Mountain Biking race (Turner Hill MTBO Day 1) 1:26:51 [4] 19.84 km (13.7 kph) +499m
ahr:157 max:176 shoes: Giro Privateer
After coming with an hour to spare almost missed my start time!
1) Had a good leg to 1 and hit it flush
2) Gave Jen a bit of stick as I overtook her on an uphill to 2 - was fully expecting her to motor away from me when I had seen her on my exit to 1. (almost stacked it behind her in the pea gravel - recovered nicely though)
Proceeded to miss my turn off and go some extra ground - might have been worth it - took the green link - I think?! and then single trail - once getting past someone I booted it most of the way to 2. however decided to stop for a while when almost there just to make sure... wasteful!
3) might have made a new track by accident - it looked like a track/open ground to me. anyway quickly down the west path - and back again - not full tilt but reasonably fast.
4) really enjoyed the single trail to 4 - could have gone harder/faster on it but held back a bit as brakes where being a bit dodgy and back will was slipping around corners.
5) had a major mistake on this leg - cost me a decent amount of time - around 5 minutes. I just wasn't confident when the track started to descend and went back then rode on white area clearly not the track then back to main junction, looking at map I was certain but trying to convince myself - Ricky came sailing past. Well that confirms it and I chased after him up to the flag. I must have been very close to the track when I turned around the first time!
6) what a painful uphill - still made a reasonable crack at it.
7) Went reasonably hard at this a few hesitations but generally a strong leg to the control and rewarded with a 2nd fastest split :P
8) The tapping didn't help massively - came off the track a number of times - horrible little leg up the hill - but once through was pretty quick around to 8.
9) - opted against the road #SILLY - got to corner didn't see track - climbed the full hill to the corner and back down again - what a waste. would have been heaps faster on the road - nav mistake cost me at least 2 minutes
10) I was cautious going into it but didn't loose too much time
11) on route passed Paul - he was either going for home or still chasing me. Increased my effort - Almost made a wrong turn but got to 11 nicely.
12) Went hard on the down hill - slammed on brakes on corner and went along to 12 - probably could have gone faster post the corner.
13) Reasonably fast but very clean leg.
14) Clean. - Almost gave Richard a jump shot... if only I had known.
All in all felt really good out there today - a few mistakes cost me some time and no doubt positions - but its the first time I have been firmly in the mix in the field. only 2:20 down on Paul and 5 min down on Dave. And got Dalto's scalp! woo there is a first :P
Closing the gap between Paul and I with the ice cream challenge at the next MTBO... feeling like it might be game on!
Tomorrow should be fun I will be chasing everyone rather than being chased.
Also Richard's nav in the car on the way there saved me from another Google maps rant :P