After the HillBilly 24HR I had a couple of light riding weeks. Just as I was about to ramp up the training for the XCM championships I smashed my knee into the ground at Hollybank on a social ride with Sharon while stopping to clear some debris off the track! Another week off the bike before I could ride again. Time had really gotten away from me by then and with only a couple of weeks till the event my training plan was virtually non existent. I put in a bit of an effort before the event but it was just maintaining my current levels.

We arrived at Derby quite early after the 1:30 drive from Launceston. Registration was interesting as they had a map there but could not tell me what the actual final route was and when we took the 10KM loop and where it went. Apparently I could go find some commissionaire guy in a red shirt and he “may be able to tell me”! Luckily I had a local who had some inside info on what it was. We did a 10KM loop at the start and then 2 laps around the outside of the Derby trails of 30KM each to get the full 70KM distance.

Masters 3/4 (40-49yr) had one of the biggest entries and with all the other male start groups there was a lot of people on the start. We left in waves of youngest to oldest. Off we went after a 30 second briefing to tell us to “follow the obvious course and you’ll be right”. From Derby we headed out and up the Cascade Dam road, a good climb for quite a while so it suited me but it I felt my lack of form near the top the second time up it. I had one near miss on this start section while we were all bunched up a rider swerved in front of me and we touched wheel nearly bringing myself and 2 others down but some how we all managed to recover it.

I kept on it for the first lap but about 3/4 of the way around I could feel myself drifting back through the field. This was the theme of the race for me, started out well then drifted to the back. The course was tough as you were either climbing or descending technical descents. I drifted back through the field and my motivation drifted as well. When some one would come past I would get enthused briefly but I was just keeping an steady tempo for the last lap mostly. This was the first MTB race in a while I have not crashed so that was pleasing at least. The lack of MTB riding before the event was a big weakness in my ride as my skills were very average on the day.

I came in 25th just under the 5HR mark and quite muddy as it was a bit sloppy out there in places today. I supported the event and Sharon was a course marshal today cheering me on. Tomorrow we are both marshaling again for the elite riders. Next year I might have a decent crack at this event as I will move up a category to the ‘old boys’ super masters 5/6 (50-59) and be at the bottom of the age group not the top. It might be a bit better match racing 50+ people instead of 40 year olds when you are almost 49?

Sharon and I were both marshaling and watching the elites on Sunday. They are just so smooth and skilled and it was great to watch them where we did at the bottom of DamBusters. A few locals were in there to cheer on as well. It was a long day out there but they were worth seeing. Feedback I have seen from the event was good so next years should be even better as the track well be bedded down and the event will probably improve as well.