Category Archives: Events

The course for the second Jayco XC National Round held just out of Shepparton in Victoria was dusty, rocky and largely off-camber. There was also nothing to grab onto if you fell off the side of the hill.   After my first lap was miles off the pace of the other women, I decided to back off the intensity and enjoy learning to ride sections I found difficult early on.  The track had a high potential for crashes, punctures and other damage so I was pretty stoked see my decision pay off and to finish unscarred in twelfth place (ninth in the elite category) while a quarter of the elite women’s field and a third of the elite men suffered in the conditions and weren’t able, or chose not, to finish the race.

I was looking forward to having the chance to race against other women, but unfortunately I don’t have the fitness at this stage to be part of the game.  I think there’s a couple of reasons for this: The first is that the Aussie girls have been working hard and are increasingly competitive on an international level, and I’m just not that fast (yet!).  The location and timing of this race also attracted more of the pointy end of the field than the riders at my level who would normally flesh out the competition at the mid to back end of the pack.  The second reason for slowness is to do with preparation and the difference that a ‘racing’ attitude has compared to one that is simply seeking experience.  Hopefully I can improve on the latter for the next month’s race in Thredbo.

Congratulations to every rider who gave the race a solid go in hot, windy conditions, to the recently formed Goulburn Valley MTB Club for hosting the event and to the Shepparton Council for supporting the growth of our sport in regional Victoria.  It would be great to hear that this track is becomes the beginning of a bigger trail network and more riders in the area getting hooked on the sport.

Half unpacking, half chatting with friends, half thinking it might be time for a bite to eat, the race briefing starts and I hear that all riders should be on the start line.  My teammate, Scott Ardron, is still doing Western Sydney presidential duties and I realise I’m about to let us down totally by missing the beginning of the race.  I borrow a bottle of energy drink (thanks enormously Aubs), run into a tree stump on my way to the start line reopening yesterday’s scab (different tree stump), attach my number plate as well as anyone can in a rush (with full fingered gloves) and the race begins.  Fortunately after this, everything just kept getting better!Continue reading “Jet Black/WSMTB 4 Hour – Round 2”

In 2008, the Mental Health Foundation in Canberra took over the running of the Urban Polaris, a popular bike/orienteering type event.  It has quickly become the organisation’s most successful fundraiser, this year alone bringing in an impressive $47,000.Continue reading “Urban Polaris”

Judging by the way the Fling sold out in about 5 hours this year, it’s fair to say it’s become the must-do event on the local riding calendar.  I was super lucky to score an entry to the Full Fling (113kms) which was held in and around Bundanoon on Sunday.

I’ve been enjoying a break from tough racing since the end of the NSW State Series and was surprising myself during the lead up to this event at how pumped I was to get to the start line and have a solid hit out.  The day just kept getting better from there:  the track was awesome, my bike was awesome, the other riders were awesome, hydropack: awesome, tires: awesome, new knicks: awesome, inevitable flat spot during the middle of the race where you just want to go home and eat solid food:  well, not awesome, but nowhere near as bad as it could have been!  I rode so hard I wanted to spew a few times, but each time that happened, I just kept chugging down more Verofit, the lights came back on again, and everything seemed OK!

I crossed the line with a time that was about half and hour quicker than I was expecting and notched up 5th place in the elite women’s category.  I was aiming for 8th among a really solid field so am naturally feeling pretty over the moon!  Follow this link if you’re interested in reading other results (or to marvel at the massive amount of women riders who rocked up to this event) and to look at photos once they’ve been posted online.

The Highland Fling marked the last race on the Salsa which will be up for sale soon, so it was great to leave the event on such a high note.  The bike rode flawlessly and I couldn’t have asked for anything more from it during the race.  Plans are in place for some racey dual suspension action over the following year, so check back here for the juicy details when they arrive!