Killingworth Working Week Series - Sunday June 3rd

[sammydog]

A bit of info about the track for those attending.

The club held a maintenance day today on the track and most of it was taped up (not expecting the tape to be there on saturday but we will see).

What we have ended up with is a little shorter than last year, coming in at 13.25km's length. A few good climbs, nothing overly techincal, pretty much just a typical flowing Killi track.

We will retape the track saturday morning and it will be checked during the day as well incase 4WD/Moto's bring it down.

Thanks to those who turned up for the maintenance day, the trails are in as good a condition as I can remember them being, so hopefully you all enjoy the track on the day.

[DaGonz]

Thanks to those who turned up for the maintenance day, the trails are in as good a condition as I can remember them being, so hopefully you all enjoy the track on the day.

Are we expecting firm hard killi, a bit loose killi, or muddy killi? :)

Cheers
Gonz

[sammydog]

At the moment the trails vary from damp and tacky in the lower sections to dry and hard (and probably dusty after a few laps) in the higher section.

Basically though, unless it rains, I think we are in for a fast track on reasonably hard surfaces.

[sammydog]

Some race detail for people who may, or not, be interested.


Saturday 2nd June
Pre-Rego 3pm to 5pm
Practice 3pm to 5pm
Facilities Available on the Saturday Only toilets, 10min drive to nearest 24 Hour Service Station, 15min drive to nearest city - Cardiff. Restaurants and a late-opening supermarket can be found in Cardiff.

Sunday 3rd June (Race-Day - Race Start 8:00am!)
Rego Opens 6:00 am
Rego Closes 7:45 am
Rider's briefing 7:50 am (and then on to the start)
Race Start 8:00 am
Rego re-opens (for late-comers) 9:00 am
Race Finish 4:00 pm (with riders on course to finish lap in progress which will count towards results. No mandatory requirement exists to finish after 4:30 pm however, as soon as your team completes 1 lap it will feature in the results.)
Presentation 5:00 pm
Questions? Email info@BrightOrangeEvents.com or call 0412 357 951

[ebuk]

Great stuff!

After having my bikes stolen last month I didn't think I would be making this race but thanks to the kindness of the Dirtworks team I am able to race on a loaner KHS bike.

How good is that?

Two thumbs up!

[DaGonz]

How good is that?

Two thumbs up!

Very Cool!

are you racing solo this year?

Cheers
Gonz - worried about his health for the weekend :/

[ebuk]

are you racing solo this year?

Cheers
Gonz - worried about his health for the weekend :/

More riding solo than racing solo.

I'd be lucky to have fitness for 4 hours riding so I plan on riding some, goofing off some and telling everyone how great DW are :)

Why you worried about your health?



Am thinking of entering the Scott and making that my first serious race of the year.

[DaGonz]

Why you worried about your health?


I've had a chesty cough I havn't been able to shake. been off the bike alot over the last month, a couple of annoying crashes, work, etc... so not sure how I'll go. at least racing solo I'll just be going slow for a really long time ;)

Cheers
Gonz

[ebuk]

at least racing solo I'll just be going slow for a really long time

Say g'day as you pass. Look for a slow guy on a KHS.

[alchemist]

Say g'day as you pass. Look for a slow guy on a KHS.

Sounds like Gonz :p

[tjb]

Sounds like Gonz :p

Be nice! I can't believe his blog has no photos of the built bikes yet ....

[alchemist]

That will upset his sponsors

[Dreggsy]

C'mon Gonz,
Spill the beans about your sponsorship,
you know that means no more spitting the dummy!!!

[DaGonz]

Be nice! I can't believe his blog has no photos of the built bikes yet ....

:eek::eek::eek: people read my blog?

Sounds like Gonz :p

bah... I seem to be doing ok with going slow for relatively long periods of time...

C'mon Gonz,
Spill the beans about your sponsorship,


There's not much to spill...

After testing riding a 904 team (thanks trev!) I was sufficiently impressed that I decided it was time to replace the epic. I was also looking at the time for a 2nd race bike for (at the very least) the 12's and 24's). After talking to Pat and my LBS for a bit, KHS Australia very kindly helped me out with a couple of frames in much the same way as the Grass Roots program KHS have in the states:

http://www.khsbicycles.com/CC_racer_program.htm

I have a longish standing relationship with my LBS (Burrwood Cycleworld) who have also been very helpful with parts (mostly 06 bits), service and builds. So I'll have my swanky new KHS 904xc team for the 8hr this weekend which will be fantastic! and once I get my parts spec sorted (stem lengths, seat posts, saddles etc...) I should have my KHS Alite team on the trail shortly there after ;)

They're both really nice bikes, and the 904 has handled great so far once you get past the muppet action of the operator ;)


Cheers
Gonz

[DW-1]

After talking to Pat and my LBS for a bit, KHS Australia very kindly helped me out

PAT DID WHAT???

See... this is what happens when I'm away for a few days... the world goes to hell in a handbasket...

Elvis.

[tjb]

:eek::eek::eek: people read my blog?


Hehe. Why blog in the first place ? I guess it helps if you lose your memory :D

[dunk]

No pressure for results now Gonz:D Looking forward to seeing some podium pictures from Killingworth:D

[sammydog]

So you guys all going solo, or in teams??

[McBain]

Lazy teams, that's the order of the day.

[Dreggsy]

Lazy solo,
I actually hope i'll do alright, the bike is in the shop for its 3 year service,
plus i'll have full working gears for the first time in absolute ages.

[alchemist]

EHCW for me, might even shave down. At last year's race we beat the Flemings and will be looking to repeat that performance.;)

[Dreggsy]

Hehe. Why blog in the first place ? I guess it helps if you lose your memory :D

yep i read your blog, that way i can check on what you write about me,
I especially like the bit where you admit that im a better rider than you :).

Im not much of a wordsmith otherwise i'd have one of my own.

plus having a blog like his you can forward it to potential sponsers, and they can have a good read in regards to the race
e.g I was coming 9th until my frame / shoe / gears broke.
can also work out if you have your head screwed on the right way.


Anyway congrats on the grass roots team Gonz.

I might buy a heap of Ellsworth gear just to pretend im sponsored.

See you all on sat arvo for a night lap.

[McBain]

I might buy a heap of Ellsworth gear just to pretend im sponsored.I can lend you a t-shirt ...

[dunk]

i'll have full working gears for the first time in absolute ages.

I always thought you were a singlespeeder in disguise;)

[Mick01]

What's the camping like there? Is there some nice soft grass I can pitch my tent on or do I need to bring the extra thick air bed and a sledgy to hammer the tent pegs in with.

Mick

[alchemist]

Extra thick air bed and hammer/.

[sammydog]

Ground is pretty hard and there isn;t much in the way of level area. Best bet would be to go in the trees somewhere where its a bit more level.

[Mattydv]

I'll be there with my junior team of 3 again :D After riding it on Saturday, i've got a fair idea of what the course will be like. Your all in for a treat. Nothing too hard, but 7 and 1/2 hours in, you'll be cursing it with every name under the sun! Nothing like a few monotonous hills with small pinches to mix things up a bit ;)

[alchemist]

Anyway congrats on the grass roots team Gonz.

What we need is an "over the hill" team.

[Dreggsy]

What we need is an "over the hill" team.

yep im in that one for sure.

[ben1973]

my training method has been similar to dagonz in that ive been falling off and getting sick
also had an annoying chest cold so havent ridden for 2 weeks
people keep telling me im an idiot if i solo it as ill just get sick again
so ive decided im soloing it just to annoy everybody thats told me not to.

[alchemist]

my training method has been similar to dagonz

Telling everyone you're sick while secretly going out doing Gordo-esque km on the roadie?

[DaGonz]

Telling everyone you're sick while secretly going out doing Gordo-esque km on the roadie?

Oh bah... I coudln't do Gordo-esque km's if I was at peak!

Cheers
Gonz - And it's not all been on the roadie...

[Dreggsy]

is the water rut from hell still there or will it be filled in so we can get our cars in safely?

[sammydog]

After you go under the bridge, there is still the big rut heading up the hill. We haven't lost any cars at club rounds yet, even in the wet. As long as you take it steady and get your wheels either side, its fine.

Some of the deeper bits have been filled in though..

For the non healthy people out there, the BBQ should be going for breakfast starting at around 6:30.

[ben1973]

you could always try try to huck it in the car!!

[DW-1]

For the non healthy people out there, the BBQ should be going for breakfast starting at around 6:30.

mmmm.... breakfast.

Elvis.

[sammydog]

Thats right, nothing like a Bacon and Egg Roll (or two) to get you going for a race.

[jaseh]

I might have to come out just for breakfast!

[Dreggsy]

Good luck to everybody tomorrow.

I wont be there as i went head first through a windscreen of a car last night and am very sore.
seatube and down tube of the bike is completely crumpled,
looks like a new frame for me, and a new head shoulder hand thigh.
its not that bad though, i got off very lightly considering the car and my bike.
totally my fault.

looks like internet for me this weekend.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Mattydv]

Shit! Hope your alright mate. I hope you have a speedy recovery and can get back on the bike asap.

[Dreggsy]

Cheers mate


There is now a spare place in the Killingworth 8hr if you want to pretend to be me.

oh look!!! whats this piece of glass doing in my face????? lol

[Mattydv]

What caused the accident? Just not watching or what?

[Dreggsy]

I was racing to catch the ferry home and turned down a street i don't normally go down, I had 2 mins before they shut the gate.(they sound a horn)
It ended up being a one way st, and i was going the wrong way!!!

A gear jumped and I looked down to see what gear i was in and when i looked back up i had veered into another lane just as a car turned the corner.
I had no chance and wham!!! head first into the windscreen.
I got off very lightly considering the damage to the car.

I had gone out to dinner and friends wanted to go out drinking after dinner so i left to prepare for the race.

I now dont care how late I am for something theres no use rushing and almost getting killed.
as theres always a next time.

[fatnold]

Major props to Sammydog and all others involved. the selected loop was a triumph. (except for all between the 10km and 11km sign. that was my idea of pure hell. i never realised i could ride that slowly and hurt so much.) However, all before and beyond that section was mtb bliss.

[sammydog]

Cheers, for that (although, I can't think of which bit was between 10-11km's, was that the rainforest??).

I want to thank everyone who came and rode and made the day so great. Attitude on the track was the best I have ever seen, and everyone seemed pretty happy.

Right now, I'm pretty stuffed, I think I need to think more about my food intake race day. Twiggy sticks, lolly sandwhiches and coke just don't cut it.

[alchemist]

Great track sammy, for those curious here is the track that was used (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/kml/episode.kml?episodePkValues=2908611).

[sammydog]

That map is pretty cool, thanks for that. I should scan one of the maps we had out there and put it up as well.

Track held up sweet all day as well.

I didn't notice any cameras around, but did anyone get any shots??

[Goocharlton]

Thanks again for such a great race guys...I loved the track, probably the best i have ridden in Australia.

Anyone got the results.......

[DaGonz]

Wow... well that track was certainly fast. I started to slow down towards the end but stiltl avg'd well over 19km/hr :eek:! It was a pretty lonely sort of a day though, I must have been in between people the whole day and often found myself on he long, flat & fast stretches by myself. Was mixing it up with Katrin here and there but yeah...

I dont know if the track was getting tackier, I was getting more confidence or just starting to pick the right lines, but there were a couple of sections where you could really pin it! nothing like railing a corner at some stupid speed through seriously cool single track. Throw in a couple of bermed G-outs and you had yourself quite a few "weeeee" moments.

Anyway, I got passed by Jason English twice. The 2nd time I thought I was still feeling pretty strong and he passed me like I was standing still!

Props to the Hunter Valley crew! and to everyone for getting out there!

Cheers
Gonz - a little tired and sore today...

[Goocharlton]

Results are up.....

KHS WWS Round 4 2007 - Summary Results (without lap times) (http://www.brightorangeevents.com/Results2007/KHS%20Working%20Week%20Series%20Rd%204%2007%20Summ ary%20Results.pdf)

KHS WWS Round 4 2007 - Full Results (with lap times) (http://www.brightorangeevents.com/Results2007/KHS%20Working%20Week%20Series%20Rd%204%2007%20Deta iled%20Results.pdf)

[McBain]

Great track, great atmosphere, great race.

Apart from body telling me I need to do a lot more riding, and the stomach acid rising up to tell me that donuts weren't the right race food, it was a great day.

Well done and thanks to HMBA and the Bright Orange people.

[El Guapo]

It was one of those smile-inducing days where I was constantly thinking, can it get any better than this? Tacky trails with extra-primo grip, fast descents, cool weather, but sunny, I could go on and on. It was almost like I was flying through some of those tight tree-lined singletrack sections (which felt like it was about 70% of the course).

To all the retro 'more than one gear is cheating' brigade, I took out the Dirtworks 29er Rigid SS and had a friggin' blast. Thanks to Wayne for questioning my manhood and bullying me into riding it rather than the geared 29er. After a 23 minute lay-off due to a flat on the front wheel due to pinging onto the side of that first bridge and copping a nail (I think), I managed to lap in just under 40 with no dabs or walking, which I didn't think was possible on such a bike and given that I haven't ridden a rigid machine since about '96, I was very pleased with the effort. Man, it works you though my max heart rate was up to 98% for most of that lap. Still think the Anthem is the way to go for most tracks, but Killy was eminently suited to the rigid action. Maybe I'll have to get a 29er SS now? Would look ridiculous, I think, as I am only 165cm tall.

Only downside to the day was the fire-trail in, the Honda Civic managed it, but man, it was even rougher than last year. On the way out, managed to grind the bottom of the car on the rock fill on that hill with the mega-rut, thought that I had done some serious damage. I definitely would not want to drive anything rougher in my car.

Thanks to HMBA and Bright Orange, I think Stu was rather quiet this round, or maybe I'd just managed to park far enough away.

[dunk]

Maybe I'll have to get a 29er SS now? Would look ridiculous, I think, as I am only 165cm tall.

It won't look ridiclous at all, I'm only 2cm taller, and I ride a rigid SS 29'er....or are you saying I look ridiculous:o

[alchemist]

Killy was eminently suited to the rigid action

Hmm, try doing more than one lap. that descent after the firerode that crosses under the powelines really gets to you after a while.

Maybe I'll have to get a 29er SS now?

Well everyone needs a SS

[DaGonz]

Hmm, try doing more than one lap. that descent after the firerode that crosses under the powelines really gets to you after a while.


I'd imagine the bit of sniggle in the last few km's after "that pinch" would be annoying too. The braking ruts and corrugations were getting pretty chunky by the end.

Cheers
Gonz

[Dave@]

Well everyone needs a SS

That's not true. Everyone needs *at least one* SS

Good course, loved the bit around 10km (between the last two hills) where you could absolutely fly. Didn't mind the hills that much.

Probably would have been a touch more fun if I'd worked out I had a sticky derailleur cable causing the gears to skip on the smaller sprockets at the back (I knew it was something, but it wasn't until lap 4 of 4 I worked out what it was). And snapping a chain on one of the pinches was annoying too.

Still, a grand day out.

[Goocharlton]

Did anyone happen to get a photo of the firefoad coming into the campsite.....i would live to have a pic to show my folks

[thecat]

, I took out the Dirtworks 29er Rigid SS and had a friggin' blast. Thanks to Wayne for questioning my manhood and bullying me into riding it rather than the geared 29er. .

I too took out the khs 29er, though I know I'm soft so opter for the geared/disc brake equipt model. Mucho funo on such a open, fast trail. I had a bit of a struggle on the hills on it and blew out a few corners but then again it was the last lap of the day and I struggle on the hills anyway.


For fast open not tehie trails like that it was great.

big thanks to Stu, Lenny, Stu Mc the dirtwoks crew and every one else who helped put this day on.

[tjb]

Those 29'ers must be interesting in the tighter singletrack corners ?

Credit to all involved! Despite the little timing hiccups and the slightly late start the track more than made up for it!

A little less climbing than in years past it seemed, but railing those sweet Killingworth singletracks always brings a smile out ....

[thecat]

Those 29'ers must be interesting in the tighter singletrack corners ?



Interesting is one word for it. :eek:

Not that there were too many tight corners on the weekend but I drifted wide on a few occasions and found myself in the scrub or up on the front wheel trying to flick the back around more than once.

On a tighter more technical track it wouldn't be much fun but for the that style of track:D:D:D

[DaGonz]

A little less climbing than in years past it seemed, but railing those sweet Killingworth singletracks always brings a smile out ....

I measured 2000m's for my 12laps, so a bit more than lost frog/lap over a much longer lap. I didn't go lower than middle ring all day and a lot of the pinches were easy to nail with a bit of momentum and a soft pedal over the top. Only one really painful sniggle climb that joined up with the fire trail at the top of the hill out the back I thought.

"that pinch" in the last sniggle before the finish got me a few times, but mostly 'cause I kept botching the line, whacking a pedal, hitting a rock funny etc...

Cheers
Gonz

[Pete W]

Those 29'ers must be interesting in the tighter singletrack corners ?

They rail the rough stuff and glide over the brake rutts though.
I did a mid race comparrison and i still think the 29er or 96er was faster on that track. but thats just me

Thanks to the hunter club and BOE for a great race/weekend.
Well worth the 5hr drive

[Mattydv]

I drifted wide on a few occasions and found myself in the scrub or up on the front wheel trying to flick the back around more than once.
Drifted wide? That last km I did nothing but drift through every corner!! I loved the track, some of the fast flowy switchback sections were absolutely fantastic! Both tyres sliding sideways doing 35km on a track thats only 12 inches wide, nothing better!

They rail the rough stuff and glide over the brake rutts though.
Ah the beauty of a 29".
The braking ruts were fine so long as you were able to take a wide line around it, but if you got caught in them, doing 30km through the middle, on a HT, with Crossmax SLR rims, it's a bit disconcerting :p

[El Guapo]

OK, so my take on the 29er was that it steered differently, probably a bit slower, but when it was up to speed, it rocked in a big way. On the smal pinches, you could use your momentum to roll rapidly up the stuff that you were needing to put a stroke or two in on the conventional machine. I went wide on a corner or two, but no more than the opporator error present on my usual steed. All in all a wonderful experience, one that I would be happy to try again. As I said before, who knows, maybe I might 'invest' in ANOTHER bike? Attached is a picture of yours truely railing the final corner of the course as you exited to the finishing straight.

[ebuk]

If you saw me I was the guy racing with a little sign under my seat sayi9ng thanks to the Dirtworks team.

Before anything else I have a few thanks to give out.

Firstly to Elvis for letting me pinch his pedals off the Ibis.

Secondly to Alchemist for giving a total stranger his spare set of crank bros cleats.

Finally (and most importantly) HUGE thanks go to PDogg for giving me a KHS XC-604 to race on for the day. Being given a demo bike to race solo on for a day was an incredibly generous offer and I cannot thank him enough.

To all three of you "THANK YOU VERY MUCH".

Despite not having been on a mtb since Darkes Forest I had a great time. I managed to eek out 8 laps just slowly plodding along. Well actually I thought I was hammering along the flat bits then snail pacing any incline.

I loved the track and can't wait to race on it again. PDogg gave me a Medium sized bike that I thought would be too small but found it to be the best fitting bike. I had no major aches or pains after the race. The bike was great fun.

Again big thanks to the 3 people mentioned at the top of my post.

Cheers

[tjb]

If you saw me I was the guy racing with a little sign under my seat sayi9ng thanks to the Dirtworks team.

Before anything else I have a few thanks to give out.

Firstly to Elvis for letting me pinch his pedals off the Ibis.

Secondly to Alchemist for giving a total stranger his spare set of crank bros cleats.

Finally (and most importantly) HUGE thanks go to PDogg for giving me a KHS XC-604 to race on for the day. Being given a demo bike to race solo on for a day was an incredibly generous offer and I cannot thank him enough.

<snip>

Again big thanks to the 3 people mentioned at the top of my post.

Cheers

I remember your sign .... hear hear to those 3 mentioned!

[nrs1mounty]

big cheers to all that was involved in running the event

I had a great time, track was excellent, easily in my top 5 tracks i have ever been on, track congestion was not an issue (thought it would be after i heard 410 riders had entered), weather was excellent, people were friendly, amtosphere was good. Overall was a good day for me and my teammate.

thanks again and cant wait for the next one

[Mattydv]

Well there were photographers out there, but where are the pics??

Does anyone know of any links/sites etc that might be able to help out??

[sammydog]

Well there were photographers out there, but where are the pics??

Does anyone know of any links/sites etc that might be able to help out??

Did anyone end up finding any pics from the race??

[alchemist]

sorry Sammydog, none from me this time.

[bitterbro]

so bummed i can't make this one sounds like awesome fun though. Stromlo is the next after one am i correct? what's that course like, is it full of monster hills that need rigorouse training to climb?

[Le Matelot]

The Canberra WW round will be at Sparrow Hill on 5 August, according to the B.O.E. website. I tend to agree.

Same location as last year. 11Km East of Queanbeyan - or 12Km West of Bungendore.

[Mattydv]

what's that course like, is it full of monster hills that need rigorouse training to climb?

Can't give you an answer about the hills, but from what I hear from past years, it's not very tech. Probably more suited to the crossover roadies.

[Le Matelot]

... what's that course like, is it full of monster hills that need rigorouse training to climb?

Nope. Sparrow Hill is fun, fast and flowing. Its one of those tracks that if you want to make it technical - go faster. No big hills at all (well, none that CORC are gonna put in the course for the 8Hr).

[Mattydv]

Nope. Sparrow Hill is fun, fast and flowing. Its one of those tracks that if you want to make it technical - go faster. No big hills at all (well, none that CORC are gonna put in the course for the 8Hr).
So in other words, bring out the track bike and you'll carve up the competition :p

Can't wait :cool:

[go to bed jessica]

So in other words, bring out the track bike and you'll carve up the competition :p

Can't wait :cool:

In other words, if your going flat out there is no such thing as an easy track!

[Le Matelot]

So in other words, bring out the track bike and you'll carve up the competition :p

Can't wait :cool:

Not many double black diamond tracks on this map... But lots of tracks... Still, 474 riders didn't seem to find it all that bad at last year's 8 hour :)

[DaGonz]

Nope. Sparrow Hill is fun, fast and flowing. Its one of those tracks that if you want to make it technical - go faster. No big hills at all (well, none that CORC are gonna put in the course for the 8Hr).

Last year there was 2150m's of climbing for my 140kms (9 laps I think). There was one climb though that was nasty simply cause it was a bit damp and really sticky/nasty to climb. I cramped so bad going up that climb towards the end and was just glad to be rid of it on the last lap.

Comparitively, more climbing than Killy, but less than Lithgow or Lost Frog and generally fast flowing single track.

Of course the CORC crew could throw anything at us on the day :)

Cheers
Gonz

[Mattydv]

In other words, if your going flat out there is no such thing as an easy track!

Fair point... but say that to Nathan Rennie ;)

Comparitively, more climbing than Killy, but less than Lithgow or Lost Frog and generally fast flowing single track.
Should be good then. Can't wait... for a whole two and a half months...