Club Champs October 2007

Round 2 of the Mountain bike club champs, and finally there was no road race on to stop me from racing the mountain bike. The course, was described during the week as brutal, and it definitely was. The other factor was the temperature, it was damn hot. Just finishing this race would be a huge achievement in itself.

The race start is always tricky, I got my pedal in first go, and took my place in the middle of the bunch. It wasn't all out off the line like I expected, so I made a move up the inside to get to the front. I looked across straight at Damien Gillard. I was still cruising, so I hit it, roadie style.

Immediately I had a few riders on my wheel, but we started to split the bunch up a bit. I was first onto the single track, and just cruised really, because I knew what was ahead of me.

Back onto range road, and I had two riders with me, Damien Gillard, and the super fit Paul Flemming (Errol). Errol turned on the gas, and had me and Damien just following his wheel. At the top of range road, it kicked up again, and I let those two go.

To the downhill, Damien took off, and I got past Errol pretty early on and began the chase on Damien. If only Errol could ride downhill as fast as he can uphill.

By the second lap I started to realize how hot it was, and that it was time to turn off a bit of gas, and drink some water so I didn't dehydrate. It was so damn hot. There are only a few sections that you can really get a drink on too. That lap Damien put time into me, and I was in 2nd, holding Geoff Schilg and Errol at a good distance. After only 2 laps, I was really feeling the heat. I saw Geoff behind me, still by a good distance, but it was time to put some time into him, to put it past the possible, and if I was going to bring back Damien, I had to start closing the gap. The only time I could really do that was on the hill climb. So I turned up the gas. I managed to bring back Damien a little, which was promising. At this stage I had second place all but wrapped up and was pulling away from the chasers.

Unfortunately on the low range track, my tyre blew out, it went down instantly, and I found myself riding on the rim. My front wheel slid out, bringing me to the ground at speed. I didn't let it get to me, I just got onto changing the tube, while all my rivals just rolled on past. I changed the tube, got on my bike and began to chase back what I could. I didn't catch any of the dudes in front of me, but I rode my guts out, which is all I could have done. I still finished 7th. The ever consistent Damien Gillard took out first place, Geoff Schilg picked up second place, with Errol in third. Jayne Grubits had another stack, but battled on to win the Womens, with Jane Guiver in Second and Shelley Kamevaar in third. For full results check out the mountain bike club website. alburywodongamtb.org.au.

The junior category was a hotly contested race with Scott Simpson taking first, Sean Moloney picked up second, Harry Chambers got 3rd, with Matt Sherlock in 4th.

Also an honorable mention goes to 10 year old Chris Boyall who completed 3 laps!

After only 2 rounds Damien Gillard and Jayne Grubits have wrapped up the A/W Mountain Bike Club Championships. Making them Mountain bike club champions!

Aaron Moffatt AKA Ferret