The following has been provided by MarathonMTB.com Team Rider Sam Moorhouse.
Round 1 of the SRAM SingleTrack Mind Series kicks off this weekend at the revitalised Awaba State Forest just south of Newcastle in NSW.
This venue has also hosted the successful Spring Fat Tyre Festival, and the guys from Chocolate Foot have already shown in 2010 that they know how to put on a good race. So at Awaba, this should be a great race!
The SRAM Singletrack Mind Series features six mountain bike endurance events of 7 or 8 hours duration throughout the 2011 Winter Season. They take place at six different locations in NSW and ACT, each one renowned for its flowing singletrack and fun factor!
Awaba fits this category perfectly. Fast, flowing singletrack which starts each lap in a dense bush setting with a short start loop away from the start finish area before swooping over a succession of professionally built steel bridge creek crossings before finally tearing past the start finish perimeter to commence the main lap.
It is here the surrounds change somewhat, the trail tilts skyward but not before a series of rolling, undulating singletrack through a more rainforest like setting. Set on the eastern side of the range, the course attracts plenty of morning sun but is well protected in the intense heat of the afternoon.
MarathonMTB.com teammate Justin “Maddog” Morris and I will be entering the Male Pairs division on Sunday. After racing the Spring Fat Tyre Festival on my Scott Spark soft tail I am in two minds as to which bike best suits this terrain. Hard tail, 29er, or soft tail?? Not that I have the luxury of all 3 but I do happen to have a 26inch Carbon Scott Scale sitting in the garage.
MarathonMTB.com’s Mike Blewitt raced his hardtail Scott Scale 29er to 3rd at the Fat Tyre Fest 8hr which is testament to the efficiency of the fixed rear end on this course.
Prior to the Fat Tyre Fest, heavy rain damaged the course so much, the trail staff from the Hunter Mountain Bike Association put in hours of labour just days before to reinforce key sections. Lugging large concrete slabs and heavy pallets kilometres into the trail shows dedication and commitment to making Awaba a sustainable trail for years to come. It is with this attention to detail and desire to maintain this awesome trail network that I am confident that the hard tail will be the right choice on the day.
With 1 or 2 key climbs, endless bermed corners and very little fireroad to speak of, for solo riders, identifying your “feedzones” is key. Hydropack equipped riders will have less of an issue but if you plan to grab a bidon or gulp down an energybar you better know when AND where you’re going to do it. My spot is at the end of the lap just prior to the start finish but as I’m racing in a pair this time around, this shouldn’t be an issue.
With any luck, Sydney’s weather will repeat last Saturday’s glory and we will be racing in sunshine and perfect temperatures. However, if it clouds over and the heavens open up, at least there’s a bridge or two on course to keep your feet dry.
Online entries close this Thursday, so get in quickly if you haven’t entered yet.
To enter, visit the Online Entries page. But be quick!