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Tathra MTB Enduro Up Up and more Up
Tathra is awesome - that's if you like hills that is !
Day started very cruisey with a low key vibe around the event centre. Locals everywhere checking out the event and would have to be the friendliest event and feel for an event that I have been to out of town.
Anyway race started with a lemans start us in the middle of an oval our bikes down near the goal post. Matt and I started probably mid pack and cruised out to the Mimosa National Park where the real challenge began.
The firs 15ks in the park we climbed over 600m and it was relentless. each bend was greeted with another climb. Matt who I was riding with on single speed left me about 10ks in - on a single speed he just had to hit every hill with momentum. Me - I had the luxury of gears and took full advantage of them. I grinder hard trying to avoid granny and gradually picked of some places one by one. I don't think anyone was really expecting a 15k climb.
Then the fun began - basically narrow fire trail / double track downhill with some pockets of single track thrown in - DOWN. So fast and fun - water bars galore to launch off.
Pushed thru without stopping at the 20k water stop and thought shite we have another 20ks to go. Guess what came next - more climbing - not as aggressive this time but basically constantly up with some rollers every 3 - 4ks. Continued to push hard as was starting to really gains some places.
Finally got back to the event centre - 40ks - and was feeling it. Next 10ks great / awesome / fantastic single track - but you guessed it more devastating climbs. I was in agony here as cramps began to set in and all I could do was spin to make any progress. Each climb was greeted with fast twisty slightly tech downhills with narrow bridges over gullies that you would hit at speed.
Made it back to the event centre completely nackered. Mat making back about 10 mins ahead and taking out 2nd in the single speed age cat.
Would not have liked to do the 100k only the top 2 made it under 5hrs and that was Jason English 4:40 and Ben Henderson 4:55. From these times that looked like they had a hard day as well.
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good result dude ,sounds like tough day out especially with no training ! or have you been secretly training at an undisclosed location
is it possible to ride Tathra trails without all the hills ?
Hey Craig
Not many flats spots too see at Tahtra as it is surrounded by hills - but based on my last couple of times I have been riding with you - you would have no problems.
No real training - couple of weekend mornings around the fire trails on the northern beaches. Have been making the most of this time to concentrate on the hills.
This event was very unplanned - entered on the Friday and rode Sunday. Managed to get a week off from the mrs - so Mat and I have headed down to Thredbo then to Bright in Victoria for some alpine mtb'g. Given we were down here we thought we would make a diversion to Tathra.
Feeling it today though. Did a ride up to cascades hut at the back of Thredbo and the legs are a little sore.
Hey mate - met you guys after the race. How was Thredbo?!
Some photos are online, but it's clearly not from all the photographers, and there's no obvious way to download/buy them without the watermarks - a little annoying. I'm wondering how many of the photographers there were 'official' and where all the photos are gonna end up! Let me know if you hear anything more.
Was good to meet you guys though, and congrats again to Mat - riding that on a singlespeed is insane!
Hey Ian
Good to meet you the other day.
Thredbo was good - but Bright and the surrounding areas were insane - great single track every where.
I think if you contact the photographer directly they will be more than happy to sell you any shots. There are a couple of good shots of you in the ones up on the website.
Will keep you in mind for any training rides Mat and I are doing in the future as well. Our phone numbers are in our profiles. and you can also send a personal message if you need to contact.
Cheers
Wayne