Monday 27 October 2014

Mont 24 2014 Kowen Forest ACT

Mike, Adam and me at the campsite after finishing our laps on Mont 24. Peter W is on the course doing his last lap
Mike, me, Adam and Peter Waldron at the end of the race
roos up early on Sunday morning
campsite at Kowen Forest
This event is a 24hr mtb race. Team "Ring-Ins" were me, Mike, Adam Smith and Pete Waldron. The course was approx 19km all on single track. The team completed 23 laps (I did 5 and the others 6). Our result was 9th in the male 40+ category (30 teams). Great weather with a brief storm on the course on Saturday afternoon. I struggled on the last couple of laps. On the first lap I ended up crossing back onto the first half of the course after reaching a turn only 2km from finish. I had to quickly re-think my route back to finish and found a couple of disused fire trails which got me there without losing too much time. Heavy dew on Saturday night meant that nothing dried so my kit was very cold and wet with perspiration when I put it back on at 4am for an early morning lap :-(

Tuesday 21 October 2014

BUPA Around the Bay 2014

This charity ride is held each year in Melbourne.  It's run by Bicycle Network VIC and sponsored by BUPA. Ride distances include 100, 135, 210 and 250km. The direction around Port Philip Bay can be clockwise or anti clockwise. Because I was feeling crook that week I decided against riding 250km and did 210km instead clockwise. This was enjoyable but headwinds from Queenscliff to Geelong hindered progress significantly. I crossed the finish line at 4pm after over 8hrs cycling. The weather was overcast and hot with winds from the north shifting around to the south in the late afternoon. A better option to take advantage of the winds would have been the anti clockwise. The ferry ride to Queenscliff was a great chance to rest before the final 120kms ☺

Finish
Westgate bridge
Sorrento Ferry