Winners Bars! - Mont 24 title defended successfully

The weekend started on a very sad note with everyone shocked by the news of James 'Willo' Williamson passing away in his sleep whilst over at the Cape Epic in Sth Africa. In his honour, the race was shortened by an hour and we participated in an honour roll out on the trials.
R.I.P. Willo, a real champion.
For everyone else, try and live and love every moment.

Racing for a new team sponsor this year, Winners Bars (also the team name), we were able to consistently punch out laps to win our category by over 2 and a half laps and finish 7th overall out of a massive 520 or so teams. Again this year, the team consisted of Tim McGrath, Malachi Moxon, Cam Wells, Chris Haydon, Bruce Dickey and I. Tim from Winners was onboard for nutritional advice, supply of natural (and obviously legal) performance enhancing products and enthusiastic encouragement. How sweet it was to be based in a large corporate team tent for the entire race, I could get used to that for all future races without too much trouble.

The race
Tim put himself in for the run again. He didn't bury himself and left enough riders in front of him to call "track" and whip past on the opening lap, Mal (he's a roady you know, not a MTBer) was off next smacking out another quicky. Then me, digging deep to get around as fast as I could before my back pain could catch up. Passing onto Camo then Chris then the wily and experienced race hardened Bruce. Day, night, day, we lapped like programed, high tech toys (what the???? turn it up?) All our times were crack'n for blokes on the 'better' side of 40. No significant mechanicals or any crashes were had.
The 18km track with not much climbing and nearly all flowing single track, suited me no end. Happily calling track and squeezing past fellow racers for 50 odd minutes at a time. Speaking of squeezing, a moment of joy came during one lap when I called track, at night, proceeded to overtake only to notice a sizable ditch fast approaching, quick decision and a "oooooooo" as I decided to take the 15" wide timber bridge at the same time as fellow racer much to the amazement of all present as to the success of the manoeuvre. Anywho... with 5 hour rests in between laps to talk crapola, mostly relating the bicycle of course. Looking at the lap times, gee, I'd say the young guns need to look out (yeah, good one cocky). I'm happy (for a change of late), the teams happy. Can't wait to get out there tonight (yes I'm all enthused again). Well done chaps!!! Next year? you bet!

Thanks again to Tim from Winners, Mal at Spoke(n), Tim, Cam, Chris and Bruce. The trip up the Hume was worth it again.

2010 Mont 24
overall results
lap split results

Photos to come...

FHDC - changed format?

5 laps one way, stop, start again, more laps in the opposite direction.
Yep, it works for me. Although it took a few laps in the opposite direction to get any flow going. The course does run better in a counter clockwise direction but good to mix it up.
I'm getting found out for my lack of riding of late. I just can't string any training together. Busy. The hair on me legs is an indicator of the attention I've put into cycling lately. Fast starts, go like the clappers until I explode into pieces. JD recons he's in the same current state. Oh well, won't stop me from doin it again. Ya gotta suffer for success...

1st Rohan A
2nd Duncan M
equal 3rd James D & me!

Shit! I've just realised we're off the Canberra at the end o next week to defend last years BIG win. Probably too late to start a strength endurance program, hmmm...

Back's still & f%^*ed. It's gunna hurt, I just know it. Focus.

Golden Plains (or Golden Shower) festival

'The first lady of pizza', baby Mimmo and I jumped in the 'Love Bus' for a weekend with fellow music munters for Golden Plains Music Festival at the Meredith site (yes it was a coupla weeks ago now). Our Saturday arvo arrival was greeted with the skies opening up and it stayed that way for the weekend, wet. That didn't dampen the enthusiasm of the munters and we were treated to some crack'n performances from PAVEMENT, DINOSAUR JR(Mimmo's fave), DIRTY PROJECTORS, MIDNIGHT JUGGERNAUTS, TAME IMPALA, CALEXICO, NASHVILLE PUSSY, THE CRUEL SEA, WOODEN SHJIPS and others. Music + mud = fun! (especially wit the love bus 'cause we could just drive on out at the end, no wet tents n shit to pack up, see ya suckers...)