"East Stromlo", Molonglo Valley (ACT). Course 2 / M50: 11.9km, 11c. 6th/10 (13:47 behind Craig Steffens Q). 18°C. TE 4.1. 20psi.
First ever mass start MTBO race. Started watch a bit late so missed the first 1:30 / 400m on GPS trace. Too many mistakes by not paying enough attention to the map, especially when the controls were so obvious. The first 7 controls were a butterfly loop around a pivot (#1/4/7) before a big loop to the finish. #1/2/3 - OK. #4 - Missed turn (lost 30"). #5/6/7 - OK. #8 - Started riding to #9 (-2' up/down hill). #9 - Rode ride past control (-1:30). #10/11/12/F - OK. Best leg: #5 (2th/9). Best pos: 3rd/9 (#5).
Relive:
https://www.relive.cc/view/vr63Z78e1dOI remember some of these trails from the early 1980s when I lived in Canberra. A lot more pine trees then. On Sunday mornings I'd be one of the troop following Deek for as long as we could on his 22mi training runs. Starting slowly from Duffy (S), the pace gradualIy built up over the first hour, as we dropped back one by one over the second hour. The undulating climb from Coppins Crossing (W) to Uriara Road (SW) always got the better of me so 18mi (30km) was enough.
Course setter's notes: This is a fast and furious course reminiscent of Strauss’s “Fledermaus”. The plot is an utterly farcical romp through plantation pine, urban fringe and the illustrious National Arboretum. The course will take riders hither and thither over loose gravel, soft sand, ragged rocks, Newcastle type bogs, prickly blackberries and eroded ruts. Along the way they might encounter bounding kangaroos, swooping magpies, deadly brown snakes, spikey echidnas, dog- walkers, random runners, commuter cyclists and perhaps horses, which of course, they should give way too. Apart from these standard Canberra normalities, this evening event in the new Daylight Saving Time will mean a low sun angle, so a helmet peak is recommended!
Waiting for the Mass Start to start