Ballarat 6hr

Saturday came around and it was time for every one to wake up before the birds started to chirp and make the trip up to Ballarat for the 1st race of the Victorian enduro series. I was shaping up to be a cracker of a race with the I Ride Rocky Mountain crew out in force with the support of Adventure Brands Australia. There was quite a number of quality riders there so the race would be hard and fast at the start until every one found there spot and settled in for the 6hr haul!

6:13 crack of dawn and we were away!

Ahhh Yep thats some serious rain that just missed us 5min later is brother came past and we went from 100 to 50.

Mr IRide him self keeping and eye on the stable making sure no wild beast escapes to unleash there fury on the trails.

The tunnel of shredding goodness!

Nice big Pro setup once again from the IRide, Rocky Mountain, Adventure brand Team.

The main man him self Mr Simon "Simbro" Ross from Adventure Brands. Brining you the bikes that simple love the ride.

My team mate for mixed pairs keeping warm ready to take off on her flying lap!

Crack goes the gun and the race was on. Jumping up into the main pack after a 30sec warm up I quickly blew up then recovered and before long was into a rhythm and cranking it out. The course was fast and not technical at all so not overly suited to me but it was bike riding none the less. 25 min into my start lap I had a rider decide to pass me on a fast decent. The racing line that I was on was smooth and offering plenty of traction where the line the other rider was going to pass me on had 2 tree roots sticking out about 3 inches and 1.5 meters apart so easy enough to double. How ever with the lack of technical descending ability to jump the roots he decided I was on the better line and merged into me.
This resulted in one hell of a rag doll crash just 5 min from the finish of my lap. We locked handle bars and i proceeded to get popped of my bike like a cork out of a champagne bottle and shoulder checked the ground. I had dirt jammed into the vents in my helmet that had to be poked out. I staggered around getting my self sorted with the help of fellow riders Llew and Simon some 10min later I pulled my self to gather and rode into pits with Simbro towing me in. Handing off to Jade she was off like a shot to make up for lost time.

  

The start of my mates that would hang around for the next week. Meet Corkey on my right calf and Shiner on my left eye!

Amity was laying down the hammer with Mel. She might be the size of a garden gnome but that does not stop her from chicking guys left right and center. Amity and Mel took out female pairs in fine form and never looked like they were puffed at all during the race.

Jo Williams "JoJo" was laying down the hammer all day. Jo was in the Solo female category and took the win with over 25min up on her 2nd place who was fellow friend Jo Riley

Jo Riley cranking it out of the saddle trying to make up the time JoJo put into her.

IRide Ross giving the camera the check out my pro white glove wave.

Any Bell getting chased down by solo winner Sam Chancelor

The big man him self Rich Grant coming along to support and legendary one liner commentary

Half way into the 6hr and Ross was just checking out what food was on offer to chow down on and if any one had the last episode of Twilight on a phone to live steam.

The ever watch full eye of Ross informing Aleisha that even though she is doing the 3rs it's going to burn!

Llew smashing the decents like only Luke knows how to!

Will was out having a lazy 6hr spin around the home turff aboard his Rocky Mountain Vertex 990, it was for sure the weapon of choice today!

Ben "Skinsuit" Randel was out showing people that you can have fun in a skins shit on a MTB

 Simon Ross having a blast out there in the solo category.

 Nick having way to much fun at the top of the steepest climb on the course.

A few seconds after this Jade single Forsyth was getting chased down bye a heard of guys after I filled them in about her! Hope you had fun jade.

 Ann Schilg went out for the 3 hr race and after a long road to recovery she is starting to get her form back.

At around 5 hrs into the race and the final hr upon us the heavens decided that they wanted to open up and turn a dry fast course into a course that was as if some on put grease all over the track. i was testing times for every one do I go out or do I stay and keep warm and dry.

 JoJo oh so dirty just the way the ginger ninja likes it!

 Sniff Sniff did someone drop a bomb? Ross was on the after gell fart program.

 Will after 6 hrs was looking as fresh as a Daisey.

 Sam getting a pat on his back from his bro Scott. Two top blokes on the racing scene who will say hi to you on and off the track and never with out a smile! Sam took out 1st place in solo men with laps that were up there in the top 20

 Bellie getting on the pack horse program.

 Jade and Llew getting in the money

 JoJo and Jo in the money as well. High Rolling in in Ballart.

 Mad props to JoJo coming back from a not so good year last year on the bike. The new diet and training with a different out look on racing. Jojo is now back so look out if you see her at a race near you.

 Well I'm now getting back on the bike and ready for my next adventure. Till then get out there, shred your bike like never before and as Rocky Mountain says "Love the Ride"