Why New E PNP

Dawn broke upon the back of some glorious weather, and the Venga Bus was go. Cranking the sounds from the banging stereo in the Burkes Lovebus on the way to pick up young Cam, ACDC getting the heartrate up whilst I chowed down on a Slacky pre-race breakfast of choice - Bacon and Eggs.

Helped with some setup, strung some tape and hammered in some signs with Fatwombat and Lynsky, then prepped my bike with with some sexy blue ODI grips. Slapped my new glasses on and did a token weak warm up. Got to the start line and made with the frottage with Tiger (he's bringing sexy back.............and I hope he's better looking than DD now he's gone to the Crossling Bros)

The hooter went, and I sedately rode off. Pretty sure everyone else started in grany gear. Thats the only explanation I can think of for starting so slow. So as I presented by massive buttocks to everyone I graciously let them catch me up. Then the walls of the pain box went up, about the same time as the hill did. Surely just a co-winky-dinky?

Lots of people struggled on the lower steep pinch climbs, and I caught a bunch of people on them, however lots of people went back past me on the long climb and it was a case of settling into a rythem and throwing up.. Soon enough the top of the hill arrived and the walls of the box moved back a notch. I settled into a pace and set about riding down those in front. Sifted down Beeline the first time, with some traffic in spots. Hit the bottom and ripped out the wetland loop with Big Rich on my tail. Back up Jungles and the walls closed back in a bit. Uber Marshal Ashley cheered me on with an attempt to carress my mighty buttocks. Back down beeline again, faster this time, tho still enuff traffic to not allow to open the taps fully. Around the wetland loops and into jungles with Cam right behind me. I asked if he wanted past, but he stated that he wanted to stare a tthe calves of doom some more.

Back up to the top again and once more into Beeline. Feeling a bit whupped at this point so the pace whilst pretty quick wasn't full noise. Cam pretty much stuck on my wheel which speaks volumes for the increase in his skill level over the last year. At the fast bit at the bottom I stretched out a bit, and pretty much maintained that small gap around the wetlands loop and up Jungles. Turning up the ECNZ road towards Spoonhill and Skinny Stu told me Hiskey wasn't too far ahead. Indeed I could see him in the distance on the road. Cam slowly caught me up and sat on my wheel for a bit. He realised that he needed to get into Spoonhill ahead of me to have a chance, and he put a big dig in. I clicked down 2 gears and stood up and unleashed the hounds. Unfortunatly the hounds this fine day were chihuahua's and he pulled out a handy gap. Into the downhill and it took me a short amount of time for the walls of the pain box to recede enough to set about closing the gap. Just after the end of 491, I caught Cam and Hans flailing about on the ground, I'm not going to judge them. Got past hans, but couldn't get past Cam, he had enuff pace to make it too hard to pass. Sprinted past him at the first chance near the bottom. Not enuff track left to stretch out a gap, I pulled out my CX skills for the hurdles to open a gap there. Didn't fall for Hickies try to flail over the fence, instead hit the gap and pedaled hard. Cam was trying to get on my wheel, and I was trying just as hard to keep the gap. Luckily I prevailed and we even closed the gap slightly to Hayden. Fully broken by the end. Much happier than the Makara round, with a hint of some legs coming back.
Of Note Hiskey was feeling better also and will be one to watch at the Mt Vic Round.


Later that day I put the Boxxers back on the Sunday and rode it UP Mt Crawford and down the Miramar tracks. Stopped and dug for 2 hours . Went home, had a feed, had a sleep for a few hours and got up to watch the Freecaster footage of the World Cup DH finals. Blinky pulling 2nd and Sam Hill walking away with the race AND the world Cup

Next week, Bushlove goes downhill as I come out of retirement for the Long Gully DH race. It should be full of epic FAIL!!!