The destruction of Tomewin

Hard to believe that it's almost two weeks since I produced what will probably go down as my most devastating performance of the year. It was earlier this month that the 200k randonee in the Tweed Valley was held. It was an a-typical August day in these parts because the wind was strong from the south. Consequently I took my time heading south through the Hogan rainforest toward Murwillumbah. The hilly detour out to Tyalgum provided some relief, before the wind went to work again on the southern run to Uki.



The wind wasn't finished yet of course, but the climb over the Burringbar range was always going to silence it quickly. After the turn around just south of Mooball and hitting the Tweed coast for the run home with a tailwind, it always takes a while to adjust to actually riding with the wind. This is something I've never quite understood, but I've been around long enough to learn not to rush it. Refusing to rush it was going to prove a smart decision later in the day. After leaving the Tweed coast at Cabarita and heading inland, the ride loses much of it's scenic interest until the final climb at Tomewin.



My previous best time on this climb had been 23.15, a ride after which I soon picked up a nasty illness (to go with the crash that followed my previous record time). Consequently, I wasn't intending to break the record today. Two km into the climb I decided to go on the attack anyway on the grounds that I still felt good. I figured I wouldn't get near my record time, but I could still have a crack at it. Well I kept attacking the steep bit, cleared it, and reached the final kilometre which now had an easier gradient. I wanted to attack here as well, but my legs had nothing left. I resigned myself to not getting the record, but still being satisfied with getting close. Then I rounded a corner and saw the summit ahead of me -- I was actually going to pull it off! The final time ended up being 22.30, with 185km in my legs that day already!

After that I slaughtered the remainder of the ride with ease, which was hardly surprising considering it was mainly down hill, with a tailwind, and I was already inspired. I know I'm unlikely to get near that time again this year (this weekend is already forecast to hit 30 degrees C, and it's only going to get warmer). For all that, however, I was extremely satisfied with what I did that day, and there are plenty of other great days to come.