Managed to ride myself through the cold and even get some mtb riding in. A few weeks back had a good afternoon with Aaron at Appin, where I clocked a 34 min lap – a few min quicker than my previous best efforts on the ~10 km XC circuit. Also went to the mighty Ourimbah track for the first time with the Salmon collective. Wow, what a circuit! Sort of like a mix of Stromlo and Sparrow Hill – flowing single track with assorted brutal bits thrown in, and more undulating and varied than the Appin circuit, although with fewer pure roll-offs. Whilst Appin is almost exclusively flattish sandstone base, Ourimbah has a good mix of jungle (Jurassic Park sector), as well as lots of more open forest with a bit more climbing. We also had a play on the more serious downhill course (don't think I'll be repeating too much of that on the Anthem), and discovered a secluded pump track near the "Graveyard" sector which is loads of fun. Be warned, some of the A-lines on the XC course – well, one in particular – should be carefully considered/inspected first. Finally managed to commit but it shakes your nerve in a Mulga-Bill's Bicycle kind of way! Not sure I'll be lining up to do that one too frequently (head angle on the Anthem a little steep and..…..and of course I'm a bit too wussy for this sort of caper). But don't be deterred. Ourimbah is great!
Only three weeks to kill now. Started my taper last week with only a 300 km week (first less than 400 in some time), and even managed to have the whole weekend off the rig – although failed to complement this with a weekend off the turps thanks to a friend's wedding up at Ballina. Just counting them down now and anxious to get the whole shebang under way.
Mike and Ben hamming it up
The monster roll-off in question (above...older image before the duckboard was installed...about a 20 foot drop), with a random rider for scale (below). I ended up "aiming" for the duckboard but managed to miss it all together. Body armour probably a good idea.
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