podium to emergancy back to podium

2010 CROCODILE TROPHY

2012-02-01T18:21:00.000-08:00

THE hardest and longest mtb race in the world- Really? A race this hard requires proper training and correct preparation. 10days 1200km only twice the length of the longest stage race Id done and 3times the distance. So don't do a 24hr solo race 8days before and maybe do some road riding as well. Since arriving on cairns I have missed that place a lot I had.my sponsor svc imports truck my bike up there to a Great bike shop who let me use his workshop to build.my bike enjoy the floor pump I left behind : YHA put me up for A couple of nights as I tried to climatise To 30deg mornings at 7am, so maybe this is Gona be tough. Race briefing was at a pub that had great wood fire pizzas I truly ate myself silly for 2days. International riders really outnumbered Aussie riders, but I bumped into Cory Wallace So I was not the only mad man after just doing a 24hr but this guy came 2nd in Canberra. We automatically gained Hard men status for racing worlds, but I tried to convince riders this race was harder by pointing out the lack of Aussie Riders. Why? In broken English was asked a lot. 1200km Of dirt roads in north qld against eruo pros is madness. Day one. Into the unknown. We roll out from the lagoon and Thru town I keep to the front mainly to hug any media exposure Which paid off well once it was televised, I'm not doing this Crazy race and not have any proof. So where off on our flat Dirt road race on mtb's. We are meet with a steep road climb Then a stoppage cause some one did not unlock some gates. Now racing again up unridable climb just eat u want 20k intoa A 10day epic adventure, that last word was on the brochure But failed to deliver on day one. Another closed gate haulted proceedings come on eruos I thought u guys invented cyclocross so then we ride thru brutal hills neutralized. Sit around starving for hrs In the sun only for them to re start the race again man it sucked so bad lots more climbing and I felt crap energy wise and legs I would battle with this for days, I crawled over the line depleted. Recover make tent collect bottles find bags change shower And then dinner. Prep bottles and bike bed! DAY TWO. WE ROLL OUT then the race is on and straight up From the lake we camped next to, muddy road climb thru dense Forrest make for energy sapping leg burning jersy soaked riding. Any time the road went down hill the eruos would attack but they were the longest descents ever. Scary fast stuff hard to enjoy when exhausted So I dug deep and thought to myself about my riding buddies back home and how fun they would be having if this was a Sunday bush bash with jak Rizzo shredding the down hill always looking back to See if I was smiling as much as him, then on the hills thought of Crawford Who was always keen for hill repeats, these guys got me thru today. I make it to the finish feeling the effects of being underfueled from the day before. Enjoyable spot to camp at granite gorge with. Swimming hole And lil wallabys to take photos of. Learnt a lesson today, camp near the the trucks so its less hauling bags in the morning.
DAY THREE: granite gorge to irvinebank. Most things are blury nowdays from this race, but it just hit me what made this day memorable in croc trophy language that means a nightmare. I managed to get away from the group I was in which consists of the elite euros and who ever they damage in the first 30km. Most of them were flatting today, we hit some rough riding today I did all the damage on some descents and gullys I had a dirty evil grin on me, yea roadies are u enjoying your hardtails you have just hit turner flux country not even a German import on an epic could keep up I constantly asked him about his 1.9 tyres, I barely seen him in a straight line, so I was charging but came across I bogged water station Ute. Who could not find my bottle and after me losing my shot at them I rode off not wanting to waste my effort of breaking away. I soon paid the price and was fading fast having to ride 14km wit no water, that massive group came flying past and u could not even jump on and hold on, then riding thru mango farms was just torture or was thoughts of bear grylls surviving thirst ideas creeping into my mind. Headwind ride into the finish I did really like the croc blowup banner it really put a smile on ya face having one at the start that kept stuffing up was making the hardest race in the world a joke, not much went right for the organisers.
Irvinebank was a cool spot to camp, I got to know Cory Wallace well from this day on as we shared our Canberra stories wit other riders and we took on the locals in pool holy hell they were good. I rate myself wit a cue but this old guys lived at the pub and had lots of trophies to show for it, this town even had a phone booth so it was nice to call home. Another arvo another massage and tent duties some more time on the slackline but not much, the swiss athletes dominated this toy they brought along just to watch aussies fail at but never give up. Into the tent to endure another day.
DAY FOUR: irvinebank to chillago... Heavy legs get swung over and onto the turnerflux, for another day, from where we were the only way home is through the next 6 stages, its amazing what the body will just do when it has to, todays start was like most the elites stretching the rubber band until ppl start snapping, with a great solid climb to start i was deep into the red zone early, we hit some amazing trails today and i was able to escape alot of riders through the rougher sections, high up on ridges we got great valley views but also of higher looming hills. never knowing which way we would go... we were riding on a disused railway line so the gradients were constant but smooth, with a few skatey descents to keep u guessing what was around the next bend, a feed zone was just before the 42km road section to the finish, a few mouthfulls of fruit, and onto the blacktop i go, catching another we start working together to ride it home, this defiantly dragged out but we were pushing hard to get it done i constantly was looking back to see if anyone was catching, pedal pedal in the big ring on a charge, from know where 20plus riders come flying by---had to think fast to jump on the back it was amazing i was now traveling 5km/hr faster. nothing like a sprint finish to end the day, i hot stuck out the front and tried to go alone with 1km left and was rounded up by 5riders just before the line...we were like fighting for 12-20th but you fight everyday at the croc.
It was nice to see a washing machine and a proper shower and this place even sold icecream!!!! most of the riders headed straight for the pub, i opted to walk as sitting on the saddle was getting close to umbearable by now, a solo 24hr and then humid wet riding out of cairns had done alot of damage. The local pub was cool anyone that had been there had written on the walls or ceiling, welcome to outback QLD, another arvo another "do you want a beer chops" the courtesy of guys i only just meet but been traveling thru hell with really makes the croc something to get out of bed for, YES!!!! the boys fall off there stools with hooray! they had finally cracked me... ill have a beer... but christ one coopers was enough. icecream before bed and into the tent i go, always sleeping well knowing we dont have to pack our tents up due to we were staying in chillago 2 nights.
DAY FIVE:50km out 50km back.one dirt road..... this is where the croc gets hard. just an undulating dirt road with puddles and sketchy road riders, if that dont kill you, trying to hang on to the lead bunch while acting like a yo yo might, if ya not dead yet maybe the mind numbing road that shakes the shit out of you will, oh ok so none of that did kill me, but the battle im about to tell you about was close,
Our small bunch pulls up at the last water depot, this guy on his electric bikes buzzes by...... one of the riders attacked to chase him down, FRANZ not sure what country but a short muscley guy who would look more at home hanging with angry anderson, he had more tatts than him, a fully sponsored athlete for cube, goes to chase this guy down, i attack straight from consuming watermelon and a bottle, why i dont know,,my legs just carried me, maybe i thought we could draft the electric bike rider the 25km home., me and franz work like a dog to catch him, but he then leaves us on the next climb we catch and over take then he passes us on the next climb, stupid electric bike but franz is not laying down this fight. we take turn after turn to reel him back in, must of had 5-7km to go, i put in a huge effort to get on his wheel, and as soon as i did (deeply in the red) franz yells im sure it meant GO GO GO in english but franz attacks... FARK!!!! dude we just got back on, i had to draft the Ebike till i caught my breath then i over took him and chased franz down hitting the tar together the town and finish was now close, we had left the Ebike behined we both ramped up our own wattage... passing the pub i move to his right out of the saddle i give him a big grin and a Aussie C'MON ON!!!!! up the main street attacking out of the saddle till we blew our legs, he gets be at the line. crazy crazy crazy is what i say to him when we both can talk, i ask what was all that about, he tells me back in his country him and the Ebike where at the croc to do battle "man v's machine" so he could not let him win.. lol.. pick the right battles chops..

The WORLD 24hr SOLO MTB CHAMPIONSHIPS october 2010

2012-01-11T18:10:00.000-08:00

What a weekend--since this event was announced in 2009 and then racing my first 24hr solo in November2009 everything was revolving around this one race, my everythought anytime i trained or raced i had this weekend on my mind, countless spin classes where spent dreaming and pushing ourselves to the top of stromlo in preperation for the worlds..

Every part of this event was massive 400 solo riders in pit lane or should i say pit city, rows and rows of riders, i had entered in the elite category where your position was seeded on your previous races over 24hrs, so to be some how camped 4 doors down from jason english and across from cory wallace (who i did not know at the time but you will here lots more of) was pure luck and great entertainment for my pit crew..

Race DAY: whats done is done today is here, 24hr solo racing does not make me nervous, it scares the hell out of me!!!!!!!!!!! cameras where shoved in our faces while we trying to set up and get the bike in order, once i picked it up from the mech tent they had to fix my freehub the night before never a dull moment when it comes to a 24hr race for me.. It was great to have so many mtb buddies from the central coast there, none of them had seen me race a 24hr so it gave me extra fuel to go the distance, likewise for my mum and dad had never even seen me race my mtb let alone my new gf tarren, so mum dad and tarren this is mtb racing welcome to the world championships!!!! no pressure in the pits eh??? The start is near time for my meditation (sitting on my bike quietly shitting my self in deep thought) ive always used mental visualization when competing i find it truly helps running your mind thru what has to be done.
Number 64 james lamb of australia>>>>>ya could hear the coasties cheer as i jog up to the start line, standing under the world championship banner next to my team mate matt reekie we look up then look at each other both looking hell scared!!!! BANG and where off running how does one control ones energy at this point, manic start!!!!

From manic to frantic to just not happy-i shred my tire thru pork barrel and struggle getting the valve out to put in a tube, using a sandwich bag to plug the hole i limp back to the pits to see worried faces as im coming last in category.. i would continue to suffer tyre problems till midnight with cutting more sidewalls and even ripping the bead off on tyre big thanks to joel sandry my tool man for the race for spotting that pure luck, but he was my driving force the man takes no bullshit...So from midnight the fight was to the suprise of ppl in pit row as i would yell at myself to pump the legs and pump my crew up...was loving the graveyard shift maybe im a sadist????? but i fought until i could see the sunlight and oh it was a COLD night!!!!!!
I came to ride the distance on such a destroying course we got the maths a bit wrong as our watches didnt match the race clock so i finished 18laps in 23hrs 55min and thought that was enough everyone in my tent had enough of playing the waiting game, all my training paid off my crew did a fantastic job and just like every 24hr tears flowed at the end..

I WENT TO WORLDS.....Tick.

CHOPS

Back to blogging

2012-01-11T13:31:00.001-08:00

2012 has arrived and with a long sad absence from this blog its time to keep you
All updated with my riding racing thoughts and views that life brings, I have so much
Spare time these days that I need to use it to train my brain and enlighten yours
With the going ons of CHOPS.
I have updated my life with some useful technology as I've been behind the times
For to long, all of this is being processed from my phone in my local thurs morning
Cafe. When finance permits ill invest in a laptop (offers for A free one apple is welcome)
So i need to update on the end of 2010 and all of 2011 good news is guys ive stayed out of the emergancy room and been spending more time on the poduim!!!!!
Enjoy the Race Reports.

just chops

7hrs of stromlo

2010-09-02T22:32:00.000-07:00

Team scv was leaving the coast early saturday morning bound for the nations capital, the greens were packed with lots of extra layers, the bikes on the back looking red and extra clean. So two sleepy riders were zooming down the highway neither to impressed to leave at 6am'sh, but we had to get to canberra so i could do a fitness workshop at 11am so with one little scare from a roadside speed camera we had arrived in a very sunny canberra but with a quick check of the temperature with the back of my hand on the car window, sunny days in canberra are quick different to the coast, but once in the shopping centre it was ok :) which had me thinking. Canberra a really cold part of australia which has a shopping centre where you have to venture outside to get to the next section??? atleast its in a straightline unlike the rest of the town, so once at the gym, it didnt seem right either....... i soon workout ive turned up at the wrong fitness first, lucky for me there was another workshop at 2pm..
Rego/spin class/practice lap/ the to our accomodation was how saturday arvo went by.

We were very lucky to have mr and mrs Mcavoy put us up for the night in a lovely warm house with a great view, filled to the brim we hit the sack.

The event centre was alive and buzzing by the time we arrived(alot later then usual) briefing had started and me and matt had barely had our race numbers on, so with a quick ride around the crit track to warm up (and canberra had def given us a very warm morning) to busy getting warm i nearly missed the start, so i barged my way into the pack, actually people really parted of gave up there spot for me so i was sitting nicely in the 2nd row, the start was frantic i had an inside line and didnt have to work to hard to stay at the front, matt had alot of chasing to do and was in fine form and got a great head start and buried the legs early to get into the singletrack, i just didnt have any racing mojo, after a leg smashing week i was happy just to pedal out a consistant lapping 7hrs thinking id be able to pick up a few places towards the end of the race as riders lap times started to fade..
With 3hrs down i was suffering constant glute/hipflexer pain, so frustrating i have not suffered like this on the bike since easter, i rode the syd 12hr so well i had the confidence i could achieve anything, but i had to get off and stretch in the pits, i looked at the ground when stretching, and then i just layed on it, and didnt move for like 20mins why im not sure, i was mentally beat...a crying baby was wat got me back on the bike, bellchambers rolled thru timing so i chased him down so i could have a riding buddy and follow some local knowledge around the course, i was 14th once back on the bike with a new seat height, which im not to confident in keeping but we will see how it goes fighting fatigue of all the climbing at stromlo..
Each time i came thru timing i was one place better so that gave me something to chase my 31min lap times were doing the job yea i was tired and sore but 7hrs felt like a cruze to the beach. pedal chew drink pedal pedal chew drink drink torq nutrition allows to go for for as long as u wanna pedal...

The race was done and i came 9th, was not to happy with that well not happy with myself, but looking at the lap times they werent slow, and 130 solo riders and no taper it would of been a better day if i truly had my race face on, but i left it home, i know wat my legs can do, ill let them lose next time, finally i could give kylie mcavoy a smile every lap i got a "go chops" the poor lady never got a smile from me but it was all over so now i was smilin..

where is matt????????? no idea i had not seen him all day weird.......
Matt rolls over the line in 4th place behind gurus of enduro racing, a mic was shoved straight to his mouth for an interview cool calm and collected matt had it under control "no fun going slow out there" got a few chuckles from the crowd.

No podium for the boys in green this wknd, i managed to win the dirtiest bike competition and the honour of driving us home as matt did more laps then me...

just chops :)

ive gotta change the name of this dam blog.... as soon as i make podium i send myself back to emergancy.... re-dislocated my shoulder while training on wednesday, its not to bad... solo world champs may not be possible, but there is no way anything or anyone is keeping me from racing the croc trophy!!!!!!!!

BACK ON THE FARM * hunting crocs*

2010-08-08T23:19:00.000-07:00

DARGLE FARM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was first introduced to enduro racing at this place and was over the moon when the sydney 12hr was moved to this venue.
To make it to the track before sunset the car had to be packed on thursday night so we could leave from jemmas work fri arvo, did a pretty good job for feeling very frazzled from all things that keep changing in my life at the moment. I only forgot a few things so luckly matt was around on fri arvo to help cart stuff over with me on the 30min ride to jems work, So now everything was packed into a 3door barina, and off to the farm.

We awoke to a very fresh morning but with aid of a very good bonfire i was toasty in no time.

GAME TIME: The aim was to race david ludenia over the 12hrs winner gets a free entry to the croc trophy.
So with lots of pre race interviews between me and david and 2 other leading riders brett bellchambers and jason english the race got underway.
With out much thought i smacked it hard off the start racing to make the single track i knew you could lose minutes in there if one person put a foot down, once out onto the fireroad to the end of the valley me and mark tupalski laid down some more power it was just to much fun..
So when brett and jason caught up to us on the next lap we had a good laugh about it all and settled into a more managable pace which was still above what i thought i could withstand for 12hrs.. I just tried to stay focused on eating right and getting enough fuel in, but my mind was just on were david was, i knew he could see me, i wear bright green its not hard to miss, but he blended in, so once i began requesting intel from the pits, in which they declined to tell me my ride was becoming very stressful and not alot of fun... with the following lap ending in a spectacular over the bars dismount into my marquee and a loud arguement wit my support crew my day was only getting worse, but then mark caught back up to me and we had a chat and he cheered me up and got me focusing on the big picture and not the game with in the game, so i got back on the job for doing all i could every lap..
Around and around we go...i never hated a lap never hated a section, my fav part of these races is learning new lines on the course and watching the track evolve its what keeps me entertained.
With lots of photographers out on course there was alot of chances to smile to hide the pain, and thinking back now i dont even recal an unhappy rider or one in a great hurry, this event came with such a good vibe, the event centre was a very EPIC centre with red bull and beer being given away my pit crew were having there own party while i was out building a new hurt box.

Another great moment from the race was catching up to a lil train of riders in the forest section which was being led by kath bicky i was happy to just sit on the tail and grab a rest, once out on the fireroad none of the other guys took there turn to pull us along, and i had not once grabbed a lift from another rider on this section either, "give the poor girl a break" and i jumped on the front to the elation of kath, and it really lifted my spirits as well as we chattered for around 2-3km before i said my goodbyes and pedalled on.

The temperature out on course was always changing depending on your location, but i was rugged up from the start(for which i got a good amount of sledging for from the canberra riders thinking they were in a warm enviroment) my 2xu compression longs and an Underarmour longsleeve top which is all very breathable but keeps the wind off you as well, when the sun went away the lights came out to play, and with a light on my helmet and handle bars my lap times never dropped as i could see everything i needed to see. thanks to light and motion for your lumens, just bringing short finger gloves was not the best idea, so when it began to hurt to shift it was time to stop and soak up the bonfire we had to pass on everylap and then ride away from, with always a helpful cheer from jenni english and gav who truly rounded out the cheering from the bridge to the very end of pit lane.
The night had truly set in and with a time gap of around 20mins my mind began to switch to waking up well the next day and being able to handle my week in the spin, lap times started to slip a bit as stops became longer and the climbs were sometimes walked, one more stop to put on a jacket and soak up more bonfire to the amusement of the MC, i had time so i couldnt see why not i had already surpassed all of my expectations and was very impressed on how great i felt considering the amount of riding the friendliness of the track would of helped..i took on some extra torq gels to finish the race off, i was told i only had time for one more lap, i took it at a cruzy pace just incase i could sneak one more in, but i came in at 12hrs 35seconds just as well because my light had there warning flash on for atleast half of my last lap..

Rolling over the line to second place to jason english in a 12hr race and a free entry to the crocodile trophy, i did not sleep at all that night my life was buzzing my head was spinning..

massive thanks to ROCKY TRAIL ENTERTAINMENT for making the best events..

PODIUM CHOPS :)

once again ive run out of time... ill try to wrap this 12hr story next time...

*more to come*

AT THE CIRCUS

2010-08-08T22:36:00.000-07:00

A 50km race in the southern highlands starting and finishing at wingello forest.
We arrived just before sunset after reading all the latest mtb mags over coffee at the ye old bike shoppe, nestled under the big pines of the forrest the waiting game started and so did the cold weather, it was quite an unsettled sleep i never excpect much when in a tent but some nights are worse/better then others.
With the a wake up call to loud music straight from huw's collection any dream was soon switched to a nightmare, with no choice but now crawl out of the tent and face the onslaught of alll the arriving performers some wearing not enough clothing the day had begun, the oats were cooking teeth chattering and huw blabbering, but thats wat i come to his events for his bad/dry sense of humour (it later paid off)

Once i got up the courage to slip into my lyrca with the added dummy spit over putting on my girlfriends 2xu tights and not my own (which were soon found amongst the clothes i used for my pillow) any pre race yoga stretching was all taken care off in that tent, i headed out on course to check out the water bar that nearly claimed me last year..

The gun goes off and the circus starts with a roar, with a flurry of madness we all fight for a wheel..a long chain of elite of the elite riders leading us out, not fast enough for my mate anthony shippard (3rd) so i step it up and move up to the front to see wat the show was like and was then swallowed by the bunch, still in touch as we complete the first loop of 6km but it then throws us to the water bar i dont like, i ride it like a panzy and the bunch is gone, hmmm but here comes the hills but my legs just would not go, my heart rate wasnt going as high as i know i can push it, i felt slow.. smack bang into THE WALL... and i was reduced to a walk, righto singletrack time, i was missing corners bouncing off everything, i just was not with it..
i come thru transition and pick up another bottle to take on the final ring of the circus i started it with a big frown, i could see my team mate matt reekie far in the distant looking bright green, my legs still would not follow orders..
i was riding very safe as i did not wana flick myself off on a water bar like so many riders did just not worth it, i rode the brakes down the hill to a lil creek crossing i looked up and went nope no way my legs today will ride this hill in the dog.
Left click....still in the big ring.grrr fiddle... Left click.... still would not drop down.. sigh....
40-32 it is then, its just a training ride now chops i thought to myself, so i grinded away n grinded and grinded n grinded, pretty big hill that one, i soon see 10km to go sign hmmm, for some reason my legs finally turned up to play the game and for as far as the road stretched or the eye could see, matt reekie was at the end of it, the hunt was on, i pulled back 98% of that gap, he got me by 20sec..
i felt like i had a bad ride, i felt i had more, i knew i had more, but it wasnt to be.
my time was 2hrs 2min barely 3min off 3rd place and 14min quicker then last year, so i look at the numbers to cheer me up on this performance..

The most fun was had at the event centre catching up with everyone and congratulating close friends on winning performances.
At the presentation which we all stayed for to either get free wine or see how huw would give away stuff, he played the name game, picking on peoples name that related to the event or mountain biking, he gave away a ticket to race in NZ which is were his sponsor ground effect is based "any kiwis"???? so he gave them a stir so with my last name being LAMB i had myself a free tire all very funny..

thanks for reading.

chops :)

racing pics

2010-07-06T04:49:00.000-07:00

The action from saturday.

Smoothing rocky trails.

2010-07-04T23:34:00.000-07:00

The Event of the weekend was a 4hr race run by ROCKYTRAIL entertainment, at AWABA mountainbike park.
On friday night after my usual 530spin class i was in the garage changing my rear tire over to another rim as on tuesday glass cut open the tire a 2.0 supersonic continental race king and when i went to re inflate i kept losing air from around the valve, so with barely a drop spilt and i good upper body work out on the floor pump it snapped into place delivering cold chills as it always does..
Saturday started early with a 530am start so i could have a good meal of oats :) and some toast, the tire had not lost a single psi so my spirits were up, wheels were off and the turner flux was neatly folded into the back of jem's 3door barina.
Off to awaba we go>>> THE GOALS>>75% of the winner in 3.5hrs as i had to leave early for a spin class..

We slot into a little spot on pit row and i go for a practice lap while stopping to chat to who ever i know, it really takes a long time to get ready before a race..
I spent the race briefing doing my last bit of weight reducing, i could of also removed my rear flashing lights i use for commuting to but i didnt realised they were left till i got home..

The 8hr solo's go first, then we get to race of, i slipped into the single track second and just cruzed finding my zone because we soon caught the tail of the 8hr riders, it was a slow hectic first lap with people taking each other out or me, i lost a few positions in some confused mix up, the angry pants were on for the next lap, flying through timing/pits leaving any food jem had ready.
We had a nice food plan set out. a torq gel every second lap with a mouthful of toq bar every other lap which kept me fuel up nicely.

I soon found my sniggle groove and had a massive smile just loving the sport more then ever, with a conti supersonic 2.2 mountain king up the front and the hero grip through the forest section it was pure bliss.
So i was just out there cruzing around with the bigger picture of getting 75% of the winner so i can qualify for the voting competition to win a ticket to the croc trophy mtb race.

Around lap 5-6 i could here paul craft (commentator) giving the 4hr leader a good wrap for his fast lap times and mentioned he was gona be hard to beat, i had a chuckle and the fire in my legs were now roaring as i stormed through timing 25sec behined him to the elation of the MC "and now we have a race" i stomp the big dog back into the bush, but at awaba a rider can disappear in seconds., I ended up passing the leader while he had stopped to grab a bite, he gave me a cheer on to which was nice but i soon was grabbing a gel on run and off into the lead, i was told the rider i just passed was an ex (very good) downhiller so i was keen to try to get away, my hills were my friends and my legs did all they could to flatten them.

3.5hrs done and im leading so i pull over and call it a day, MC paul was really confused i explained my situation and everyone was standing around looking very stunned.. and from the crowd a screaming jemma blasts me with alot of profanity to the amusement of everyone, id done enough to qualify and thats all i went chasing i was satisfied and very happy to have a good ride, good enough for me but not good enough for jem, (i still feel guilty for her missing my poduim at the husky) she needed to be rewarded for helping me so much, and maybe i got a bit scared with the abuse that was hurled, hmmm i wish a gel was hurled the last lap had to be ridden with only a small amount of water mixed with torq energy, so one last time down the cork screw and my last time through my cheers squad from WSMTB. At this stage i could hear the count down to the 4hr mark, sweet i was gona finish over the 4hr mark and not have to leave a gap for 2nd place to slip through to do another lap.
4hrs 1min i finish with timing it spot on, i quick speech ruined by a flat battery on the mic, i fold the turner into the back of the barina again and zoom to carlingford for the spin class.
No stretching or cool down really punished my legs as i had to climb 3 flights of stairs to get to the spin room.

It was such an adrenalin fueled day, but lots of laughs and stories were shared over lunch at 4pm.

I arrived home to a cool looking trophy a carton of beer and a XTR cassette :)
A big thanks goes to the ROCKY TRAIL crew for an awesome day
my pit bunny for her awesomeness!!!

and my sponsors SCV IMPORTS, the turner flux is the most comfortable race weapon you will find..

Im feeling the target getting bigger on my back, see ya at the next race.

REALLY HAPPY CHOP :)

THE 100Ker

2010-06-27T03:50:00.000-07:00

The day begins at 5am, i awake to some world cup soccer blurred by my roomies bling 29ers, with my TURNER FLUX tipping the scales at around 11.2kg, it was surely a very different pre race setup with no taper no pasta the night before, no weetibix for breakfast.
My pro roomies from clarence st whipped up some muesli and banana not sure what else was added, i guess that was later to be realised (thanks jen a true winning breakfast)

Driving over to the start, to a race ive only had a week to mentally prepare for, a race with around 90kms ive never seen, my first day on dirt since dirtworks and damaging my thumb..no nerves what so ever, but no race excitement either it was a strange feeling but i did have my mind set on just a sunday ride, there was no water bottle, no tools, limited food, but i was truly rugged up with skin longs on and a skin shortsleeve top on under an under armour longsleeve heat top (the red u see me in) my fav piece of cycling gear. and that very subdue green racing kit on the outside..
The warm up was a few kms out on the track i decided to drop pressure in my front tire a little to softer thumb pressure.

A very short race briefing and we were on the start line, matt reekie suggested to go to level 11 of hurt today which i was not to fussed about, but in my head i thought well im just gona pedal at full power till i have nothing,, will it last 20km 60km 80km did i have enough for a 100km.
The first 10km was loose sand and rocky when i seen the 10km marker i head sunk as i felt like ive been racing for an hour, we soon lose touch with the leaders, but me and anthony shippard with some other guys really keep the pace cranking, passing shaun lewis on our mission was a bit awkward, i just didnt know what to say to a good rider hurting so early.
20kms we get a glimpse of the leaders, it was so tempting to bridge the gap, at full throttle it looked very achievable and i was just out for fun and it was hard not to have a go at it just to see if i could get to them, the single track then began and i pulled right back as it was loose and very steep and i didnt wana hurt my dodgy shoulder.
It takes me a while to catch back up to anthony after the single track but when i do, we all stopped as a rider hit the deck pretty hard, hes was not to bad so once on his feet we ride off.
now with mark tupalski (sir chat alot) im cool with talking and riding but its my job during the week sundays are my day off and with dealing with my nemisis of sunlight flickering through trees i was at full focus in leading us through the single trail., By halfway mark had dropped of matt was back with me and anthony, poor matt with so many race kms in his legs soon drop off,

60km water stop took a while to show up which really hurt anthony running bottles he pulls in to refill i roll on by jump a puddle and chew a torq bar down, i was happy for him to catch back up so we could work together, the big wheels roll up with a heavy breathing rider on top.. we work n ride together, but the turner gets a gap on the next hill.

condoo single track soon approaches righto then something i know i gotta keep anthony at bay knowing i was in 4th was a good buzz but i just knew he could reel me in on this track, so how do i keep a rider away but recovering here so my legs have more power come the roads...

80km im still all alone and as each 50km rider approaches quite quickly i know im getting closer to the finish, the fear of my camelback going dry builds, i wait and wait for big wheels to catch up i constantly wonder if im still going as fast as i was 20km earlier, am i fading???? so i continue to chew on my torq bar.. saving my gells for a kick in the final 10km.

90km hmmm i hear wheels i look to see big wheels but i had to totally do a double look and i see its kyle ward and we put some hurt into each other up a long climb.. He then rides away and all i can think to say is "well played sir" he seems to have the power to finish the day off, but as we zipp through some single trail the 50kers cheer the battle on, and it gave me a real kick to catch him, i soon roll up beside kyle, "lets do it buddy" i say, he hangs his head and gives me a lil tap to say he was done!... so i stand and attack like a bull at an open gate never looking back.. bush bashing to over take 50kers, then seeing a mud puddle i knew was very close to the finish i give it all i got flying out onto the golfcourse, and now burying myself into a dark place to hold my position as i did not want a sprint finish with a gutter hop..
A big smile from jenni english as i ride through the carpark my legs could barely jump that dam gutter. 4hrs 16min i was astonished with my time as i come to a stop and just lay on the ground in a desperate attempt to find oxygen the race announcer says congrats on 3rd place...!!!

I was just all confused as i was riding my heart out for 4th how am i 3rd did i hear right? i struggle to even put a sentence together to talk to anyone.., i pull my phone out of my back pocket(forgot to leave it in the car) so i ring jemma to tell her the news still trying to catch my breath, i was completly trashed from the race i emptied everything i had in me, i received a very concerned hello as i did such a good time she was not expecting a call to say a result let alone 3rd.
I truly felt bad as she was not there to see the result of all my training..

A week on it still feels weird to see 3rd next to my name in elite and against the whole field.

a shout out goes to matt flemming>>> bad luck champ on a day that should of ended in your favour not mine..

So hows the expectations i feel for the next time i race???

ONE HAPPY CHOP :)

Husky prep

2010-06-14T05:11:00.000-07:00

A long weekend on the couch watching tv and dealing with this flu bug has not been alot of fun, but the high quality of sport has kept me sane.
I ventured off to the gym today to help another instructor teach a spin class and just ease my legs and lungs back into it... and bought some very nice looking 400seriess skin longs.. mmmm warmth.
Ive ordered some 2xu tights but my cold tired legs have gotten to impatient for CRC... hope they arrive soon, one for road and one for home would be nice and will do a product comparrison test when ive worn both.
Once home it was straight into the torc recovery drink mmmmm and into the new skins..

My week truly kicks off in a big way every tuesday.
615am spin class
home for breaky
930am boxing class
then ride 30km to tuggerah
teach 30 school kids oh the bliss
30km ride home finding food before during or after the 30km
muesli and fruit from bodyfuel cafe my fav on a tuesday.
415pm RPM class
4min ride to the next gym
where i enjoy a good hot shower before my 630pm spin
then crawl home for food and bed
wednesday is a 60km round trip to tuggerah to teach boxing arriving home at 9pm
thursday is a 6am class 5mins from home then another trip to tuggerah for a 930spin class
friday is just the standard friday flogging at 530pm..

i guess team turner will head down south on saturday to get into the vibe for sundays race
with one hell of a hot field in the elite category.

im not sure how ill be feeling or can go, i havnt really been on the dirt since dirtworks, so ill be riding with some sense of safety, but i do hope i find my race face and just let it slide..

watch out for the boys in green....

Question>>>>> buy my 3rd pair of s-works or sidi???? any other shoes??

just chops.

BACK ON THE BLOG

2010-06-13T05:18:00.001-07:00

I did dream of starting new blog about "team turner" just read the next enduro mag i hear we get a mention.. Alot of life has kept me away from blogging alot of life actually all of my life has been through the spin cycle since riding the kona 24hr last year..
Two shoulder dislocations has stopped me from racing anything and everything im trying to keep it intacked for worlds in october, my small business has been gurgling down the drain so funds have kept me from traveling away to races as well, the rest of my life has changed as well, but the one thing that has not change is my direction "PODIUM TO EMERGANCY BACK TO PODIUM" so my blog will hold the same meaning.
The best change ive had in all the shit ive been and going through is my "PIT BUNNY" (gf jemma) to see her in action check out the video from the national 24solo championships.. (in big bunny ears)
It was her 1st time as pit bitch and did a fantastic job never missed an order actually i didnt even had to place an order, the most stress free 24hrs i have ever had and sending me to bed when noticing signs of hypothermia was the right option thanks jem.
Ok i may have lied a bit about the stress as i missed the shut off time to register but russ let me after 10am on raceday..
I had to leave it to the last minute as i didnt know if i could scrape together the cash and i spent my last dollar to race that day but to me it was worth it, in all the ups n downs of my world me racing with my team mate matt reekie is when my life problems turn into just pedaling and thats when im free.
Once again matt gets the edge on me while i bonk during the night, but i enjoyed everypart of the race yes it hurt yes i couldnt even hold a knife to butter toast the next morning, but getting to ride for 24hrs away from the world is priceless.. so was the practice lap with jason english all smiles and laughs during that lap..

SO WHERE HAVE I BEEN??

Dirtworks>>>> i like starting elite controlled n cruzy. tire problems slowed me down again this year and big thanks to troy glennan for helping me when i crashed n split a tire, i found out later i chipped some bone off my thumb hence why we had a lot of trouble getting the nut off the valve., another tire cut after the 50km mark but i rode the bridge n still broke the 5hr mark..

SO WHERE AM I GOING????

looks like im doing the husky....
thinking of chasing the croc ticket again
everywhere on my turner flux its a rocket and loves beating the traffic with 1inch slicks on, it was even seen passing a cervello p3 in a road race a few weeks back..100km 2hrs 55min is that alright roadies???

As the year rolls on im slowly turning my life up the right way, im just focused on The world 24hr champs and not dislocating my shoulder before it, so i must not crash.. and will get the opperation it needs after worlds.

ill be keeping you posted on the races ill be at as i pay for them and ride them.

>>>>>>nothing changes unless you change them<<<<<<<<<<

just chops.

AT THE END..

2009-12-16T14:30:00.000-08:00

The end of 2009>>>>>the end of my blog...

2007 running of the fling i made it to my 1st enduro poduim, then was thrown into emergancy the following jan,,,, 2009 comes around and with all the dramas before hand i sourced a bike the day before.. from THE EDGE CYCLES i got a sweet scott spark,,, an awesome bike for a marathon race as u can tune it to the terrain while riding,,, in a mad panic i was on the starting grid in my boardies i took it relaxed and rode with the big boys till the hill,, 4th place behined perran any blair and the verminator not bad eh... will hit this one full pace next year 4 sure..
The main event>>> it was all about building a bigger hurt box and smashing it to pieces to force everyone to ride over the splinters,... chaos began wen we all got lost... was top 20 now well over a 100 back so i got dirty and did every thing
(cx style) to get thru the shit.... now i had no idea of my position and dirty on al my hard work going to waste,, so i just rode my arse off... it was wicked to spend some time riding with willo and andy blair they really helped me along.. so i posted 5hrs 6min for a 3rd place.. back on the poduim and so ends the journey of my blog,,,

kona 24...

wow just the best time of my life.... i was worried as i looked like a new person, signing a deal with scv imports had me on a turner flux (its like a v8 cloud) has the power but so smooth..
it was in forrest 1100kms from home just me and my team mate matt reekie, with continental tyres keeping us upright rudy project had control of the safety on our head and our eyes (hated those blackboy plants) torq nutrition kept us running plus the odd anzac biscuit from holbrook bakery...

so there is lots to talk about here, ill keep it super brief im sorry...
there was mud and some mud to many log roll overs but the best berms ever some more mud, and thanks to light and motion for giving me something to chase till the sunrise...
i had some time off the bike due to some dramas but i managed 19 laps and finish after midday so my sister could see me ride the full 24hrs i made it across the line in a fit of tears but i did it,
MATT WE DID IT.... no surpport crew at all, so now we have kona as our own inspiration to acheive anything.. and we both have made it to worlds,,,

so im just cruzing about teaching and riding my ss..

merry xmas everyone watch this space for the new TEAM TURNER BLOG IN 2010.

just CHOPS :)

CRAVING THE DIRT

2009-11-04T02:30:00.000-08:00

I have not been on my mtb since the scott 24 after discovering i had cracked the frame, and today i found out that they cant source me a new before THE FLING>its this weekend... and where my blog all began, 2years ago i got on the podium, so here is a call out toanyone who can lend me anything pref a large frame.. im happy to wear any jersy to support who ever supports me.

The last couple of weeks has just been day in day out on the single speed, lots of highs and lows most of the lows has been caused by my french polishing business dieing in the arse so being down in the dumps a lil and completly stressed its been hard to power up the legs to do anything that would resemble a race... I did 3 repeats of kariong one arvo with matt and our best time was 8min 30.. last thursday matt turned up late at our meeting spot so we just rode down to copa beach and then up to captin cook lookout and continued on following del monte place which is like a roller coaster it was awesome and death defying, the climb out of copa was damn tough but we scored a few cheers for working hard at it, then we attempted to kill each other down cullens road i attacked to early and maxed out but once recovered i chased back and just out rode matt over the invisible line..
Sunday turned into an epic, we saddled up at 8am (to late for how hot it got) we meet simon (on a brand new scott geared roadie, geez here noisey) and to later find out it was simons first real road ride on it :).... we rode out to watch the local mtb 6hr race which def turned heads to see us gooses turn up on ss roadies to a mtb race... anyways so we headed north and just kept riding till lunch time.. belmont was our destination a yummy chicken snitzel and we rode back to terrigal with the wind blowing on our backs which was very welcomed after riding into it for hours.. 154km in totalled covered so the three burnt roadies for day went for a beer, it was glorious or was it the view of the ocean or was it what we could see between us and the beach...
The beer garden was packed and with us three having a beer in lycra, so it was only a matter or time before something was bound to happen... as the 2nd beer was never gona sit well we opted for a coffee and while i stood there with matt and waited for my caffeine hit, a lady stood up from her table of smiling laughing friends and walked straight up to me pointed to my junk and suggested i need to do some re-arranging because it looks like i have a massive vagina, Once her comment sunk in i proceeded to inform her that i have alot to pack in down there, so i was doing the best i could... lots of laughs......

so for the fling this year is all a mystery i do hope i find a bike ill be comfortable on...

chops.

one gear one way the hard way..

2009-10-20T04:19:00.000-07:00

The prep...
530pm friday spin class burried the legs deep.
Then a 4.5hr car drive back to young arrived just before 1am...
The alarm was set for 530am..

Saturday....
I was straight into my breakfast of weetbix and toast.
Then it was a battle of rugging up, i was a little under done for the 2degrees start.
My fsa booties and vaude spray jacket was working overtime, the fingerless gloves
was not a good idea, just as well i didnt need to change gears or anything...

I hit the first climb 2kms from home and the legs were snapped frozen, the first 10km from young is all up and the legs felt quite stale.. after days of dreamin of smashing the hills in this challenge my focus changed to survival and try to keep up the pace when ever i was in the saddle... I soon make it to wallenbeen and hop off to slide my saddle forward, that was definately needed... The climbs to coota werent as bad as i thought they were gona be so i just danced on the pedals to reach the top... i coasted down to the long flat road into coota, and i was so close to getting to the caltex depot before my dad left but we crossed paths near the sheepyards.. with a big HONK HONK !!!!!!!!
I strip off the spray jacket as the cloudless sky was warming up..and the big hills....i wastruly dreading the first one out of coota... i got to the quarry laughing at the climb... oh but it didnt let up and i was truly breathless when i reach the top... there was another nasty one to follow which kicks early and with stale legs i just tried to keep the rythm smooth and strong... The roads kept going skywards..... pssssssssssssssssssssssssssssst WAT!!!!!!!! a flat on armadillo tyres...
Dismount and get there repair under way. i check and and re check the tyre amongst the million buzzing flys... i pull out my only tube and only co2.. hmmm the tube has 2 patches on it... this could end bad... i refit tyre and inflate.. kool.. all good. i put my wheel back on.. pssssssssttt oh dammit... fine ill ride it flat then 10m later i wake up to thats a bad idea... i start the walk and thought id save my best "i need a ride thumb" until i see a ute.. 4th vechicle along comes a ute and he pulls up to see if im ok.. thru the bike in the back and cruised to wagga on another form of v8,,, had a great chat to,(just another person in the world who thinks im a freak)
The engagement party was tops, it was a very very relaxed affair so boardies and no shoes was ok in my books.. and the food was great 2nd time around as well..

On sunday we just woke up and hit the road it was a shame to leave the green and colourful countryside, driving back to the coast i craved a quinte cafe... there sure isnt many out in the country and i just couldnt handle the other maccas.. so we pulled into gunning the antique shops were a let down,, but call into the MERINO CAFE its a great little place with a very nice sunny courtyard out the back, big thumbs up on there choc banana bread.
Once on the coast we went straight to the single track goodness of ourimbah, well for charli anyways.. i saddled up the single speed and rolled out to yarramalong... i had BUMBLE HILL on my mind.... ive only ever driven down it but i wanted to know wat going up it is like..HELL..
320m in elevation about 4km and 18mins i reachd the summit.. then rode from there allthe way home via mangrove mt... and good solid 2hr session..

IM back commuting, it was a slow trip to teach at tuggerah yesterday so slow i got there 5mins before i had to teach a 45min spin classs after riding for an hour, the trip home was into a solid head wind the whole way... another class this morning but only 5mins away. better get out to work as we (matt reekie) are doing kariong hill repeats but the rain could put a stop to that..

CHOPS

2009 scott 24hr..

2009-10-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

The journey kicked off on thursday night after packing the car i drove down to sydney to stay at hiran's house because iwas seeing a guru about my shoulder..
from friday morning my stomach just didnt feel right, but i hit the freeways into the looming clouds( so how do new foam grips hold up??) i never made a stop till bundanoon turnoff as i had intel pheasents nest was not worth the stop. so i loaded up with a sandwich and some drinks.. i was cruising past lake george and my stomach got worse and felt totally drained so i pulled over for a nap into a boot load of gear very squashed but i fell asleep quite quickly no idea how long i was asleep for but made it to stromlo around 230pm.,, ifound one of my team mates (brodie the roadie) national U17 crit champ... so we set up camp and then headed out on a lap with mr & mrs vin pretty cruzy but it made me feel better till i stopped... and when we did hiran had arrived so we had to move ourcamp to our secret location...:) and hiran had our lights http://www.radical-lights.com/ awesome lights... any light can do the job, but the spread on these were fantastic icouldnt even tell i had one on my bar and one on my helmet except i was casting shadows on every rider icame across :).
I had dinner at a mates place then did my food shopping and backto camp..(still feeling crap>it lasted all wknd) the other half of the team RADICAL-LIGHTS in the form of charli mccabe and matt reekie arrived around 1130pm..
I awoke around 7am after needing the toilet for hrs i couldnt hold out any longer but caught up witha few mates on the return trip back to camp.

We elected matt to start us off because he had the crapiest shoes... and also the crappiest first lap i think he said he stopped at the pub, all i heard was something about bottles over my twisting cranks as i took the baton...
whoa i did some overtaking the amount of people on track but it became an added feature of staying upright... i really enjoyed the track but not nearly throwing up each lap, but i did manage one lap under 55min, my legs had all the power but my body just couldnt handle it..
But the team did a great job of getting us to 4th place once we found some timing results.. we all went lap for lap the sun went down and charli went for her first night ride..1137 lumens ha it wasnt really night time now..:)
on an early morning lap we managed to get the batteries mixed up and the lights died on charli and took 1hr 40min to find her way home again and thru the tears a smiled appeared when i checked timing and we moved into 3rd place wen at last check we were 20mins back, and that lapped could of been charli's last as we were chasin the poduim the boys were gona finish the race off... the lead from 4th was enough to let charli to enjoy her 5th lap around 9am but with 2flat tryes it was another unhappy charli.. matt put in a smoking 55min lap just outside the teams fastestlap (mine) i did wat i could but the tank was running dry but it was enough to get brodie out one las time and came over the finish in style with the radical lights banner as a cape, which grabbed the announcers voice,,, to bad for the company sponsoring the event hehe.

so we took 3rd place in the mixed fours all happy smiles... i will add the poduim pic when i receive it...

JUST CHOPS :) ps planning a 140km ss epic on saturday...

Im back in the saddle..

2009-10-05T00:49:00.000-07:00

Its been 8days since i re mounted my specialized epic... i battled with teaching spin classes one handed for around 2weeks..i definately rushed my recovery but i justhad to keep riding...
my first ride back was straght up kincumber mountain..i felt good so i did 3 repeats of thefire road climb up from erina.. one day was good so more riding on tuesday after my spin class just up and over kincumber mt (no real mountain but thats wat they call it) wednesday i dont i went for a ride just a spin class in the arvo which didnt feel like enough, thursday arvo i met reekie at the summit for a very fast blast of the flat single track on top of kincumber mt... i took off to lead the way throwing the bike every where(it was nice to 4get about my shoulder) we smashed it to the lookout n grinded italongthe sandy track towards the mudhut but turning right at (link track) and over to the wiggle track drifting thru the corners before coming to a real hault at a fallen tree... up the grass section to the mudhut down the sandstone steps then smashed it back to the tower reekie passed me on the way the back but i reeled him back as the road slightly tilted, but i paid for it for a day or more...i was so close to having a chuck... we then did the lap again at a leisurely pace then in the fading light reekie fired up some lights, we dscended down the tar road and flogged it as hard as we could on the road home,... friday 530pm spin class was a battle my legs were still burnt out....

SAturday i had organised a group ride for guys coming up from sydney and some locals butwith the rain alot pulled out so it was only me and anthony and tony... itworks out to a 60km loop 1400m of climbing some tar sections and we managed to miss the rain except for some drizzle on the last 20mins so we finished a bit soaked from tyres flicking water up... the hot coffee and pasta tasted extra good after that one :).

SUNDAY 4weeks to the day i dislocated my shoulder, i put on the same socks to break the voodoo arrived at ourimbah to the surprise of many but i was keen to go... sitting on the start line knowing id wrapped the points series and reekie getting second.. matt murphy was there to join in on the fun, with one rear spoke missing...lol.
i think it was me who mentioned the idea of a reversed grid... and so it went off with us atthe back of the pack... which would of been handy instead of being off the front because b-grade would over taken me i think.. i felt really slow out there and i just couldnt smooth the track with being a nervous wreck about crashing, but i got my 4laps done ate more food and saddled up for the long ride home... it took 2hrs we got lost a bit..i was running the tank empty so my head wasnt working welll. i managed to pick up a 40mm screw in my rear tyre, i left it in there and stans did its job,,,and then piddled on my floor wen i took the screw out. so my arvo consistant of eating food in terrigal..
pedalled my way to a spin class this morning the gym was quite full and they were eager for extra so they sure did get it... i whimped out on riding the mountain home.. legs are empty...

ive picked up some roval wheels to this week, which i might put on for the scott this wknd..
my shoulder needs surgery and im not sure wen that will happen.

oh yea and ive signed up for the kona 24...

chops:)

Back to E.R

2009-09-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

From the highs of watching the world champs and scoring an autograph and photo with Sauser, i did my usual routine at my local clubby pay my money and go check the course, its running bacwards today.. i was just cruzing along watching wat was infront of me then i was focusing on the bunting in the distance, my whole bike stops n the handlebars twist and i go over before i knew wat happened.. i go to get up and my shoulder has been dislocated.. i have yell help like 10times before someone can find me..

so were back to the begining again..

chops.

SPECIAL-ANT vs THE SPARROW--just let it slide

2009-09-01T04:12:00.000-07:00

Charli, chops and reekie are in the car again with bikes on top zooming down the f3.. everyone seemed very on edge after the incident a few days back involving some cars and a B-Double truck,, but even on a good day people still try there best to win the award for the biggest idiot.
We stopped at the twin servos (pheasent nest) looking for food, nothing looked remotely healthy so after bumping into frank and his nice black n white bmc bike, i handed the reigns over to matty because my right leg was aching, and we drove to goulburn looking for food and yay the green grocer was open, a cafe with everything,, pizza gelato fresh fruit coffee and a bike shop:) the road bikes they sell are pinarello and wilier but they just sell giant mountain bikes.. highend roadies but avg mtb??????
anyway we feed up and drive onto sparrow unload quickly and hit the track, climb climb climb sigh i new section of track... of all the trails and we gotta break in new stuff????? weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee (were on the bobsled) and after being whipped off my bike in the bobsled tail, i managed to stay on my feet facing back down the trail after trying to make a 180degree switchback while i was still enjoying the back end of a berm... then charlie whooping around the corner with a big smile "now thats what i signed up for" we finished off the lap did rego and took off to find accomodation.. The wallaby was the destination.. a quick bikewash and off to dinner in manuka..
We were a bit pressed for time before the race (prob y i left my phone at the hotel) and fark it was cold... i had my tent set up 3rd on pit straight just gold... well was until they shoved the site generator right behined me... argggghhh...

I had the start lap and was completely left behined, which was a real downer and i was also adjusting to a wetter track and some new flat bars..
matts turn my turn matts turn my turn and my right leg starts playing up,,, but i push on the hardest i can go, and with the track getting better and i was now in my race zone and just laying into it bigtime, the wheels were sliding thru the mud but would eventually grip and keep u going forward except for the new section, but somedays going sideways is the only way forward..
by about 4hrs we were coming 3rd and the timing stu had was tops, it was updated as you crossed the line so you could be really involved in the happening of the race...
Then we claimed 2nd place and i put in a double so wen matt was on his i could get my phone :) matt managed 2laps with a 1sec difference so solid even if he was running into trees..
i came back in time for my stint and felt great after being in a warm car and just thrashed my laps to bits... and when i came thru transition i followed matt up the fireroad pushing him i think something like "its your last lap so bury it bury your legs deep" was passed onto reekie. :)
with about 7min gap it was a nervous wait for matt in just hope all was going well out there.. i had the duties of the final lap with a comfy lead and a screaming stomp from transition lol it turned a few heads.... i was gona empty the tank in this lap, and had the most fun flying through the forrest with my new K-force FSA carbon flat bar was just awesome so thanks to http://www.scvimports.com.au/. So we finished 2nd in the 2man teams.. :) happy days.

a massive thanks to everyone who voted for me to win a ticket to the croc, it wasnt quite enough to get me there but i appreciated all the help..

chops...:)

YAY finally got to join the circus....

2009-08-28T04:26:00.000-07:00

Friday 530pm 2hr spin class
Friday 10pm leave the central coast...
Friday 12pm dodging lots of wombats
Saturday 1am trying to sleep..
Saturday 645am alarms go off lets get to rego
SAturday 710am at rego 712am leave rego 715am sigh the race is at 10am
eat drink fuel up and warm up ride....
saturday 925 i bust the valve on charlis rear wheel... quick change before briefing,.,
saturday 930 the good olde HUW humour kicks off never take a race briefing like oh ive heard it all before... we were warned about the water bars i wished i heard that bit...
Saturday 950 a friendly chat with riders on the start line "were at 650m" geez this could hurt a lil..

10am WERE OFF.. the pace was cruzing as no one wanted to work into the wind, it was so hard not to jump to the lead, but i knew my legs wouldnt hold up... but when we turned and had a tail wind and the dirt road was like smooth concrete the pace was cracking.... 2 groups form with hamish elliot leading the way.. i then saw him look back at the group (like lance did) you know the "im going are you coming????" it was so kool:) i had plenty of local coasties on my arse and was not gona let them get me... not sure how far in it was cause the whole race is a blur from pain.. but my right leg went super tight again but with wat feels like a knife in my right glute i pushed on... i didnt ride the wall but watched andrew bell ride it.. spent alot of time riding with him and dwight from rockstar racing...
wish i could remember how long each loop was...but i was pedaling as hard and as long as i could.. ppl kept getting away so i slammed down a gel not the usual brand i use so i was scared to see the side-affects but all went well so i slammed the second one downn...

seen the 10km to go and it sucked the life out of me as i didnt have another gear, soon after we hit fireroads away from the forest and now could see some prey(mtb riders) so started to really crank it..dwight was still on my wheel like the last 10km, great guy and not in my age cat so i didnt mind..n we hunted down the prey and gobbled them down, pushed the big dog all the way.. dwight still there, flew by the 2km to go sign with a sigh a relief i even heard my legs say thank.fcuk.. we dodge a rider with a flat tyre on the descent then dwight rode up beside me and said thanks for the lift home.... i looked back there was no one in sight, he mentioned he wouldnt sprint me for the line, good can we just cruze now... so we rolled into the finish with big smiles =16th..
dwight got 3rd in his cat and i got 5th... 3mins of reekie,,,, ur getting closer mate..
my gf charli did really well after bending her derailer and riding onto the poduim great 3rdplace babe.

big thanks to the lady who had a jumpstart pack so i could make it home.

sunday 830am hill repeats of palmdale peak times 5... lol insane..

chops.:) www.burningtrails.com is were i need your vote plz check it out, it closes on monday at 8pm..

STATE XC rnd 4

2009-08-22T22:19:00.000-07:00

sorry for the late response...

After sleeping in way past my alarm i awoke at 950am 10min due to departure time so we pushed it back to 1030 loaded up the car matt took the front seat while charli snuggled into the back and i had the foot to the floor for the trip to lithgow.. lots of nice views on the bells line rd..

We drove straight out to the track in time for the PEDAL for $$$.. me versus two giants.. matt reekie and matt murphy... Murphy got the jump on us early into the 1st lap of 3.. the fire road was full of loose stones the air was chilled the altitude was higher then all of our coastal homes..
It was the most painful 9km i have ever ridden it just tore our lungs to threads a bit like my arm by the end of the race...Part of the loop had a big dip in it which veered right at the bottom which i over shot the exit on the 1st lap to be staring down some pinetrees with a handful of brake.. lap 2 was better lap 3 i was moving over to the left side ready to go into the dip and started to drift my wheels hit some grass and flung me straight right and into a black berry bush i managed to stay upright some how i appeared out the other side bloodied and covered in greenery limped it home.. to have matt murphy to take the win and reekie to round me up before i got to the line..

SUNDAY XC..

The tension had been building for this day for a long time with myself michael vanos and adam kelly very close on points who ever won today won the series it mattered a hell of alot to all three..
Jumped onto the back off elite as we powered off the start i could hear a rider so close to my back tyre and wen i got a chance i looked to see a plain white jersy (mick v ) i was so sketchy on the single track just didnt wana stuff it up and i could never find my rythm for descending the whole race.. some were in the first lap i hear a big crunch behined me and lots of colouful language something went wrong with mick (he ate shit..) ok chops time to turn yourself inside out to get a gap.... it took a bit for adam to catch me, but with about 180m of climbing and switchbacks that destroy any flow to your ride(haha bye bye ur getting logged) and 7spin classes between today and the 12hr my legs were slowing down.. Adam went round me and i stayed with him 4 a short while but had him in my sights but i couldnt answer the power and class he brought to the race. and finished 2nd to him by the end...
Adam kelly won the expert class by 3points to me and with mick coming in 3rd.. i was mister consistant taking 3 2nd places in the series with mick and adam taking in turns at beating me..

WE came home with a beer mug each and a ribbon thoroughly enjoyed being pushed by these guys.. amazed by the strength and skill of mick v at 20years old and barely been riding for a year look out when he puts more rides into his legs..

bring on 2010 state xc...

well done to xfusion for helping the series along and craig armour to making it all happen great job guys...

chops :)

SYDNEY 12HR

2009-08-13T04:31:00.000-07:00

The race began at the rego tent after martin let me in the gate riding a very cool looking bike:)
Juliana was running the show in the rego tent handing out the numbers and cool yellow drink bottles while martin was doing his best to give away free mtb mags... "hello james elite solo for you" arghh do i have to..... "yes,, and guess what your number is??" hmmm i think back to earlier in my drive down to the race when i had visions of the number 1 plate... sure enough it was N0.1 the race clicked into gear and my week was forgotten my legs were ready and the target was getting brighter on my back for every step i took from that tent...

I set up my camp right along side the track neighbours with nobmob was great with the lighting they had,, and nearly the rockytrail show was here... http://www.burningtrails.com/ to see the episodes and post me a vote, ive made the top 3 and we can all vote again.. plzzz get chops to the croc...

i fiddle with my bike for quite a while trying to get my tyres right (i blew one off the rim earlier that day ouch!!!) i do wat i can strap some lights onn that i borrowed from a friend once i work out the ay-ups i was off to see the track... i rode the 1st half thinking 2moro is gona be brutal it was so rough... at the halfway i couldnt go on as the smell of food was to convincing..

I awoke at 6ish in my tent i never really woke up with the race day buzz, or with what layed ahead even on mine, was i not concerned or was it the unkown distance, but i just went about my usual race prep...i definalety stayed in my trackies and skins as long as i could.
Riding around wearing bright pink and having the number one plate definately turned a few heads but i just went about my biz, it was good to catch up with all the other riders i know before the race and i even got a sneak peak at the start list as the mc was from the central coast, it made me feel better as there was no big (well known elite) names on the list...This race could go to anyone... we roll down to the start it wasnt real friendly(but still no nerves am i used to this racing bizo) before anyone really expected we were told the race was on and most of us woddled the first 5m up the fire road clipped in and took on the climb, i caught up with anthony on a nice white 29er who was in a 2man with his gf. setting a good pace i thought and i was hoping to ride quite conservitaly with some flu bug i had i just had no idea how my body was going to.. id lost my voice 2days earlier so i apologies to the ppl i didnt get to ask track to and the thankyous i missed i was very hard to talk at times..
My legs dialed in the pace they wanted and if it took me to the end i would be happy no matter where i finished... lap after lap after lap goes by..

Ithink it was about lap 6 when my right leg starts to ache tight right glute and itband which then f###ks your knee,,, sigh so i get off for a stretch and start walking the rocky climbs which really helped my situation... by this stage charli is out on the track racing the GP4hour so i was keeping an eye our for another pink jersy and a big smile..

So the help from Vanina and Kath was highly appreciated felt pretty special these enduro queens working on my bike and shoving food into me.. more laps>>>>>>>>>more hills more powerbars more bottles dranked...

i come into transition to see charli there,, in tears because of an 8cm gash in her arm so a few hugs and tears and phone calls later everyone was smiling again..so i loaded up, i think this was were i had a spoonful of jam straight from the jar..it goes down easy lol.. more laps>>>>>more pain in the right leg..

The sun goes down and the lights get fired up... feeling pretty good about myself as i was still riding past any time i have ever spent on a mountain bike, and still enjoying my specialized epic my hand were definately past the hurting stage but just gotta soldier on to get the job done and chase the poduim.. i heard i was in 3rd so the game just got a whole lot more important..
somewhere into the night i caught up to shane to unlap myself i think and we rode about 2laps together having a good chat and then he got away when i pulled in for another stretch.

By now im doing sums in my head to what i have left i check with timing and im informed there is 55mins ago sigh, prob means two laps, so i crawled around knowing 4th place is not to far behined hoping he would catch me so we could sprint to the line and call it a night... i get to the finish line and stop before i cross it to think about my options, talking with charli and some solid intel and advice from craig armour so i rolled through timing and sat there changed a battery and sucked down some gels.. with paul craft as mc he had the crowd on edge and created such an awesome atmosphere, i kept a close eye on the trail for dreggsy...60sec to go no dreggsy..
here comes some lights so really with all the riders out there wat are the chances...IT WAS HIM..

My head drops and my legs powered up.. showdown time!!! i attacked the fire road climb and did the fastest lap in the last 70km to ride into 3rd place...

well done dave and shane for taking 1st and 2nd.
And a big thanks to everyone that helped me pack up, i was pretty out of it and charli being injured, your help made our lives so much easier. off to hospital and charli had to stay in over night, so i slogged it back home and got there at 330am.. i was up by 730am had breaky and went to ourimbah for the club round... talk about having nothing i was over taken by b grade and lapped by a grade.. but i did wat i could to get some points... back to syd to the hospital and pick up charli's car she got all stitched up we went out for dinner which was much needed it was my 1st real meal since thurs... i ordered lamb chops :) so tasty..

well that was a story.. sorry for bad typing im so tired its late on a thurs night and ive already done 6spin classes.. my right leg is still troubling me hopefully a massage 2moro will fix things so i can get ready for the state round on sunday were im coming second in the points standing so its a showdown against micheal vanos.. winner takes the series... should be a blast..

thanks for reading, hit follow on your way out...

chops:)

l think i need a new name for the blog it seem ive made it back to the poduim after being ER..

At the bottom looking up..

2009-08-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry to put a negative spin on life here but i just gotta let rip at this keyboard.. and it might help you understand chops a bit better just in case you see a pink jersy flipping out a lil at the sydney 12hr..

The training has been slack lately as ive had no lights,,, i could prob even go weeks back ill fast forward everything to this week.. not enough time and money stresses me out and ill just pick on the time issue..

its nearyly 2pm and i wana get to yellowmundee so i can get a lap in and set my tent up but yet im here venting out onto my blog and into the world.. The week has flown by and with coming down with what ever bug i have has been a bitch with trying to teach spin classes with no voice sucks arse.. work has strung out with problem after problem slowing production down and not getting anything done means no dollors..

took my epic into the shop yesterday in an attempt to make it lighter by changing the tyres and i cant get the small b8 to seal properly on my rear wheel and adding over the reccomended air pressure was goin well until i got to 80psi and blew the walls of my garage a lil wider so now everything is covered in stans and just soaking up more of my time...

i just have no idea how im gona get thru this 12hr race i have not eaten properly in the last week or trained or stretched like any other week i even had a coffee everyday which i never do..wats this bug gone do to me while riding who knows.. ive been training hard for ages to be ready for this.. being part of the rockytrail show has put extra pressure on me to perform on the day.. mainly i just wana beat shane taylor so ppl think im worthy of the ticket to the croc trophy..im driving down alone today in my car which i dont have faith in that it will make the distant and drive back after the race and be at ourimbah to race club on sunday morning... will i even be alive... i just dont know...
i dont even have a plan written down for my pit crew 2moro let alone the food i need to run my body... just so un organaised im just stuck doing all myself with no time to do it....

just get me to the other side of this wknd....

all of this has prob made no sense i just thought it mite help me from falling off the rails..

lets just hope wen i get pedalling 2moro it all disappears..

chops.

STATE CHAMPS 2nd PLACE

2009-07-27T05:16:00.000-07:00

The week started off with a slow wake up on monday morning after the nowra 6hr. and there was already a msg on my phone.. "mate can you teach my 530spin tonight" my legs started to hurt just thinking about it.. my 1st soloution was a huge breakfast and skins under the work trousers...
Jumped on the bike at 530 grunted gritted and punched out the class given everyone as much pain as i was feeling hehe.. then straight into the boxing room to teach at 630,, and a bit out of it and kept stumbling over my words but i made it through giving the class lots to laugh about..
Tuesday starts with a 615am spin and with out my mtb light(there getting fixed) i couldnt ride to the gym or do any recovering riding the legs def weighed a tonne but got the job done only to deleiver a smashing class again at 630pm.
Wednesday was a spin and boxing class in the arvo my legs missed a lunchtime ride today so they were slow tonight but i was trying to take it easy on the bike..
Thursday 615am spin and 630pm spin...
Friday i got another HELP ME calll to cover a spin class on saturday morning... so need the money so i signed up 4 it... friday finished with a 530spin and ive only ever said this once or twice "i went to hard" sweat kept dripping on my fly wheel which makes it grab but i tried to keep the same cadience which made my heart brake some ribs (slight exaggeration)..
Saturday morning i delivered the class they needed, but didnt hav time to fill up my bottle before class so that sucked and trying to keep breakfast down was a struggle.

i had my fav pasta dish for dinner and just tried to full up the best i could... i watched the tour until they reached the summit,, such a bad idea... my alarm sounded at 5am so i made it shut up as quick as i could, but hit the off and not the snooze, the next time i woke up i checked the time and it was 6am the time i was meant to be at matts house ready to leave oh bugger.... i send him a msg to update him on how im late so he drove to myplace... im such a stress head wen im late or dont have enough time so charli tried to help but i didnt make much sense with my grumble of orders... i nearly left wit out my front wheel but we hit the road by 630 stopped for some fuel which included an energy drink that gives u wings so ive heard.. i never drink this foul crap..

We made it to blue gum in serious record time hopefully no cops saw me :)
Did the rego thing (left my wallet in the toilets as i found out on the start line) another sure sign i was asleep.. i wasnt planning on doing a lap but after talking to big dog and anthony about the new section i needed to go have a look at it..
We caught up to hamish elliot on his practice lap as well and after chatting with him in the rego line to find he has never ridden here before.. so we just sat behined him and let him do his this (which was quite slow) but we (me and matt) did not dare to go past him and instead stayed on his tail riding with a ROCKSTAR!!!http://www.rockstarracing.com.au
so a last check out bikes slammed down that energy drink ate a banana and finished off a muesli bar which is completly different to any pre race breakie..
Rode over to the start area for one last toiltet visit but everyone was already on the start line..so i jumped into line and watched the elites buzz off then we get the call up..
RACE TIME!!!!!!
I got off to a healthy start but in one gear to big but after a few heavy stomps we were at the hairpin riding right up on shane taylors back wheel up th climb past the tree, were mick had nearly hit the deck we found our way back onto the turf again and into the single track i was coming 3rd.. the track then opens up for a bit with shane leading the charge, and my legs wanted to go but wasnt sure if i had enough track to get past 2 in one go, so i just let them tow me along back into the single track shane over cooked a corner which took mick with him..only because he was attached to his rear derailer so i shot up the inside stright into first with a huge smile and dialled in some pain.. on our way to the pallet section we were discussing the track and the moment i said i didnt like it, it jumped out and bit me and threw me off course which then shoved a tree through my derailer,, i had to get off and pull it out... 3rd had caught up to me by now but i jumped on before they could get past.. i could still see mick so i charged on and over the 1st half of the course i was catching him but in the second half i was losing him... i had in my sights for about 4laps and then he was gone... and with no idea where 3rd was i tried to keep pace on and race it right to the line..
Positions never changed so mick finished 1st me 2nd and shane fought his way back to 3rd, a very close race between 3-5..
Stoked to score a beer mug for the efforts, just gotta remember how to drive one of them..:)

Its all gone come down to the final round in lithgow to decide the series winner it will be a very close race.. Adam kelly should also get a mention if you look at his lap times they were real fast after a 3min off the pace 1st lap so not sure wat happened there but it took the pressure off the front runners...

A big thanks to my sponsors PUSHY GALORE bike shop
http://www.livefluid.com/
http://www.mayhemapparel.ca/
http://www.steelmx.com/
http://www.endurancetrainingcenter.com/

now that im back on the poduim it might be time for a name of the blog change...???

chops:)

The hard road..

2009-07-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

ALWAYS DO MORE IF YOU HAVE TIME>>

after nearly 6hrs of racing a slow hour to pack up ou stuff to turn the car on for the road trip home a live session of the hilltop hoods was cranking it truly made my day..

The wknd kicked off with a 90min cycle on saturday morning which was loads of fun and loads of hard work but the best eggs benedict afterwards is just gold... hit the road for nowra as soon as we arrived did rego and then hit the trail..

Which had me smiling the whole way around a very very very smooth track alot of log roll overs/jumps to keep it spicy but a track that will reward rythm and tempo so for my worn out legs it was going to help :)..
WE had dinner in nowra at some place which had a group of people dressed up for a 70's theme which made for an interesting dining experience..and into our tent for the night in a forrest.

THe race got underway at 930 after alot of people neeeded to rego at the last minute.. and with noticing matt flemming warming up the game plan changed to not getting lapped (i failed) so we rolled down to the start line with solos heading in one direction and teams going in another(were some gun riders were, when i thought theyd be racing solo) we questioned on how there start plan wa going to work but they assured they new wat they were doing (oh they were wrong lol)

Off we go, i felt heavy in the stomach at the start so for the pace to be very subdued i was very gratefull for... i dont think ive ever been in a race that started so easy, there wasnt even a burn in the legs.. and when we hit the 1st fire road matt flemming was a far way ahead.. thats why the burn isnt there because no one has been trying to keep with him.. further along 3 of us form together and ride away from the rest of the field until we head into some single track to get run over by a train of riders coming head on!!!!!!!!!!! WTF.. and lots of cranky heads... but we sort out wats going on and let the lost train continue on... no i dea how they managed to find transition... the next lap our group of 3 are still together., back thru transition SS mcgee pulls over and me a jamie continue on, jamie picks up alot of crap in his cassette which wouldnt be hard with all the new track and grass we had to ride thru.. he pulls over to fix the prob..
So i just keep the tempo and crank out the laps... i didnt pull over for about 3hrs still feeling good and wondering how i could be 2nd by taking it so cruzy..a few laps later i pull over for a drink and a stretch and ask for the time which i miss understood thinking i only had about an hour to go (when i really had prob 1hr45min..) so i rode it like i had 2 left when i had 3... i really begin to run out of fuel in lap 2... and my speed slows...i was to be overtaken by the SS mcgee in this period somewere...
I pull up in transition to chuck my camelback off refuel and go out for my last lap.....so i just keep pedaling... the sunlight flickering through the trees was really unsettling my tired eyes and was making my stomach turn.. i pulled up to timing at the end of a painfull lap to be informed i had 3min till 6hrs was up and i was 3rd and 4th was yea a farway back... so i called it a day and got off the bike....
Only to find out he snuck thru a went out and did another lap...

You might riding the race solo but ya cant win it alone.. solid intel is required, plus knowing my lap times and speeds would of been a real boost to morale... might have to start racing with a trip computer again..

I was impressed with my speed over the race...and well i should of went into more hurt to deserve 3rd place..

JUST CHOPS :)

NEWS FLASH!!!!!!!!!!

2009-07-13T05:30:00.000-07:00

no pressure for me the next time i strap on some lights..
http://www.nbntv.com.au/index.php/2009/07/13/lamb-is-number-one-knight-rider/

Also the final episode of THE ROCKY TRAIL SHOW is up..

www.burningtrails.com..

and please vote for me..

cheers...

no tdf so im off to bed..

chops :)

TOUR DE BRISBANE WATERS.

2009-07-12T05:58:00.000-07:00

Kicked it off from terrigal drive at 830 with reekie ready and waiting so straight up kincumber mountain which was a struggle after slogging it out last night..
A fun day ahead mainly just because matt has not not ridden this 80km loop..
Before to long we were looking at the base of BIG BERTHA.. so much ouch i had to drop it to granny half way up just didnt have the strenght.. we rode the turkey track and then onto the very sketchy cliff track with a big emphisis on dont go right... we gave the strom a miss for how wet it was.. bombed it down to the rip bridge...
Powered it through umina with a 2 laps of a bmx track just to mix it up :) around the end of umina is a track that goes along the ocean on the edge of a cliff with about a 4m drop down to just rocks..dont go left here... a loud WTF comes from matt lol...it was hard for how washed away it is these days... but made it to pearl beach safely.. ordered a very slow coffee and cake...

back on the bikes and back on the climb... up to a look out with views to palm beach and lion island and patonga.. this track then continues to the north walk.... and a walk it is..a solid hike a bike section greeted us... but at the top you enter a very different land.. all rock and dead trees.. your suspension gets a solid workout here.. on our way up to staples lookout the sand attacked our drivechains crunchy and grinding away for about 14kms, stopped to add some lube to matts chain suck problems...once to the top we were back on tar so that helped clean the chain a little.. we turned right into the trail to point claire our last section of dirt so there was no holding back here on the descent..
some footpath and road back to home around 80kms on a sunday morning in 4hrs..

A fantastic ride with water views of inlets and ocean to bad about the sand and mud but thats how it goes...

good times...

just chops...:)

Chasing the possums

2009-07-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

Their was not much riding done during my week only the usual spin classes.. So by friday i had lots of built up energy, and the 30riders that walked into my 530 spin class received the full effects of that being forced to be punished for just under and hour.(10mins over time).. i still had more so after raiding the news agency for the latest mag.. i headed to the bush..

IT was an eary climb up kincumber mt with the creekbed track was dense with fog once i made it to the top i did 2laps of the single track and headed down the other side to home.. and stayed up and watched the tour til the end. After a long breakfast in terrigal i headed to do a bit of work before lunchtime, but when i got home i went straight back to bed and didnt wake till 315pm scoffed down a packet pasta grabbed everything together and drove out to ourimbah.

CLUB ROUND>>>>NIGHT RACE>>

i drank close to a litre on the drive out, to make up for wat i missed during th day and because there would be no time during the race... i rolled out for a practise lap before i needed lights.. it was a struggle the body was tired the eyes were sore and the motivation wasnt there...
On the start grid i had brad kelly far right and trentan day (sorry if your name is spelt wrong) hmmm must of been about 8riders in a grade it looked to be a tough fight for 3rd...
i managed 3rd into the single track with the leaders disappearing fast.. i just couldnt any rythm in the single track just was being a pussy really and didnt wanna crash out.. so most of the 1st lap was spent abusing myself on the lack of ability i had to the amusement of the rider on my ass.. during lap 2 i asked if he was (gavin) tired of riding behined me... so we got chatting and to be informed his aim for the night was to just beat me.. that made me smile but also sigh of the pain that was on the way.. so had chattered more and the pace slowed alot (i liked it) i noticed ppl were making ground on us so at the start of lap 4 i picked the pace up (still below xc pace) poor gavin was still right on my wheel and with my legs hurting i knew he was gona get me by the end of the race,, but he flattered after the magic carpet..and with a classy dummy spit which most of the field heard through the forest with most expecting it was me..(i must be known for expressing my feeling towards a flat tyre).. so i jumped on the pace to get away and to put a comfortable gap into the new 4th position.. hes making more time anychance i see him.. same with lap 5 and i have the pace up to full throttle except for when the trees stepped out into me x3.
lap 6... when we signed up it was a 5lap race on the start line they told us it was now 6... and at this stage i was cursing it.. time to give at all i have to hold 3rd.. and it became my smoothest lap finally finding my groove was nice.. but this rider is still catching me.. i made it hurt as much as i could, knowing a stuff up on the climb at the end up thru the rock ledge had me nervous but i made it clean but still panicking,, i rolled into timing with that 4th rider matt reekie right on my heels a great solid ride and hes improving fast and with his new ay-up lights im glad there wasnt another lap..
Happy with 3rd... Happier when i was informed that brad kelly dnf with a flat.. sweet 2nd place :)..

it was a 6km course and lots of fun running some sections backwards added even more flow to the ourimbah race track..

THanks to my sponsors PUSHY GALORE
http://www.livefluid.com/
http://www.mayhemapparel.ca/
http://www.steelmx.com/
http://www.endurancetrainingcenter.com/

CHOPS :)

Just wearing the tread down.

2009-07-05T05:36:00.000-07:00

After doing some exploring in port macquarie on last sunday and getting the new white rims way to muddy, the bike got a good clean and then was taken to the bikeshop to have my BB bearings replaced. it was just a quick blast to the gym on the SS to teach a boxing class. which was below the 2hr goal, so tuesday i rode to the gym to teach spin and definately rode that one hard and pedalled home, off to work by car and kariong training never happened as were to busy with with work but rode back to the gym for my 630pm spin class which i burnt just under 700cal and then headed off back to my workplace were my car was parked via the long road 32km 1hr 4min i really bombed after 30mins which was not good being the second half being hills so i really struggled and grunted the SS to my destination and burnt another 900cal. charli was waiting at my car with my keys cause i left them at home (doh)..

Wednesday i dropped my car off to the mechanic and found a cafe to have lunch which has a plate of nachos for $8.50 mmmm, i left for the gym at 4pm as i had to teach at tuggerah which took me 54mins to get there and taught a cycle class and a boxing class and then headed for home..very very slowly... i spent 30mins talking myself in and out of riding up brooks hill on the way home, so i decided to give it ago to punish myself for going slow... i made it and flattered at the top, a quick smooth change and my hand didnt get stuck to the c02 so i was glad with that.. 200m later i flat again... sigh i never found th glass.. sag wagon was called and charli to the rescue:).

Thursday started with a 615am cycle and my car was done so i drove to tuggerah my legs were trashed.. mainly i think my body was empty so friday was just a spin class, and my epic had not been fixed because we cant get hold of the correct sized bearings.

Saturday i took off to sydney to do more filming for THE ROCKY TRAIL SHOW.
www.burningtrails.com to vote for me..

it was a funny day with the crew with some very bad acting very good coffee very good food and some riding.. in a quarry in the middle of hornsby..

Sunday was and early start about 230am with charli giving me a tour update wen she came to bed, id been there for hrs.... hit the road for sydney again with matt reekie to race at blue gum lodge..
if ya havnt been check it out, 26th july is your next chance in the nsw state champs.. we did 8laps and it wasnt my day and didnt really enjoy myself on this ruggered techy trail.. i could have a good long whinge about it but it doesnt deserve that really, but it aint a race course and doesnt suit my style of riding..
So once we got back to the coast we headed out for more riding which was very enjoyable being a beaut day to ride and to show matt trails he hasnt seen and to hear and see the excitement on the descents and the swear words at the base of the climbs, but ya did really well matey... 2hrs all up plus the 2hrs of racing.. Stans go put to the test today to... GLASS and wow it sealed it, thanks for showering my leg and frame with goop, but im not back there changing a tire. i like em:)

well there is 74km left of stage 2 to go, time for another milo.

If picked up another sponsor this week as well http://www.steelmx.com/ check them out and if ya like wat you see i can add some products to my order.

Also http://www.endurancetrainingcenteroutlet.com/servlet/StoreFront these guys are helping me out as well.

so with fresh tubes in the single speed ill try to knock out more kms right up to next wed-thurs before i head to nowra's 6hr... my taper will be a 90min spin class the day before..(its all 12hr training).

keep pedaling

chops :)

EPIC WHEELS..

2009-06-27T04:52:00.000-07:00

Then new wheels are on...

And a nice new shiny cassette and chain with some new front chain rings... i so wanna weigh her now.

ZTR OLYMPIC from stans.. after the amount of flats i have had this year its time to check out wat all the whooo haaa is.. im at port macquarie at the moment so there trails will be receiving the honor of my wheels...

THe week got off to a slow start after racing/crashing at appin on sunday.. i ignored my 530am alarm to go riding, so i went to work instead so i could ride before lunch in the sun a flat ss ride.. dodging traffic as per usual, but it did my legs a world of good.

Tuesday morning started with a spin class which was a real battle so i focused on the long black road into a red desert(croc trophy training) but by 1130 i was hitting the base of kariong hill with THE MALTESE FALCON and CAPTIN CRAWFORD and brian on his first hill repeat session up kariong,, i had nothing so the captin won the 3 battles to the top, round 4 was soul destroying because we rode up pizza hut hill... at one stage i was doing 8km/hr trying to keep pushing my single speed,, just brutal.. back to the gym for another spin class at 630, and with 15 footy players coming in for a training session i had to really step up and deliver a killer ride.. i slept well that night.

wed thurs and fri were just the normal classes i just couldnt get out for a ride.

The weekend is halfway gone and the only riding ive done was a spin class this morning which i felt very sluggish in, im struggling to get enough fuel in at the moment.. that will all change when i get my shipment from fluid.. http://www.livefluid.com/ i cant wait :)

The alarm is set for dawn to go riding before breakfast, we have 3 places marked out to go riding near port macquarie so well see how it all goes, heres to hoping my new tubeless wheels run well and it turns into an effecient training day..

JUST CHOPS:)

WORKING SERIES 8HRS OF APPIN

2009-06-21T04:48:00.000-07:00

AS most people are aware its been extremly wet and yea it not very motivating to get any extra training done or to get excited about racing a track that has 3 creek crossing..
Did a small ss road ride on saturday then drove the 2hrs to appin in drizzle.. i put up my brand new gazebo/sun shade thingy.$128 from bigw bargin:)
I bumped into dave a tough single speeder who i see at all the enduros, who offered me a roof over my head instead of camping like planned so cheers mate..
I started the race (a social day with the boys) racing for http://www.linxgroup.com.au/ it was a rough start with tyres clashing as we slipped and slided in the clay fire road, got held up in the single track a fair bit but i was content with the pace... got going towards the end and made up a few places 34min lap..
greg was the next rider followed by david, then it was my turn again, i hit the creek crossing with eyes peeled to find the right line.. my nose is an inch from the water i tuck my head in.THUMP. i hit the rock bottom head first(thoughts of this aint going to be good) THUMP my bike lands on my head, i push myself up out of the submerged situation quite dazed i fix my damaged helmet push/limp my way out of the water wondering if i was ok... should i turn back to transition or am ok??? i slip into a pair of angry pants annoyed at getting drenched and post my quickest lap by a minute..
By this stage we find out were coming 4th and me and greg agreed on wanting the poduim while david was lappin appin in only his second ever mtb race..
so we keep up our duties and transitions were quite smooth..

THe next time we check timing were coming 2nd:) its game on now 1st place was out of reach but we did wat we could to hold off 3rd place.. with 90min left and david out riding and greg declaring he has had enough and my next lap would be the begining of a double so i did wat i could to get down as much fuel as i could., knowing i needed 2 sub35min laps to def hold off 3rd who was about 5mins behined..
Off i go with dead legs, mainly just cold from sitting around and being unable to bend my right leg after that creek crossing.. i road it smooth and rythm and being more daring thru the corners alot of great fast corners at appin.. i couldnt really attack to hard so i knew i was goin a bit slower then my previous 33min laps, i came across a stricken rider who needed a link to fix a chain i reach and throw my griplock bag containing link chainbreaker tubes tyres leavers and a c02..with no time to stop i power away then realising wat ive just done could cost me the race if something was to go wrong in my double lap.. hoping the karma would be returned i tried to make all gear changes smooth as possible..
part2... i conquer the creek crossing that brought me undone earlier:) all going well till i get to the next one.. i try to power the front wheel up a rock ledge after the creek and get chain suck which sent me over the bars slapping my hands on the rock i had my eyes on.... hearing my bike bounch away on the rocks:(... i give it wat ive got to the line...
i never got over taken so i knew i had it in the bag... no one got round me all day:) just lucky timing i guess..

so 2nd place it was.. made the boys happy.. they returned the favour by packing up all my gear cheers guys the linx boys now how to get to work on constructing and destructing... that space never had trees there did it eh guys????

big thanks to my bike shop PUSHY GALORE. who always having my specialized epic running sweet.
and to mayhem clothing http://www.mayhemapparel.ca/ and to fluid http://www.livefluid.com/ for or your support..

CHOPS:) wearing the socks i won..

The ROCKY TRAIL SHOW.

2009-06-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

HEY everyone.

as the rain falls and the skys are grey its a good time to throw a vote my way..

episode 2 is up now, with me riding the monster track in sydney olympic park i took it very easy on the way down i just wanted to get through it alive.

http://www.burningtrails.com/ is the link, REGISTER and please vote for james lamb (me)

and here is another link to more quality riding http://www.nbntv.com.au/index.php/2009/06/15/nsw-cross-country-mountain-bike-series-rd-2/

check out the guy in pink...:)

chops:)

PODUIM!!!!!! 2nd in expert nsw state xc

2009-06-14T02:46:00.000-07:00

Today was round 2 of the X-fusion nsw state xc series at ourimbah...
after receiving a pasting in elite last year i chose to race expert.. up the fire road to begin and i was just off the back of elite, and with knowing i had only 3 10.8km laps there was no time to hold back, so i slammed my body and bike into the hurtbox...i was so in my zone it was great, sticking corners fast, ripping it up climbs( that spin class yesterday didnt slow me down to much)
i caught up to BIG DOG, last years winner of the series, i felt real bad so i held off from passing him as long as i could, 4 some reason i thought if he seen me beating him it would bring him down further.. on the climb out of the meadows i was passed by a rider with a white plate.(expert cat rider adam kelly) crap.... big dog gives me orders to chase him down and get on his ass..FULL GAS... i follow adam around for another lap and when he realises that were both racing for 1st it went up a notch... both riding strong and there was not weak spots to be seen, i managed to get in front going into the missing link.
LAST LAP..... adam was all over my tail, but we were so far out infront i was thinking about asking if we could cruze and then decide it on the last hill... but i never had a spare breath to ask... so i pulled back the pace a bit so i had the energy when it came to overtaking sections to hold off any attacks.. at the top of the rollercoaster i thought id test his speed on his hardtail.. i ramp it runch it stomp it and just hung on...i attack the climb out the back no i mean i ATTACKED the climb...ive made a gap so its full steam ahead to the finish... my gap is dimished.. its going to be down to the last climb.... adam attcks and got the smoother line but i answer it up the rough stuff butting handlebars..he scores the better line and my heart had busted sum ribs by this stage.. i come 2nd by 4seconds.. very happy chop.. only other news on the riding front has been lots of spin classes and squeezing any chance i can get to ride...
I did filming for www.burningtrails.com on saturday at the monster track in sydney it was alot of fun and catching up with all the contestants is always alot of fun.. if you havnt given me a vote yet head to the website register and chuck a vote my way.. i really want the ticket to the croc.

The following images are my new sponsors for the next 6-12months cant wait to get wrapped in mayhem and fed fluid..

off to hit off another week with the aim of 2hrs a day.. and then on to appin on saturday to camp for the 8hr on sunday. (team of 3) fun with the boys...:)

i enjoy feedback of any kind so feel free to leave a comment..

chops:)

Race day CANCELLED :(

2009-05-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

The plan this weekend was to use a port macquarie 6hr club round as training, but its just been postponed....

The hotel has already been paid for so weighing up trying to get money back or just go and ride muddy trails...

i just need a solid flogging on the bike.

chops..

1gear 1flat 1km x100= 1 big work out

2009-05-24T02:22:00.000-07:00

TODAY was a charity ride for Rotary. 100kms from mt penang down towards the hawksbury back up mt white over to kulnura via and back to mt penang..

we rolled out on the neutral start over some cattle grates with timber boards on them. from the roundabout at somesby the race was on.. with 6 riders turning left at the roundabout when your meant to ride through it me and another guy were now at the front with an open road,"ive got one gear so i might as well get going so i attack and see how long i can hold them off... prob made it a km... on the descent bout 20riders zipp by but i beat them up the following climb:)
i flat on the dscent to mooney mooney,, it really sent my morale to an all time low..to the point i wanted to just go home. i had no pump took me ages to get tension on my chain right.. on the way down i seen the leaders coming back up so i started measuring the hill, about 4-5km of hurt was due to come.. but i turned around and starting the stomp up the climb... passing a hell of alot of riders it was great.... to see there reaction was hilarious... some shook there heads in shock and some worked harder so they werent beat by a single geared bike or a guy in a pink shirt..
i had to put a bit more air in later, and grabbed some snakes at a food station and a whole lot more comments...
just kept pushing trying to catch as many riders as i could and with a couple turn arounds i was closing in tri guys..
so kept making my legs hurt the whole way...
finished in 3hrs 45mins..:) nice solid leg work out..

off to a working week and the port macquarie come saturday for a 6hr on sunday..

chops:)

hump day x5

2009-05-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

Tues morning started with a 615spin class which woke the legs up they struggled a bit after the intensity of sunday racing.. lots of talk about the kariong training session but the weather and timing didnt suit the three riders..
so i went for a quick 90min blast on my specialized epic out into the bush on the macs trails which are sweet as at the moment a very nice line has been run in out there, so check it out...
i lowered my tyre pressure to 50psi to help with climbing... i bombed it down the luge,, never really trusting my back tyre.. and then road up heartbreak hill... which now looks so daunting and the water bars have doubled in size, its a cross between a downhill/4x track atm very challenging to climb. made it to the top with the heart attack it promises.
then headed over to the overgrown leafy single track which was a ball riding with a skinny tyre riding of the edge of good and bad. so good i did it twice when charli turned up. rode back to work loaded up the bike off to the gym for a spin class a very long sleep that night..

THe kariong climb started at 1230 with rain looming.. knowing we were only doing 6laps was nice and we were all pumped to be there... crawfords legs were firing alot better this week he rode the first lap in the saddle astonishing strength...we ease it down the hill on semi wet roads..
lap 2 all seem a blur between the pain but we all had turns at the front.
lap 3 i sit back and wait till halfway to pounce jak and crawford answered the call very well and we battled our way to the top wit a chain slip on crawfords bike the sprint finish was void...
lap 4 it upped the tempo trying to hold 22-23km/hr with crawford on my tail all the way, he attacks at the look out, i never answer an attack instantly for some reason im more happy with just slowly pulling back the gap i have to work overtime to pull the gap and he sees my coming im climbing at 30km/hr around the bend, ill catch him and let him have the win.. we get even and both launch out of the saddle my legs and heart was never gona surrender with nearly dieing on the bike we peak at 33km/hr i get him by half a wheel and both gobsmacked how hard we pushed it..
lap 5.. rizzo flys from the start and we never catch him till the last corner.. with drops of rain it signals this will be the last one.... i empty the tank all the way to the top..
the day was finished off with a spin class...

legs are spent...
1hr 58mins for 4laps of ourimbah on sundays club race.
thats a minute slower than the sunday i raced after a mon-fri 400km stage race.. but i pushed it the max i thought on sunday... hmmmm wat could be the answer to this..
chops:)

Ourimbah clubby

2009-05-17T04:55:00.000-07:00

zipped out to the track and got there about 830, before the line up started. picked up my free race number(because i won the last round). jumped on the bike to warm up and after hearing about a new bridge and the uncertanity of getting a pinch flat i rode right to the top of the rollercoaster and bombed down it with 60psi in my 1.95kenda klimax tyre, well it held up and the new bridge is super wide, which now promotes more speed to the rock roll in :).

Down to the front row 6 in Agrade...hmmm its gona be a tough day with brad kelly and brock and 3 imports..

off to a crappy start wrong gear (to easy) and didnt clip in... but rudely barged my way to 5th before the climb.. and stayed in touch with the rider in front. watching my HR going stupid.. i went to overtake at the end of jurassic but being right behined him i didnt see the sand and hit the deck all clipped in. back on the bike sighhh..... now i gotta catch him again..

we were very evenly matched in skill and strength i was struggly to see a weakness in this rider on this course.. the graveyard slowed him up tho so i sat on his tail to add pressure before the next fire road were i rode onwards to the next rider and caught him in the short meadows climb rode his tail to timing were he pulls to get a bottle or something alright up into 3rd, wow that was the longest lap ever...

with the thoughts and dreams of riding the croc in october it just gave me the best fuel to push my body. and with the training in my last blog just made me know i can pump it hard..

so i soldered on never letting myself slack off slowly making a gap on 4th.. he got pretty close at the top of the rollercoaster especially when i goofed the rocky climb up... just cant grip the ground with 60psi lol...

but pulled away again slip sliding around but sniling alll the way.. i got a quick glimpse of brock were there track turns back on itself near the start/finish.. hmmm i might be able to catch that freak of a rider.. it can be hard to stay focused when your getting flogged by two downhill racers..

but i keep pushing the body i start to bounce around a bit more due to fatigue and having my heartrate so high.. i rode the last 2laps all on my own no one in front no one behind they could only be 10 seconds in front or behined and most of the time you wouldnt know around ourimbah.

rode to the line in 3rd... VERY HAPPY.

Unsure on lap times but will post them when they have them up.

TICKER RESULTS...

2hrs avg hr 83% max 96% 2056cal.

CHOPS:)

Tuesday torture

2009-05-15T03:07:00.000-07:00

The competition is above.....................The fuel is below

The morning started with a 615am spin.. then home to 5weet-bix 2eggs on an english muffin.

AT midday the challenge was on.. i meet crawford (8hrs 2min in 100mile) and jak whos been on a rough trot in endurance events.. but he is the guy that also wears pink and will overtake you on every descent..

AT THE bottom of kariong hill. (3km long) crawford on his malvin star jak on his lovely red advanti and me on my single speed..

Well up we go.. my legs felt like race day.. off the front i burst setting the pace with crawford riding past me at the look out.. the look out is were th road kinks ever so slightly and nearly take 10k of your speed which hurts wen u only have one gear.. we arrive to the top never truly racing but never giving an edge, were to busy smiling while we try to hurt each other... between gulps of air jak admits to that being the quickest he has ridden to the top..(btw we didnt let him change gears)

lap 2 the same thing happens im over taken at the lookout and jak does another pb.

lap3 we let jak make a gap we reel him and i attack before the lookout for crawford to cross the top by my side...

lap4 up we go smashing pedals and making our old single speeds sing(squeak n creak) me and crawford play cat and mouse to the top with me getting the win..

lap5 im truly enjoying the burn in my legs by this stage so i drilled it hard i attack at the halfway mark never looking back.. only to realise ive left the boys way behined i sit up the top with a huge smile and wait for them to arrive... crawford is devastated ive never been able to beat him..it must be the heavy malvin star over my sleek dodsun... we try each others bike out at the top while we wait for poor jak who is truly hating us...and our mad ideas...he calls it quits but we roll back down the hill following jak who gains more speed out of corners then the car drivers do and we talk him into doing one more.

lap6... me and crawford change bikes.. hmmm a lil strange but today is not the day to try and beat chops..(was in pink to) i make it to the top as the VICTOR.. crawford gulps for air and pushes out your bike is lighter huffpuff its quicker huff it feels faster puff.. my legs just arnt..we shake hands and call it a day.. and roll home..

back to the gym at 630pm for another spin class it burnt the whole 45mins and the stretches were agony... my legs were so empty all day on wednesday..

the goal is to do this once a week... well just have to see if that becomes possible..

sunday is club race check back for race results..

CHOPS:)

dusted up by dirtworks

2009-05-03T02:12:00.000-07:00

hey chops you have a cracked stem... lol yea funny jak.. nope he was serious and well spotted i frantically headed to the bikeshop there and scored a new stem... nerves were settled and ready 4 a day of racing.

630am start we take off in a pretty hot start for this race which is usually a lil subdude.. i found my rabbit in the bmc jersy of troy bailey and the fellow rocky trail stars.. bout 12 of us broke off the front in search of a clean run at the big hill..
up and across the top i flat descending i stop 4 a change (and a spew). i change and continue on..
FLAT AGAIN.. i check my tyre and pull about 5mm of metal out of it.. and damn i never packed more than one tube... with top 3 un able to be caught i opted to wait for charli and help her ride her 1st 100k..
with my legs eager to fast we parted at the 50km..

two MORE FLATS on borrowed tubes... and shredded tyre wall i call it a day.. dnf..(1st one) and last.

charli rode the kayak bridge crossing and is eagerly waiting for her (i rode the bridge band) in the mail...
and finished in 6hrs 37min 3RD PLACE..... AWESOME... sponsorship anyone?????

gimme another race hungary and cranky...

CHOPS :(

The weeks round up.

2009-04-26T02:09:00.000-07:00

The working week kicked off with a hard core boxing class which i felt all the way to thursday.
so backing up the next morning for a 615am tues morning cycle class was a bit tough but made it through ok, so some much needed refueling was done during the day to prepare for the 630pm rpm class that night, and with a new HRM on my wrist i was curious to see myself die by looking at numbers..
so i gave it all i had being interval training program my avg over 50mins including a warm up a cool down and a stretch was about 76% of my max and 750 calories and i peaked it at 97% very very happy with and still being able to talk somewhat.
wednesday involves a cycle and boxing class from 530pm in the cycle class i was teaching my music were my aim is to run my heart rate higher for longer and keeping it above 80% and flirt with 90% because beyond that it gets quite hard to talk and to teach properly.. i managed to burn another 750 calories.
Thursday 615am cycle i was pretty tired which is about normal by thursday so the legs dont have a lot and class was giving me much energy so i rode through it doing wat i can. some weight to kill time before my fortnightly vist to the chiro :) just love it... he reckons i only need him every 3weeks which im a bit sad about but if i dont feel right ill be making a visit especially before a big race if i got a spare 45bucks..
thursday630pm was another rpm class delivered wat my legs would let me do, they were very heavy and could only hit 90% of my max..
FRIDAY was to be the peak of the week late on thursday night i put a new mix together which was sure to be a big challenge to ride and teach to..
RESULTS say it all.. 51mins avg 81% max was 96% and 858calories a complete flogging.

Saturday i didnt make it to the dawn service so i apoligise to my pop. a rat of trobuk and the hardest man i know..R.I.P.

i jumped on the single speed to fit in wat i could before my class at 3pm i managed 51mins avg76% max90% 848calories very close to a spin class eh....
there was a few from the friday class and lots of people very unprepared for the slaughter. hehe. ive made it that hard i really hate myself on how hard it is... anyways so i was dishing it out big time, i hit pause at the end of the second last working track because it does take u a good couple of minutes to catch your breath, "three words... three words to get you through your mountain climb 7min" one lady's remark was "oh my god" the tunes dig deep into the muscle and it sings PLAY IT HARD. we rode it to the 7min summit.. avg82% max94% 858calories...
tried to recover by doing a body balance classs its like yoga and stretching in one class.. but i awoke with a very sore back unsure if it was all the stretching riding or the single speed.

Sunday me and charli hit the trails to ourimbah.. very windy conditions and a bit rough on the saddle.. must be that lil kenda tyre.. its rough it can really slide.. it doesnt grip wet rocks.. but it rolls real fast...
both our legs were dead it wasnt a real enjoyable ride wit the windy conditions with branches falling onto the track and a DH race was on and a few riders waiting in the carpark were hit by falling branches... but we got it done.

KENDA KLIMAX LITE 345g REPORT.... step one. pump it hard..
step 2 dont break to hard unless you like drift..
step 3 keep it between the rocks..
step 4 soften the suspension a lil if your value your ass.

Unless its wet for dirtworks ill be running it in the aim to break the 5hour mark, the side walls really protrude so it will either make or break my day.

The next blog will bring results...

ps.... log onto www.burningtrails.com register and put a vote in for me so i can take on the crocodile trophy..
check out the first episode of THE ROCKY TRAIL SHOW while your there....

enjoy

CHOPS:)

OURIMBAH xc round 3

2009-04-19T18:44:00.000-07:00

WINNER.. by default....
how it went down.... it was a short course on sunday over 3 stages.

stage 1 went up the fire road climb>burnt forrest>rollercoaster.. there was 5 of us on the start line brad kelly was there so i was just aiming for second ive seen him beat hamish elliot around this track so hes a tad quick.. another guy in boardies singlet and bucket nut hard to take him serious but hes bike was very expensive so i didnt judge his ability.. just as well they both made me look like a punter, both out of sight in 3mins of riding...

stage 2 same course but in reverse...by now the mud you were coated in was drying on your legs very crap conditions.. brad and his mate brock(national dh champ so i was told) both bailed didnt mind at all made things very easy for me to win.. the other 2 riders stayed in touch but i stayed out of reach just enough..

stage 3 was the graveyard and some in reverse.. brad and brock came back to ride this one.. i stayed with them on the fireroad start but i miss judged the holeshot because i didnt know it was there and was stuck in top chain ring, completly lost contact with them then.. in lap 2 i crashed by turn off the fireroad into the single track in the sand and trees very sore now with my pedal smashing my calfmuscle badly...
so came 3rd but won the day because i raced all 3 races i guess...

now to recover chew on lots of endura optimizer buy some new bike shoes cause ive broken the souls in mine.. hmmm maybe new cassette and chain for dirtworks..

i never rode with the kenda on in the wet.. on the right track and day it will be good (the fling).

ill be in touch..

CHOPS;)

Riding in ernest....

2009-04-14T04:54:00.000-07:00

Ive moved house over the easter weekend right next door to where i use to live about 13months ago, so now im back riding down ernest street.. if your unsure why that is a bit of a hurdle go back and read my first blog entry..

Onto riding over the easter weekend.. after moving on saturday i took charlie on a ride up kincumber mountain which we live at the base of now. about 100m of climbing to the top over a couple of kms.. the rockiest loosest trail there is bloody hard work for me to make it so its a push for charlie to make it which she hates but i re-ensure her that i was like that 2yrs back..i couldnt make the climbs. once at the summit we bombed it down the otherside to the creekbed section which comes with some mad single track before it with drop offs and lines for your downhill bike. the creekbed is just all rocks with lots of lines but dont go left or you will not return... it shakes ya to the core mmmm perfect dirtworks training... then we rode up to katandra.. another 100m straight up.. reaching into my back pocket to find no phone...oh crap last time i check was at the top of kincumber so i send charlie home to meet at the top with her car and for her to ring my phone to help me find it in the fading light... i rode back up the creekbed no luck so i hiked up the downhil loosing faith in the chance of a phone flying out of my pocket and landing on the 12inch wide trail but at the second drop off there it is face up.. packed it tight and bombed it down the creekbed again so smooth for how dark it was..
sunday was 2laps (social) of ourimbah.. and still laughing at the miss guided cornering i did at 40km/h sliding left to right then up onto the front wheel into the trees... elixer brakes are really really good...
monday was the big day made it 20km from home wen it was gona be a 90km day and had a slow leak i start sunday with th same problem so i changed it and with fear of it dying again further from home i turned around and rode home.. 40km 3000m of ascent/descent in 2hrs 20.. slow legs eh..

the bike is the shop getting a look over and a new kenda tyre on the rear a 1.95inch weighing 345g... i want a light semi slick for dirtworks, but i really do like the fast track s-works tyre is so versatile and fast..

im mentally pumped for dirtworks and so want to ride it bad... till then ill be flogging my legs for the next 2weeks..

WELL DONE to all that rode the nationals jason m and jason e well done guys i applaude you and everthing you are... just amazing.

CHOPS:)

Sunday ride with sunday drivers..

2009-04-05T21:31:00.000-07:00

Hills was the ingrediant for this ride i rode to the base of wat we call heartbreak hill which at the top you turn left and then ride big bertha..

i measured it with gps on my phone(prob not accruate) 1.9km bout 90m elevation.

it has been freshly graded with higher water bars all 14 of them..and after a week of rain it was very sticky and soft it felt like you were riding with a flat back tyre but conquered it all. on the last of 3 i rode big bertha in the granny because it race conditions thats how you would tackle it.. not to convinced it made it easier..

charlie was not having fun getting lost and pushing her bike up these hills so we headed for home.. how about kincumber mountain... sweet i say lets go.. some sketchy descents on our way, trying to prepare for dirtworks the best i/we can...

a long road climb to the top then chose the dirtroad down the otherside over the single track.. at the bottom my day turned to shit..

Rolled down the tar towards terrigal red light at the bottom at charles kay another very hard climb. we round the corner and then this stationwagon came very close to clipping me..(theres 2 lanes so easy just to move over) so i gave him the finger... he then pulls up in the middle of the road.. ding ding round one.. so i rode past and called him something and gave him my trademark slap ya side mirror greeting, then i hear the engine rev, i look at my back tyre and his all over it i stomp on the big dog to try to get away 10pumps and his still there,, shit i need to get out of here or im gone a quick look over my right shoulder clear so i dart into head on traffic the one car makes so effort into adverting hitting me i end up power sliding into the gutter and was thrown onto the grass.. i pick my self up(oh im fired up now) the driver has pulled over and charlie is all up in his face which looked great with being a foot taller and 2foot wider then her..lots of abuse was delivered both ways for like 5mins..i actually smashed his mirror( my left hook must be getting stronger) we parted and he still gave us shit wen driving by.. with fear in the blood and anger in the legs we both rode the hill pretty quick..

i really wana ride more by commuting i just dont feel lucky enough to make it thru each day..

ps the pic is view from the top of kincumber mountain..

just chops:)

PODIUM!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-30T21:59:00.000-07:00

My support crew of one charlie (my gf) who entered her first ever solo race and it was the wagga 6hr enduro, which she won and won by a whole lap... congratulations babe all that running and spin classes and mountaing biking has really paid off.

For me i could only manage 4th place.. never got a proper warm up in and should of skipped the race briefing for the bathroom but held top 10 into the single track after a 3km road climb my legs felt heavy and the weather was gona reach 31degrees so i tried not to push it to hard on the climbs consuming a bottle a lap with water and one scoop of endura magnesuim max in each bottle while sucking down peak fuel lime gels.. i slid out on one corner in the 1st lap it never fazed me it was so slippery out there ya realy couldnt push it hard thru the corners or on the descents i had both wheels sliding enough as it was, sometimes kicking the rear out so far i just laughed at how insane you could slide... end of lap 2 i had a slow leak in my rear tyre so i limped home to hit it with the track pump out 4 another lap,,, it didnt survive...had to take it real easy on the descent now its loose and a flat tyre i didnt spend much time pointing straight...
change of tyre a horrible change i couldnt get it off the rim.... still had to tyre lever it back on so gay im binning that f****ing tyre...back out for more... rode with anger to make up time, but starting to fade in the heat...dropped my bottle in the 1st half of my third lap manage to make it back ok...simon who traveled down with us had enough so he was at my feed table with bottle ready to go,,, totally oveer endura so i tipped it out filled with just water to scull a whole bottle refill and with a 10min gap to 3rd i set off again...
up the fire road climb after 1.5km of single track was the easiest spot to drink...half the bottle went into my helmet n down my back more gel... but really starting to feel bad in the stomach and dizzy as well,, breath drink water breath n some gel was tough work up the climb...
i make it back to timing 3min closer to 3rd, time for one more lap, but i was done i spent some of my lap dry reaching.. tried to keep the emotions together at the top of the last climb it was a brutal grind but rewarded you with views over the city and the craziest descent on a xc track i know... by crazy i mean steep fast fun, not plz hand me my DH for this one crazy...
over the line 9laps (one short of my goal) put a fork in me this chop is done....

Then did my best not to sit down and waited for charlie to finish big hugs at the finish line.. she had no idea on her position, and couldnt beleive it no matter how many times i told her she won...

with a brand new jersy a trip computer and 300bucks in her back pocket shes got one hell of a smile going at the moment..

Looks like i wont be racing at majura cause i have to move house hope to find out this week.
my next big thing will be performing at the fitness expo in sydney and hopefully free to race the club round that wknd also then onto race DIRTWORKS.. so if you wana take out 100km in open mens come and see me on the start line, ill be the guy in pink who will be in ur shadow all day or making you eat my dust...

CHOPS:)

FOR SALE

2009-03-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

my blur lt is forsale in great condition and has been built to 10kg bike want a fast long travel xc bike penelope is the bike for you..

$2000 ono

Off to wagga 6hour race 2moro my gf charlie has signed up for her 1st enduro full race report early next week.

chops:)

FULL OF NIGGLES

2009-03-19T17:14:00.000-07:00

So happy to add this race number to my wall..

Last friday i went for a run which took 46min had road beach and stairs involved to try to out do charlie... now school wasnt that long ago but i was the fastest in my area for 8km and 800m my resprentive area went from young in the southwest to as far as brokenhill.. anyways enough bragging the run absolutly destroyed me... im fit im mentally strong and i know how to run but dont have the right muscles for it any more.. sore quads and ITB blisters on toes and it took way longer than ever for me to recover from it all.. i was all over sydney on a bucks day on the saturday in a jet boat up n down stairs it sucked so bad... the next was a wedding with russian beer not even that made it feel better..

MONDAY came around and i had to teach boxing and the only way to get rid of sore muscles is to work them again so we did alot of dynamic lunges and squats which did help my situation but on the last boxing round of the night we were throwing big right handers as we moved forward and slighty tore my upper calf muscle...another niggle to th collection.. it really only hurt to walk and felt ok on the spin bike...

THURSDAY.. i was sitting on a brick wall waiting for the real estate to view a property i jumped off and my right leg(same as my niggle calf) cramped massivly, ihave a class in 3hrs sigh.......

wat a crap week add headaches and just feeling shit all over..

I NEED MY ZONE.... I NEED TO RACE..

well there was my space to bitch.... and i havnt even ridden my epic since mountains to beach.. after my 530spin im off to canberra tonight.. i want a lap or two of stromlo sat morning and sparrow hill sunday i have to fit it in around another wedding...:)

And the wagga 3 plus 3 (6hr) race is only a week away now.. that should help to prepare for the 6 +6 at stromlo, ill enter next i reckon...

My heart goes to the families of the cyclist who died on the coast recently.... and for the person driving a black bmw who left a cyclist on the side of the road after breaking his arm n wrist.. karma will kick u in the arse if i dont beat karma to it..

JUST CHOPS :)

BMC MOUNTAINS TO BEACH

2009-03-12T20:32:00.001-07:00

Will try not to make this into a novel..

Arrived in thredbo on sunday arvo did all the checking needed of me. had a cute lil room to sleep in that night and ate as much as could at dinner huw gave us the run down of the track in the morning it had me shitting myself, not as much as getting on a chairlift not sure if i was scared for my own safety or my epics life.. but we made it to the top which was covered in fog or cloud? my leg was bleeding on arrival hmmmm not a good start.. a sharp cable tie was the cause of that hoping it wasnt the begining of something worse i took shelter at the summit, i wana go back to the cafe n just chill out there..

RIDER 31 crap its my turn and following andrew lumley he took off so fast, just got more scared.

So i took off as fast as my fear would let me... i teetered down the hill and was soon thrown into some pinch climb so i attacked, god it felt like i had one lung it was tough being up so high.. made it to the finish and i like finished 8th i was so surprised but stoked..

STAGE 2

26km around lake cracken back.. my aim to race as hard as possible to try to catch the BMC TRAIN... and well there in my sights for about 1km.. did my best to deal with a track ive never seen to finish 13th

STAGE 3

60km now were talking the race is on now... the start was super hot, fell off the train to form a group heading to the summit with andrew and naomi riding strong on my tail. on the descent i flattered grrr..

a slow change and i was on the chase 20km of down smashing it 5km climb a lonely flat ride thru farmland in the mountains and just worked it to the line... still 13th in opens.

STAGE 4

the dawn raid.. 515am start stayed up the front while being led by the a 4wd we were released at top speed my aim was just to hold my position n wait for moving day.. into the darkness of the unknown was going well till i took an inside line into a rutt over the bars i fly battery pack flys out of my camelback i sus the prob out n remount but my helmet is falling off the force of the crash opened the helmets adjusters, itried to close them wit one hand while ride n did n ok job.

ok so chasing down lost time again....FLAT bloody hell it was a super quick change wit the anger building up... remount and into the red zone, i wana catch marty and marty who are from the central coast.. rain going sideways in my headlight and on the second lap the terrain looked nothing like the 1st lap it was spinning me out.. one marty to go.. i catch 2nd marty n give him a quick update (had a fucking flat)) he speeds up to help my pursuit but bombs quickly, up the boat ramp and to the climb to th finish maxing big time..

i was totally down in the dumps after that stage but when we arrived to cooma i was still 13th and pumped top 10 could still be possible.

STAGE5

MOVING DAY

yea moving up.... hardest start ever.. and once on some tar after an airstrip paddock and a race course i was the dog at the front doing all the work (well behined the bmc train) no one would pull there weight in the group.. so i just kept going.. mtb is about acheiving it on your own..

right glute pain made me stop at the 40km food station a stretch fixed it for a while..

into the big climb of about 4km 400m of elevation it was nasty.. and it smashed your calves in the push to the top... over the top and thru a pine forest were a few ppl took a wrong turn glad it wasnt me..

i was then caught by damon and richard a pairs team running second in ther catergory, damon asked if i was gona do this all by myself a nod and yup was my answer but as they and a 3rd 29er roll by i jump on the wheel and stay with the for a while losing them on a dscent, i finally got a gel out of my jersy stupid pockets and a wind vest and not much flexability its hard work.. crap im at the very top of a 7km descent between the teeth the peak fuel tube goes, i held it in there,

let me use this moment to say that avid elixer brakes are the bomb ive never been able to brake one fingured but down the longest descent i have ever been on it was fine..

another climb to ride picking up a few spots and a very sketchy dscent really was dreaming it would end soon it was ages ago wen damon said it was 56km done.. YAY 2KM 2 GO. out of the saddle to reach top speed tucked it in and put the hammer down, i passed richard n slap him hard on the arse on the way by, passing damon "just doing it on my own" but he didnt let me grab any glory and sprinted to pip me over the line..

STAGE 6

hmm still 13th lets keep it there eh..

i had the best start to the toughest start ever,, grass paddock up a hill, my legs were sore but my desire to do well was stronger i stayed with guns for a while but dropped just beforre the single track.. damon was soon on my tail again dishing out cheek because the epic was sliding everyway possible "sideways is the only way forward" passed some riders and i was all on my own back out across the paddock and down to the ocean i look back there miles back chops ur killing it son...it spurred me on to ride harder.

across 4 beaches and all sorts of crazy shit..i was passed by 6 riders just couldnt hold there tempo after the start.. this stage was 45km tried to eat as much gel as i could get time to. but i was fading towards the end, there was a few "cmon legs " to keep me going at the top of a small climb a marshal was there which i had dinner with on the 1st night i begged to know how far to go.. 3-4km yes..... thank god.. never looking back i hit freshly cut single track thru trees knocking elbows n my hips trying to stay up right locking it up heaps,, out of that and towards a graveyard, thinking yup im down put me in the ground, sigh another beach crossing i get a quick look up the beach HELL YEA THE BMC FLAGS ITS THE FINISH letting go of the brakes i bomb it to the sand dismount sprint to the waters edge n power it to the line.. looking back to still have a full beach lenght to the next rider..

wat a journey.

RESULTS 13TH IN OPENS 20TH OVERALL.

THE RACING DOESNT END..

travelled back home on saturday and arrived at midnight, local club race starts in 9hrs..

4x9km laps 1st place:) then home to sleep on the couch.

very happy chop:)

CHOPS

MTB FOOTAGE

2009-02-18T13:49:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to a video made by shane.. on wat we call staples look out a great ride on a fire road that is challenging surface seen some big stacks on these rides and here comes another..
http://www.vimeo.com/3197532

chops:)

HAMMER TIME

2009-02-16T15:24:00.001-08:00

Top left is just an example of how random life can get when ur asked to polish gavells(prob spelt wrong)

Bottom left is me off the start nice gap eh

Top right is me after 5 6km laps so muddy

It has rained all week as each day wore on the more pain i felt for my epic..

i got back from orange 930 on sat night some endura and fried rice before bed was all i had time for.

The drive out to ourimbah was wet the whole way sigh my bike is getting wet on the roof and im not on it to comfort it..

Well its time to break this epic in now i put my name down in a grade with another rider i scout the carpark to see he who could be.... some big dude on a carbon scott bike in matching racing kit.. yea that would be him,,, hmmmm but hes not a local tho, i hit the track for a practise the amount of puddles was crazy i asked the organisers if they were selling snorkles, just got a laugh..

So we roll down to the start and me and anthony stand on the line, i find out hes just moved to the coast well hes local now.. so wish i had some clear glasses, my race plan became fire off the start so i dont have to dodge mud from tyres the plan worked well at the top of the switchbacks i took at a glance of were the field was, the other a grade rider was behined a b grade rider because we all started together.. my plan worked even better so i rode it as hard as i could n the track was very grippy it was such a smooth lap.

LAP2 heading back up the switchbacks i could see 2nd place finishing his 1st lap so i kept the pounding of the pedals, got thrown off th track riding the b line(the drop off was shut) all momentum lost i ran up the hill. knowing he was hot on my tail, i rode as hard as i could..

LAP3 back up the switchbacks again no sight of 2nd place haha its my day now, a crash into a tree and sum traffic was the order of lap3 and my brakes dying so now it got fun/dangerous but i stayed upright and knowing my lead could not be made up i still wanted a work out so i pushed on.. on my final lap i flattered oh i swore angry i could lose my lead,(i dont get much practise at changing tyres let alone in the mud) of it was crap n looking over my shoulder waiting for the battle to begin all over again.. i rode to the finish..LAST MAN STANDING.. 2nd place pulled out but we had a good chat n laugh at how we dont have any pads left, straight home to wash the bike.. i even had mud inside my nics.

The epic is in the shop for the week now or until they ship sum pads in for my elixer brakes.. wow they are so smooth they didnt even squel once in the wet.

here is sum footage of ourimbah from youtube..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYWj1CnyydI&feature=related

chops:)

ps. i wore pink for you jason and ed :)

TRYING TO PREPARE

2009-02-09T13:43:00.000-08:00

Firstly if and when you go to canberra take ya bike.
Ed and jason and kriskon i was there on the wknd for a bucks wknd and well there wasnt any time for riding on saturday n sunday well i woke up quite well considering drinking till 5am but it was torture seeing anyone on a bike going anywhere..

well this sunday is the first round of our local xc competition at ourimbah which is one of the tracks in the mag with 48TRAILS THAT ROCK.. check out the guy riding sparrow hill sorry canberrians thats me:)
boxing class was last night and i got to box which was sweet and cycle at 615am this morning awoke to cracking thunder at bout 5am was so hard to drag myself out of bed but got up on stage and do my thing.. another class to teach tonight at 630 was planning on riding afterwards but def not taking my bike near any mud..
wednesday involves a spin class and boxing class thursday has 2 spin classes 615am and 630pm
there is one friday afternoon.
saturday has one in the morning then i gotta drive to orange for a course about indoor cycling then back so 2spin classes and 8hrs of driving the day before race day not an ideal prep i say, but thats life will try to my best to keep fueled up on saturday to give my legs a good chance to recover..
im nervous about being left behined becauase i havnt trained enough... and with the list of entries in the mountains to beach published i think i might know my position but same again and its over 5days will i have the legs..
time will tell..

keep riding

chops:)

2009 EPIC MARATHON

2009-02-04T20:33:00.000-08:00

HOW HOT IS THIS BIKE????????????????????????????

dont have much to blog about my head is just dreaming of trails.. lots of gym classes 6 so far and its only midway thru thursday another spin class at 630tonight then me and my new ride will be having some quality time together watching the sun going down...

woop woop cant wait to ride after the gym:)

happy chops....

Australia day wknd riding.

2009-01-28T12:27:00.000-08:00

hope you like the pics... there all out of order but oh well thats charlie with mr pink:) i turned the free australia day bucket hat into a cycling cap it got plenty of laughs.

The wknd started with a trip out to ourimbah on the sunday, i was riding my santa cruz blur lt which is forsale will have pics up when its fixed i get to that later..

so i we did a cruzy lap 1st up then i put the hammer down to see the difference between the epic and a santa cruz, the cruz is a lil heavier but it climbed like a mule yes it made it but slowly,,it descended like ummmm like a mudslide smooth fast and stuck to everything lol were the epic can be a bit like the big roll of cheese they throw down the hill ok prob not that bad...if i was a bike shop owner i wouldnt sell an epic to rider with not much experience but if ya love the bike moving about a bit then they are fun to throw about and they just fling ya up a climb.

one lap done 10.4km 30.33m avg 20.4kph

lap two came with half a crash chain popped off but still held same time and avg lap3 was a bit sloppy but i was still on the same pace maybe a lil slower and then i caught charlie on her 2nd lap so i just rode with her and then i noticed my front tyre going down the result of sloppy cornering and just cruzed back to the finish had fun but oh i cant wait for my 09epic:)

Australia day ride started at 7am in erina all 23 of us took on the 1st climb to the top of a ver muggy mossy infested kincumber mountain with a big range of fitness level the tail end get to the top at the same time as the fit guys wana get going, but this anual ride is a very socialable one and no one is in a hurry. some of the trails were knew to ppl so it was great to extra large smile or bright eyes of fear on the descents. over to the trails at macs the second big climb really hurts a few ppl so they take the short option to big berther, we all fly down the luge which takes you to the bottom of heart brake hill it has about 20 water bars up a steep climb turn left at the top 200m of rolling before to reach the bottom of big bertha i have a crack at in middle chain ring completly rooted when i reach the top. single speed riding has made a diference. into the the turkey track and onto the cliff ride all very tight techy single track we cross the road into the strome track hmmmm why is there play in my cranks... oh crap the bottom bracket has just died.

miles from home... one of the riders lives 200m away n her husband was away with the kids sweet ill jump on his bike.. a scott something seat hight was already perfect length was all sweet change sum pedals off we go.. hmmmm very narrow did i say narrow bars hmm no back break oh this will be interesting.. on the descent down to the rip bridge was the 1st challenge trying not to over heat the brakes sorta went ok i joked about being the padding for anyone who couldnt stopped before the guard rail at the bottom cause i had a good chance of slamming it hard... and one guy went over the hangers on the descent i think the gumleaves on the cement did him in.

on the other side of woy woy i rode with the girls to the top of this massive climb that takes u to staples look out.. the faster riders took a trip to the pie shop... the girls continued on so i turned n headed back down the hill to meet the others this hard scott bike shook me down here real rocky all the way n on the front brake:P got to the bottom to suggestions i had a mental prob wanting to do the climb again... we meet up with all the crew at staples look out.. and ride the road to kariong for the last section of dirt.. nearly didnt make it down there alive.. onto the cycle paths to gosford thru lots of banked traffic due to road closure and some time trail racing over the last 2km to smash it to the end...

i good day out on a strange bike.. better than no riding at all..

a week of spin classes and hopefully more xc racing prep come th wknd.

cheero chops:)

C'MON LEGS...

2009-01-21T13:44:00.000-08:00

the term usually used in a spin class to get ppls legs moving it had to be used on myself this morning.
after a hot wednesday the beach was closer than going home to get on my single speed. to lie on the sand and watch the storm rolling in from sydney was brilliant so i whimped out on my ride which brings punishment.
On the bike this morning to ride to my 615am spin class jumped on my spin bike smashed out rpm 39 the out the door to ride the road(no food yet) the tummy was hungary had the option to ride 8km to work for breakfast had to punish the body 1st. so around brisbane water we go i decide to take the footpath as the sydney comuters are on the road at this time still sleeping at the wheel..
i struggle to get the speedo over 30 the body was having a go.. wat happened to the pasta n barramundi for dinner last night, well chops to go were u wana go this year your gona have to put of with more hurt than this so shut up n ride.
16km down to woy woy i look the other way wen i see a coffee sign i so need one but dont have th time doubt i even have anything in my wallet.. keep pedaling...
The thought of the final 8kms sinks in its all hills about 4 of them im gona have to find sum food so i pull in to a servo i just have enough coin for a nut bar mmmmmm.. i start munching it down i just get it all in before the first pinch once over the top i reach 4 the water barely anything left now it was only half full when i started it never got a refill after class.
The nut bar made a slight dif it did make me feel a little better it didnt give me any extra leg power but i made it to my destination/ my weetabix:)

1hr7min 33km

chops;)

D day complete

2009-01-18T20:20:00.000-08:00

yesterday was a full year since i was hit and put in hospital so to make sure i finished wat i had started i did the same route from work to the gym into a nasty head wind on the SS thinking back to wat they day felt like i another great day on a bike living life. i turn left into earnst st in erina after i good solid climb.
a quarter the way down the hill(just a roll past a school to the traffic lights) is a pole laiden with flowers were a guy died 10days after my accident he was laying in the gutter after a big night out and was run over the next morning its a lil reminder how much worse life could be.
i make it to the lights with a lil glimpse at were i layed bloodied and broken.
busted out a 45min spin class i wasnt teaching was nice so i spent the time being annoyed at my setup and technique when class was over straight back on the bike for the 7km home ansd i made it up charles kay top speed 10km/hr wat a grind.
quick shower and charlie drove us down to her uncle auntie place in chatswood for dinner driving back up to the coast at about 930pm charlie reminds how a year ago at this time we were eating gourmet pizza in the emergancy room my gut churns of wat followed that night, but its were me and charlie were brought together she was my angel then and has never left my side since.

ive been off the moutain bike 4 ages im so hungary to ride and to win i want it so bad no pain will slow me down.

TO LIVE LIFE YOU MUST LAUGH AT DEATH

chops;)

a solo social ride

2009-01-14T12:35:00.000-08:00

After all day in a hot tin shed with most of it talking myself out of riding the 45km i had planned i thought id punish my thoughts n shut up and ride. i had a tail wind for the first 12km which i needed just to boost the legs riding through woy woy is very flat until ya hook onto woy woy road, 2days earlier i was talking with rizzo about he struggled to climb it on his new rode bike and with my 39-14 gear ratio i wasnt sure if it was possible specially for how energetic i was feeling there was turning back now. grind n grind i did barely riding over 10km/hr once of the 1st and the steepest section i had lactic burn in my triceps from pulling it up the hill. the hill became more reasonable now but nearing the top a few mtb riders popped out of the bush which i knew so i pulled up for chat which went for to long then back on the bike i had brian wanna chase me up the hill(im sure u will hear more of brian hes a massage therapist at the gym) so he had my legs burning n puffing hard to the top a few kms to kariong hill which your at the top of now so rolled down there and at the bottom i seen crawford mr pink number1 who came 4th in the 100mile in november he was on his way home after 12hrs as a vet on his single speed so we chattered n cruised along the water front complaining how crap the ride was n the view all very sicastic...he headed off home and i went back on pace to chase the sun home.
soon as i walked in the door i tucked into water magnesuim tablets and 2 endura optimizer shakes with pasta and veggies mmmmm was so good, i fell asleep and was dead to the world till the alarm sounded at 530 up and off to the gym to smash out RPM. now im scoffing down about 6weetbix and a muesli bar... better get to work eh..

save riding everyone

chops:)

Single Speed Session on Sunday

2009-01-12T14:48:00.000-08:00

The alarm sounded at 630 am 3omins later i roll out of bed the aim of the day was to fit the most into a sunday jumped into my car n drove down to my shed passing 6 ppl already out training i was keen to make up for lost time, i really wanted to put a big climb in my ride today but had to meet charlie in avoca breakfast at 930.
by 730 im on my bike heading clockwise around brisbane waters from kincumber, so i cut ou theclimb to kilcare and ride the rolling hills to woy woy pretty happy with the legs trying to get up and keep at 40km/hr on the flats just was not happening and that pissed me off i round up woy woy and head back towards gosford into a slight head wind whipping up off the still water, i see more and more riders and runners but all going the opposite direction. had me thinking am i going the wrong way so i tried to convince myself this was the harder way and it was doing a great benefit.
reaching west gosford i check the time guilty of wimping out on the big climb early i turn left and ride kariong hill i didnt really attack it bust i still rode it in 9mins out of breath i limp around at the lights and roll back down into the sun towards gosford which i do not enjoy i have even less faith in drivers in these conditions. still not achieving 40km.hr for very long on the flats i turn right onto avoca drive 5hills and im done i keep pushing the pace over the last climb i notice ive done about 47km thinking i should feel like i wana do another 50km but my head makes all the reasons in the world not to with my bottle empty and no food in me or on me the second 50will have to wait i give it all i got down to avoca clock over the 50km mark and rode to the surf club finishing the ride at the beach put a huge grin on my face life is swell.
had breakfast eggs benedict and banana bread with a mocha 3 of my fav things in life:)
went to the movies and watch seven pounds.. rode back to my shed loaded up the epic off to home grab the santa cruz now to the bike shop. my epic sold with in 24hrs on ebay im so gona miss that machine the santa cruz needs the back brake bled so its rideable for australia day ride.
went back to the gym that arvo smashed my arms and chest did some leg press work and some hamstring work as well. its tues now and i can still feel my hamstrings.
already ticked off one spin class this morning i have another at 630pm:)

one gear one dream

keeping pedaling

chops:)

SPINING ON THE SPOT.

2009-01-08T13:41:00.001-08:00

With my epic freshly tuned and polished and right behined me its begging me for some fast single track, im gona miss this baby when i post her on ebay today(hoping it sells) and with my santa cruz blur up for grabs to the only riding ive been doing is spin classes. i did the kariong challenge on new years day,, its a 3km hill climb in 8mins i made it in 8min 40sec im pretty sure ive never ridden my heart rate that high for that long ever but with only one gear i had to pretty much stand up the whole way..
the gym is pretty full on and is only going to get busier. this week so far was a spin and boxing class on monday 2 spin classes on tues one on wednesday one on thurs and one this arvo, but with a new fitness first open on the 29th of jan ill be teaching even more.
monday 630pm boxing
tues 615am spin 630pm spin
wed 530spin 645boxing
thurs615am spin 530spin hoping to ride the local xc track after this session
fri 530spin
sat 830spin back on the xc track after this one to...

some of my spin classes are rpm were i get my heart rate into 90% 3 times and the other ones are freestyle spin were i pick the music and the terrain we ride.. massive climbs in and out of the saddle heart in high 80% most of the time and with a 10second burst id be rippen 90+ each class is about 45mins on the bike so im trying to really get into super hard. i get totally carried away wen the room is full(40bikes) which will result in a massive high but you plummet back to earth very quickly with a smashed body.

so much of my daily thoughts are filled with this years racing stoked to hear about canberras 100km race its gona be tough competition with all the locals just hope it doesnt clash with my local club racing which i know it will because they dont put much thought into there racing calendar and i really want to attempt a 24hr solo which mite be on the same day as a mates wedding which i truly hope not, because im pretty sure there will be unlimited spots available to qualify for worlds.. i know i can get thru it, but maybe next year might be better i could be more of a threat by then...
love to keep blogging got lots of furniture to restore to help pay for this year.. catch ya soon.

chops:)

single speed adventure (27.12.08)

2009-01-04T17:18:00.000-08:00

BURRINJUCK DAM CLASSIC

THE morning after boxing day the alarm sounds at 5am only 4hrs after my drunk head hits the pillow i huge and unpredictated night of drinking mmmm jack daniels:) charlie does a great effort of cooking us some beaut oats for breakfast while i regret the night before n grunt my way around my parents house looking 4 light switches and preparing the bikes n packing the back pack for the next 120km of travel.. best mate jason is at the door 545am stubbies n singlet he tells of last night drinking stories till 3am i smile knowing the next strong rider in our group will be doing tough today as well.. oats go down helmets on feet clipped in must meet the rest of thre crew on the south side of town real soon a quick stop at the servo dammit no nut bars snakes and some coconut logs later we are off.. the 10strong peleton form on the outskirts of YOUNG.

Charlie on her mtb and the rest of us on road bikes my SS was prob the youngest im sure most of them were built in the 80s a very casual affair compared to any major city cycling group but it was so much better then a bunch squeezed into lycra well i was sporting nics and a pink jersy but some one had to:)

with lots of cheers a few more nervous than others we were off on the very quite country roads to harden via kingsvale lots of chatting but with favourable winds and a cloudy morning it was all smile the previous day was 36degrees so not much was said about the weather just hope was installed in our minds for a kind day.. some self seeding was going on in the peleton it was the 1st time for some riders and even bigger 1st for them to take on 120km me and jas were surging up at the front never giving each other the slightest edge on being the 1st to the top of any ant hill, was shaping up to be a great day battling wit each other as the alchol seeped from our pores.

we storm into harden all still smiling and pull up for a quick refreshment then over to the park for lots of fruit and anzac biscuits refill all the bottle and solder on.

our next stop was rocky ponds.. i found some stones but no ponds but had a great battle with jas for king of the mountain points.. to close to call i say.. with the burn of lactic we pull over for the bunch to regather.. off to binalong some nice climbs on the way here craving coffee i sprint thru town to find only a corner store is open this is were the bike in front of that old shed pic was taken.. our pit stop was about 45min lots of eating and it was only 930am and we found a copy of the latest mtb mag to check out my photo PAGE 19:).

On our way to the quarry for a dip i had a head on with a bee and got stung on my neck a lil paw paw cream was all i had from the quarry we rode to bookham along a quite bumpy road but it was very quite so it was great to spread out and chat as we cruised along. crossing the hume highway was very tricky with the amount of traffic but cofffee was waiting on the other side and fresh rainwater this would be our last chance to get any water. the wind was really whipping up and storm clouds were building very fast things werent looking good for it to stay dry..

a quick ride down the freeway to the turn off bob hoffman turned up with tim tams sweet as i scoffed down 2 and took off didnt get a chance to have sum water so chasing jason to the hill in the distnce was a struggle crazy side wind was making our legs explode but it was all down hill from here.. the rode turned into a tunnel of gum trees was to busy bein gob smacked by there rugged twisted beauty to take a pic, the road to the dam was once the railway line to help build the dam so it is the same gradent all the way down i couldnt really crank it out on the SS there was a few blind corners, so i waited for charlie so we could cruise to the bottom together a fantastic ride very rewarding. the company made it for a great day and the amount of yummy spag bol that was consumed that night was massive. i great ride to finish 08.

chops:)

NEEDING TO FUEL THE FIRE

2008-12-18T15:36:00.000-08:00

Going through bit of a flat spot at the moment i rode my epic on sunday it was like 3weeks off it the most ive had off since my accident i went for a ride with my gf charlie her 1st time in cleats...well done:) and i had no drive in my legs they just didnt care for going hard at all.. and i have not been on my single speed at all like i said i was going to do in my last post so i need something to fuel the fire to ride i guess a year of nothing but competing and now there isnt any im not use to riding with a purpose to win.
my spin classes have been pretty intense tho i go a little nuts when im up there stomping on the pedals im teaching about 5 a week at the moment that will be cut back over xmas but in the middle if jan ill be taking on 2more and there up north near ourimbah xc track so i will force my sels to do sum laps after each class to improve my speed in single track, just trying to keep on the bike as much as possible till march..
I have found some fuel......... i have entered the mountains to beach so when im teaching its on my mind i must push it harder to get stronger alot of ppl crap on how spin classes do nothing 4 real riding if u get in there n have a go oh it works
STATS
650cal in my last class started the watch 5mins before the begining n stop it after the stretch avg was about 146bpm (rpm class) max 186 so thats about 94% very happy with that remember i gotta talk(yell) while riding so i have to manage smashing myself and teaching, i cant be selfish and ride so hard till the point i cant talk...
ive added boot camp on fri morning to the training as well on the 1st week strain some muscles in my leg on the beach that was painful to ride wit on the fri arvo but this morning was fun, just short powerfull movements in the sand are overstretching my muscles, legs are just use to cycling i guess..
And now my epic is in the bike shop receiving its final service and polish before it appears on ebay or something.. only have my single speed to ride but with this time of year and the mad rush of wat xmas brings im seriously stuck in my shed but its gotta be done i guess, gotta keep working HAVE YOU SEEN THE PRICE OF 09 MODELS..:(

going hard at it.. but still feeling flat, a new bike a long epic ride would be nice to get my head connecting with my legs so i can push on in the right direction TO THE SUMMIT:).

have a great xmas everyone eat lots ride hard..

chops:)

ONE GEAR

2008-12-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

the simplicity of a single speed road bike is starting to become a bit addictive.. it would a be nice to live in more of a flat area so i can get warmed up before being punished on a climb so my lower back is hurting a bit today...pain=a weakness, so my next chance at gym ill be working my lower back to improve it.. my shed(my place of work) i call it by the shed instead of work because work is something you dont enjoy and yea getting paint stripper splashed on you or having your hands in a dip tank aint fun its gotta be done. any way my shed is about 7km from home 1 descent one climb.. to the gym its about 8km with about 4.5climbs or from home to the gym there is one climb ive cycled to my tues 615am then to work back to the gym by 5 for 2more classes but got a lift home because the climb on the way home is a killer only done it once at a top speed of 9km/hr which feels like a track stand on a SS. had a class in kincumber on wed night which is about a 9 iron from my shed lol.. sorry thats how golfers measure distances i was a golfer in a previous life. SS to my thurs 615am cycle then to my shed and home again last night which i had to do with no helmet of all the days 4 cars threaten my life... yea there only backing out driveways but ya never know wen there gona stop, then at the end of the day i ran out of daylight and rode home with no lights on a red flashy on the back.. they so need more street lights on the central coast but i followed the white line the best i could damn those silly reflector things.. were is my epic when it matters.. i have a class at 530this arvo undecided on if ill be riding to it. because i have to get to sydney afterwards.. back on the pedals sat morning i hope.
will have to enter dirtworks today i reckon and so need more money so i can enter mountains to beach((((sponsor me some one)))) im entered into the marathon championships in march in vic.... i feel im getting enough riding in if i keep commuting but i need to get for 3-6 hr rides 1-3 times a month if i really wana improve i reckon.. where do u fit that into december..?????
not sure but you will hear about if i do:)

see you at the summit...

chops

the road and trails to arrive here today

2008-12-01T17:21:00.000-08:00

chops here

welcome to my blog i hope u enjoy and are inspired by journey to search for the summit of life.

2007 november the highland fling.
bustled onto the front row with a few gun riders from the central coast knowing i had to stay with them and unable to have my weetbix as i forgot the milk and had warm yoghurt with muesli well time was gona tell how this was gona go.. bang were off very quickly into the top chain ring(big dog) and amongst the lead pack love the start at the fling ok thru the creek still in big dog thru the paddock ok now this pace is just mental, guts churning burping trying to hold down breakfast and stay with the leaders shaking my head with deano by my side who also agreed the pace was beyond nuts.. we formed a lil group off the back after the single track section in the pine trees. the main pack was gone time to ride my own race and ride it hard.
enjoyed the single track in stage 2 by myself and had a feeling towards the end i was high up in the placing so was doing some talking to my legs to keep going n chase podium. deano caught up to me on the road leading to wingello oval so we had a chat n were very happy about the end of stage 2 and looking forward to finishing. so i just kept pedaling with no clock on my bike was searching 4 info from any riders and the 10km sign to the finish. left at your call..
yay the tar road clunk clunk clunk shit something is in my spoke try breaking the stick wit my foot bugger i dont care 4 noise i just want podium pedal pedal ok now i think its gona break my spokes i stop shit me its fencing wire fuk wat are the chance im yanking swearing pulling swearing ppl tell me swearing dont fix things but growing up in a shearing shed its how u barked orders at each other the dogs n the sheep i rider passes me now its time for a few C words right its untangled i get going derailer bent i cant change gears in the big dog and bout 3rd from the bottom on my rear cassette pump pump pump i must catch that guy i get equal dammit hes a 50km rider but i keep the hard work going to the line.. man wat a day totally spent this was my 4the 100km race.... results are up and i come second in opens sweet as biggest smile ever.. my santa cruz blur did the job.
OURIMBAH 8 1/4 HR.. 2007
my 1st 8hr solo race.. and at my local track so was astonished to see 450riders turn up to churn out some laps.. i knock out 4 laps straight up and was informed i was in second place..WTF i said to my intel.....bullshit really???????? next lap thru intel asks me wat i was doing out there to come second the only response is riding ourimbah like it should fuking hard....yup my legs were in xc mode hmmm def wont have the legs to keep this pace... should of realised wen one guy asked me to go round him at the bottom of the roller coaster but i was just having so much fun and ripping the track up..
6laps down hmmmm starting to get tired now... have not been eating or drinking enough
8laps in really starting to hurt
10 laps in oh god this is killing me time to stop n eat cramp drink coke
11 laps and im in the most pain ever ive cramped while riding lost a position while i stopped
4th my goal was top 5 as the great organisers had prizes to 5th place... i crawl home a broken rider.... but enjoying my new tshirt backpack and free entry to next year

PLANS FOR 2008 BEGIN.
searching all over for any race i can get to...
all the 100km all nsw state xc events 24hr races and even the 8hr seriies
whoa so many races i just cant wait.... how will i train for all of this....i check the mailbox..my licence is now suspended for 3 months well that will help lol...... on the bike every were to every spin and boxing class to work and numerous clients houses to do quotes on the way home to restore there furniture..
PHONE CALLS CHANGE LIVES
its dan from pushy galore putting an offer on the table to ride for his bike shop...
lost for words
i inform my bike shop the boys say no the owner says wat he can do to match it..
curiosty sent me leaning towards pushy galore thinking does it really matter who ya ride for we all ride bikes so we all get along, i was very wrong there,, but this blog is about riding so gona keep it there...
so we sign a great deal all my races paid for.... it was like xmas new shoes helmet i spent some time riding demo bike to work out what specialized had that suited my attack on 2008
a wet afternoon at the gym pumping out a class or 2 and nicole dans wife pops in to say someone is here to meet you...confused....it clicks i bolt to the front of the gym... the sweetest black n white carbon epic awaits me.... white pedals grips n saddle my god i cracked a fat over it. dan had a big smile on his face and handed me the weapon...( its forsale atm) he gave me a lift home so she would stay dry..
thurs morning i rode it to the gym man it rode itself it felt so fast....n i had crank brother pedals on it.. i wasnt even clipped changed that after the gym i gotta use spd cause thats wat the bikes at the gym run
the next day friday 18th jan... work to waxing appointment on my way home a local cabinet maker calls me i stop riding to answer the call yup is good take care he says(hes also an ambo) i drop back in at home to get cds for my class and head for the gym road is wet after days of rain up a hill and now down to the bottom hmm lots of traffic ill head down nthe left side of them to the white line chops is always in a hurry but was riding the brakes down the hill to the red light.(sigh im feeling sick writing this) a flash of green..............thump yelps of extreme pain.
MY LIFE JUST CHANGED....
a suzuki grand vitara has turned thru a clear way but im on the driveway in so much pain and a pool of blood...she told me she seen me coming down the hill i did my best not to swear at her..
begged ppl to save my bike... oh my epic its only 2days old.... i rang my boss amongst tears my class was cancelled the room was packed waiting 4 me to turn up i rang dan to come save the bike he helpeed the ambos pick me up thanks again dan i know u hate the site of blood... cops questioned me about riding on the footpath and with plenty of tone i told them i was cycling on the road they didnt beleive me cause i ended up on the footpath, check out the smashed windshield she hit bloody hard.... charlie turns up a (friend from the gym) so she and dan follow me to the hospital..charlies the angel who has been by my side everyday since the accident i owe all my recovery to her,,
10stitches fractured hip
5days in hospital
3weeks on the couch
8weeks before riding again
12 weeks off work
and now a big fear of riding on the road and all trust in human life is now gone..
but only a wobbly brake lever n bent front rotor on my epic...:)

WAGGA 3HR march 2008

lots of challenges from the central coast the start suited me as it went up the hill on the fire road before single track i knew this was my only chance to get in front of jasper. was bout 5 riders infront of him wen we entered the single track and thats the way the day ended i rode completly out of my skin dealing with wat ever drama my hip was that day i have good n bad days with it...

DIRTWORKS.. may 2008

i awake at 430am really ready to go.. i use the extra time to eat..
into the waiting pen and then we are off hmmm pace was a lil slow for the pushy galore riders crawford hit the front 1st i followed rizzo comes flying up to join in on the fun.. katrin was up the front to.... my aim was to beat her... he comes the climb it turns into a walk... katrin rides past.... bout 20km in my glutes begin to feel like a knife is in them.. fuking hip... hungary to do well i push on standing for a stretch every couple kms... i catch crawford wow i must be doing really well nope mechanicals for him we rode into halfway thank god so needed the toilet tried to hold pace but didnt last long with crawford he rode away back searching for podium on my own.. made it down to the river crossing crossed it like a virgin to it.... which i was lots off pplcaught up to me here crap i gotta get a move on pedal pedal onto the road zipping paast riders... bring on this climb... no stopping at the water station.... nearly at the top this glute pain is killing me im having the worse day geez i hope i make it under 5.5hrs.. i get off n stretch my gl;utes.... katrin roles past"its nasty eh" grrrr dammit on the bike again cant let ppl past me now down into the creek im gona ride this one... woop woop splat all clipped in..n got passed.. out of the water onto the road... shit theres crawford again his heart sinks as i ride past i play around with the last guy that passed me sitting on his wheel as i catch my breath changing gears softly so he doesnt know wat im up to... big dog time i stand n attack ready to round the pub like 2years ago.... BRAKE.....its left before it shit 5hrs 6min i let out a yyyyeeeeeeoooooo with exitement. i finish 6thplace on the worst day hmmmm it gets me real hungary for poduim now..

JUNE JULY AUGUST

nsw xc rounds (so outclassed riding elite learnt alot tho)
club rounds
8hr races
good n bad days...

SEPTEMBER

wat a month of riding it was...

the angry doctor was first up... me jak and crawford wrapped the bikes up for the wet 5hr drive to mogo hehe mine got red carpet treatment in the boot.. i was jammed in the back seat which did not favour my hip but being young boy here i stayed in the back seat... and with maccas only around the corner(bout 40kms later) ok so i was a bit out lol.... the trip was a blast always is wit jak and crawford( the main reason for moving to pushy galore and staying) lots of laughs, and fearing the next day but i was smiling knowing these guys were gona have the best 100km race of there life, i was here in 07 so i was prepared for the big climbs.. we arrive at the iconic metal bridge entering batemans bay instantly the rain stops.. very strange we kepted quite so not to jinx our luck... a beaut dinner at the golf club with the 50km riders loading up on beer.. some fine tweaking of the bikes and putting our numbers on that night a quick glimpse of the new pink jersys lol..... off to try to get some sleep...
up early straight outside to see stars fill the sky boys boys boys its goin to be sunny yeeeeoooo.
over to the start line for our warm up ride staying close together no one wanting to part from each other which a major concern wen ure dressed in pink....im sure it makes other ppl ride faster... id hate to beat by a guy dressed in pink... we sussed out the start...nasty straight up it goes...me and crawford jump onto the 1st wave we slowly roll over the timing mats and i shoot to the front.. stomping on the big dog i lead us all into old mogo town and onto the dirt up a short climb then onto a very long climb i look up gringe and pull back my pace knowing i need to save well not save my legs no chance of that on race day but ride smarter it was a very long climb..
crawford comes by, i wish him a good day and he motors on...my aim is to beat him today knowing the amount of single track will help me keep tabs on him..
yay were at the top single track here we come.. i duck in before katrin... shes on my tail again(world 24hr solo champ) i lose my grip on my handle bars i take 2swipes at it and miss both times.... im heading over the top i grab my cables as im doing a mid air summersault and roll of the trail with my bike and a smile "wat a catch" comes from katrin.. i re gather loosing a few place n catch back up to her, and she asks how i managed that, no idea but i made it smooth,, back on the chase getting glimpse of pink(crawford)... dammit im off again bike washes out but i stay on my feet...grrr im losing my confidents and rythm now... power down chops today is extra hard opens catergory has expanded from 18-29 to 16-39 not happy those 30yo are the faastest out there geez top 10 would be awesome... i fly into the halfway crawford is there sweet im close to him but he looks well n im running a lil low on fuel the 1st half is hard and lil time to get food in.. second fifty here we come.. a very lonely time from here but doing my best top pull a gap on any one behind me..starting to hurt.. oh i just bast the 60km marked welcome to no mans land..the gap in a 100km race after the 1st half and between the last quarter.... i conceed defeat to crawford... only if i knew how tough he was doing same as me really... the race really begins to rip ya legs off. i do some kms with dwight from rock star racing a scary looking man in black n im in pink lol.....but ive got to know him since that race hes a gentle giant...we ride into the final water station which im very happy about because ive been running bottles all day risky but i wanted to be quicker i managed my water perfectly..refill and move on...head for home fearing the descents thru the lil creeks of a flat tyre didnt want history to repeat from 07... i use everything i have left in the tank to finish 11th 4 spots behined crawford only 5mins i think im very happy im reeling him in...6hrs go by.....6.5hrsgo by... we start to worry about jak.... 7hrs go by.. we start to fear for jaks life.... i seee him roll in over the line we jump to our feet jaks covered in mud bleeding and cant move hes been damaged in battle badly he looks like the centre of hell..we hear of his war story of wat happened we gringe thinking doubt i would of kept going.. but not rizzo u wont stop that machine. off to the bike wash to clean his epic and we hose him down to.... we laughed. jak didnt...
the boys in pink head home hrs of stories and promises we will all return..

COFFS HARBOUR 2weeks later..
hit the road in the vectra with charlie for road trip up to sawtell to register.. was feeling pretty lost but once i found the main street memories from last year came flooding back such a beaut lil town... did rego and never got dinner til 9pm very un happy im not gona get enough sleep and i havnt eatin enough starting to stress a fair bit... during the night the biggest down pour falls on coffs, we drive out to the track the long way.... new freeway has changed how u get out there more stress...but still have plenty of time to prepare chillout have a chat with gordo and dwight ride around a bit and go get set for the briefing.... my number 4 today hmmmm.. anyway coffs make a big deal out of the start by calling the riders to the line by there name.... gordo(craig gordon) was called 1st because hes reigning champ of the race and many other things. 2 3 rider 4 james lamb im sure most of the crowd went who... i appear to cheers n claps... on the front line next to gordo....no nerves ha ha yeh right.....off we go i stay with the leaders until we run into the mud 1st 30km is single track its leg zapping on the best of days let alone wen its slop took my sunnys off real quick high humidity up there they kept fogging up.... after a few kms the track loops around past the start line,,, we looked like we had ridden 100km we were so muddy... over creeks along log rides plenty of stacks..... got thru it alll...it was so shit n tough...
crunch snap fuck....... broken chain... i walked 4 ages 6 riders pass me... i get it fixed 1st chain ive ever fixed so my job was done very well clunk clunk clunk... thought about a dnf for a lil while pretty much thought my day was done.... rolled into the 40km water station.. the crowd cheers so u feel good again and u keep riding thru damn i hate the u get 2km past it and feel shit again... so now my bike is working well again and there is less mud in the outer forest trails...eat pedal drink eat pedal drink.....thru the 70km water station... now a huge climb up to sea view road a small glimpse of the ocean and head for home.... say hello to the marshal at the top as she hands me water over my head it goes..... psssssssssss wtf a flat tyre.... oh its one of those days...change tyre get passed by all the riders i had to catch after my broken chain... try to enjoy the smooth roads on the way to the finish and some fun single track right at the end... totally spent poor charlie has been waiting all day for me....100km arnt real spectator friendly.. we watch the preso and see gordon crowned champ once again.... a quick stop into the butterfly farm:) i nearly faint due to the humidty in there so we call it a day and drive home...

4days laters..........................................

SINGLE SPEED ADVENTURES..

charlie take me to the top of kariong early on thurs morning.. completly scared of riding down the f3 but its gotta be done.. my aim is to cycle to young by friday afternoon 460km...
i survive the f3 and cruise the m7 making my 1st stop out past campletown to get into the sandwiches charlie made for me... very happy with the gear i have on my bike its the second day ive ridden it... next stop is pheasants nest (the twin servos) it was welcomed avg 30km/hr to here about 5hrs worth alot easier than hrs on a mtb.. sutton forest is then servo starting to feel time in the saddle by now and the sun is scorching my skin.. lots of bottle of powerade consumed at the servo.. from the twin servos its all uphill and it aint over yet. goulbourn is in my sights..
not feeling my best so i pull into marulan for more fuel its been a long day...i keep on going and make it to goulburn i find a bike shope to get another tube. they have a cafe attached pizza for dinner:) all there food are named after bike brands way cool.. knowing yass is only 2hrs away i load up strap sum lights on and head for yass.. ouch..... road sign says 80km hmmmm i want to go further than goulburn so i have less to do 2moro...it reall start to get cold so i pull over and put my skins on and talk wit charlie.. i get back on and my right knee started to hurt strange but it only got worse.. i call it a day At gunning.. 320km:)
i wake up at about 7ish oh so sore my neck n shoulders mainly i suck down a gel before i get out of bed... shit i can barely walk on this knee wtf..... i ride to yass wit it only getting worse... maybe breakfast and rest will help it... home is a 100km from yass to easy well maybe... i phone has gone flat ive lost conttact with charlie n the world.. i call the gym to obtain charlies number to no avail fuk ya privacy laws my knee is fucked and im miles from any were.. i push but in complete agony i get to the turn and quit..... i wait 4 charlie.... but with out my fone my instuctions on were to go were faint..
hrs n hrs go by.. ive come to terms with she took the other turn.. back on my bike my knee is no better.. i stand n attack sum hills screaming my way to the top trying to get them over done with.... then a flat road is hard to pedal on... i concerntrate all my effort to my left leg...i start walking up the hills.. this went on for 60km... to a lil town called harden 30km from home..i call home charlie is there mum is there worried n pissed shes sent the cops out looking 4 me they make sum phone calls and dad picks me up on his way home from work...
so close.... thanks charlie 4 putting up with my shit that day.... i hate dnf.... it will be my last.

100MILE FLING......................

the nerve dagger has been our guts weeks in advance for this one.. fearing the second 54km loop and the time restraints.. we arrive to a very cold bundanoon on the saturday pick up our rego packs a new threat has arrived rizzo MR THREE. and with his custom pink jersy hes a real threat and we all make huge assumption of how 2moro will go down.. bed before 9pm.
a small warm up compared to previous years but the pace cant be as fast right?
team pushy fill the start line.. bang GO NUMBER THREE.. rizzo hits the lead rounding the 1st corner at the pace and angle he does spectators take a step back to jaks pleasure.. we split up a lil in the paddock i was back dodging sum cyclecross riders necer get behined one before a descent... i try to catch the lead pack but the paddock was sucking my back wheel it made very slow. so put my legs into gear and rode to how i felt... mada it to the 100mile lounge loaded up with food and a camel back cheers charlie..... and hit the trails was suffering from a pain in my neck and shoulder made it very uncomfotable to turn around single track..it got better after all the rough stuff i made it thru stage 2 did sum drafting with another 100miler on the dirt roads
now for the big hurdle the lonely second fifty... was really zapped going thru the single track so i pulled up to drink lots of gels the halfway drink station was handy i stole one of those hanging planes hoping to fly back home but they were all out of service:(... keep pedaling it was tough hanging onto the bars thru the rough stuff.. wen i get tired i just wana get home so more risks were taken got some nice drift from over shooting corners... yay 2nd fifty done.. off goes the camel back strong orders from charlie and told to catch the green rider.."hes beaten me its ok" jak was at the lounge to????? broke his cleat poor guy.. a fresh rider to drive us home sweet..
29km to go
start rounding up 100km riders,, in the distance i see the green rider,,seek and destroy.. i start attacking to catch him he has to look twice to see if it was me lol was priceless... so he put the hammer down as well i reel him in and sit few metres behind him... we come to a creek crossing wrong gear and calf muscles seize out the other end.. he pulls away... i catch him again.. my mind was saying follow him at "your call" he goes right i went left...ok so there goes that plan.. i laugh wen he follows..."your gona hate me i say" "why u gona sprint off" iask if he has done the fling before no was the answer...."yup ure gona hate me" i look to see the trail up the rock steps pretty smooth i smash the pedals up the climb crank it into the big dog and whip it to the line... hes gone... green man got beat by mr pink..

8hrs 42min 7th.... nice 4th place crawford your an animal..

2weeks later..

OURIMBAH 8HR..plus 15mins

8hrs in ya own back yard...
scored a great transition spot just before juarassic.. went into the single track off the start in about 10th.. my aim for day was to ride and ride all day the gym has been hectic so there was no taper for this event i tried to pull back a lil in fridays spin class... and enjoy my last race on this awesome bike.. i felt slow over the 1st couple of laps but still was doin 20km hr avg..got some real shit traffic on lap four.. did my best not to stop only to pick more water bottles and food charlie informed i was coming 5th which now meant i had to work harder... top 5 i like the sound of that.. maybe about 8laps in that damn knee prob from the single speed started to hurt so i pulled up and got a lil help from brian whos a massage therapist... back on the bike keep on pedalling crashed in my next lap.. handle bars clipped a tree and threw me over some pain some blood but he got rid of the knee trouble, the day was coming to a close the track was perfect after the rain, re fuel for one last stint try to get 2 more laps in...my second last lap felt great i had to catch deano in the process i crossed the line in 8hrs30min done 13 laps came 6th

the next day man my upper body was so sore.. headed off to the crown for a buffet breakfast my fav pastime after a big day of racing.
taught boxing that night more ouch
3spin classes on tues one wed morning one on thurs 2 on friday and a 90min special on sat morning just a huge week...

the epic still needs a clean...

2009 HERE I COME..

rego has opened for some races trying to commute as much as possible at the moment.

hope you enjoyed this very long installment of my life there is more to come and hopefully no accidents..

chops:)