Round 3 & Championships of the X-Fusion State XC

Hosted by WSMTB at Springwood's Blue Gum Lodge track the Championships was well supported with over 140 riders. Once again the track was in good condition, short, twisty and mostly single track, there was even a new section with an extra rock garden section. I rode in the Expert category with the likes of fast man Mr Vanos, Mr Lamb and Shane Taylor. They were off like a shot from the start and I did all I could to keep up with them over the seven laps. Again not all competitors finished their laps with three riders DNF. It is a tough little course and where I chose to ride the GT Zaskar for first time. I went on to finish with my fastest lap and place 10th in the Category.
This is my first ride on a hard-tail (HT) and I found myself using different muscles. Two days later and I am still sore, where last weeks 6hr race I recovered overnight. It is possible I am riding using a different style and I still have a lot to learn about riding. Turns out I am a MTB Sitter when it comes to style, but on a HT you cant be a Sitter. Also how sketchy is a HT on the downhill? Yeah I have a lot to learn.
The bike is light and looks flash with its clear carbon finish, diamond shaped tubes and yellow pin-stripes. More on the bike as I use it. Things on the horizon could include the Grand Prix, the Flight Centre Epic and ADF Enduro Championships.
The Judy forks on the commuter recently received Enduro seals and new lease on life. I found them tough to put in and spoke to Duncan from DIY MTB about it. Duncan said that all the Enduro seals for Rock Shox forks were tight, where Fox were easier to install. I would recommend if you need your Rock Shox serviced get it done by DIY MTB. DIY yourself may end in frustration and warped seals, I came close to leaving the Judy forks seal-less.
Le Tour is over with some great endurance riding by Cadel and Lance. There goes 30mins of cycling highlights a day, I will have to break out 24 Solo over the next couple of weeks. The 24hr World Champs is over with another orsome effort by Elite and Age group riders. Watch this space for a definitive interview with a World Champion.

Coondoo swings both ways.

The Merida X-Fusion 6hr was held on the weekend at one of SCUM's most popular locations. The Coondoo track had been reinvigorated by the organisational team and trail fairies. There were new sections of single track, power-line and fire trail and some sections of original Coondoo to be ridden in reverse. There was a rock garden which would be walked by an occasional competitor and downhill fire trail with water-bars screaming out air-time. The compulsory Coondoo log-rollovers were in there as well as a reversed section from the quarry to the wooden bridge becoming a sweet sandy switchback ascent.
Solos started separate from the teams and gained a four minute advantage via a shortcut through to the second quarter of the eleven kilometer track. Although the track was well bunted and signposted, there was a small mix-up with one reversed section but the remaining five hours and fifty minutes was without incident. The local Rural Fire Brigade volunteers were at hand to provide checkpoints around the track with their 4x4 vehicles and radios.
My race went well for the first half, the lead riders had scurried off into the distance and I was keeping a solid pace. Another Sydney based rider on his ss was riding with me and we were working well through the track. There was plenty of fun on the track, pushing the bike ,tyres and myself as far as we could go. Big air off water-bars, rollovers and plenty of fast switchbacks. Finding and connecting faster, smoother lines through new or reversed track. Or just letting it loose in front of the timing crew.
Around midday things changed, I lost focus and failed to negotiate a sandy corner, coming unstuck and lightly grazing my forearm. From this incident I found I was lacking the same power as before, my legs felt heavy, I was in the hurt locker. I lost contact with the ss rider and limped back through the remaining track to the transition to fuel up. It has been a very long time since I had felt this bad and I think nutrition was to blame. I may have skipped some food during the race so far and put myself in energy debt. I have found FRS works best with good nutrition, it was my mistake.
Over the next lap and a half it was all about recovery from the flat spell and bring my energy levels back up with a mixture of high and medium GI carbs. My legs began to feel better and I was able to settle into the usual enduro pace. At this point I wasn’t sure how much time I had lost during the flat spell to the ss rider.
Riding the loop for the last time, the clock passed the six hour, Mark from Canberra caught up with me. In fact I caught up with quite a few people over the event, there was a certain casual, festive vibe through out the event center and out on track. It was a great event by the organisers, a BBQ, cake stall, bike repairs, games and quizzes. Maybe just ease up with the Dave time on the microphone. Well done to the event organisers and all the volunteers for a fun ride.
All up it turns out I didn’t loose to much time to the ss rider and went on to place 7th by minutes. My Canaan worked flawlessly and I had no mechanical issues. The X-Fusion Velvet fork I have on the Canaan is well suited to enduros and trail riding. Bring on more fun enduros SCUM.
A big thanks to Tracy and Hally for their hospitality over the weekend. Also to Kev for his time behind the lens.

Weekend of Training

Saturday training ride this week was with the local triathlon club. Firstly I attempted to meet up with the usual bunch from Rouse Hill but it was their week for the hilly Pitt Town ride and I never managed to catch up with them. So I made my way by some spots which cyclist could congregate and came across the tri club about to go for a ride. They headed out the back of the Hawkesbury in the hills and we climbed our way across to Kurmond. I haven’t been out that way before, there were plenty of hills and not to much traffic. From Kurmond it was all down hill to Richmond, my 42-12 max ratio had my legs spinning at least 120RPM to keep up. The tri's were a funny bunch on the road, there wasn't the same organisation I have experienced with other road-riding groups. But I will ride with them again, 70 odd kilometers of road hills and the legs know it.
I backed my Saturday training ride with another ride on Sunday. The Penrith cyclists rode by and I attached to the bunch. Their ride is fair paced but across mostly flat roads. It includes veterans of Western Sydney cycling through to keen cyclists out for a great Sunday ride. I have ridden with this group quite a few times and they don’t mind a bit of MTB in the mix. The group breaks apart in Penrith and I make my way back to the Hawkesbury region for a +50km return ride. It has been a while since I have done a 50km double and it was good.

WSMTB/MWMTB XC Series Round 5

Finally there was a change of location for the WSMTB/MWMTB XC Series. The change was from MTB hot-spot Yarramundi to a property in Springwood. Blue Gum Lodge has a sweet track winding through its small forested area. This mostly single track crosses gullies and sandstone and chases its tail around the tight slopes of its choice Blue Mountains location. A great change from the usual and chance to ride this private track.
The A Grade bunch was made up of the fast and very fast. I slipped in behind them of the start then made up places on the first open corner with a great line and plenty of speed. I pushed the limits on the first lap, catching myself out on a smooth log with gravel around it. It could have been a combination of speed, distance to the rider in front and tyre choice. The small block 8s I felt were at their extreme with the small loose over hard-packed, sandstone, soft grippy soil and all the switchbacks.
It was an eight lap smash fest and everything worked really well. If you get a chance to ride the track at Blue Gum, grab it.
Don't forget to check out Bozz and his work-up towards the World Solo 24hr Championships in Canada at the end of the month.

A break

A couple of weeks away from home and a break from competition for three weeks. There was a couple of visits to Wagga Wagga's Pommie track. Pommie is a sweet hard packed track that winds its way around and over a forest reserve backing onto Wagga City Golf course. There was a great view of the lights from the top of the hill of Wagga during my night ride. Wagga MTB Club claims to do social evening rides around their local trails during the week, unfortunately it seemed I was the only one out that evening. Maybe it has been the cold snap of winter taking the fun out of the dirt for some. Their loss, get out and ride!
Things coming up, the X-Fusion/Merdia 6hr at SCUM’s Coondoo Track. WSMTB/MWMTB XC Series and a trip to sunny QLD for an Epic.