The Mont - Team Crash & Berm

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Comment by Nigel Jefferys on April 14, 2011 at 22:39

Team photo's with a bit of music - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieqhleLw6EU    the other version had a copyright issue!

Nice wrap up Jason - we all hit our goals - we had a blast and did it on two wheels!

Comment by JW on April 14, 2011 at 11:42

This is a bit long, so depending upon the time of day or your preference, grab a coffee or a beer.

 

Team Crash and Berm – Another view to a great team and a great race:

 

Preparation & Lead up:

In the beginning there was the Berm and it was good, for it lead me to find 5 other guys seeking the same thing – a team entry for the Mont.  Following the advice of the Berm Wizard (aka Morgan) and through his internet jiggery pokery a spreadsheet was provided, without delay I put my name down to become one of the chosen few.  After all, quoting Clarksonius 12BC, “How hard can it be?” Emails were exchanged and then low and behold, a man was down!  Actually he wasn’t down, he was just off to Italy :)  Rick waded into the fray, finding another man to fill the place – ROMANO!!!

The training begins in early January with commutes to work and some mountain bike action around Sparrow, Kowen & Stromlo on the weekends.  Not having exercised since the year before and spending 3 weeks with a beer in my hand over Christmas and New Year, doing nothing more strenuous than watching grass grow, the first commutes are tough. After my first commute I was sure my head, heart and lungs were all about to simultaneously explode.  Australia Day – still somewhat slow but getting there & for the first time the team meets up for the ride & I learn just how fast Rick & the other guys are.  Better lift my game, I don’t want to let the boys down, so I start riding every chance I can get. I’m sure my wife was thinking I’d been possessed.  Sunny Saturday Feb 19 being sure that by now I won’t suffer a pulmonary edema every time I through my leg over the bike, I meet up with another couple of guys and put in a nice lap around the Kow.  As they head off home after the first lap, I call my wife to say I’m off for my second & if she doesn’t hear from me in a few hours, start to worry – famous last words!  I start my climb to the top gate from Orchard Rd and then into the downhill switchbacks. The first corner wasn’t so good, I’ve run wide, too wide, I straighten the bike up going down the hill but I’m still too wide, the edge is soft, the downed pine trees lining the edge are close, oh SH@%^&!! A broken nose, a fractured eye socket and a lot of blood later I’m calling out for help, struggling to breathe.  Tom Hartley & Robert Eddy have been working on the trails & hear my calls, moments later the Tom & Rob have helped me to their car on the fire trail close by & they’ve got me off to hospital & I’m seen right away. On the way Tom calls my wife, who with a sense of dread answers the phone because its been too soon for me to call. She arrives at Queanbeyan hospital to find me covered in blood and most of the right side of my face is black and swollen. The doc says, you’re off to Canberra for Cat Scans, better to be sure everything inside my head is a) where its supposed to be, b) the size its supposed to be (swelling), and c) that everything is functioning correctly.  Well, I guess Capital Punishment is out!!

After surgery & some recovery time, the surgeon gives me the all clear, YAY! But with a stern face, he says “just be careful” – thanks Doc, I will.

Rick & Romano set up campsite first thing Friday morning & the boys have picked an amazing spot on top of the hill.  We have a commanding view of everything and were pretty close to the showers and toilets but not so close that the generators are too noisy.  I set up my tent on the Friday arvo and I’m into registration. Raynie from Cycle Education (who are fantastic if you don’t already know) and a colleague are checking helmets. I’m given the magical red Kow sticker on the side of the helmet & I pick up the show bag full of goodies, the boys will be impressed – and they were ;)

Race day:

On the way out to the Kow, I get a call from the Moon Unit – he can’t find the camp site, with some quick instructions, he’s on his way & we arrive shortly after. I introduce the head bacon n egg roll chef to the team & we go about finishing off setting up, then it’s down to business – the race order.  With the Lemans style start, it only makes sense that Rick is first out of the gate – besides, I know my weary bones won’t enjoy that running start.  Then its Romano, Rob, Nigel, Karl and fat boy aka me out last.  We head on down to the rider briefing & to have a quick look around.  The race director gives his speech, though he is reminded that if you’ve got the energy to overtake someone, you’ve got the energy to say thanks - the crowd gives a hearty cheer. Then the director mentions the race baton that was in your show bag – what race baton? We’re all looking confused, then he holds up the little blue business card – thinking I’d missed something at registration, I breathe a sigh of relief.  Right, best get the flag & head on over to the start, Rick takes up his place ready to go.

The count down begins 10, 9, 8, 7 you can tell the excitement of the crowd in building and as we get to 3, 2, 1 there is a cheer and we all look to see the runners heading off,  a few tense moments pass, where’s Rick??? Two guys who have just grabbed their bikes have collided in front of me… I squint for a second, they’re ok & they’re off like a cat on a hot tin roof.  Moments later I see our man & call out, he grabs the bike & is gone in a flash – it’s a good start!

Karl heads back to the moon to get his shoes & the rest of us head back up to the campsite but it seems no sooner had we sat down, it’s time to go back down as Rick will be coming through transition. In the sea of faces at transition, there he is and Romano is off.  Rick has done a 59 minute lap – oh crap, there’s not a dog’s chance in hell I can pull off that kind of time – I still don’t want to let the boys down but following the crash in Feb, my fitness is pretty low.  The other boys go out and come back in what seems like warp speed.  While I didn’t see Mr Scott, McCoy or Spock, I did see Superman running through transition at one point – how do you compete with a superhero????

My turn, nervous as hell – I can barely do this in daylight & my first lap will be in the dark. Karl comes in smiling, like he’s just won lotto.  Rick taps me on the shoulder “have fun” he says & with that I’m off.  By Angle Grinder I’ve slowed but pick up a bit of speed on Dead Strait, doing fine & make my first overtake in Aunty Flo woohoo!  As I head into the next few sections the lungs are working hard in the dust & at one point I’m sure I can only see a few feet in front of me as I rode into Crazy Horse.  Still doing fine, looking froward to Sideshow and Sweet Apples, not looking forward to the climb through Cheap Seats & Coffee Grinder.  Only a few k’s to go, my spirits and pace lift as I can see the lights and head into Kowolski’s Beer Garden with a renewed sense of energy and pass a couple more people.  Before I know it I’m off the bike and running through transition like the asthmatic rhino in Jumanji. I pass the baton & Rick is gone again in flash.  I’m happy with the time 1:19. The walk up the hill to the campsite is hard and I really start to cough up the dust that’s settled in my lungs – in fact I’m sure I don’t remember the hill being that big. I collapse in the chair & five minutes later Rick is back – well it felt like 5 minutes.  The boys keep up an amazing pace and the laps begin to tumble while I get my head down for a while.  At 10:30 Rick lets me know it’s time to get ready.  I’m feeling flat, so I have some vitamins, a Gu & an energy drink and I’m ready to go.  Karl comes in – he’s still beaming but you can tell he’s done a tough lap.  I’m off on my second lap & feeling pretty good as I head out into the darkness.  I pass someone again in Aunty Flo & though I can’t be certain, I’m pretty sure it’s the same person I passed in about the same spot some 6 hours before.  I wish her well & get on with job.  The dust is still thick & I’m cautious as I head into Crazy Horse as it was so thick there last lap but this time it’s not as bad.  I push on through, passing the seismic station and I’m beginning to feel really flat, so a quick Gu and some water and I’m off again. Sideshow is cool, but there are guys passing me at speeds far outweighing my talent and with the doctors’ words being clear in my mind, I slow down.  The track here is becoming more rutted and is not as smooth. After February’s incident I don’t want to be writing any cheques that my body can’t cash.  Gotta love Sweet Apples though, I tear on through hear and pass another rider ye ha!    Then begins the climb through Cheap Seats again.  Near Restless Natives, one of the guys from Rockstar Racing passes me.  I tentatively look down to check my gears – no I’m definitely in forward gear, for a moment I could have sworn I was in reverse! Coming into transition, I was feeling pretty flat but made it in 1:23 – happy with that, even though I’ve now coughed up a lung.  Time for some hot soup and sleep. With daylight comes the rain – bugger! At least it won’t be dusty – good news as I now only have one lung to work with.  Karl comes in again and he’s had another awesome lap but you can tell this time, he just seems a bit more spent – hmm he’s way fitter than me – don’t let the boys down, just get on and do the best job you can fat boy I say to myself.  I head off for my third and final lap and as I head into Organ Grinder I get passed by Claire Whiteman, who I wish well as she heads up the hill with blistering speed.  The mud only starts to become a problem going into Crazy Horse but it’s not too bad.  The entry to Sideshow is a different story – the dusty rutted entry has turned to complete slush and it’s so slick, it might have well been sheet ice. Hmm best take this a bit slower too.  The climbs at the end will be slow and steady – most of it fells like riding through glue.  My energy levels get a boost for the last time as I make my way through the beer garden, picking up as much pace as I can.  On the second to last corner, I hit it a bit fast & nearly go over but manage to hold the line.  As I run through transition for the last time I’m handed a pack of sultanas by a race official – a bit odd but ok.  I pass the baton to Rick for the final time.  The lap time was 1:30, I’m happy with that given my one barely functioning lung, the lack of fitness and ability in the mud.  Being completely spent, my team help me back up the hill where the head bacon and egg roll chef works her magic, providing much needed sustenance and coffee.  Being more than a bit wet, cold and muddy, I decide it’s time for a half nip of rum in the coffee - mmmm gunfire breakfast!

The boys keep going out while we start to pack up and Nigel is our last man out.  We head on down to transition as the race draws to a close, Rick and I crack open a beer and we all wait for our last man to cross the finish line.  Interestingly, in one of life’s strange little quirks, just as the Berm Wizard had been there at the beginning, so too was he at the end as Nigel came in.  The smiles and giggling from Nigel said it all, his last lap was better than winning lotto - twice.  We pass him a beer and congratulate ourselves, having achieved all of our goals.  We knew we weren’t going to be on a podium, it wasn’t about that, it was about having some fun. We always had someone on the track and we all finished safely and with no mechanicals or flats.   All in all, I think the boys from Crash and Berm and the Wizard himself are bloody legends.

 

Things I’ve learned:

Try to make more time despite the fatigue to catch up with more people.

Try to be fitter next time.

Don’t go out riding solo.  A mobile phone won’t call for help if you’re unconscious, nor will it render first aid.  I’d like to say a big thankyou to Tom Hartley & Robert Eddy.  Without their help and prompt action getting me to hospital I would have been in really serious trouble.

And simply but most importantly – HAVE FUN!

Comment by Romano Gaspardis on April 14, 2011 at 9:43

Top pics/filming Nigel, Talk about beat the traffic....

Comment by Karl B aka Crasher on April 14, 2011 at 9:01

Top stuff Nigel.

 

Comment by Nigel Jefferys on April 13, 2011 at 22:02

Nice that you can see what we meant by 'beating the traffic' Richard.....it didn't seem that bad when I was filming, but looking back it was a huge clog up!

Here's a few of the team photo's too - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XuUzTrqzPQ

Comment by lyz on April 13, 2011 at 21:41

Karl - not me, gee you must have been blinded. maybe there are more of those super bright lights out there.  but someone (you?) did comment, and yes, that first night lap, I got many comments and covered it in cling film for the next lap.... 

Comment by Richard Douglas on April 13, 2011 at 19:57

I see what you mean that I only just got out onto the track before the mass exodus ground to a halt in front of you.

Can't believe that the run was advertised as only 500m...???????

Longest 500m of my life...and running in cycling shoes.

Comment by Nigel Jefferys on April 13, 2011 at 15:33

Here is our start.......  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3DgBV3yzxc

Comment by Romano Gaspardis on April 13, 2011 at 13:53

Top Report Karl,

Had an absolute ball. Could not have asked for a more supportive, encouraging and easy going group of guys to race with. Rick, Rob, Nigel, Karl and Jason. Thanks guys.

I was super excited and nervous Saturday morning. When I pulled my bike out of the tent the front tyre was flat, converted to tubeless 2 weeks earlier and only done one ride on them. Pumped it up and it went down again after 20min, Richard checked it for leaks and found a small leak coming from the valve stem, shook the goop around and leak fixed, no more issues the whole weekend, phew.

I was out second after Rick. The first lap was a 63min lap I passed heaps and was passed by heaps of riders what a hoot the track was already getting dusty and rutted. SideShow was a highlight and later became a high side when it rained and turned into slideshow. Cheap seats seemed to go on forever, learned to just pace myself. Popped GU around the 9km to go mark which gave me hit. The send half of the lap seemed easier than the first half. 3km to go and something kicked in and I just went for it. Transition in sight and the excitement is mounting again, shout out Rob Rob its Romano... I hear him and as I run round the corner I see the whole team there what a blast, hand over the baton and of he goes. I was still pumped needed some water and a stretch, couldn’t wait for the next lap.

Laps 2 and 3 where in the dark 65 and 64min laps gotta be happy with that, dusty as hell, you could feel it in the back of your throat and taste it on your lips. Yep this is fun.... Much the same as the first lap. The track was just dustier and more rutted. That was about to change.

Last lap 10am Sunday morning, been raining since the early hours of the morning and the track had changed from dust to mud. It was supper slippery and passing and being passed seemed to happen in slow motion. Sideshow was scary but a heap of fun, the pinch had to be done with weight on the back wheel to stop it from spinning in the mud. You didn’t dare touch the front brake on the downhill runs and had to use the back to turn as turning the front just made you slide straight ahead. I did it in 75min bit slower than I hoped for but no major offs, or damage to the bike. Coming into transition I had to remember to call out for Nigel, there he was with the team, man what a lift to see the support.

Things I learned

Red bull does nothing for me except make me piss heaps...

GU at the half way mark gives me a boost.

It takes me the first half of the lap to warm up and find a good pace.

There are some ffaasstttt riders out there.

There are some s  l o w riders out there.

Everybody I came across on the track wether passing or being passed where courteous and friendly.

Sleep... what’s that.

Rain gets rid of the dust.

Transition isn’t that scary.

Mnt biking is even more fun than I imagined.

 

Bring on the next Mont

 

Thanks Crash and Berm for a fantastic weekend.

 

Ps.

Its taken me 3 days to recover from the race, came down with a head cold and mild flu. Something else I’ve learned is to eat properly after the race.....

Comment by Steve K on April 13, 2011 at 13:24

You're a gentleman and a scholar, Mr Jefferys!

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