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My riding buddy Craig and I decided to ride Narrow Neck this morning.
Having not ridden it before and after hearing a few horror stories, I was interested to see what it was like.
I had in my mind long tough climbs and fast rough downhills with awesome views. The riding didn't quite live up to what I imagined but the views made it very worthwhile.
We easily rode all the hills, with only one really tough one about 2/3 of the way back (actually Craig didn't make this one, but I managed it ok).
The concrete hill to start is a bit tough with no real warm up but offers plenty of traction.

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.

Going into this ride I had not had a lot of training with only the one mountain bike ride since my “hospital” exit at the SRAM single track thingy back in September and a handful of lazy road ride commutes to work.

Oberon is a interesting town (featured in the flame trees music vid?) and I was expecting a crowd there on Saturday afternoon, but alas it was pretty calm so we registered and as it was an cracker of an afternoon, we headed out to see the race start and see the sights.

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.

After a bit of fast talking I managed to get my brother keen on the idea of a road trip to Parkes to compete in his first 50 km event with his new trek 29er.Another of my Brothers heard we were doing the big foot and wanted in on the fun so he and his wife also entered .

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 what can I say - great weather, family and friends, great event !!

Packed up on Friday morning - car was packed to the roof, 3 kids 7,5,1.5 in the back, 3 bikes (mine and two kids bikes) and off we went - hoping to make Back Yamma State Forest by around 3:30 - setup camp have a beer .....

Driving home yesterday afternoon I thought that its nearly the end of the year and I’ve finally finished a 100K race (this year’s seen a Dirtworks DNF and a Husky last min change to the 50) sure I did the nearly 400K Mountains to beach, but the longest MTB race stage was “only” 90K’s.