A mate walked into the bike shop on a Wednesday asking for a few gues and spare tubes for the Rocky Trail Entertainment XC race in Awaba. Without much crack-a-lack-alin' besides physio schoolload and a big ride on Saturday, I thought I'd give her a go.... the spark for XC racing was re-ignited.
It was all downhill from there. A wahoo trainer appeared in my garage (complements of Dylan's shoulder-rehab-stay-bike-fit rehab) and I pedalled away into the long lost beloved pain cave.
Each race in the series was a party train with the Aussie legends on rocky and flowy trails. The riders were all incredibly amazing shredding on every descent and charging every climb. Likewise, the race crew and photographers were fabulous all the same and we were lucky here in NSW to also have Covid safe races-- kudos to Rocky Trail Entertainment for making it happen!
The last at Majura Pines was a matter of holding it together and having a good time. Ending a wild semester in physio school, working at the bike shop, moving house a few weeks prior (demolishing our studio!), and catching a flu (Covid test negative!) a week before made for a challenging event. I was aiming to still have a good time, give it my best possible effort and keep the rubber side down. I still had a bit of a dusty biff as I anticipated may occur since my reactions were not 100% and legs were a bit soggy without much punch... but I was okay after a few mins with the cam crew! The heat made for a classic Australian race sitting at 39* (C) or 100*(F) adding in an extra factor to the race. One exposed climb really challenged your internal cooling abilities; how hard could you push without your thermostat going into the dark red zone. All in all I was pretty stoked to finish and say farewell to an interesting and equally challenging semester!
It was all downhill from there. A wahoo trainer appeared in my garage (complements of Dylan's shoulder-rehab-stay-bike-fit rehab) and I pedalled away into the long lost beloved pain cave.
Each race in the series was a party train with the Aussie legends on rocky and flowy trails. The riders were all incredibly amazing shredding on every descent and charging every climb. Likewise, the race crew and photographers were fabulous all the same and we were lucky here in NSW to also have Covid safe races-- kudos to Rocky Trail Entertainment for making it happen!
The last at Majura Pines was a matter of holding it together and having a good time. Ending a wild semester in physio school, working at the bike shop, moving house a few weeks prior (demolishing our studio!), and catching a flu (Covid test negative!) a week before made for a challenging event. I was aiming to still have a good time, give it my best possible effort and keep the rubber side down. I still had a bit of a dusty biff as I anticipated may occur since my reactions were not 100% and legs were a bit soggy without much punch... but I was okay after a few mins with the cam crew! The heat made for a classic Australian race sitting at 39* (C) or 100*(F) adding in an extra factor to the race. One exposed climb really challenged your internal cooling abilities; how hard could you push without your thermostat going into the dark red zone. All in all I was pretty stoked to finish and say farewell to an interesting and equally challenging semester!
With this series coming to an end brings the grand finale (drum roll please!): JetBlack24. A new feat of excitement having never had the opportunity to embark on such a challenge. Will I survive? Will I stay awake? Will the rubber side stay down? Will I pass out on the side of the trail? Will my bike keep it rolling? ... Or will I cross the finish line with massive smiles? Will I experience the deep, dark places everyone talks about in 24 hour racing or will it just be a 24 hour party train on my Hei Hei? Only time will tell. All I think is the same as on the Hunt 1000; zero expectations for anything can happen. All you can do is focus on the moment, embrace fellow riders and the challenge, believe in your mtb superhero abilities and take the trail as it comes... we'll see how it all rolls out this weekend. :D :D
Glow sticks and party music are prepped for this epic journey. Ready to lose myself to the pain of the games to the beats of Eminem's Lose Yourself, may I stand to see the sunrise on Sunday.
Glow sticks and party music are prepped for this epic journey. Ready to lose myself to the pain of the games to the beats of Eminem's Lose Yourself, may I stand to see the sunrise on Sunday.