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Dirtworks Classic 2011
St Albans, NSW
The Dirt Works Classic is regarded as one of Australia's most challenging mountain bike endurance races, consistently inspiring all entrants to push their personal boundaries
The course follows the historic Convict Trail through the Dharug and Yengo National Parks. The mix of fast fire trail, technical single track, rocky descents, and spectacular ridgeline views is unmatched by any other MTB event. The Dirt Works Classic starts and finishes in the historic township of St. Albans and competitors can choose between the full "Century of Dirt" and the 50km course.
Blog entries about this meeting (as this is a race standings and times are shown, click on the title for more and to comment)...
| Who | Title | Status | Time | Pos.Gen. | Category | Pos.Cat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lach | A bit soft (and the track was as well) | Finished | 02:49:25 | 222 | 50km Male Super Masters | 28 |
| Antsonline | Dirtworks | Finished | 04:15:00 | 5 | 100km Male Elite | 5 |
| tate | Dirtworks | Finished | 04:41:20 | 18 | 100km Male Veteran | 2 |
| Nick R | Chain suck sucks | Finished | 05:29:04 | 105 | 100km Male Masters | 24 |
| ps | Dirtworks | Finished | 05:33:27 | 116 | 100km Male Masters | 28 |
| doc | DW100 2011 | Finished | 05:40:58 | 141 | 100km Male Masters | 37 |
| Fatboy | My Dirtworks 2011 | Finished | 06:05:45 | 216 | 100km Male Masters | 64 |
| Brian | 2011 DW100 | Finished | 06:27:49 | 282 | 100km Male Veteran | 106 |
| philberesford | 3rd time a charm - Just your average Joe | Finished | 06:36:35 | 308 | 100km Male Veteran | 120 |
| Buck | Buck's no training training regime | Finished | 07:36:20 | 461 | 100km Male Open | 41 |
| obmal | DNF.. what else can you say> | Did not finish | 100km Male Veteran |
Were you there and have a story to tell?
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I can't see organics lasting the distance, so I'll be running sintered (even though they say not to with XX).
For those running SRAM elixir or XX, along with that clip ants mentioned, remember to pack your 2.5mm allen key for the bolt through the pads.
after the training ride next year for sure
it's a fun place
Why do you need to go at the new ones with an emery board and how does this make them last longer?
Also, what do you guys use to push the pistons back on the trail? I always seem to have a bugger of a time doing this in my garage so can't imagine it while wet, cold and sand everywhere...
I would assume this has the same effect as bedding the pads in? If that's the case then I'd pre-bed them in before the race and then carry those with me.
re: Pushing pistons
I just use a flat head screw driver, but a tyre lever could work just as well on track
Gazza's brakes were the first to go on the way back to Claires bridge. That was about 30km of riding with limited braking, imho it wasn't the braking that was wearing the pads out, it was just the disk moving through the pads with the help of a nearly continuous stream of sandy water. Putting the second set of pads in on a badly scored disk was only ever going to get him home safely as new pads on a badly scored disk wont last.
Based on the wear from my pads I think I would have got past Shepards Gully before they wore out if we had of been riding the course from St.Albans in the same conditions. Cant see it being that bad on the day though.
I have the elixir ones and they slot out the back but levering would mean pushing on the disc and potentially warping it. Using a tyre lever means taking the calliper off.
I agree with ps - I wasn't using my brakes a lot, it was the constant puddles filled with bits of abrasive sandstone that rips them apart.
Antsonline's comments re not needing to use brakes much for the first half is correct for him running in the first 15 riders. Remember Ant the rest of us making up the thousand riders behind you will be doing a lot of our braking just avoiding collisions with others in our peleton of a thousand.
I'm thinking of carrying 4 spare sets after our Monday experience there.
Does anyone make disc protectors like they used to put on Moto's years ago? They basically enclosed the entire disc. Could be the go to stop that constant wear from the wet sand.
If all you guys are right, they'd better have a few ambo's parked along Jack's Track for the brakeless
The weather forecasts for Mangrove Mtn, Richmond and Wollombi don't look too bad - showers, but minimal amounts predicted. Not as much rain as coastal areas from what I can see. Those sandstone ridges dry pretty well and don't hold much water these days (was bit different when the OGNR was still open to 4WD's - the occasional reed pond is the remnants of the worst of the 4WD "wallows").
And I'm only doing the 50 this year, so only need brakes for a few hundred metres at most
You can always pick up a stick to jam in against the rear tyre if you really need to slow down....
Hmmm, IMO, ps is right, it wasnt the braking that wore out the pads, it was riding through 35+kms of 6 inches of water/sand. Im not sure what the best option is, but i do know this, next time i hear a ping then a grinding noise, that means stop and change the pads big fella, cause u've just worn out the pads and clips!!! 4 sets of pads??? That may be a good call.
Strategy carry an extra water bottle to wash out the brakes, stop just before the down hill sections to check progress and make a decision to change or chance it.
Glasses or no glasses is also on my mind. They were a pain cause they fogged up all the time, peering over the top with one eye was un-nerving but there were times when that strategy paid dividends, hearing whines of .....F.....sand in my eyes!! I recon a used at least 1 litre of water cleaning them.
Stops were not so much due to fatigue but more a necessity to get set again.
Ride safe, can't wait to read and hear the war stories. Its already setting itself to be an Epic memorable ride!! See you all on the flip side.
You're right Fatboy, being in the 'peleton' as some of you will be is a completely different race.
In 2009 Jen and I did the race for a laugh (first ever MTB marathon for Jen) and rolled with everyone (we couldnt have gone any faster!) it was fun, but hectic with everyone around!
Pick the clean puddles and splash through a few of them - it'll clean things out. Also, squirt a water bottle on them to clean them.
Emery board on the pads - yep - beds them in. It just takes the manufacturing glaze off them before you ride them. If you didnt, they do tend to wear super quick, and even disintegrate a bit.
Chain tool, powerlinks, 2xpairs of pads, tube, tyre boot, 2xgas bombs, and multi-tool in the saddle bag - what more could go wrong?!?
Hope some of the tips help someone....
Cant seem to open the link to the new maps of the camping areas!
Can anyone post something up???
Cheers,
Gazza
Gaz yours will be the Hot Pink tent down by the river right?
and if the tent's a rockin, don't come a knockin!
Been trying to fight the flu but I have to accept the reality and stay at home this weekend.
Hope all of you have a great ride and get home with bodies, bikes and pride intact.
CB
HTFU! Craig
lol
Have a good race all - see you down there. Its gonna be dry enough for a quick day.
Cant wait.
That's right a pink tent with a revolving door!
Have a good race mate...
Brad P
....except mine is a pint of whisky with a lemonade top !
Good luck Phil
CB
Have a great race everyone. Wish I was there with you to share the pain (and expense).
My car has just been seconded by my wife so now I have no way of getting up to St Albans. I know this is a long shot and very late notice but does anyone have space for one more leaving from the Manly area? Call me 0405 418 501 or PM me
Thanks guys I'm really desperate.
next year for this one!
On the ferry now. That was one hard race. Will update during the week
@antsonline is the man! I think he came 5th outright. Poor Jenny though, hot favorite & did a Logan yesterday and broke her collar bone.
There were some wet sections especially in the sections leading up to Clare's bridge but otherwise it was pretty dry.
Yeah - shocking luck for Jenny. Still, thats bike riding.
Well done all nobmobbers - in particular (coz I know them, and saw them at the finish) - Tate, Gav, and Vanina.
Awesome rides all of you.
I couldnt stay around to say hi to everyone else - Jen needed to go to hospital - but hope everyone else went well, and no injuries!
I picked up 5th overall after a long long tussle (from 15km - 80km) for 3rd with Shaun Lewis, and Jason English. I came off the worse.
I'll do a little write up for anyone that is interested...
Interested? H3ll yes! (Please)
Awesome ride today Anthony. You did really well. I ended up picking up 2nd in vets and about 18th overall which was totally unexpected. Jenny saved my ass at the 70km with copious amounts of electrolytes, so pass on my thanks to her please.
Oh, and best of luck with the surgery!!
Well done Ant, looks like all the hard work is paying off. You must know that course like the back of your hand by now.
How did Jason English fair after backing up from the recent nationals ?
D
@dicko
Hey Wayne, you missed a great day although the mud did make it tough. From memory the places were Mather by about 4min from Flemming then a couple back to Lewey & Jase who I think came across the line together. Then came Nobmobber @antsonline. I noticed Gordo came 7th but as he's out with a broken collar bone and I saw Hamish Elliot before the start I assume Hamo had Gordo's entry.
Oh, and I didn't bother the top 10
Thks Craig for the update !
Sounds like a good day out from Ant's read.
W
Gazza's in the first pic.
http://www.cyclenation.com.au/News/DisplayNewsIt...
http://www.multisportaustralia.com.au/RaceTecRes...
Lots of no shows / DNFs (588 finished out of 909 in the 100kms)...
Yeah I know a few that bailed after the canoe bridge. I was tempted myself!
So what went wrong Brakeburner?
bugger! thought i'd slide under the radar!
decision made,i was in,i didn't train for it and i wouldn't of made the six hour mark!! haha
to be honest i seem to have hit that demographic where life gets in the way of riding! no excuses, sadly enough just too busy!
however, factor 1 roofing and guttering is now up and running,so please do not hesitate to contact me for all your roofing needs!
V won the elite Women's so congrats on a great ride and worthy result
http://vimeo.com/23194777
Pics are up. They could do with upgrading there server though.
I made the slideshow and better still they've used a pic of me as their main button/link on the homepage. Woot!
You're famous!
my autograph?
lol
[image:21319 align=left width=800 height=800]
I always try to put my best 'war face' on for the photographer