2013 Scott 13hr - Team Smooth Transition

The Hard Way

In celebrating 25yrs of the Canberra Off-road Cycling Club the event committee decided to give us all an extra hour of racing fun, making it a 13hr/25hr race. The 13hr was scheduled to run as 7hrs on Saturday, restarting on Sunday morning for another 6hrs. Introducing a 'one-off' format created some motivators for us, there will only ever be one 13hr/25hr event (as oppose to 12hr/24hr) so to succeed here riders will
go down in history as being the first and last to do so.

Luckily I've got a TLC Cycles (02) 6281 5538 who take care of race prepping my bike before these big events. Massive thanks to Cath my wife for looking after the family while I get to race.

http://corc24hour.com.au/

Some people will look at the 13hr as the soft option. Entering the 13hr avoids the use of lights and we were all able to head home for a normal nights sleep in our own cushy beds. Some people might even consider it 'sand bagging' for an award or podium finish. But I can assure you that the competitiveness within our team, and the willingness to get the job done, the way our team approached the preparation and the race itself, Team Smooth Transition screamed 'Semi-Pro'. Jokes aside there is no doubt that we got serious about this race.

The entries on the day made it an extremely fast category and I hope the pace in the 2013 7+6hr help to make it an even more popular category in years to come.

13hr Pro Teams
Rockstar Racing
Cannondale Sugoi Factory Racing
Target Trek MTB Racing Pairs

13hr Semi-Pro Teams
Coming up the rear
The Magellan Duo
SpearedAvanti GU

We started the race with 2 goals, ensure the category win, and shoot for the overall. Knowing that all the obviously fast teams were racing as duo's we were banking on some fatigue to set in for them. However the blistering pace, and little to no fade in lap times from the machines in front soon illustrated the overall was most likely out of reach for us.

In summary we had an early flat, lost 9mins. Got the lead back within about 6 laps. I crashed on my 3rd lap and was out for the rest of the race and the team was down to 3 riders. Early on the second day we lost the lead again however the boys pulled through, opened the gap to 5mins at one stage but The Magellan team pulled us back to about 2mins. We ended up winning our category by 2.5mins in the end. We finished 4th overall behind the pro teams listed above, so we're happy to finish as the best of the rest.

We built a rocket ship.

Brad - bike boy from way back with a strong BMX background and recent marathon length MTB racing, Brad trains off the grid and manages to stay fit even though he has never uploaded his Garmin files to Strava.

Brad started us off and got the first runs on the board with a clean lap that had us in clear air, he was about 15th rider in, awesome effort out of about 300 starters. Super quick and consistent laps for the whole race. Going by the smile on his dial in every single one of his race photos he may have been enjoying it just a little too much.

Smiley Brad

"Awesome weekend. Ninety percent of the riding I do these days is solo, so the Scott is a great way to get together with some mates and knock out some laps. Looking forward to next year." Brad D

Hamish - Our competitive advantage consultant. Hamish put together our race order and with much thought he also put together our risk strategies. He kept us focused and never let his eyes off the prize, he spoke about that medal 4 months ago, and now he has it in is trophy room. This man makes it happen.

Hamish had some bad luck on double dissolution, broke a spoke that ruptured his rim tape and he had to throw in a tube to get him home. He stayed composed for the rest of the race and stomped some great late laps within seconds of his first.

"I forgot to tell second place that our team's goal today was to "ride easy"" Hamish S

Gordo - The machine, the work horse, our gun rider. Nothing overstated. Gordo worked real hard in the lead up to this race, he was the standout performer in our team and most definitely gets the Most Valuable award for churning out the quickest and most consistent laps.

Gordo doing what he loves

"To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect or how my body would cope with multiple max efforts over a 24hr period. Turned out to be a gruelling but highly motivating and rewarding weekend. With ups and downs, not just on the trails. Amongst it all, I still managed to create some good friendships with the newly assembled team. I will be back for more!" Gordo B

Dave (me) - Team Captain, now known as 100/80 man after introducing team orders, 100% effort on non technical sections, 80% effort on technical sections. Then forgetting his own orders, binning it on the same section that Hamish got a flattie, separating collar bone from shoulder and heading to hospital with suspected head injuries and shoulder dislocation. There by granting the remaining riders with an extra lap to complete on the second day. Encouragement award, Mates ball award?

My shoulder post crash, apparently fairly standard for a Grade 3 AC separation

To push through the last 5km with a painful shoulder, I channeled my inner Aussie soldier, and the countless war movies that I've watched, and imagined that I was on an ammo run with a bullet wound in my shoulder. If I didn't get the ammo to the boys on the front line we were all going to chopped down. I made it with 10 seconds to spare (10 seconds in front of 2nd place).

For me this race has been the most anticipated, most rewarding, most costly, most prepared for, most trained for, and ultimately the most competitive. As a consequence I probably can't race for about 3 months while my Grade 3 AC separation heals and recovers to full strength. But our team goes down in history as one of the winning teams to compete in the Scott 13hr. Not bad for semi-pro :-P

Our team suffered 3 casualties as a direct result of this race. Brad and Hamish both fell violently ill with a gastro virus in the days proceeding. In speaking with other competitors including James Downing (link to his blog on the right), it seems that at least 20 people also fell ill with similar symptoms. The cause of the outbreak is yet to be determined.

Until next post
Don't short cut rehab
Dave

2013 CORC 3Hr Round 3

1st Place - Team Roberts-Scanlain

Hamish and I had a great win and it came with perfect timing just one week before the Scott 13hr.

Can't wait to cut some hot laps this weekend with Team Smooth Transition.

2013 Scott 13hr - Team Smooth Transition entered

We have entered a 4 man team in the upcoming Scott 13hr (6+7). We are excited.

Here they are...

Brad

Gordo

Hamish

Rubena Tyres XCO Series 2013 - Round 5 Stromlo

Can I just say, that CORC is proving itself to be a progressive club that is not afraid of trying new things. I understand new things can be confronting for an administration that has been in place for nearly 25 yrs. To CORC I'd like to say, please don't stop doing what you're doing, all of your efforts are highly appreciated.

Trent keeping it smooth with sign-on

The night race on sat was an awesome novelty, and felt extremely different and more exciting then any 24hr event I've been involved in. Complete with a Red Bull DJ pumping out fresh tracks, the night had great atmosphere. Timed 5 or 6 weeks before the Scott 24hr is an excellent idea with lots of riders obviously dusting off their lights for the first time.

Paired with the odd twilight 3hr I think 1 night race is probably enough for the XCO series. The inherit risks with night racing and the extra organisation required with lights, is probably enough to take the novelty out of it if we were to do too many. This would apply to both riders and volunteers I would imagine.

My two week lead up was again less then ideal. But racing in Veterans I don't believe I can use this as an excuse. The end of winter presents sickness and time constraints for most so I think we're all on the same par. I was lucky to fall ill with a viral infection a week before rather then the day before. But again I was starting a race with the excitement of not knowing how my body was going to react to hitting my threshold and maintaining it for 70+mins.

Start/transition worked perfectly on the road crit track

We started on the road criterium track and this in itself presented a little danger in going too hard off the start. But I went out hard and found myself leading the group, pushing the wind but within my limits. First right hander on the dirt and I got some corner freeze and pushed wide, James flew up the inside and assumed position in first. The pair of us made a gap and set into a groove. 

James Collins leading the way

B grade had started in front of us and we started to reel them in, one by one. Well, until we got to the leading rider of B grade, Gordon Brewster. Then there were 3 of us riding together. It was a great feeling, flowing down through the switchbacks of the luge at a cracking night pace.

Good Old Duffy Descent

I was in front of James and I heard the all too familiar sound of a wash out taking place behind me. The switchback gave me a perfect view, James was already picking up his bike to start the chase. With only a lap to go I thought I was home free, but within a few kilometres James was back on my wheel. Danger! Gordo firmly slammed the hammer down and kept upping the pace. I stayed with him but at the end of the fast fenceline section I dry reached and it blew my rhythm. Within 5 mins I had lost Gordo's wheel and James passed me, I wasn't blown, and my legs still felt ok, but I was on the verge of painting my bike with the contents of my stomach so I had to back off the throttle. Not sure if I had drank too much fluid just before the race or had too much endura, but my guts weren't feeling right. James made a 40sec gap in the final stages of the race and I rolled over the line in 2nd place.

Next race is the a Twilight 3hr Pairs race with Hamish

Ride on

Dave

Rubena Tyres XCO Series 2013 – Round 4

Absolutely killed it today, still riding high off my second win in Vets, the racing was close, the track was rocky and technical. My bike was sweet with some race prep from TLC Cycles.

Ghetto 1x10 with Wolf Tooth chainring

This mod was as easy as it gets. I'm now running 1x10 with 36teeth up front and the standard 11-36 at the rear. Simplistic is always best when racing, and the weight saving of 422grams can not be bought for the price of a Wolf Tooth chain ring ($70 AUS). The design of the ring means you don't have to run a chain giude to keep your chain from jumping off, its recommend that you have a clutch style derailleur but its not essential.

http://www.wolftoothcycling.com/

Massive thanks to my team mate Hamish who bought me the chain ring and helped me fit it up. Because in his words "You're too dam fast for triple chain ring"....You're a legend mate, road trips always a blast, racing as a team always a blast, racing against Hamish, always tough.

Catch up results - still loving the support I get from TLC Cycles in Phillip, ACT

9th June - Rubena Tyres XCO Series – Round 2 -DNS

My rack let go of the bike on the way to the race, totaled my back wheel.

But it sparked a chain reaction where I ended up with a ZTR Crest Hope Pro 2 wheelset. I'll never miss a race due to a broken wheel again, well shouldn't miss a race now anyway.

30th June - On The Rivet 3Hr Series  – Round 2 - 2nd place Mens Pairs

Location: East Kowen, NSW
Another great hit with Hamish, couldn't catch team onya

The single trail was super greasy but with the sun out it was fun for all

7th July - Rubena Tyres XCO Series – Round 3 - 7th place Vets

Location: East Kowen, NSW
Got a flat while leading and lost 5mins, salvaged some points

1st lap winning face, going with the flow off a dam wall

14th July - Rocky Trail 4hr - Round 4 - 4th place Mens Pairs

Location: Mt Annan, Sydney
Big day out at Mt Annan in Sydney racing with Hamish, beaten by Rockstar racing but a bit disappointed to finish off the podium at an interstate event. Hamish and I are planning on doing this series next year.

Me on one of the many rocky gardens at Mt Annan, was wearing the jersey Hamish and I won in last years local 3hr series 

Hamish giving his standard...110%

27th July - 3 Ring Circus - 1st Place Mens Pairs

Location: Wingello State Forest, NSW
3 laps, 2 dudes, 50km of great trails in the Southern Highlands at Wingello State forest.

I took the start lap (6km) and the last lap (19km), Hamish took the middle lap (27km). We rode strong and cleanly and finished on top of the podium 30mins clear of the next team. Added bonus of $300 worth of vouchers for Ground Effect clothing store. Cha Ching a ming.

Team racing has the fun factor that's for sure.

The race machine, ready and waiting

Hamish looking comfortable flying through the forest

more prizes like this please