Highland Fling 2009

There are so many highlights from this year's fling it is going to be hard to keep this report to a reasonable length, so I will give you an executive summary
Perfect weather
Great company and some excellent results for TORC
The track was in fabulous condition, you roadies are in a for a real treat come "Roadies Day Off"

In my race, it was a team of four TORC riders with Mike F, Peter C and Stu B (in his maiden 100km race) and I pushing each other on which just has to be one of the best things about racing like this. Mike F and I passed each other 6 times until he finally put me in my box.

All that being said, I certainly came in for my fair share of misfortune, with a gear cable tail getting caught in the rear wheel spokes in the opening km, the mouthpiece of my camelback splitting forcing me to drink without a mouthpiece and ending up with more optimiser down my jersey than down my throat, and then the mother of all washouts "at speed" on a downhill section in the outer limits. A bit of skin off, but thanks to elite riders Tim and Stu for picking me up and getting me rolling again.

The race was tough and the new starting section designed to thin the field had the opposite effect and soon became like a shopping queue at Woollies. But the absolute highlight of the day was in the early stages while I was riding at the back of the bunch with up to 100 hundred riders in front up a very steep hill. I glanced up and noticed some hesitation with a couple of guys stopping, I looked to my right and saw the not so obvious arrow leading to the right so off I went...eureka!...I am at the head of this huge bunch on a cattle trail the width of a tyre and it feels like I am leading the race, what a buzz. Of course the buzz quickly faded when we caught the lead bunch all queuing at the head of some very gnarly single trail and it wasn?t long before I was back in my rightful place.

The presentations were definitely worth the wait as I won a spot prize, a full set of Ayup lights for going the right way! Thanks Huw and Ayup!

For the four TORC guys, it was Mike F and Peter C followed soon after by Stu and myself close behind. Peter claimed 13th in the masters category and I rolled in 19th. I don?t have results for Stu or Mike yet, but no doubt they were at the pointy end of the field. Sandy Logie again showed he is the man of steel taking out 2nd in the Grand Masters.

In the Women we had three podiums, Alison M got 3rd in the Open Women's half fling. In the Masters it was TORC 2nd and 3rd for Martine and Larri. Kelly M claimed 2nd in the Open Women's Full Fling. There were lot's of other great performances, Matt H and Marco were there and Fester and Tracy played out their regular grudge match, apologies if I have missed others who were there. We will update this list when the official results are published.

Thanks everyone for a great weekend.

Keep Riding
Mike

Ride Time 5:52
Cals 4917
Avg HR: 79% (max 92% of 185bpm)
Dist: 112km

What I ate
2ltr (+ or -) of Optimiser
2 bananas
800ml Gu
600ml water
9 gels (1 gel every half hour)

The Final Showdown

The Final Showdown
The Central Coast put on a crystal clear day for the final round of the Club Championships and 6 of the best TORC riders showed up for 6 hours of power. A late change to the rules left a glimmer of hope for any would be TORC Club Champion as triple points were on offer. Mike I who has been Mr Consistency all year seemed to have the title all wrapped up but now he had a real fight on hands. Mike F and Stu B were the two closest rivals and as usual from the start, Farkas was last seen disappearing in a cloud of dust.

The start was pretty fast and the pre-race plan to keep the HR to around 80% suddenly seemed like a joke. I was hitting 90% on some of the climbs but I was feeling good so I kept a steady pace. Farkas got a good start and was in the lead bunch until halfway through the first lap when an angry stick snapped his rear mech. As I passed Mike, all I could see was a tangled chain and a little tear streaking his dust coated cheek.

Greg put in some solid laps to seal the C grade title, and Cheeso conquered the Drop Off and finished early, keeping his powder dry for the Fling next weekend. Matt also made his debut at Ourimbah and while having cardiac arrest up one of the many pinches had an epiphany. The voice of the bike god was heard to mutter ?Matt?.one ride a week isn?t enough??no kidding!

After two laps I was still in a happy place and stopped to jettison the bike video cam (soon to be published in YouTube) and pick up a fresh bottle. It also gave me a chance to hide from Binnsy who only a minute behind had called out ?I have you now?Israel!? on a switch back. Hopefully he won?t see me stopping and think I have powered on ahead. On the third lap I was pushing hard through Browns, but then a slight lapse in concentration and I was eating the dust when I leaned into a corner too early and the front tyre caught the inside lip. A twisted thumb seemed to be the worst of it, but not bad enough to hinder my shifting.

Laps 4, 5 and 6 were all about just maintaining a steady pace and trying to keep riding all the hills. A bottle change after 4 and at some point I got in front of Stu again. This is where a cool head is needed in these kinds of races, it would be easy to think you are feeling alright and go out and smash another lap, but it is going to catch up with you and you will end up slower overall. It is one of those things you just have to learn what your body is telling you and make sure you look after it so you can continue to ride steadily to the end.

Lap number 7 was very tough and the constant buffeting from the rocky trail was now taking a real toll on my hands. Binnsy was catching me, and was holding my wheel then there was this sound of grinding gears, slipping tyres and a groan of defeat. I have to admit I didn?t look back, mainly as my neck was so stiff by this point, but that was the last I saw of Stu. At some point I thought, ?that?s it, I?ve done enough? and pulled into transition for the last time. I wasn?t sure where Stu was, but if he went onto to do another lap then he could have this round. (STOP PRESS. he got back after Lap 7 and relaxed with Chris, Tim and Luke then went out for his eighth lap, well done mate, great effort)

Thanks to Binnsy for an honest race all day and bad luck to Mike, next year mate. Thanks also to CCOMTB who have run a sensational series all year. Today was a great challenge and a really good test for the Fling next weekend. So that is it, our first Club Championship is over and it has been great fun. Thanks to all the riders who came out to test their fitness and keep an eye out for next year as I am sure it will be bigger and better.

Keep riding
Mike I