Today a few of the BMU crew and I did the Dirt Works Classic, 105km North West of Sydney in the St Albans Region. Regarded as one of Australia’s most challenging mountain bike endurance races although we only did the 50km, not the 100km race, having said that, even the 50km race totally destroyed me.
Andy and Clifton got to my place at 5AM. I only got afew hours sleep as last night was Suga and my engagement party with her girl friends. I didn’t drink much though (I tried to only have one glass of champagne, one cocktail and one glass of wine). The girls went out partying afterwards but I managed to sneak off home, and got to bed by 11PM. Christina woke me up when she got home at 4AM though, so I just got up, had a coffee, bananna and started getting ready.
BMU RPRSNT!
The drive there was spectacular. The fog on the highway was awesome, think Speilberg meets Lynch.
The Jazz had a hard time over some of the terrain as it was so low, which made for some giggles.
Andy pre-race. Damn it was chilly.
Registration was super fast. I can’t believe I’m a veteran! :/
Almost ready!
The Start line. The ride from the car to the start line was sooo cold. Warm in the sun, freezing in the shade.
The Finish – Clifton, Ben and crew.
Me at the finish line. 2hrs and 50 minutes later!
Felix, every entrant got a cold beer on crossing the finish line.
Andy.
The beer went straight to my head. I had a Pizza, that didn’t make me feel any better at all. I was destroyed. The last 10km’s really killed me and I had to dig deep. All in all it was a great ride, the Fizik Gobi XM saddle hurt for the 1st kew km’s but it just got so comfy as I went along (or was my ass numb from the pain?!). The SPD’s helped me a lot on the climbs, where I managed to overtake a lot of people. The downhills, which I usually love the most, were super sketchy on my Anthem. I had to use a lot of brake, and just didn’t feel at all confident in the bike when pointed down hill. I bonked at about 30km’s and just generally struggled from there until the finish where a lot of people I overtook earlier got me back (mentally crushing I tell you).
I wish I was better prepared, but ever since the flu I got a month ago, and all that wet weather where I didn’t ride I just neve managed to get back to the state I was in pre-flu. Having said that: I’m not so fussed about my time (for reference young Clifton beat my by 25 minutes and finished 11 in his class! So awesome) and I’m happy I finished.
How those guys do the 100km race is beyond me, way beyond me. Massive respect to every single one of them.