Grin factor +10

Ah how fun was that.

Last week I though we had made a good start on the trails with "Ants Pants" but was kind of dreading racing as we only had 800 meters of ST to about 2.5km of fire road. Heaps of potential just needed more work. Tuesday ight racing usual consists of 5-6 laps of a 3km loop. It's basically a 40min sprint.

In steps Richard Campbel.. He calls Sunday night,, "I've had my doitcher(sp?) out there today and cut some more trail to get rid of some of the fire trail"
Thus "Rags to Rich's" was born (Didn't have my gps but will add it to the data base shortly.)
What he acheived single handled turn the trail into the 2km loop with 200m of fire road.

Anyway along comes race night. I'm running late, as usual it seems, and was just setting up rego when two ladies pull up. Delegates from the Rydal Village association. I'd contacted them about what we were doing hoping to stay on side with the locals and get a bit of cross promotion.

They were all for it and we had a pleasant chat the I had to get rego open. I still hadn't seen Richards handy work but report coming back in was it was going to be a ripper.

Rego closes, we're running low on volunteers, ie we didn't have any.
Ah? We dicided to forgo lap times and just get an overall. I hadn't been doing too much riding so I volunteered to start the timer and slot in on the end.

I hit start wander over and yell "go" and we're off. I hadn't had the chance to do much riding leading up to christmas but manage to get a few social rides in the last 2 week. On top of that Bethany has been whipping me into gear with a bit of short circuit training every other day. we only go for 10min or so but I tell you what she'll make a good little personal trainer if that's wha she want to do. It obviously stood me in good stead.

I start making my way up through the crowd on the little fire trail start loop and slot into mid field as we enter the start of Ants Pants. Counter clockwise Ants Pants is a tough little trail. You need to really ride the bike. sharp off camber corners keep you alert and a few little log bunnyhop and double give the option of quicker inside lines.

It's not the type of tail were you just put your head down and pedal. You really need to stay on your toe. This section and already begun bedding in nicely but it was still slippery, touch a bit of brake in the wrong spot or get on the pedals too early of of a corner and you'd loose the front end or the back would go and suddenly you were facing the wrong way.

I made up a few spots down through here and then as we popped out onto the fire road a gave a sprint and 100m later, too my surprise I entered the second bit of St not too far behind the front runners. The virgin trail was a hard going at first. Richard had basically mowed and raked it but it still had a bit of short grass so it really hit the legs hard, but making up for it was the joyous flow.

Grinning like a mad man I drift corners, lost my front end a few time and generally had a ball while some how making up another couple of spots.

We head back into Ant's pants and Richard himself is just in front. I try and stay off the brakes as much as possible and let it flow. I make up some more ground but when Richard hit a corner a little too hard and spins out I get my chance to pass as he is giggling on the ground.

Darren and Garry are about 50m in front now. But I doubt I've got enough left in the tank. I back off slightly but am surprised to see that at the end of lap 3 I haven't lot any more ground.

Buggar it. I'm hurting but I'm having fun. I decide to go all out lap 4. Stay off the brakes where I can. Stay fluid and about all just keep pedaling. I find a couple of spots where every instinct is saying "just coast this little bit and rest" but pig headily I give a couple of pedals and brake late. Each time I make up more ground.

We come into the top of Ant's Pant for the final time Barnsie is well and truely out in front but I'm now just 20m behind Darren and Gaz. I hit the bunny hop and the hip jump, rail the 180* flat corner the fastest I had all night. Half way down I'm on Darrens wheel. We pop out on the fire road and I pass and sprint up to Garrys wheel.

I'm thinking I should be running out of steam but damn "Rags to Rich's" is so much fun at speed I can't help but push on. Garry cals me past on a run do to a hairy right hander that had been scaring me all night, We hit it pretty much together and somehow we both stay upright and I pass into second place.

Pig headedness kick in again. I haven't beaten either Garry or Darren for a bout 8months and now I'm in front I can't ease up.

We hit the top fire road and I've got a little lead. my legs are screaming my heart feels like it's about to burst through my chest but I know I'ma fraction quick down through the top of nts Pants and to the finish line.

I give it all and cross the line in second, a fair way behind Barnsie and pretty much collapsing but still grinning.

We hand around and cheer the other finishes over the line, regather our bretah every with a grin and a story of how they just held it on that corner or how they thought so and so was gone on this corner.

"Whose up for a lap in reverse, I reckon it will flow really well clockwise." Most of us head out for a clockwise lap. We have so much fun that it turns into 2 laps.

Rydal is going to be a great little venue. More work form the trail fairies this Sunday. Happy trails