12 Hour Mountain Bike Race - 1st Place

So I had my very first Mountain Bike Race in Australia. We choose to do the 12hr event in a team of 2. It was a 10.5km trail laps and was tag team, so I do 1 or more laps then switch with my team mate when ever I choose. I think nearly everyone went lap for lap. So it was basically a sprint for 30-40mins, with a rest of 30-40mins, repeated for 12hrs - yes a little boring !!

Was a bit hesitant on the first lap, never really ridden on dry dusty trails, those wheels slip out from under you quite easy on those loose sandy corners!

I haven't really done any interval or sprint work on the bike for over a good year - so this killed me - my heart rate through the roof every lap! So we managed 20 laps in the 12hrs, ie 10 each. So a good 100km of interval sprinting with a total of 2400m of climbing each -

Here are the lap break downs (just wanted to publish them as I finally beat Nick and wanted to rub it in !!!)

Nick........ Megs

31.22......35.06
33.38......34.22
34.00......34.57
35.17......35.59
36.42......36.04
38.12......36.20
38.08......37.01
41.13......36.52
50.32......40.51 (in dark)
45.12......39.46 (in dark)

6h25m....6h5m !!

Knew I was in for a fall at some stage, but made it until my very last lap in the dark until 1 min from the finish line, on a somewhat of a straight downhill, and I must of hit a sandy patch, my wheels went out from under me going about 30km/hr + and I hit the ground hard, and my head hit even harder. I could see two lights coming behind me, all I could think is that it might be 2nd place team of 2 mixed, I can't let them pass me ! So without a second delay I jumped back on and rode to the finish, my helmet cracked in a thousand places, my head lamp pointing off into the bush, and grazes and bruises all up me - but we WON !!

Pics to come soon....

XPD in 2 weeks !!