http://jameswilliamson.com.au/enduro/event-info/
I entered this race last year but was sick in the lead up so had to bail out last minute. So naturally I was excited to complete this time and to test out my current training and fitness. It would prove to be a great bump in my fitness level and set me up for the final week of hard riding before the Mont 24hr in just 2 weeks time.
The start was carried out in waves, and I was in the 3rd wave. The first wave was the 75km riders including all the hotshot marathon and XCO racers. It was cool to watch the start from just metres away and observe the uber fit cycling greyhounds power off for over 2 hours of racing in the bush. Names like Dylan Cooper, Sid Taberly, Shaun Lewis, Andrew Blair are definitly among Australias hardest pure breeds.
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| Dylan/Andrew/Shaun leading the 75km off the start |
First thing I noticed on our startline was Brad Morto, he is a 'thing' when he is on a bike because he is a machine that churns out podiums at just about every race he enters. Oh well, looks like the 50km does attract some fast riders after all. I was thinking I might be a chance at a podium at this little ride in the bush in the mddle of nowhere. Little did I know. So I conservatively put myself in the 3rd row back, which probably meant I was in the top third off the startline.
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| Brad leading the 50km off the start |
The start took us up a fairly steep fire trail and passed through the Shimano Start/Finish. I felt like I was going backwards straight away, heaps of riders went passed me in the first few kilometers but I stuck to my heart rate monitor, and kept it well under 180bpm (laughs). I gave myself a couple of rests and took the wheel of a 29er motoring down a fast section. I warmed up and riders started to blow, one by one I started picking them off. The course has heaps of firetrail but not enough for my bad start and I got caught in a conga line that came to a dead stop on 3 occasions. Open fire trail was never too far away and I was able to get moving forward again.
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| and me, leading the mid field :-) |
The first 25kms seemed to fly by and before I knew it we were back at the start/finish ready to go for another lap. With open air and the group well and truly settled in and spreading out all the time I was able to really smash out the single trail and fast fire trail descents. Such great riding with countless sandy two wheel drifts, thick scrub licking your elbows and the odd rider yodeling out with glee.
I marvelled at a pair of Black Cockatoo's flying by and entered another great section of single trail. The massive screeching birds proved to be a very bad oman. I hit my fork lockout to free up my stanchions and it snapped cleanly under my thumb, uh oh. Within 3 corners I was off the track and off my bike, hugging a tree like its life depended on it, jumped straight back on with a banged knee and within another couple of corners I was over the bars and on my back. My fork was locked for the rest of the race. I polished off my 2ltrs of water and went for my bottle but it had done a Hudini in all the cartwheeling and I was out of liquid for the last 15kms. I tried to put it to the back of my mind, until I rode passed a water station but I would have had to stop and fill up my camelbak and would have lost several places in the process. Surely all that hydrating with sweet electrolytes the day before would have to pay off.
Every climb and pinch I was out the saddle and making sure that my legs were getting the punishment they deserve. I made a few more places and was on the home run. The question came to me, to sprint to the line, or to pop a wheelie across the line. A quick head check and with no one pushing me I popped it up for a little celebration of the race completion action. Ah happy days, I was shagged, couldn't have pedalled for any longer and the commentator must have seen the effort I went to and gave me a new set of grips and a couple of enduro mags. With no idea what place I was in I already felt like I'd accomplished another big challenge.
I never met James Williamson, a riding friend pointed him out to me at an early Mont 24hr race. But what I do know is that he was a Solo 24hr World Champion, that he must have loved riding Wingello trails and every year in March he still attracts a super relaxed, super fast bunch of people. The vibe at this race is something special and you can still feel James Williamson's presence in the riders that he touched in his very short life. I can only dream of being remembered in such a way. So cheers to you young James, and may this race continue in your name forever. God bless.
Summary
50kms
Lap 1 - 1:10:54
Lap 2 - 1:10:51
Average HR - 170bpm
Max HR - 198bpm
3 Endura Gel Shots
2lts of water
1 broken fork lockout
Heaps of fun
I'll try and post up some pre Mont 24hr words in few days
Ride on
Dave
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