2009 MONT 24 (long post)
I probably should be breaking this report into a series of posts, so it makes it a little easier for you to read, but I figure either way, the same amount of info will be being presented, so grab a snack sit back and look at what we did on the weekend. :)
The Enduro season has begun, and what better way to break out of the XC Olympic format racing then by propelling us into The MONT 24 hour. Held in Canberra atop of Sparrow Hill, the MONT is a prestigious MTB race and one of the forefathers of 24 hour racing in Australia (I think) It's not uncommon to see Australia's best MTB riders at the MONT and among all 2600 competitors there was a great mix of both amateur and pro.
With Jack Lamshed injured and sick, we were lucky to find a replacement in the form of Canberra local, Ben Henderson with some last minute recon work by Paul. Other then that the team stayed the same, with myself, Neil and Paul Van der Ploeg.
Long car trips are a massive part of this sport and the 7-8 hour trip up to Canberra is no exception. So it helps to have the right company to hit the tar with. It was Paul and me for the first 3.5 hours to Albury where we were picking up Neil. Then it was the 3 of us crammed into the front of the FELT van like sardines for the remaining 4 hours. For me that's not too bad as I had the advantage of small legs and I was the sick one. But for the altitude advantaged Van der Ploegs sitting next to a walking disease with their legs submerged into the van consoles, this was a little testing. Fun times none the less.
Some new very awsome lights Southcott are distributing, Sperm lights we were calling them, but don't quote me on that one, Im sure you'll be hearing about them very soon.
The whole trip up we were Chasing storms, at one stage it got so bad the traffic on the HUME had stopped. The video below doesn't do justice to the size storm we were driving through, and it wasn't even the real bad one with hail...
We got to Sparrow Hill Friday night, where we were greeted with MORE rain and a drive way that sent the Van sliding in all directions, the mud was in abundance but surprisingly enough all that rain made the course MINT. We set up our sight and hit the sack knowing all too well that this would be our last chance for quality sleep in a long time.
2,600 Competitors
12:00pm Saturday the race started, and Neil got us started. cutting a very competetive lap considering he had to run what seemed to be little under 1km in the lemans start and then binning it mid lap, destroying a brake lever in the process. Yeah Neil, SOLID!
Then Ben was keen to get some times posted, getting us at one stage 2nd early in the race. Shown below railing the final corner before passing the batton to Paul.
With Paul out I new it wasn't long till I had to get out there. Still not feeling real good I wasn't all that amped for some punishment, but before i new it I was digging deep grinding down the teeth on the big chain ring chasing out ultimate goal of a podium
Before long the sun started to decline and I we were riding with our superb NIGHT LIGHTING lights.
Apart from a few falls and flat tyres during the day up untill night we were running seamlessly, without a problem. But once the night came we started to develop cracks that grew into big problems.
On my last night lap before a short sleep Had forgotten to change my battery pack therefor spending half a lap with no light, slowing down to ride off other peoples light.
At this time we had decided to change the game plan to double lap stints of the 18km course giving those at base camp some more time to recover and get some shut eye. Sounded good and we really were needing some sleep. Unfortunately Paul slept through his alarm and wasnt in transition when Neil came through after his second lap, after leaving transition to wake up Paul Neil was forced to do a third, on an empty tank crawling home to all but die in his sleeping bag.
And as if that wasn't enough, I did exactly the same thing to Paul after his double. Yes the cracks were showing.
suffering the night out
team managers are a necessary, a very valuable asset to an Enduro team
But when the sun comes up, everyone goes from looking like zombies to only half dead, lively enough to enjoy the enduro atmosphere. Here was Paul (on Nic's bike) participating (poorly) in bike sumo.
Notice the commentator just letting Paul have it, giving the old index finger a good workout.
In the end, that podium place we were aiming to claim didn't come without a fight, with 10 minutes left I was sent out on the final lap to defend our 3rd place, I rode my fastest lap for the whole 24 hours and it was only enough to stay clear by only 37 seconds, from a very fast Shaun Lewis, hunting me down like a leopard.
The drive home was a little like the pic above. Constant driver changes got us there.
Cheers ScottyL
(longest blog post EVA!)
The Enduro season has begun, and what better way to break out of the XC Olympic format racing then by propelling us into The MONT 24 hour. Held in Canberra atop of Sparrow Hill, the MONT is a prestigious MTB race and one of the forefathers of 24 hour racing in Australia (I think) It's not uncommon to see Australia's best MTB riders at the MONT and among all 2600 competitors there was a great mix of both amateur and pro.
With Jack Lamshed injured and sick, we were lucky to find a replacement in the form of Canberra local, Ben Henderson with some last minute recon work by Paul. Other then that the team stayed the same, with myself, Neil and Paul Van der Ploeg.
Long car trips are a massive part of this sport and the 7-8 hour trip up to Canberra is no exception. So it helps to have the right company to hit the tar with. It was Paul and me for the first 3.5 hours to Albury where we were picking up Neil. Then it was the 3 of us crammed into the front of the FELT van like sardines for the remaining 4 hours. For me that's not too bad as I had the advantage of small legs and I was the sick one. But for the altitude advantaged Van der Ploegs sitting next to a walking disease with their legs submerged into the van consoles, this was a little testing. Fun times none the less.
Some new very awsome lights Southcott are distributing, Sperm lights we were calling them, but don't quote me on that one, Im sure you'll be hearing about them very soon.
The whole trip up we were Chasing storms, at one stage it got so bad the traffic on the HUME had stopped. The video below doesn't do justice to the size storm we were driving through, and it wasn't even the real bad one with hail...
We got to Sparrow Hill Friday night, where we were greeted with MORE rain and a drive way that sent the Van sliding in all directions, the mud was in abundance but surprisingly enough all that rain made the course MINT. We set up our sight and hit the sack knowing all too well that this would be our last chance for quality sleep in a long time.
12:00pm Saturday the race started, and Neil got us started. cutting a very competetive lap considering he had to run what seemed to be little under 1km in the lemans start and then binning it mid lap, destroying a brake lever in the process. Yeah Neil, SOLID!
Then Ben was keen to get some times posted, getting us at one stage 2nd early in the race. Shown below railing the final corner before passing the batton to Paul.
With Paul out I new it wasn't long till I had to get out there. Still not feeling real good I wasn't all that amped for some punishment, but before i new it I was digging deep grinding down the teeth on the big chain ring chasing out ultimate goal of a podium
Before long the sun started to decline and I we were riding with our superb NIGHT LIGHTING lights.
Apart from a few falls and flat tyres during the day up untill night we were running seamlessly, without a problem. But once the night came we started to develop cracks that grew into big problems.
On my last night lap before a short sleep Had forgotten to change my battery pack therefor spending half a lap with no light, slowing down to ride off other peoples light.
At this time we had decided to change the game plan to double lap stints of the 18km course giving those at base camp some more time to recover and get some shut eye. Sounded good and we really were needing some sleep. Unfortunately Paul slept through his alarm and wasnt in transition when Neil came through after his second lap, after leaving transition to wake up Paul Neil was forced to do a third, on an empty tank crawling home to all but die in his sleeping bag.
And as if that wasn't enough, I did exactly the same thing to Paul after his double. Yes the cracks were showing.
But when the sun comes up, everyone goes from looking like zombies to only half dead, lively enough to enjoy the enduro atmosphere. Here was Paul (on Nic's bike) participating (poorly) in bike sumo.
Notice the commentator just letting Paul have it, giving the old index finger a good workout.
In the end, that podium place we were aiming to claim didn't come without a fight, with 10 minutes left I was sent out on the final lap to defend our 3rd place, I rode my fastest lap for the whole 24 hours and it was only enough to stay clear by only 37 seconds, from a very fast Shaun Lewis, hunting me down like a leopard.
The drive home was a little like the pic above. Constant driver changes got us there.
Cheers ScottyL
(longest blog post EVA!)
posted by Scott Liston at 2:27 pm
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