MERIDA Cycling Blog

Falls Creek to Mt Beauty Epic

Thu, 02 May 2013 01:24:00 GMT

MTB: 2013 MERIDA One-Forty XT-edition

In March this year we tackled Blue Dirt Mountain Biking's Falls Creek to Mt Beauty All Mountain Ride, an insanely Epic 50km ride through some of the roughest, steepest and challenging Trails around.

Starting just up from the Falls Creek village we unloaded and were met with an amazing view of the surrounding valleys and the peaks we were yet to climb and traverse.

As we set off we had a small fire road descent down to the bridge crossing and in to the first climb of the day, quickly adjusting the Suspension to Climb it was time to do just that! Straight up a seemingly endless goat track that was rough enough that I was glad already of the 140mm travel under me.

With the first big climb out of the way it was time for some fun, Set suspension back to trail and flow through some awesome undulating tracks which made the climb well worth it.

As we ascended the views we were met with were like nothing I've ever seen, although the technical nature of these trails meant there wasn't a lot of time to take them in.

After a while we came to much anticipated 500m Rock Garden, I put the dropper post down, set the suspension to Descend got my weight over the back of the bike and let go, this is truly when you appreciate the versatility of this bike, it soaked up over half a kilometre of Rim Crunching Rocks with ease and scary speed.

The amazing ride continued on leading us over six Mountain peaks with smiles and hoots all the way, and the bike performing flawlessly throughout, the last stop of the day was at the top of the Mt Beauty Mountain Bike Park, here you are met with a choice of trails to Descend to reach the end of the journey, it was unanimous that we head down the Big Hill Downhill race track, a super fast technical track that was an awesome way to finish what was the best Mountain Bike ride I have ever done!

Brad Harper
MERIDA Test Rider - Mountain Bikes

MERIDA MTB Test Rider Brad hit the trails on a 2013 MERIDA One-Forty XT-edition

2013 MERIDA T5 Carbon Speeder - 2 Month Review

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:01:00 GMT

Video review of the 2013 MERIDA T5 Carbon Speeder, 2 months in...

Paul Fergusson
MERIDA Test Rider - Commuter Bikes
Rides a 2013 MERIDA T5 Carbon Speeder

New year, new Scultura!

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:27:00 GMT

Road Bike: 2013 MERIDA 2013 Scultura Pro 907-E

The new MERIDA 2013 Scultura Pro 907-E was delivered to Adelaide in January - in the middle of the Tour Down Under. I wasted no time picking it up from Super Elliotts bike shop, adjusting the fit, and getting straight out on the road the next morning.

This was the stage 4 of the TDU and with a few friends I joined a throng of riders heading up through the Barossa Valley to see the pros tackle the "King of the Mountain" at Kersbrook. The new Scultura Pro 907-E caught plenty of attention, kitted out in sleek black and white with bright splashes of lime trim. Even more so when people realized it was almost the same as the bikes used by team MERIDA-Lampre. Sure the Team model is specced up a little more but essentially it's the same bike.

So how does it ride? "Good" doesn't really come close. It's a race bred machine. It's stiff and light and the handling is much more instant and responsive than I am used to. It looks fast simply standing in the shed so no wonder I can't help but push hard each time I hit the road.

This bike is equipped with Ultegra Di2 and I'm surprised how easily I adapted to the electronic group set. It just works. Being used to riding conventional Shimano, my fingers fell instantly to the right positions where the only difference is that the identically shaped controls are buttons rather than levers. Same feel, but less effort to make the gear change.

The Scultura got it's first test "in anger" that first morning when my ride partner and I approached Kersbrook. The climb was long and steady rather than fearsomely steep, and we maintained a good speed toward the summit. Often, you don't intend to race someone. Nothing is spoken but before you know it, it's on. I could sense we were both slowly upping the tempo as we passed the KOM 1 km marker. Shoulder to shoulder we leaped out of the saddle and any casual pretense of.. "I just happened to be riding along... " was forgotten.

This guy is a good climber. He'd normally drop me on steeper climbs, but I figured I might have half a chance at this steady gradient. I also could see I'd need a heavier gear if I was going to sprint. Could the Di2 snap into the big ring under load on a climb? No problems. Certainly I timed the change mid-stroke but the front derailleur didn't miss a beat and we sprinted to the archway locked together.

It was still an hour before the Tour Down Under teams were due to climb the same hill, but the crowd was gathering and they cheered, clapped and rang their cowbells as we hit the line. What a buzz. To be honest I don't think I won, but my rival generously declared it a photo finish and I immediately knew that I couldn't want for a better steed in our future bragging-rights sprints!

Don Brice
MERIDA Test Rider - Road Bikes

Allan Gill at Super Elliotts in Rundle Street got me set up with the Scultura

(Almost) a winner at the Kersbrook King of The Mountain

First Look 2013 MERIDA T5 Carbon Speeder

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 22:14:00 GMT

Picked up my 2013 test bike today from Blackman Cycles in Blacktown. Just a quick video in my first thoughts and some basic changes from the 2012 model. Love how good it looks in RED!

Paul Fergusson
MERIDA Test Rider - Commuter Bikes
Rides a 2013 MERIDA T5 Carbon Speeder

Elevation All-Mountain series - MTB review

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 22:49:00 GMT

MTB: 2013 MERIDA One-Forty XT-edition

At the beginning of January this year I picked up the all-new 2013 MERIDA One-Forty XT-edition test bike, fortunately it arrived the day prior to a planned trip to Buxton MTB Park, what a cool place to break in a new bike and get it dialled for racing the weekend after.

A few small set up tweaks later we were ready to roll, and roll we did, with the CTD suspension set to T (trail) we cruised through the undulating singletrack, very quickly settling in to the new cockpit, the first thing I noticed is how well this bike climbs, with no pedal induced bob present due to the all new VPK suspension design it felt solid and fast leaving me some much needed energy for the fast descents which were so much fun! Even with the suspension still set on trail it descended beautifully, floating over trail, yet keeping the rubber planted firmly to the dirt, the suspension working its magic in and out of the many berms and g-outs gaining speed with each one, the solid feel gained throughout the beefier rear end, 12mm rear axle and the strong new Fulcrum wheelset made bombing the descents more fun than I have ever had on a trail bike!

We had an awesome day playing in the trails and I was super stoked on my first day out on the bike.

Next up was the 3rd round of the Elevation All-Mountain series in Myrtleford, I was really looking forward to this race as this was the perfect environment for this bike as it's a mixture of super fast technical descents mixed with short but tough climbs all timed against the clock...

With limited practice time it was really important to get the bike set up to suit the course as quick as possible, deciding to run the suspension in Descend mode after trying a couple of runs in Trail mode, and getting the dropper post actuator to a position it could be pressed easily in race conditions I was ready to go. The course was fast, steep and loose, a true test for any AM rig and rider, but the bike handled it with ease, with the rear end nice and soft it sat back and almost had the feel of a Downhill rig, but with geometry tight enough to get through the tight stuff nice and quick and the gearing to be able to power up the short but steep climbs.. unfortunately the only let down was its rider who decided to take a couple of unauthorised forest excursions on the way down meaning I placed a fair way down the field, all in all another awesome test of how adaptable these bikes can be, and a whole heap of fun.

Brad Harper
MERIDA Test Rider - Mountain Bikes
Rides a 2013 MERIDA One-Forty XT-edition

Tour Down Under 2013 update

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Bruno DS and Matthew Lloyd before MERIDA's first world tour stage

Tom before the start of MERIDA's first ever stage

Tom tapping out the k's with team Lampre-MERIDA

MERIDA Test Rider (MTB) - Time flies...

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 03:51:00 GMT

2012 MERIDA One-Forty XT-D

MTB: 2012 MERIDA One-Forty XT-D

Time flies when you're having fun, It's been a year already since I received the 2012 MERIDA One-Forty XT-D for the long term test, and after an awesome year of some of the most fun riding I've ever done, it's time to say goodbye.

This bike has sat under me without complaint through various races, and near 3500kms of trail, it has done dust, ridden enduros in 38 degree heat, mud-soaked trail rides and all-mountain/downhill loops that would make bikes with twice the travel cringe. It was certainly tested!

Above all else, my favourite thing about this bike is that it made me love riding again. Being mainly a downhiller, riding has always been a mission - enjoyable, but hard work, organising shuttles, travelling etc.. But these bikes make it all too easy to sneak off for a quick blast or an all day epic, they climb well and descend with huge grin inspiring ease, what more do you want?

Some big plans for this year's test bike as I think it's going to be one sweet ride!

A big thanks again to MERIDA Australia and Advanced Traders for their support and awesome service this year, Let's do it all again!

See you on the trails!

Brad Harper
MERIDA Test Rider - Mountain Bikes

New Season, New Bike...

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 03:29:00 GMT

Ride Cycling Review interviews Lampre-MERIDA Rider Matt Lloyd about his new ride...

With MERIDA set to make its WorldTour debut in a little over a week, we got chatting to Matt Lloyd about his Lampre team-issue bike for 2013.

» Read the full interview here

MERIDA Test Rider (Road) - A year on the MERIDA Reacto 907

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:46:00 GMT

2012 MERIDA Reacto 907

Road Bike: 2012 MERIDA Reacto 907

A year on the MERIDA Reacto 907

Most riders have a handful of regular routes that they like to ride. It's good to have a routine and familiar roads for a few reasons. Sadly most of us have jobs or schools to attend, places to be by certain times of the day and knowing how far we're going and what time we'll return is pretty important. It's also good to know where to find the best coffee in the neighborhood!

Regular routes also help you compare your fitness and form. With a GPS device and a website like Strava I can look back over the year of riding up my favorite climb and see trends. I am sure I'm fitter than I was this time last year, but the biggest jump in "form" came when I started riding the Reacto 907. From the first ride on the Reacto 907, my time up Adelaide's "Old Freeway" dropped noticeably from rides on my previous bike. I love the lightness and stiffness of this frame.

I am so glad that I chose this bike. A year ago I didn't have much clue to the differences between the Reacto and the Scultura frames. I now realize that the Scultura geometry is the ideal choice for racing. With it's shorter chainstays and wheelbase it has the snappiest most responsive handling, and would really come into it's own in say, criterium style events. No wonder the Lampre MERIDA professional team has selected the Scultura frame for the upcoming 2013 season. The Reacto 907 on the other hand is more comfortable for longer rides. Numerous weekends this year I've headed out for hilly 200km+ adventures, and been amazed at how fresh my body feels at the end. Leg weary - sure, but with few of the body aches and pains I expected. I no longer dread sections of patched and broken asphalt. I guess I can thank the high-tech flex system in the aero seat post for smoothing out the ride so well. As a tall rider I also appreciate the traditional straight top tube on the aero frame. If I ride a bike with a compact triangle and sloping top tube I need to use half a yard of seat post extended to get the right saddle height. It looks ridiculous. So, tall people - have a look at the Reacto.

Back in January I rode with a bunch of friends in our custom "MOTU" branded jerseys.. We're a small social group and had our jerseys made for riding the week of the Tour Down Under. Each morning we'd leave early and ride the route of that day's stage to the King of the Mountain point and cheer the teams as they came through. Then if time permitted we'd short cut to the finish and try to get there before the end of the stage. We survived some scorching summer heat but had a terrific time. With so many riders in town doing similar things, it was a good time to be on a bike. No doubt the best stage was the Old Willunga hilltop finish where thousands of crazy noisy spectators lined the roads in the closest thing I've seen to the spectacular Tour or Giro finishes on TV.

Last week the MOTU Belgian blue tops came out again and six of us tackled 240km through the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsular. In perfect weather and with a smoothly rolling paceline, the miles disappeared under the wheels easily. I love this sort of riding. It was a great way to round out the riding adventures of the year.

Any low points? Well, only one. Descending the Old Freeway as usual this week, I suddenly felt a jolt and the squirming back end that everyone knows says "puncture!". The only trouble was I'd already started turning into a fast left hander and seconds later the back end of the bike flew out from under me. It's a quiet road that sees very few cars these days, so at least I knew I wouldn't get run over as I slid across the tarmac.The tyre had rolled almost off the rim and was well shredded. Amazingly, the bike survived the fall very well. My skin, not so well. I'm still riding, but I'll stick to the shorter runs until the bruises fade and some skin grows back on my butt! Not a great way to end the year, but summer has just begun and there's lots of good riding still to be done.

Until January's Road BikeTest Rider report - keep the rubber side down!

Merry Christmas

Don Brice
MERIDA Test Rider - Road Bikes

FREE iPod Shuffle from MERIDA!

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:10:00 GMT

Purchase any MERIDA bike over $500* and register your purchase via our Facebook page to receive your FREE iPod shuffle! Offer ends 24th Dec 2012 or while stocks last!

Find your nearest participating MERIDA dealer
http://bit.ly/RGCC7t

MERIDA Test Rider (Road) - 2012 Col du Lofty Champagne Handicap

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 05:34:00 GMT

2012 MERIDA Reacto 907

Road Bike: 2012 MERIDA Reacto 907

2012 Col du Lofty Champagne Handicap

The first Tuesday in November is known across the nation as 'cup day'; the race that wakes the nation, Adelaide's Col du Lofty Champagne Handicap. Our steeds are made of carbon and alloy rather than flesh and blood, and the 'jockeys' are a bit of mixed bag but it's at least as much fun as that other big race they hold in Melbourne.

Mount Lofty is a favourite destination for weekday social riders in Adelaide. It's so close to town, and has a dedicated bike path for much the route. It's a 12 km climb averaging a little under 5%, so while not startlingly steep it's long enough to give you a good workout. A small gang from adelaidecyclists.com have made it a weekly Tuesday morning ride for a couple of years now. It's a small informal gathering, but certain days on the calendar - Christmas Rides, summer and winter solstice rides and of course cup day become special events.

We may not care too much about horses, but they do have one or two good ideas about racing. Especially the system that says the fastest guy doesn't always win. To encourage the weight, age, or talent challenged amongst us the Col du Lofty is run as a handicap with the weight being carried in a backpack. Upon arrival at the summit backpacks are opened and the ballast (champagne and cake) is quickly consumed before the chief steward can drag out the scales and call 'correct weight'.

This was the second annual running of the Cup and riders gathered at the start of the climb at 5.50am where there was some pre-dawn argy-bargy about who should carry what weight. This year's Chief Steward and event photographer - last years winner (and fellow Merida rider) 'Dark Horse' - was an unfortunate race scratching due to injury. I wouldn't like to say the racing industry is corrupt, well not more corrupt than cycling anyway, but after a nod and wink the steward was finally prevailed upon to throw the backpacks in his car and meet us at the top.

Some complained this made a mockery of the handicap system, but we didn't let petty rules interfere with a good race. Riders were waved away and Snappy Don made the early running hotly pursued by AVO. The bunch was back together by mid race but AVO and Zimm Zamm forged ahead to contest the interim sprint at the bollards. Riders regrouped and given the idle chatter in the peloton, spectators could be forgiven for thinking the race was not being contested that seriously. Since the spectators amounted to a couple of passing kangaroos and the odd koala, this hasn't been much of a scandal.

This year's cup day was an especially beautiful spring morning. The day dawned cool and still, with mist hanging in the gums along the climb and the finish line at the summit was shrouded in fog. The bunch finish involved yet more collusion and negotiation before Smiling Assassin took line honours from Dahon Dude, but to be honest most of us were more interested in breakfast. Had there been compulsory urine testing after the race, alcohol would certainly have spiked in the readings. The race committee inquiry will no doubt lead to a tightening of the rules before the running of the 2013 cup.

Perhaps this wasn't the toughest ride I've had on the MERIDA Reacto 907, but it was certainly one of the more enjoyable. And as I keep saying - I wouldn't keep doing this if I wasn't having so much fun. Thanks to 'Dark Horse' Richard for the photos.

Don Brice
MERIDA Test Rider - Road Bikes

Under Stewards Orders

At the Devils Elbow

Climbing Shurdington Road

The summit finish

The champagne breakfast

MERIDA Test Rider (Road) - Spring is Here

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 02:43:00 GMT

2012 MERIDA Reacto 907

Road Bike: 2012 MERIDA Reacto 907

Spring is Here

If morning rides have seen you return home, and it's still barely dawn, Spring is coming.

If the pain in your legs is nothing compared to the stinging cold of hail on your cheeks, Spring is coming.

If the MERIDA has been barely wiped clean of grime before it's covered in filth on the very next ride, Spring is coming.

If preparing to ride has become an endless chore of donning layer upon layer of winter warmers, Spring is coming.

If incredulous drivers behind toiling windscreen wipers tap their heads and laugh as they pass, Spring is coming.

If the valleys are golden with wattle, and the roads are strewn with almond blossom, Spring is here.

If the trails are alive with whirring gears and a rainbow of lycra though the trees, Spring is here.

If you survived the winter with hope in your soul, on the promise of summer days long, SPRING IS HERE.

Don Brice
MERIDA Test Rider - Road Bikes

Wintery evening on Mount Lofty

Wattle blossom in Uraidla, Adelaide Hills.

MERIDA Test Rider (Road) - Train because you want to or because you have to?

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:00:00 GMT

2012 MERIDA Reacto 907

Road Bike: 2012 MERIDA Reacto 907

Train because you want to or because you have to?

Training for any sport can be hard work. Simply calling it 'training' or 'practice' straight away implies that it's not as good as the main event - the thing your actually training for but you endure the training so you can succeed when it really matters. Sometimes you won't feel like training. If you have a program to follow it can become tedious. You may be tired or sore from your last training effort.

A friend and riding partner trained long and hard for this year's 3 Peaks in the Victorian Alps. It's 235 km long and approx. 3600m of ascent, making it one of Australia's toughest mass participation events. Seven or eight months beforehand he started looping up through the hills to add an extra 1000m of climbing before meeting me at 0550 for our usual 70km weekday hills route. He watched his diet like a hawk, he rode day after day. By the start of February, with 3 Peaks still weeks away he was heartily sick of riding. The last few weeks of training were a real trial, and when the event finally arrived it was almost an anticlimax. Put simply, he was over it.

I have a much more recreational view of cycling. I'm not a club member. I don't do crits. I can even take or leave the mass participation charity rides. But I simply love riding. I've had a sensational time this year with the MERIDA Reacto 907. I'm riding three times a week, or maybe four if I can squeeze an extra one in. And I don't just dawdle down to the cafe. I ride to my limit, and then harder if I can. I flog myself up the hills and push even harder down the other side. I'm my own toughest training partner. Why? Because it feels good. (when I get my breath back). I love being fit enough to step out of the saddle and punch it over another hill. I love the places I can go on a bike. I enjoy the light hearted sparring with friends as we attack one another on the ''60kph'' sign sprints approaching any country town.

True, I don't experience the thrill of formal competition, and if I had more time and more routine in my life maybe I'd join a vets club, but this way I'm lucky enough to ride because I want to, not because I have to. The weekday rides are usually on familiar routes, so I know I can get back home in time for work but each weekend ride is an adventure and a different combination of hills and landscape. I fear that if I was riding to a program, cardio base, intervals, power training and all the time watching my HRM and PB's, that maybe my competitive spirit would take over and I wouldn't have nearly as much fun.

I'm sure that if I was more serious, I still wouldn't be disappointed with the Reacto. It's light, it's agile on the climbs, and it descends like it's on rails. If I rode even harder, I reckon I'd just get even more out of it. But happily it's also comfortable enough and smooth enough for recreational riders like me. It soaks up the road buzz and it's a pleasure to ride on any surface.

Summer is coming and I'm excited by the riding prospects of the coming months. Last summer the MERIDA and I broke the 200km barrier on numerous weekend rides and I look forward to more of that now that the weather has improved. Not that I hung up the bike in winter; Rain, hail or shine I rode, but there's not doubt it's more fun when the sun is out. My friends are setting their goals for the summer, but not me. I'm content with being their training partner. I ride because I want to, not because I have to.

Don Brice
MERIDA Test Rider - Road Bikes

MERIDA Test Rider (Triathlon) - Auckland World Championships

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:00:00 GMT

2012 MERIDA Time Warp 4

Triathlon bike: 2012 MERIDA Time Warp 4 Triathlon Bike

Auckland World Championships Race Report

World Champion 35-39 year old - Olympic Distance

It is hard for me to associate that title with myself. I set goals that are hard "stretch" goals for me to achieve. I want to see what my body (and mind) can do and how far I can take it. I then train to get those goals. I then choose a race that will help me see whether I have achieved those goals. So the training and the racing are very personal and internal for me. To have those goals translate to times that enabled me to win the World Championships is amazing and it is truly hard to get my head around the whole thing.

The training for this race has been one of the toughest training cycles I have ever done. The sessions were always hard and my body was always hurting. Lots of tempo and anaerobic sets in all 3 disciplines. There was rarely a session where I could just go out for a session. Even the long ride/runs and a strong focus on going fast. I did this on purpose because I had very specific time goals and I knew I had to train very very very hard if I had any chance of achieving them.

The race and race lead up was not without the usual "Mel drama". In an attempt to fix my wetsuit with a repair for a minor tear, we ended up with a major hole in my wetsuit that made the wetsuit unwearable! (this was 3 days before we left). I fell off my bike training 3 days before the Olympic distance race resulting in a bruised ego (I quickly waved the car on), hip, calf and elbow. I got gastro (as did half the Australian team!) on Thursday night before the race. During the race my back started to seize up when I got off the bike resulting in a very painful start to the run and my 1 of my aero bars decided to dislodge itself with 15km to go on the bike. Luckily my superior bike fixing skills meant the aero bar situation was fixed quickly (I am laughing at that last sentence as I have no bike repairing skills and basically just used brute force to jam the aero bar back into position and then prayed for the rest of the bike that it would stay in that position!).

The race itself was tough - but then that is what I suppose we should expect from a World Championship. The weather was foul and the water freezing. Auckland weather was 'Melbourne on steroids' and we really didn't know what to expect - the weather changed every 5minutes. But everyone has to race those conditions and while it was tough, it was something that just had to be dealt with.

The Aquathlon was my first event. This was a 1km Swim in Auckland Harbour and then a 5km run. I did something I would tell everyone else never ever do - I wore something that I had never tested before. Yes, my wetsuit, which I purchased on Monday got its first run in water (any water) at the race on Wednesday! I had worn it once before - and that was to try it on at the shop. Very naughty and definitely a risk. I had not worn my Aussie Suit before either. I had also decided that I was a cold frog and that Auckland (and Auckland water) was freezing and I would wear a very fashionable neoprene (wetsuit material) cap. The cap - Again a first for me. I was not sure how I would cope with having something over my ears and also under my chin during the swim. Oh and I also decided to buy new Vorgee goggles that day and give those a go as well!

I was surprisingly calm for the race. My goal was to test the new equipment, get a feel for what it was like to swim in the Harbour and to run under 20minutes for the 5km. I really focussed on those internal goals so lining up I did not get 'freaked out' that I was surrounded by people from 45 different countries and was about to race in the World Championships. This start is soooo much easier than a Half Ironman/Ironman Mass start. There are only about 100 people in the wave and you get space quickly. I have worked really hard on my swimming, training with the Port Macquarie Swimming Club kids/young adults and it definitely has paid off. I am swimming the fastest I have ever swam. I got in the lead straight away, which meant clear water! It makes such a difference to the experience.

My gamble of wearing a neoprene cap paid off. It goes under the chin and I just felt like I was in a surf life saving carnival with my competition cap. The wetsuit was great, as were the goggles. The conditions were horrendous. It was choppy, windy and cold. My surf skills definitely had a hand in me being able to handle these conditions.

The run was dead flat and I just ran. Didnt think, just ran and finished. Found out I had won by 1min and 40sec - woah! I just won! Incredible. We had the medal ceremony and I was just a bit blown away by it all. My Aussie mate, Lauren Robertson from Gunnedah had come 2nd and Belinda Johnson from Port Macquarie had won her age group as well. What a great start to the championship.

Over the next few days I had dramas, but my biggest thing was to not focus on whether I could conceivably win the Triathlon on Monday. I did not want to have a race strategy around this as I knew it would be my undoing, I would get extremely nervous and I would not have my perfect race. For me to have a perfect race, I must focus on me and my goals and then at the end of the day where that puts me is where it puts me. It was hard as my brain kept shifting to the thought that I actually had a chance to medal/podium. I would doubt myself because I was racing the best in the world and how could I compete against that. I had to keep reminding myself that at the end of the day if I got my goals, and came 1st, 10th or 40th I would have been satisfied with my race as I would have known I could race no harder.

Racing a triathlon is mental as much as it is physical. The physical work is done in the preparation and training and on race day so really that should take care of itself on race day. However, it is the mental aspect that can change a race. Racing an Olympic Distance is extremely hard work. Olympic Distance is over a short distance so you can push your body hard. There is little margin for error and it is all about just pushing hard all the time and having no downtime. That is very very hard to do. I have had to have a complete shift in how I race. For Ironman Racing, it is all about being consistent and aerobic. If my body hurts, I slow down. In Olympic Distance, if the body hurts I have to celebrate and embrace and then race even harder because I know I am getting everything out of my body that I can. I have had to train my mind to embrace the hurt and to keep going.

Race morning, we were herded like cattle into 'holding pens' while we waited for our wave to start. The competition started at 7am and waves of people went off in increments for the next 3.5hours! There was over 3000 competitors to get out on the course. My wave started at 9.30am. I have raced Ironman for so long now it was strange to my mum (as a supporter) and me that I would be finished by lunchtime!

The swim was just as horrendous as the Aquathlon. I was listening to the times of the men as they came in and knew that no world records were going to beaten that day. I just wanted to race hard and I knew my surf life saving skills/open water swimming were going to be a factor and work to my advantage. The gun went off and again the work that I have put in with the Swimming Club squad paid off and I was in the lead. I had no one on my feet, I swam straight and had a good race. I lead out of the water. The transitions were extremely long - just to cater for the masses of people in the race -both transitions took about 3min 30sec each and involved lots of running (in a wetsuit and with a bike).

The bike course was a mixture of hills and flats. It would have been a beautiful course except the weather (and the wind). I must say I was a wos on the descents and was quite conservative but I figured it was best that I remained upright than trying to gain a few seconds. I worked hard into the strong head winds on the flats. The whole bike I just picked someone ahead of me, and then just focused catching them or remaining the same distance from them. It was a great clean race (ie very little drafting) which meant the whole experience was enjoyable (I hate seeing people draft!).

I got off the bike and my back went. My goodness it was painful. I slipped a disc many moons ago and just basically manage the back through exercise and core work. The hard work on the bike had stiffened up the back (and tightened the hamstrings) so my back really didn't want to play. I ran out of transition hoping that it would right itself. I have raced before with my back seizing and have learnt that if I build into the run it will warm up and the pain will go away. I was hoping that this would happen again. After a couple of kms the acute pain had gone and I got comfortably into a rhythm. I knew I would not be able to really push myself to the edge, however, so just concentrated on running hard and consistent.

Todd was keeping an eye on things all day for me. He stopped telling me where I was in the run which I interpreted as people were catching me - which did stress me out a bit as I knew I would not be able to push my body with my back. In fact, I was going fine and the girls were not catching me. I told myself to not worry about others as I couldn't control what they were doing and just to race to what I could do. My race strategy was to entertain my mind by picking people to run down without going so hard as to make my back completely go on me. The last km, my hamstrings started to really tighten up and they started screaming at me that they had just about had enough and that they were soon not going to play nicely. This would mean my back would go and I would not be able to even walk. Thank goodness I was nearly home and I hoped that there were no girls within catching distance from me. With 300m to go, I saw Todd and just raised my eyebrows. He said "GO". I thought someone must be catching me so just 'sucked it up' and picked up the pace a bit. I then turned onto the Blue Carpet to race the final 150m. The commentators were just suggesting that it was time to see a sprint finish. I heard the Australian Team Coordinator scream from the crowd to "GO". Again I thought "Shit" someone is coming! So started sprinting. I turned around and could see a girl in red turning the corner at great speed. I somehow picked up the pace again. I went numb without about 5m to go. I crossed the finishing line and I could see out of the corner of my eye a flash of red.

I had won.

By 1 second.

OMG!

The lady in red (a girl from Canada) asked me what we had came - thank goodness she didn't know she was racing for first and second place or otherwise she may have just had enough energy to make the final sprint. She had an incredible run - a 36 minutes. Thank goodness she couldn't swim!

A triathlon is made up of 3 different disciplines and I was not the fastest in all 3. Yet the combination meant that I had come out on top. I didn't get my goal of 40min in the run (I did a 41 flat) but given my back issues I was stoked and I know that I will get that goal someday.

As I said knowing I am now a World Champion is a strange title and one I never thought I would achieve, particularly at the Olympic Distance as I do not consider myself a fast person. I suppose I proved to myself with a specific training program anything can be achieved and this has only motivated me to think of even harder goals for myself.

A huge thank you to everyone that has been a part of my journey. My work and work colleagues. PureSport, Vorgee and Merida have given me such wonderful equipment and Anthony Biggs and Daren Gray have kept my body functioning and have allowed it to cope with the heavy training loads. The Port Macquarie Swim Squad - my goodness - I cannot thank you enough for what you have done to my swimming - Michael and Cherryl - the swim set up the whole race for me. And of course my family - preparing for this race has been a planning challenge and my whole family has risen to the challenge and provided me with the perfect environment to allow me to train and complete the sessions I needed to complete. My kids are now Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans (many a windtrainer sessions discussing the pathetic (and comical) special effects of the 1990 show) and my son is great stretching partner! Todd is an amazing husband and support crew member - every triathletes needs to have such a supportive partner! Also a special thanks to my wonderful and amazing training partner - Paula Stone - she kept me honest and would not allow me to miss any swim sessions at 5am and we had some great Ironman sessions on the weekend. Without her my training would have had gaps and maybe the result would have been very different!

So what's next......A rest from any structured training program and a shift in focus to the kids sport (and helping out with training sessions) and patrolling the best beach in Australia. Giving back to the family that has given me the opportunity of a lifetime. And then who knows what 2013 will bring....I do have some ideas..... :)

Mel Cockshutt
MERIDA Test Rider - Triathlon Bikes

MERIDA Test Rider (MTB) - Queensland Trails

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 23:11:00 GMT

2012 MERIDA One-Forty XT-D

MTB: 2012 MERIDA One-Forty XT-D

Last weekend I packed the 2012 MERIDA One-Forty XT-D test rig into a box and headed off to sunny Queensland to see what the trails out that way had to offer.

After what can only be described as an interesting night in a dodgy, but bike friendly motor inn, it was time to unpack the bikes get 'em built and go ride!

First trails on the agenda were at Mt Coot-tha, after talking to some locals earlier, I didn't hold out much hope for the trails there, but once out there I was surprised at how cool they were, perfectly suited to the 140mm travel MERIDA. They had a good share of flowing single track, rocks, roots and drops and jumps that traversed the hillside all made that much more fun on such a fun machine.

With weary legs from the previous day's ride, I headed off to Daisy Hill Trails which is another local spot I had been told about. After some more car park convo's with the locals, I was headed to the best trails this hill had to offer, and they were good... steeper and more technical than Coot-tha, and a total blast to ride!

The bike handled these tracks with ease, soaking up the rocks and roots with the aggression of a downhill rig but being light enough to throw around tight turns and up nasty pinch climbs.

I'm still yet to find a track that I wouldn't point this bike down! (Or up!)

Brad Harper
MERIDA Test Rider - Mountain Bikes