The last time I did this run, I got thoroughly wrecked – participants were Clutters, Contador and me.
I rolled up to the start, and saw this time it was Clutters, Bam Bam, and me.
Hmm – different, yet somehow familiar. 2 great riders and…..
But it was a fine day for a MTB ride.
Down the cascades, I know it well, then a steep climb up the other side, hard work but no issues.
The run along by the pipeline, heavy dew on the grass sprays up into my glasses.
That happened last time too – but this time, fog too.
Come the Manly dam section.
The first descent is fun, rock shelves with small drops, I’m doing it better than last time, though not with quite the same flow as the others.
They are taking care of me, showing the line and keeping the pace manageable.
Lots of ups and downs follow, then we approach the step I fell on last time – I’m a bit nervous.
Clutters says follow Bam Bam, so I grit my teeth and do so, nailed his line perfectly, but alas he doesn’t use the slightly easier line Clutters had in mind.
I go off the drop he’d used on his 29er, my 26” front wheel pops into a familiar looking scoop in the rock, stops, and I gently topple over the handlebars.
That’s odd, I crashed exactly here last time….but no harm done, a minor knee scrape.
I walk down a few bits, then hop back on again. Will this be Groundhog day?
My glasses are steamy, not easy to see the details – wet tree roots are tricky, but the pace is fine, I’m going OK.
I flail down a droppy section OK, decent pace, just in control, confidence coming back up.
Clutters and Bam Bam were alternately leading ahead giving me a good line to follow.
I punctured here last time – not this time, I sail through cleanly – not Groundhog day after all.
Out of the dam section, there’s another technical bit, I wave the others on so they can have fun hooning down it.
Vision starting to blur, fog droplets building up on the glasses again, then I lose it picking my way down a wet rocky bit.
Down I go again – damn, and I rode this bit OK last time.
Ah yes, it would have to be the same knee that I scrape. Good job I bounce.
Climbing up the weaving singletrack. – left, right, flick over that one, bank up there, feeling good.
I ride over a steep rock in the middle of the path, rather than going round, following Clutters’ suggestion – that was fun.
Quick stop to wipe off the glasses again- my hanky is now soaked, the others pull away
Glasses don’t go so well in fog, note to self, use contacts next time.
Then out onto the open field at the end of the MTB section.
The fog is thicker here. We have a water stop. I fiddle with my lights, one had come adrift in one of the falls.
Clutters pours water over his bike to clean it a bit.
Water stop and we are off on the road. Lock up the suspension and away we go.
Zig-zagging through the back streets, I feel there is still some energy in the tank.
Over the Spit, and I’m steadily going up the Parriwi climb.
Clutters and Bam Bam pull away from me steadily, but I’m not far back, can see them most of the way, and feel good.
A far cry from last time when I cramped up and had to walk up – what a difference 6 months makes.
And then we are punching up the ups and downs of Mosman and Cremorne, getting to the B&T at about 7:45.
Another great day out, with a healthy adrenalin dose added, yet all before work. Thanks guys.
Blue Stratos