Gravity 12 Hour earlybird discount entry closes Sep 30

[gravity]

Hi Guys,

Just a quick reminder that the Gravity 12 Hour earlybird discount entry closes on Sep 30, 2008 if you are thinking of entering. Will save you some $ if u enter before then. I've personally done a lot of work on the course (especially Gravity Drop) lately and it's all looking super sweet....it's a 13km course of lots of native bush singletrack. Check out http://www.gravity12hour.com
Hope to see you there.

Cheers, Paul

http://www.gravitysport.com/gravity12hranimation.gif

[trailburner]

...and on the seventh day, God created singletrack...then later that night mountain bikers added some berms, a tabletop jump and some north shore...sweet !!


That is GOLD!

[DaGonz]

I keep looking at that race and thinking it'd be a fun one to do, but it always clashes with the fling. I'm guessing it somehow always will unfortunately...

Cheers
Gonz

[gravity]

Hi DaGonz,

Unfortunately we will still clash this year with the Highland Fling but not in 2010 ! The date for the Gravity 12 Hour is based around Melbourne Cup Day which changes every year. It's always the first sat AFTER Melbourne Cup Day (which is the first Tue in Nov). Confused !! The fling is always on the 2nd w/e in Nov and for a few years that has been the same w/e as the Gravity 12 Hour but next year Melb Cup Day is earlier and the Gravity 12 Hour will fall on the first w/e in Nov. Still confused ? Nevermind. Basically this year unless you have got a place in the Highland Fling you can't go because it's full which means you can hopefully enter the Gravity 12 hour. In a couple of years there shouldn't be a clash. I think I'll stop now before I confuse everyone even further !

Cheers, Paul

[leftieant]

I highly, highly recommend this race. It is just frickin' awesome, and would go close to being one of my favourite ever courses.

I'm off to do the Fling this year instead, but that is purely for comparison purposes, and I'll definately be back for Gravity next year.

Do yourself a favour, sign up and go! It is a dead set winner.

[paggnr]

This is without doubt the best race on the calander. Sweet Sweet single track - 13km of bliss.

mmm then came along Forest!

[Hud]

I'm doing this one, looking forward to the fabled singletrack.

[shan]

I'm doing this one, looking forward to the fabled singletrack.

before i start, im all for technical parts of tracks as it definitely adds some flavour to the racing however:
i am trying to get the wife involved and she struggles a little on the technical drops, how does this course stack up as im trying to convince her to join me as a team. any thoughts and comments on the suitability of this course as a first timer for her (with no intention of worrying about lap times for her). im sure this is a standard question for most newbies
thanks

[RichJS]

before i start, im all for technical parts of tracks as it definitely adds some flavour to the racing however:
i am trying to get the wife involved and she struggles a little on the technical drops, how does this course stack up as im trying to convince her to join me as a team. any thoughts and comments on the suitability of this course as a first timer for her (with no intention of worrying about lap times for her). im sure this is a standard question for most newbies
thanks

It's not too hard, and last I did it (2006) it had certainly become easier than it was in 2003 - which was my first MTB race ever. There are no rock gardens, just a couple of decent sized dips which you can always roll slowly, or walk. (You'll be probably walking up the other side if you roll down slowly, anyway!)

Even better, take the wife to Thredbo for some rental DH action and she'll never find an XC course too technical again. :D

I love this event, but not changing the date this year (and previous years) so it wouldn't clash with the Fling was dumb. At least it's not going to clash again until 2012. :rolleyes:

[monc]

Hi Shan

The Gravity was my first mtb race a few years ago (all girl team) and it got me well and truly hooked. Last time I did it was 2006, so I'm not sure if it's changed much last year, but the course is great, flowy single track in beautiful bushland with enough 4wd track for passing. From memory you get fair warning about the trickier sections (there aren't many) so if your wife is happy to get off and walk a few bits she'll be fine.

If you can, try to get there early enough on the Friday to do a slow practice lap with her, so she'll know what to expect without having any 'race pressure'.

There are a few climbs too, so the fitter she is the more she'll enjoy it and still be talking to you at the end of the day.

Good luck

[shan]

There are a few climbs too, so the fitter she is the more she'll enjoy it and still be talking to you at the end of the day.

Good luck


i think this is the most critical thing, that she enjoys it and that she will still be talking to me.

thanks all for your advice, think i should be able to get her on board. i think the advice about an practice lap on the friday could be handy as well.

thanks

shan

[paggnr]

HUD,

Call over to the Team Sally tent - I want to have a chat about St Andrews.

[Hud]

Sure thing. Always good to put a face to name too.

[Hud]

Looks like it may be wet on the day, is this going to make it muddy or improve the surface like at the Beechworth course?

[RichJS]

Looks like it may be wet on the day, is this going to make it muddy or improve the surface like at the Beechworth course?

I've never ridden Beechworth MTB Park in the wet - how does it improve with rain?

The Gravity 12Hours in 2004 & 2005 were nasty thrashes through the mud, and as those days went on the course got worse. I can't see how rain will improve the track - the ground holds water for quite a while. Depending on just how many mm of rain falls leading up to the event (5 day forecasts are not entirely accurate) the ground could be anywhere from firm to slush.

I'm packing my mud tyres.

Also, just discovered this rainfall estimator at the BoM, pretty cool: http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/watl/rainfall/pme.jsp

[Hud]

The gritty surface can be quite skatey in the dry at Beechworth , whereas once wet it sticks together more and is much more predictable. The ground seems to hold a lot of water before it'll become boggy.

[paggnr]

The Rosewhite course is better for a little moisture. Ideally we want some steady rain up until Wed/Thurs, then nice dry out over Friday.

[gravity]

Looks like it may be wet on the day, is this going to make it muddy or improve the surface like at the Beechworth course?

Unlike 2004 when we had a very wet winter and spring and 60mm of rain over the actual w/e of the Gravity 12 Hour to makes things worse.....2008 is totally different. It is the driest its been out there in a LONG time. Certainly the dryest year to date leading up to the Gravity 12 Hour. The soil is granitic like the Beechworth Mountain Bike Park and yes I believe any rain will be good for the track leading up to the race. It's not as pleasant riding in the wet though come race time but it's all good fun !

Cheers, Paul

[gravity]

Update-

manual and online entries for the 2008 bicycle superstore gravity 12 hour close at midnight on monday november 3, 2008.

Entries will only be accepted at rego onsite at the gravity 12 hour on fri nov 7 (2pm- late) or sat nov 8, 2008 (6.30am-8.30am) after this date. A late fee of $30 per team applies.

T-shirts cannot be ordered with late entries after midnight nov 3, 2008

[paggnr]

any tshirts available to buy at the race?

[gravity]

any tshirts available to buy at the race?
We pre-sold a LOT of t-shirts this year and have ordered more for the weekend. No guarantees though (limited sizes)....get in early when you're there if u see some for sale. We will take orders at the event if we run out of t-shirts and can send them to you for $30 including postage. Cheers, Paul

[RichJS]

. The soil is granitic like the Beechworth Mountain Bike Park and yes I believe any rain will be good for the track leading up to the race.

You think 10-15mm tomorrow and 5-10mm on race day will be good for the track? It's less than 60mm for sure, and the ground is dry.. but how much will it take to turn to slop?

Guess either way the question will be answered soon!

[rowdyflat]

I was out there riding 2 weeks ago .
There is less ground water than last year = its still a drought .
less than 30 mm total wont bother the track +cause slop but will stop it going dusty.