Chase the Sun 2

Well it has been and gone. For something different I decided to to a solo race. Whilst knowing I could do it mentally the body had other ideas. The quads gave up pushing the single speed gear up the hills and rendered me with cramps every time I climbed. So after a little after 4 hrs I pulled the pin on the 6hr race. I have decided that mountain bike racing is a cruel sadistic sport.... I guess this is what attracts people cause it is so hard and you can make it harder. I guess next time more bike time leading up to a race would put me in a better position to get through the race solo. Today I feel like I have gone 10 rounds in a boxing ring. Thank god for the iPod that keep my mind busy whilst pedaling around and saving me from mental meltdown.
A massive turn out for the 2nd Chase the Sun. The start was gridlock heading into the single track and starting at the back of the field was a good idea bar this cause it forced me not to race. The weather was a nice first day of winter fog which didn't lift till quite late in the race. the single track was predictable but rough in spots which really does add to the pain today.
Hats off to one crazy guy who was riding solo on a uni cycle.... gave me a moment or two of humour passing him. Plenty of nice bikes out there including this beauty..... Lynskey Ti 26 inch single speed with XT/ XTR bits and pieces.



I also spotted my fair share of full carbon GT's with a full XTR set up. Looked cool and super light. A few 29ers but not many and a spattering of single speeds including one guy on a cross bike smashing out the laps.
Anyway I am going back to bed.



Big Mak's self service centre

girl friday

Enjoy the pic readers!

On another note, I see that my comments section is starting a debate about Crossmax 29er wheels. I personally have no issues with these wheels and think that if you want to ride them.... ride them. Hence my nick name of Big Mak I am no small person at 6 foot 5 and 120 kg's (should be playing football, ice hockey or just crushing skulls) and choose not to ride pre built wheelsets like shimano or mavic. My experience has been disappointing on the road with them and I have witnessed people half my size destroy wheelsets. I chose to have a hand built set of wheels under me because;

A: good wheel builders are a dying breed and whilst I can I will get them hand built. Hand built wheels last me longer with out interruptions. I can get a spoke at most bike shops and don't have to wait on the slow supply of a mavic wholesaler to get me the repair parts that are often over priced and take decades to get to me

B: I choose every part that goes into a build and it is built for me by someone who knows me... not on a machine in a cheap labour factory, plus they are different to everyone else running a wheel set from a big name manufacturer

C: I have seen to many high end wheelsets get fucked up by normal sized people just riding on the road so I don't have much faith in them for off road riding

D: You see the wheels in the magazine advertisement and want them cause your favourite rider is on them just remember this point. Pro's run wheel sets cause they get em free and are paid to endorse them..... doesn't mean that the wheels are the best thing cause wheels to a pro racer are like a hammer to a carpenter, it does the job!

E: I ride single speed and quite frankly running a single speed specific hub for chain line with a appropriate freewheel is a better option than a spacer kit and cog in my eyes

Further more don't be dissing people and calling them wankers on this blog, even if it is tongue in cheek. So enough ranting by me!
This being said ride what you want and when you do ride it.... ride it like you stole it!

night time

Headed out Saturday night for a loop with the usual suspects. First night ride in about 6 months and it was a hoot. Apart from one incident of me versus a tree stump, it was perfect (the stump won and had me lying prone asking myself why I was out at night). The conditions were cool with a bit of early evening mist rolling across the the open grasslands and the trails tacky. Took awhile to get the eyes adjusted to performing night time trail reading and by the end I was loving it again.
I am trialing a set of Maxxis Crossmark 29er tyres as I have heard people rave about the 26 inch version. I threw them on today and took the bike out with my trusty four legged companion (Farlee the trail, roo & rabbit chasing wonder dog) and was impressed. I have mainly been using the Maxxis Ignitor which is similar but does not have the straight line speed. Managed to run them at about 32 psi (not bad under my big arse!) and they hugged the trails spot on and hooked up where they had to. Will see how they run this weekend at the Chase the Sun 2 out at Lysterfeild.
The ankle is getting better and should put up with the abuse of a six hour race I hope. Should try an get back on the roller ski's this week and start to crank out some km's with the ski season only weeks away.


Farlee chillin out after chase a roo....mad, mad , mad dog. Wants to chase anything and everything!

Not a lot else to report... working to much and trying when I can t get ready for the winter with strangth and conditioning work to improve the core strength. I have planned out some nordic races for winter so cometh the snow and lets get it on!

Happy trails

its Friday...

the loop

Well yesterday i did a large loop from my house using the local trails to get over to the Yarra Trail system via Warrandyte's 4th Hill. I took my time and set off at a leisurely pace...(well as fast as a 32:20 gearing would allow) and smashed my way through the 4th Hill area grinding up the hills. I need to refine the route I took as some of it (3km) spent to much time on the road which sucked big time spinning out the gear. I headed over to the Yarra Trail system and completed a loop of the Tikalara Loop and then headed back home via the route of the Felt Epix lads though the Mullum Trail system. Needless to say the first 2hr plus ride nailed me a bit, but left me with a grin on the dial. I have only recently started using such a low gear and cant believe that a lot of SS 29er riders (derived from my research on forums) use this gear. It is a bit of a mountain goat gear cause when on the flats you have a to speed of 19km/h which does drive one nuts on a fire trail. Off road it is fine... compromise is what it is all about Reevaluation of the gearing is required to give me some extra oomph on the flats to stop the frustration of spinning out the gear. I will have to do this loop a couple of more times in preparation for the next CTS in a fortnight. Off to the osteopath today for a tune up of the ankle and hopefully back on the roller skis for some flatland training at the end of the week.
get out there and get on it!

checking out the local

I headed out for a quick look at part of the loop that the Felt Epix boys did with the Dickies last week. Happy to see some great trail that had recently been built which was sweet to ride but fairly wet after the rain of the weekend. I had ridden part of the loop many years ago and am glad to see that people have continued to ride it and break it in. I was only out for around a hour as that's the limit of the ankle at the moment. As the light was failing I lost the trail and took a wrong turn and popped up on a private drive way... oh well shit happens. But worth more a look and a good one to throw in to a loop through the Fourth Hill loop I have..... Have to see how long it takes me. I was riding a pissy gear of 32/20 which was good for the climbing and single track but weak as piss on the flats..... need to find a happy compromise.
W then headed out for a few cans of Sapporo beer and a meal of Wagu at Chocolate Buddha with Gav and Mister Sister and their partners.... good meal but the waiter was a fukn knob..... that's what puts people off dining ya tool!
Anyhow happy trails!