ICME Alice Springs 2012

I’ve written a daily race report for each stage but here is a quick run down on the race, I’ll try to keep it brief!! I finished in 6th place overall, roughly 4mins behind Sarah, we swapped placed a few times throughout the race but it was her stella effort on the 23k TT and night stage which put her back in front. At times I got caught up in the competitiveness of the race and got quite stressed and disappointed, which was silly as I have had little time on the bike and had only no intentions of racing for placings, simply happy to be on my bike back racing for the first time in 8 months so a few reality checks were in order! Stage racing is awesome fun, all I had to think about was racing, eating, sleeping, recovering then repeat. At times it got mentally draining having to sort out bike issues, think about race tactics, ice baths, bottle drops, food, sleep and stretch but it was great to be able to think of nothing but BIKES BIKES and BIKES!! Hanging out with so many other like minded people who love racing and riding as much as me, riding the sweet trails and catching up with old mates in Alice made it a week I wont forget. Melissa Anset smashed it every stage and walked away a very deserved winner, an awesome effort I look forward to seeing what other events she will annihilate this year! I encourage you all to head to Alice to check out the amazing abundance of trails, they truly are spectacular! The Rough Riders hold a heap of great events that you should try to get to, they are super friendly and keen to show everyone around.

Coming back up Sunset hill. Photo: Dave Sutton

MONDAY: DAY ONE

Monday morning rolled around all too quickly as we set about getting drink bottles, gels, first aid kits, tubes, pumps and some beaky into us before rolling up to the start line at the Chifley. Today’s stage would be relatively short and would also include a 6km neutral start through the streets of Alice. This was nerve wracking as 200 or so riders tried to get into a good position whilst going around corners and roundabouts, all waiting for when the real start would happen and the hammer would be put down. As soon as we hit the fire road it was on, up and over dusty fire road the memories of 2010 came flooding back. Thankfully this time they did not send us down the hell line, we did however still have to face the KOM climb that had my legs and lungs screaming to stop.

Once at the top of the climb I decided to settle into a good tempo, get some rhythm and ride smart-it was going to be a long week and the goal was to finish in one piece injury free!! The single track was fun and flowing and I was having a ball. Amy flew past me on that first climb as did a number of other girls, but as the single track started to take casualties perhaps my prior experience riding the Alice trails worked to my advantage. There were punctures galore as the trail shredded tyres and unfortunately I joined the club at the 20km mark, my tyre pressure was far too low and I hit a lip coming up and over a dip just after the water stop, sealant and air were spraying out so I jumped off and blasted it with a co2, praying it would seal. Thankfully the tyre held enough air to get my home.

My plan was to go hard again at the 30km mark and try to finish strong in the last 10k, however for one reason or another the stage was only 31km therefore I was quite shocked a little disappointed to see the 1km to go sign, expecting there to be 10km. I decided it was probably for the best I had taken it easy and my body would be thanking me later in the week that I hadn’t gone into the red too much today. We headed back for lunch, an ice bath, a stretch, a snooze and then round to JPs to get my tyre sorted in time for the TT up Anzac Hill that afternoon.

To be honest I wasn’t looking forward to this stage at all, having only been back on the bike a few months and ridden no hills what so ever I knew it was going to hurt. JP advised us at what point to get out of the saddle and to stay out. I did exactly as told and what disappointed with my time of 1.16, but seen as I did exactly what JP said I couldn’t have done much more!! It was awesome having people cheer you on and the boys running alongside us as we churned up the hill trying not to make show the pain on our faces!!! Amy smashed the hill in 1.13 and even got to sit on the first place couch!! Home for some dinner, deliciously cooked up by JP and a quick check to make sure my tyre was good to go.

Jess Harries leading up the climb. Photo: Dave Sutton

TUESDAY: DAY TWO

Amy, Stink (Terri Rhodes) and I cruised over to the Telegraph station for that start of this stage, a few hard spins up to get wake the legs up and then it was go time. I tried to go as hard as I could for the first 15 minutes to get into a quick position and found I couldn’t keep the pace for much longer than that without blowing up. I would then settle into a tempo and try to ride my own race and then put the foot down in the last 10k to finish strong. I was sitting in 5th position when I heard a strange loud noise from the rear (of my bike!) oh no don’t tell me I’ve flatted. Quick stop to check and dammit my saddle bag had fallen and was bouncing off my rear tyre. I got it back on but not before Sarah zoomed past me and I was unable to catch her back up, made more difficult by the fact my saddle bag once again fell off. This time I shoved it in my jersey packet and crossed the line in 6th place, 2 minutes behind. I tried not to panic and get back into a nice tempo when sealant squirted up into my face, I kept riding hoping it would seal, which it seemed to but I was back riding with a lower tyre pressure than desired. Home for an ice bath, food, nap, stretch and prepare for tomorrow’s long stage. JP picked us up and we drove much of the course to see what we were in for. This was massively helpful but at the same time scary to know exactly what it was we were in for, a lot of bitumen followed by sand then loose red rocky hills.

WEDNESDAY: DAY THREE

Amy and I were ready to leave at 7.45 to get there right on time when Dingo the cat darted out the front door just as we were leaving, I run down the road trying to chase it when it jumped the fence straight into the neighbours back yard. We knocked on the door, no answer so Amy headed into their back yard trying to coax it back in. It would let us get within 1 metre of it, smirking at us, willing us to grab it, then it would dart off into another direction chuckling to itself. I tried ringing Judy with no avail as Amy jumped backyard fences up and down the street trying to grab Dingo. After 10 minutes we decided to leave and hope it would return. At the start line Judy rang back and when we explained she said, yeh that’s cool it does what it likes, no dramas!

The plan was to go hard for the first 25km, get into a good bunch for the Simpson Gap footpath and road section, then if we were to attack the only place to do so would be on the long climb at the 66km mark. We had put 40psi in my tyre with loads of sealant the night before and I was bummed to see it had gone down to about 18psi, I pumped it back up and hoped for the best, I wasn’t filled with much hope when it started hissing out sealant and air at the start line. Thankfully it managed to hold for the whole time.

I got off to a good start and found myself in 4th position, I was feeling good when Jess Harries, a local rider came up behind me and we proceeded to ride the fire roads together and discussed the importance of getting into a good bunch. We managed to get into a group with 6 guys and we worked hard for the length and of bike path, I made sure I didn’t use too much energy here (ride and hide…..) as I knew what was in store for the last 20k. I drank, ate and made sure I recovered from the 25km start and was ready to rumble for the last 20k.

We hit the sandy 4WD tracks and our bunch started to dwindle in numbers, a guy on a niner SS was smashing it so I sat behind him for awhile and knew Jess was sitting very closely behind me, and I knew I had to go for it on that first loose rocky long climb. As soon as we got to it I went hard and didn’t look back, and knowing I had 3 more loose gnarly ups and downs to get through I focused on that. I came to the last descent and nearly fell over myself, well actually I did, when I saw stink no more than 5 metres in front of me. I was so shocked that the momentary lapse in concentration on a really sketchy descent caused me to slide out and after having to remount my bike I had lost the chance of overtaking Stink. It was as if seeing me had put a rocket up her backside and she was off!! We were both like stunned rabbits in a car headlight when we saw each other, and managed to have a good laugh about it afterwards, I was however kicking myself that I hadn’t kept my composure and used that opportunity better! Its as if I thought, well if Stink cant ride this what hope do I have, in future (if it ever happens again!!) I’ll try not to be so intimidated when I found myself amongst other riders of that caliber and have a bit more self belief!!

I smashed it home as fast as I could and with about 2k to go my right quad starting cramping, fought it off enough to ride into 4th place, less than 1 minute behind Stink and nearly 20 minutes in front of 5th. We finished with a lap of the BMX track which ordinarily I would have been thrilled about however was way too stuffed and nervous about crashing that I rolled around it like a 90 year old. 77kms seemed to go pretty quickly, for results sake I needed this stage to be a tad longer!!

THURSDAY: DAY FOUR

We found a tear in the sidewall of my tyre so put on a new one and this worked a treat for the remainder of the race. I was finding it hard to sleep at night with all my muscles twitching and going over what had happened that day and what was going to happen the next day, waking up at 4 for about an hour my chest was getting tighter, not sure if it was all the dust or I was starting to get crook but I was looking forward to the 23k time trial as I wouldn’t have any to worry about but myself. I rode it as best I could but made a few technical errors forcing me to unclip and remount the track, it all came down to lack of time spent on the bike sharpening my mtb skills and it was very noticeable on this XC circuit. I enjoyed the freedom of not having anyone around me and my spirits were high as I found myself passing those in front. Finished in 5th place in a time of 1.19 I was happy with the way things went. I was super excited about the night stage as I love riding at night and in 2010 I rode faster in the mass start night stage than I did in the TT, I was keen to replicate this result. I was feeling confident with this stage especially with my Ay-Up lights as I knew they would light up the track a treat.

Rolling over to the golf course the cold Alice air was tightening my chest and I was coughing way too much. I got myself into a good position up the front right behind the elite males and we sped off, the pace blistering as singletrack would hit us way too soon, with little room to pass on the whole course it was critical to get into a good spot. The start was hectic, no one could see anything, dust was all around us and made worse by the reflections of our lights, if one person came down all would come down. We had to trust one another and hold on!! The key was to get up Sunset hill, a massive steep climb just before the singletrack, up there and in a good position all would be sweet. Things didn’t turn out according to my plan, the pace was slow up the climb and I was unable to hold my line right behind Stink and Sarah, as riders were everywhere. I run up and over the concrete slab at the top before the climb turned really steep. I had to remount and get straight into that singletrack. I struggled big time getting back on my bike, my legs, chest and throat were screaming, burning almost and every time I tried clipping in my foot kept slipping. I finally got in but not before Jess Harries rode past, I grunted in frustration and smashed it as hard as I could up the last bit of the hill, not caring what noises I was making or strange face I was pulling, I was MAD. (At myself) I got into the singletrack and panic set in, I started making easy mistakes and tried to work my way back into the race.

I caught back up to Jess however there were 2 men between us, the directly in front asked the one in front of him to pass, holding his wheel I called out ‘another rider’ as there was enough space for the two of us. The rider didn’t seem to think so and waited until I was directly next to him before leaning his arm out and saying ‘No, you need to ask,’ and pushing me straight off the track and my bike. I was massively shocked and annoyed, in hindsight I can see that I should have waited for the first guy to pass and then ask more politely, however I felt as I was right behind the guy passing and had said another rider? that it was sufficient given the lack of opportunities to pass. I think the physical nature of the push was not at all required considering this guy was a good 30cm taller and much bigger than I. Lesson learnt, when I caught the next guy I asked very politely “can I please have track when you are ready for me to pass,” the response I got was for “f^$# sake” So now I was a little confused, I get yelled at and abused for not asking politely, and then for asking politely, I felt like I couldn’t win. I read that this stage last year was met with aggression, and I felt it was the same this year. Perhaps organisers need to consider the implications of a mass start that goes straight into single track.

I finished in 6th position, 1.21 and was the most annoyed and disappointed I had ever felt at the end of the race. That night as I lay in bed fuming, I managed to talk myself around and remind myself why I was there, what I was trying to achieve and why I ride my bike. Simply reminding myself that I ride for fun and that I was getting to ride my bike for a week instead of going to work was enough to turn those negative thoughts into positive ones and I woke up Friday feeling relaxed and happy just to be riding my bike injury free!!

FRIDAY: DAY FIVE

Amy, Stink and I cruised over to the Chifley chatting about how could the week possibly be almost over, it had gone so quickly! I reluctantly did a warm up as my legs were feeling toast from the night before. I got off to a surprisingly good start and found myself in 3rd position, just in front of Stink and Sarah up the climbs and into the most technical section of course we had ridden all week. Up and over huge rocks, down massive rock drop offs I was loving it and hoping I didn’t come off. I was stoked and amazed at how well I was riding this section, trying not to be scared by the 2 behind me!!! An hour in and I was yet to have a gel or even a sip of my drink for fear of being overtaken, and the concentration required for the technical stuff rendered it almost impossible. The sun was heating up and I was starting to feel a little howdy doody in the head, a momentary lapse of concentration over a seemingly little drop off compared to what we had just ridden, I found myself launching through the air straight over the bars. I thought I had landed on my feet and made a pretty quick recovery, but as the other 2 were right on my wheel they were able to pass, after asking if I was ok. I wondered whether to try to catch up to them or not, as they were just up the road. I decided this was a sign, a sign I needed to take it down a notch, have a gel, have a drink, and remember JP’s advice-go hard at the start, tempo in, then hard at the end. I had been going hard for the last hour, probably a little too hard, but I was reviling the fact I was sitting in 3rd and wanted it to last for as long as I could!! I rode tempo for the next 20 or so k’s which was mainly singletrack and was trying to have fun however I think I had gone a little too into the red zone for too long at the start and was paying the price. I was keen to put in a final effort and finish strong, my guts had other ideas when I found my breakfast come back up and from then every time I started to go harder I felt like I was going to spew again. Got home as strong as I could knowing I’d done what I could, met some awesome people and raced through some truly spectacular landscapes.

Amy immediately after finishing nto sure what she's feeling here

5 minutes later Amy appears more stoked to be finished

Stink, Amy and I after a lond hard week of racing.

A massive thanks to Liv/Giant and Giant for their support, my bike worked like a dream the whole race, not many people got through without a puncture or 5! Also to Ay-Ups Lights for lighting up the track and making my night racing as enjoyable as possible. Thanks to PureSport for all the Workout drinks, I wouldn’t have gotten through the Alice heat without these drinks which provide carbs, protein and electrolytes. I credit them for helping me recover and finish strong towards the end of the race, I made sure I had a Recovery Protein drink immediately after each stage with water, and another with milk ever night before bed. A massive thanks to JP for all his encouragement, advice, ice baths, gels, being at every feed station!, sealant, fixing my bike, cooking us dinner, driving us round, loaning us your car!!! you’re a legend mate and your help is greatly appreciated, I hope I can return your kindness one day. Thanks to Judy and Brett for your kind hospitality, and finally to Amy Fletch Fletcher who threw the idea at me to go race the ICME 5 weeks ago and for hanging out with me for a week!