
earlier. The other sport guys where nowhere in sight!
I backed off a lot after this, really hurting from that effort. A group
of about 4 riders eventually caught me just before the final descent.
The guy that originally was in the lead passed me, no worries I think,
I'll just stick close to him I'll get him on the climbs. Stay close I
wish! He was one of the fastest & smoothest on the descents all day! &
in very short distance he'd opened up a 100m on me (turns out he's a
local downhiller). I let Stu past after the start/finish (probably a
mistake as he was just a little to slow in the single track) but passed
him again on the first hill. I got to within 5 m of the lead guy before
it turned down hill & he ran away again. Didn't get as close on the
second hill.
As I came through the start finish line for the last time my mate told
me he only had 10 seconds on me. Mmm that's doable I thing=k to myself
- I grab a full water bottle & head off - 10 seconds my [censored]! It turned
out it was closer to a half a minute. I was charging a bit too hard on
the down hill which cause a little off, and another one at the creek
crossing. I did sight him again when I was half way up the second climb
he was already at the top so I had no chance of catching him.
Very nice to pick up some cash for the 2nd place thanks to Gateshead
Cycles. Woot! :-)
Some pictures of the other classes here
http://singlespeed.smugmug.com/gallery/1392938
Parbs