"I WANT TO BE A ROCK STAR!"

The race was in the Blue Mts starting at Woodford, down the famous Oaks Fire trail, with a few nasty uphill sections. The last 10 ks were slightly downhill/or at least flat! Mad adrenalin rush, flat out at that point to the end.

This years Clasic attracted over 1200 entrants. Our MUD Foxes Team came first in their division. Shannon "Flying Fox" Weeks blitzed the female competition placing 4th in her category with a time of 00:56:28. Pam "Crazy Fox" Carter cracked the one hour in a time of 00:59:59 placing 7th in her category. Louise "Silver Fox" Hamilton exceeded her expectations, placing 2nd in her category with a time of 1:00:17.
This is a well organised charity event for both mountain bikers and runners alike to raise money for Careflight and the local Rural Fire Service.
A fantastic result for the girls who have only recently began entering competitive races.
Shannon, Pam and Louise would encourage other women who are interested in riding for fun and fitness to call into the new bike shop, Mountain Cycles, Ulladulla and join MUD mtb like they did.

Soooooooooo much fun you have to do it next year!

Thanks, MUD Foxes

Photo Caption - The winning mens team , The Rockstar Racing Team (Elite) and the Womens winning team - (Milton Ulladulla Dirtriders) MUD Foxes. Left to right - Shannon, Hamish, Pam, Brad, Louise, Dwight

New Calender

Sunday SOCIAL ride 5th of July

Some Apex Single Track

DETAILS:

-Start 9.00am at intersection of Woodburn Road and Clyde Ridge Road, Milton.

-Meet at Mountain Cycles at 8.30 am to drive out to the start of the ride, or you can just meet us at the start of the ride.

-You can ride out to the start of the ride from town also if you wish, but make sure you're at the start at about 9. If you are running late you can contact lead rider on 0419 699 562 we will wait for you (or for any other details).

DESCRIPTION:

-Ride down Woodburn Road then right along Brooman Road, then veer onto some apex single track to Tumblebar Creek Bridge, ride more single track to Middle Ridge Road. From here ride along a good fire road to Old Coach Road, then climb up to top of Boyne Mountain to trig point this climb has a total gain of about 230 metres. From trig drop down single track then woodburn road back to cars.

-Approx 35km/3hours

-30% fire road, 70% single track/double track

-Easy /medium ride with non-technical single track

-One big climb but only one sharp steep section

-You will need about 2L water each.

Sun 28th race cancelled: Mud Social Ride day @ Stromlo

Due to tabourie's current disposition due to the weather and lack of recent maintanence we are cancelling the race in favour of a social ride day at Mt.Stromlo in Canberra. For those of you havn't riden or heard of mt.Stromlo here's a little spiel from there website:

Stromlo Forest Park boasts over 35 kilometres of trunk trails including designated tracks for various levels.

Using the natural lay of the land, natural and manufactured obstacles, the XC tracks are perfect for training, recreational riding or even sightseeing. The tracks located near the peak of Mount Stromlo provide a perfect setting to see Civic, Black Mountain Tower, Parliament House, Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra Airport and the picturesque Brindabella Mountains.

With over 50km of open trails to chose from there is no need to make your own trails. Stromlo Forest Park is a master planned world-class mountain bike facility and unauthorised track modifications are prohibited and may result in the closure of the trails.

These trails were designed by world-class Mountain Bike Track designer, Glen Jacobs, but built and will be maintained with the volunteer work of Canberra Off Road Cyclists (CORC).

We the Mud Club will be meeting nice and early sunday morning at Mountain Cycles next to Subway in Ulladulla @ 6am Sunday morning. We will be leaving @ 6.30am and will arrive at Stromlo @ 9am approx. This will be a great day out for all levels of riders and Stromlo has some of the sweetest singletrack around.Anybody in need of a lift or info please feel free to contact bart @ Mountain Cycles on 44541177 for more info on Mt Stromlo check there site www.stromloforestpark.com.au

SCUM Race @ the cabbage 31st May: caution in the wet!

The 5-10mm of rain through the night was not enough to keep the bikes in the shed. 80 odd riders with around 30 of them juniors were ready for the mud. It couldn’t have been any other way. On a near flat track the pools of water virtually joined the entire length of the trail. A far cry from the Cabbage when dry, flowing and super fast.

Although the trail was wet, the sun was shining so I headed out for a short recon to see if I needed a snorkel. On the way back, I met up with Andrew Paul, a new MUD recruit. He was about to tackle his first SCUM mtb race head on.

With riders lined up at the start line, it seemed more tense than usual. Maybe there were last minute thoughts on tyre choice? Or was it the worry of wear and tear on man and machine? What ever it was, it added to the atmosphere and I gotta say, I was into it! Primed and ready to go! So with that in mind, I couldn’t help to get myself up near the front for the start.

We all took off in the usual frenzy up the fire road. Before long we got into the lap pool, I mean, single track. After a lap of clearing water the corners soon became greasy. Just like home I thought, only we’re used to slidin in the sand! With the Igniter on the front tracking like on rails, and the Larsen free to go where it wanted, I was hangin on! With plenty of offs from other riders, I still had to be careful but a great lesson in cornering. I ended up behind a couple of 29ers at different stages. They seemed to slow a fair bit in the corners but managed to pick up the pace well on the straights and easy stuff (mental note, 29er??).

So at the end covered in Mud, Andy had a couple of good lap times in Sport B, but unfortunately had a DNF on the third lap. I managed a 6th place from 17 finishers in Sport B which I was happy with and I didn’t need to use a snorkel!

I owe my confidence in cornering to Jack & Grizz who helped me set up the front end by dropping it down close to 2 inches. Thanks guys. Without this, there is no doubt I would have been lyin in the mud rather than charging through it.

So with mud from head to toe (seriously), I drove back home not thinking about much more than driften corners!

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Stoked Newcomer

As a newcomer to the mountainbike scene I've been having casual fun and decided to enter my first race at the SCUM Superbowl track on May 9th. It was a sunny and dry Autumn day and it was good to see a gourmet coffee van operating early along with sports drinks and food for sale. Later in the day they cranked up a sausage sizzle. After an interesting rider's briefing 150 riders of all descriptions took off for a mass start. I wisely took the casual approach by starting toward the rear and then choked down a gutfull of dust as we covered the first 1km of dirt road. Into the single track and it was good fun to pick up a few places on people who were even less competant than me. The loop runs for 8km and about 6.5km of that is sometimes flat and sometimes undulating singletrack. Pretty good stuff too with some choices of 'A' or 'B' lines. I took all the 'A' lines straight up with no worries except the worry of being passed by school age kids. There were a few small jumps and timber ramps and excellent drops into dry creek gullies. All was fun but by the end of the third lap I was starting to fade a bit. There seems good reason to enter in pairs or 'Musketeers' classes if you need to catch your breath and you also get to choose a wacky team name. At the end of my fifth lap I had done 40km in 3.5 hours and was stuffed so I parked it and watched the last riders finish. Somehow I dropped into a conversation with a girl who must have been the cutest chick there. No really. Well most of her was good looking except the bit from her left elbow to her wrist which was missing a lot of skin and covered in blood. Apparently she decked it big time on the second lap and had to retire - but she wasn't put off. Leaving the venue I finally got to pass some of the faster riders (in my car) They were riding home - fit buggars. Interim results were posted on the 'net two days later and I managed to come in 41st in men's solo which I thought was not too bad for an old bloke. So now I intend to enter a local MUDmtb event and dip into Kevin 07's stimulus package to also join the club.

cheers

Beggsy

Trail Day

We have a MUD trail day this Sunday 14th June at Tabourie long xc trail.

This course may be better suited to the guys n gals who want a bit more distance on a lap. The trail is mostly there and needs some 'fine tuning' prior to our MUD xc race which will be on this trail. Be good to see some eager beavers at this race to support your club.

So rock up on sunday at 9am at rolands for a couple of hours, no need to bring tools they will be provided.

Up and coming talent

On Sunday 17th Amy Austin went to Fitzroy Falls for the first rnd of the NSW State XC series. She was racing up a Division in he U19 Women and had to complete 2 laps of the full course. Unfortunately there were no other girls entered in this div, but she went off the start with the U15 girls (who completed a short course). She completed the course in just a smidge over an hour and was fairly fresh at the end. The course was 50% fast and flowy and 50% very technical - most of this technical extension had only been built a couple of weeks prior to the event. The next race in the series will be held at Ourimbah on the Central Coast and Amy is putting in the k's in preparation for this.

Merida X- Fusion 6 hour

Entries are now open for the Merida X- Fusion 6hr. Will be held south of Nowra on the 19th of July. Can enter in Solo, Pairs, groups of 3, mixed fours and also juniors. (???)

I'm in as a pair with Blayne to form the as yet undiscoverd 'MUD Brothers' (too soft to go the full 6hrs solo- yet! :-) . Be a great one for those who would like a small taste of a 24hr format race. Also good for anyone tackling say a 50-100km?

Need a bit of help to sling a bit of MUD around up there so pull ya finger out!

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Check it out at www.diymtb.com.au

Point Of Focus Photography

I’ve discovered life without sport mustn’t be a very fulfilling one. My passion, growing up as a kid was sport. I was and still am, surrounded by people who are passionate about being active in life, creating memories to last a life time, pushing yourself to your limit, giving yourself new challenges, and most of all enjoying it.

There are two things in this world that I love to do, one is photography. I am a huge enthusiast, I’ve always been a bit mechanically minded and this hobby/business absolutely intrigues and drives me every day, to better myself and my skills. The other is sport and my rekindled love for mountain bike riding, through the help of my partner. I’m very fortunate to combine the two passions into one, Downhill Mountain Bike photography. It is thrilling to watch and challenging to photograph.

They say that Downhill Mountain Biking is the ‘Formula One’ of the cycling world and I would agree. The cyclists are supreme athletes who race the clock. It is man and machine versus the environment- with steep descents, boulders, rock gardens, sheer drops and massive jumps- all while dodging the myriad of trees. To get a photo can sometimes be impossible, when you’ve got to walk the track I’ve just described to you. To be in the right spot at the right time to get ‘that’ photo is so rewarding, especially at the speeds they are travelling at. And for some unknown reason I love every minute of it, photography and sport, it’s the lifestyle. I love it.

Written for the Dunn and Lewis magazine, “Live your Best Life” Issue #01 By Carly Hearn Mobile:0405174216 www.pointoffocus.com.au