Andrew Mackie
AgeSport Played MTB
Years involved
Profile
My Blog
4/11/09
I'm now the proud owner of new orthotics and I cant get over the impact its had. ITB pain is a thing of the past, so higher intensity riding like time trials are back on the menu. It's no wonder I had trouble, my feet were way off course, the new inserts are pretty dramatic. Just gotta keep a lid on my excitement so I don't destroy myself in some other way.
25/9/09
I've been on holidays with mum for a week or so and managed to squeeze in a 100 km mtb race while mum got lost in the forest. I came third in masters and mum stumbled out of the bush about 4 hrs later. It was a tough ride with some killer hills but I loved every minute of it. The long sleeve tee has become my favorite bit of kit, keeps body temp ideal for me. Actually, the new bike is the best bit of kit, big wheels are brilliant.
I won an entry to the 12hr in 10 weeks time so that looks like the next project.
6/9/09
Here's a pic of the new big wheeled mtb. Took it out for the first time today, very different to the standard size mtb, goes like a train on the flat and downhill, climbs like a goat, great traction. Its a bit of a handful on single track but thats down to rider incompetence i think. Ive got the Dwellingup 100 in 2 weeks, after recent injury disasters I'll be over the moon just to make it to the start line.
28/8/09
I'm just waiting for my new bike, a 29er mtb, to get here. I reckon it will be just the thing for marathon off road events. Did a 20 km MTB time trial last weekend and due to a reduced field of only a dozen riders i managed to get away with a win. Its a low key fun event called the panther trophy. I get to look after the attached lump of wood for a year now. Still having a bad run with injuries but apparently orthotics are the thing I have to have. Ive no idea if I'm being fixed or fleeced.
1/8/09
This morning was perfect for testing the thermal qualities of the long sleeved tee, 2 degrees at the start of the ride and 21 at the end. Passed with flying colours, comfortable all the way.
Been back on the road bike now for a few days and feeling great. My neck is getting better each day and Ive been to see some biomechanic genius about a recurring ITB injury. He moved my seat a billionth of a millimetre and it seems to have been remarkably successful. Anyhow, I feel confident I'll be in good nick for the Dwellingup 100 in mid September.
22/7/09
Things have turned temporarily pear shaped here lately with a couple of injuries. Unfortunately I missed last weekends 6hr after waking up a couple of days before with a really sore neck. Bike related injuries are easier to accept than bed related ones. Anyhow, hope to be ok by next weekend and training with a focus on the Dwellingup 100 in August.
23/6/09
I recently took part in the Gibb River RD Challenge and it was a good opportunity to test out the LineBreak gear. Its a hard environment up in the Kimberly and the heat was a major problem. Due to losing some bark off my backside on the 1st day I had to wear 2 pairs of bib nicks, making it impossible for the base layer to do its job of keeping me cool, just too much clothing. On day 2 I rode without my cycling top, just the base layer. Huge improvement but unfortunately only had a sleeveless tee. Next year a long sleeve tee is the way to go, no cycle top. The legs were a different story. I got into the LineBreak shorts at the end of each day and was ready to go each morning, good legs right to the end. (the rest of my body was a total mess). Anyhow, it was the toughest ride I've done, 1st solo rider by a few hours. Oh, and we managed to raise over $160,000 for charity, a great result.
The attached pic was taken at the finish of day 2 after 365 km of red dust, brain rattling road and deep sand. 3 days of the same, with hills, to go.
