BOgear (bike bling)

I am always impressed by innovation, design and vision that produces an awesome product. BOgear is a Brisbane based company that ticks all the boxes with its gear.

One of the magical features of their products is they happily customise, modify do whatever is necessary to quickly post out a product that will do what you want and will last a lot longer than only one season.

Check out the BOgear website.

Everything I have ever done has lead me to this moment...

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I recently watched the film 127 hours. In brief, it is a film about a free, adventurous and happy dude that got his arm jammed between a rock face and a large rock that dislodged. Trapping him. 127 hours later he came to the conclusions there was only one way out. So, he broke his forearm bones and cut his own arm off, escaping and was able to get help.

During his time stuck between a rock and a hard place one of the realisations he came to was this. 

Everything he had ever done in his life led him to the situation. The rock that had spent millions of years doing its rock thing had been waiting for him and that very moment.

Today is 2 years to the day that everything I had ever done led me to meeting the woman of my dreams.

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Kirstie. Thank you for taking such time & effort to put together such an amazing, wonderful & complete woman that you are today. I love the way you walk. I love the way you laugh. I love your smile. Passion, vision, support, dreams, strength, encouragement, sharing. All this & more we fit into one day. I am so looking forward to smashing out this moment, tomorrow & the rest of my life with you.

Until next time...dog

Race Report Merida 24hour

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During the dark hours of the night a rider came up to me on the trails 

and started saying "he has gone to bed, the next rider is however far 

behind...etc" I politely said "I don't race anyone else except for myself"

I don't set my goals based on someone else's performance. 

Especially in 24 hour racing.

One incident saw me being a lot less polite. A tard over took me on 

fire trail then proceeded to chop my front wheel rubbing rubber on rubber! 

He felt he was in the right because he told me he was overtaking. 

Well let me set you straight muppet! You were in the wrong! 

I make no apologies for my barking and growling abuse. You deserved it. 

My goal was to punch out 330kms in the 24 hours. I achieved 325 in 22 1/2 hours.

You will read lots of lap by lap reports on this race because there 

were plenty of laps done out there.

Here are some of the decisions that made my race so successful.

1. Lots of calories: I know when my legs start getting even the 

slightest calorie deficiency. I avoided this feeling all race.

2. A well set up Bike: Shannon at Koiled has built me the most amazing,
custom, Titanium, Single Speed. On Shannon's advice, I am more stretched out.
This saved my back & shoulders.

3. Do it before you need it: I fitted my batteries, leg warmers, put on my merino long sleeve undershirt and ate a burger in about 5 minutes. I did all this about an hour before necessary. I put my warm, dry gear on before I got cold.

4. Stick with day time lines: I experimented with smooth flowing lines during the day and stuck with the good ones all night.

5. Hydration: I managed to catch up on hydration during the night in preparation for the 6 hours of sun at the end of the race.

7. Do it before you need to: As the sun started to rise I took off my sweaty jersey and undershirt. I put on a clean dry jersey. Left my leg warmers on.

8. Motivation: Find it and stick with it...

There are a few other good decisions I made during this race. I won't tell all today. You can always catch up with me at a race. Those that have met me at races or on the trails will tell you that I am willing to share what I know.

Until next time, no excuses, just keep pedalling. Love dog.

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Tailwind Promotions 24 hour xc race

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Almost 2 years ago I did an event known as the Insomnia 24 Hour. It was another mud-fest. Little did I know that this event was the start of a very big change in direction for me.

I met the woman of my dreams. Timing was perfect, location was perfect, the woman was and still is the perfect woman for me.

What does this have to do with the 24 hour race that starts in a few days?

As most of you that have read my blog will understand, I ride my bike by myself, for myself. This weekends race I am riding in celebration of the day I met my life partner. 

I picked up another card... (read here for explanation) 

...Just when I thought self motivation was enough, I found that with the love and support of another person, so much more motivation and energy is possible. 

Kirstie will be riding her bike, for herself just as she was doing the first time we met.

Merida 24 hour race report to follow in the next few days.

Back to Front Report (Tailwind Super Series)

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Lots of racing can mean lots of race reports. Generally they start out with "The lead up to this race wasn't the best..." following on with "I started the first few laps too fast, but then settled in..." moving onto "I passed him, she passed me, the track was good, bad, ugly..." You are all getting the picture here.

I am a couple of races behind so here it is back to front. Tailwind Super Series

10. The three amigos at the end of race 2. These are also the top 3 series points holders for the Single Speed category.

9. Race 2 saw lots and lots of mud, sticky mud, sloppy mud. I even saw the bottom half of someones derailleur in the middle of the trail.

8. A good friend of mine and a very tough single speed competitor Al Cook and I spent the first half of the race attacking each other. I was in front when I got a flat. Grateful I had tubeless tyres I was able to pump it up a few times & make it home. Al passed me in the pits when I was getting it fixed. He then got 'flat legs' surprisingly I caught up very quickly and didn't see him until the end of the race.

This always only makes Al more determined next race. Damn! that's Race 3 the Merida 24 hour. Now that is going to be some serious pain.

7. Pre riding the Race 2 track was very valuable. I was able to pick the right front tyre, the right single speed ratio to use on my Koiled SS. Most importantly, I was able to plan the start of my race. Most of the mud was in the very first 5 minutes of the race. My start plan was to be right up the front to make sure I had a first good lap time. I shared this information with Al and a few others. This proved to be a very good decision.

6... more to follow soon...

dog

LunarC 8 hour MTB.

Job's Done! 

Photo below is of Mark (Left) Dog (other) after 8 hours of smashing it out on our single speeds. Mark is a good mate & work buddy. Better described as an endurance, hard-man. Both endurance mtb racing & Ironman Triathlons

A Big "Thank You" to James from Photo Events

This was my first of many enduros for the year.

I showed up on my new ride. A custom, titanium, single speed, full rigid, 29er. More easily described as a 'sexy work of art'

I popped an 18 tooth cog on the rear & a 32 up front. This was too big a gear for this course. First lesson of the season. If you're going to ride SS this season then pre-riding the course is essential.

The chain line was out a little on the bike. This resulted in the new chain that stretched a little falling off about 2 or 3 times per lap for most laps.

A Big "Thank You" to James from Photo Events

That aside, the bike is easily the sweetest mtb I have ever owned/ridden! It looks good. It is custom made to fit me & it is very fast! If you want something similar ask Shannon. He will build you one.


Nearly 130kms in the 8 hours. This gave me a 3rd in the SS category & 6th in overall solo.



My Ay Up lights with the latest upgrades work beautifully. They are customised too! You can check those options out here... These lights have never let me down. They have always provided me with all the light I need to train & race.



Again, Infinit nutrition was the base for my race nutrition. Customised too! This stuff really works.

What did I enjoy most about this event?

1. I saw my mate Ky have the best race yet. He has been training with Boom Time Boothy. That being said, Ky has had to do the hard work himself. Ky was pedalling smooth, no gravel rash, most importantly he looked comfortable on his bike. Even after 7 hours!!

A Big "Thank You" to James from Photo Events

A Big "Thank You" to James from Photo Events

2. Another inspirational ride by another good friend Nick Westwood. There is a lot more to this man than he lets on ;-)

3. An awesome ride by a dear friend of mine Rachel Edwards. This woman has always been fit & tough minded. She really only lacked in mtb skills & a little confidence. Rach finally got herself onto a decent bike (built by Shan) & some mad skillz. For the first time in a race I didn't catch up to Rach to lap her! Only 12 minutes behind me. Awesome Rach.

4. Sharing the Friday night with my life partner, training partner, adventure buddy & wife Beautiful Kirstie.

She is off her bike for a short period of time.

Good for me because she is an awesome pit manager.

I am looking forward to seeing her getting back out there & smashing out the trails again soon.

5. I have no idea who it was but there was a guy that was clearly more than 120kgs. He was in the hurt locker. I saw him riding, walking, resting but all the time on the trails in some way or another. I love seeing gutsy performances like that!!!

A Big "Thank You" to James from Photo Events

6. Lastly & my all time favourite...drum roll....

My 16 year old son competed as a solo rider in his longest ride ever.

He rode his bike with respect for himself & respect for every other rider.

When asked how he was travelling his response was "I'm ok, I just need a biddon of HTFU...!" ahhhhh...that is music to my ears.

For me, Jax's overall performance was inspirational.

During the race Jax's guts & determination motivated me to pedal that bit harder.

Thank you Jax!

Proud Dad moment.


Until next time:

3 things will make/break your endurance event.

Physical fitness/Strength
Mental Attitude
Nutrition

Want to know more about the essential 3. Ask away.

dog

Have you ever asked yourself...

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The 12 & 24 hour racing format is fast becoming very popular. It has a real social aspect along with great spectator & family enjoyment.

Have you ever asked yourself...

1. How would I stay awake for 24 hours riding a bike?
2. What sort of bike would I need to ride for 24 hours
3. What sort of training would I need to do?
4. What food/drink do I need for a 24 hour race?

Have you ever said to yourself...

1. I wouldn't be able to do it SOLO!
2. I will do a few teams races first before I even think about SOLO!
3. Maybe next year!
4. I am too slow & gumby, I don't want to get in the way of faster riders!

There are so many more!!!

If you have that deep, down, scary feeling you want to do a 12/24 hour race.
If you have never done an endurance race before.
If you use any or all of the above & want to know how to show up to the start line of a 12/24 hour race as best prepared as possible.

If you want me to show you how to 'crack the nut' that is your first, arse busting endurance race then I will make you an offer.

email me mattdogtraining@live.com

I have been very fortunate to have gotten a huge amount out of endurance mountain bike racing & the mountain bike scene in general

I feel it is my turn to put something back in. So often I see the glint of a beginner mtb, endurance rider talk themselves out of the adventure of a life time.

For most, if not all of the races I do in 2011 it is my intention to have room for one more rider under my shelter. Male or Female.

I will give you as much time & advice that I have spare in the days/weeks leading up to the event, the day of the event & a post event debrief.

It is certainly not how good or bad you see yourself as on a mountain bike.

How much? you are asking. There is no charge. This is simply a passionate dog on a mountain bike looking to make a difference.

In summary
1. No cost
2. Fun
3. Passionate
4. Must be first timers to racing
5. I may consider roadie toadies hehehe...Bluuuurrrrrpp.

Until next time..

."Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done."
-Louis D Brandeis

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Boom Time Cycle Systems (Boothy)

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If you are out cycling on the road or on the trails in Brisbane & you get overtaken by a cyclist & you feel & hear a sonic BOOM! then you will more than likely see this written on their jersey

Boom Time Cycle Systems
Racing Training Coaching

If your interested in making your own BOOM! then check it out. Boothy will take care of you but he will not be gentle hehehe...

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6 hours of single speeding fun

Race Report

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End of lap one: Left crank fell off. Thanks to Rowan for the tool to pop it back on. Better than riding SS with one leg.

Start of lap 5: I thought, wow! not even 2 hours yet

2 hour mark: damn it's hot

3 hour mark: I watched as an aggressive rider tried a crap over taking move on some chick & got stuck in the bushes. I rolled up behind the chick & told her she has right of way & it is well with in the rules for her to say "NO! not yet dumb-arse!" (Ok so I added in the dumb-arse bit to make this report sound better)

4 hour mark: damn it's hot. I am getting tired now

5 hours: hey some clouds it's nice & cool now!

5 hours 1 minute: I wish those clouds would come back

5 hours 57 minutes: If I ride nice & gently the course will be closed by the time I get to the start/finish!

6 hours 00 minutes 4 seconds: oh, darn no more time to do another lap hehehe.... great day out!

Super happy with my ride. I am loving racing on a single speed. I managed 4th in open mens.

To the rider that was first to greet me at the finish & brag about beating me by 7 minutes, EADWM + jam. I don't race to beat YOU. I race by myself, for myself to beat myself. Selfish, I know.

On a final note: Big props to my son who did his first endurance race too. He punched out a total of 7 laps! learned a few lessons, toughed it out & smashed out the race all day with respect for himself & everyone around him. That's how it's done dude

24 hour World Championships Journey

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To be so focused on a single race or event does not do justice to the journey of getting to the start line.

12 months ago I did the road trip from Brisbane to Canberra to compete in the Scott 24 hour mtb race. I ended up with a very respectable result. This gave me a ticket to race at the 2010 24 hours of Adrenaline World Championships last week.

I signed up & paid for my entry 9 months in advance! Now, time to get training!

This blog does not show how darn busy I have been racing, training, living, adventure racing, working... or maybe it does by the lack of entries. Maybe this photo shows the real truth?

My race plan was very simple. Pedal my bike as efficiently as possible. Because my little bit of fitness was not going to carry me around otherwise.



I had a few other objectives. Finish the race totally smashed. Finish in one piece because I am getting married in 2 weeks. Finish the race with integrity. NO regrets.

I Flicked 2 x gels to riders that were out of steam. I did a bush mechanics fix on a broken spoke for a woman stuck on the corner of the B line. I pushed a rider around the last bit of sealed track for about 500 metres into transition who had broken his chain.

The photo below is the second best 24 hour solo chick in her age group in the world. Both people in this photo are good friends & riding buddies too!

In the early hours of the morning (no idea what time) I was smashed. My lower back was totaled, the back of my left leg was so darn painful it lost all power & desire to pedal. Both my arse cheeks has lost the skin off them too. I had to lay face down on a camp stretcher. As soon as the pain killers kicked in I fell asleep.

About 2 hours later I woke up. Took my shoes off & called it a day. My awesome pit manager & life partner said to me "I'm sorry I let you down"

A little voice spoke up in my head. OK so it shouted at me...

... "WTF dog! how are you going to carry that guilt around? Knowing that by not pedaling your bike & by not finishing this race that your woman feels she has let you down!?!"

That is all it took to get me to put my shoes back on & smash out another 4 & final laps (about 75kms) taking me just past the 24 hour time mark. Finishing up with what I personally feel as a very respectable 17 laps.

I was also very fortunate to have some mechanical assistance in my pit. Jimmy, Pommy & Shannon. Shannon, Koiled Bikes, was a very busy man with a dozen bikes. He is the only person I trust to wrench on my bikes.

Time for the drive home

Until next time....What would Nelson Mandela say...?

"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

dog

Soul Food

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Setting: Private property about 30 minutes inland from the Gold Coast. 8km cross country circuit.

Start time: 7pm. Yes, it was dark
Finnish time: GMT + 3 hours
Finish time: 7am
Duration: 12 hours
Actual ride time: 12 hours 15 minutes
Kms: errr don't know, don't care
Metres of climbing: see Kms:
Race Mantra: Kirstie believes in me, so should I.

The annual Ay Up Dust to Yawn was on last weekend. It is one of those courses that doesn't reward you for climbing well, it just asks you to pedal for every single km. Very little to no resting areas.

The temperature dropped of to a few numbers above 0 deg C brrrrrrr...

I was really excited about racing. I had lots of stored up frustrations after being a spectator at the recent Merida24 hour.

So for the first 3 1/2 hours of the race I started digging a hole. You know the sort of hole I am talking about the one that you bury yourself in. The sort of hole that is very painful yet very satisfying in some strange way.

Don't be afraid of these holes. They are great 'soul food





Mr. Ay Up "How are you feeling Matt?"
dog "Shattered! Legs are rooted, guts are churning..."
Mr. Ay Up "Oh?!"
dog "yeah! but fuck I am having fun & I am not going to stop!"

1 hour later...

Mr. Ay Up "hey Matt, how are you going?"
dog " Oh, man!"
Mr. Ay Up "Wanna coffee?"
dog "Oh yeah!"

So I get a coffee, take my helmet off & get under the gas heater not caring one bit about racing but still loving exactly where i was.

I finish my coffee & wander off & check the results.

dog "Hey! about 40 minutes ago I was in 2nd place, WTF am I doing here & not on my bike?!?!"

So I get back on my bike. Very quickly I found my endurance pace. I had all of my lines dialled in for the course. Just a matter of pedaling smooth flowing lines. I found my Ay Up lights to be TOO BRIGHT in the dust & sand. So I flicked them down to 1/2 power. Ahhh....that's better.

Most people I ride with know that I don't race with a speedo, clock, HR montor or anything. The numbers are too distracting. If I feel good I pedal faster in bigger gears. If I feel like crap I kick into survival speed, eat, drink & just keep moving forward.

So, I don't know how long it took until I saw fast man Anthony Zahra. He was in second. It would have been about 2 or 3am. So I sat on his back wheel for about 10 minutes to see how he was going. Read his blog here for how his race went When antz slowed a little on one of the bends on the last climb before the transition I attacked & didn't look back.

How did I feel through out the race?

I loved every single minute, every single corner, every leg sapping, sandy, grass section. I was singing to my iPod "Fuck I can sing really well!" I barked & growled at other riders to give them a gee up the hills, I gave one of the tough woman of adventure racing one of my race secrets to keep the gremlins away too.

Reader Question: Dear Mr. Dog, how do you manage to stay on your bike for 12/24 hours?

Dear rider. I have a little hole in my soul to fill it I ride MY bike for MYself.

Until next time: Keep digging those holes & never be afraid to bury yourself.

dog

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Something new from Ay Up

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Time for an ad break...




Check out the new, simplified kits that will suit almost anyone...


Still the same awesome, bright, powerful, lightweight, water proof lights only now packaged up so anyone can afford a set of the world renowned Ay Up lights that have an international reputation for excellence.

Until next time: If you don't have chunky bits on your top tube, you are not riding hard enough!

Love dog

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Me & Mout Mee

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It has been a few months since visiting Mount Mee. So off I trundled to check out the view. I started at the top of the mountain this time. I have found this a great trick to get one more repeat in. It's the little things ;-)

It was bloody cold with a strong, icy wind on top of the mountain. It was more comfortable at the bottom. Anyway a few downs & ups the the day was done.



It was a great feeling having my legs smashed to pieces in under 70kms!

Alberto & one other were spotted doing some secret training on the mountain too.

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Ay Up in the USA

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Andy Fellows is ripping it up in the USA. Showing off Ay Up Lights & ripping the legs of everyone he races against.



Check out his latest blog entries. New banner is cool too.


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Merida 24 hour Tailwind Promotions

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Just a quick note: I have just signed up for this race. Last year saw Sean Bekkers rip it up with over 350kms to take out first place. He then went on to Win his age group in the 24 hour world championships in Canmore a couple of months later. Nice work Bekkers!

A few of us did a course recon yesterday. The trails are simply awesome! It is going to be another great race put on by TailwindPromotions.com.au

If you want a really great race, on a great course & get to experience lovely Fleurs smile each time you pass the timing tent, sign up now.

Until next time: Where did I put that 'ball grease' ???

dog

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