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A bit of unfinished business, as I'd DNF'd my previous two attempts at this race.

However, it's a climbers race, with 680m of vertical for a 26km lap, so not really where I expected to do well. Even though I was in pretty good nick, the repeated assaults of Mt Stromlo took their toll. Finished 10th out of 14 starters in the over 50's. Didn't have enough over 60's for a category apparently Overall, 73rd out of 95 starters.

There were times that I actually thought I would be better off sat at my desk at work……luckily hindsight is a wonderful thing and I can now say that the time I spent in New Zealand’s South Island, racing the inaugural Pioneer stage race, with friends and newly made friends, in an amazing environment, and enjoying the hospitality and culture was full of unforgettable moments and enjoyment.

I was fortunate enough to win this category at last year's event. It came on the back of some decent raining for the BC Bike race. I was pretty fit back then.

But this year was a different story...

It started with the fact that this race was moved forward a month because of clashes with other events. When I found out I was in Canada on a month long skiing holiday. I knew that wasn't going to leave me with much time for any training when I got back to Sydney.

Won't say too much here as it was relatively uneventful other than it was a great course, great event with a great atmosphere to which I am sure would make James proud.

Minter (Warthog) and I have just finished the inaugural Pioneer MTB race in New Zealand. The race is a seven day mountain bike stage race through New Zealand’s Southern Alps starting in Christchurch and ending in Queenstown. http://thepioneer.co.nz/ The scenery and location must be largely unparalleled anywhere in the world where you can race. Jaw droppingly spectacular!!

Hi all,
I have been thinking a fair time about the decline of Marathon racing in Australia, and what can be done. I look at what is growing in popularity here and overseas and it would seem like pairs racing is really where things are happening.

There is an awful lot to like about it.
I put down some of my thoughts in an article for MarathonMTB.com - and thought you would enjoy the read too...

http://marathonmtb.com/2016/02/15/the-beauty-of-...

Really happy to have a discussion about it here, or on the forum link I made...

Four years ago, Nobmob (and other) social rides were a common routine. But when I saw this ride posted after a year of training and racing (among a few other things such a "bit" of study/work), I realized I haven't done any social rides the whole year. As much as nobmobbers tell me I have a lot to teach them about what happens near the front of a race, the reality is, you're the ones teaching me.

Below is a list of what you guys taught me (that maybe I knew once upon a time, but forgot) today:

Thought I'd keep the racing season going a bit longer after the Fling and also just had to give the new Niner Jet9 a workout, so drove up to this event, about 5 hrs north of Sydney, near Gunnedah and Tamworth (or as near as things get out there).

Every now and again, particularly when I am on a post-race high, I get some sort of reflective thought regarding my cycling (and other various physical activities I do) that I ponder on and have tried to string these into words and share on my Nobmob blog. I refer to them my "cyclelogy" blogs - rather than a report on a particular race in which I have just destroyed myself, but about the activity of riding a bike and what it means to me psychologically, mentally and emotionally, so my buzz from last weekend's Highland Fling has gotten me wound up to write a new one.

11am Saturday morning on Freshwater Beach, I'm supervising my kids in the water, antsy to hit the road for Bundanoon. Meant to pick up my mates at lunchtime but already I can see I'll run late. It's blistering in the sun. On whatsapp to update the lads. They're good to go. A few errands to run, clean out the boot of the behemoth Kia Grand Carnival, and we're ready to be loaded with swags, gear and 3 x MTBs.