Xterra World Champs - Maui, Hawaii

ALOHA !


This island rocks!

I came 23rd out of about 500 athletes, here are the official results.

It was epic. Went surfing on Hookipa beach after the race and got MUNCHED by some f for big waves, you know you had fun when salt water is still coming out your nose hours later! Cameron, the chap who took me surfing snapped his leash so he decided to bodysurf... catching barrels off the 8 footers. MMM, eez nice!

Maui has beautiful beaches... check it ouwit.

It was great seeing other Saffers venturing out to the World Champs, Pieta Swanepoel and Russel White came over to test the waters. Dit was maar lekker om saam kak te praat. We are having an Xterra series starting in RSA soon so watch the press for details. Evidently there will be 4 events spead over the country with the final in Grabrouw in the Cape in late March.

I have some friends selling bikes here, check out http://www.racemachines.blogspot.com/ or click here. Please feel free to contact me for details on exelby@gmail.com with questions.

Xterra National Champs

Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Yes, Xterra is a contact sport!!

For full race results, check here
Water condition: 13 degrees celcius and choppy!
Mtb course: Climbing and fun singletrack
Run course: Weaving trail with lots of stream crossings

That's Lake Tahoe in the background - the water visibility was amazing - during the swim you could see the anchors for the course marking buoys way down below below on the sand. I even collected 4 golf balls off the sand floor a couple of days before the race - clearly there are some frustrating holes on the nearby golf course!!

I am currently in Bend,OR getting ready for the Xterra World Champs (Maui,Hawaii). The snow has started to fall here but the training has gone pretty well. Conrad and i have been renovating his Condo and doing some quality training, Bend is an awesome training ground - there is a bit of everything for the outdoor enthusiast... including whitewater kayaking. Now i feel ready for showdown, bring on the warm water of Hawaii !
Cheers, R

Papa Smurf

Today we rode a sick trail up in Telluride called "Papa Smurf". Can you name any of the celebrities in this group?? Hint : one is american champ and another is a world champ... good luck - you might win a noddy badge if you get them correct. Maybe!


The Aspens are starting to turn... bring it on!

Tour de Fat

Yes folks, this is what i call a "dik wiel" for non-south africans, that is afrikaans for a "fat tyre", slang for a mtb.




Everyone gets involved in the celebrations here in Durango - the "Tour De Fat" is sponsored by the New Belgium Brewing company Locals and tourists alike dress up in crazy costumes and celebrate the bicycle. Its an awesome carnival atmosphere, there are lots of activities for everyone to join in the fun.





You can test loads of crazy rides, check these ones out...
"SCORPION" is her name, yes, all the wheels turn!


The easy way to "wear-in" your running shoes!









Ever ridden a TRIPLE DECKER bike !? Come to Durango!









Beer + Band + Bikers dressed as hippies = ...

Base Training...

Hi Guys,
I am in a base period in preparation for World Xterra Champs which are to be held in Maui, Hawaii on the 23rd October. So the Mtb season is over and the bike is hanging up. I am learning to swim and trying to wear holes in my running shoes. Its only a short time to prepare for Xterra but i am going to give it a good go. Last weekend i was in Moab... it really is awesome and is just a 3 hour drive from Durango - photo's just don't do this place justice, it is phenomenal!

This is a view from the "porcupine rim trail" which is really technical - definitely a course for a full suspension bike. The views are amazing and you had better have your wits about you doing this one!!


This is the famous "SLICKROCK TRAIL" its about 10km long and you ride on the rock for 98% of the time, its Killer. Its marked with white dashed lines, you can see them in the pics if you look closely. You ride INSANE gradients, its like riding on sandpaper... just don't overcook the decents or you will turn the white lines into red blotches!




This image was taken on the day of the world champs in Italy. I wore my kit and sent the guys energy! Congrats to all the RSA riders, you did us proud. Wish i could have been there too but it was just not to be. I will save my energy for Xterra!








Here's a high country image taken in the mountains above Durango ... you can check the singletrack in the centre of the image

Xterra Keystone... another photo.

Near the top of the climb at 11000 ft. Sucking oxygen!

Xterra Mountain Championship - Keystone

Conrad is a BULL ! Stoltz took 2nd in this race which is the first time in the whole season that he has been knocked off the top step... incredible consistency, the "caveman" lives on... Well done Conrad. Mike Vine took overall honours, he is coming back after a drug ban that he got a while back (as legend has it).

The bike course was the roughest course i have ridden in the USA and it wasn't even a mtb race! The mtbers need to harden up and take some lessons from Xterra. This course was sick. Hopefully we get some images from the official photographers that show the insanity, i will def post them here if i find some!

This is a pic of the sky on the way home... luckily the weather was good to us during the race. Water temp was great and there were sunny skies all morning.

"one minute!" ... the anxious pro field are lined up behind the start buoy and everyone sinks into the water. Suddenly i start feeling nauseous, what is happening? I feel like i am moving backwards and the gun hasn't even gone off. Then i cracked up laughing - everyone is doing doggy paddle trying to sneak in an extra few metres and get a good "line" for the first buoy. It was so pathetic seeing all of the "pro's" pushing the boundary. Only about 10 strokes and 5 kicks in the head later (from the swimmers ahead) did i stop laughing under the water! The swim was in a Square and was 2 laps of a tiny pond which was great for the spectators, especially when i swam into the quay in front of the restauarant. Yes, i have a natural tendency to wander, (not like dog, like Nemo with one eye). Speaking of dogs, check out the collar on this specimen I found in Steamworks, the local Durango hangout... I had to get my pic taken.


Please pay special attention to the hairstyle under her right arm.... PRICELESS ! I wonder if her dad has a mullet?

Sorry, i got sidetracked - it happens... back to the race. Ja, so the bike leg was awesome and I managed to muscle into 12th position by the end of the leg (and ahead of all 10 women who outswam me !).

Beginning the run, I was a bit overeager and passed another chap - 11th position wasn't to be... the 'flat' run course turned brutal. Horse kak on the trail and a couple of steep kicks in the terrain managed to put the hurt into this mtber and i limped home in 14th position. Outside the prize money this time, but just wait - one day i am gonna learn how to swim !


For the official results, go to http://www.xterraplanet.com/race/results_05/keystone_05overall.html

Kabush or Kabush-abie ?

Here is the view from my rear wheel ... well for some of the race anyway! Is it a Kabush or is it a Kabush-abie? There have been several spottings of Geoff Kabush wannabe's on the NORBA circuit... we call them "Kabushabie's" They grow the burners, get the kit, the bike... its so confusing trying to tell them apart, but i think that this one is a genuine spotting, what do you think ?

NORBA Brian Head - OLD SCHOOL

Or as the locals say "owild schoowil". One big 26 mile loop. Classic.

Yet another oxygen scarce Ski Resort town greeted the athletes for the 7th leg of the NORBA series. A fierce tarmac pass shook the field up from the gun, a few mild attacks ensued and a selection group of about 20 riders formed. Tarmac faded into gravel road taking us up from 9500ft to over 11500ft. After 20 minutes of climbing, we hit the first singletack and it was well worth the wait. Now that all of the snow has melted the 'high country' is open for action.

Even at this altitude you get pretty big pine trees, its bizarre - in Lesotho or at the top of the Drakensberg, virtually nothing above knee height survives the climate but here the plants must just be tougher. The same goes for us humans! Some of the riders who usually blast their way around the top 10 positions at sea level NORBA races battle to make it into the top 20 up at altitude whilst some of the more mortal athletes just come into their own up at cloud base.

Trails criss cross the patches of woodland and open plains of the high country. Stream crossings and gnarly 'rock garden' sections of volcanic rock slashed tyres, weeding out some the less fortunate (or less technical !) riders. Four days of wet weather prior to the race had turned the lower forested sections of the course into muddy mushes of roots and rock, again challenging the technical abilities of the pack.

The last 5 miles of the course put the hurt back into the legs. Open forestry road allowed riders to regroup and chase each other down, fighting it out to the line.

Results...

Xterra Crested Butte (offroad triathlon)

Swim: 1km
Ride: 20km
Run: 9km

Swimming at 9000ft above sea level is like trying to run on a treadmill with your mouth duct taped closed. You just simply don't get enough air! As we rounded the first buoy, i knew that it was going to be a tough day. I felt like i was a sardine in the sardine run and there were 50 sharks chasing us... and someone had cut my fins off. I was going backwards fast. The course designers clearly left their tape measures at home when they set up the course, so they just made it a bit longer to make sure we were not deprived of any water time!

Out of the water, the game was on... now it was my turn. (on the bike) Time to catch up to those sailfish. Well, it certainly was hard work trying to pass over half of the field in singletrack and not create any crashes or make too many enemies. The course was awesome, there were some seriously technical rocky climbs which were near impossible to ride. It was just as tough as the World Cup we did a few weeks back and a lot of people were forced to portage. Nearing 2/3 of the way round the course, i managed to get some sense out of one of the marshalls "Five men and one woman up ahead." Whoaaa, i really had to pin my ears back in order to get as much advantage as possible before the run.

Running out of the transition area, I felt pretty good - i was neck and neck with 5th and 6th position. (we had dropped the lady:) so the pace was hot between us. Heading straight down the tar road of the Crested Butte Mountain resort, Will started striding away and i had to slip back into a maintainable pace. The run course was pretty tough, mostly singletrack too with some rocky decents that kept you fighting to stay upright. The Lake was a welcome sight as we completed a lap on the shoreline to finish in front of the crowd in the entertainment area.

I really hope that Xterra grows and we see more than one event per year in RSA - by the end of the race, your whole body is in a state of severe pain... it doesn't get much better than this!

Results:
1st Mike Vine
2nd Josiah Middaugh
3rd Greg Krause
4th Jimmy Archer
5th Will Kelsay
6th Brian Smith
7th Roan Exelby (1st Ameteur... but way back !!)

NORBA Snowmass, Colorado

Course: Check this out...



This image is taken from the top of the cross country course and looks down on the mountain resort of Snowmass. Sweet. Sooo - the course wasn't so technical, just a bit rough with some high speed decents and a lot of climbing. Last years course was evidently better with a lot more singletrack.

Results:
Pro XC: 1st Geoff Kabush, 14th Roan
Junior Short Course: 1st Burry Stander

"FOLKS, just take a LOOK AT THIS ! ITS AMAZING,HE IS RIPPING THEIR LEGS OFF !! I HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN YEARS, THIS GUY IS TEARING THE JUNIOR FIELD APART..." The commentators were having a field day at the junior Short course event - Burry put on an amazing performance for the crowds showing the yank kids how to ride FAST. Clearly in a different league, Burry made some really good contacts during his stay here in the states and his form is as good as ever. We look forward to seeing his performance at the World Champs next month.

FYI - Burry cannot race any UCI events in the pro category as this will disqualify him from being able to compete in the Junior category at the World Champs. I think Kabush asked the UCI to put this rule in the book !!! Seriously, he would have given the top Pro's a run for their money had he been able to race with them. My money is on Burry for at least a Podium at World Champs. Vat hom Fluffy!

World Cup Angel Fire NM

Yeeeeeha!

I had the best result of my career, 19th in a World Cup - its still sinking in. They 'random' selected me for drug testing after the race so i got to brush shoulders with the race winners in the waiting room. It was only after the 4th bottle of water that i realised what a day it had been... kinda like trying to sober up for work after a big night on the town, piecing together the snapshots of what went down.

From the gun we went straight up a 'muscley' steep road, it was mayhem - everyone was all over the road taking crazy lines just to get that 0.5 second advantage and stand the chance of getting into the singletrack one slot ahead. I had almost forgotten what World Cup starts are like, it was a kickstart back into reality - there is no track given and none asked amongst these guys, this is business. Merciless business.

The course was very similar to the Chile Challenge course which i raced a few weeks ago so that was a serious advantage - i knew what to expect... basically 6km of climbing then 3km decent. Its a tough course. We were the last race of the day so the track was all rutted out with braking bumps. Lots of powder dust made you keep a bit of a following distance from the cloud ahead and making overtaking really risky. But I wasn't held up on any of the decents - all of these racers can hold their own on any course. The split between hardtails and full bouncers was 50/50, some of the rock garden climbs were so rough that it was quicker to run them than to bash your way between the sharp rocks and increasing your risk of puncturing.

After the first lap I was hanging onto 25th spot. The pace on the first two laps was brutal and i was suffering to keep my position. On lap 3, my legs came back - something clicked and those jerseys up ahead started looming closer. Its probably thanks to last season's marathon and stage racing that I just seem to get stronger as the race goes on ... its a good way to finish.

On the last lap, I managed to catch and pass 2 more riders, one was Phil Spencer (GB) - I suffered past him in the top rock garden and managed to put some seconds into him by the highest point on the course. It was really important for me to put another commonwealth citizen behind me to increase my chances of selection for the Commonwealth games next year. Over the top I had to keep the pressure on, telling myself to flow the lines and keep the Pom off my wheel. The course marshalls blow whistles everytime a rider comes past them, the silences between the screeching blasts were getting less and less ... the pressure was on ... putting on the gas again my front wheel washed out but i managed to save it and cross the line with a 7 second buffer on Spencer.

A whole lot more than just another day at the office in the leather seat! This was the race of my life.

See official results at
http://www.uci.ch/ucinet/uci.asp?page=rankings&discipline=mtb&l=eng

Firecracker 50 Marathon

1st Liam Killeen(Spicialized), 2nd Jay Henry (Ford Specialised),3rd Roan Exelby

We went out to pre ride the course on Sunday and it started HAILING and Sleeting, mid summer in the Rockies just does not fail to entertain! Well, i had another ripping race and some of the stars even showed up to liven things up.

Start altitude: 9500ft

The pro peleton gently mozied up the main street of Breckenridge, CO, in a neutral zone along streets lined with people celebrating the public holliday holding lots of beer and letting off firecrackers (why is there a holliday again?!) As we exited town, the pace car pulled away but the pace remained pretty chilled until we hit the mountains, we ascended more than 11600ft (5400ft per lap) today.

Two laps of the course spread the field out pretty well. At the end of lap 1, i was in 7th place after a flat in my rear tyre. Second lap i managed to put the hammer down a bit more and reeled in the guys fast, chasing into third place before the highest point of the course (11500ft). Me happy camper, time to sleep and rest for the World Cup this weekend!

MSC Eldora,Nedderland XC

Results: 1st Kashi Leuchs(Team Bianchi), 2nd Roan Exelby, 3rd Mike West (Team Maverick)

Start altitude: 10500 ft
Course: Technical power terrain

Miles Venzara's prognosis for the day's racing: "this course is gonna put the hurt into the boys, you are just gonna have to MUSCLE it! "
Yeah Miles, you sure did get that one right. The course was uber technical with some extremely technical bits in it. Loose rocky climbs, open fire road, mud holes, power "walls", it had enough of everything to keep your mind off the pain... well, almost!

I had a great ride and am really looking forward to the Firecracker 50 on Monday... felling good. Will post some pics asap.

Crested Butte MSC

Location: Crested Butte, Colorado, USA
Series: Mountain States Cup (MSC)
Distance: XC lap race (2 hours)
Altitude: max:3018m, min:2719m
Climbing: 1500m for race
Temp: min 11, avg 15, max 20
Result: 2nd overall in Pro Men Category
Race Link: http://www.cyclecyndicate.com/


go to "http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/smallCB_roan_msc_course.jpg" for a larger view

First podium in the states! I am really stoked, with my result - second in the pro field. So all this living at altitude is paying off...

We arrived a day early in Cresta Butte and managed to pre ride the course. I noticed a rider on a Morewood bike so i went over to him - it was Gerrit! (some of you might know him - he is a machine downhiller from RSA). He is living in Canada now and is ranked in the top 10 in the NORBA DH, it was good to see another saffer out here racing!


go to "http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/smallCB_cale_3.jpg" for a larger view


The race...
Initially the pace was not too bad, i think everyone was a bit weary of the course so nobody attacked really hard to begin with. Slowly we dropped riders off the back until only 3 of us were left up front at the end of lap 1/3. Second lap i could not keep up with the mountain goats and let them get away deciding to push the rolling section of the course and the downhill to chase back. Third lap I came right again and managed to get my HR up again and really put the hammer down, managing to come within 17sec of the leader on the line ... watch out Nick, next time the course might be longer... or i just won't drink so much Guinness on thursday!

The course...
Course designers here have an affinity for ski slopes and singletrac. We did 4 or 5 clover leaf loops per lap (i was dizzy and delirious so can't say for sure), each loop went up to the summit of the ski area and then back down on some fire road or trail. A couple of rock gardens added a but of spice, my Mongoose handles like a dream through that stuff and i always seemed to catch the Full Suspension riders there for some reason... go figure ?? We linked onto the DH course for a bit so we got our fair share of braking bumps and powder dust to help the lungs cope (not!).

After...
Coffee and a bit of fishing in the fast flowing river (ha ha) to chill out after the race. Check out Sager's fish... and his website http://www.jasonsager.com/


go to "http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/smallCB_fishing.jpg" for a larger view

On Sunday, a group of us went out for a ride that would have summited 3 peaks - as we got to the top of the first, the Rockies started growling with thunder and panelbeated us with hail and ice. Nice. Mid summer in the Rockies.

For the best Latte in Cresta Butte, go to...

go to "http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/small_camp4coffee.jpg" for a larger view

Road trip there... how is this scenery ... ??

go to "http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/small_bluemountainlake.jpg" for a larger view

Chile Challenge XC

Location: Angel Fire, New Mexico
Series: Mountain States Cup
Distance: XC lap race (2 hours)
Result: 5 Pro Men Category
Race Link: http://www.cyclecyndicate.com/


go to "http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/chilechallenge51.jpg" for a larger view

Angel Fire ski village, at an altitude of 8600ft, provided an icy welcome to the mountain bikers on saturday. With about 4000ft of climbing over the race, it was a real lung burning experience.

"DUFF" is how Daniel, one of the local riders, described the trail conditions - this virgin course was very tough and definitely worthy of hosting a World Cup race later this season. Climbing up rock gardens and loose 'duff', ground beneath the trees made for relentless climbs zig zagging over and over the ski piste slopes. The descents were overboard technical, rock gardens, and tight off camber single track abounded as the course wound its way down the mountainside testing everyone's technical abilities. By the end of the day, good berms were forming on the track and lines were forming through the rocky sections making most of the course rideable. Its going to be a very interesting World Cup!

Ned Overend took overall honours in the PRO category on his full suspension S-Works carbon prototype bike - the top 4 riders were all on full suspension bikes. The last lap was eventful - continual chainsuck forced me to stop repeatedly to pull the chain from the frame losing valuable time in the process. As i summited the course, a Team Dean rider was hot on my tail , we were pushing the envelope and he eventually took a fall trying to get past one of the slow riders allowing me to get away. Very exciting racing!

Telluride from the gondola

Telluride has a free gondola (ski lift). It has just opened up for the summer, check out the view of the town from the lift...


go to "http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/telluride%20from gondola.JPG" for a larger view

Iron Horse MTB race.

Result: 20th (Pro category)
Dist: 25miles
Terrain: dry singletrack, undulating

Here is what the organisers said...
"Experience one of Durango's premier mountain bike courses, right on the edge of town. The SUBARU Cross Country Course starts at Chapman Hill and crosses over into Horse Gulch with a mixture of terrain including both single and double track and a few rocky technical areas. Ride on the '01 World Cup and '02 NORBA Nationals course -only one long loop & better!"

Durango is home to many mountain biking legends, and it is obvious why - these guys live in mtb heaven! Ned Overend was racing the pro category with us and gave the lighties a hard time - he really is a legend.

From the gun, we headed straight up a loose rocky road climbing up to the top of a little ski run. It really was not bad at all - the pace was quite manageable and things were looking good. I was placed 7th, just on Ned's wheel for the first 20 min and then went through a bad patch for 15 min before picking up the tempo again and fighting back to 7th. The singletrack was really fast and dry with a good mix of rocky sections and hardpack flowing trail. Unfortunately i don't have any photos of the course but will post some here on this blog in a few weeks time...

Bad luck struck when i flatted my front tyre and damaged the rim - the slime in the tyre had dried out and i unknowingly used my only bomb to try and re-inflate it. So i was forced to run the last 5 odd miles which threw me out of the prize money (top 10). But not a bad day in the office, I am quite upbeat with the standard of racing here in the USA - these guys are beatable and a lot slower than the europeans. My form is on the up and i am really looking forward to next weekend's race in Angel Fire, New Mexico.

Iron Horse Road Race

Result: 27/1200
Climbing: 1700m
Temp: 13 avg
Alt avg: 2578m
Speed: 84.3km/h max 30.3 avg
Dist: 76.4

The iron horse road race is a duel between steam train (Iron Horse) and cyclist from Durango to Silverton. The field was over 1200 cyclists in total with separate starts for each category. Two major category climbs confronted the athletes, one at 15km and the other at 40km but it felt like uphill the whole way! The start was at 6500ft and the finish was nearly 10 000ft above sea level with a max altitude on the course of 10 941 ft. The yanks certainly aren't scared to send the riders into the stratosphere! Last year in Europe, the courses contained a lot of accumulated ascent but this is the highest race i have ever done. Black Mountain Pass (Lesotho), which is the highest point on the Trans Frontier Challenge is marginally less at 10,761 ft. Check out http://www.ironhorsebicycleclassic.com/IHProfile.pdf for the course profile detail.

The pace in the Pro category was initially pretty pedestrian. There was a break away bunch of 5 riders within the first 2 miles, I tried to close them down but nobody came through to help me so i sat up and waited for the peleton. Its really difficult to ride smart when you do not know the ability of your competitors... i am now wiser! On the first climb, the pace erupted into an all out sprint - it was insane. We quickly reeled in the breakaway group and the pace just stayed at a blistering 30-35km/h up the 5% grade. For those of you familiar with power, i recon that i was pushing 350-380 watts (i weigh 72kg) so you get an idea of the intensity. Guys were popping off the bunch like popcorn at the movies on a half price evening! I was one of the unfortunate kernels. The lead group was 20 strong with 15 in the chase group. Just after the split, the lead pace slowed and the leaders maintained a 30sec gap on us. There were just not enough legs in the chase to close the gap.

We climbed and climbed up to snow level, then we carried on up and up into the thin air of the rockies - the chase bunch had strung out by this stage and there were bits of road kill lying all over the place, bleeding from the merciless pace set by the lead group.

The decent into Silverton was awesome - the switchbacks claimed a few blurry eyed roadies, no fatalities but plenty of blood. The finish was up the main street which must have made for an amazing sprint finishes - it was a 1km drag up to the finish banner, a fitting end to an awesome race.

Teluride - Bridal Veil Falls

Good sense prevailled this weekend and i did not race - have to get over this nagging cold. I went for a cruize up the mountain on sat and took this shot of a waterfall about 5 miles outside town.
Check out the snow that the water is falling into ... the rivers are pumping with all the water from the snow melt and the whitewater kayakers are going abo! It will be a few months before all of the trails are open.

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Pete in Fruita

This image was taken in Fruita which is near Moab in Utah. We are riding in a national park that is filled with marked singletrak, the pic says it all.
Check out the singletrak to the left of Pete ... and yes, he does have huge power!
For the full size image, go to ... http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/Pete%20fruita.JPG

Grasslands

http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/pete%20fruita grasses.JPG

Colorado River

http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/Colorado%20river.JPG

Singletrak Climb ... yip, its steep

http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/pete%20fruita climbing.JPG

Arrival in USA

I am through!

What a relief, i was kakking that the border officials were going to give me hell and send me back to 'mud island' (UK). Fortunately, i was able to choose which queue to stand in at immigration and tactfully took the one with the nice young blonde lady... good call !

Peter Kenyon, a good mate of mine from Howick met me at the airport and we headed off to Grand Junction (UTAH). We did some absolutely amazing riding in Fruita, i took some pearler photos and will post them here on the Blog as soon as i figure out how to do it... I am sitting in a library here in Teluride which has free internet access - bonus. We are at an altitude of 9000ft so yesterdays interval training session was interesting... the air is a tad thin up here but after a few weeks i should find my lungs.

Teluride is the playground of the rich and famous, its a very exclusive ski village which is frequented by rock stars and celebs. The locals are awesome, there is a young crowd here and i have not met one person yet who does not get out into the mountains ... if its not on a bike or on foot then its in the air or water. There are some seriously crazy and talented athletes here, intersting folk indeed.

This weekend we head off to Denver to do some short course racing, i still have a nagging cold so will just have to take the race as it comes and pace myself accordingly. (that's for you mom!) Have a great weekend everyone!

British NPS #2 (National Cross Country Series)

Poor form but good course.

This race formed the second leg of the British National Points Series. Thanks to John Veness(Evans Cycles) who took me under his wing and organised everything for me... from accomodation to food and transport, it really helps having such great support in a foreign race environment. Thanks BRU !

Unfortunately, I only managed to pull an 18th position overall. I am not too dispondent at this result as my lead up to the race was far from ideal - London always seems to cause my training to take a dip and focus on social life takes an upward turn ... thanks to Willo, Rake, Purbrick and all the other Londoners, No regrets - its all good ! Anyway, i was suffering from a bit of a cold at the start so didn't have big expectations for a top result at the event.

The course was pretty tough with 2 major climbs per lap (far more than any of our SA national XC events- roughly twice the altitude gain of the Sabi National). The singletrac sections were very tight and reasonably technical with a few jumps and rooted offcamber sections weaving their way down the Welsh forests. Thankfully the course was dry or there would have been even more spills and pile ups.

My race started off pretty slowly, starting at the back of the pack i managed to work up into about 30th position after the 1st lap. The second and third laps started getting the better of me but I regained my rhythm and finished the race in good spirits managing to move steadily up the field especially in the last 2 laps. Here is a link to the official results for those interested...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=mtb/2005/may05/premier05_2

Please send me your constructive crits so that i can develop an appropriate writing style to suit the folk that actually read this blog!

Cheers,
Roan

Setting up BLOG

... watch this space ...

Lesotho Training Camp-Dec 2004

Ricket,Marcus and I had to have a pit stop on the way up a pass between Mokotlohong.

For the full size image, go to ... http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/Lesotho%20tarn.JPG

Don't forget your rain jacket in Lesotho!

http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/roanexelby/images/lesotho%20storm.JPG