EPIC WHEELS..

Then new wheels are on...

And a nice new shiny cassette and chain with some new front chain rings... i so wanna weigh her now.

ZTR OLYMPIC from stans.. after the amount of flats i have had this year its time to check out wat all the whooo haaa is.. im at port macquarie at the moment so there trails will be receiving the honor of my wheels...

THe week got off to a slow start after racing/crashing at appin on sunday.. i ignored my 530am alarm to go riding, so i went to work instead so i could ride before lunch in the sun a flat ss ride.. dodging traffic as per usual, but it did my legs a world of good.

Tuesday morning started with a spin class which was a real battle so i focused on the long black road into a red desert(croc trophy training) but by 1130 i was hitting the base of kariong hill with THE MALTESE FALCON and CAPTIN CRAWFORD and brian on his first hill repeat session up kariong,, i had nothing so the captin won the 3 battles to the top, round 4 was soul destroying because we rode up pizza hut hill... at one stage i was doing 8km/hr trying to keep pushing my single speed,, just brutal.. back to the gym for another spin class at 630, and with 15 footy players coming in for a training session i had to really step up and deliver a killer ride.. i slept well that night.

wed thurs and fri were just the normal classes i just couldnt get out for a ride.

The weekend is halfway gone and the only riding ive done was a spin class this morning which i felt very sluggish in, im struggling to get enough fuel in at the moment.. that will all change when i get my shipment from fluid.. http://www.livefluid.com/ i cant wait :)

The alarm is set for dawn to go riding before breakfast, we have 3 places marked out to go riding near port macquarie so well see how it all goes, heres to hoping my new tubeless wheels run well and it turns into an effecient training day..

JUST CHOPS:)

WORKING SERIES 8HRS OF APPIN

AS most people are aware its been extremly wet and yea it not very motivating to get any extra training done or to get excited about racing a track that has 3 creek crossing..
Did a small ss road ride on saturday then drove the 2hrs to appin in drizzle.. i put up my brand new gazebo/sun shade thingy.$128 from bigw bargin:)
I bumped into dave a tough single speeder who i see at all the enduros, who offered me a roof over my head instead of camping like planned so cheers mate..
I started the race (a social day with the boys) racing for http://www.linxgroup.com.au/ it was a rough start with tyres clashing as we slipped and slided in the clay fire road, got held up in the single track a fair bit but i was content with the pace... got going towards the end and made up a few places 34min lap..
greg was the next rider followed by david, then it was my turn again, i hit the creek crossing with eyes peeled to find the right line.. my nose is an inch from the water i tuck my head in.THUMP. i hit the rock bottom head first(thoughts of this aint going to be good) THUMP my bike lands on my head, i push myself up out of the submerged situation quite dazed i fix my damaged helmet push/limp my way out of the water wondering if i was ok... should i turn back to transition or am ok??? i slip into a pair of angry pants annoyed at getting drenched and post my quickest lap by a minute..
By this stage we find out were coming 4th and me and greg agreed on wanting the poduim while david was lappin appin in only his second ever mtb race..
so we keep up our duties and transitions were quite smooth..

THe next time we check timing were coming 2nd:) its game on now 1st place was out of reach but we did wat we could to hold off 3rd place.. with 90min left and david out riding and greg declaring he has had enough and my next lap would be the begining of a double so i did wat i could to get down as much fuel as i could., knowing i needed 2 sub35min laps to def hold off 3rd who was about 5mins behined..
Off i go with dead legs, mainly just cold from sitting around and being unable to bend my right leg after that creek crossing.. i road it smooth and rythm and being more daring thru the corners alot of great fast corners at appin.. i couldnt really attack to hard so i knew i was goin a bit slower then my previous 33min laps, i came across a stricken rider who needed a link to fix a chain i reach and throw my griplock bag containing link chainbreaker tubes tyres leavers and a c02..with no time to stop i power away then realising wat ive just done could cost me the race if something was to go wrong in my double lap.. hoping the karma would be returned i tried to make all gear changes smooth as possible..
part2... i conquer the creek crossing that brought me undone earlier:) all going well till i get to the next one.. i try to power the front wheel up a rock ledge after the creek and get chain suck which sent me over the bars slapping my hands on the rock i had my eyes on.... hearing my bike bounch away on the rocks:(... i give it wat ive got to the line...
i never got over taken so i knew i had it in the bag... no one got round me all day:) just lucky timing i guess..

so 2nd place it was.. made the boys happy.. they returned the favour by packing up all my gear cheers guys the linx boys now how to get to work on constructing and destructing... that space never had trees there did it eh guys????

big thanks to my bike shop PUSHY GALORE. who always having my specialized epic running sweet.
and to mayhem clothing http://www.mayhemapparel.ca/ and to fluid http://www.livefluid.com/ for or your support..

CHOPS:) wearing the socks i won..

The ROCKY TRAIL SHOW.

HEY everyone.

as the rain falls and the skys are grey its a good time to throw a vote my way..

episode 2 is up now, with me riding the monster track in sydney olympic park i took it very easy on the way down i just wanted to get through it alive.

http://www.burningtrails.com/ is the link, REGISTER and please vote for james lamb (me)

and here is another link to more quality riding http://www.nbntv.com.au/index.php/2009/06/15/nsw-cross-country-mountain-bike-series-rd-2/

check out the guy in pink...:)

chops:)

PODUIM!!!!!! 2nd in expert nsw state xc

Today was round 2 of the X-fusion nsw state xc series at ourimbah...
after receiving a pasting in elite last year i chose to race expert.. up the fire road to begin and i was just off the back of elite, and with knowing i had only 3 10.8km laps there was no time to hold back, so i slammed my body and bike into the hurtbox...i was so in my zone it was great, sticking corners fast, ripping it up climbs( that spin class yesterday didnt slow me down to much)
i caught up to BIG DOG, last years winner of the series, i felt real bad so i held off from passing him as long as i could, 4 some reason i thought if he seen me beating him it would bring him down further.. on the climb out of the meadows i was passed by a rider with a white plate.(expert cat rider adam kelly) crap.... big dog gives me orders to chase him down and get on his ass..FULL GAS... i follow adam around for another lap and when he realises that were both racing for 1st it went up a notch... both riding strong and there was not weak spots to be seen, i managed to get in front going into the missing link.
LAST LAP..... adam was all over my tail, but we were so far out infront i was thinking about asking if we could cruze and then decide it on the last hill... but i never had a spare breath to ask... so i pulled back the pace a bit so i had the energy when it came to overtaking sections to hold off any attacks.. at the top of the rollercoaster i thought id test his speed on his hardtail.. i ramp it runch it stomp it and just hung on...i attack the climb out the back no i mean i ATTACKED the climb...ive made a gap so its full steam ahead to the finish... my gap is dimished.. its going to be down to the last climb.... adam attcks and got the smoother line but i answer it up the rough stuff butting handlebars..he scores the better line and my heart had busted sum ribs by this stage.. i come 2nd by 4seconds.. very happy chop.. only other news on the riding front has been lots of spin classes and squeezing any chance i can get to ride...
I did filming for www.burningtrails.com on saturday at the monster track in sydney it was alot of fun and catching up with all the contestants is always alot of fun.. if you havnt given me a vote yet head to the website register and chuck a vote my way.. i really want the ticket to the croc.

The following images are my new sponsors for the next 6-12months cant wait to get wrapped in mayhem and fed fluid..

off to hit off another week with the aim of 2hrs a day.. and then on to appin on saturday to camp for the 8hr on sunday. (team of 3) fun with the boys...:)

i enjoy feedback of any kind so feel free to leave a comment..

chops:)