Yellomundee MTB Grand Prix 2008

Hi Guys,

Thanks to everyone who gave us feedback regarding the new race concept. One thing we heard from a lot of you is that you wanted to be in the qualifying as well as the race, but weren't able to commit to 2 days of racing.

That's why we changed it and moved the Qualifying from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning. In doing so we were also able to reduce the race fee. Discount still applies of course.

There still will be practice sessions, food, drinks, entertainment and fun to be had on Saturday for all who do want to make 2 race-days out of it.

Cheers,
Martin

for being such a keen racer! It's really easy - come, have a shiny bike with you, your team mates all pumped up and you're ready to go! we'll have the track, the music, the food and a few other bits and pieces organised to make your day or weekend!

at a mtb race you can usually enter in different categories, depending on your demographics and skill level. at the mtb grand prix there are male, female and mixed categories - all with solo, duo, as well as teams of 3 and 4. i only started mountain biking about 5 years ago and racing, say about 3 years ago, after my boyfriend talked me into it... i've been hooked ever since. don't get me wrong, i only ride (and will ever ride) for fun. but the mountain bike community is such a great bunch of people - you just feel part of the pack, especially at a race where everyone is there to give their best!

the MTB Grand Prix wants to encourage more people into racing and we want to spread the racing bug! the event is structured as follows:

- first of all you should register your team online, which will save you a lot of time at the event - we will still need to "meet you in person" on the race day and you will need to sign a race waiver (you can download a copy from our website). you will also need to have a racing license; if you are a MTBA member you automatically hold one, if not, you can buy a "day license" for $15 online or on the day and that will cover you (see www.mtba.asn.au - http://www.mtba.asn.au/membership/?IntCatId=2&In...).

- you sound like a keen rider, so if you want to train, maybe put in an extra loop or two on the weekends before the event - train in the team so you know eachother's strengths and you can support each other at the race. that's what we usually do. also, try to find out what food really does you good when you are exercising. but please, keep in mind, we are all there to have fun - it will be a relay event, so you'll have plenty of time to relax during the stints. one lap will be about 8-10km long. the trail is a public track at yellomundee national park (see google link on our website), so you can check it out anytime.

- saturday (4.10.) - you can already register and you'll have the opportunity to ride the track and familiarise yourself with it. we are currently planning the track, including shorter, easier options for teams of 3 & 4 and a longer, challenging circuit for more advanced racers. so you'll be able to ride at your own pace and most of all have fun doing it. you can also camp out there, if you want - we have an arrangement with national parks and a small fee applies to cover their costs ($~10). we are fully catered (check out the three-course dinner, meal package with brekkie & lunch for $35)! we made sure to have real good food there so you'll be properly prepared for the big day. we'll also have a bit of entertainment and music going on - so bring your families & friends!

- sunday (5.10.) - we'll start the qualifying quite early and you can also register/sign in before that, if you can't come there on saturday. every rider needs to do one lap - for your team of four that means that we will take the accumulated time of the four of you and rank you against the other teams in your category (male 4?).

- 6-hour RACE (from 11am): all first-ranked (respectively one of the team) category teams will start at the same time. after about a 15sec intervall all second-ranked riders will start and so on. that way the field will spread out nicely and give you some freedom on the track TO RIDE! whoever / whatever team does most laps wins in their category (when there are same lap counts, we'll check the time taken to ride it, so the team who crossed the finish line first after the 6hrs are over wins).
[- no-show for qualifying: if a team does not ride the qualifying their first rider will have to start at the end of all timed riders.]

as to your bike - it will definitely be up to it as the race is cross-country style. a few hills and nice berms. i used to proudly ride a hardtail bike for years (incl. a few 24h and 12h races in teams).

i will put together a bit of a guide in the next few weeks, which will then also be part of the rider briefing, explaining everything in more detail. are there any specific questions you still have? let me know! check out our website www.rockytrailentertainment.com and browse a bit for more information also.

looking forward to meeting you at the race - or seeing you out there on the tracks!

cheers,
juliane

AlexD and I are expecting to enter this but we will need another 1 or 2 team members. We won't be very competitive. This will be our first team event. So if your a hot chick..

... actually anybody will do!!

I just registered a team of 3 for the GP. It's our first ever race and I can't wait!

Regarding the relay format, being 3 of us, do we do 3 X 2 hr stints one after the other, or can we mix it up however we please?

What else do we need to know or bring with us?

Thanks for all the info!

Ben

JetBlack launches new bike brand in Australia at the 6-hour race in Yellomundee on 4 & 5 October 2008

Supporter of the race Jetblack is launching the exclusive bike brand PIVOT CYCLES at the event, which will include demonstrations and test rides of the three new bike types:

MACH 4
The Pivot™ Mach 4 is the first choice for obsessive perfectionists seeking the ultimate cross-country mountain bike. Optimized for racing and aggressive cross-country riding, the Mach 4 is lightweight, agile and efficient. It is cross country, redefined.
MACH 5
The Pivot™ Mach 5 is a quantum leap in trail bike technology. This is a bike that truly excels in all types of terrain. Even aggressive pedaling does not compress the suspension, making technical climbing a breeze. The Mach 5 redefines what you thought a trail bike could be.
MACH 429
The Mach 429 is a bike that can go from the race course to the trail and give up nothing in between. Using designs from Chris Cocalis and dw-link designer Dave Weagle, the Mach 429 accelerates, descends, climbs and corners unlike any other 29er on the market.

Pivot Cycles™, the passionate US bike company of Chris Cocalis, is the result of 20 years building some of the highest quality, best performing full suspension bikes in the world. Says Chris, “Pivot™ builds on my reputation for designing and manufacturing suspension bikes that feature great feel throughout the suspension travel, and have excellent pedaling performance, with unparalleled frame stiffness and durability. We’ve taken this winning combination to a new level with innovative new technology that gives you more of what you love about full suspension mountain bikes, and less of what you don’t!”

The qualifying format is great for the fast teams... there are always complaints about getting stuck in traffic on the first lap so good on the organisers for trying to fix this.

That said - for those of us that don't care - what happens if we don't qualify? I mean, it would be nice to rock up at 10am, register and start at the back of the grid.

Anyone know if that's an option?

Dam! I never ride in the wet if I can help it. Now I've got to race in it! Well this should be fun/challenging.

Looking forward to bumping in to you guys. I've never met any of you but if see a pasty-looking Englishman on a red XTC2 that'll be me please say hello, I don't bite (much). Teaming up with a dodgy Sth African fella called Nige (blue/white Rocky Mountain).

See you at the race
Phil

EDIT: According to The BOM no rain in Penrith http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN60901/IDN60901... but the NOBMOB weather guide say's there has been rain at Yellowmundee. Which should I believe?

Hi Guys,

Thanks very much for coming and racing at the GP - we certainly had a blast and look forward to the next events!

All 3000something photos the guys from Sportograf took at the event went online and you can see yourselves in action here:
http://www.sportograf.de/en/shop/event/420

See you out there!
Juliane+Martin