and have to say that was a piss weak place to put a Britney's Meltdown sign, more Britney's makeup melt.
I have agree with you there.
Actually, for me my Britney's Melt Down momennt happened on Corporate Ladder whiich was where I really started thinking only about hanging on, and began trying to listen to whether anyone else was coming up from behind.
Another good place to have put it would have been the climb out from the lake elizabeth car park - I had the obligatory "why do I CHOOSE to do this?" moment on that climb..
Overall though, had a great day and my revised training approach paid off handsomely. Less k's than last year, but probably better quality - most of my traning was built around a 23 k commute out to Bundoora along the yarra with extra Boulevard laps thrown in, but the twice weekly 10 reps up Yarra Street on my 11sp Alfine mtb tank with back pack really paid off in building strength. Then the obligatory Sunday sessions, ususally around 2h but with at least a few 4 h on or off road rides to build endurance.
Started of relatively conservatively, but just went at my own pace and made sure I drank plenty and kept my energy levels up. Pretty much every leg I managed to either move up or hold my position, and stay on the bike and managed to finish in 5:25, which is a massive PB for me (although I suspect the course was around 10-15 min faster than last year) I even managed to crack the top 10 for the vets.
So overall wrapt with the day - no mechanicals (last year had a seat rail, and my chain snap) and no falls (the shoulder still clicks from last year's race...). Even the last minute decision to ditch the handlebar extenders on the start line proved very wise, given the state of the moto downhill.
Some years things just come together - this is my 3rd Otway. Who knows what next year's will be like!
And finally, did anyone else nearly come to grief on the sharp corner where you turned onto the aqueduct at around 30-35 Km? There was no warning sign at all and I came flying around the corner said something unrepeatable and completely forgot all my mtb skills, locking up everything in a cloud of dust and gravel trying not to run straight into the gate that two kids were sitting on. They must have had a bit of amusement over the course of the morning...
Cheers,
Sherrif
