Coming home to the real world, real life, and a real job after almost four months of avoiding such responsibilities is a little bit tough to handle. Having enjoyed the whole Northern ‘summer’, traveling from one Mountain Bike Marathon or Stage Race to another one, or finding somewhere awesome (or occasionally somewhere sub-optimal) to train – the shift back home is a tough transition. Sleeping in your own bed is good. Having a slightly broader wardrobe is great. Finally tearing your bike down and rebuilding it offers a special cleansing process.
All too soon, it’s ramping up again! In two weeks time I will be in Cairns, with Subaru/MarathonMTB.com team mates Justin ‘Maddog’ Morris and Graeme Arnott. Like any stage race, you can’t just rock up and race it like you may for a club level XC event. A little bit more preparation is required. Many Mountain Bike Stage Races have a variety of accommodation options, or maybe technical service along for the ride. The Crocodile Trophy makes a successful attempt at being known as the hardest, toughest and most adventurous Mountain Bike Stage Races around. There are very few creature comforts on offer!
As part of our preparation, we wanted to all be on similar bikes. Riding as a team of three, in support of Justin, we wanted good parts interchangeability. Hardtails, specifically Scott Carbon 29ers, seemed to be the best choice. Unfortunately, global markets feel the same way. So although we are all on 29er hardtails, there is a mix of alloy and carbon amongst the fleet. Final touches are being made this week, with some sweet wheels being built on NoTubes Crest 29er rims, with Maxxis Ikon tyres in a 2.2 width. Hopefully this will be a lightweight and reliable mix. Personally, I normally run the same osrt of tyres for just about any race. In part of of laziness in changing them, and also because I know how they handle. But having seen how well the Maxxis Ikon’s served Swell/Redshift rider Andy Blair at the Ingkerreke Commercial MTB Enduro in May (in Alice Springs), I’m keen for the three of us to be racing on them. Blairy was storming that week, and had no flats – unlike a lot of the bunch. One rocky desert is like another, right?
Figuring out how things will run from day to day will obviously be hard until we are started. But having received advice from Swell/Redshift racer Nick Both (A Croc competitor in 2007 and 2008) we have an idea of what is required when off the bike and on. In part, that’s why we have secured the services of Pete Figg – all around good guy and champion of mutton chops. With ten days of racing and camping, Pete is going to be a great help to make sure we’re healthy, hygienic and recovering day to day. A big thanks to Subaru Australia for getting him up there!
Ten days of racing. There is no hiding the fact that racing that length of time is a new thing for the three of us. Although Graeme and myself have completed a few different eight day Mountain Bike Stage Races (and Graeme does it pretty quickly) and Justin has completed numerous road tours – none of us have raced for ten consecutive days in such challenging conditions. Although it is arrogant to think so (and foolhardy to put it in here) I’m certain the three of us will finish. Mentally we can make it. Whether we will finish in a good position is different. I am adamant that I’m going to support Justin. Graeme is hoping to just survive given his current workload – and I’m sure Justin will put his racing pedigree and recent heavy training to good use.
In the past two weeks I have enjoyed getting back into a training plan, with a few set goals to work towards. I love traveling to race my bike. The amount of challenges it creates that you need to surpass, and the varied opportunities and friendships it creates makes a really rewarding experience. Conversely, being somewhere where you can just concentrate on training, without thinking about where you’re sleeping tomorrow, how you’re going to get to the next country/village/canton, or if you should be tapering, is an appreciated change.
So the countdown continues. My new 29er is still a collection of parts that don’t quite resemble a bike. Generous care packages from Science in Sport, Camelbak and Maxxis are due to arrive this week, and we need to sit down and think about what essentials need to be taken – besides suncream and chamois cream!