Redshift news......and the new bike!

I hate to get a new bike!

It is all happening for Redshift Racing at the moment. New sponsors have come on board and we have been able to recruit a terrific team of riders for 2010. In the Elite ranks, Rosie and I will be joined by Cal Britten and Nick Both. Cal and Nick bring a lot of domestic and international experience to the team; Cal is a huge talent with a big motor and was 19th at the World Champs in 2009, and he has one year left with the yougins. Nick is a very accomplished racer with a flare rocky descents and a penchant for tripoding muddy corners as well as some great results in World Cups, Oceania Champs, L’Hexagonal VTT and BC Bike Race to name but a few. Possibly the most exciting additions to the team though, are the juniors…..Cameron Ivory and Trenton Day. If you haven’t heard of these boys, you will soon! They can move. Cam is the current U19 nationals series leader and was 36th at junior worlds last year. Trenton is just back from breaking both wrists, which caused him to sit out the 2009 world champs and he is hungry for some results in 2010; 4th at Thredbo in his first race back is a good sign. Redshift is proud to support the development of promising Australian juniors and I am looking forward to doing what I can to help these lads fulfil their potential (at least until they are as quick as me!). With Paul Aubrey joining Clarkey in the management department, the team has a very well rounded roster. It is a great bunch of guys and I’m looking forward to some fun times this year.

On the sponsor side of it, we will be well looked after in 2010 by Swell Design Group, Thredbo Resort, Felt Bicycles, 2XU, FRM Technologies and SRAM. My new Felt Six Team arrived this week and I took it for its first spin last night. The thing is wild. It is really stiff and it ate up the rough Cooma trails. I am really looking forward to putting it to the test next week in the Mountains to Beach stage race.

Jayco National Series #3 - Thredbo

The start of the race (with Nick Both #13 about to have his race ending crash - bad luck mate)

Me back near the start/finish

Me and Paul Aubrey after the race

Davo (my dad) took some time out from his fly fishing to watch the race

Round #3 of the Jayco Australian National Series was held at Thredbo over the weekend. The ski resort was hit with constant rain from Thursday night and by the time Saturday came around, the ducks on the village green were happy, but the XC course was turning into mud. For me, it was a great opportunity to race on conditions similar to what we often get in Europe, and with the Maxxis Medusa mud tyres on, I was ready to slide around in the muck and have some fun. Of course the mud makes the climbs very energy sapping and it was clear from the first lap that I didn’t have the horse power on the day to go with Lachy as he took off from everyone on the first lap. I was trying to ride efficiently and smooth, saving energy were I could so that I had some power to get me out of trouble when I needed it; it is really important to keep your momentum in the mud, because getting off to run can be costly, so it is good to have few bursts of power up your sleeve. Considering the conditions, my race went very smoothly. The FRM 2x9 chain rings up front shifted perfectly all day without even a hint of chain suck, I don’t think I have ever used rings that performed so well in such mud. Also, the 2.1" Medusa’s were hooking up really well making the descents so much fun.

Lachy took out his second race in a row closely followed by Hendo and Paul VDP. Aido, Cal and I were 4th, 5th and 6th respectively. Not a bad race, but not a great one either. I never felt like I had good legs but nonetheless I was able to chalk up a few more valuable UCI points.

National Series #2 & Wildside

It has been pretty hectic of late with plenty of racing going on. No sooner had i unpacked my bike from Adelaide Nationals, i was packing it up again for the trip to Shepparton for the 2nd round of the Jayco National Mtb Series.

The course was a little different, very rocky and exposed. It was quite fun though, and being rocky i felt at home. The race went well, i got the hole shot and opened up a small lead on the climb on the first lap. Norri was the only one to bridge across to me before the top and we descended the hill ahead of the chasers on the first lap. On the hill for lap 2 and I had to let Norri go, he was too strong and i didn't fancy blowing too early. I just tried to find a comfortable tempo, and to not take too many risks on the descent. I started to tire a little through the middle of the race, and lost a few places to Hendo, Aido and Sid, but i finished of strongly to hold of Carlso. I was quite pleased with the result.

Then off to Tasmania for the Wildside MTB stage race. I had always wanted to do this race so when i got the call up from the KOM Cyclery Team, i couldn't say no. The race was run over 4 days and a total of 7 race stages. The tour took us from Cradle mountain in the Tasmanian alpine region, down through the rain forest scenery and former mining areas of Tullah and Zeehan, then on to the coast at Trial Harbour and eventually the picturesque town of Strahan. There were plenty of fast riders there so the racing was very fast. I rode quite consistently and managed to avoid any flat tyres or mechanicals to eventually finish in 4th place overall, and the first "veteran". I am not too impressed but being 30 makes me a vet, at least i got a bottle of wine for each stage i won. Lucky i had the teammates to help me get through it so i didn't have any trouble with excess baggage on the flight home. Macca took out the event with Steele Von Hoff and Paul VDP close behind. My team mates Wazza, Zoe and Naomi took 3rd, 2nd and 3rd respectively in there categories. Wildside was a great experience and excellent training. The KOM crew and especially Sammy (our soigneur) looked after us so well. Thanks to DC and Wazza too for paying my way and sorting me out with an awesome bike to ride. I was skeptical at first but i am now definitely a fan of Cannondale's "Lefty" suspension.