the road and trails to arrive here today

chops here

welcome to my blog i hope u enjoy and are inspired by journey to search for the summit of life.

2007 november the highland fling.
bustled onto the front row with a few gun riders from the central coast knowing i had to stay with them and unable to have my weetbix as i forgot the milk and had warm yoghurt with muesli well time was gona tell how this was gona go.. bang were off very quickly into the top chain ring(big dog) and amongst the lead pack love the start at the fling ok thru the creek still in big dog thru the paddock ok now this pace is just mental, guts churning burping trying to hold down breakfast and stay with the leaders shaking my head with deano by my side who also agreed the pace was beyond nuts.. we formed a lil group off the back after the single track section in the pine trees. the main pack was gone time to ride my own race and ride it hard.
enjoyed the single track in stage 2 by myself and had a feeling towards the end i was high up in the placing so was doing some talking to my legs to keep going n chase podium. deano caught up to me on the road leading to wingello oval so we had a chat n were very happy about the end of stage 2 and looking forward to finishing. so i just kept pedaling with no clock on my bike was searching 4 info from any riders and the 10km sign to the finish. left at your call..
yay the tar road clunk clunk clunk shit something is in my spoke try breaking the stick wit my foot bugger i dont care 4 noise i just want podium pedal pedal ok now i think its gona break my spokes i stop shit me its fencing wire fuk wat are the chance im yanking swearing pulling swearing ppl tell me swearing dont fix things but growing up in a shearing shed its how u barked orders at each other the dogs n the sheep i rider passes me now its time for a few C words right its untangled i get going derailer bent i cant change gears in the big dog and bout 3rd from the bottom on my rear cassette pump pump pump i must catch that guy i get equal dammit hes a 50km rider but i keep the hard work going to the line.. man wat a day totally spent this was my 4the 100km race.... results are up and i come second in opens sweet as biggest smile ever.. my santa cruz blur did the job.
OURIMBAH 8 1/4 HR.. 2007
my 1st 8hr solo race.. and at my local track so was astonished to see 450riders turn up to churn out some laps.. i knock out 4 laps straight up and was informed i was in second place..WTF i said to my intel.....bullshit really???????? next lap thru intel asks me wat i was doing out there to come second the only response is riding ourimbah like it should fuking hard....yup my legs were in xc mode hmmm def wont have the legs to keep this pace... should of realised wen one guy asked me to go round him at the bottom of the roller coaster but i was just having so much fun and ripping the track up..
6laps down hmmmm starting to get tired now... have not been eating or drinking enough
8laps in really starting to hurt
10 laps in oh god this is killing me time to stop n eat cramp drink coke
11 laps and im in the most pain ever ive cramped while riding lost a position while i stopped
4th my goal was top 5 as the great organisers had prizes to 5th place... i crawl home a broken rider.... but enjoying my new tshirt backpack and free entry to next year

PLANS FOR 2008 BEGIN.
searching all over for any race i can get to...
all the 100km all nsw state xc events 24hr races and even the 8hr seriies
whoa so many races i just cant wait.... how will i train for all of this....i check the mailbox..my licence is now suspended for 3 months well that will help lol...... on the bike every were to every spin and boxing class to work and numerous clients houses to do quotes on the way home to restore there furniture..
PHONE CALLS CHANGE LIVES
its dan from pushy galore putting an offer on the table to ride for his bike shop...
lost for words
i inform my bike shop the boys say no the owner says wat he can do to match it..
curiosty sent me leaning towards pushy galore thinking does it really matter who ya ride for we all ride bikes so we all get along, i was very wrong there,, but this blog is about riding so gona keep it there...
so we sign a great deal all my races paid for.... it was like xmas new shoes helmet i spent some time riding demo bike to work out what specialized had that suited my attack on 2008
a wet afternoon at the gym pumping out a class or 2 and nicole dans wife pops in to say someone is here to meet you...confused....it clicks i bolt to the front of the gym... the sweetest black n white carbon epic awaits me.... white pedals grips n saddle my god i cracked a fat over it. dan had a big smile on his face and handed me the weapon...( its forsale atm) he gave me a lift home so she would stay dry..
thurs morning i rode it to the gym man it rode itself it felt so fast....n i had crank brother pedals on it.. i wasnt even clipped changed that after the gym i gotta use spd cause thats wat the bikes at the gym run
the next day friday 18th jan... work to waxing appointment on my way home a local cabinet maker calls me i stop riding to answer the call yup is good take care he says(hes also an ambo) i drop back in at home to get cds for my class and head for the gym road is wet after days of rain up a hill and now down to the bottom hmm lots of traffic ill head down nthe left side of them to the white line chops is always in a hurry but was riding the brakes down the hill to the red light.(sigh im feeling sick writing this) a flash of green..............thump yelps of extreme pain.
MY LIFE JUST CHANGED....
a suzuki grand vitara has turned thru a clear way but im on the driveway in so much pain and a pool of blood...she told me she seen me coming down the hill i did my best not to swear at her..
begged ppl to save my bike... oh my epic its only 2days old.... i rang my boss amongst tears my class was cancelled the room was packed waiting 4 me to turn up i rang dan to come save the bike he helpeed the ambos pick me up thanks again dan i know u hate the site of blood... cops questioned me about riding on the footpath and with plenty of tone i told them i was cycling on the road they didnt beleive me cause i ended up on the footpath, check out the smashed windshield she hit bloody hard.... charlie turns up a (friend from the gym) so she and dan follow me to the hospital..charlies the angel who has been by my side everyday since the accident i owe all my recovery to her,,
10stitches fractured hip
5days in hospital
3weeks on the couch
8weeks before riding again
12 weeks off work
and now a big fear of riding on the road and all trust in human life is now gone..
but only a wobbly brake lever n bent front rotor on my epic...:)

WAGGA 3HR march 2008

lots of challenges from the central coast the start suited me as it went up the hill on the fire road before single track i knew this was my only chance to get in front of jasper. was bout 5 riders infront of him wen we entered the single track and thats the way the day ended i rode completly out of my skin dealing with wat ever drama my hip was that day i have good n bad days with it...

DIRTWORKS.. may 2008

i awake at 430am really ready to go.. i use the extra time to eat..
into the waiting pen and then we are off hmmm pace was a lil slow for the pushy galore riders crawford hit the front 1st i followed rizzo comes flying up to join in on the fun.. katrin was up the front to.... my aim was to beat her... he comes the climb it turns into a walk... katrin rides past.... bout 20km in my glutes begin to feel like a knife is in them.. fuking hip... hungary to do well i push on standing for a stretch every couple kms... i catch crawford wow i must be doing really well nope mechanicals for him we rode into halfway thank god so needed the toilet tried to hold pace but didnt last long with crawford he rode away back searching for podium on my own.. made it down to the river crossing crossed it like a virgin to it.... which i was lots off pplcaught up to me here crap i gotta get a move on pedal pedal onto the road zipping paast riders... bring on this climb... no stopping at the water station.... nearly at the top this glute pain is killing me im having the worse day geez i hope i make it under 5.5hrs.. i get off n stretch my gl;utes.... katrin roles past"its nasty eh" grrrr dammit on the bike again cant let ppl past me now down into the creek im gona ride this one... woop woop splat all clipped in..n got passed.. out of the water onto the road... shit theres crawford again his heart sinks as i ride past i play around with the last guy that passed me sitting on his wheel as i catch my breath changing gears softly so he doesnt know wat im up to... big dog time i stand n attack ready to round the pub like 2years ago.... BRAKE.....its left before it shit 5hrs 6min i let out a yyyyeeeeeeoooooo with exitement. i finish 6thplace on the worst day hmmmm it gets me real hungary for poduim now..


JUNE JULY AUGUST

nsw xc rounds (so outclassed riding elite learnt alot tho)
club rounds
8hr races
good n bad days...

SEPTEMBER

wat a month of riding it was...

the angry doctor was first up... me jak and crawford wrapped the bikes up for the wet 5hr drive to mogo hehe mine got red carpet treatment in the boot.. i was jammed in the back seat which did not favour my hip but being young boy here i stayed in the back seat... and with maccas only around the corner(bout 40kms later) ok so i was a bit out lol.... the trip was a blast always is wit jak and crawford( the main reason for moving to pushy galore and staying) lots of laughs, and fearing the next day but i was smiling knowing these guys were gona have the best 100km race of there life, i was here in 07 so i was prepared for the big climbs.. we arrive at the iconic metal bridge entering batemans bay instantly the rain stops.. very strange we kepted quite so not to jinx our luck... a beaut dinner at the golf club with the 50km riders loading up on beer.. some fine tweaking of the bikes and putting our numbers on that night a quick glimpse of the new pink jersys lol..... off to try to get some sleep...
up early straight outside to see stars fill the sky boys boys boys its goin to be sunny yeeeeoooo.
over to the start line for our warm up ride staying close together no one wanting to part from each other which a major concern wen ure dressed in pink....im sure it makes other ppl ride faster... id hate to beat by a guy dressed in pink... we sussed out the start...nasty straight up it goes...me and crawford jump onto the 1st wave we slowly roll over the timing mats and i shoot to the front.. stomping on the big dog i lead us all into old mogo town and onto the dirt up a short climb then onto a very long climb i look up gringe and pull back my pace knowing i need to save well not save my legs no chance of that on race day but ride smarter it was a very long climb..
crawford comes by, i wish him a good day and he motors on...my aim is to beat him today knowing the amount of single track will help me keep tabs on him..
yay were at the top single track here we come.. i duck in before katrin... shes on my tail again(world 24hr solo champ) i lose my grip on my handle bars i take 2swipes at it and miss both times.... im heading over the top i grab my cables as im doing a mid air summersault and roll of the trail with my bike and a smile "wat a catch" comes from katrin.. i re gather loosing a few place n catch back up to her, and she asks how i managed that, no idea but i made it smooth,, back on the chase getting glimpse of pink(crawford)... dammit im off again bike washes out but i stay on my feet...grrr im losing my confidents and rythm now... power down chops today is extra hard opens catergory has expanded from 18-29 to 16-39 not happy those 30yo are the faastest out there geez top 10 would be awesome... i fly into the halfway crawford is there sweet im close to him but he looks well n im running a lil low on fuel the 1st half is hard and lil time to get food in.. second fifty here we come.. a very lonely time from here but doing my best top pull a gap on any one behind me..starting to hurt.. oh i just bast the 60km marked welcome to no mans land..the gap in a 100km race after the 1st half and between the last quarter.... i conceed defeat to crawford... only if i knew how tough he was doing same as me really... the race really begins to rip ya legs off. i do some kms with dwight from rock star racing a scary looking man in black n im in pink lol.....but ive got to know him since that race hes a gentle giant...we ride into the final water station which im very happy about because ive been running bottles all day risky but i wanted to be quicker i managed my water perfectly..refill and move on...head for home fearing the descents thru the lil creeks of a flat tyre didnt want history to repeat from 07... i use everything i have left in the tank to finish 11th 4 spots behined crawford only 5mins i think im very happy im reeling him in...6hrs go by.....6.5hrsgo by... we start to worry about jak.... 7hrs go by.. we start to fear for jaks life.... i seee him roll in over the line we jump to our feet jaks covered in mud bleeding and cant move hes been damaged in battle badly he looks like the centre of hell..we hear of his war story of wat happened we gringe thinking doubt i would of kept going.. but not rizzo u wont stop that machine. off to the bike wash to clean his epic and we hose him down to.... we laughed. jak didnt...
the boys in pink head home hrs of stories and promises we will all return..

COFFS HARBOUR 2weeks later..
hit the road in the vectra with charlie for road trip up to sawtell to register.. was feeling pretty lost but once i found the main street memories from last year came flooding back such a beaut lil town... did rego and never got dinner til 9pm very un happy im not gona get enough sleep and i havnt eatin enough starting to stress a fair bit... during the night the biggest down pour falls on coffs, we drive out to the track the long way.... new freeway has changed how u get out there more stress...but still have plenty of time to prepare chillout have a chat with gordo and dwight ride around a bit and go get set for the briefing.... my number 4 today hmmmm.. anyway coffs make a big deal out of the start by calling the riders to the line by there name.... gordo(craig gordon) was called 1st because hes reigning champ of the race and many other things. 2 3 rider 4 james lamb im sure most of the crowd went who... i appear to cheers n claps... on the front line next to gordo....no nerves ha ha yeh right.....off we go i stay with the leaders until we run into the mud 1st 30km is single track its leg zapping on the best of days let alone wen its slop took my sunnys off real quick high humidity up there they kept fogging up.... after a few kms the track loops around past the start line,,, we looked like we had ridden 100km we were so muddy... over creeks along log rides plenty of stacks..... got thru it alll...it was so shit n tough...
crunch snap fuck....... broken chain... i walked 4 ages 6 riders pass me... i get it fixed 1st chain ive ever fixed so my job was done very well clunk clunk clunk... thought about a dnf for a lil while pretty much thought my day was done.... rolled into the 40km water station.. the crowd cheers so u feel good again and u keep riding thru damn i hate the u get 2km past it and feel shit again... so now my bike is working well again and there is less mud in the outer forest trails...eat pedal drink eat pedal drink.....thru the 70km water station... now a huge climb up to sea view road a small glimpse of the ocean and head for home.... say hello to the marshal at the top as she hands me water over my head it goes..... psssssssssss wtf a flat tyre.... oh its one of those days...change tyre get passed by all the riders i had to catch after my broken chain... try to enjoy the smooth roads on the way to the finish and some fun single track right at the end... totally spent poor charlie has been waiting all day for me....100km arnt real spectator friendly.. we watch the preso and see gordon crowned champ once again.... a quick stop into the butterfly farm:) i nearly faint due to the humidty in there so we call it a day and drive home...

4days laters..........................................

SINGLE SPEED ADVENTURES..

charlie take me to the top of kariong early on thurs morning.. completly scared of riding down the f3 but its gotta be done.. my aim is to cycle to young by friday afternoon 460km...
i survive the f3 and cruise the m7 making my 1st stop out past campletown to get into the sandwiches charlie made for me... very happy with the gear i have on my bike its the second day ive ridden it... next stop is pheasants nest (the twin servos) it was welcomed avg 30km/hr to here about 5hrs worth alot easier than hrs on a mtb.. sutton forest is then servo starting to feel time in the saddle by now and the sun is scorching my skin.. lots of bottle of powerade consumed at the servo.. from the twin servos its all uphill and it aint over yet. goulbourn is in my sights..
not feeling my best so i pull into marulan for more fuel its been a long day...i keep on going and make it to goulburn i find a bike shope to get another tube. they have a cafe attached pizza for dinner:) all there food are named after bike brands way cool.. knowing yass is only 2hrs away i load up strap sum lights on and head for yass.. ouch..... road sign says 80km hmmmm i want to go further than goulburn so i have less to do 2moro...it reall start to get cold so i pull over and put my skins on and talk wit charlie.. i get back on and my right knee started to hurt strange but it only got worse.. i call it a day At gunning.. 320km:)
i wake up at about 7ish oh so sore my neck n shoulders mainly i suck down a gel before i get out of bed... shit i can barely walk on this knee wtf..... i ride to yass wit it only getting worse... maybe breakfast and rest will help it... home is a 100km from yass to easy well maybe... i phone has gone flat ive lost conttact with charlie n the world.. i call the gym to obtain charlies number to no avail fuk ya privacy laws my knee is fucked and im miles from any were.. i push but in complete agony i get to the turn and quit..... i wait 4 charlie.... but with out my fone my instuctions on were to go were faint..
hrs n hrs go by.. ive come to terms with she took the other turn.. back on my bike my knee is no better.. i stand n attack sum hills screaming my way to the top trying to get them over done with.... then a flat road is hard to pedal on... i concerntrate all my effort to my left leg...i start walking up the hills.. this went on for 60km... to a lil town called harden 30km from home..i call home charlie is there mum is there worried n pissed shes sent the cops out looking 4 me they make sum phone calls and dad picks me up on his way home from work...
so close.... thanks charlie 4 putting up with my shit that day.... i hate dnf.... it will be my last.

100MILE FLING......................

the nerve dagger has been our guts weeks in advance for this one.. fearing the second 54km loop and the time restraints.. we arrive to a very cold bundanoon on the saturday pick up our rego packs a new threat has arrived rizzo MR THREE. and with his custom pink jersy hes a real threat and we all make huge assumption of how 2moro will go down.. bed before 9pm.
a small warm up compared to previous years but the pace cant be as fast right?
team pushy fill the start line.. bang GO NUMBER THREE.. rizzo hits the lead rounding the 1st corner at the pace and angle he does spectators take a step back to jaks pleasure.. we split up a lil in the paddock i was back dodging sum cyclecross riders necer get behined one before a descent... i try to catch the lead pack but the paddock was sucking my back wheel it made very slow. so put my legs into gear and rode to how i felt... mada it to the 100mile lounge loaded up with food and a camel back cheers charlie..... and hit the trails was suffering from a pain in my neck and shoulder made it very uncomfotable to turn around single track..it got better after all the rough stuff i made it thru stage 2 did sum drafting with another 100miler on the dirt roads
now for the big hurdle the lonely second fifty... was really zapped going thru the single track so i pulled up to drink lots of gels the halfway drink station was handy i stole one of those hanging planes hoping to fly back home but they were all out of service:(... keep pedaling it was tough hanging onto the bars thru the rough stuff.. wen i get tired i just wana get home so more risks were taken got some nice drift from over shooting corners... yay 2nd fifty done.. off goes the camel back strong orders from charlie and told to catch the green rider.."hes beaten me its ok" jak was at the lounge to????? broke his cleat poor guy.. a fresh rider to drive us home sweet..
29km to go
start rounding up 100km riders,, in the distance i see the green rider,,seek and destroy.. i start attacking to catch him he has to look twice to see if it was me lol was priceless... so he put the hammer down as well i reel him in and sit few metres behind him... we come to a creek crossing wrong gear and calf muscles seize out the other end.. he pulls away... i catch him again.. my mind was saying follow him at "your call" he goes right i went left...ok so there goes that plan.. i laugh wen he follows..."your gona hate me i say" "why u gona sprint off" iask if he has done the fling before no was the answer...."yup ure gona hate me" i look to see the trail up the rock steps pretty smooth i smash the pedals up the climb crank it into the big dog and whip it to the line... hes gone... green man got beat by mr pink..

8hrs 42min 7th.... nice 4th place crawford your an animal..

2weeks later..

OURIMBAH 8HR..plus 15mins

8hrs in ya own back yard...
scored a great transition spot just before juarassic.. went into the single track off the start in about 10th.. my aim for day was to ride and ride all day the gym has been hectic so there was no taper for this event i tried to pull back a lil in fridays spin class... and enjoy my last race on this awesome bike.. i felt slow over the 1st couple of laps but still was doin 20km hr avg..got some real shit traffic on lap four.. did my best not to stop only to pick more water bottles and food charlie informed i was coming 5th which now meant i had to work harder... top 5 i like the sound of that.. maybe about 8laps in that damn knee prob from the single speed started to hurt so i pulled up and got a lil help from brian whos a massage therapist... back on the bike keep on pedalling crashed in my next lap.. handle bars clipped a tree and threw me over some pain some blood but he got rid of the knee trouble, the day was coming to a close the track was perfect after the rain, re fuel for one last stint try to get 2 more laps in...my second last lap felt great i had to catch deano in the process i crossed the line in 8hrs30min done 13 laps came 6th

the next day man my upper body was so sore.. headed off to the crown for a buffet breakfast my fav pastime after a big day of racing.
taught boxing that night more ouch
3spin classes on tues one wed morning one on thurs 2 on friday and a 90min special on sat morning just a huge week...

the epic still needs a clean...

2009 HERE I COME..

rego has opened for some races trying to commute as much as possible at the moment.

hope you enjoyed this very long installment of my life there is more to come and hopefully no accidents..

chops:)