The Otway Odyssey doesn’t really need an introduction. If you’re a mountain biker who hasn’t heard of it you must be the world’s biggest shunter. It attracts mountain bikers from all over the world better than Costco attracts obese people.
Myself and my teammates weren’t the most organized coming into the race. We had pre-ridden the course but that’s as far as it went. Accommodation was left to the last minute and most of us had a shitty week leading up to the race which was topped off with the usual last minute rush to pack kit, clothes, food and gear. Its lucky for us that our bike and tyre choice generally takes care of itself. Myself, Ross, Cam and Quigley all chose to use our Rocky Mountain Vertex’s. Their stiff yet compliant frame was perfect for the fast hilly course and long hours in the saddle. As always, Schwable Racing Ralphs were perfect for the course due to low rolling resistance yet decent, predictable grip in the singletrack.
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| A very dusty iRide Rocky Mountain team. |
Despite having raced a heap of Enduro’s this was only my second marathon and first Odyssey. Mid-week I started to shit myself, and my pre race nervous poo's kicked in around wednesday. Would I have the legs to carry me over the hills come race day?
My preparation for the Otway had been good, I had a solid 7 weeks of training under my belt since breaking my arm in December. I was intimated after hearing about Cam Winn’s Otway training diet consisting of doing a 5 hour ride, coming home, drinking a litre of mineral water, taking 3 sleeping pills then sleeping through to the next day.
The 7:15am start meant I had to get up early a 5:15am in order to ensure I had at least half digested my breakfast by the start of the race. There is nothing worse than feeling sluggish on the start line while 1kg of porridge is playing jumping castles inside your stomach. With a race as big as the Otway the nerves took care of my pre-race bowel movement not long after eating breakfast meaning I would not have to use a porta-loo at the race start or carry 2kg of weight up those hills. I heard Ross had no such luck and had to prarie dog it for at least 5 hours.
Due to my half-awake state and slight darkness on the start line, I thought I saw Mark Cavendish only to realize it was someone in a full replica kit. My dreams of coming off Cav’s wheel coming into the finish line at the Forrest Football oval were crushed. As we rolled out of town the pace was quite high with many over keen rider exerting themselves to try and be at the front, riders started to drift backwards as soon as we hit the first climb which was minuscule compared to everything else in the race. Once we turned onto Mahers road and started riding off-road the racing really began. The pace kicked up a notch once we hit the bottom of the first climb. Those pretenders who had been fooling themselves being at the front started to disappear.
When we hit the portion of the climb that was covered in sand the front of the race essentially exploded with riders going anywhere they could to get traction. Phil Orr was just in front of me and stalled in the sand for a second. As I rode past him I accidently roosted him with sand, this would be the high point of the race for me. From here to the top of the KOM small groups formed, I settled into a good tempo wanting to maintain a good position but not wanting to exert myself to much. I came over the top of the KOM in 25th happy with my position and how I felt.
I rolled into the first rocky road decent thinking things could not get much better, little did I know I was about to get fisted. I ripped the sidewall of my tyre on a large rock then due to a rookie mistake and not being properly prepared, I incorrectly tried to re-seal my tubeless tyre. By the time I put a tube in I had watched 100 of my closet friends ride past and to make matters worse, due to my poor mechanical skills I only manage to get about 15psi in the tyre. I decided to nurse it back to the football ground/2nd checkpoint. My Leyzne levers and C02 chuck made the whole change super easy but my mechanical skills along with a dodgy C02 canister were my downfall. I spent the next 15k’s to the checkpoint riding slowly due to my semi-flat rear tyre and being stuck in conga line of traffic. At the point I was pissed off and getting keen on the idea of pulling the pin. Once at the checkpoint I grabbed my drinks/bottles and pumped up my tyre.
I then set out on the Super loop which was almost entirely made of some of the best single track getting around. I knew I would have to pass a lot of riders so I set about doing it as efficiently as possible. The quality of trails they used for this loop make it hard not to have fun and go fast so I started to get over the fisting. I kept the foot on the gas passing when I could. I received quite a few positive cheers/comments from riders I passed in this section, unfortunately none of them were about my riding they were either “Nice socks, where can I get some?” (for those who didn’t hear me yell back, they are 4shaw Merino socks and iRide Bikes stock them) or “rad kit”. I caught up with Quigley in this section, he was looking drained after a week of illness leading up to the race, possibly due to also following Cam’s diet?
Once I was done with the super loop it was back to the Football oval/checkpoint 3. I grabbed more fresh bottles and some gels. I am one of those weird individuals who likes eating gels so I was looking forward to pounding a few. It was then time to tackle the climb up to the quarry. I pushed hard up the climb as I was still feeling good. I freshened up enough on the short descent down to the Lake Elizabeth carpark to keep some punch in my legs for the climb out then hit the Red Carpet descent. Mentally from here I was on the home stretch. I grabbed a bottle of coke at the 80km checkpoint on the way over to the Southern loop. Once there I gave what I had left but by this stage it was hard pushing it on the descent due to my upper body being rooted. I could feel the twinges of cramps coming during the last few short climbs.
I caught 2 riders coming out of the southern trail and even through my chance of a good result went out the door with my ripped tyre the racer inside meant I couldn’t allow them to hit the line in front of me. I kept upping the pace on the undulating road heading back to the finish trying to sense what they had left in the tank. One of them dropped off the back, the other one seemed to still have a bit left in the tank and due to the road descent into the Football ground I figured I was best off coming around him just before the finish instead of attacking on the last climb.
He charged over the top of the first climb and I eased myself onto his wheel, as we entered the football ground he body language seemed to suggest he thought he had me, not today buddy. As soon as we hit the finishing straight I swung out and hit the gas, If only Cav had of been there to see me.
A big thanks must go to Rocky Mountain Bikes, Schwalbe Tyres, Leyzne, 4Shaw and Louis Garneau. Our Louis Garneau kit had us all looking pro while keeping cool in what was very hot conditions. I’m not a mind reader but as I was riding the climb up to the quarry Euro style with my jersey unzipped I passed a group of young female spectators on the side of the road, I knew exactly what they were thinking.
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| The full thrust that is Will Geor |
A special mention must to my physio at Lake Health. 2 sessions in the week leading up to the race and strapping meant I could get through the race with having to worry about my elbow or be in too much pain. Even rigs like mine need some extra help getting over injuries.
In the end I finished 62nd with a time of 5:25.
Cam 49th 5:14
Quigley 84th 5:39
Ross 104th 5:47
Mel 7th 5:45
Aleisha 15th 3.39 (50km)
Aleisha 15th 3.39 (50km)
Will
