On the weekend just gone I raced at the Highland Fling, it was great!
 
The weather prediction over the week preceding the race was certain of rain showers and storms. This did not happen, instead the weather became somewhat similar to that being experiences in northern Australia this time of year, hot and humid, with just enough rain to top up the humidity and keep the dust down.
 
So after the scavenger hunt in Canberra, Liam and I headed up the highway to Wingello (approximately 170km toward Sydney), where Adam and Hanna had allowed us to stay at Hanna's families holiday house, an old postal way station. We headed into Bundannon to rego and found thousands of cyclists and a great carnival atmosphere. We retired back to the house and settled into a carton of Pale ale and bocce, so regretfully missed the Dash (a short exhibition race held in town) so I'll endeavor to catch that next year.
 
The guys from the Swell team holed up with us also; much pasta, beer and bicycle talk was had before bed.
 
It rained more overnight and we woke to cloudy skies and more humidity but the race kicked of without a hitch.

My main concern about doing the race stemmed from my experience at the Dirtworks Epic. Hundreds of Sydney siders in roadie/club kit riding very expensive shiny dual suspension bikes self seeding themselves at the front of the bunch only to be overtaken by every rider worth their salt for the next 4-6 hours despite their darnedest effort not to get out of the way on single track even though they are riding slower than walking pace and cannot navigate a technical obstacle to save themselves..........ah, now that's off my chest.
 
For some bazaar reason this was not the case at the Highland Fling. Of course the very same people self seeded themselves at the start of the race and it was a hindrance to overtake them (or ride creek crossings or steep ascents as they immediately got off and walked - on the trail) but it was literally a matter of 20-30km before the trails were more or less open to me at the speed I wanted to race. Even when I did encounter another rider I'd take the opportunity to rest before I overtook as they were more or less my speed, as it should be. The weather was almost unbearable hot in stages; especially where the sun shone on your back as you climbed the contour of a windless valley. I reached the second transition and realised I was dangerously dehydrated, no wonder during the preceding 15km I was wondering just why I was losing my go.

Then there was the course - brilliant. Three stages: Stage one (25km) - mostly fire trail allowing overtaking and sanity to remain intact; stage two (60km) fire trail, single track and significant climbs; stage three (25km) fire trail, new single track and some fast roads. Scenery: forests, farmland, valleys, creek lines and rocky outcrops.
 
In fact, the course was so good that every time the inevitable thought of 'why the hell am I doing this?' entered my mind I would think to myself, 'If this wasn't a race I would more than willingly ride the very same trails for the fun of it'. Other riders commented on the same thought process, it was truly 'enjoyable' (punctuated with periods of extreme despair, but it wouldn't be a race otherwise).
 
So I ended up coming 35th out of a field of 220, more than happy considering my casual transition stops, aid provided to fallen riders and mechanical support to a tool-less American pro-rider. I'll definitely be back next year!

Of course, a massive thanks to Marathon Photos this time for their great efforts at the race, no more than ten minutes playing with their images in PS got what you see before you..