Flynny's blog

It's been a while between drinks. So long in fact that I had contemplated selling my DH bike. Buggar all DH riding in the last few years since having a nasty crash and pretty much zero racing on the DH bike since we lost State Mine in 2007...

As much as I enjoy my XC racing and trail riding it just doesn't compare to the feeling of sitting in the start gate knowing that to preform well you are going to have to push your limits. The shakey nerves and the the rush at the end when you've pulled it off.

So there I was mucking around on Hassans Walls, cleaning up and riding a few lines I haven't ridden for a while. Nervously I approached the rock ledge "shit can I still do this" I unweighted the front and up I rolled... Hey that was easier than I remember, now for the steps down... Weee

I was having a ball, it had been a while since I'd just had a bit of fun and challenged my myself on some technical obstacles that weren't really on a trail and I started thinking what happened to all the mountain bikers?

A good strong roll up for this one. Looks like as day light increases so does rider numbers.

Just before the start I realised I had gotten oil on my pads. The rear was doing nothing, the front was best described as a speed retardation device.

For once I got in a small warm up and after the last couple of weeks of sprinting off the start and blowing up halfway around the first lap I tried to settle down on the start and build into it.

Tuff little one tonight, and a bit longer than I had thought.

The new section "The Dump" worked well. Lincon and Steve have done a bang up job designing that bit adding that little bit of gnarliness to the over all trail.

I got excited each time we came into it. Woohoo down the high speed start, then I'd groan as the muddy bit ground things down. Then Woohoo as you drop into the next bit, Then Groan as you hit the hill.

Tonights course didn't give much chance to catch a breath but once it drys out it should be one sweet section.

Top race tonight.
The new section Richard cut in on the weekend was interesting and will definitely be a nice addition once it beds in.. Over all I think the track was the grippiest it's been. The rain over the weekend done it a world of good.

I got off to an OK start but it didn't take Beggsie long to round me up and push the pace. I tried my best to stay with him but he was riding like a demon. Brett was on my heals too and at the first fire road climb he blew past like I was standing still.

Well it was a little chilly out there but it didn't take long to warm up.

I followed Barnsie up into the single trail and he set a nice pace as we headed up the little climb for the first time. Brett was nipping at my heals and we openned a little gap on the rest of the field.

Then Barnsie jumps off his bike and start running. The angle log had caused him some drama in practice so he choose a safer cyclocross method. I bunny hop he log and almost land on top of him, get shoved wide into the long grass but somehow manage to get around him as he remounts, Brett comes with me.

Is there some sort of temporal disturbace at Scribblies, some secret mountain magic that lets the down hill bit go for just about ever, berm after berm, corners that seem to loop back just past 360* without actually crossing back on them selves...

Then you get to the bottom resigned to long slog back up but you pop out onto the fire trail, 2 pedal gets you up the small pinch and you have a short flat pedal back to the start to pick another track and do it all again.

Big props to the trail fairies, they done alright and more than alright.

Great night for a ride. then it pissed down just as we were leaving the pub. Had a few spills tonight so I hope Paul and Glenn are ok

Well another Mt Lambie race survived.

Another big thanks to Clint for inviting us out, providing a kick arse track and running to timing. Thanks to Brad too for the help setting up the arrows and clearing some of the fallen trees.

Mt Lambie... Not sure what everyone else thinks but I reckon its one of the most brutal XC tracks going, hard but doable with a big sense of satisfaction in being able to finish. I really like the track but suffer when trying to race it.

Lovely night for ride.

the stars were out in force as Richard, Meggsie, Charlie and myself headed off around the first half of the Rydal loop. At the far end we headed leftonthe fire trail and took int he new stuff out through the diggings and then followed the railway line out to the highway.

After bit of dicking around trying to avoid the highway itself we gave up and ventured up the tarmac and across Pikes lane back to the western road and then ground our way up to Mt Lambie to Clints place.