Rydal Interclub 3hr

It was going to be a busy weekend, with a couple of events pack in. But a couple of days of wet weather put a dampener on the CX, of all things, it was cancelled. Thankfully just over the other side of the hill, the Interclub 3hr location of Rydal didn't have the same conditions.

Rydal is just a few minutes from Lithgow and home to a whole bunch of hand-carved trail. The Rydal showground plays the perfect part of transition area, and the CTMBC the host club of this round.

Arriving with our JetBlack MTB Racing team mates, we signed on then ducked out for a reccy lap. For this fun event it was decided a pairs team would be a great change and we met with our team mate for the day in the transition area, Brad.

Brad is making waves at WSMTB XC rounds this year by winning D Grade consecutively. He has some mad on-bike skills and has recently transitioned from the club Junior racing categories. He lead out our team, and the whole race on lap 1 for the sprint to the first corner.

At transition one we were sitting as the second male pair team, rolling through as the 23rd rider. It was my turn to head out on the fun windy trail. Away from the flat show-ground area, the trails lead riders on an exciting journey of almost effortless fun. Transitioning back to Brad we had  made up a number of places and were now sitting within the top 10.

Brad puts in another impressive lap to keep us within touch of our competitors. Then it is another handover, and I race out, pre jumping the first log and runching through the following corner, all off the brakes. Hand-over, hydrate, food, rinse and repeat!

With five minutes left before the gate to the trail would close, Brad flew into view and I was tagged for our last lap. This last lap was a blinder too, with less riders out on trail and the changing trail conditions into a tacky, hero dirt ribbon of bliss.

Thanks to CTMBC for hosting the event, my JetBlack MTB Racing team mates for the travel arrangements and transition setup. Thanks to Brad for pairing up with us, turns out we won the Male Pairs Category!

See you at the next event...

WSMTB XC Series Round 1 2018

The first round of the Series took us to the familiar setting of Yarramundi, nestled at the base of the Blue Mountains in NSW. Sound recognisable? Well it was almost what I was reading word for word just the other day before our own Round 1 of the WSMTB XC Series. It continued, “the venue, which is now a familiar stop for the New South Welshmen amongst us, hosting its second national round in as many years”. Wait, hold on a minute, Yarramundi is a national series trail in past history?

We were flipping through a 2006 mountain bike magazine last week before our first round and stumbled across Aiden Lefmann’s (of RLC Sport and Cyclinic) words. A classic tale of persistence and adversity, quite easily re-invented for our most recent event. Take out the solid shredder names from yester-year, inset our newest bunch of shredders and you have yourself a race wrap-up.

After racing at WSMTB’s Yarramundi XC trails for over 8 years now, “it was no surprise to find myself lining up for yet another traditional Yarramundi race, this time”, (Lefmann added, with the added prestige of a national round) as round one of the 2018 Series. “A strong showing of competitors from all over…” Sydney ”… lined up for the series opener. With numbers up in all categories, it shows that there is still plenty of depth in the Olympic format style of XC racing”.

“The Yarramundi course treats you to some super fast, but dray and sandy racing, with very few opportunities to get the climbing legs out to play. The course follows several kilometres of fast but also twisty single-track with the odd section of fire road for the passing manoeuvres to take place”.

Lefmann goes on to call out the good depth of talent on the day, Flemming (formerly Clarence St Cyclery), Taberlay (formerly Avanti) and Cooper (formerly Scott/Ritchey), just to name a few. Like wise we could do the same, Gordon, Green, Brame and Dinham. Names, all becoming synonymous with some fast riding at National level.

We get underway, A Grade, and it wasn’t long before our regular front-runners start putting the hurt on anyone near the pointy end. We had managed to pull in behind BigDog and were attempting to hold the furious pace the guys were producing. Through the trees behind us were our team mates, Browny and Troy, it was going to be important to maintain this XC pace, not letting the endurance team specialists get one up on us.

WSMTB regulars Ludenia, Steve and Ian eventually catch me and there is no contest. Who does catch and we tussle for a couple of laps is Jamie Anderson. Eventually Jamie seems to succumb to his own pressure of pace, we gain a placing, dropping Jamie somewhere amongst the trees and holding it to the finish line.

It was a massive first round for all grades and we had seventeen riders registered for A Grade. WSMTB had altered the trail for the round, making it shorter and perhaps a little more fun. Our team mates Browny and Troy held steady to place further down the order.

We can only envisage the duelling pair of Dinham and Brame at the front of the race were having some form of showdown. In Lefmann’s write-up of 2006 it was Cooper V’s Flemming coming out of the single track for the 150m sprint to the line. Lefmann, digging deep in the last few kilometres had held on with Cooper making the attack to reel back Flemming. In a flurry of pedal strokes and a spray of stones, in that last 100m, Lefmann came from behind taking the win. In 2018 Brame takes it at our local clubby level from Dinham.

JetBlack MTB Racing continues to be partnered with The Odd Spoke, Natural Balance, Rocky Trail Entertainment and AMB. Which allows us to ride how we like! You'll see us at another event shortly!
Full results from WSMTB here.

Dylan Cooper's 2006 Writeup.

WSMTB XC 2017

It was April and finally the WSMTB XC season has kicked off. Ok, there was a rained out start last month, to the effect that the trails have been suffering since. But Round 2 got off to a glorious start, mist in the hollows, but on the side of the Blue Mountains at the home of XC in Sydney it was all sunshine.

The dust started flying with the U10s and U13s, the U10s included juniors from age 3 on balance bikes, on their own trail. U13s completed a shortened loop of the main trail, with all the timing and lap counts the more senior riders are use to.

Over eighty riders had signed up for the round, and this time there was a re-visited twist. It has been a long time coming, but Lumley's is back. Some major time and effort by the small WSMTB XC trail crew has restored this classic climb. Had to cast our mind back, way back, to the last time this route was raced on.

Young gun Owen Gordon. Photo - WSMTB

In A Grade there were some of the usual suspects, the regulars, then there were the young guys nipping at the heels. The likes of Owen Gordon, who last year blitzed WSMTB B Grade, has made the move to A this year. Fergus Mackie - JetBlack MTB Racing, also joined in the A Grade fray.

Wheels kicked and cleats snapped from the call "GO", managing to reach the bottom of the first singletrack in the first half of the group. It then turned uphill and we went quickly from first half to virtually last.

From there focus shifted to staying in touch with the tail-enders and in-front of B Grade. A few B Graders slipped by as we battled it out for the remainder of the laps and it came down to a sprint finish with my fellow competitor.

James rolls one of the rock sections in C Grade. Photo - WSMTB 

The great thing about WSMTB is the inclusive atmosphere and of course the local RFS manning the BBQ, there is always plenty for that post ride recovery meal. It was a another nice morning out, fun on bikes for everyone. Awesome work by WSMTB!

Thanks to our supporters and partners JetBlack MTB Racing with The Odd Spoke, Natural Balance and Rocky Trail Entertainment. See you at another event soon.

WSMTB Summer Series Twilight 4hr Round

We weren't able to make the first round of the series due to another riding engagement but with the calendar clear and the end of our summer holiday period almost over, the twilight round of WSMTB's Summer Series was good to go.

The holiday period had meant we were able to prepare nicely (a visit to Orange for XCO Nats included), with a quick check on Strava for the route and a multitude of visits to familiarise ourselves with the trails.

Of course the summer weather was punching pretty high with plenty on heat during the buildup and on race day, when we arrived at Yellomundee mid afternoon there was little getting away from the scorching conditions.

A few riders mentioned prior to starting that it could be a race of attrition, particularly if the sweltering heat stuck around into the evening, bottles of fluid were neatly packed away in eskies of ice, or in some cases portable fridges.

Riders at the starting line. Photo: CrummyMTB

As the riders launched from the start line dedicated support crews huddled beneath 3x3 shades with cool towels and water sprayers, after a short while all eyes and ears were peeled for the first riders to pass close to transition, signalling the start of the crew duties.

We weren't surprised to see BigDog pass by first, but what did surprises us was the gap to the following riders. A quick fix of some bunting and everyone was back on track, four hours is plenty for the leading teams and solos to battle out the difference.

It was that first hour of racing that hit everyone pretty hard, some riders stopped after those first one or two laps, rightly complaining that it was extremely hot. At this stage it was time for a couple of snappy laps after our team mate had been out on that initial lap.

The course was fast but every breath felt like breathing from a furnace, dry baking the back of your throat. Breath less, ride faster. The usual tough but short Yellomundee climbs were offset with rocky flowing descents.

A quick sub forty minute double and we were back at transition to check on our team mate. The conditions were not favourable and it took our team a while to recover and get back out on the trail. It had only cooled off ever so slightly.

Enough time had passed and it seemed like on our second lap we would be out during the "lights-on" period so we quickly fitted our Ay-Ups, gave the bike a once-over and prepared for our next double lap.

Our team mate had made they way around the track, we placed a cooled towel over their shoulders and leapt on our bike. Down the first descent the bike felt stiff, feeling like it was more than a tyre pressure check. It was quickly obvious that our most junior support crew, still in training, had done their own bike check, locking out the fork.

This second double was quicker than the first and it was pretty good to be out during the twilight. The trail was dry and fast, WSMTB had picked a fairly open climbing course, opting the narrow climb of Steve's Descent instead of the parallel firetrail.

Now was crunch time for our team, head out for another lap with the possibility of it turning dark while our team mate was still out there. This would be their first night ride, some encouragement and support from another rider, and they both headed out lights blazing.

Before long our team mate was back, a quick look at the time and we could head out for one more lap. Lights back on our bike and it was out for a casual night lap to wrap-up the 4hr up for our team.

Thanks to WSMTB for putting on a great 4hr event, it was great to see a wide range of teams and solos out on the trail. We had a helpful crew in transition, supporting multiple solos and keeping an eye on us too, cheers.

We'll see you at the next event!

NSW Junior Series - Round 1

Sixty riders entered the NSW Junior Series on the weekend, this first round was hosted by Western Sydney Mountain Bike Club at their home trail Yellomundee. While the conditions were dry there was some nervous anticipation as dark clouds hovered overhead.

Local riders were joined by mountain bikers from across Sydney and further afield. It was great to have representatives from the Central Coast and Singleton to the Southern Highlands and Wollongong, Manly to Lithgow.

After the race both parents and junior riders said they would check out the other Junior Series rounds, for some this had been their first mountain bike event. Other riders couldn't commit time to travel to the furthest afield rounds due to their senior year of study and HSC.

A number of riders did a double race as there was under 10's before the NSW Junior Series and senior racing afterwards. Massive kudos to those under 10's for following it up with the Junior Series and the dedicated few who took on the senior event.

Great work by WSMTB, their committee and volunteers. The Yarramundee RFS put on a BBQ fundraiser and all the riders who came along made it a successful morning. 

WSMTB CX Round 1

A super fast launch for Open Bike to chase B Grade. Photo: Reynolds

WSMTB launch into the CX scene with Round 1 of their 2015 series held at the International Regatta Centre, Penrith. There was fun racing for the kids, then B Grade CX and Open Bike (mountain bike) which we competed in, followed by A Grade. It was a busy weekend for CX in Sydney with a "double-header", MWCC CX on Saturday and then WSMTB's CX on the Sunday. Plenty of room for more cowbell!

It takes a fair bit of work to pass through the twisty section of course. Photo: Reynolds

The course was basically around one of the small lakes followed by some corners, hurdles and mud. At 35mins of racing for Opens and B Grade you can ride on the limit for the whole time, in this instance it was about 10mins a lap for the front runners.

One of the mud pits. Photo: Reynolds

As our first real foray into CX we were pleased with our result, claiming a top 3 spot after a punishing 40mins of threshold HR. We rode our Pivot 429 Alloy, which was way to much bike but fun all the same. Setup remained standard for XC and endurance events, we might pick another bike for next time.
Fuel was provided by High5 Energy Source in the hour before the event.
See you at the next event!

WSMTB Summer Series at Wylde

It had been a while in the making, with plenty of work by WSMTB and those involved in the making of Western Sydney Parkland’s Wylde MTB Trail. After Round 1 was cancelled, so many riders had been crossing their fingers to get a chance to race the first Wylde event with WSMTB and finally it was here.

Mass rego line, everyone wanting to race Wylde. Photo: Steve Billington

There was some trepidation as the patchy morning sky gradually turned grey and almost on the queue of race start it began raining. A thirty-minute delay was called, the rain cloud passed and mud splatter was guaranteed.

JetBlack MTB Racing team excited in preperation. Photo: CrummyMTB

On race start we had lined up a little further back than we should have and consequently had to put up with a bit of conga-line traffic during the first lap. While out in front and settling a pace only some team riders could manage (Jason English-esque), was teammate Andrew Finlayson.

JetBlack MTB Racing's Andrew Finlayson leads the race. Photo: CrummyMTB

We had made the right choice to ride our Pivot 429 shod with Nobbly Nics and a Michelin Wild Race’r (review tyre) from race start. The huge widely spaced knobs on the Nic were near perfect in the wet conditions and we were able to use that control to our advantage, getting within sight of our competitors by the end of lap 1.

No caption needed. Photo: Scott Reynolds

There were many mishaps, even out on Lap 2, as the trail began to slowly change but it was still very slippery in sections. The Blue Mountains duo of Ian Anderson (fast-man from last weeks Ginja Ninja 250) and Steve Tomczyk (who also pipping us by a couple of minutes last week too) went down on the trail spectacularly in front of us, sliding sideways with their bikes like pancakes along the trail. We lost our numberplate shortly after as it was heavy with mud and we had to run back along the sodden trail to find it.

Making the most of the fast conditions. Photo: Scott Reynolds

The Pivot was having some shifting issues due to ingress of mud to the segmented wire outer (a full-length outer will be the next upgrade) and now a couple of laps in the trail was definatly drying out and getting faster. Time for a bike swap, to the cleaner, leaner, orange On One Inbred.

Now it was just settling into the pain of Wylde's short pinch climbs, which we think was the cause of some back discomfort many riders were experiencing. We had plenty of riders around us to ride with particularly Steve Billington from Quantum Racing. We were often in formation as a little pair zipping along the trails, keeping it relaxed and making it easy to for multiple riders flowing in a passing situations. We were making good time and slowly pulling back any fast XC riders out in front, both solos and teams.

Riding side by side for most of the 4hrs Steve Billington and author. Photo: Steve Billington

Getting the nutrition right was a big part of the day (could be a whole blog in its self) and we had purposely consumed a gel mid Lap 6 in prep for Lap 7, we wanted to ensure Steve had no answer for what our intentions were. Within the first 3km we could see that there was a neat gap between us, but we didn't turn the screws down till the second half of the lap, scream through the final sections making every double and railing every berm.

Solo male podium, L-R, Michael Crummy 2nd, Andrew Finlayson 1st. Not present Steve Billinton 3rd.
Photo: Scott Reynolds

Unbeknownst to most out on the trail the timing computer spat the dummy and the WSMTB timing crew had been working feverishly to pull results together. There was some anticipation at presentations as the top three team and solo riders were announced in each category, and it was a great surprise to hear Steve Billington announced as third place and that we had placed second to teammate Andrew Finlayson.

Massive shout to WSMTB and all the team behind pulling the Summer Series together. Bikeminded and our other LBS for supporting each round. Stans NoTubes and JetBlack for their support of the Series. Our team JetBlack MTB Racing for great camaraderie, and all our sponsors in which we ride for. Another top event and stoked to race Wylde for its first time!

Ginja Ninja 250

We headed to Orange to compete in the Ginja Ninja 250, the first round of the highly anticipated Evocities Series. Many top rides from around NSW/ACT were expected to enter this mostly regional NSW series, as it has large cash prize pool on offer.

Arriving on Saturday gave us the chance to ride a lap of the Ginja Ninja course, but it would have been rude not to ride two laps for all the fun the course offered. There were some slight changes over previous years course, with a couple more deliberate climbs thrown in this year, but on the flip side this also provided some exciting descending from said climbs.

We found out that the Banjo Paterson Festival had been running all week in Orange and Saturday night was the annual night markets. The park opposite DG Cycles in Orange was filled full of local food and beverage stalls. It was a great opportunity to sample local produce and mix with the thousands that converged on the markets that night.

Riders barrel along the firetrail before beginning the race loop. Photo: CrummyMTB

Race morning dawned and there was plenty of time for a civilized breakfast with a start of 10am for the Ginja Ninja. We had secured a transition location with a JetBlack 3x3 shade that had been erected the previous day. All that needed to be done, was any last minute prep (don’t forget our race plate!) and a warm up before all the fun began.

Slipping out of the way on start the Ginja Ninja and the Mayor start proceedings. Photo: Jude Keogh,  Central Western Daily 

We managed to hold a steady position near the front of the lead bunch slipping into the singletrack within the top twenty riders. From there it was all just gnashing at the bar and stem for the climbs, and whoops of joy while blasting back down again. 

The fire was lit and burning hot, it seemed we were lapping consistently, sub 30 minutes, and keeping pace with the leading age-groupers. We were keeping a close eye on our nutrition, the day was expected to warm up and we were burning energy fast with the high tempo. Our nutritional transitions were helped out by James “Chops” Lamb who was also looking after team-mates Kevin (riding SS) and Sara (riding Open Women), and during the midst of the midday heat he was on hand with a water-spray bottle keeping the team just that bit cooler in our fresh 2015 JetBlack MTB Racing kit.

For this event we weren’t stuck in no-mans-land riding by ourselves, it was nice to have plenty of company, like Alex from Quantum Racing and Garry James of Canberra Super Masters fame amongst those we rode with.

The author on pace. Photo: CrummyMTB

As for our team-mates, Kev had some mechanical issues and called it quits well before the 250^th minute. Still managed a top three placing for a guy new to the joy of single-speed. Sara rode strong amongst a very competitive womens field only to slip outside the top 5 in the final few laps. Well done to both, as this was their first Ginja Ninja outing.

Team-mate Sara Mills in the mix of the action. Photo: CrummyMTB

While the fast guys were jockeying for their top 5 positions we went on to place a solid 7^th against the quality Open Mens group. Thanks to the JetBlack MTB Racing team and all our sponsors for their support. We rode Pivot’s Mach 429 on a 1x10 (32/standard) setup. First race outing back from servicing for our X-Fusion Trace by DIY MTB, working superbly. 

See you all next week! 

Prime7 video.

WSMTB Twilight 4hr

Some pretty warm days lead up to WSMTB's twilight round of their 4hr Summer Series. Rolling up to the foot of the Blue Mountains on the afternoon of the race and the temperature was still in the mid thirties, it was going to be a classic hot and dry Yellomundee race.

Just over 100 riders made up the teams and solos, mostly of WSMTB regulars. Club President BigDog led the starting riders to the fire-trail start chute and got the 4hr underway, then jumped on his bike to get his own race underway.

A good couple of weeks on the bike over the festive season seemed to have done wonders and our race was going well. Climbs weren't taxing and it was easy to get some flow in the fast dry conditions.

Photo: Riding Focus

Only issue was our bottle holder was working loose, we should have work out earlier why our bike was making such a racket. This slowed us down when we to remove the holder and make room for the bottle in our jersey pocket. Back on track and slowly the days temperature was dropping and lights were about to be turned on.

Up till when we stopped to remove the super loose bottle holder we had been keeping up with a couple of pairs teams, it was good pacing and company. On what might have been our last lap we trundled around and stopped to chat just before the 4hr hour in transition. We passed the results on our way to pack up and was shocked to find our name near the top of the list.

Whoops! Probably better head out for that final lap.

Thanks to the WSMTB Club for putting on a great event with a casual vibe and fast competition. 

A big shout out to JetBlack MTB Racing team and our 2015 sponsors, we managed a 1st and 3rd in the Solo Male category.

The results are available here.

L to R: CrummyMTB 3rd, Andrew Finlayson 1st, Tim Bartholomew 3nd.

WSMTB Club Championships

80 riders rolled up for WSMTB's Club Championships. The morning warmed up quickly and once "go" had be shouted the racing was red hot.
In A Grade the clubs Jr National Representatives were making it hard for their more senior competitors. I did't feel fast on the first lap as the remainder A Graders seemed to ride away. An additional climb in the course for the Champs made it extra tough, especially considering the days temperature. While I went on to ride within my comfort zone for the remainder of the race I made the most of the fast B Graders holding their wheels after they passed for the next section of trail. Placed 8th in A Grade for the Champs. 

Photo: Alan Dinham/Aus Ride Photo 

There was a good turn out from my team mates from JetBlack MTB Racing, Sara Mills went on to place second in the A Grade women after a fast start. Elton Judd, Team Manager, rode in B Grade, dropping his chain and quite possibly a place as a result, 8th. Ben Go rode mid pack in C Grade inching out Ian Butler, 6th and 7th respectively.
A big turn out for the team in the U13s too, with the Judds entering their first WSMTB race, both not to far off the race pace finishing in 8th. The Browns were under the watchful eye of mum while dad was in Canberra riding the ‪#‎Mont24‬, Candace 3rd and Charlotte 7th.

With the BBQ, cooked by the dedicated local RFS, and a cold drink included in the race entry fee everyone was a winner today.

Official results here.

WSMTB XC Club Round 7

Steeper than it looks. Photo: Flynn

It has been a while since we last raced with WSMTB but it is always great to roll into Yellomundee and see close to 100 people rolling around on their bikes.

In A Grade Luke Brame was back from the UCI World Championships, along side Ben Metcalfe and Ben Green this trio were going to be hard to keep with throughout the fast five laps.

It must have been close to a record field of women across the five senior grades, with the Chocolate Foot pair, Melissa Nuttall and Fi Dick taking line honours for A and B Grade respectively.



Spectators were in awe of the single speed riders, who made everything look so easy. The on-lookers found their preferred spots where they could see the grind climbs or technical descents, encouraging riders as they passed by.

Full results of all Grades here.

The WSMTB Club Championships is the next XC event on the calendar. 26th October at Yellomundee. Keep an eye out for the club's 4hr Summer Series in the coming months too.

Ascent from Max's Bridge. Photo: Simpson

Tractor Tyre. Photo: Pickles

She Rides Revisited

In May we had a quick look at the first couple of weeks of Western Sydney/Blue Mountains She Rides - MTB program. The program was offering woman a supportive environment to build on-bike confidence, learn skills and ride with other like-minded ladies.

The She Rides program was formally started with words from the local MP and WSMTB committee representative. From there the weekly sessions covered bike maintenance, basic on-bike skills and opportunities to put it all into practice.


Weeks on we revisited the She Rides - MTB group to see how it all was going.

The following video is  from Week 10 with social trail riding, exploring Yellomundee and the challenges it holds.

More smiles and social trail riding from Week 11. Confidence? Fun? Evident.








The Week 12 sign-on sheet, flourished with enthusiastic signatures, grand tour style.

The days social ride and final session would be to complete the Oaks Single-track, riding up the fire-trail then enjoying the smooth gravity fed roll back down.

There was laughter, encouraging words and praise as everyone spun their way along the graded climb. This was followed by screams and cries of delight as the trail narrowed and pointed back down towards the causeway.

At the completion of the trail there were twelve excited woman, all on adrenalin highs, keen to give the trail another go.

From the participants response She Rides has delivered on the social ride environment, all learnt new skills and now enjoy every ride. So many great achievements.

You can find a few She Rides - MTB Western Sydney/Blue Mountains testimonials here.

Well done to all those involved, participants, coaches and assistants. Also WSMTB and the businesses who supported this great mountain biking initiative.

Locations are being finalised for the Spring/Summer series of She Rides. Registrations are sure to open soon, more information on Cycling Australia's SheRidesAu page.

She Rides

We all didn’t start on a bike and not all of us have had that moment when everything clicks together and you go, "yeah riding my bike rocks". Queue She Rides, a twelve-session program custom built to suit their participants, those in need of on-bike confidence and who want to have fun and connect with other women.

Lindy Turnbull, along with Michael Crummy were selected to develop this Cycling Australia pilot riding initiative for mountain biking in their local area with the support of WSMTB.

Week One of She Rides – MTB Western Sydney/Lower Blue Mountains was launched with inspirational words by Member for Blue Mountains Roza Sage and WSMTB Committee Member Ray Rice. Kath Bicknell from Flow Mountain Bike Magazine dropped by emanating encouragement and enthusiasm for all women on bikes and with everyone rolling away from week one with huge smiles it is a positive sign of things to come.

Blackman Bicycles joined the team for Week Two with everyone getting their hands dirty removing wheels, putting on dropped chains and learning how to fix a flat tyre amongst their She Rides – MTB friends.

From what we have seen so far the participants are enjoying the positive and supportive environment in which the She Rides – MTB Western Sydney/Lower Blue Mountains team are delivering their program. With ten more weeks to deliver there looks to be plenty more fun to be had and hopefully soon that connection will be make where nothing makes her feel like riding does.