Trek Superfly Elite 100, Gary Fisher CollectionI headed up to Lake Mountain on Saturday for the Granite Grind race, there was the option of 1,2 or 3 laps of a 10k course, I chose the 1 lap option, I figured after the Otway Odyssey last week I probably wouldn't be up to more than that. Now 10klms doesn't sound like much but on that course it is more than enough, well for me anyway. I had ridden some of the course before and it was pretty tough, mainly due to the amount of climbing, it doesn't go straight up as such but winds its way up the mountain, you get a nice little downhill section but its not long before you are climbing again.
The day didn't start off well, I was sick on Friday night after having eaten out, I was hoping I would be fine by the morning, when the alarm went off at 5am this was not the case, as soon I stood up I was going to be sick, I laid back down and felt ok while I was laying down but as soon as I moved I felt sick again, I managed to drag my butt out of bed and have some breakfast, didn't stay in for long though, I decided to go to the race anyway, luckily I had a chauffeur for the day so I was able to relax in the car on the way up, I couldn't stomach too much water and was probably already dehydrated so was not going to be a good day on the bike. I started to feel ok when I got out of the car and went and registered, as I started my warm up I spotted the Trek Demo bikes next to the Croydon Cycleworks tent, I asked to take a 29er for a spin, he organised the Gary Fisher Superfly 100, he then mentioned I could race on it, well it didn't take too much convincing and next thing I knew I was on the start line on top of a $7000 bike. I took off up the hill and it made its way over the loose gravel rocks on the first climb really well, I realised I didn't have granny gear like on my bike but luckily the gearing was pretty good on it so was not too much of a difference, on to the singletrack now and when I started hitting the rocks I was amazed at how easily it got over them, even at a slow speed, where I would usually come to a stop if I was on my bike, it just rolled over the top and easily back down the other side, not sure if I was just a little more confident being on that bike or if it really made that much difference but in any case it was certainly nice going over the rocks and I seemed to not have to stop and walk my bike over anything too technical, although there wasn't anything too technical about the course, sure there were plenty of rocks around but nothing like the more technical tracks at the You Yangs.
About half way in I was really feeling the heat and was very thirsty, it was pretty warm out there so I made sure I stopped to drink a lot, yes I had to stop, the bottle holder was really awkward and the suspension was in the way so I couldn't just reach down and grab my bottle. I made it to one of the last climbs before the finish line and was very pleased to be finishing, until the marshall sent me up towards the first climb we did at the start, I was devastated, as I pulled back up to the the car park I thought that was it for me and now I had to go and climb that bloody hill again we climbed at the start! As I was having a whinge to the next marshal as I started climbing he laughed and told me I was heading the wrong way and that I just had to hang a righty and I was a couple hundred metres from the finish, phew, just as well, I don't think my legs would have liked doing that one again. That was one tough hour and 40 minutes on the bike! I actually felt worse after this race than I did after the Otway Odyssey and that was 40klms longer, well 37k longer, the Granite Grind was advertised as being 10klms per lap but it was actually 13klms, so more bang for our buck I guess, although that's one value added extra I could have done without!
I managed to come away with a first place in my category, it would have meant more to me if my only other competitor had finished the lap but she pulled out so I still have to wait for a legitimate win, I was faster than a bunch of guys though so at least I wasn't last.
I did manage to learn another lesson in racing this race, don't change bikes on race day and probably not a good idea to race when you are crook, not that they are excuses for my performance on the day, I am sure if I was feeling 100% and had my own bike my times would not have been much different, as good as that bike was its just not a good idea to make drastic changes on race day, by this time next year I hope to knock off a fair chunk off that time.
Well that's all from me for a little while, I may do the Oceania Champs at Shepparton on the 18th of March, if I cant do that my next race wont be until the 17th of April, not due to lack of races being run but courtesy of my uni scheduling classes on the weekend, thanks PSC!
Until next time,
Happy biking
Kat
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