Recent content by SteppenW

Not your normal marathon It was a bit different. No massive climbs; actually it was pancake flat and the KOM was a 50m pimple. Good mix of surfaces: grass, sand, hardpack, mud, ooze, quicksand; no bitumen unless you count the road crossing. Some nice singletrack at around 70k, but mostly...

Check your keyboard Rapid Ascent? I don't think I'd classify them as notorious spammers. Actually, they're one of the more responsible promoters of our sport. I've found the OO to be a well-run, challenging and quite satisfying ride. Don't want the message? Hit Delete. Or unsubscribe.

Canberra Soft Road Cyclists There was one shower this afternoon to re-dampen the track. It's drying nicely now and will be fast and grippy over the next couple of days. No dust this year. Rejoice.

Italy, here I come I'm going to have to brush up on my Italian. I've enjoyed each of my solo efforts (after the fact, of course): Mont, Scott, Sydney 24, CORC solo, 24HOA WSC. However, lately I've become a bit jaded and think that I need a change. Italy looks like the medicine, and from what...

An excellent ride I'm a bit of a DW tragic, having done each one (that makes it 7 I think). I remember the first year's hike-a-bike ascent through a still smoking controlled burn. That wasn't fun. Subsequent years have seen big improvements. For instance, I think in 2006 or 2007 I managed a...

The 2011 BSR is a 55k half-marathon in the Brindabella mountains to the West of Canberra. This year is the inaugural event. CORC intends to hold a similar race each April (next year it will include a 100k option). It starts and finishes at the Murrays Corner Reserve (approximately 4k South...

Canberra, rain, racetracks Clay and a little sand here and there. It hardens up quickly after a day or so of drying conditions, but suffers badly when saturated and assaulted. If conditions are already 'heavy' and there's a downpour at the start, do you really want to be sending a couple of...

Sunday's Ride ... and a big THANKS from me too. That was an awesome social ride. In some ways, it was a more satisfying experience than a race: at least we had time to appreciate the spectacular scenery; take photos; and poke around the rustic huts of the high plains. My riding companions...

Looks like fun This ticks all the boxes for me: something new; easy driving distance from CBR; a good long loop with some climbing; the prospect of some secret singletrack; beautiful beachside town base... I'm in.

Painkillers - best after the race Some call it vitamin I, but I haven't found much pain-killing effect during an event. Afterwards, that's a different matter - a hot shower, a massage, a couple of Advil and a good lie down is what I need after a 24hr. And food of course - lots of it.

Your mileage may vary I tried an HRM once. It's good for telling you that you're going too hard at the start and that you're going too soft at the end (but it doesn't motivate you to go any faster). Basically, it's more noise and distraction that you probably don't need. The same goes for...

Le Mans Good luck. Anyway, the run shouldn't be that important - this is a 24 hour race; unless you're at the pointy end of the elite field, there's little advantage in being first onto the singletrack.

Baggage checked Bike, check! Clothes, check! Nutrition, check! Mudguards, check! Snorkel, damn! Where is it? After last year, a refreshing ride through the rain forests of the Sth coast will be most welcome.

BE Course The eviil plan has more singletrack at the start and no bitumen until apx the 90k mark.

Ride Report It was a fabulous day out, with clear sunny skies and only faint breezes. The weekend's rain had, but for a few puddles, consolidated the trails and kept the dust to a minimum. If the race proceeds on this course, we were all in agreement that it's going to be a fast one. As...