2019 Wrap!

• It has been another massive year. Thanks to my team and team mates for all their support. While some our results are individual we get great support from friends and family who give up their time to hand out bottles and drive us after an exhausting day.
• We have a number of standout events and results, here they are in no particular order.
• 2nd Pair 12hrs in the Piney

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• 1st NW Mountainbikers Mt Borah GE

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• 1st NSW Police Games XC

• 3rd (5th overall) NSW Police Games GE

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• 2nd Jacks Ridge XXX

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• 4th Elite TAMMTB Summer Race 6Feb

• 1st Elite TAMMTB Summer Race 14Feb

• 4th Elite TAMMTB Summer Race 27Feb

• 4th Elite TAMMTB Summer Race 16Oct

• 7th Elite TAMMTB Summer Race 23Oct

• 2nd Elite TAMMTB Summer Race 30Oct

• 2nd Elite TAMMTB Summer Race 6Nov

• 7th Elite TAMMTB Summer Race 13Nov

• 4th Elite TAMMTB Summer Race 20Nov

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• 2nd Masters 2 National Cup XCO NEMTB

• 2nd Masters 2 National Cup XCC NEMTB

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• 1st RT Grand Prix Championship Awaba

• 5th RT Grand Prix Ourimbah

• 8th RT Grand Prix Glenrock

• 17th RT Grand Prix Series (28th GC Rnd 3 & 5 only) 

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• 2nd Elite NIXCS UNE

• 3rd Elite NIXCS Tamworth

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• 2nd RT SuperFlow Champs Jollynose

• 3rd RT SuperFlow Enduro Ourimbah

• 5th RT SuperFlow Enduro Taree

• 7th RT SuperFlow Enduro Awaba

• 7th RT SuperFlow Series
• JetBlack MTB Racing are support by the following;
  
  #ridejetblack #jetblackproducts #theoddspoke #rockytrailentertainment #hubbardproof #prismbike #M2Oindustries #blacktownfamilydental #ambmagazine #mitastyres
  
  @jetblackmtbrace @ridejetblack @jetblackcycling @theoddspoke @rockytrailentertainment @prism.bike @M2OIndustries @australianmountainbike @mitas_tyres

Inverell MTB Copeton 6hr

Tamworth local at Pairs team rider Ann bombs through one of the many rocky sections. All photos by: CrummyMTB

We'd never heard of Copeton but when it came up on the list as one of our "local" events we were keen to get along and have a look. Copeton 6hr has been a long standing event for the Inverell mountain bike community for close to ten years and for good reason. The location is on the edge of the great Copeton Dam and the event hub this year was based out of the Reflections Holiday Park. The park is a solid two hour drive north of Tamworth and included a section of dirt road.

Riding this week in the annual Ride for the Chopper and getting some kms under the belt.

We joined a number of TAMMTB, NEMTB and Inverell riders, who had sorted themselves across a variety of teams and solo categories. A quick reccy before any official business and we found a number of short but rocky descents and plenty of wide hard-packed trail, sprinkled with patches of sand. The rock and hard-pack were particularly grippy, with no surprises about the short sections of sand.

The trails and granite rocks of Copeton.

The race got underway with quick start by some of the teams, we followed but just not too enthusiastically, finding a Inverell team riding spinning along at a reasonable pace. Tamworth endurance rider Mick Sherwood wound his way onto our wheel and we settled into a nice train. While the teams swapped riders a pleasant wave and a call of our race number was all that was needed from solo riders. Back out on the trail Mick had joined us again and we were discussing and trialing a few line choices. Not that line choices were bad either way, a couple of sections could have you off the bike if you weren't careful or they could have you putting in more effort for little reward. We had worked through a couple of laps that most B-lines may only cost a few seconds.

Inverell hosted and had a number of riders in attendance.

Mick was still following us onto our fourth lap, we were sitting pretty high in the overall standing with just a few teams in front and a few swapping lap times similar. It just took an error on a fence crossing to bring us to a crashing halt, catching the bottom of our pedal in some of the wire. On inspection nothing was broken, a cork in the thigh from the headset but when we looked at our bike we were missing a pivot linkage bolt. This missing bolt brought our ride to an end and Mick had to complete the remaining in his usual solo style as we made our way back to transition to call it a day.

Mick went on to take the solo win, only a number of minutes down on some of the fast teams. We were stoked to have had a solid couple of laps out on the Copeton trail, then getting to hang about the transition area and out on the trail watching the race unfold. We look forward to the next opportunity to ride this unique location, thanks to our TAMMTB friends for all their support!

Great support by the regions clubs TAMMTB, NEMTB and Inverell.

JetBlack MTB Racing are support by the following;
#ridejetblack #jetblackproducts #theoddspoke #rockytrailentertainment #hubbardproof #prismbike #M2Oindustries #blacktownfamilydental #ambmagazine #mitastyres

@jetblackmtbrace @ridejetblack @jetblackcycling @theoddspoke @rockytrailentertainment @prism.bike @M2OIndustries @australianmountainbike @mitas_tyres

JetBlack 24

It was November and we are again considering the final big event for the year, the JetBlack 24. A running history of some tough conditions this event has seen us ride both successfully and less-successfully across a variety of categories. For this year we chose to compete as a team reeling back to a 6+6 in hope of some rest and recovery overnight, dialing the fun up to 11 during the day.

The hectic start for the teams in the 24hr and 6+6.

There were warm conditions again this year and hydration was going to play a key aspect of anyones ride.  A trail extension was added, only just completed the week of the event and this would see riders enjoy a couple more built features and then turn around to hurt badly on the winding climbs.

Open fire-trail start gets the first few teams into the single-track without serious conga.

Rocky Trail Entertainment had scored the National Solo 24hr Championships to be held in conjunction with the JetBlack 24hr. This saw some of the best endurance riders gravitate to Mt Annan from as far away as New Zealand and South Australia. But it wasn't just the specialists in attendance for the Nats but plenty of guys and girls giving solo 24 a go for the first time. It was great to be able to watch as top contenders Andrew Lloyd, Ed McDonald, Jason English, Liz Smith and Tory Thomas played their hands throughout the event.

24hr solo first-timer Kevlar.

For us in the 6+6 it seemed like we had picked the most competitive category with many teams including some serious XC and Marathon talent. We still laid down some decent lap times while hovering close to the top 5 teams in the category, many thanks to our team mates for the no stress transitions and chilled vibe while off the bike.

Team-mate Mick hands off to Shane in the 6+6.

The on-course atmosphere was very laid back, it was pretty sweet to be able to ride with so many top-level and representative riders. There is always plenty of passing opportunities and everyone was courteous, solos, teams, who-ever. 

Another great event by Rocky Trail, thanks to JetBlack MTB Racing team and our sponsors for all their support this year. 

We were able to relax overnight while the 24hr rides rolled through.

Full results here.

Short Circuit Cancer

Words and photos by: Jason Pilgrim

Kevin, Jason, Michelle and David make up The Global Kaizen Group

Short Circuit Cancer is a charity run by Brent Collier, a good friend of mine, Exercise Physiologist and dual brain cancer survivor. He works tirelessly in the Fight Back Against Cancer. The Short Circuit Cancer MTB Bike event is a 6hr mountain bike race held for the last 4 years at Heathcote National Park. Solo, teams and kids events are all apart of the day with loads of sponsors like Fraser Cycles, Scott bikes and many others. Brent and his Short Circuit Team along with major sponsor Toyota do an amazing job, with last years event raising more than 60k for Cancer research! Yesterday's event had approx 1500 riders in wet, muddy conditions after a week of rain. Everyone persevered in the often hilly but fun course, with loads of kids activities, expo area and festivities keeping everyone entertained all day. The weather was perfect all day, despite the weather mans predictions and already close to 50k has been raised with a load of other money, collections and donations still needing to be counted. Our team sponsored by The Global Kaizen Group consisted of myself, ex dual Olympic silver medallist Michelle Ferris, David Rankine and Kevin Nelson. Together we completed just over 200km of riding as a team which was a great effort in the tough muddy conditions. A great family day of fun for an amazing cause and I would recommend everyone gets involved in the 2015 event.