So Steve and I had a plan. Complete the 5 dams in 7hrs 45mins. Leave at 6:15 be back for 2:00. No stopping except for the essential water stops or “comfort breaks”. Carry all our own food.  I know you can stop at the neutral zones so it doesn’t add to your official time but I think this makes a mockery of endurance riding and strava doesn’t recognise neutral zones.

We planned to set off at our own pace. Hopefully have a good group to work with and get to the bottom of Greenmount with a 35 average. If the group we were with went too hard we would let them go. It turned out a little differently. We set off down Mill Point Rd and I looked over my shoulder to see the group was a long way behind us. I thought that we should ride on to the lights at Canning Hwy and the group would catch us there. Wrong. We got the light and rode on. We rode at a reasonable pace thinking we would get caught. It turns out we didn’t get caught for another 65km. We got to the bottom of Greenmount with the 35 average that we were looking for and now it was time for the first climb. I was going to be on the front setting the pace for the bigger climbs so away we went. How hard should I go? I felt good but there was a lot of riding in front of us. I decided to ride at a hr of 165 bpm. Not too hard too early, there was still a long way to go. It turns out I set pr’s all the way up Greenmount and it felt good. The  3000 km, 21000m climbing training I had done in the previous 10 weeks must have been worth it.

We headed onto Mundaring Weir road and started eating. I had two bananas, three Bonk bars and four gels to get me through the ride. We rode straight through the first checkpoint and up and down the bumps on our way to Brookton Hwy. I was surprised that we hadn’t been caught already and started dreaming of being off the front all day. Too early for dreaming! Seven riders caught us just before Brookton Hwy and they brought the rain with them! Nice. As we descended Brookton Hwy the rain really came down. Stinging needles in my face and low visibility while descending at 60km/hr. Perhaps a little sketchy but great fun.

All too soon I was pumping the brakes trying to stop for the turn into dam 2. There was now six of us. The other three must have stopped for a puncture or a team mate. The climb into Churchman Brook dam was steady. I am glad I had done it the week before as I knew what to expect and which way to go as I think the directions at this dam weren’t the best. Steve and I stopped for water and the other four guys continued on. We rode through  Churchman Brook and onto Wungong dam. Nice climbing in beautiful but soggy countryside. We rode over the timing mats at Wungong and straight on to Canning dam. The descent into Canning dam is bumpy and uncomfortable but more enjoyable than the long climb out. We got caught by the same four riders, as they had stopped Wungong, just before we turned back onto Albany highway for the long undulating stretch to the final dam. I was thinking it would be great to work with these guys to Serpentine dam but Steve wasn’t up to holding these guys pace. I think this was a bit of a low point for Steve which I can understand as this is where I really struggled the week before on my training ride.

We rode Albany Hwy at a steady pace and I was so happy to see the sign to turn off the highway to the final dam. We stopped for water at Serpentine and saw the same four guys that had passed us. They were dealing with a mechanical issue in the neutral zone. One group decided to work with us for the long journey back. I am glad they did. With a team of four we set a cracking pace. The climbs were quickly over with & we enjoyed the fast descent to South West Hwy. Just another 70km on the flat and we would be home.

I think it was about the time we turned onto the freeway that I started struggle. I was trying to tell myself that 50km was an easy distance. Just an easy lap around the river and we would be home. Yet I had this overwhelming desire to get off my bike and lie down. Just lie there and splash some cold water on my face. Who really needs to finish this thing anyway? I had some water and gel and got on with working with the group. It took a while but I got my head back into a positive space. We worked well together and managed to average over 35km/hr for the section to Armadale Rd. After Armadale Rd our average dropped to 32km/hr. I think this says a lot about where our collective energy levels where at.

Passing the Raffles was an awesome feeling. I though yeah, we have made it! The climb up Mill Point Rd past the zoo was hard but then it was downhill to the finish. The four of us were the first 5 dammers across the line. It was a great feeling & one I celebrated by lying on the grass and pouring the cold water that my lovely wife & kids had bought for me over my head.

Steve & I ended up with an official time of 07:43:26 or a Garmin time of 07:40:30 averaging 31.1 km/hr and a respectable 14^th place. (12^th if you remove the #10 & #11 who only did 4 dams?)

Would I do it again? At first I thought no, but as the days go by and I focus on the highs and forget the lows I think maybe, just maybe…