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Circus Afro, Circus Afro, Polka Dot Polka Dot, Circus Afro!
When I sat down late last year and thought about which races I wanted to enter in 2014, the 3 Ring wasn't on the list. Then I rode Wingello in December and it changed my mind, the flowing singletrack was just too hard to ignore. Unfortunately yesterday I left my climbing legs back in Sydney.
Manly Dam - Saturday social ride
The meeting times are 'ready to ride'. If you need time to prepare equipment then please arrive a few minutes earlier.
King Street (near corner with Arana Street), Manly Vale. You know - outside Manly Hydraulics Lab.
Saturday social ride all welcome, I will be on the black Mondraker meeting outside the hydro lab at 8:45am
Learning from Mistakes
The start chute seemed to fill up very quickly... by the time I got there, I was probably 60-70 people back from the front, but I didn't worry too much - I figured we'd all sort ourselves out by the end of the first loop. This was my first mistake - a lot of people go flat out on the first loop, only to slow down at the first hill or first sign of singletrack. Anyway, I started in about 70th place and slowly worked my way past a few people on that loop. Through the first transition I was on the back of a group 6 or so.
Single track and mountain air got me through.
I was certainly underdone going in and a friend reassured me that single track and mountain air would get me through, and so it was.
It was a tough red ring, LOTS more single track but largely great fun. I was stuck in traffic for most of it, (made me feel faster). My recent upgrade to XT brakes made a fantastic difference. Everyone I was following seemed to continually lock the rear wheel, but the XTs are so subtle I rarely if ever had a lock up. A soft rear tyre slowed the last section a bit and my speedy transition plan, lost a few minutes pumping it up.
Slow ring circus
First race after 2 months overseas without a bike and a couple of weeks recovering from manflu when I got back, so a fair bit underdone and even more overweight than usual. Enjoyed the single track as always (although there are some narrow tree gaps for a big bloke on a big bike), but will have to go back for a clean run at the main new bit, as it was a traffic jam. Could do with a few less km's hauling my carcass up all those fire trail hills however.....
3 Ring Circus Burn-Up!
Some races can be just 'all out' from the gun. Others need a little bit of planning and tactics. This race (assuming you have your best climbing legs) is the latter.
Cascades update for 27 Jul
Puddles in the usual spots however BEWARE they've moved the rock at the gate to the National Park on the Ralston Avenue side to the left to stop the motor bikes. You can no longer just blast right past it!!
Do you have more information?
If you've ridden here lately please add a more recent report. This will be useful even if the condition is the same as updates expire after 30 days.
Please do not post comments with such information - post a new update with the link above.
Please do not update this post with such information - post a new update with the link above.
Red Hill destruction
Rode red hill today and to my dismay, witnessed what appears to be a freeway being built along the main trail. I can only assume that it has finally been earmarked for development and will be a housing estate in 12 months time.
Does anybody have any more information?
Manly Dam update for 27 Jul
Quite a few puddles.
The rework on 19th Hole is looking good, but for some strange reason they've elected to leave the slippery treated pine logs right on the right hand apex at the top just below the new rock work.
Why? 
Do you have more information?
If you've ridden here lately please add a more recent report. This will be useful even if the condition is the same as updates expire after 30 days.
Please do not post comments with such information - post a new update with the link above.
Please do not update this post with such information - post a new update with the link above.
For Sale: Women Journey gloves - Medium
Brand new Women Journey gloves. Size: Medium. Highly ventilated design. Cordura crash pad. Seamless tips on braking fingers. Fabric: 4-way stretch upper, Armara Palm.
