Kath Bicknell is a talented Mountain Biker and writer, and is ever present on the Australian scene – happy to race hard with a sunny disposition. Kath was at the recent Singletrack Mind Race at Mt Annan – and here are her thoughts.
“Wow!” I said slowly, late on Sunday afternoon, mouth full of food. “They are the best McFish burgers I have ever eaten.” I was surprised to hear me say this too. Being vegequarian, I have certainly eaten my fair share of McFishes, so it was a very big statement to make. Perhaps I should step a few hours back in time.
Half way through the fifth round of the SRAM Singletrack Mind Series I concluded that racing really is a little bit strange. It all starts of in the name of fun, but before you realise it, something shifts. Riders begin by throwing power at the pedals, ripping around the track and come back to transition full of smiles and giggles. Then half way through, things start to hurt, but the old competitive spirit kicks in and we bury ourselves trying to continue what we started. Or at least that’s what happened to me.
The new trails at the Mount Annan Botanical Gardens are quite physical to ride. The course features lots of punchy ups, and quick descents that you have to really work to feel like you’re riding them well. I guess this is why it’s called Mount Annan not Annan Flats, or the Sweeping Annan Plains. Thankfully, this is also why I’m a mountain biker, not a gym junkie. So despite the pain, I loved every minute of the adventure and enjoyed the way this season’s tight racing in the mixed categories has frequently meant arriving at the finish line with only a handful of energy to spare.
To read the full race report, go to Kath’s Blog