Training Log Archive: nmulder

Went out to Harkerville MTB routes outside Knysna for a fun ride on the Red Route. Probably the best thing I could have done for my legs after Attakwas the day before.

The Harkerville routes are absolutely superb, without doubt the best in the country. The first 11kms were rideable singletrack through the jungle. Only 1 portage. Then out onto the sea cliff paths before coming back through the forests again. Big wow. Will always bring my bike to Knysna from now on.

Av 13.0 Mx 39.7

0630 - Drove through to Chandelier near Outdshoorn with Tweet, Hano and Nikki for the Attakwas race. The rest of the McCains team were also racing. I wanted to better my time of 7h33 from last year, ideally by 45m or so. There was a slightly new route in the 30-40km section which sent us into the mountains earlier. The harder and tougher route was probably 15m slower than previous route though.

I had a fair start. With the race being Leg 1 of the national series, all the big guns were there and the front bunch pace was much more conservative to start. I hung on for a few kms until the first hill. At 12km on a downhill, I hit a bump hard and blew my back tyre (sidewall damage against rim). It seems like the rear shock had something to do with it as well. Took me 11 mins to put in my spare thin tube and had to use both bombs to re-inflate. Don't know if the shock lost its air during the puncture or before, but it was stuck at 60psi instead of 105 for the rest of the day. The tube, shock, new weight balance and everything conspired to make bike handling difficult for the rest of the day.

After the delay, I had to make my way back through the field. Lost more time doing so as everyone likes riding side-by-side on the jeep tracks. I made sure I paced myself fairly though to ensure I didn't blow and was slowly making my way back into the competitive field by 50km. Picked up another puncture (thorns in my thin replacement tube), but made it last to the 1st spectator point at 55km. Spent 30 mins here trying to borrow tubes and foot pumps. Got lucky off a nice guy who was pulling out after a crash. It only lasted another 4km however before this one punctured.

Had to walk 1km into waterpoint 2 at 60km, but thankfully got given another tube by James, this one with slime in. Lost 40 mins here in total, but this repair lasted the rest of the race. From here on, I realised it was no longer a race, but rather a training ride. I went up the highest peak at 65km at a casual speed and enjoyed the down on the otherside. Only 1 person came past for the rest of the race, so was still happy, despite not going 100%. Got to waterpoint 3 in 6h20.

Had a good tempo on the district roads from 100 km to the finish, with another rider helping to provide good pacing most of the way. Final time was 2 hrs slower than last year though - 80 mins as a result of punctures, 15 min in water points and the other 25 as a result of riding less aggressively. Sub-7 is still very doable.

Bike stats were Tm 7:57:30 Dst 132:33 Av 16.6 Mx 61.2

Flew down to George for the Attakwas MTB race.

Ride through Randpark and Radiokop.

Was going to run, but have had a niggle in my left quad / knee since last week. Exacerbated after the weekend, so will give it some rest.

Through Randpark and Radiokop. Av 20.2 Mx 44.5

Bio.