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Short distance races for beginners?


ozgti's picture

By ozgti - Posted on 06 May 2012

Hello all,

Reading all the posts about the recent convict 100 has inspired me to give racing a go. Being relatively unfit I was wondering if there are any races for beginners around the 15km mark?

skipper_nz's picture

just because it is called a race, that doesnt mean you have to race. there is a 100km and a 50km race, so you can do the 50km race and take it easy, the slowest time for the 50km was 4hr 59mins, so no rush, just good to finish!

the.flying.al's picture

You could do the club races. They have beginners/novices then D all the way to elite.

In the beginners you will do about 10-20 km, on a less technical course. It is also less of a big deal then the events, since you enter on the day. There are several club rounds for the year so you have the option to turn up when it suits, and you won't be wondering about the weather when you register.

WSMTB are racing in a few weeks time at Yellomundie and I would recommend it as a starting point.

Good luck and have fun.

ae93gti's picture

Back Yamma bigfoot has a 25, 50 and a 100km. 25km aimed at learners/beginners etc but I talked with a few who could easily have done the 50km if they'd known.

http://www.backyammabigfoot.com.au/

Dates have just been announced and it's one of the flattest courses about with very little technical stuff compared to other courses. I really enjoyed it last year with little training and the flu! (signed up for 100 but only managed the first 50km loop)

It is a bit of a trek to Parkes though.

BUT as mentioned, while they are called races, I'd have to say most folk are there to get to the finish and enjoy a day out with a lot of like minded folk so don't be scared to have a go.

Flynny's picture

also don't forget the enduros

these can be done in teams where team mates take it in turns to do laps. Laps are generally around 8-11 km and normally, depending on the event, your team qualifies as a finisher so long as you complete 1 lap.

these can be a ball of fun, I recommend checking out on of the chocolate foot run Single Track mind races
http://www.chocolatefoot.com.au/singletrack-mind...

or the RTE Grand Prix
http://www.rockytrailentertainment.com/events/MT...

B liner's picture

I'm with Flynny.

Don't hesitate for a moment.
All those MTB events are "the most fun you can have with your wheels on"
You will learn more from doing one event than you will from riding a year on your own.

Just Do It!

fat stacks's picture

Most enduro events usually offer various distances that might suit you or you could do one with a team mate/s to reduce the time/distance you are riding. I know it's short notice, but the James Williamson Enduro is on next weekend at Wingello and it has a 25km option. The trails at Wingello are awesome and, as others have indicated, you're really just competing with yourself at these events, so just go in with the idea of having fun and see how you go. Here's a link to the JW Enduro- http://jameswilliamson.com.au/enduro/
Another alternative, also at Wingello, is the 3 Ring Circus in July. Again, various formats and options. Check it out- http://www.wildhorizons.com.au/3-ring-circus

I've always found the enduro events to be friendly and fun. You ride them as hard or as easy as you want to. Good luck and have fun!

Lach's picture

the 4hr / 8hr formats are great if you've got a couple of mates to share the load with, as you get to build up confidence going over the same tracks a few times and learn some things about where you are up to with fitness and skill without getting too far from home base. Downside is that you have all speeds / skills out on the track at any one time. If you lack a bit of confidence it can be a bit daunting having an elite or two or three wanting to get past on sniggle at pace. They're mostly pretty good about it, but it can make it hard to get a rhythm going at times.

The point to point races will generally mean you quickly end up riding with people at your speed, or if you start down the back, you might have the confidence boosting experience of overtaking a few folks while you get up to your speed.

Even if you're not real fit, 50 km should be do-able with a few 20+km rides in training and willingness to wear a little hurt, but as others have noted, the JW, Rock Wallaby and 3 ring circus do have shorter options. The Rocky Trail Entertainment 4 hr races are likely to end up a similar distance to a 50 if you do them solo (10-12 km laps roughly) and take it steady.

Only way you'll get down to 15kms without team mates is to enter a Rocky Trail Entertainment 4 hr or Chocolate Foot 8hr race solo and just aim to do one or two laps. You can take a break between laps and treat them as separate races if pounding out multiple laps in succession is too much of a challenge first up.

Or as others have suggested, enter a club event for the experience. Usually on a circuit, similar to the 4 hr / 8 hr format, but without most of the big event vibe that the enduros have these days.

hawkeye's picture

Yellowmundie is great fun. The circuit is not overly technical and is relatively flat, so I reckon club races are a great place to start.

If we could only get a club circuit happening over here at the northern beaches Sad

Ray R's picture

Feel free to join me in D Div at the next WSMTB round on 20 May. It will be 2 laps of around 6km each. It takes the faster D riders about 50 minutes, and I'll be sweeping at the rear in about 70 minutes. (my excuse is that I have to get on my bike after starting my own Division!)

Club racing is a good, low pressure way to get started and build skills and confidence.

See www.wsmtb.com for some details, or email me on [email protected]

Ray Rice
XC VP WSMTB

ChopStiR's picture

Oops, double post deleted

ChopStiR's picture

The Woodford to Glenbrook Classic is the race for you. An easy 25km race that is majority downhill. Perfect for beginners and alot of fun. Won't break your bank either.

Http://bmorc.com/node/35205

Otherwise, check out club racing.

ozgti's picture

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Club racing looks like a good option. Ray, do you get many riders in the lower divisions? With my current level of fitness, I think I will need to stop a few times riding 12km! Smiling

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