I can safely say that this years’ Rapid Ascent Ingkerreke Commercial MTB Enduro was the most challenging race I have ever completed. My 63 hour lead up to the race was unexpected, the climate and terrain in Alice Springs are unlike anything in Noosa and then there was the night stage…
The lead up:
In the 63 hours preceding the start of stage one:
Friday 1600: My magnificent Scott Scale 29er RC was deemed unrideable. Thanks to the quick thinking of Benny J at NBS (Noosa Bike Shop) I scored a shop loaner Cannondale Flash 29er for the race and caught my 0700 flight Saturday morning to Alice Springs.
Saturday 1600: I stacked and split my knee open on one of Alice Springs’ many rocks on a course familiarization ride Saturday afternoon. Fortunately local hero, Paul D, plotted me a Googlemap route to the Alice Springs Veterinary Hospital where Dr Kathy Moylan stitched me up.
All stitched up - if not a bit painful and swollen. Photo: Naomi Hansen
Saturday 1600: My loaner Cannondale was diagnosed with a terminal rear hub ‘issue’ (rode like a ‘fixie’), fortunately Corey at Ultimate Ride in Alice Springs managed a super speedy repair…. ON A SUNDAY!!
Sunday 1200: I was radiographed at the Alice Springs human ER to ensure nothing was broken and gave myself the all clear for racing. The doctors advised a week of Rest Ice Compression and Elevation (RICE), I agreed that RICE would be ideal but could not guarantee it would happen.
Sunday 1600: Registration for 2012 Rapid Ascent ICME
Monday 0900: Stage 1 start
If it weren’t for all the support of the aforementioned bodies correcting all my reasons not to race I probably would have just jumped a plane back to the comfortable Sunshine Coast and moped around for the week… BUT I had a bike that worked, a knee that was stitched, no broken bits, a course of antibiotics; some anti-inflammatories and a race entry so may as well be racing!
The climate and terrain:
The weather in Alice Springs is amazing, but vastly contrasting to the damp Sunshine Coast. The daily temperature range is dramatic, from a frozen 0C at 0630 to a perfect racing 25C by about 1000-1100. The sky is an azure blue during the day and an abundance of stars at night and air so dry that you have to moisturiser regularly to limit moisture loss through your pores (i.e. clog your pores so they don’t leak). The trails are brilliant but deceiving as many riders realise too late and become casualties of broken chains, torn tyres and destroyed hangers.
In this race it pays play it safe, stay on the trail and on your bike, as a fall at any speed is inevitably painful and costly. This year saw several riders, with an over representation of male elite riders, unable to finish as a result of bike or body injury. It is not a race for the weight weenie; tubeless tires are essential with extra sealant, first aid kits mandatory, a multi tool complete with chain braker, spare tube’S’ and gas canister’S’ (emphasis on the pleural) and as much water as you think you need PLUS 50%.
Over 7 stages in Alice Springs you will be exposed to a whole spectrum of mountain biking from tight, rocky technical trails to fast bunch riding on bike paths and tar, a 300m uphill sprint to a 77km fire trail slog and a night stage. The stages are predominantly short and punchy but two days involve an afternoon/evening double up which makes for long days.
The night stage:
I am not one to dwell on the negative but for me the night stage is the most challenging and does warrant a mention. The night stage is a re-run of the ITT 23km course from the same morning but as a mass start. I believe this stage to be quite important, if you are not familiar with night riding or your lights are lackluster you do run the risk of losing lots of time during this stage. For me, the night stage is generally a terrifying experience, but this year I had mixed feelings after riding behind teamie Kath Bicknell and her awesome Radical Lights for the majority of the course. I admit to being well out of my depth and in no-mans land when Kath caught me and, like an angel, she guided me through the remaining kilometers of the night stage. My perception of night riding has now changed and I am actually looking forward to next year.
Following a less than ideal lead up to this event I must say I enjoyed my week in Alice Springs immensely. I placed second in the open female and scored a 5 day accommodation package at the Chiefly Hotel Alice Springs or 2013.
So the moral to the story is never give up and never underestimate the support you receive from your Local Bike Shop, teammates and fellow riders. Stage races are an adventure and rarely go to plan so just suck it up and enjoy the ride.
Thanks heaps to NBS and Ultimate Ride, the Subaru-MarathonMTB team, Paul D and his awesome house, Kathy M and her stitching skills, Rapid Ascent and all the great participants in this years ICME.