What a race at the Enduro today. 38.2kh/h over almost 75km..
Initial plan of going for a breakaway didn't actually eventuated. Got to chat to pakman and rogan but we decided not to go for it. 1. we didn't have enough numbers and 2. there are too many strong riders in B.
Early on the race I decided to test the waters. I put in a couple of kick after the tunnel to see who would follow.. After taking the bottom corner aggressively, I got a slight gap from the field. Not big but it shows that its possible. If there was 6-8 riders attacking at that spot, we can take them corners and gap the field. I noticed that riding MID pack sux... braking approaching corners is a pain, whereas riding front 10 - there is no need to brake, just hit the corners smoothly...
The bike was rolling beautifully today. for the first time i used 100psi front and 110psi back. I had intentions on attacking from the tunnel and hit the corners hard, hence needed more grip. I noticed, yes it was nice in the corners and i was confident to lean right over - and while pps were pedaling out i was still freewheeling, but the surprise was on the downhill before the roundabout, i could roll right to mid / up the hill, while others we're pedaling
.. What the ??? the only thing different was my tyre pressure - typically i run 120 front and back... BTW i'm running tubeless hence i can go lower pressure...
I put in a couple of efforts to chase a mini break and short stints at the front when it was my turn. At the wistle for the prime, i was 5th or 6th wheel. So i decided that i would go for it. Hold position and go all out for the sprint. Wasnt sure if i had the endurance to wait till the end hence I'll take what i can.... Final corner beofre the straight i was still 5th wheel and with 300 to go went chasing/passing ... ohh yeahhhhh.
.. Got it..... but got wasted... Shattered actually..
I was struggling to keep wheel and by the carpark, i was spat out from the front and i was rolling on the back half of the bunch. Thank GOD A GRADE rolled through and got mixed in with B. We had no choice but to low right down....
..... all the way to the straight as we let A pass us... awesome timing A grade... took another 3 laps for the legs to finally recover... popped in an ENDURO gell to get a bit of a sugar kick, only to splatter it all over my hands and onto my shifters...
bloody annoying..
with 3 or so laps to go I found myself at the front chasing a small break. ok i'll put in the effort but am not staying here too long, but as i pull off to the side - everyone followed. what ???? pulled off further, everyone followed again............... as we approached the tunnel, i then decided to go for a hit instead.. a short one of course - just to wake em up... lol
, as i slowed down, they then past me.... lol.. thanks... I pretty much sat at top 10 for the rest of the race.
2 laps to go and there was a 1 man breakaway. he gapped the group pretty well and the group wasn't chasing as hard. They pretty much left him out there. Last lap and he was still out. Through the carpark and he was still out. Before the round about and hes still about 50meters away, even onto the final straight he was away. I thought ok, we were racing for second - I dont mind as i got a PRIME already. So got myself ready, clicked up to an easier gear to get ready, and get an initial jump. I think i was on 53x17 when i started the sprint. Quickly passed a couple of pps, then as i started to wind up, down comes the taller gears.. =) At this point i was thinking -- hell yeah i can actually place in this race. Head down bum up and sprinted like theres no tomorrow. I then realised that we're carrying so much speed that the 1 man breakaway was about to get swamped..
yeah yeah...
as i went pass #1 my quads started to cramp, at the same time someone in red was creeping on my left side. Nooooooooooooooo.. I want this, I want this bad.... dammit... i decided to lean forward and start pulling up to give the quads a rest.. he was creeping, creeping, but i was still in front by a wheel.... noooooooo
. After a few revolutions with 30meters to go i switched back to quads for a final kick...... Got em !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wohooooooooooo ...
as i powered off to cruise back to the pits, my quads twitched and cramped, along with my right calves... i had to shake it off before it goes to lock mode.....
It was good to see the FPRs out there too...
and congratz to Sandy for taking out 3rd...
What a race !!!!!!