Ride race (XPD Aust Alps) 4:21:00 [3] 35.0 km (7:27 / km)
shoes: Giant XTC Team
Started riding just ahead on Blackheart / Salomon straight into a sealed looong descent down to Tumut River. Loaded the bikes and all four of us into one kayak and used sticks to paddle the 80 metres across the river. Once across went straight into a huge climb up into the snowline. Was awesome to be riding through fresh snow, although a bit awkward in sections. Finally got onto the road and headed down tot he TA at Lake Eucumbene. I saw the TA off to the right and decided to immediately head that way without warning - took Josh out in the process to look back and see him flat out on the ground ... whoops, sorry Josh!
Kayak race (XPD Aust Alps) 5:15:00 [3] 30.0 km (10:30 / km)
Left the TA as Blackheart / Salomon were arriving. Had some trouble locating the river, and spent the first 40 minutes in a small 1 metre wide creek, similar to the Log Ride at Dreamworld. Finally portaged into the proper river which was much much wider and very fast flowing. Stayed on this for about 10kms until it met the Lake. We got a bit lazy on this leg finally arriving at the TA at about 5pm. Carried the boats up about 300m to the TA. Again, Blackheart / Salomon arrived as we were leaving.
Ride race (XPD Aust Alps) 6:29:00 [3] 65.0 km (5:59 / km)
shoes: Giant XTC Team
This agian was a very hilly ride, with no easy kilometres. Rode into the night and got more and more tired as night fell. Nearing the end it also got very foggy, until we got barely see the rider in front of us as we approached the TA at Charlottes Pass. Visibility was that bad that we missed the turn off into Charlottes Pass, only realising when we reached the junction to all the walks at the top. Headed back into the TA and arrived very very cold. Luckily this TA was indoors so we comfortably fot changed. Won this leg by over 30 minutes and increased our lead significantly over the others. I'd well and truly had enough of the bikes, and all the ups and downs by now!