"Find a buddy, choose a category and start hardening up. Pairs racing is no Sunday spin. Lap on lap off, lap on and lap off. Forget double or triple laps, we won’t count them, use your rest time to get some grub down, you'll need it."
Well they weren't kidding! With average lap times between 25 and 30 minutes there really was only enough time to grab some food and have a quick rest before it was time to head out again. Throw in some typical Woodend weather (read cold and windy) and it didn't take to long to go from hot and sweaty to cold and shivering in between laps. To make things that little bit tougher there was no onsite catering to get your fix of muffins and coffee so you only got to eat what you had brought with you or what you could bot off your mates.
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| Transition at the Duael |
But enough of the negatives because despite all that it was a great day. There was a very healthy turnout of a very mixed bunch of riders right through from elite athletes to weekend warriors. The organisers had mapped out a challenging but rewarding track which included all the things MTB riders love like short hills, mud, quick descents and excellent single track. The single track pine forest section was the highlight and provided a unique backdrop for some of the photos taken on the day and highlighted on the Flat Hill Dirt Crits blog site.
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| Steve and Roz trying to keep warm waiting for their turn |
The SMC riders all enjoyed the day even though two of our three teams didn't make it to the end. I expect we will all return next year a little wiser for the experience and having a better idea of what to expect. That includes Mel who never really recovered from her over exhuberance on the first lap and Phil who had to contend with an attack from a rabid chicken on the fastest part of the course and a team mate who was still reading the paper as Phil entered the transistion zone after a hot lap!
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| Roz returning after ripping up Woodend |
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| Brett and Steve deciding who should ride the next lap |
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