Saturday, December 31, 2011

Saturday Morning, a few hills, some flat and a flat.


Thankfully the flat wasn't mine.

Friday, December 30, 2011

Sydney Olympic Park - Monster X, Part 2


The BMX course at Sydney Olympic Park.

Sydney Olympic Park - Monster X


Two runs down the X track while on a leisurely cycle around the paths of the Sydney Olympic Area.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Winmalee Ride

A ride around Winmalee Firetrails.

Data from my Bryton Rider 30 for STM Round 8 1/4


Yep that is my lap with Andy Hall with the peaking HR towards the end.

Monday, December 19, 2011

STM Round 8 1/4 Video



Direct link --> http://youtu.be/EgN8T9Wn8GY

Chocolate Foot’s Single Track Mind Series Final Round for 2011, Round 8 ¼


Held at the people’s favourite trail, Awaba, we finally got our chance to ride the flowing lines that this trail is well known for. After a number of rained out attempts through out the year it wasn’t just the crew from Chocolate Foot that had their fingers crossed for some fine weather. With a record cool start to summer everyone was hoping for a clear few days so the trail would be in perfect nick and vehicular access to the trail would be achievable.
The trail was in good form with just a few possible damp spots, like if you were still hugging the ground after a certain fast fire-trail down-hill run. There were a couple of sandy corners and sections that may have caught out a rider or two but the remainder of the course remained hard-packed and mostly grippy. Once again the Camel Back climb forced some riders off their bikes, not many riders were going to be able to claim a full lap in the big ring.
Photo by: Mike Israel (TORC)

I enjoyed my race, making the most of all the descents and just pottering back up the hills. With this being the last event for me for the year (others will be attempting a new event, a NYE 8hr Enduro at Jindabyne, Wicked Wombat, check it out) I was out just out to enjoy myself. With a new big-ring fitted a week ago my SRAM adorned Yeti worked flawlessly. I have to thank Enduro Pulse and our sponsors for their ongoing support.

At the pointy end of the solo field Jason English had pushed off the front leaving Andrew Hall and Ed McDonald to sort out the minor placings. When I caught up with Andrew for a chat on course in the final hour, he mentioned that he was having much more fun not worrying about the lead. With in excess of seven hours riding virtually without any company Andrew was happy to have someone to chat with. I was riding at Threshold and was struggling to return the banter. Andrew finished in second and Ed, on his SS, a credible third, both would go on to place first and second respectively for the series.

The Chocolate Foot crew once again have brought us a great series, highlights which include, Round 6 at Rydal on the fresh new Lithgow trails, a tacky Round 4 on the superb Wingello trails, but who could forget Round 2 on the hero dirt that is Coondoo. Catch you all next year for more MTBing fun.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Copperhead Trail

While on Copperhead we stopped to let Ben session a small section, going big for an A line.




Sydney 24hr Video

Woops, how could I forget the JetBlack 24hr?


The second running of the JetBlack 24hr for 2011 was to be held at Botanical Garden Mt Annan on the ever growing Enduro Trail.
With recent JetBlack 24’s being known for getting some terrible Hawkesbury February weather, Rocky Trail Entertainment decided to move location and the month of the event.
I cringed when I heard it was to be in December, imagining a sweltering South Western Sydney summers day. However, I convinced my support crew I would take it easy and if it was extremely hot, riding would play second fiddle to hydration and shade.
We arrived at the event centre and it was already bustling with bikes, people and tents. Coffee, BBQ, showers and toilets all the basics seemed to be catered for, bike mechanics, live DJ, and Bernard beverages. Wait a minute, beer? At Rocky Trail events anything is possible.

After a week of mixed weather Saturday turned out to be fine with clear skies. The trail was in good nick too, hard-packed and dry. We started with a loop around the event centre on the fire-trail to spread out the field before heading onto the single-trail of the Enduro Trail.
The first couple of laps were good sighting laps, getting a feel for the flow and grind. The double tabletops at the far end of the trail were an instant favourite, popping them for some easy air-time, but it was on my fourth lap I popped off the second one landing on the short down ramp squirreling on the front wheel.
It had attempted to roll the rubber off the wheel and there was dirt in the bead letting out air. I guess I was having too much fun.

The afternoon heated up, reaching into the thirties and after hours of constant use the trail was beginning to get dusty. Leading solo riders Jason English and Ed McDonald had already lapped me but this wasn’t unusual (they commonly pass me mid race during an eight hour). I was attempting to ride in a low heart rate zone, aiming to have plenty in reserve for later.

With 500 riders gathered from around NSW, ACT and even as far away as QLD for the 24 and 6+6 event the event centre was always busy and had a nice vibe with plenty of encouragement from other riders and spectators.

Out on the trail there was always a spot to pass or be passed without much effort. Everyone was enjoying the twists, turns and berms that feature so heavily in many sections of the trail.

It was probably not the time or place to figure out my last event, the BottleButt 100, had just about trashed my (big) 39t chainring. This Forced me to drop to the granny, 26t ring, and leave it there.
Or that I hadn’t fully recovered from the event and subsequent respiratory illness picked up while my defences were low.
My body was starting to struggle, as my support crew fitted batteries to my Ay-Ups and I headed out for some night laps the mental games were starting.

Where had the fun gone?
This was usually my time to shine, steadily working through the night, keen to feel those uplifting sunrise effects and blasting through the next morning. Instead I was pulling on a set of tracky-dacks and wiggling into a sleeping bag. I think I just called it a night.

Just after first light I was back up and into a new set knicks. I was at a mtb event, there was a nice trail just outside my tent, it was time to at least stretch my legs. Out I went to complete a further 6 laps before calling it quits for the day.

Rocky Trail once again had brought us a great event with heaps of atmosphere. Thanks to my crew and team for their ongoing support during these challenging events, especially when the chips are down.
I look forward to the next enduro event, see you there.

Copperhead Trail


With the launch of this new trail just last week, and words like unique, flow and downhill filling the spaces for description, I just had to check out Mt Buller’s latest collaboration with World Trail. Coined as a “flow down” trail, Copperhead is gravity assisted, machine rolled and capped trail featuring plenty of berms and rollers. Offering a downhill like descent with none of the demanding technical features, no crazy rock-gardens, no drop-offs, no gaps. But don’t think that it is just a stroll down the hill, there is still plenty of downhill edge, just let go of your brakes and while the trail is still fresh the loose top surface was like riding on marbles.
The trail is achievable on every style of bike, XC hard-tail through to a full DH rig. Riders should look forward to the official opening of the MTB season and chair lift to make the most of this trail. Copperhead and the chair lift will be the feature of the Bike Buller MTB Festival Stage 2 Race – The 5hr Brake-Burner. With the growing popularity of Super D and All-mountain events, were downhill and cross-country trails are incorporated, Bike Buller is leading the way to bringing gravity trails to all mountainbikers.

Bike Buller


With a variety of trails linking around Mt Buller and over to Mt Stirling, Buller MTB Trails your cross country and downhill needs are catered for. There are endless views when you stop for that needed breather on the trail, mid the forest of Mountain Ash and Snowy Gums. These trails are not for the faint hearted and suit competent MTBers right through to mountain-goat like experts. These often challenging trails have the distinct build markings of the World Trail team and are designed to be low maintenance and sustainable. Buller is well on its way to becoming a MTB mecca.StoneFly – Launched in early 2011, Stonefly has been labelled as one of the best trails in the country. The 10km loop extending out to Mt Stirling offers rugged climbs, tight switchbacks and flowing descents. With creek crossings, rock armour and many other features, you are kept you on your toes, if the scenery wasn’t a distraction already. The long gradual climb is rewarded with a fast and flowing run back down the mountain and in its self is sure to test the skills and endurance of all riders. A jewel in Buller’s crown of trails.

Misty Twist – Simple yet effective Misty Twist single-track blazes through the Victorian Alps as you enjoy the flowing downhill and work, often deceptively back up, towards Corn Hill.

Gang Gangs – Descends from the Village to Corn Hill and is a great little single-track with a few technical sections.