24 hours dancing in the forest. Catching up with fellow shredders, sharing adventures, feeling the electric vibes of Rydal was a embracing hug from a long lost relative. The base of the music, riders preparing for the next timeless existence in a parallel universe. Supports - those that make this possible - watching after kiddos with bubbles and filling water bottles with fluids of choice. The tape set. The flags ups. The start line awaits.
Lights? Just - only 2 batteries. It's cool, I'll rally on dim and light the bush with my electric spirit of a tiger on the playful hunt for a good time.
Brakes? Screech like an owl in the night - flashback Collegiate Nats 2011. Brake clearer anyone? Dearest neighbor may I borrow some sugar... or brake cleaner? Sorted. Now stealth in the night and brakes grab for those late night scandy drifts...
Shifting? Dropper? Tyre pressure? Suspension? Dialed. (Thankfully!)
My mind. Stunned + scattered. This event was a bit of an afterthought to my recent rally round Tasmania in the Tassie Gift - 10 days of ridiculously smashing with all my gear on my bike. This was my approach to "training" and a very fun and exciting way of getting in the "base" for this race. Had 2 and a half weeks to sort my skills, build some degree of power and punch in the legs, work my magic at work and prepare for this 24.
Lights? Just - only 2 batteries. It's cool, I'll rally on dim and light the bush with my electric spirit of a tiger on the playful hunt for a good time.
Brakes? Screech like an owl in the night - flashback Collegiate Nats 2011. Brake clearer anyone? Dearest neighbor may I borrow some sugar... or brake cleaner? Sorted. Now stealth in the night and brakes grab for those late night scandy drifts...
Shifting? Dropper? Tyre pressure? Suspension? Dialed. (Thankfully!)
My mind. Stunned + scattered. This event was a bit of an afterthought to my recent rally round Tasmania in the Tassie Gift - 10 days of ridiculously smashing with all my gear on my bike. This was my approach to "training" and a very fun and exciting way of getting in the "base" for this race. Had 2 and a half weeks to sort my skills, build some degree of power and punch in the legs, work my magic at work and prepare for this 24.
The line up. Dancing, prancing, and embracing the butterfly flutters. Ready to rally in the bush all night long. In the second row of the line up, the countdown began. The silence. The go. The sprint.
My skills... bit rusty. First few laps de-rusting playing my Hei Hei on the songs of the trails, finding the lines and reducing the skinny-like riding style to flowly and fun. Four-ish hours later, I found the parameter of my favorite instrument and jammed like a musician on stage.
Pitzone - faff and faff and faff some more, waffling on, get on now and GO! This is NOT the Tassie Gift - don't have to eat every lap because you're in a nutrition deficit nine days in. This is high intensity - crack open the cola to settle the stomach. Look at those around you - the bottle hand off is the way to go!
The sun falls. Further settling in. Finally finding the flow, the lines, the senders. My body finally accepted its task - the MTB dance at home between the tape. The mental physio office has closed. The night falls. The lights on. The forest fills with stars dancing through the night and the pit zone filled with music. Where's the dancing? Where's the Dustin Yue Disco Car!? You're all here in my heart.
My skills... bit rusty. First few laps de-rusting playing my Hei Hei on the songs of the trails, finding the lines and reducing the skinny-like riding style to flowly and fun. Four-ish hours later, I found the parameter of my favorite instrument and jammed like a musician on stage.
Pitzone - faff and faff and faff some more, waffling on, get on now and GO! This is NOT the Tassie Gift - don't have to eat every lap because you're in a nutrition deficit nine days in. This is high intensity - crack open the cola to settle the stomach. Look at those around you - the bottle hand off is the way to go!
The sun falls. Further settling in. Finally finding the flow, the lines, the senders. My body finally accepted its task - the MTB dance at home between the tape. The mental physio office has closed. The night falls. The lights on. The forest fills with stars dancing through the night and the pit zone filled with music. Where's the dancing? Where's the Dustin Yue Disco Car!? You're all here in my heart.
5 AM dawn broke - the first light filled the dark sky. I fuelled up and flew off into the woods as the birds sang and took flight. Dancing, pedaling. Staying alive?
Those I passed timelessly before are now smashing behind and I pull off to the side. Chasing. Cheering. Chatting. Keeping spirits super high.
Lap 36 - that's the vibe! Who is this but Kate - celebrate! Victory lap mate! You're AUS National Champ - you must be elated! Excited and stoked for her - she smashed it out straight. Fatigued, I respectfully pedaled off for my very own victory lap of 37 laps, 30 minutes behind the times. More cola for the last lap and hit the A lines - time to play.
Rolling across the finish line and up to my pit I sit in the chair for another Cola sip. Finished, yes. That was hard. Wired and alive. Physically - 100%. Mentally - 10%. A good time but a bit too close to the end of the Tassie Gift - this was like chucking salt on an open wound... but nevertheless a good time. Better planning. Better training. Better recovery. Less faffing. Maybe a bit more time away from work than just a Friday and Monday to bike race FIFO... Always room for improvement and always a good time riding the woods and catching up with mates after a long year on the island of TAS.
This was yet another epic event and mad Thank you to Rocky Trail Entertainment for having me (Epic vibes - it's the vibe of the thing!), granting me an epic Australian Gold Metal (first in my category, 2nd overall women, 8th overall Men+Women) and a sweet DHaRCO jersey since I'm technically not Aussie, however, I feel more Australian than American these days. Made thanks to the trail ferries for clearing the trails, all the inspirational superstars at this event, all the sponsors of this event, AUS cycling for having this as AUS nat champs and pit crew - Dylan even though you were not feeling 100%.
Those I passed timelessly before are now smashing behind and I pull off to the side. Chasing. Cheering. Chatting. Keeping spirits super high.
Lap 36 - that's the vibe! Who is this but Kate - celebrate! Victory lap mate! You're AUS National Champ - you must be elated! Excited and stoked for her - she smashed it out straight. Fatigued, I respectfully pedaled off for my very own victory lap of 37 laps, 30 minutes behind the times. More cola for the last lap and hit the A lines - time to play.
Rolling across the finish line and up to my pit I sit in the chair for another Cola sip. Finished, yes. That was hard. Wired and alive. Physically - 100%. Mentally - 10%. A good time but a bit too close to the end of the Tassie Gift - this was like chucking salt on an open wound... but nevertheless a good time. Better planning. Better training. Better recovery. Less faffing. Maybe a bit more time away from work than just a Friday and Monday to bike race FIFO... Always room for improvement and always a good time riding the woods and catching up with mates after a long year on the island of TAS.
This was yet another epic event and mad Thank you to Rocky Trail Entertainment for having me (Epic vibes - it's the vibe of the thing!), granting me an epic Australian Gold Metal (first in my category, 2nd overall women, 8th overall Men+Women) and a sweet DHaRCO jersey since I'm technically not Aussie, however, I feel more Australian than American these days. Made thanks to the trail ferries for clearing the trails, all the inspirational superstars at this event, all the sponsors of this event, AUS cycling for having this as AUS nat champs and pit crew - Dylan even though you were not feeling 100%.