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Convict 100


Juliea's picture

By Juliea - Posted on 29 March 2012

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

Hi all, I am a late entry to this event 50km, and as it is a good 2hrs drive from the Northern Beaches, I was wandering if anyone can giveme an idea of what time you have to be there for the 50km version, rego and stuff. If it is too early,may look at accomodation. Many thanks

[Mod. moved to MTB events]

GAZZA's picture

I've had plenty of friends drive up on the morning for the 50km race.
I'm sure it starts at 8.30 or 9am with rego closing 30 mins or an hour earlier?
If you set off at 5.30am I'm sure that would be good enough?
I'd check the website for times and work backwards from there.

marto71's picture

rego opens at 5.30 am, for the 50k race the breifing is at 8.45 am with a 9am start

Juliea's picture

Thanks for that, I was hoping we could drive up rather than have to find accommodation.
Cheers

Lach's picture

the queue for the Webb's Ck ferry can be pretty long and you may need to factor in some extra time for the trip up. If you come in via the other (main) ferry and Settler's Rd, you may meet the 100's (7.30 start?). The road isn't closed, but you're swimming against the tide.

Also last year the day parking and 50km rego was about 4km south of St Albans on the road from the Webb's Ck ferry.

The final briefing note they send out will have all the details.

Regardless of the above, it is quite do-able to drive up on the morning. I've even done it for the 100, but that's a real early start....

Talldude's picture

I am about to camp near St Albans over easter and was wondering if I could any part of the track for practice?

I heard there is a big hill that the 50k people have to go up, anybody know where that is and if it is open for practice?

cheers

philberesford's picture

The first hill is on private property. You cannot ride it before race day.

Talldude's picture

Fair enough are there any other parts allowed then?

philberesford's picture

Pretty much most of it. Just not the bit up the hill and along the ridge to the GNR. I did this ride some time ago

Just don't take the detour out and back through the gully and you'll be sweet.

Have fun

Edit: Assuming you're doing the full ton?

Lach's picture

but you can ride from Wiseman's Ferry up the OGNR, turn off to Johnny's camp and then go all the way to gate near the top of the hill that you are not allowed to ride on. You can also ride up or down Shepherd's Gully and you can ride from the start of the Woomerah range track to Jack's track and down to St Albans. You can also ride from St Albans almost to the bottom of the first hill, but it's mostly on a road....

If you're doing the 50, I think you can ride it in reverse to the top of the first hill - I don't recall any gates / private property??

Juliea's picture

I see that there is an interesting water crossing, man made accross kayaks and planks and it seems quite a few fall in? Is this in the 50km. course? If so, how difficult is it for the average punter?

ps's picture

Don't worry, its on the 100k course.

Juliea's picture

Thank you. Was looking like I was going to get wet for sure!

Jake.'s picture

You've got me worried now, I'm doing the 100k Smiling

philberesford's picture

Don't worry, just get on it, look ahead and ride in a comfortable resistive gear, something like middle/6, don't look down and what ever you DO NOT stop pedalling. It'll be over in a blink and you'll be grinning from ear to ear Smiling

scottm8's picture

I find it helps to drag the back brake slightly too. And yeah what Phil said......dont stop pedalling!

philberesford's picture

EVERY single rider I've seen hit the water did so because they stopped pedalling!

Sinkes's picture

You speak of brakes........what are they! Sticking out tongue

Jake.'s picture

Thanks guys, some good advice there! I'm a crap swimmer Sticking out tongue

flamin-trek's picture

For the bridge Find something you can practice on, a longish straight narrow thing, kerb etc. I use a line along a pedestrian bridge near home. The hard part is the ramp onto it, it's hard to get comfortable with your line before you are committed. Along with stopping pedaling I've seen a few go in who were pedaling too fast. Find a comfortable cadence, around mid-six as suggested above is good.

ric088's picture

any suggestions on tyres for the convict 50...

Fatboy's picture

Anything fast rolling. Roads are fast. Don't need grip. Racing Ralph's, Kenda Small block 8's ....

Jake.'s picture

The Kayak Bridge was a doddle in the end. As suggested I trailed a bit of rear brake and kept the power on. I think I changed up about 3 times as I went across I was powering on that much. Saw about 3 or 4 riders fall in the drink while I was there.

Sinkes's picture

This year for crossing the bridge successfully. Sad

philberesford's picture

FWIW I swapped out my Small Block 8s and chucked on my pair of GEAX Barro Race. They're ridiculously light and thin with buggerall grip at about 300gms each. Have only ran them twice and twice I've put in extroadinary times. They're my magic race tyres. I only wish conditions suited them all the time.

philberesford's picture

Yeah that sucks! I was a bit gutted I wasn't going to get my third for wimping out to do the fifty this year. Sounds like everyone missed out, gutted for all you 100kers.

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