October 24, 2010

Dusky Trail - First race on the Bergamont

Going into this race I wasn't sure on how I would go because on Saturday I managed to slice my hand open and I now have 3 stitches right where I hold onto my gripshift. I managed ok with my hand, only holding on with 3 fingers (no thumb or index finger). This meant control on the downhills and many river crossings was a bit sketchy but the rest wasn't too bad. So I can't really use it as an excuse for only coming 3rd. 3mins behind the winner. If I had a fully functional hand I may have been able to contest for 2nd as I lost this placing on the final river crossings because I couldn't ride them with my hand the way it was. I'm not too bummed about getting 3rd. It is only the second race of the season. And the winner had been training all through winter while I hadn't been doing much at all. What is really frustrating about my race is the way I felt. My legs just felt asleep the whole race. I wasn't felling tired or getting cramp like usual. My heartrate was down and I wasn't puffing. But I couldn't seem to put any power through my legs. It felt like I was going nowhere. And when I finished I wasn't tired at all. I could have done it twice. I guess that shows that I have good endurance at the moment, which is a bit surprising. And another positive is I was a lot better on the climbs than I was on the flat. The no power in the legs thing can always be fixed with more intense training. YAY! lots of pain to enjoy! So all in all it was a good race. I really enjoy this race and I got to race it on my new Platoon Team! It saved me a couple of times with it's awesome Magura brakes as I practically only had a rear brake because of my stitches. Can't wait for the next race on it and any general trainning I have planned.

October 16, 2010

Mcleans Island 6hr solo-saddle sores galore!

Yesterday I raced my first ever 6hr solo. It was awesome! I am stoked as with getting 3rd and it was a pushbikes podium domination. Brent Miller smashing the course to take 1st and Jingles taking second after a crazily fast start. But what's even better is we all beat the 6hr teams with a total of 16 laps each. Well done guys!

More on my race. I had a faster start than I thought I should. I guess I'm just use to it. But Jingles and Brent were right up there with me so I knew I had to keep going. Jingles took off with the fast 12hr team guys and Brent and I got into a good rhythm that I thought I could hold for the 6hrs. But on about the 3rd lap Brent picked up the pace, I held it with him for a couple more laps but soon realised I wasn't doing myself any favors. I settled into my own pace and got my heartrate down but then the cramp came on. I started to take in the Cramp Stop and it was keeping it from getting any worse but I soon ran out. This was at the 3hr mark so I was in trouble. Luckily Dad found me some more and I was back on track. For the next hour or so I felt quite bad and thought I wouldn't be able to hold my 3rd place. But in the last hour and a half I started to feel really good and got some solid lap times. At the briefing they said they were going to close the course for the 6hr riders at 5 1/2 hours. I came in at 5 hrs and 34mins so I thought I had finished. I was cruising through the tent site and over the loud speaker the organizer said there was 4mins until they closed the course. I was shocked but knew I had to go for another. I pushed really hard on this lap and and finished with 3mins to spare. That lap turned out to be my fastest lap in the last half of the race.

Now I am very very sore. The worse I have felt after a mtb race. My gooch is so bad. It is going to be hard to get out on a recovery ride today. Might have to do it standing the whole way! My body was just wrecked last night. Shows that mtbing is a full body work out. I was soo tired that I could sleep. I didn't get to sleep until about 3am! Even though I went to bed at 9pm. Too much pain, It kept me awake.

Also, This was my last day and race as a Pushbikes rider as now I am moving onto a Bergamont. It was good to leave Pushbikes with a great result and a real confidence boaster for me.

October 4, 2010

New Sponsor!

For the up and coming 2011 season I have got a great new sponsor. I am going to be the new member of the Bergamont NZ team. I am really looking forward to riding for Bergamont and their bikes look sicko! I will be on the Platoon Team hardtail. They are new to NZ, only came in about this time last year. I hope I came build up their reputaiton in the South Island as I am their sol XC rider from down south. I will officially be with Bergamont on the 17th of October. Until then will be a sad time as I have my last few days with my long time sponsor, Pushbikes. It will be emotional, but a necessary grieving process. My last day with pushbikes will also be my last race with them. I will be attempting to podium at the Mcleans Island 6hr solo race. Being my first 6hr solo race and there being good competition there it will be a tough task. I just have to shake off this annoying little cold that won't go away and I should be set for domination. And by domination I mean I will be dominated after I finish!