2006 Gravity 12 Hour Mountain Bike Race

• Steven Hanley - Riding a silly light alloy HT
• Alex Ramsey - Riding a 2005 Yeti 5.75
• Gail Sutton - Riding a Norco HT

Also down for the race were Dave Sutton, Dave McGregor and John Graydon in mens threes who we camped with. Dan Mackay and Sarah O'Callaghan in mixed pairs. Morgs and his crew in a variety of teams and soloists, Selina Stoute and David Foster and of course a number other people we knew.

Unlike the last three years (2003, 2004, 2005) it was not too hot, too wet or muddy at all. The conditions were the driest I have ever seen them at this race, the course was a bit loose and dusty but on the whole a heck of a lot of fun. We were not there for a placing or anything and were simply looking forward to a fun 12 hour race, which it was.

I was concentrating a bit on my own race ability and am happy to see how consistent I was, with 6 laps I had the following lap times. 37:54, 37:33, 37:20, 37:13, 37:36 and 41:48. (the final lap was in the dark, and I had to get off and walk past an injured rider being stretchered out and then was caught in traffic for a while so I really did not slow down much at all)

Anyway, thanks to Gail and Alex for a really fun race, you guys did a great job. Bring on the 2007 Gravity 12 hour, what a hoot, and I will have Sam and Ben back as team mates, yay.

fullsize Louise Cook preparing for her mixed threes ride with Cath and Stew in the background preparing for a solo stab. fullsize Chris' partner, Morgs, Joo, Chris and Saxon's head preparing for a mountain bike race in style. fullsize Gail, keen as heck to get riding. fullsize Me ready for a ride. fullsize Alex waiting in the shade before heading out for a lap. fullsize Dan Mackay about to do another one of his slow (faster than me) laps, thus making Sarah work damn hard all day. fullsize Russ doing the timing thing, very kindly printing me team lap splits all day. fullsize Dave M and Dave S waiting for John G to finish a lap.

fullsize Selina about to head out for a lap looking for something to tie her hair back with. fullsize Gail finishing a lap. fullsize Alex getting the card fullsize and heading out for a lap. fullsize Selina down near her camp site (on the edge of Camp de Morgs). fullsize One of the mighty Team Astro riders, though they did not have jerseys fullsize They did all have t-shirts with Astro that they wore all day. fullsize Sarah trooping on through the end of another lap.

fullsize Gail on the final pinch before the finishing straight climb. fullsize Crossing the campsite. fullsize Alex pocketing the tag heading out for another lap. fullsize Gail testing her ability to use my camera by taking a photo of me relaxing. fullsize Alex on the final pinch. fullsize Me starting a lap from a distance. fullsize Me climbing the finishing straight. fullsize Our camp site with one of the funky CORC flutter flags up, furthering Russ' CORC world domination plans.