RRR Classic 2006

Ben and I competed in the race, along with 185 or so other people, we crossed the line together in 19th and 20th place. The event was a lot of fun and the track was definitely worth riding at other times. It would be really great if the Cairns MTB club were able to put on a Marathon 100 KM sort of event that uses more of the tracks on the table lands before finishing off down the RRR course, that would without a doubt be a race worth the trip to Cairns for. The RRR Classic was fun though a little short to make the trip worth while without more incentive (which quite sensibly is why they now run the Herberton 8 Hour the week before, to add the incentive).

fullsize People milling around at the start. fullsize Pete Zeck, another Canberran who made the trip up for the 2 races on consecutive weekends, he finished 10th over all about 6 minutes in front of me. fullsize Ready for the start. fullsize Ben looking relaxed at the start. fullsize Milling around listening to the briefing.

fullsize A pretty good turn out for the race in great weather. fullsize As I was not feeling well (lingering cold and riding slowly) I decided I may as well stop any pretence of taking it seriously and shoot some photos. fullsize Same guy as in the above shot. fullsize Good grin from this guy, later on the beach he was with Ben and I when we jumped off the front of a train, he asked Ben where the finish line was and then shot off the front. fullsize I yelled for Ben to catch me up so I could get off the bike and take a photo, turned out pretty well. fullsize A road train just before we hit the beach.

fullsize Ben smiling post race, glad to have the pain over with. fullsize Steve post race. fullsize Steve and Ben. fullsize A photo of me taken by Max. fullsize Max trying to avoid the icky sand and mud on our tyres while getting into the photo. fullsize As we drove back along the road down to Cairns we stopped at a lookout where people often go para sailing or something, someone had that remote control glider thing, and there was a pretty rainbow.