Nationals

[MTB_KAT]

Hi All,

Just wanting to get the thoughts of any of the riders that have competed in the National XC events, I competed in the Vic State series and club XC races last season and am thinking about doing the first round in SA in the Womens Sport class, I started riding in November last year and unfortunately have been off the bike pretty much since 27th of July with an injury but getting back into it now and have been doing other training to keep my fitness and strength up, it looks like it will only the girls racing on their own so I guess at least there wont be a heap of Elite men constantly trying to pass so I figure it will probably be less crowded than in the State races I have done, also would the tracks used in the National series be on par with what I have ridden in the State series?

Anyway any advice would be much appreciated

Kat

[Some Guy]

I say go for it! It's an experience racing national series events, they're much bigger than state rounds. As you say classes race at different times, so you won't have fools like me trying to push past you at a million miles an hour. I've only raced 2 national races, but I'm looking forward to doing all or almost all the rounds this season.

also would the tracks used in the National series be on par with what I have ridden in the State series?

They are perhaps a little tougher, but not by much. I haven't raced in SA so I can't comment on that particular track.

[krizbike]

Hi All,

Just wanting to get the thoughts of any of the riders that have competed in the National XC events, I competed in the Vic State series and club XC races last season and am thinking about doing the first round in SA in the Womens Sport class, I started riding in November last year and unfortunately have been off the bike pretty much since 27th of July with an injury but getting back into it now and have been doing other training to keep my fitness and strength up, it looks like it will only the girls racing on their own so I guess at least there wont be a heap of Elite men constantly trying to pass so I figure it will probably be less crowded than in the State races I have done, also would the tracks used in the National series be on par with what I have ridden in the State series?

Anyway any advice would be much appreciated

Kat

Hi Kat,

I have only ridden at the Gold Coast and SA tracks and they are both really good quality.
The lower classes (sports and recreational) generally don't have a huge number of riders so you shouldn't get too swamped. I rode sports at the Gold Coast and it was good fun - challenging without being as serious as the others. The track was pretty hard going in places (nasty climbs), but I have heard they are making it less severe this year.
Generally the races are well spread out, so when you aren't in your race you can wander around and check out the others (and get plenty of good snaps (http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisjenkins/sets/72157603319665569/)).
Good luck with your knee! Mine has been a bit sore recently and I have the Coffs Mountain Marathon this weekend. Yipes!

Chris

[Lanky Love]

A question for those of you who have raced any of the tracks used for the nationals series. Im training hard to make top 3 in all the races i do in under 19's, but due to school and reduced transport options, i can only make it too a few races. so which ones will suit me? i prefer slower twistyer and steeper tracks. i train at majura mostly and like the steep rooty tracks on the top sections there. so which tracks in the nationals series will suit me?

The best track for me as far as i can tell will be illinbah as it is slippery and steep.

[JD26]

A question for those of you who have raced any of the tracks used for the nationals series. Im training hard to make top 3 in all the races i do in under 19's, but due to school and reduced transport options, i can only make it too a few races. so which ones will suit me? i prefer slower twistyer and steeper tracks. i train at majura mostly and like the steep rooty tracks on the top sections there. so which tracks in the nationals series will suit me?

The best track for me as far as i can tell will be illinbah as it is slippery and steep.

Hey Nick, I raced the National Series last year, XCO and XCC. The highlights were Adelaide and Mount Beauty, and thredbo and illinbah tied for being the most awful. If you are tapped for transport, and can only get to certain events, I would definitely suggest Adelaide over any of the other venues. The reasoning for this is that Adelaide and Mount Beauty have people who are passionate about XC. Illinbah \ Gold Coast (about 40 minutes from Gold Coast) are into DH - and it shows. Thredbo is constrained by the National Parks and just cannot really build trails (not allowed) - they have the DH - and again it shows.

Pretty much, the XC race that CORC held at Majura on June 1st would be an ideal practice track to mimic what Adelaide has to offer. You did pretty well there Just make the start beneath the switchback climb, or around Innabanya, rather than on the long fireroad where they normally start. Adeliade pretty much starts with an identical switchback climb.

If you want to know which tracks are fast, steep, slow etc. One way to guess it is to check out the results on www.nationalseries.com.au - Pretty much any course over 20km\hr is a fast flowy course (typical of most canberra club races - and you know how flat these are). A course like Hobart where a guy like SiD Taberlay is averaging 17km/hr - is either really steep, or really muddy. A course like stromlo only averages a shade under 21km/hr due to all the switchbacks doing their duty.

Adelaide last year rained buckets after the longest drought. The course was muddy for the XCO, and it was still good. The guys there put on an awesome show, there was great atmosphere and the trails are great. You could even ride from adelaide city to the race track if you wanted. Illinbah pretty much was raced on grassy paddocks. The downhill track there was quite good (apparently), but the XC race (and the shorttrack) reminded me of a 1990 national round held in Mittagong, plus there were cows on the track.
I just didn't like it - it wasn't my thing and I managed 2 podiums from 2 events - so I am not being sour, just honest.

The original poster should definitely consider Adelaide. For Sport Women, you will head off after the Elite women, and U19 women, you will have the entire course for yourself for the 2 laps that you will race. You (probably) won't get caught by the Elite women (track is just long enough).

and like 'Some Guy' said, you won't have any blokes annoying you. You will be lucky if you have 40 people on the entire track for the allotted time for all female categories.

Last year the course at Adelaide was of the type - anyone's mum could ride it (almost) - just dependant on how fast they wanted to go. Whereas Illinbah, Thredbo and Mt Beauty - were hard to ride (let alone ride fast) for accomplished riders.

This is just my opinion, as others I have talked to liked tracks that I didn't. That is just how it goes I guess.

[Lanky Love]

Hmm, thanks JD26, I wont be able to get to adelaide as i will be in the middle of exams, but i will follow through with your suggestion of looking at lap times and average speed.

[Mooy]

Yeah tell me about it, will be thinking of everyone in Adelaide whilst I'm cramming for accounting exams!

[MTB_KAT]

Thanks for the advice,

I am going to do it, provided my nasty piece of work boss gives me the day off on the Friday, should be good considering it will be just the girls out there for the race then I can watch the elite riders and see how it should be done

Good Luck with the knee in your race Chris!