Neil Kinder's cycling story
Neil Kinder sent me his cycling story. I really appreciate him taking the time to write it. Neil is addicted to the Bright Boot Camp. He is a great chap whose enthusiasm for life is contagious. I've seen him develop into a fantastic cyclist over the few years that I have known him and look forward to seeing him back at our Bright Boot Camps - riding as hard as ever.
Written by Neil Kinder.
For all of the Cycling-Inform fans I thought you may be interested in my journey. At 56 I was really feeling my age. At 168CM and about 90 Kg even a slow walk around the block was tiring. One day I was walking on Saturday morning a little after 7.00 AM, it was unusual for me to be out that early I was generally asleep.
As I was standing looking across the bay on Beach Road Beaumaris just near the Rickets Point hills after the Black Rock Clock Tower A large peleton ripped up the hill effortlessly. The awesome sound of the cycles and the group chatting whilst delivering such power blew me away. I decided I had to get fitter.
I continued walking getting up regularly at 5.45 am each morning the short block soon became a 5 Kl walk and the weight was dropping. I was intrigued with the cyclists on Beach Road but thought nothing more about it.
Sean, my 16 year old son was into mountain biking and I thought it could be fun so I purchased a Kona Kula hard tail. The bike track on Beach Road to the clock tower and home at 2 Kl, within 6 months soon became an hour and a half sprint of 30 Kl to Paterson River and back to Beaumaris before 7.00AM daily…………I was keeping up with roadies with the nobby tires. My weight was down around 70Kg.
A friend of mine said give a mountain bike race a crack and I entered a 70 Kl race at Mt. Disappointment up near Kilmore. I attached the number on the front took off in a mass start. It was a real rush of adrenalin At the 30 Kl mark I was feeling really bad but hung in there to complete the distance. The race organisers were called Big Hill Events, and I know why it was tough both technically and physically. But I had fun and developed confidence in my riding ability.
I purchased a road bike after 12 months of riding the MTB on beach Road and the wet lands at the back of Chelsea. I got hooked on coffee with the boys after the daily 6AM ride, I road summer and into the depths of winter. The distances were generally about 30 Kl never venturing up Oliver’s Hill. I discovered the Bright Boot Camp in 2007 and trained to survive this. Having attended the 2007 and 2008, Cup Day Boot camps and ridden Hotham a few times since I owe a lot to David and the support riders for encouragement and technique training. This year I rode the Audex 140 Kl and finished in the top 15% time.
But I’ve got to say MTB is definitely the best. Recently I completed the Otway Odyssey 100Kl in less than 10 hours that was my goal. It’s the toughest marathon MTB race in Australia. I’m training for the Chase the Sun solo 8 hours now.
Cycling has provided me with so much pleasure, new friends and unbounded energy. It’s helped me though some difficult times in business and the delightful pleasure of almost eating as much as I like. Saturday mornings at 6.30 AM I too rip up that Ricketts Point hill like it wasn’t there. Thanks again David for being part of my network.
Course Overview
Starting on the Great Ocean Road in the picturesque town of Apollo Bay and finishing in the iconic MTB township of Forrest, the Otway Odyssey takes riders on a heroic 100km mountain bike journey through a range of wild landscapes in an Odyssey sent from the gods.
This is a race along roller coaster single track so much fun you’ll have a grin from ear to ear; it’s a race up hills so steep you’ll think your heart is going to leap from your chest; it’s a race down flowing fire roads and white knuckle double track that will put tears in your eyes and memories in your mind… and all this is amidst some of the most spectacular countryside you’ll ever see.
This is arguably the toughest mountain bike marathon in Australia but if mountain biking was easy then everyone would do it. So set yourself apart and line up for the ultimate 100km mountain bike marathon and a journey you will never forget. Odyssey sent from the gods.
http://www.rapidascent.com.au/OtwayOdyssey/
