Otway Odyssey 2010.... why do we keep doing it???

Every year I get a warning about entries opening for the Odyssey and every year I don't wanna miss out on an entry. So I go ahead and enter well before the event, with the plan to be stronger and faster than the year before. But a plan is just that... a plan.
Expecting to be at the 'pointy end' of the results is a big ask if one is getting 2 training rides a week, maybe 3 if lucky. There certainly hasn't been any lengthy training rides over the last coupla months (apart from the Baw Baw ride a few weeks ago). So racing over 100k's through the climbs of the Otways is gunna hurt ya (or me as it was).
I felt quite relaxed about the actual race beforehand as all the kids and partners were in tow this year and my focus was primarily on them. If they were all sorted then I'd have time to think about the race. The 'brothers delicate' (Deano and I) rolled down to the start on a warm and windy morning to meet up with the bears (Mum and Dad).
At 7.15am, off we all went with the usual panic as if it was a 30minute crit race.
Left onto Wild Dog Rd, and race on up the climb. After many, many, many, climbs, creek crossings, descents, bitumen roads, fire roads, single tracks, grass tracks, log hops, berms, etc, later, I crossed the line in 6hrs12mins, saw my beautiful wife to be and just stopped short of bursting into tears from back pain, aaaaaaaarrrrggh... But so relieved to have completed another, albeit 20mins slower than last years time and 109place overall. Maybe the only outstanding achievement of the whole race for me was my timed descent, missing out on winning my category by 1 second.
We've all got excuses why we didn't go better and yeah they're probably valid for most. Going into this race with the resurgence of my back problems worried me but what else can you do but race anyway. My back did send me insane during the race with the only relief being from handfuls of Voltarin gel at transition and some periodic off the bike stretching during the race.
Complete neglect of core exercises and stretching over the last few months has resulted in an unsatisfactory result for me. Let that be a lesson young man and lets look forward to the Tour de Flavour crit in Mansfield, Mont 24 in Canberra and the oooo, Baw Baw classic!!!
Congrats AJ on winning the mens event and international road star Judith Arndt for the women's.
Well done all competitors who completed the race, in itself a huge achievement.
And better luck next year for all who couldn't finish, among the list of DNFs were some good riders.

St Kilda road crits and Flat Hill Dirt crits

Sunday morning started in a panic. Woke up late to git down to Port Melbourne for a bit o crit action. And when you're not good enough for A grade, you have to race in B grade.
And when you race in B grade at St Kilda you race with anxious cowboys, and anxious cowboys are dangerous. Thankfully, B grade stayed upright, no thanks to some actions of couple of twits in the race. A bunch of 5 got away early and stayed away. I tried to jump across but with no help forthcoming from the bunch, I got stuck in between for a lap and had to fall back. A couple of laps during the race on the front of the chasing bunch and a dig from too far back at the end, that was my race. I'm feeling ok on the bike, that being my first St Kilda crit for the season. It's always a time to train factor and a work in progress.
Last night was a roll down to the Flat Hill Dirt Crits. Small turn out. Had a bad start, followed Neil for a few laps, Rohin and Belly breathing down our necks. Neil washed out on one of the sketchy corners, I snuck by and am now in the lead. I clipped a tree a couple of laps later, Rohin goes by, I'm now in second. Belly's engine is warm now and he goes by as my back is giving me grief and I'm losing power. I'm back in 3rd. I kept Belly in sight but had to be happy with 3rd. Neil was there behind, not sure how far back.
Hard and fast racing as usual.

1st Rohin A
2nd Andy B
3rd me! (again)

The beauty...

Sunday saw a ride with 3 mates from Mansfield, Mick F, Bruce H and Jock B, from Noojee to the Mt Baw Baw summit return. No takers (suckers) from Melbourne came along for the ascent of the steeeep one. Either slack, soft, scared or busy.
It's gotta be one of the best places to ride in Victoria, Australia or even the world (not that I have any OS riding experience other than being a bike courier in London).
Riding a steady pace out to the gate (start of the infamous climb) and then a hard, but not maximum, effort to the top 37mins35secs for the 6+ k climb.
If I'm in any form leading into the Baw Baw Classic in April, I will look forward to smashing it on my beautiful Reynolds KOMs with Veloflex tubulars, in the race. Riding on them will take some time off. You bet.

Baw Baw

Looking forward to having another crack at Baw Baw on Sunday with a few mates. Riding from Noojee and maybe 2x up the climb... (maybe I said).
Baw Baw Classic? Hmmm, we'll just see a bit closer to April. I've gotta get some use of those beautiful Reynolds KOMs sitting in the corner. Up, up,up, we go...

Tour Down Undies - wrap up

Adelaide was a ball again. Bigger crowds this year, I'm gunna have a different strategy for watching the racing next year, the finishes are just too hard, to see too little. Great to see the current world champ have'n a bit of a dip on the penultimate day and his 3rd place in Sterling, in a bunch sprint n all. He the man, I'm a fan. Pro all the way I say. Other great moments were T.Lowe in the break of 3 on the last stage in Adelaide, and the Gorilla flexing his muscle to win 3 stages. Equally as good as the racing was the few rides I had with a great mate from Mansfield, Jock Brega. He's experienced, consistent and doesn't mind belting along the flats or hitting a few hills. We pretty much rant and rave about bike shit all week. and love it.
Pickle (Coco) had fun too and managed to stay entertained without too much bike overload. The rest of the family stayed at home. I'll drag or take them all along next year. It was great watching the last stage with my soon to be father in-law, who is living in Adelaide and as it turns out, resides tracksde. So we watched the race under the shade of a large tree, at the top of the climb, with a large screen showing the race opposite, GOLD!
No masters racing this year, didn't renew my licence in time (and maybe that I'm just not feeling quick enough just yet after my break).

FHDC are back!

Belting around some tight and techy single track for 30 mins on a Tuesday night is back and last Tuesdays was a warm one. Great fun as usual but when you're riding on ya rivet, 30 mins even seems long. 2nd place went to the newly crowned Aussie XC masters champ Justin Wornes (gets a Aussie champ jersey n all!) where he beat Eva by 20secs. Like Eva needs another champs jersey anyway. Congrats to Justin, nice bloke (and fast too!)

1st Matt L
2nd Justin W
3rd me!