Lunch Ride

Morning Ride

Afternoon Ride

Gold Diggings Trail 400. It all started off pleasant enough. I wasn't sure how I would hold up to this long a distance but went for it anyway. All was going well. The pace was a little stupid from the start but manageable. At Daylesford I though Martin Grannas had left town before me and put a little pace on to catch him. What I didn't realize is, I was chasing a ghost... he was behind me and I was gassing for nothing. Around this time on a descent I had a rock/stick flick up and hit my foot. It hurt like hell and I figured that I was going to loose my toe nail from it. I pressed on... Entering Ballarat at dusk, I was happy. I was making good time and feeling ok. Ballarat to Backus Marsh screwed with my head! My Garmin touch screen was playing up and I couldn't get it to stay on maps, so I was missing turns and loosing my way and lead. I started seeing lights behind me in the darkness so I picked up the pace. Backus Marsh I took a bit longer trying to change the settings on the garmin while not on the move. Lewis Ciddor rode in to refuel as I pushed off. Leaving town I noticed my rear tire was bouncing a little too much a quick check and top up of air and Lewis was in sight again. I decided not to push it too much and save a bit for later, but still bomb the descents. Bang! Another stone/stick to my left foot, exactly the same spot on my big toe, Faaaaaarrrrrrkkkkkk. What are the fucking odds? Damn that hurts... keep going, you can deal with this... fuck that hurts... Lewis catches up, he's pushing the climbs. Maybe he thinks I'm tiring out? I didn't tell him... He launches an attack and I let him go. Clang, cling, something hit my bike, but was that something coming off my bike? I stop in a hurry and sure enough my tube and spare Co2 is gone... I turn around and go back up the hill. I only loose 2 mins at the worst from Lewis and that was time I didn't want to loose. So I chased him down. Caught him in the Lurderderg single track coming into Blackwoods. I passed him quickly and opened up a good lead. Then threw it away with another wrong turn... With plenty of water in my bottles, I grabbed one of Dave Grants apples he left out for the GDT riders (so good). From here the roads just seemed to keep going up. Lewis and I both complained that we were over climbing, but he was starting to fade a bit... so as any good friend would, I turned the screws... His lights faded out of sight quickly. Climb, climb, climb... finally descend and I let the breaks go. I knew the descent, it was rough but the Spark just ate it up and I was keen on really opening up my lead. Boom! Another rock/stick to the left foot, big toe. I screamed out in pain, I mean a real proper scream. It was agony. I don't have a real problem pushing through pain, but this was next level. Every bump, every rock was agony. I knew the terrain to come, the idea of another strike to the foot brought real fear to my mind. I couldn't handle the pain of every pedal stroke and was genuine fear of it happening again... Nah, I'm out. Bummed to pull the pin so "close" to the finish line. The hard work was done and from here it was "easy", but I couldn't do it... I ditched the course and made my way to the road and bed and warmth at about 4am...
Next year...

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Kevin Skidmore

GDT 400 almost :(

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Morning Ride

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