Last night I didn’t use my tent as we were able to sleep under a concrete shelter, which was good as it meant I didn’t have to mess around this morning packing my tent away. I didn’t get up as early as I had intended – there were quite a few people up before me and I had to rush like crazy to get ready in time – I didn’t really know how it was all going to work out this morning – so I just wanted to make sure I was ready! I had a good breakfast – noodles first followed by some eggy bread – or French toast, which was a nice surprise. We ended up standing around for a while after that – seemed like we were all going to leave together but Jorg had a flat tyre so we had to wait for him to change that. I was now completely ready to leave but didn’t want to go out first. Finally we all badge out together – probably some of the last riders to set off. The road is initially corrugated but not that bad – with a bit of a side wind and head wind but again not too bad.
It was a good group – myself, Scott, The Wolfe, Jorg, Adam and Dennis. Dennis attacks immediately but we let him go. I am trying to follow Paul – I discovered later the other guys had made a deal to not let Paul follow them. We were moving at a decent pace – not too fast or too slow. People were taking turns at the front but it wasn’t really helping too much on this surface anyway. Jorg and Adam are going pretty fast and then Paul ends up in front – brilliant – and I sat behind which was great for a while. Then Jorg overtook Paul which did seem a bit strange – just when we had got him out front!! Bit silly but never mind! Finally I get a bit fed up and want to eat a bar so I take off to gain some distance for about 5 minutes – Jorg catches me up to tell me I have a good gap and should race ahead – but I didn’t really want to – I just wanted to see what was possible. So I ate my bar and everyone joined up again. Then at about 20 km in there was a little hill so I did the same again – found a good line up the hill and when I reached the top I ate another energy bar. I was in a good rhythm so kept going and seemed to make a gap. We were still passing earlier riders which is always good – gives you a target to aim for. The road was still very gravelly with corrugated bumps – pretty nasty but still not the lava road we have been warned about – I heard that started at about 50/60 km in. There was a slight climb into lunch – so I just kept going with no-one behind me at first – of course then Paul the Wolfe appears and I arrive at lunch with him right behind me!! I did wonder about skipping lunch and going straight through but as he was right with me anyway it didn’t really make much difference so I stopped. I filled up my water bottles and realized I hadn’t been drinking as much as I should, ate a sandwich and then we headed off for the afternoon. Everyone had been talking about how far ahead Lindsay was – and I thought it would be a shame to push hard all day and then not quite win the bonus – but I had overtaken Lindsay yesterday so as long as I didn’t go too slow I should be able to catch him today. After lunch I decided I would follow Paul for a while – which was quite difficult – there was a slight downhill to start and I tried to stay about 20 m behind. He kept looking back and was going very slow and I was slowly getting closer and closer – so I just sit there behind him and we dawdle along at about 16kmph. I am wondering how long before Jorg catches us as he was the next one in to lunch after us. Off to the side of the road it is sandy and sometimes this is a better surface to ride on – however you have to cross bumpy gravel with big rocks so sometimes changing ‘lanes’ can be very difficult. Basically there are 4 tracks – 2 on each side of the road – so that’s really what you’ve got to choose from for your line. Sometimes the area in the middle is OK and sometimes there is the footpath that the villagers use which you might get a good run on – but as I said you might then find it difficult to get back over when it runs out!! So – a bit of a mix!
About 10 km out of lunch Scott catches us and passes – Paul doesn’t follow so I speed up to go and chat. We rode together for a while, but my little speed up has got me into a good rhythm again so I actually get out in front and just keep going. After a few minutes I have opened up a gap and so decide to keep going at a steady speed – expecting Paul to catch me at any minute. A few weeks ago on a similar gravel road I had been excited to think I was out on my own away from Paul and he had then caught me which totally demoralized me at the time – so I wasn’t going to let myself think like that this time – I just expected him to catch me and then if he did I wouldn’t feel so bad about it. My plan was to sit behind him when he caught up and then sprint it out at the end. Anyway I carried on knowing that Lindsay was still ahead. The wind got stronger and then finally I hit the lava rock. Before that it was corrugated bumps made by the trucks – fairly consistent with loose gravel at the side. But this new surface was just full of rocks – there were still faint tracks from the trucks but with huge chunks of rock all over the place. Picking a line was impossible so I decided to just choose my side of the road and then ride in as straight a line as possible – ignoring everything and just pedaling!!
The miles are ticking away – but very slowly! Eventually I see Lindsay off in the distance – which was great – if I can catch him I will definitely be the leader into camp. I finally pass him. I am doing short stints standing – most of the time sitting – fairly easy gear and just slowly pedaling away. When I stand up its nice as it takes the pressure off my bum but the bike bounces around quite a bit and it is difficult to hold the handle bars. One time my hands slipped off completely when I was standing – luckily I was saved by my elbows on the bars – but that gave me a bit of a shock and I decided I wasn’t going to stand any more and went back to sitting!!
I am really counting down the k’s now – am at 79 km and the finish should be at 84km. I want it to be done now! I am counting the trees at the side of the road – “I’ll just get to that tree there…” I am over it!! My arms are hurting, my wrists are hurting – I want to be done! At 83 km I can finally see the flag in the distance – but still seemed to take ages – I am riding very slowly at about 16/20 kmph and my heart rate Is not high – it is just a struggle! But I finally reach camp and think I am the first there – actually then I see Liam but he is not a racer. So – that is a win for me with the extra 30 minutes. Very good!
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